Interpretation of A Hug

     Hug. A funny sounding word. It is short, pudgy, primitive and comes out mimicking an animalistic grunt when you say it. Guttural. Hug. H-U-G.
     Merriam Webster defines it as "to press tightly. to hold. to cherish."
     And that is exactly what we give when we hug. That primal need to be cared about, to be soothed, to be embraced, acknowledged and loved. To know that you make a difference in someones life or they in yours.

Mirror of Self

     Who do you see when you look into the mirror?
We have images of self and sometimes looking in the mirror we see the differences in who we believe we are and those that we reflect to others outwardly.
     It is a humbling reality check that person who looks back at us. Because when we look into the mirror we see so much more than the outer shell. Ahh, to have our life experinces be seen on the outside as we see them within ourselves. It might make people more compassionate.
     Take the time to look, and not just glance, deep into the eyes and maybe you can get a glimpse into the heart or soul of the one looking back into your eyes.

Help for another

     Please visit the blog "Pretty Things" by Lori Anderson. She has some beautiful bead work, delightful blogs and has a heart the size of an elephant. You see she is supporting a donation fund for a fellow artist that has lost her studio and tools in a devastating fire. Read more on Pretty Things blog about Kimberly Wilcox, her art and her story.
   It doesn't matter if we have a personal relationship with someone or just that they are a fellow human being in need. Give if it moves you and if you can. Any amount to make a day brighter. I know there are many causes and all are sincere. The  blessings that you share at any time with anyone can make the world of difference to another.

Looking back

     When I look back at my life there are things that I would do differently now, or so I sometimes think.
I am older and wiser in some aspects and still have so very much to to learn in others. Will I think the same about now in years to come?
      I often see myself as one of the characters in the Wizard of Oz. I can relate pretty well, but it's not always with the same character.
      Mostly though I think I relate to the lion.
     Courage is something that I have come to realize is really about living your own life. And being confidant to be your own person even in times of confusion and doubt. Especially then. If it doesn't feel right, then it's not the time for you. It has to feel right to you in some form. It's about not dancing to another's song but about feeling your own beat and rhythm within and swaying to that sound. It's about not making excuses or being taken off task. And if others don't understand, then they still have life expereinces to learn on their own time, in their own way. They too will be judged.
     For some reason, we humans seem to need acceptance of our actions. Or, we are the ones that want to judge others from our mighty thrones. Yes, I believe it's about that fire within and a desire to live life. It doesn't hurt to have a brain to look at the big picture and steer us in the right path.   And of course, without a heart, there is no love and that life is empty. Ultimately, we can all relate to Dorothy. There really is no place like home, is there Auntie Em?
   Which one of the Wizard's characters do you relate to?

Being Away

    Why do we feel the need to apologize for being away from writing on our blogs?

    I don't think anyone expects us to blog everyday. I don't think we signed a contract to write daily. Although when I am in tune with a writer I look forward to seeing what is on their mind and how we connect over a subject matter, or how their words can affect my moods or way of thinking. They often times will embrace my emotions that I am experiencing too. I don't apologize for not visiting their blog for a while. Even though I sometimes feel a little guilty for not commenting or reading some of my favorite authors more frequently.

      Just like in life, it bothers me when I haven't seen or talked with someone for a while and the first thing they do is apologize about it. I have done it myself. This apologizing thing. We get busy with daily life, we have unexpected circumstances come up. We might feel ill or overwhelmed or tired and maybe even lazy. But nothing takes away from the intention of wanting to be with someone.

     I am not going to apologize for life getting busy. I am embracing the chance to read, to talk, to see and to feel the people that make a difference in my life. No more "I'm sorry that  I haven't been in touch. . . " . Why start off in a negative mode? Let's appreciate and acknowledge what's wonderful in life. From now on it will be "I'm so glad that we had this chance to reconnect again".  Positivity begets positivity.

     This is a little story of  two grandmothers.
One of them said to her children, grandchildren and friends everytime they came to visit . . .  "Oh, why don't you come to see me more often? I am lonely and want company. Where have you been? It's been so long since you were here last."
The other grandmother said to her children, grandchildren and friends when they visit . . .  "Oh my, how wonderful that you made the time to visit me. I know how busy you are and I feel so special that you had some time to spend with me! Tell me all about what is going on in your life."

Which grandmother would you make time for?

My Tante

      I just came back from visiting my Tante Rose in Toronto. It took me 6 hours to get there, what with the Canadian holiday traffic and customs ordeals of a long wait in line. She is what I have left on my mother's side of the family here in the western world. She has two sisters in Vienna, Austria the final survivors of a large family. The three aunts have 5 children between them, but I am talking about connections with the past.
     My Tante Rose is 80 now. She doesn't look it. Still mentally sharp, a bit slower, and limited with an old hip replacement. But as loving, caring and giving as ever. She has always laughed and enjoyed whatever she does in life. Her life has not been an easy one. She has had a hard life, losing her parents and some siblings, along with her home in the second world war. She has limited formal education and  became a young widow in Canada with very young children to raise. She persevered. Tough is what she knows. She did a fine job of raising her children. And she still looks at the positive, no matter what comes her way.
     She is my favorite aunt, always has been. And she knows it.  Shhhhhh, not a word to the other two. I enjoy her company very much. We have conversations late into the night. We hold hands and she takes my arm for support when we walk. We talk about past times, my parents who are gone,  we talk about today, about relationships, about family and friends still here and some gone. We talk about the the future. I try to see her a few times a year, and we talk on the phone weekly. She is one of the few people that I still can speak German to, that speaks the same dialect as I do. She lived with us for a short while when I was very little and we have a connection that is very close and loving. Oh what fun memories I have.
     As much as I like being with her, there is always that time when I must go back home. Each time the good-bye hug gets longer, the embrace more deliberate, the eyes a bit more watery. I know this will come to an end sometime and no matter how much I know it is inevitable, it will be so very hard when it does come.
As I drive away I carry along a huge goody bag from her in the trunk of my car. It's always the same, all homemade, a cake or two, as well as one or two strudels, along with some kipfel to enjoy later. Way too much for me and always plenty to share.
     As much as I love all she does, its the love that she puts into everything that I cherish. I am filled with her love that is so plentiful it overflows from me, and there is nothing to do but share Tante Rose's love with the rest of the world. I hope you have been touched by a little bit of her today.

Going through Life

      At what age in life do we go from being young, attractive and desired; a vibrant person, to becoming a hardly noticed, often overlooked, sometimes dismissed senior?  And what age is a senior?  Is it 40, 55, 62, 70?  Age is irrelavant. I've always thought that old was 10 years older than what I was. It's not a sudden thing although at times it feels like days pass like hours.It's a slow progession this thing called Life. Shadows slowly come over us as rays of light shine on the next generation, flirting and bathing in the wholesomeness of vitality. Youth not understanding all that life still will unfold to them, roads to travel that they never planned on..