Theme Song Thursday: Feathers

Yes, you can lose somebody overnight, yes, your whole life can be turned upside down. Life is short. It can come and go like a feather in the wind.
Shania Twain
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I’ve been finding lucky pennies for a very long time, not because I was looking to find them, they were looking for me. The same goes for the feathers. I’ve been finding feathers. I have some very dear friends who believe that finding feathers is a very special lucky thing. So do I, and the feathers have been finding me, too.

Here’s a beautiful rendition “The Feather Theme” from The movie “Forrest Gump.”

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It is commonly thought in most cultures that feathers are symbols of higher thought, spiritual progression. The line of thought here is that birds were considered divine creatures in primitive/ancient cultures because they are creatures of the sky (heaven) and therefore closer to God.

When you find feathers upon your path it could be taken to mean that you are on a higher spiritual path (whether you accept it or not), and it may be a sign of encouragement as you philosophically travel on this path.

Finding feathers on your path is also symbolic of having a lighter outlook on life or a particulary situation. When we see feathers in our midst it is considered a message that we need to lighten up, not take things too seriously, and try to find the joy in our situation.
Finding Feathers on Your Path – Symbolic Meaning of Feathers
Written by avenefica on November 3rd, 2007

The feather I found yesterday on my walk.

Wednesday Words of Wisdom: Sharing

Life’s a funny thing, the minute you think youve got everything figured, something comes along and turns it all upside down. -Zayn Malik
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Sometimes I just plain ol’ feel sorry for myself, stumbling through life, thinking, “Why me?” But then, there are other times when you hear or read about what other people have had to face. It makes you appreciate your life a little more.

My friend, Laura Bartlett, sent me a link to a story written by a friend of hers. He shared a heart-warming story of… “How I Went from TV Producer to Blue-Collar Worker, and What I Learned.” It definitely will make you appreciate your life, your job, and what you’ll do for your family. Larry Kingery Fojtik, thanks for sharing.

http://m.laweekly.com/los-angeles/blogs/Post?basename=how-i-went-from-tv-producer-to-blue-collar-worker-and-what-i-learned&day=25&id=informer&month=02&year=2014

Tuesday: Trials, Tribulations and No WiFi

Our quote for the day. “There’s no WiFi in the forest, but I promise you’ll find a better connection.” Unknown
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My WiFi has been out. I’ve been trying to get it back up for hours. Using the tiny little keys on my cell phone is very disconcerting. I am spoiled. Yikes!

Today, short but sweet.

Well, maybe not.

Toni Andrukaitis

Our quote for the day: “There’s no WiFi in the forest, but I promise you’ll find a better connection” (Author – unknown)
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My WiFi is out! I’ve been trying to get it back up and working for hours. No luck, so I had to turn off the WiFi setting on my cell phone and work from my data plan. Too complicated! I can’t deal with such anarchy and confusion. Plus, these teeny-tiny keys on my iPhone are so small. So, I’ll be brief.

Tip for today: sometimes when I eat an orange or other citrus fruit, I put the peels in my boiling water before making tea. Of course, I wash the fruit well first, then add a tea bag. Nice flavor.

I sure hope my Internet is back soon!

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Tuesday: Trials, Tribulations and No WiFi

Our quote for the day: “There’s no WiFi in the forest, but I promise you’ll find a better connection” (Author – unknown)
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My WiFi is out! I’ve been trying to get it back up and working for hours. No luck, so I had to turn off the WiFi setting on my cell phone and work from my data plan. Too complicated! I can’t deal with such anarchy and confusion. Plus, these teeny-tiny keys on my iPhone are so small. So, I’ll be brief.

Tip for today: sometimes when I eat an orange or other citrus fruit, I put the peels in my boiling water before making tea. Of course, I wash the fruit well first, then add a tea bag. Nice flavor.

I sure hope my Internet is back soon!

Montage Monday: Create

“No matter what your history has been, your destiny is what you create today. What are you going to create?”
― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free
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This was another tipsy-topsy-turvy roller coaster kinda week. Keeping busy 24/7 can have its mind numbing advantages, but being challenged, enthusiastic, energetic, and creative fills my heart with promise.

I’ve been writing every day, challenging myself to share not only words, but my soul with friends, family, strangers and strangers who have become friends. (As of today, 13,567 views since I started to blog…OMG.)

I’ve been going to Zumba twice a week and loving the Latin dancing. I even popped into the gym last week and shot a few hoops on the courts. I’ve still got it…made a few free throws and lay-ups. Pretty good for an old lady. I’ve added walking a couple of miles almost every day. Energized!

On a creative note, I’ve been having fun at Sweet Spot Bakery on Tuesday, where I share a little make-and-take art project, enjoy the tea and treats, and belting out a few tunes with the group and Miss Kathy. Fridays are always spent with my senior art group. Then, Saturday writing group is so inspiring. Sunday is church and breakfast, bumping into friends and neighbors.

Whenever I start feeling down, there’s always something or someone to pick me right up. You can’t ask for more than that, can you? What are you going to create today? How ’bout your destiny!

Sunday: Sermons, Snug, Sunshine and Swans

Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can Her heart inform her tongue–the swan’s down-feather That stands upon the swell at full of tide, And neither way inclines.
-William Shakespeare
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Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: The Gospel is taken from St. Matthew (5:38-48). Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand over your cloak as well.

That was today’s gospel and sermon. I don’t claim to be the most devout person in the world, but I thought, and I thought, and I contemplated the sermon, and all I could come up with is, “Easier said than done.” I say no more on the subject,

After Mass, I ventured over to the Square and had the most yummy yogurt parfait at Snug. I ran into Laura Bartlett and coincidentally it was her birthday. Happy birthday, Laura.

She’s not only one of the “Four Funny Females,” comedy group, but she’s cute a s a button.

It was such a sunny sensational day, that I decided to walk around the Square. Miss Elizabeth over at Sweet Spot bakery was working on a wedding cake. Of course, I just make myself at home, walk into the back room, and visit with the talented bakers.

I always try to cram in as many activities into a fabulous sunny day as humanly possible, so I called my friend Chris. We met at Towne Lake park and went for a long walk and talk around the lake. Everyone was put enjoying the day, especially the ducks and swans who appreciated the bread and treats the visitors shared.

Not wanting to see the day end, when I finally arrived back home around 5:30pm, I went out for a brisk walk around the neighborhood before the sun sank slowly in the western sky. (The walk was especially brisk because my neighbor came out to warn me that he saw a couple of bobcats traipsing around.)

Are you thoroughly exhausted just from hearing about my busy day? Yep, me too! Happy Sunday, y’all!

Saturday: Sunny With a Penny

See a penny, pick it up,
all day long you’ll have good luck,
give it to a faithful friend,
then your luck will never end.
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Another sunny delightful day here in McKinney. I went to my writing group, but was running very late. I have an electrical voodoo mojo ancient computer/printer curse thing going on. I spent at least four hours working on a story and another hour trying to get the darn printer to spit out a few copies. No luck! I abandoned my failed attempts and just left, empty handed. Sometimes I feel cursed.

When I finally arrived, the other gals were happy to see me, so all the rushing and frustration faded away. Ah, friends! Their stories and works were amazing. It was a productive session, followed by lunch and walking around the Square. I did a little more wandering and visiting before heading home.

I detest long lonely weekends. I still haven’t wrapped my head around it, so I try and keep as busy as possible. But, it was a glorious sunny day, so I drove home, scrambled in the house, changed, and put on my gym shoes so I could get a nice long walk in before dark.

I wasn’t more than twenty steps into my brisk pave when I caught a glimpse of a shiny penny laying on the ground right in my path. Wow! I haven’t found a lucky penny in a while. I guess my guardian angel knew that I was in need of a little inspiration and cheering up today. I took a quick pic with my iPhone, picked up the penny, looked up to heaven and said, “Thanks!”

I walked two times around the neighborhood instead of once, feeling good, feeling blessed, feeling lucky. It made my day and made me think of a song from “the old days.”

My lucky penny, I picked it up and all day long I had good luck.

Foot Fetish Friday

Whenever I see your smiling face
I have to smile myself
Because I love you (Yes, I do)
-James Taylor
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Ah, you are probably wondering…foot fetish, what’s that all about? I was trying to decide what to write about today, so I went through my thousands of pictures on my iPad for inspiration. (I do that a lot.)

I ran across this picture of my boys when they were just knee high to a grasshopper. Wow! That’s an old one. It reminded me of happy times when every little thing my babies did was amazing. Now, my babies are grown men, far away from my yearning eyes and arms, but they still make me smile.

My ringtone on my cell phone plays James Taylor’s, “Your Smiling Face, whenever my boys call. So appropriate! Another James Taylor kinda day.
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Whenever I see your smiling face
I have to smile myself
Because I love you (Yes, I do)
And when you give me that pretty little pout
It turns me inside out
There’s something about you, baby (I don’t know)……………

JAMES TAYLOR

I bet this made you smile too!

Theme Song Thursday: You’ve Got a Friend

I learned very early in life that: “Without a song, the day would never end; without a friend, a man ain’t got a friend; without a song, the road would never bend- without a song” So I keep singing a song.
Elvis Presley
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I’m a creature of habit, good habits and bad habits, plus I don’t like change. One of my habits (still not sure if it’s good or bad) is that once I put a CD in the car, it stays there for months. I listen to it over and over and over. I sing along till the cows come home. Well, I don’t have any cows, but you know what I mean.

The CD for this season is James Taylor. I love James Taylor! One of my favorite songs is “you’ve got a friend.” Friendship is so important to me, and I’ve been blessed with countless wonderful loving friends.

I’d like to think that there have been times when I have been a good friend when someone has been troubled and needed a helping hand. But, so many friends have been there for me, especially these past few months…..
“Hey, ain’t it good to know that you’ve got a friend? People can be so cold.
They’ll hurt you and desert you. Well, they’ll take your soul if you let them,
oh yeah, but don’t you let them.”

That’s the theme song for today. “Ain’t it good to know?” Yes, I am blessed, and I’ll keep singing a song.

“You’ve Got A Friend”
James Taylor

When you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand
and nothing, whoa, nothing is going right.
Close your eyes and think of me and soon I will be there
to brighten up even your darkest nights.

You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am
I’ll come running to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call and I’ll be there, yeah, yeah,
you’ve got a friend.

If the sky above you should turn dark and full of clouds
and that old north wind should begin to blow,
keep your head together and call my name out loud.
Soon I will be knocking upon your door.
You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am
I’ll come running to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call and I’ll be there.

Hey, ain’t it good to know that you’ve got a friend? People can be so cold.
They’ll hurt you and desert you. Well, they’ll take your soul if you let them,
oh yeah, but don’t you let them.

You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am
I’ll come running to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call, Lord, I’ll be there, yeah, yeah,
you’ve got a friend. You’ve got a friend.
Ain’t it good to know you’ve got a friend. Ain’t it good to know you’ve got a friend.
Oh, yeah, yeah, you’ve got a friend.

Wednesday Words of Wisdom: Science vs. Religion

“Science investigates; religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge, which is power; religion gives man wisdom, which is control. Science deals mainly with facts; religion deals mainly with values. The two are not rivals.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
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This afternoon, I went to the movies with some friends to see “Philomena.” It was based on the 2009 investigative book by BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith, The Lost Child of Philomena Lee. My son Joe had seen it and gave it the “Mom movie” stamp of approval. He knows what I like. No violence, cussin’, gratuitous sex or Three Stooges slap-stick stupidity. It was a lovely movie.

The movie got me to thinking about the enormous part that religion can play in our lives. We were raised Catholic, as my parents and their parents were, and as my children were. That was our foundation. Some people were raised without any religious beliefs and take a more scientific approach to life, but they are still good people. Religion doesn’t define a person’s heart, the goodness of their heart defines that person.

Without giving away the plot of the movie, (just in case you didn’t see it yet) the Catholic Church sometimes gets a bad rap for many of its present practices and of those from days gone by, but religion gives us that foundation to build on. It’s up to us to complete the house. (Wow! I’m coming up with some deep metaphors.) There are good and bad people in every society or religious background. You can’t make blanket generalizations, but many people do.

I found the movie thought provoking and entertaining. The character of Philomena never lost her faith, even after suffering untold hardships. Anyway, I just wanted to share my thoughts on the movie and my faith. The movie made me laugh, cry and contemplate life. If you saw it too, feel free to share your thoughts. I know you’re never suppose to discuss religion or politics, but this is more like discussing good movies.

Science vs Religion…the two are not rivals.