Around the World & the Bizarre Boys

They had first names that I once knew, but I couldn't tell you now what they were for the life of me.
They had last names too, but I always knew them as the 'Bizarre Boys.'

For five years, from the time I was three until about eight, they lived across the bumpity-bumpity brick road from us.

We lived on the lake and had a dock. They liked to fish & used our dock.

In their back yard, between the hammock and the shed, they had a rich black worm mound.

I liked to grab an old tin coffee can and dig my dirty little fingers into the cool, dark dirt & pull out worms for them to fish with.

Older than me, they weren't as fascinated by the idea of a worm hill as I was.

I never really liked these boys, and I certainly didn't like a lot of things they thought was funny or some of the things they did...
but I did like that worm hill...
and I loved their hammock.

I knew that if I dug for their worms and gathered enough up in the coffee can for them, that I would get my reward.
I'd climb up on that hammock & sit with my feet dangling....
I would watch and wait.

Before too long, one of the Bizarre brothers would push me before taking off to go fish.
I loved it and almost always squealed for them to push me harder, faster.
And they would.

One day while I was digging in worm mound, they asked me if I wanted to go around the world later on.
I thought of digging a hole right through that worm mound, straight down to China and all the Kimono's and Koi Fish that could come back with me, so I promptly told them 'Yeah...I wanna go around the world!'

Sitting on the hammock a wee bit later, one of the brother's told me lay square in the center & hold on tight.
I smiled and laced my fingers into the side of the hammock, spreading my feet and locking my toes into ropey slots.
His brother joined him and the two of them paced slowly backwards, pulling the hammock with me inside, back and up with them...
so began the first push.

My laughter was matched with theirs as they pushed me faster & harder.
I pulled the sides of the hammock over my face and torso.
I pulled my feet together and dug in deeper with my heels and toes.
I centered my gravity where the earth seemed to want it.

And so I began my trip around the world...
around and around I went...
full-circle.


(Artwork, "Sisters" by Sister Singleton... Counting down the weeks until my sisters and I begin and end our trip around the world with one another...at the beach...may the circle remain unbroken)

One Moon & A Million Moods

Thoughtful & sincere ... a sweet soul, dear to me, sent this to my way.


If you found yourself captivated by the world she stirs...there is also this fanciful & imaginative little poem by Zora Bernice May Cross, which you might enjoy.

The New Moon

What have you got in your knapsack fair, White moon, bright moon, pearling the air Spinning your bobbins and fabrics free, Fleet moon, sweet moon, in to the sea? Turquoise and beryl and rings of gold Clear moon, dear moon, ne’er to be sold? Roses and lilies, romance and love, Still moon, chill moon, swinging above? Slender your feet as a white birds throat, High moon, shy moon, drifting your boat Into the murk of the world awhile, Slim moon, dim moon, adding a smile. Tender your eyes as a maiden’s kiss, Fine moon, wine moon, no one knows this, Under the spell of your witchery, Dream moon, cream moon, first he kissed me. Zora Bernice May Cross Austrailia (1890-1964)

Artwork By Singleton of JustGiveMePeace

Flowers, Books and Covers

Judging books by the cover.

Long, skinny hair & a waif-like body
A reserved demeanor with liberal smiles
make-up? probably not.
hand-me-down levis' and a faded peasant top
home-made hippie beads & a long leather chain
wooden beads and open toes
slowly sipping on an ice cold beer.

Clink! Tink! Clash!

Lips painted the same color as her nails.
red.
face freshly powdered
hair short & well groomed
eyes bright with a reserved smile
gold on gold & definitely no leather
pressed shorts & closed toes
fingers from both hands wrapped around a wine glass

...

'So, what do you want to do when you grow up?'
A quick flip of the hair and a pixies wink over her shoulder
'Sellllllll flowers?' Sarcasm, the nectar of her words

The corners of my lips curled up into a smile.
I was an adult, at the time in my thirties.
And, I'd been down this road before.

'No, but funny you should say that....'

Silly woman...
I guess she didn't know not to ask questions that you don't want answers to & that a true hippie would simply give you a flower...

(Hippie art, of course, by Sister Singleton;)

Sister Sing Psychedelic Sun

Some Sunshine for Me, Mel and anyone else who needs it...
May we all be kissed by the sun soon!

(compliments of Sister Sing & her beautiful hippie art!)

Morning has Broken...Happy New Years

Sister Sing has always, always, always said that how you break your New Year in is a pre-flection of how the New Year will be for you.

• Many Mexicans believe that eating 12 grapes at midnight...one for each month and examining their flavors, one bt one, will give you a taste of what each month in the New Year will be like.

• In Venezuela it is not uncommon to write down all of your wishes for the New Year and burn them at midnight.

• Most Europeans believe that noise will chase away bad spirits away & therefore the streets and houses can be very noisy on New Years across Europe, especially in France.

• The French also believe that the first person to enter ones home in the New Years symbolizes what the New Year will be like for the owners.

• Some Puerto-Ricans spreas sugar around the house and yard for good luck in the new year.

• Breaking bread for prosperity is an old tradition in Poland and in the Phillipines it is believed that a table full of colorful fresh fruit will also bring prosperity.

• The Japanese will decorate their homes with paper garlands, symbolizing good luck & happiness, believing teh decor will chase away bad spirits.

• The Danish save their broken dishes and throw them at their friends door. In the morning, the more dishes you have, the more fortunate you are.

• Burning Juniper branches in the Netherlands is thought to bless the house with good health.

• Brazilians believe that the color you wear on New Years indicates the blessing you will have. White is common for peace & good luck, but rumor has it that many were wearing yellow this year, hoping for financial blessings.

• They also believe that if you light candles that the marine goddess will see them & grant you your wish.

When I awoke this morning, the amber glow of one little candle was still burning... The dogs were mellow and affectionate... The sun was bright and warm, but the breeze crisp and cool... The coffee was rich and the company, even richer... Morning has broken...
Peace. Love. Happy New years to all.




Cat Stevens...Enjoy!

Last One Standing & First One Down

Barefoot, with toenails painted & fingers not, sporting jogging shorts and a black sabbath tank, the dog days of summer were upon us.
The fire engine red polish winked back up at the sun, as did the wet, wavy tinsel some 30 feet below.
The iron tubing that served as the top bar on the safety railing was as hot as an iron skillet ready for batter.
With both arms behind me, I gripped the bar with one hand, then the other. Playing hot potato.
'David did it.'
'Yeah, so did Will. He said it was fun.'
'A lot of people have done it.'
'I heard it's a rush man.'
'Are you gonna do it?'
'Yeah, I'll probably go for it....you?'
'I don't know...looks pretty scary.'
I say nothing and notice that the iron tube seems to be cooling under my palms.
A 1965 white T-bird convertible pulls up and Billy bellows out...
'Skinny! What the phuck are you doing?!'
'Just hanging out'
A horn honks...pulling away, Billy barks 'Hang on! Lemme park this beast.'
Before he can run up the incline of the bridge, a 79 Spyder comes driving past.
It's Steve.
Steve who is 3 years older than me.
Steve who has delicious blue eyes that seem to dance when I'm around.
Steve who surfs & smokes pot & makes me stomach do flips.
Steve who bangs a U-turn when he sees me.
Steve who came back around and stops just in time to see Tracey pull my jogging shorts down to my ankles.
Steve who saw me instinctively let go off both bars to pull my bottoms back up.
Steve who saw me do what no one else there had done.
Plunge 30' feet down off the bridge and into the open salty waters below.

Sometimes...in life, if we don't jump or get pushed, we simply fall to where we are meant to be.
'Last One Standing' Outsider Hippie Art By Sister Singleton