A Question for Princess Anne???

Purple the Color of Royalty

"Purple is the color of good judgment. It is the color of people seeking spiritual fulfillment. It is said if you surround yourself with purple you will have peace of mind. Purple is a good color to use in meditation. Purple has been used to symbolize magic and mystery, as well as royalty. Being the combination of red and blue, the warmest and coolest colors, purple is believed to be the ideal color."~google search~

Yes, this all be true about purple but what was Princess Anne thinking yesterday? I am no fashion critic, but really Anne? Be still my heart, when the camera focused on you at the Royal Wedding, my eye balls screamed with visual discontent.

It has been reported that you don't care about fashion. So why not then, something just plain and simple? Does the House of Windsor, have a fashion consultant? 

Did you seek out a designer or an upholsterer? I thought your floral coat, an old comfortable couch on it's way to Good Will. Or better yet, did you defrock a royal window of it's dressing and have a Scarlett O'Hara, kind of moment?

I am not sure where your hat ended and your hair began, other than color to define it? A giant poof of spray and glue adorning your royal head, waiting for a homeless bird to seek refuge.

My guess, Dear Anne, is that you have flawless skin, perfect teeth and a beautiful smile that somehow didn't translate well thru the instrument of capture. Your unexpurgated floral array of the color purple, stole your show. I'm usually a pretty positive person Anne, but somehow you have just ruffled my creative feathers!

Best Wishes!

Best Wishes
"A magical wand designed by nature to bless you both on this glorious day. Young lives a fairy tale in the making, filled with promise and opportunity to serve each other and mankind well."
Congratulations, Kate & William, I know a very special guest from afar will be with you today!
That's it folks, I must run to the TV to see what Kate is wearing!
Simply elegant Kate, just simply elegant! Regal and Grace Kellyish! Yikes, I'm old enough to remember that one too!

Commenting!

Commenting

"Writing became such a process of discovery that I couldn't wait to get to work in the morning: 

I wanted to know what I was going to say."~Sharon O'Brien~

I found this quote very amusing because it holds so much truth for me. There are days that I have no clue what I am going to say. If I stare at a photo long enough, a life experience comes to mind and I then find a relative quote, it is like a marriage made in heaven and the angels sing to me. The ideas and words come, but many times I struggle with a pleasant and meaningful way to say them. I have learned so much.

Many of you have expressed your thoughts thru kind emails. I must say that this gives me a great deal of inspiration, so keep them coming. However, many times I wish your kind words could be posted on my blog under the comments link. Many of you have commented and I never get them. I guess they go to blogger heaven. I have researched this a little and I have chosen an option on my blog settings that will allow you to comment more easily without registering on yet another site.

1. click on the comments link at the bottom of this post:

2. Write your comment in the white box:

3. In the select profile: drop down menu box choose anonymous. (If you have a goggle account you can choose that option if you know your password. This includes gmail and yahoo accounts.) 

4. You can preview and edit, if you choose preview or simply click on Post Comment.

5. A yellow box will come up and say: Your comment will be visible after approval.

That's it. Now anonymous means you don't have to tell me who you are but I would so appreciate it if you do, I find it somewhat offensive when you don't. I have the right to moderate all comments. Anything hurtful or destructive will not be published. Constructive criticism will be allowed only if it benefits myself and others. There is no room on this blog for negativity. 

Hope this all helps! What does this all have to do with a photo of cracker roses, not much but I would love to read your comments!

Hieroglyphics!

Hieroglyphics of Angels
"Flowers have spoken to me more than I can tell in written words. They are the hieroglyphics of angels, loved by all men for the beauty of the character, though few can decipher even fragments of their meaning."~Lydia M. Child~
I awoke this morning at 5:23AM. Why is that so special, you ask? The number 235 in any combination has very special meaning for me. It stems from my grand-mother, who I do believe, played these numbers with the local bookies of her day. It was a city, neighborhood, kind of thing to do, long before our modern day lotteries. My dad, her son won seventeen hundred dollars with this number about fifty years ago. A sizable amount for that time.
Have I played this number legally in all combinations, yes. Have I won anything, NO! Then why does it continue to pop up wherever I go?
 Dad was a very robust man and subtly was not one of his traits. He passed in 2003 at the age of eighty four. He was very ill the last four years of his life and depended on me a great deal towards the end. It was such a wonderful gift to have spent this special time with him. I got to know him in a way that I had never known. I grieved him all along the way. His passing a blessing.
When I see the number 235 now, I know that it is he just saying hello and watching over me and my family. I asked for a sign on a medical decision for my mom. There it was the following day on a billboard on the side of the highway. An ad for an automobile and the price, you guessed it, $23,500.00. I told you he was not a subtle man.
So I have to ask myself once again, have I won anything? A resounding yes! I have figured out the  hieroglyphics of his messages from heaven. When I took my daughter and grand-children to the Naples Botanical Gardens last week the entry fee for all five of us was $53.25. He loved flowers so, his hobby, photography! I just know he had a good time!


Submitted to: http://www.lgordonphotography.com/

Perfection!

Perfection
"Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it."~Salvador Dali~
The dictionary defines perfection as: Noun-The condition, state, or quality of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects. The action or process of improving something until it is faultless or as faultless as possible. 
Sounds exhausting, doesn't it? Wasting your time worrying about things that really don't matter and probably won't in five minutes anyway. These beautiful flowers were so perfect I could not believe they were real. I had to touch them to prove to myself that they were. Every last darn petal, circled up, tight as can be in perfect formation. Do you think Mother Nature might have been having an anal-retentive kind of moment when she designed them?
They certainly have their place in any garden but I find them somewhat predictable. Shallow and even paper thin. Give me those old fashioned perennials that kind of do their own thing, land up where they want, offer beauty to the whole and make the garden much more interesting. Almost never perfect in their design, just true and blue to their roots! 
There goes that flower child of the sixties within, trying to escape again!!! I'm proud of my imperfections they make me who I am and give me a great deal to write about!
Maybe tomorrow we could talk about daisies, or have I done that already? How about tulips, we could tip toe thru them! Now try getting that tune out of your head!!!

Appreciation!

Appreciation
"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."~Frederick Keonig~
When my children were growing up it was just understood that we would all respect one another as a family. This was taught mainly by example, on a daily basis. It was discussed at great length mostly by their dad, especially if someone tried to cross the line. We all know that teen years can be difficult at best.
There were several rules however, that were instilled frequently and verbally over the years, by their Dalai MaMa, they became my parental mantra. Here are three I felt very important to share:
1. I die before you do!
2. Do unto others because the karma bus will be there waiting for you!
3. The key to happiness is to appreciate what you have!
Lets discuss number three today, Stephanotis is symbolic for happiness. This one simple little rule is so powerful and holds so much truth.
I'm not talking about working for and acquiring material things that we maybe want or need, I'm talking about people who seem to be bottomless pits of need. Everything is never enough! How do we then, ever begin to fill the hole? This is a terrible place for any person to be, young or old. Over indulgence by a parent could be a cause or lack of indulgence could be another??? I have no real answers here, I just simply know that we must appreciate what we do have.
I just love it when I'm having a down day and discussing the woes of the world with one of my grown children and they throw my wisdom back at me. Gosh, they had to have learned it somewhere. The Dalai MaMa must regroup her frustrated thoughts and start appreciating once again. What's good for the goose is...you know how that goes. 

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter
"Let every man and woman count himself immortal. Let him catch the revelation of Jesus in his resurrection. Let him say not merely, "Christ is risen," but "I shall rise."~Phillips Brooks~
May all the sweet memories of Easter, flood your senses and bring to you, many Blessings, Peace, Harmony and Renewal on this Special Day! 
Let the petals of this calla lily embrace you with love and know that all will be OK.
Remember that to many peeps will make you sick and not enough chocolate will make you groan, so find a happy balance and shed all that weighs you down. Rise above, it is your time to soar!
My Easter Prayer for you. Amen! Have a Blessed Day!
HAPPY EASTER

Sweet memories from my childhood! That's me with the big head in the middle along with cousins and my sister screaming in the front. We are all retired now and keep in touch. Easter was a very big deal in our home, all was new, even our underwear. Got together at grandma's for the Easter Celebration, with lots of sugar and hyperactivity. My parents were always so proud to walk us down the center of church. So darn cute with our new patent leather shoes. My guess is that I was around four years old in this photo. Such a long, long time ago! My dad probably took this photo, he always had a darn camera in his hands. Guess it's in the genes! Need that tissue now!

More On Water Lilies

More On Water Lilies

"These landscapes of water and reflections have become an obsession. It's quite beyond my powers at my age, and yet I want to succeed in expressing what I feel."~Claude Monet~

I know, I know, I know, there I go again with all that water lilly stuff and another Monet quote to boot. I expressed my fondness for water lilies in an earlier blog last week. I am intoxicated with their beauty. So intoxicated in fact, that I brought my daughter and grand-daughters back to the Naples Botanical Gardens to view them this week. This photo has one very lucky duck floating around, last weeks photo did not. Of all the ponds in Florida this chic little duck chose a lagoon with all the bling. Lucky ducks usually work very hard and their luck is not always left up to chance. 

My daughter was mesmerized by their beauty and loved the variety of color. Sophie, the nine year old was skipping, jumping and pointing with excitement, as only the freedom of childhood allows within the parameters of good behavior. Her enthusiasm contagious. My beautiful Hannah Rose, however, the pre-teen, pre-acne, pre-hormonal, post braces, twelve year old was welled up in tears. Princess, Pout-A-Lot, would be a great title for the ruler of her kingdom. My sweet baby, I declared you have a choice, to enjoy this beauty and make the best of it, or you can continue to be miserable for the rest of the stay. No one was going to rain on Grandma's parade. Ice cream and a cold drink seemed to change the temperature all the way around and a memorable day was had by all. Such a lucky grandma am I!

Suffering thru her journey, to be twelve again! Such a beautiful and lucky little duckling!

Fast Food for the Soul!

Fast Food for the Soul
Do you ever feel as though you just can't keep your head above water no matter how hard you try? Can you only imagine how this little guy felt. I have never seen a gecko in the pool before and he looked like he was really struggling. A very nice man swam over and lifted him to safety. I took this photo with my cell phone just before his rescue.
We all need a little extra help once in a while. In fact as I was driving down route 41 yesterday, there were a group of people holding signs that read, "Drive Thru Prayer." What to heck was that all about? My imagination ran wild but I had to remain composed and respectful as my grandchildren were in the car. Holy cheeseburger, fast food for the soul, I wondered! Not sure if this is normal in other parts of the country but this was the first time I have ever witnessed this. By all means if you need this kind of roadside assistance, please stop, pray and get that instant fix. Wow, "Drive Thru Prayer," so much for silent meditation. What will they think of next? You deserve a break today...maybe one could stop for fries later???

Metamorphosis!

Metamorphosis 
"Not quite birds, as they were not quite flowers, mysterious and fascinating as are all indeterminate creatures."~Elizabeth Goudge~

"Overwhelmingly, cultural myth and lore honor the butterfly as a symbol of transformation because of its impressive process of metamorphosis. From egg, to larvae (caterpillar), to pupa (the chrysalis or cocoon) and from the cocoon the butterfly emerges in her unfurling glory. What a massive amount of transition this tiny creature undergoes. Consider for a moment the kind of energy this expends. Herein lies the deepest symbolic lesson of the butterfly. She asks us to accept the changes in our lives as casually as she does. The butterfly unquestioningly embraces the chances of her environment and her body.

This unwavering acceptance of her metamorphosis is also symbolic of faith. Here the butterfly beckons us to keep our faith as we undergo transitions in our lives. She understands that our toiling, fretting and anger are useless against the turning tides of nature she asks us to recognize the same."~google search~

Such beautiful little creatures, so much fun to watch, trying to capture their engaging world. Loved the symbolism I found on the internet above and thought you might also!

Frisbees From Heaven!

Frisbees From Heaven
"Life is a tapestry: We are the warp; angels, the weft; God, the weaver. Only the Weaver sees the whole design."~Eileen Elias Freeman~
Do you think maybe angels toss Frisbees from heaven? If they do wouldn't these giant water lily pads be perfect? Could it be these frisbees from heaven, tossed by angels, hold for us clues and messages from the Grand Weaver, Himself? Is it by chance we meet an angel, who says a few words or sets an example, that change the way we see or at least modify our behavior? Then never to be seen again. There are clues all along the way and it is up to us to grasp the needle and help the angels with the piece work of our master plan. Threads that come together, woven into the tapestry of our being. The Weaver, approving the final design.

Relaxation!

Relaxation
"Never lose sight of this important truth, that no one can be truly great until he has gained a knowledge of himself, a knowledge which can only be acquired by occasional retirement."~Johann Georg von Zimmermann~
Lets talk about, Bacon Press People, today. Yes you read it right, Bacon Press People! Who are they and what do they do? They usually have one foot in the frying pan and the other bandaged because it was in there the day before. They have the weight of the world on their shoulders and let you know it, every last stinking detail. You just can't seem to drain the fat from these kind of people. Stuck in the coagulated state of misery even when the heat is turned off. Laying flat and enjoying the aroma of their existence is beyond the cast iron of their being. Spatting their hot grease everywhere, yet nothing accomplished, their ruffled edges in the way. This condition is magnified tenfold when this type of personality just happens to be in charge! They tend to be a little more charred.
Do we have someone in mind that fits this description? I say you get them an old coffee can, drain the fat, lid it and place it under the sink along side the Drano. Remember those days? Bacon fat always made everything taste so good. Not anymore Kimosabe! 
Studies show this type of fat can kill you. Clogging those arteries that lead to the inability to acquire one's truth. Lift that Bacon Press, people, recognize this condition may be yours, jump into a hammock and let the fat drain, yes, just let it melt away!!! We need a healthy heart to let the love in and repair the damage!

Just Another One of Those Days!

The Ocean is My Stage
"One of the greatest things about the sport of surfing is that you need only three things: your body, a surf-board, and a wave."~Naima Green~
These young men were actually skim boarding, a board on the surf none the less. In this day and age of high tech gismos it was so nice to see them enjoying themselves without a cell phone or video game attached to their anatomy.
Rating a beach day on a scale of one to ten, yesterday was a perfect ten. We were with our daughter and grandchildren who are visiting and friends along with their children. The ocean was that caribbean blue green and the waves were in perfect formation. Not to big or small just the right size to let you know they were in subtle control. The sound of their crash exhilarating. The air smelled of salt and was gently blowing to keep us cool. The sun shown bright not a cloud to be had. The six children in our entourage were entertained for hours by the playfulness of the waves. A day to remember at the beach and add to the tradition of their visits to grandma's and papa's. That's what they are going to take to adulthood, the remembrance of the ocean, the joy and freedom that holds these memories dear. Gifts of experiences, they are the very best to give. Gismos will come and go most likely be forgotten, but the constant of the ocean, now that's a gift that will be forever etched into the memory bank of chilhood. 

Bleeding Heart!

Passion
Do you know of the artist, Frida Kahlo. She painted self portraits with her heart exposed on her chest, always bleeding and she sported a unibrow. Ring a bell? She was an interesting, enormously talented character who was born with an abundant, overdose of passion. Poor, poor, Frida and what to do with it all. Her art, was the vehicle to express herself, lift her heavy heart and channel her passion to benefit herself and all of mankind.
"Passion is a gift from God, the peel that flavors our zest for life. We must possess it or find it  and express it somehow, so that we never look back and wish we had. Passion is not to be wasted in the disguise of drama. Drama is the result of misguided passion with no means of release."~Rosemary Aubut~
Weather it be art, photography, writing, gardening etc. etc., etc., find something you love for you and guide your passion in the name of enthusiasm. Don't waste an ounce of it and let it fester into fruitless drama. Enthusiasm, now when is the last time you felt that?

A Test of Patience!

Flawlessness
"One look at the flower and you will know what can be the most significant meaning of plumeria flower. Yes, it is beauty, charm and grace. Plumeria flowers with their beautiful colors and fragrance symbolize natural beauty. Secondly, plumeria flowers represent spring and new life. They are also associated with beginning or birth of something. Plumeria flowers have a special meaning in the Hawaiian culture as it symbolized everything good in it. The plumeria flower also stands for paragon or flawlessness."~google search~
These beautiful flowers grow as a tree or a bush here in Florida and in many tropical and sub-tropical climates. They are dormant for a long time and actually are quite unattractive. Just wooden sticks in the ground, or so I thought. Aha, but he who has patience will reap the reward of their showy blooms and sweet fragrance. If you have been to Hawaii, you may recognize them as the flower of choice for the welcoming leis.
Just another one of those wonderful surprises that Mother Nature holds in store for us to savor it's presence. My neighbors tell me that they are easy to propagate, just cut off a branch and stick it in the ground. You know that could work for me, but do I have the equanimity(big girl word for patience) to withstand the dormancy that is the prelude to a symphony by nature??? Patience is that a virtue?

Growth With Proper Support!

Wisteria Vine
"In this garden's warm embrace dancing leaves dapple sun to lace."~unknown~ 
This photo was taken at the Naples Botanical Garden, it is so well planned, everywhere one looks there is a vision of beauty. The above quote was etched onto a marble bench adjacent to this walkway. The stone pillars are embellished with the gorgeous wisteria vine. This vine is very invasive and when well tamed and supported it shows it's beauty, unwavering.

"Wisteria symbolizes playfulness and adventure.

Among all plants, wisteria vines are the most vivid examples of nature's playful spontaneity. When they decide to grow, they grow without knowing where to grow to. They never miss an opportunity to engage themselves in a playful act with whomever they meet. The movement of the vine dutifully records the memory of its adventures."~google search~

Sounds to me like the wisteria vine be a lot like children. I was so fortunate to have had an opportunity to visit this magical place. One can only imagine where this impressive walkway leads to next....

Catch of the Day!

Catch of the Day

Who are these two handsome guys and look at that shark! My husband Will and his friend John on the left had an exciting day on Monday. They hired a fishing guide out of Gasparilla Island and their goal was to catch a black tip shark and have some steaks for the grill. Looks like they succeeded. John, an accomplished freshwater fisherman had never caught a saltwater fish, his home was in Illinois, far from the ocean's edge. Will on the other hand grew up on the ocean's edge in Massachusetts and has always had a passion for saltwater fishing. I'm not sure who was more excited about John catching a fish. The trip had been planned for quite some time and so the anticipation grew. Captain Mike Myers, took this photo and estimated the shark to weigh about 125 pounds. It took John forty minutes to land it on thirty pound test line. Will caught a 60 pound black tip and so the boat limit for the day had been met. Other species of fish were also caught and released.

We are so proud of you John and Will. I think it is a riot that you both dressed in lemon sherbet shirts without the other knowing. Looks like black tip will be on our dinner menu for quite some time. So typical of these two, they can't wait to invite more of their friends over for a feast. It is so wonderful to see such good friends enjoying their experience and zest for life. TIGHT LINES! 

A Day To Remember!

A Day To Remember
"Every day I discover more and more beautiful things. It's enough to drive one mad. I have such a desire to do everything, my head is bursting with it."~Claude Monet~
Oh Claude, I know how you must have felt! Yesterday was that kind of day. Everywhere I looked there was a virtual feast for the eyes. Water lilies every where in a rainbow of colors, just hanging out on serene little ponds waiting to be painted, photographed or simply appreciated.
The day started when my friend Judy and I drove down to the Naples Botanical Gardens in her neat little sports car, top down. A very interesting experience, we only got lost twice but with her determination we found our destination. The day was warm and bursting with sunshine. We both had our cameras, ready and fired up with the anticipation of their capture.
We were not disappointed and our expectations were exceeded. What else would one expect from this beautiful city.
The gardens were well planed, well kept and the staff was friendly, polite and answered all of our questions. The size of the gardens were manageable and they can be viewed in one day.I highly recommend that anyone, even if you are the least bit interested in nature, visit this peaceful place and truly enjoy the tapestry and genius of these master gardeners.
I took about thirty photos of water lilies and thought how wonderful it was of Claude to inspire me to love them so. I gave the above photo a painterly filter along with a canvas texture, all the while trying to bring you the essence of a museum quality day!  

An Insight to My Vision!

An Insight to My Vision
Nothing screams Spring more than the vision of a daisy! I took this photo last week and processed it hoping to save it for a special occasion! Well today is that special occasion, because I am celebrating my near perfect vision.
I bring you these facts in the event that any of you may be experiencing any of these symptoms. In the last couple of weeks I had been experiencing some strange kind of floaters in my left eye. Very annoying, I kept rubbing my eye in high hopes that they would disappear. I rubbed so much that I broke a blood vessel and I must say that it was not attractive. As the week went on the red started to clear and a cloudy area formed to the outer left hand corner of my eye. I had already made an eye appointment to check this out and yesterday was that day.
I was blind sighted by the news that I had a small tear on my retina and the good news was that it had been found early. The doctor explained that I was one of the unlucky few in a thousand that develops this kind of condition. I felt very lucky for having found it early because it can lead to retinal detachment and eventually blindness if left untreated. I had lasik eye surgery several years ago and rejoiced in the fact that I no longer needed coke bottles to see. Because I had a history of myopia I am more prone to these kind of tears. This should be taken care of immediately the doctor suggested. I asked all of the appropriate questions, the procedure was explained and then preformed with a laser. I went home patched and dilated in the remaining eye, my vision was greatly impaired.
Lest any of you think I took this news like a big girl you are wrong. I was flipping out inside. Good God, anything but my vision! My friend Judy brought me home, I rested for a while and then invited myself to a pity party for one. A bowl of popcorn and a glass of red wine seemed to help with the anxiety. Life can really throw you a curve ball at times, a ball this time I was lucky enough to catch! Please get your eyes checked if you haven't done so in a while. I am off to the botanical gardens in Naples today so that I can bring you more pretty pictures tomorrow! Can't wait to see what I can see! How lucky am I???

Look Before You Sit!

Not the Focus After All 
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."~John Muir~
No kidding John Muir! What does a mandevilla have to do with my walk with nature, nothing, really. I thought it only fitting to show you a pretty picture before I tell you my tale of woe!
On the eve of the new moon I was awakened by the gentle knock of my kidneys on my bladders wall, as a reminder to excrete the fluid of their labor.
As I stumbled in the dim view of the seven watt to the porcelain vessel of receivership I cast an eye to the bowl and noticed a small dark object just above the water line. Oval in shape, what might it be? I flipped on the sixty watt, blinded at first, I then focused and nearly jumped out of my skin! A PALMETTO! A polite Florida word for COCKROACH, by no other name!!! He waved his little antlers at me as if to taunt my patience, with a catch me if you can, arrogant kind of attitude!!!
My killer instinct kicked in as I did not want to disturb the comfort of my sleeping husband. I had him dead to right, there was no escaping my wrath for his intrusion on my privacy! Close the lid and flush, yes that was my plan of attack. A quick and painless demise for a just and noble cause!
Victory was so sweet, or so I thought! These disgusting little critters can escape in the blink of an eyelid and vanish into thin air. One's lung capacity can hardly keep up with their lightning pace. As I sat in comfort, my eyes opened wide as I thought he might of headed north to a safe haven under the seat. I may have gotten him, but I could not be sure. Good God, you never saw anyone move so fast. Back into the safety of my bed I flew. The husband still totally unaware of my battle with satan.
My beloved bug man will be visiting us again soon for an extra spritz. Sure Shot Pest Control, ya right, mister sure shot, at least you get to stand up! I'll get that little sucker and any surviving relatives if it's the last thing I do.
Now go change you panties, I just know the tears are rolling down your legs. Maybe I'll move to the North Pole or maybe even a high rise, or maybe......Well in any event, you can be sure that I will always look before I sit and I suggest that you do the same!

The Measure of a Man!

The Measure of a Man 154/365
"As a man, I've been representative of the values I hold dear. And the values I hold dear are carryovers from the lives of my parents."~Sidney Poitier~
Where do I even begin to explain this handsome man. It is his birthday today and I wish him many, many more! After reading Sidney Poitier's book, The Measure of a Man, I couldn't help thinking how lucky I was, I have such a man. Sidney, goes on to say that no matter his humble beginnings his family values and the work ethic of his parents instilled in him, his passion for life. He would live his life in respect of his father and never do anything to dishonor him. There was nobility in any job as long as it meant that his family was cared for.
Wow! I recommend this book for any new father!
A retired railroad engineer, Will put in many long hours to support his family. He came in last many times and never once complained. His retirement date was 7/7/07 and I must say he has never looked back and I don't know anyone who enjoys retirement more than he. Fishing and golf are on his agenda now, most days. He loves people and is always kind, respectful and helpful. Recently he was elected as president of the men's club here in Lake Fairway's and I know he will do a great job. 
He has discovered he can sing and also loves karaoke on Friday nights. Now dancing, that's a different story, rhythm seems to be lacking in his DNA. He does the chicken dance to everything and seems oblivious to the beat. He is hysterical on the dance floor and I am proud to be by his side.
Most of all he has the deep respect of his children and they are proud to call him their dad. As for me, he is the wind beneath my wings!!! 
Happy Birthday, Will!

The Secret to Inner Peace!

Inner Peace 153/365 

"As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery. We have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion, while love and compassion and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness."~Dalai Lama~

These words are written by the Dalai Lama, they tell us that the key to happiness is inner peace. But how then do we arrive at inner peace? The negative emotions mentioned  are certainly obstacles in this quest. He then goes on to say that love, compassion and responsibility are the sources for happiness. But how then do we feel the love, compassion and responsibility if we hurt so bad inside? I find that the longer I write this blog, the more I am held accountable to live my words. Writing positive words can be done by anyone but living them on a daily basis is the true evaluation. There can be no love or compassion without truth. Hold yourself accountable, lay blame not on others, take responsibility, your truth will flourish and the hurt will heal. 

Therein lies my secret to inner peace. I guess one could call me the Dalai MaMa! Yes I like that, "The Dalai MaMa." Oh, just let me relish in it for a short while!