It's Not Too Late...Find Your Peace

It's Not Too Late.
It's a missed perception.

ITSNOT2L8.
It's a canoe.
A vessel.
A means to get to an end.

I painted those words on Independence Day...last year.
A month after serving the man I was married to with papers and a month before our second big date with the judge.

'Why'd you name it that? You're not having second thoughts are you?!'

My big little canoe. Brought home unfloatable, scraped, scratched, gouged and weathered... with holes as big as a rump at an all-you-can-eat buffet.

No, it's not too late...as long as you look at it with the right perception. Sometimes that means cocking your head to the side, hanging upside down or even turning away.

A couple of weeks ago, Timmytoes came back to town for a few days.

"You're not thinking of getting back together, are you?!"

We went out dancing, went rafting, he split firewood for me and we took my big little hippie canoe out. I talked about work, the river & the dogs and he talked about his work, sailboat, girlfriends & such ... we enjoyed each other in peace.

Peace... no, it's not too late.

WARNING: Do Not Play YouTube Video UNLESS you would like to listen to some Godsmack....'Speak.' I threw this up because the lyrics to this song lead the words of Stevie Ray Vaughn, the Talking Heads, Ben Harper and such down the side of Not2L8.

One Free Wish...

Tuesday Morning
buildings, dreams, lives, planes, spirits....
crashed, smashed, thrashed.
Lady Liberty shuddered...
The Earth shook...
people were stripped...
peace, love, liberty, freedom... life
circles drawn tight
circles expanding
hold on tight
never let go
everyone counts
may we never forget
We are One
Peace.

Artwork by Singleton

Sunday. Glorious Day Off.

Sunday. Glorious day off.
Stayed up extra late last night in a private, personal celebration.
I knew I would awaken to a pile of past due bills, a heap of leaky-faucet soaked dishes, a hill of 'you-can-not-wear-me-again' clothes and wall-to-wall dog-hair flooring.
Late, late, late last night....I rolled up an oriental rug & for whatever reason, balanced my skinny spine on this cigar shaped pile.
I turned my head & saw Smokie coming.
He kaplopped down onto the floor and nestled his head into my neck.
plump. plump.plump.
The sound of his tail striking the hardwoods lured Vilulah up from her bed.
Rump up and head down, she too, nestled into me.
I loved on them and then fell still.
They joined me in the stillness.
Black nosed and dead-weight heads resting about my shoulders and chest... while I still remained balanced upon my makeshift resting spot.
Peace.
No staffers calling in sick. No deadlines. No laundry. No sirens. No bill collectors or shut-off notices. No dishes. No static. No concept of time.
Nope. None of this.

Just peace. My peace. The kind of peace I just love. Balanced, warm, trusting & true.

I miss my Marbeline still terribly so....but, Gawd, I love my dogs.

09-11... no TV, no newspapers, no radio...natural for me & wisely suggested by the infinitely wise, She.
The telephone rings, but only collectors are calling... no new news there.
It's a day to reflect.
I hung no new flags, tied no more yellow ribbons & won't drive by day with my lights on.
Not because I don't care or am not unaware.
I have flags hanging, some dating back 20 years.
My yellow ribbons get dirty and frayed from the weather and ultimately they come down...and that always makes me sad. So my solution has been to not put them around the big old oak trees anymore.
My headlights won't shut off on their own & I will surely end up with a dead battery, should I turn them on by daylight.
Someone once ribbed me for saying I was proud to be an American, as I became American simply by being born here. True. I guess I ought not be proud to have my family either, but I am. I am more than proud...I am grateful & relieved.
Welcome to be little corner of the world.
Walking down my street, up my walkway, past my mailbox & onto my porch, sit for a spell & then venture into my living room, my kitchen, my den, my office you will see little reminders of me, my friends, my family & my country.

May we never forget.

May the circle go unbroken.

May we nurture the good & let love grow.

May we remain thankful, grateful, aware & appreciative.

May we continue to live, love & learn.

May open hearts, open minds & open communications clear the way for peace... at home, at work, at school & globally.