10-28-13 RMB Seek and Find

10-28-13 RMB Seek and Find

Dear Rita Mae Brown,

The days are busy with plenty of work. Is there ever more time than there is work to do? Perhaps it is one of those “as you seek, you shall find” kind of things. I’ve always liked work, so I will always find more to do. My challenge finding the moment where it is best to walk away from it, to say when enough is done and save the rest for another day.

There are systems called edi (electronic data exchange?) where bookstores and retailers transmit orders to vendors. Our system, at the small publishing house where I work, is acting up. So on this Monday, after a break for an hour long walk, I returned to work until ten in the evening. Yawn, I am whupped now.

So, “as we seek, we find”, is that true of our creativity? Can it be drawn out of one tired, whupped, wanna be writer by the seeking of it? Or does the stage need to be set for the performance to occur?

Some say “build a shrine, that you might remember daily to be grateful, a place to pray.” As though, by building the place physically, you manifest the emotions, the desire internally.

It makes sense that we must bring our tools together in order to complete our tasks. Boot up the computer, or gather the pen with paper, arrange for a time and place sit to write. Remember, energy is required, so allow for time to write when there is a bit remaining within. Bring along goals, important tools, also known as wishes, wants or dreams.

What of that gratitude business? What tools do we gather, what place do we build, what is the dream, to what destiny do we wish our gratitude to carry us?

Maybe I am too tired to make sense right now. But I have gathered my computer, a few moments and wish, a dream for a better tomorrow. And with these words, I encourage creativity and gratitude, two elements that join to bring us a better tomorrow.

Thank you for listening RMB, for being the catalyst for these letters, for asking of your audience that we create. In one of your talks about Animal Magnetism, which I watched on YouTube, you pointed to the audience and stated “I believe in you. I do.” That means a lot. It really does.

Seeking and finding,

 
Loraine

10-27-13 RMB Parks, Football and Authors

10-27-13 RMB Parks, Football and Authors

Dear Rita Mae Brown,

On this Sunday, I took the sister to an early morning meeting, piling sleepy boys in the car. Last night, after their moms’ wedding, we went to their schools Halloween gathering, played carnival games and rode rides. Then they retired at my place, giving their moms a one night honeymoon.

After dropping the sister off, we travel to a nearby park, where I walk and three boys rest in the car. As the sun warms the air, chasing away dawns chill, the boys crawl out of hibernation. One by one, they appear, asking for their scooters from the trunk or a ball or whatever strikes their fancy, as the day calls them out to play. Bless the invention of the community park, where strangers exchange smiles and dogs get their fill of attention and boys play, living out adventure after adventure.

As we go about our day, between tasks, riding in the car, we listen to Jillian Michaels’ book Unlimited. I like her no nonsense approach, although I have to caution the boys not to repeat some of the words she uses. From her, the words fit. She cuts to the chase. She makes good points. Mile after mile, the CD plays while we drive around and we are enriched by her insights.

By the middle of the day, I get a chance to watch football. Aaron Rodgers has captured a bit of my heart. He is one of the blessings in my life. A bit over the top? Perhaps, but what else would you call someone that brings excitement and fun in your life? His determination to do his best shows in every game, in every play, and it inspires me. He has a goodness about him that shines through. Yes, he a blessing to me.  

As are you Rita Mae Brown. By the end of the night, I am ready to retire to the solitude of my room, where I curl up on a small couch with the book Off the Beaten Path to read the RMB contribution to the compilation. It is a Dead Man’s Curve story from your youth, involving those lively characters, your mother and aunt. I get a kick out of seeing your humor, insights and stories in the books you have contributed to. You are too fun.

So, what do we take from this day, hmm? That we live in a country graced with community parks, fine athletes and outspoken authors, where we are blessed, uplifted and encouraged in equal measure, where life is the adventure we make it out to be. All for one and one for all!

Forty-two, fifteen, hut!

 
Loraine

10-26-13 RMB Wedding

10-26-13 RMB Wedding

Dear Rita Mae Brown,

It was a beautiful Saturday morning and today the moms of my nephew trio celebrated their eleventh anniversary by getting married. The church was full of well-wishers, friends and neighbors gathered. As the church started to fill, the first two pews were left open on both sides for family.

I asked Maria where her father would be sitting, as I wanted to sit with him. I have grown to respect and admire the man for many reasons, too lengthy to go into here. That is when she said he would not be coming and neither would any other blood relative.

For some, family from Indiana, distant supplied a plausible excuse. For others, prior obligation took precedence, even though this had been planned for months. For her father, health was an issue. He had accepted the invitation earlier, but declined the night before, sending condolences that he could not attend.

Although the family remained absent, this was an improvement above the reaction over a decade prior, when “right” and “wrongs” were the issues at hand and lines were drawn. The lines are more subtle now. There is support, verbally at least, if not in their physical presence, from some limbs of the family tree and far less animosity all around. Yet the complete absence spoke volumes of how far we have yet to go. Under different circumstances… well, I’ll leave it at that and not get on a soap box.

What I admire about these two women, is their ability to move forward with their lives. To take the best there is to offer and return the best of themselves. The universe has rewarded their efforts. Unlike eleven years prior, when gathering immediate family was a challenge, at this wedding ceremony, they are flanked by the family they have created. Three handsome young men, my trio of nephews, walk down the aisle behind them and stand alongside them as they renew their vows.

Proud and brave in their devotion, suits and ties, they are our knights in shining armor, as they protect and expand the spirit of this family. That spirit extends outwards to many that we are all blessed to be attached to, not by blood, but by choice, by the heart. Upon hearing the news about the family members, I went down the center of the church five minutes prior to the ceremony, pulling people I recognized forward and asking everyone else to move up as well.

It was a big shift and whenever anyone said “We’re leaving those pews open for their family”, I told them “You are their family.” It made everyone feel quite welcome and important, and they were. As everyone settled in their new places, I looked around, quite pleased at how the family had come together. Everyone sat closer, closer to the front of the church and closer to each other than they had been. These moms have a way of doing that, of bringing people together, and I was happy to be part of the process.

The family of the friend that would be doing signing for the hearing impaired, sat near her as she took her place at the front of the church. Her sons, who have attended all the boy’s birthday parties, sat in the front row with her partner. On the other side I sat with another best friend that once held the newly born youngest and has watched the boys grow over the years. Her husband and mother, more members of our “family”, joined us. Next was the neighbor and closest male “family member” to the boys, and his wife. He mows their lawn with his own, has taught the boys to mow and offered a fine example of the kind of man and father we all hope the boys might grow into someday. There were too many to mention them all, but you get the gist. And ALL in attendance were family.

Their honorary and honored, adopted “Auntie Lisa”,

Loraine

PS. For an even more personal perspective of Maria’s day: http://mariasmeanderingmind.blogspot.com/2013/11/family-is-as-family-does.html