“I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)I am never without it (anywhere I go you go,my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing,my darling) I fear no fate (for you are my fate,my sweet)I want no world (for beautiful you are my world,my true) and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)” ― E.E. Cummings

Signs

This morning I hear music. I look around tryng to figure out where it was coming from. I look over to my iphone that was plugged in charging. It was emitting music, but had not been touched. I lift it up to see Pandora pop open and a song I had never heard before. I listen for a moment, captivated. I quickly screen captured the song so I could listen to it completely later.

I've been listening all morning.

I am in awe and humbled by the song and the profound connection such a spiritual song as to life right now.

Eyes wide open Sir Lance.....

My eyes are wide open.

Enjoy Every Sandwich

My last words to you….. “Enjoy that Sandwich”

I can’t believe that when we last spoke on Monday evening that would be the last time I heard your voice or the last words I ever spoke to you.

Like all of our conversations, you greeted me with my special ‘Hello’ in that high-pitched, falsetto teenage boys voice. A voice changing tones that we laughed about so many moons ago, when you journeyed from boy to man. Your greeting was always the gateway back to our younger years, when our friendship formed. Before all the complications of life and growing up. When we were young, innocent, inquisitive and so full of passion for life. We were going to take on the world….Sir Lance.

Then life got in the way. The 80’s came and went ~ Both of our hair getting larger than life. My journey led me to New York City, and yours in a different direction.

Everything in this life’s journey happens for a reason. I am giving thanks that our paths picked up where they left off and that you became once again an important part of my daily life. I will miss you more than words can ever express.

When I’m climbing up rocks or down ravines to get that perfect photograph, I will hear your sweet laughter, as you *got* me Sir Lance. You accepted me for exactly who I am and you helped me embrace the true joy of this Life’s extraordinary journey.

My last words to you…….seem so very profound today.

Not too long ago we spoke of those exact words ‘Enjoy Every Sandwich’ as we spoke of life, love, friendship, family and loss. You told me that you were concerned that I grieved so deeply for those I have lost. We made a promise to each other after that conversation Sir Lance…….

And this morning ~ as the sun rose in brilliant tones of red and pink against a slate gray sky……I watched a small hawk fly through the valley, calling out.

I smiled.

My eyes are wide open my sweet friend……… And I will give thanks every time I see a sign from you from the great beyond.

Until we meet again my dear friend ~ I will enjoy every sandwich.

And I will keep you in my heart for a while…..a long while.

The Examined Life and Mason Jars

The Examined Life and Mason Jars

During his trial for heresy, Socrates is quoted as saying “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

He was on trial for encouraging his students to challenge the accepted beliefs of the time and think for themselves. The sentence was death, but Socrates had the option of suggesting an alternative punishment. He could have chosen life in prison or exile, but he believed that these alternatives would rob him of the only thing that made life useful: Examining the world around him and discussing how to make the world a better place.

Luckily, we don’t have to choose between an examined life and death. Bust sadly, most people avoid leading an examined life.

So where do Mason jars come into this thought process [OK, you all know me well enough by now to know I ramble.....]

My whole life I have been in love with Mason jars. They go hand and hand with my life. My Mamie and Nana taught me how to can using Mason Jars. I have been collecting the little pieces of my life in Mason jars for as long as I can remember.    Movie, Theater and Concert tickets collected through the years. I didn’t have a piggy bank, I had a Mason jar [and still do......about 15 of them filled with change and old subway tokens] I have jars filled with buttons and marbles [see, I haven’t lost all my marbles]. I use them to hold candles and flowers and........

On Pintrest I saw an idea of taking a Mason jar and writing on little pieces of paper over the new year all the things that have happened that you are grateful for, memories, etc. and collecting them in the Mason jar and on next New Year’s Eve open up the jar and read the little notes. Blissful. I am doing it!

But it also got me thinking. Whilst I am going to do the ‘add’ to Jar ['cause I am so good at adding things to Mason Jars] I decided to use one jar as my ‘Examined Life’ and put my ‘resolutions’ in the jar now.  As they are realized I will take the note out and also add that to the ‘into’ jar, so at the end of next year I can ‘Examine my Life’ along with celebrate my life.

My Resolutions this year fall under one category. It is a DO list. A concerted effort *~* to DO. The list is long and varied. There are things that will make me think, make me act, make my life the best life possible this year and more importantly, how to make the world around me a better place.

Here is to 2013.........a Year of Doing!