Hi, Friends.
I was up early this morning, long before the sun. It could’ve been the moon shining through my window that woke me. I was surprised to see it still hanging in the sky considering it rose early yesterday evening. One would think it’d have the good sense to go to bed, but maybe it too is staring at our world with worry.
Either way, Smokey stood at the foot of our bed like he often does, shaking his body so hard that his lips rattle while every vertebrae crackles through the tip of his tail adjusting themselves with chiropractic precision. He then let out his signature, Harrumph.
All of this merely to say, “I’m cold. Can you please get up and help me?”
And who can say No to dog? Certainly not me… So, I complied.
Smokey circled and climbed back into bed while preparing himself for the ceremonious draping of his blanket. This is a near nightly occurrence. However, I do not grow tired of it because one day, he won’t be here to ask me.
I crawled back into bed, but between the aching, white glow of the moon and yesterday’s news from Capitol Hill, I just couldn’t calm my brain enough to fall back sleep. Suffice to say, I am growing increasingly concerned about what the coming year may hold for us here in the states and the world at large. I’d be a bold-faced-pollyanna-liar if I said I’m feeling positive or excited.
And yet despite these fears, morning comes again and my small life goes on. I could choose to shrink from the sheer ambiguous mass of the unknown, but that seems hardly a life worth living. Instead I rise, put my feet on the floor, drink coffee and get on with the tasks of living.
I start school next week at the same community college I attended when Josiah was in early elementary school. I remember those days with great fondness. After years of struggling, rising up from homelessness and then off of public assistance, the possibilities of the lives we could live seemed limitless. It was a highpoint, the crest of a wave that eventually crashed back down to the ground. But for a moment, I felt invincible. I am hoping that returning to school will help me get back in touch with the part of me that believed the world was indeed our oyster.
In the fall, I’ll be transferring to Cal Poly Humboldt (formerly Humboldt State University) and this past Friday I received my acceptance letter. I expected it to come, but was surprised by my emotional reaction. I cried reading the words while realizing how far I’ve come. In the months before Josiah was born, I was homeless and lived for a period of time in a nylon tent in the redwood forest that borders the campus. After all I’ve been through and everything we went through together, attending university, especially that university, is a full-circle victory. I am sure Josiah would agree.
Other things are in the works here which I can’t quite yet mention, but I can tell you that it seems life is starting to head in the right direction. I’ll share once I am able. 🙂
That’s it for now, but I’d love to hear what you’re doing to stay grounded in our ever-changing environment. You can answer in the comments.
Best wishes for a smooth week,
Liz
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Remember the Birds 
What an inspiration you are to me and so many. On the topic of staying grounded I am currently choosing to try and only manage what is in my hula hoop (which is hard to manage and to ONLY try to manage this and not try to manage everyone else’s). Either my heart breaks when the news comes on or it makes me so angry I want to scream. So I turn it off, pray and go back to trying to manage my hula hoop. I love you sister friend!
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Hi Becki! I’m glad you’re here! Thanks for the reminder of the hula hoop. I’ve always appreciated that image. It can be hard when it seems the world is on fire, but often all we can do. I’m hoping that by sticking together and reminding each other of these things, we can get through what the next few years might bring… there I go again! A constant reminder to come back to the moment as the future doesn’t even exist (at least, not yet!). xo
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So nice to get your updates. And congratulations on your new adventure. I don’t know what your capital hill announcement was but I will look it up. I just got out of surgery- they shaved some big toe joints on both feet and after taking some pain killers, I will spend the next week in bed with my babies. A dear friend has been my chauffeur and I am looking forward to some down time. Enjoy being back in school. I could go to school forever. And maybe I will. Hugs to you and the pups. 🤗❤️Marianne
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Hi Marianne! I’m glad to hear your surgery went well and that you have your babies to keep you company while you heal. 🙂 I’m glad you have a human friend there to help you as well! As for Capitol Hill, just more madness and unqualified predators being appointed to head up the most powerful (and possibly dangerous) government in the world. Heaven help us all… I’m grateful for the rise of strong, independent media to report on what’s going on.
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My simple life : I write a poem in the haze of early waking and edit it later. I look out of window at the sky and the trees . Birds were on the branches . I sent a photograph to my friend in Greece . at midday , I walk to the pool and swim 20 lengths . Do some exercises and stretch . . If I am lucky I stroke a horse . Just seeing them makes me feel blessed . Nature keeps me going . Everything else is extra , seeing a friend , reading and practicing gratitude for what makes sense
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I love your list! What a beautiful roadmap to live a good life. Your observations show that you are living in the moment. Thank you also for reminding me of the grounding force of nature. I remember years ago when my daily life was particularly challenging, realizing that the forest was completely unaware of my worries. So when I was there, my troubles ceased to exist. ✨❤️✨
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Nature is everything to me . I spend lots of time outside in my garden in the summer . It won’t be long until I can go out again . So often there is beautiful birdsong which I love . I love what you have said about the forest .
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