GROWL!! I AM STARVING----

Yes, Virginia, there is such a thing as Spring in New England. 
The snow is shrinking and melting like a wicked witch and I, like any good bear, am coming out of hibernation.  I am waking up and I am hungry!!!!

I am hungry for:

~green anything—grass, leaves, herbs, salads, even peas 

~color—bold, clashing, bright. My eyes got used to muting

~growth energy—people and plants making their way one more time to new life

~throwing off layers—clothes, habits, stale thoughts, too muchness

~art—exciting, authentic, unique and fresh

~music—in person, up close, see-the-sweat performances

~movement of all kinds–dancing, walking, chasing grand kids

~refreshment—doing, eating, experiencing, anything new

~carbonation, sizzle, liveliness, 

~laughter—naughty, spontaneous, can't stop laughter

I am awake and I am hungry!
And you?

APOLOGY IS CHEAP

I am tired of so many public people making so many apologies.
Finally forced to the wall by public opinion.
It is chronic.
From Brian Williams to Kenye as well as half of Congress on any given day.
Mostly the comments feels fake and so falsely political--vetted by many eyes.
Or they feel sincere but overly contrite, a public humiliation 
I am quite spontaneous and have some words I would like to call back but we, as a people, have gotten soooooo sloppy.
And mean.
And nasty.

People, tighten up!
Do think before you speak.
Do know the minute you stand up to speak, you have gone formal and need prudence.
Do know if you are a public figure you are "on" all the time.

The worst part is what comes out of the mouths that then make the apology necessary. It shows the underbelly of our culture. We are racist. We are sexist. We are violent. We lie. We are vicious. We are crass. We show our worst selves in social media and do it with pride.  

Apologizing is cheap. And a first step, not THE step. After apology comes action,
restitution—action that corrects, that 'restores things to their original state'.  An apology used to be honorable, infrequent and deeply meaningful. We have cheapened an important process of cleansing and resetting our moral compass.   

ODE TO THE PERCOLATOR

We live in a world gone shallow and broad
To dig in deep is viewed as odd

I skim the world with nervous eyes
News at a glance produces sighs

I can't keep up with events and friends
Wondering how a treadmill ends

With its constant movement and forward flow
There is no choice but go go go

Inured to this daily breathless pace
I temporarily stepped out of the race

You'll never guess what made me halt—
My coffee maker developed a fault

Don't get between me and my caffeine
My addiction forced me to use my bean

Out came my dad's old percolator
Meant to throw it out sooner or later

I washed it and filled it with water and grind
As another world came into my mind

Breakfast was slow, lots of time at the table
The scene in my head turned into a fable

"Once upon a time when time still existed"
When friends were few and never listed

No one hurried, but no one was late
Everyone moved at the same 50's rate

No flexible schedules, or 24/7
Every darn thing had time to leaven

My coffee took time, nothing automatic
Maybe I am just a romantic

But time stood still as I listened to soft  perking
Bubbling aroma stopped the time clock lurking

I stood and I watched as the coffee turned color
And wondered what could possibly be duller

Than waiting and watching for coffee to drink
Without hurry or worry or having to think

Then time wasn't precious nor wasted away
Just a normal ritual of a non-hurried day

No need for celebrity or fame
No one noticed who knew your name

On Starbucks, on Dunkin, on Green Mountain too
We love you and need you, don't you be blue

We'll speed up  again with our new coffee maker
But today we MAKE time for our old percolator!!!

WORD WEARY

I find myself word weary today.
And so I am going to honor it and not "make" myself write.
Well--you know me--maybe a little.

Here's the deal.
When you are pushing yourself to perform, it's time for a breather.
Even if, you have a commitment.
Figure out how to honor the commitment and yourself too.
That's what I just did!!!!

DELAYED ENTRY DUE TO JOY

I'm joy logged from a birthday celebration for my two year old granddaughter who lives nearby.  She is my everyday grandkid.  My four other grandkids live a think-about-it, pay-for-it, pack-for-it distance away. So, every visit is a grand celebration. Different kind of special.  I, myself an an event. Grandma! For this little one, I am a background, always there, change a diaper, hand-out-a-popsicle Grandma.

So it was fun to take time to be an event Grandma for her. (With just five of us)
Decorations
Party favors
Special food
No trying to make dinner or write or do laundry while caring for her.

Here's what made my joy:
—Retro dinner of mac and cheese, sloppy Joe's, onion soup dip, and pink frosted cupcakes. We all loved the 50's nature of it.  No calories, no restraint, no food sobbing.

—The favorite gift was a birthday card with a frog that croaked Happy Birthday. This new two year old managed to get all of us on the couch and directed us to sing with her.  She had an elaborate opening count down and a very long vigorous celebratory clapping to end it.  Each time.  Each endless time.  Each one of fifteen or so times.  

—I loved that she played with wooden blocks made by my husband's great grandfather—worn Maple with a patina from the hands of many generations and cousins. I love that her cupcakes were made in my mother's muffin tin by my mom's granddaughter. (That would be my daughter!)

—I loved how she exclaimed and made a big "O" mouth over each and every decoration. I love that she was slow to open any gift and took time to take it in. She took her time and it gave us a sense of right timing.  She is a great appreciator.  

—I love how she joined all of us together in a moment of  joy and harmony generated by her joy.  

May we all be great appreciators who take the time for it and be the first to generate joy.
It is contagious.