Ring in the New!

Getting ready to ring in the New Year, naturally one would think, resolution time! Not so much, been there done that, it's just not for me! Sure I want to start off the new year on a positive note, although I don't believe I ended the old with even the slightest of negativity.  In my mind, there is always room for improvement, of course, nothing ever stays status quo, we always strive for the next level, whatever it may be.  Goal setting (resolutions) has a tendency to fall by the wayside, leaving you with the feeling of letting yourself down.  Not for me, instead I will approach each day in my usual fashion, with  a zest for life, as we travel this road but once.  My mantra......improve the moment, make it last a lifetime.

With that said, exploring why I won't set resolutions in stone are numerous:  as a child, I was an avowed veggie hater, corn, raw celery and carrots, the exception. Daddy's abundant vegetable garden  supported the family from one season to the next, through a preservation technique called canning.  For the most part, life was fantastic, peas, green beans and brussel sprouts, the only exceptions wreaking havoc on my young mind.  Well, maybe birds did as well, but that is a whole different story!

Understanding veggies through the education and preparation processes enabled me to accept and actually adore them.  No longer the dimpled olive drab colors resulting from the canning technique, green beans and peas are now my friends.  Brussel sprouts on the other hand, are best when left as I remembered them in youth: using them as ammunition during the end of summer season garden clean up fight!  Along with over ripe tomatoes, neighborhood bullies were defenseless!

At the other end of the spectrum, the mouth.  Not any mouth but my mouth.  Try as I may, it always opens, but on a positive note, it's under control. Needless to say, no resolution regarding the mouth will ever be made, I know my limitations, it's useless.

Many of my colleagues announce, " new year, new diet!" Right, never lasts! With numerous fad diets, diet Gurus, super foods, super diet pills, body wraps and anything else used to make a fast buck, no thanks,!   One thing I am certain about: life is my passion, no resolutions necessary.  Whatever my lifetime has given me, I give to others and it always returns!

So on the eve of this New Year, choose wisely, love, live and laugh, improve the moment and make it last a lifetime! Happy New Year!

 

 

 

 

 eve of this new

'Tis the Season, time to Say...Bye!

 Two forty five in the early morning hours, wide awake and it is my day off.  Never could understand why this happens.  On days I HAVE to arise, this NEVER happens!  With a full moon aglow, navigating the darkened rooms, easy.  As I quietly make my way to the living room, the soft warm comfy glow of the Christmas tree beckons.  Perhaps, I will sit and enjoy its final night, for daylight brings the tedious task of packing away the holidays trimmings for another year.

Laughing to myself, I realize I am carrying my pillow and blanket, sneaking towards the room all aglow.  As if coming full circle, childhood memories of snuggling near the tree, hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa, invade my wide awake mind!  Funny how I would always awaken in my bed, "Santa" would somehow transport me back there before he and the "Mrs." filled the room with presents.

Now settled on my couch, I open my little iPad, perhaps the wee hours will lend some inspirational moments, to the black hole consuming my mind.  Hmmm, nothing!  Searching frantically for the remote, I carefully turn the TV volume down, wouldn't want to wake Papa Bear!  Ahh, the soft glow of the fireplace, warms my innards, even if it is on the holiday TV channel.  Turning up the volume just a bit, I now hear the crackling of the burning Yule Log.  Seemingly cozy, I return to my thoughts..........nothing jumping out at me but I listen.

Loving the quiet solitude of the night, I await the hoot of the owl!  This majestic bird of prey lives deep within the preserve of my back hard, yet silence surrounds me! Perhaps it is too cold even for my feathered friend.  Better yet, the hunt might already be over and with a full belly, he too is hunkered down.

As I watch the "flames" dancing across the screen, seemingly unimportant thoughts begin to swirl,
creativity begins to build, only to be squashed by the loud snoring of Papa Bear in his den.  NOW, I understand why I was wide awake.  Okay, maybe an early morning spot of tea, will suffice.  I can always snuggle back down after.......maybe? Tiptoeing to the kitchen, I turn on the stove.  As I wait for the whistle of the kettle, I peer into the preserve, moonlight casting ominous shadows, one can tell the chilly winds are a blowin'!

Christmas over, yet the holiday spirit still very much alive, Clement Moore's "'Twas the night before Christmas," pops through the black hole:
 " he spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk
and laying his finger aside of his nose
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

......but I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

What this really means: snoring has stopped, is Papa Bear joining me to bask in the warmth of the holiday season?  Excuse me, I stand corrected:
"Clasping his hand around the remote,
With the press of his finger, my flames are now smoke,
This warm holiday spirit must be a joke,
It gotta be Spring, Papa Bear just awoke!

Reflections, Lessons Learned

Early morning onversations with old friend David, are always a welcome start to my day.  Remembering years back, he would be the first Guest to arrive at our wee restaurant in the cozy and picturesque village of Baltic.  Nestled in the valley alongside the waters of the Shetucket River, this small village, a melting pot of society and ethnicity.

Not much has changed.  Fred's News Restaurant, a warm and unforgettable memory, the building still standing guard, the neighborhood, no longer alive with hungry patrons heading to the inviting little "town hall epicenter" of a restaurant. Closing my eyes, conjuring up images of early morning Guest, ready to begin their day or report breaking news, discuss hot topics or partake in poignant conversations, sadly the empty building a stark reminder of past times, times shared by a family that grew larger each year.

Without rehashing old events, there is something to be said for a place like the former Fred's News.  In today's society where people talk even less, communicate through social media, a society whose wake up call is a constant bombardment of negativity, where people watch, tweet, and type their way to unsubstantiated conclusions, we need people who listen, not just hear but actually listen.

Remembering explanations to and from my kids, both parties throwing the accusatory words, "you're not listening to me," usually brought either party back to reality.  Sadly, today's society neither wants nor is in touch with reality.  Whether the fiscal cliff, the end of the world, insufficient holiday sales, what's new and exciting with Reality TV shows and what other forms of repetitious nonsense will pop up to challenge our couch potato mentality,remains to be seen. Shocking tragedy, however has served the same purpose. It is by all accounts, the most horrific and senseless actions that are societies reality checks and why?

We talk of the end of the world, where pestilence, fire, and disaster will reign, what of these families, their lives shattered and torn, their children, their futures, their hearts and souls ripped apart by actions that could have been avoided. Perhaps we as a society, a people, had we listened would have heard, noticed and acted upon the signs.  With that said, will we learn or will history repeat itself?

We Ask Why?

As I sit in the quiet darkness, the warm glow of holiday lights giving the room a sense of calmness and security, I close my eyes, trying to make sense of the horrific event of the past week. I cannot nor do I want to forget, I simple want but one answer, WHY? My feelings of gut wrenching terror, insanity, and mindless insane furor have subsided, leaving me with black emptiness, loneliness, pitiful confusion and tear stained cheeks, but still the answer eludes my being.

Visions of fresh young faces, smiling, tugging at our hearts, forever frozen in time, their innocence of youth painfully branded into our minds. With their protectors by their sides, souls  now at peace, their images cry out to the masses, resounding across the cosmos, searching, searching........the answer eludes them as well.  We find solace in knowing, nothing more can harm them, forever protected within the arms of their heavenly Father.

We are not alone in our emptiness, all one has to do is watch.  Coverage of a society in mourning is continuous.  We could find comfort in knowing we are not alone, should we? Again, I do not nor do I want to, I simply want but one answer, WHY?

Out of this horrific and senseless chaos, a survivor, the chosen one.  She cries softly,"Mommy I'm okay but all my friends are dead." In the arms of her parents, they hug, cry for mercy and give thanks to our God, yet they feel guilt, but why? I say, "do not ask why, she is our hope, our reminder in the battle of good versus evil, she is our messenger...do not let history repeat itself, we must learn from our mistakes, it is never to late.  This young and frightened weary child, triumphant in her battle, may very well be the answer we so longingly search for, perhaps,she knows why.  We SHOULD!

Interesting, Intriguing and Definitely NOT Famous!

Throughout the years, opportunities to meet interesting people have presented themselves in many ways.  Most assuridly there have been the rich and famous, others not so much.  Yet it is this group of relatively unknown characters, I find most interesting and in some respects, intriguing.

Ironically, we faithfully search the web, peering, laughing and sometimes bookmarking our favorite videos, all in the name of entertainments, ours and those we pass it on to.  For some,  this claim to five minute infamy might be just that, five minutes.  For others, cult status may be achieved, with millions of "hits" worldwide, they are pressured to perform.

As I ask the memory banks to cough up bits and pieces of interesting people I have met, sounds of a distant train whistle signal the early morning Lakeland pass through .  Quite some distance from here, the soft breezes carrying the sounds, awakening the neighborhood,it also reveals my first memory of meeting someone I thought to be quite interesting, unique and one of a kind.  My mother, mortified, made it inherently clear, this encounter was not to be repeated, ever.

As a child, living close to the railroad, our house was perched on a hill, the railroad passed below, but a favorite pass time was sitting in the grass counting all the cars, waiting for the engineer to wave or blow the horn, the other assistant standing in the caboose would give that final parting wave. A small station not too far up the street allowed the train at times, to slow to a crawl.   As I watched fascinated, the door of the boxcar opened ever s slowly.  A gruff and grubby looking gentleman peered from within, throwing something out, then in flash, jumped as well.  Moving closer to the white picket fence surrounding the yard, I watched with keen interest.  In comparison to my size, this man seemed massive. Collecting his belongings, he began walking up the hill towards the house.  I don't believe he saw me, but I was going to make sure he did!

My immediate job as the yard watcher was to wait for the older neighborhood kids to return from school, but this massive world traveler, lumbering towards my yard, towards me, was so much more important!  Damn near gave the poor man heart failure by yelling "hey who are you?" Now that I think about it, I don't think he wanted to be seen nor did he see me,  I remember running along the fence, through the rose trellis, standing on the steps and in rapid fire succession, questioning the weary traveler.  As a four year old on a mission, this guy did not have a prayer!

As I opened the kitchen door, my new found friend in tow, words of questioning praise suddenly turned into a look of horror on my mother's face.  "Mommy, this is my new friend, he says he is hungry, he says he will work for food but I told him you wouldn't mind 'cause you are a good cook, Daddy says so, and...............I never had a chance to finish!  In a flash, my mother grabbed me, I think.  The man never got food, never spoke a word but ran as fast as he could back towards the railroad tracks, my mother hollering making sure he was gone.......for good.  As for me,  the lesson learned "don't talk to strangers" made me realize, strangers are fascinating, just CAREFULLY pick and choose! For months, I would watch, hoping he would return and wave.  Maybe he could become our friend and tell me all about riding the trains, maybe?

Magical and Mystical Holiday Happenings

Magical and Mystical Holiday Happenings!
 
Sitting here in the wee hours of the morning , the soft glow of Christmas tree lights, warming the room, casting shadows in every direction, I glance upward noticing the ceiling; it looks as though I am sitting under a canopy of evergreen branches.  The whiteness of the ceiling suggesting snow, yet the soft pattering sounds on the rooftop tells a different story.  Early morning coolness along with this soft rain, will shroud the landscape in a blanket of fog so thick even my beloved preserve will be starkly quiet. The little creatures never know when a much large raptor might be lurking!
 
As my mind begins its usual antics of thoughts swirling, fighting for recognition, the shadows create a feeling of secure warmth and sense of comfort.  Turning on holiday music, just loud enough for me, after all it is just a tad past three and Papa Bear is fast asleep,  but my mind has decided he is the only person that is going to be allowed to sleep! Trying to put the thoughts and happenings of the day to rest and get into a two day off relaxation mode, I let my mind run free. One particular thought keeps swirling round as if riding a holiday carousel but not being able to grab the elusive brass ring, so the swirl continues.
 
In the minds of children and adults there are many magical places but the holiday season conjures images of a jolly old elf in his red suit, much smaller elves scurrying 'round, multitudes of toys, colorful, intricate and carefully piled high, awaiting delivery to a child.  A picture perfect image that has been created for years in the minds of many. Perhaps it is this vision of happiness, security and loving warmth that allows the imagination free reign.
 
 Last Christmas season I found a small green and blue shoe, know as a croc.  It's owner had dropped it beneath the massive holiday wreath adorning the walls of the great Wilderness Lodge, where magical dreams are born and enjoyed year round.  As its wee owner returned from their excursion into the land of fantasy, it somehow disappeared into the blackness of the night sky, leaving unanswered questions about the tiny owners magical journey.
 
Yesterday's drive to the "Magic Kingdom" was anything but magical.  That shroud of fog previously mentioned was blanketing every inch of the tropical landscape.  My four o'clock drive was as if I was being hurled through space , the blackness swallowing my every move.  An occasional faint beam, suggested stealth movement of others encompassed within this nasty phenomenon.  As I drove through the massive gates of the Wilderness Lodge, a soft glow beneath this moisture laden blanket returned warmth and excitement to my heart knowing I had arrived, safely!  As I creep along the tree laden drive, sparkling little jewels peered at me in all directions.  This region is alive with miniature white tailed deer, they quietly munch the green grasses at the edge of the Lodge drive.  Once parked the fog again engulfing me as I take the long walk to the entrance, I am being followed. Peering through the fog all I see are the eyes.  It's quite comforting, much like an escort service, they are insuring my walk through this dense eerie blanket, is not alone. As I approach the massive entry, they sense I am safe, retreating into the blanket of blackness.
 
Very much similar to the late night walk through this gorgeous lobby, the early morning trip, equally as pleasing.  Quietness engulfing the spirit, one can breathe in the haunting and majestic magic of this place, it's rocking chairs empty, beckoning early morning visitors to enjoy breakfast in front of the dancing flames in the massive stone fireplace. Holiday decorations awash in thousands of tiny lights, soon the inhabitants of this place will awaken, the hustle and bustle will begin, hungry Guests will fill my "fish camp" then disappear into the early morning fog,their magical journey just beginning.
 
Walking the quiet hallway to my office, keys in hand, just the quiet hum of cooling units lets me know everything is working, I can still hear the faint holiday music in my now clean, sparkling empty dining room.  I peer through the door, everything in order, a clean fresh smell tells me the night time cleaning "elves" are finished.  I look in the opposite direction, kitchen lights on, my early bird bakery people are creating magic as well.  Just a few feet from the office door, something lay on the floor, perfectly left awaiting my arrival.  Hmm, can't be but it is, two Mickey head adorned green and blue crocs, slightly larger than the tiny one found last year.  Looking in all directions, I see no one! As a small shiver passes through my being, I pick up the crocs, a bit worn, letting me know their owner has walked much, no longer being carried by his Dad.  Entering my office, still surprised by my early morning find, perhaps I should place them in the exact place as last year's little one.  Sneaking out the back way, I open the massive wooden door.   No one is here yet, I place the worn green and blue crocs beneath the majestic green wreaths that adorn this entry way.  Feeling quite silly, my thoughts tell me otherwise.  Their owner has been transported on a magical Christmas journey, his shoes await him.
 
An hour later,  welcoming Guests, I peer out to the walkway, hard to believe but my green and blue crocs once again have disappeared.  Perhaps retrieved upon returning from a magical mystical journey of fantasy at the most magical place on earth!