Spring ... what can one say

April,

Comes like an idiot,

babbling, and strewing flowers.

Edna St. Vincent Millay

I adore this time of year -- Spring , it always sounds to me as if the world gets another chance at new.

The smiles on peoples faces as they shrug off the heaviness of winter, children running in parks, the smell of the Earth as she comes back to life all fresh and green ... and the parade of babies, new ducklings and goslings floating in ponds and on rivers --Spring.

I love walking in the woods on warm spring mornings, listening to the sounds, just strolling through the shadows and beams of sunshine waiting to see what lays ahead, something green or blue, red or yellow, and all fresh and verdant.

The place I go is a series of farm woodlots that have been strung together by trails, and they are protected, you get no ATV's, no bikes, no noise, and you can walk for hours. There are deer, and wild turkey, fox, and the occasional coyote, chipmunks getting into their naughtiness, and peacefulness, blessedly.

I find myself drawn there when I need some time to think things through, or simply to mull life over in my own time, thoughts always seem so much more meaningful when you can come to them quietly.

We in the Region are very thankful to all of the property owners who have been so kind as to ensure that this property is there for those of us who truly appreciate and need places such as these; just to know that life is more then living in town ... much more.

So from all of us to those of you who keep these sanctuaries available and natural; we thank you.

Blessings on you all, wishing you a warm and gentle Spring.

Nothing Lasts Forever ...

Now, don't hang on,

nothing last forever but the

Earth and sky.

It slips ... away,

and all your money

won't another minute buy.

(Kansas, "Dust in the Wind")

I have always loved the song "Dust in the Wind"; it is prophetic and true, for all we are is "just a drop of water in an endless sea".

I have found in my 57 years that life is an interesting mix of what we want and what we need, and is ever so convoluted by our desire to be eternal, all-knowing masters of our universe.

The truth is, "All we do crumbles to the ground though we refuse to see." There is not a single thing man has created, built or brought to fruition that will endure as long as the Earth, for every molecule that was here remains; everything returns to the Earth eventually.

It seems to me that what we want is to survive -- if not forever, then for at least as long as we are able to. Yet we seem to be in such a hurry to eradicate ourselves.

The definition of insanity comes into play here: to keep doing the same things over and over, and to expect different results. Yet that is exactly what we're doing, over and over, day after day.

When will the day come when we finally take the proverbial "look in the mirror" at our existence and realize that we don't have the right to destroy our planet? It is only on loan to us, and every other creature that shares this amazing biosystem has the right to feel safe and secure in the fact that it will endure.

We have the capability to ensure that our existence is more than just existing -- that there can be a measure of quality in our being here -- but not at the expense of all others living and sharing this home.

Statistically we are losing the battle, so to speak:

Each Minute ...

-51 acres of tropical forests are destroyed

-35,000 barrels of oil are consumed

-50 tons of fertile topsoil are washed or blown off cropland

-12,000 tons of carbon dioxide are added to the atmosphere

Each Hour ...

-1692 acres of productive dryland becomes desert

-1800 children die of malnutrition and hunger (15 million/yr.)

-$120 million are spent on military expenditures (1 trillion/yr.)

-55 people are poisoned by pesticides; 5 die

-60 new cases of cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. alone

(500,000 each year with 20,000 leading to death)

Each Day ...

-230,000+ babies are born

-25,000 people die of water shortage or contamination

-10 tons of nuclear waste are generated by 350 nuclear plants

-250,000 tons of sulfuric acid falls as acid rain in the Northern Hemisphere

-60 tons of plastic packaging and 372 tons of fishing net are dumped into

the sea by commercial fishermen

-6 species become extinct

We are very special and we are this planet's worst nightmare. We need to get a grip on this situation before the situation is an event of catastrophic proportions. We can do this; we can stop. It will be painful -- as they say, "No pain, no gain." It may sound trite, but it is true.

... Let's say that the funds directed to the Iraq / Afghanistan war were to be directed instead to helping humanity survive as opposed to leading us down the road to our demise as a species ... just imagine.

Blessings on you all, and prayers for a safer tomorrow.

(Statistics are current as of 1998.)

We are ...

We are ...

a forever meadow

lush and green,

... a bright light

that travels on

into infinity,

... our future selves

swathed in love and

loving,

... an eternal pool

reflecting all

and all reflecting,

... an endless portrayal

of what we were

questing,

... a limitless expression

of limitless expression,

we are.

by: Glenn D. Clarke

Life, in it's simplest manifestation

Be intent upon the perfection of the present day.
William Law

It is a perfect day, the sun shines warmly on my face, our kittens Aja and Vida are curled up on the bed with my darling girl in a beam of sunlight. I know if I put my face to Aja's belly it will smell of sunshine.

My darling girl sleeps now, after a harrowing day gone by -- the loss of Roo is a force in our lives, a memory that will never be forgotten -- a day that though we would rather have staved off, we knew in our bones it's inevitability, and we do the dance with it.

But for now she lays in sunlight, peaceful looking, my Angel of the Morning, and I think to myself "Let this day be gentler on her, let this day bring her some peace."

It is time for me to leave for work, go out into this beautiful day and make a silk purse of this sows ear in my heart, and at the end of this day I will do my utmost to bring home a silliness culled from someone or something in it and perhaps see the smile that I live for. But in my own way I will be "intent upon the perfection".

Blessings on all of you till we meet again.

7 pounds - the movie

Last night Jaliya and I had the distinct pleasure of being able to watch Wil Smith's latest to DVD film "7 pounds", and a pleasure it surely was.

Following on the heels of his film "The Pursuit of Happiness", Smith has been able to attract the same production crew, and in addition the magnificent director Gabriele Muccino and supporting cast of Rosario Dawson, Barry Pepper, Michael Ealy, and Woody Harrelson all combined to make a film that in my personal oppinion should have been nominated for an academy award, and for whatever reason wasn't.

The basis for this film is an incredible wrong that Ben (Smith) has caused, and a debt he believes he carries; In this heightened state of awareness, reallizes that he has the ability to change the lives of seven different people in very distinct ways.

This is a compelling, and very human movie that allows us to see that out of great tragedy can come great good, with a brilliiant performance by Wil Smith (Ben Thomas), and Rosario Dawson (Emily), and equally great performances by the rest of this world-class cast, it is a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

I think one of the aspects of this film that I found almost haunting was the beautifully surreal soundtrack crafted by Angelo Milli, it is truly a feast for the ears.

So dear readers if you truly love great film, just buy this gem of a movie, I'm sure you'll watch it over and over -- I know we will.

Take care for now, and we'll see you soon, until then blessings on you.

Go play with your sisters Roo

Of all God's creatures there is only one that cannot be made the slave of the lash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat.
Mark Twain

At 7:55 am today we recieved a call from Dr. B. that our Roo was in distress, and if we wished to say goodbye, now was the time to come.

I think back over the seven years that my darling girl and I have had together, and the joy that she brought into my life by just being, and I'm a blessed man.

Along with her she brought three darling girls, previously mentioned and nicknamed "the snoop sister's". We had Jaliya,Binky and Roo, the previous two had left us two and three years ago through the merciful aid of our dear Dr.B., and this morning she left in the hands of our dear Dr. also.

Unfortunately we weren't in time to see her and be with her before she passed, and this brings quite a pain to my heart, Jaliya is so overwrought with the pain of loss right now, and this brings me to my knees. It hurts so much to lose one who has been your "first born" so-to-speak, for Roo was the first in Jaliya's life, and there is a very special bond there needless to say.

But on a somewhat comical note, in relation to Roo's ever insistant need to prove that I held no sway in her life; At one point I wanted to pick her up and put her in Jaliya's arms -- it just seemed like the right thing to do -- as I picked her up, her bladder let go, so even in death she had the last word.

I was not perturbed at this in the least, as a matter of fact I could have howled with laughter; she stayed true to her nature to the end -- bless her sweet soul :) .

So for now dear readers I will bid you adieu, for my darling girl is in need of me to be with her for some time.

Blessings on all of your sweet souls, and always remember; Love is the one thing you can give completely, and never run out of, so give it freely.

Goodbye sweet, love you

I need a moment's pause ...

"My mind feels like a frog in a blender"
My Jaliya

Dear readers, please excuse the seeming bizarreness of the above statement; it was originally made by my darling girl a few years ago after her mother died. Another term could be "discombobulated" -- a somewhat distracted state of mind. (Jaliya sez: "The blender was on whip!")

I loathe Spring colds; I was saying to Jaliya today through sniffles and hacks that I had made a grievous error in making the statement a few days ago: "I'm so fortunate to have escaped being sick this winter" -- an example of "Watch what you ask for/ say -- you may get it."

So here I sit, sniffling and snuffling and generally feeling like "poo", and my darling, knowing what I'm like when sick, is making me chicken soup :) , and generally loving me from a distance (smart girl ).

I really don't know why I'm writing to you of this; I guess it's a fulfillment of the belief, "Misery wants company," and if that is true (honk, hack, aaaachooooo) I'm terribly sorry.

Chicken soup is here ... Time to go. Be well in yourselves and bless you all.