Todays' News

I'm very happy with this recent news!

Boston Globe said..."WASHINGTON — Hillary Rodham Clinton has decided to give up her Senate seat and accept the position of secretary of state"

Ritual

Sorry for the long delay in posting.

I hope you all are doing well and adjusting to this fall weather with the time change and new President-elect! yea!

I have been thinking about rituals lately and thought i'd post my thoughts on that subject.

Recently I attended a wake and funeral. I also attended two bonfires. One of them was to burn old paperwork of my friends' mom who died.

Rituals of all sorts are interesting to me.

We all have our own rituals, even if we don't realize it.

There is something that we may do every day without thinking twice about it. Maybe we wake up and the first thing we do is brush our teeth? Maybe it's feeding the animals? Maybe its putting on reading glasses? Then the rituals go deeper and become more personal. Some people pray or meditate when they wake up, or write in a journal. Whatever it is, it's a ritual.

Ritual can be such a loaded word. Ritual can mean religion to many people, or a cult even.

I watched one of my favorite movies last night called Baraka. I highly recommend it! Part of the movie shows different cultures using ritual. Praying in a certain way to a certain God or Goddess. Honoring a sacred item by kissing it or rubbing it or cleaning it. Bowing down in front of an altar or in front of a statue.

How did rituals begin? Some person at some time in history decided that a particular way of doing something was of significance. Was it during some horrible plague or famine? Was it during a time of strong religion that rituals were formed? Was it to honor the elements and cycles of the moon?

Obviously I could write about ritual forever. I just wanted to touch on it. To recognize that there are cultures all over the world that dance or pray or honor some spirit or God in some way. We all have the desire to honor something or someone in our lives and we all do it differently. Even if you don't believe in a God or a Higher Power, I bet there is something that you do to honor someone that has passed on or to honor the people in your lives right now.

Last Wednesday was the marking of my boyfriend Stuarts' death. Nine years ago he died. I wanted to honor that day by going to the climbing tree we had climbed so long ago. I wanted to do so many things but didn't. I ended up just putting up his picture in a place where I could see it better. I thought of the happy memories I have of him. I played a song that reminded me of him. That was my ritual this week.

This is a time of death and dying. The leaves are falling, the wind is howling, the air is cold and crisp.

After the death and dying phase there is rebirth and growth.

This time of year is important but it can also be challenging.

For there has to be death in order to have rebirth. As child labor can be painful and scary, so can death.

It's appropriate that the Presidential election is during this time as well. It is a time of change, the metaphorical dying of one way of thinking or acting to another way of looking at things. A new administration may bring a rebirth of sorts that we are all craving right now.

What rituals do you have in your life?

VOTE!

I couldn't let this important day go by without saying something about voting.

Tomorrow is voting day. I know it's going to be long lines and long waits. Taking time to vote can be a pain. What if it's raining? That can also be annoying.

Think about the places in this world where there is no voting. Other people decide the rules of the game. People that live in dangerous places literally risk their lives to vote.

So, when you are complaining about the inconvenience of voting, maybe think of a person who is willing to risk their lives to vote. That's how important this right to vote is. Every vote DOES count. Bring a book, iPod, magazine. Make your grocery list or list of meals you want to cook this week. Make plans for this weekend. Do whatever it takes to make it to the polls and stick it out in line. It's worth it.

This election is very very important. It could be history changing. This could be a day that goes down in the history books that your grandchildren will study in school.

No matter what you believe in, VOTE!

There are many life challenges for many people right now. My good friend Nancy is currently packing up her moms' life into boxes. She is going to take the time tomorrow to vote. I know one woman who has been told she may only have months to live. She is voting.

Please take the time to vote.

Thank you

Highs and Lows

I hope you all haven't forgotten about me. I haven't forgotten about all you wonderful readers out there. I've just been out of town and very busy.

This may be a long post, so sit back, get comfy, hold onto your hot cup of joe, and enjoy the ride....

First the Highs...

The weekend after my birthday week I went to a wonderful music festival. I got my camping wish. The festival was in Harmony, Maine. My good friend Nancy and I went there on a Saturday. It was another gorgeous fall day. The leaves were at their peak, the sun was shining and the air was crisp and clear. Nancy and I love road trips. We have the best memories when we go away somewhere. There's something freeing about getting away. Letting all our problems sit on the side lines for a while. All our responsibilities take a holiday too.

Our friend Quester set up tents for us and had the campsite all ready upon our arrival. Thanks Quester! He was playing in his band Freakwitch that night. The music of all the bands was wonderful! I've discovered some new music and found them on MySpace. There was good food, good music and my favorite part of the weekend, (other than the wonderful company I was a part of) was the bonfires! I got my bonfire! yea! We needed fire for sure! It was COLD! If there was one negative thing I had to say about the weekend it was the cold! Camping was challenging but I didn't freeze to death to thats an accomplishment for sure. The temps were down in the low 30's overnight.

The best day for me was that Sunday. We danced, hula hooped, and laid in the grass. No worries. Such a freedom feeling.

Then it was back to reality once again.

Nancys' mom was in the hospital and she needed to get back to her. Her sister was with her mom but it was Nancys turn to sit with her.

Now to the Lows....

Nancys' mom died last Thursday night. I got the call late that night and was able to get a car to go be with her around 11:30pm.

Sitting with someone who has passed away is such a surreal experience. I've had one other experience like it, even more profound. I was with my good friends' mom when she passed. I had been giving her reiki when she let go.

I am so grateful to be a part of this hard time for Nancy and her family. I am grateful for Nancys trust and faith in me to be there with her in her pain.

I am going through some emotions myself. I have the urge to want to take all the pain away from my dear friend. I know thats not possible and not fair to Nancy either. She needs to go through this her way and in her own time. I'm just a witness holding the space for her and what she needs.

I spent most of the weekend with her and am now home for a couple of days to recharge my batteries. I'm going back down there to be with her this weekend for the wake and funeral.

I think its appropriate that her moms' funeral is on All Souls Day. It's a day to honor the dead. To honor those who have passed. Honor the ancients. Honor the Saints. Some religions look at this day as a dark day, a depressing day. I look at it as a day of celebration. Remembering those who are not with us anymore. Remember the happy times, the times of joy.

Its a time when the "veils" of the worlds are thinnest. When communication with souls is easier to do. If you believe in that way of thinking. I do.

So, i've caught you all up on my adventures of late.

I hope you all have a safe and joyful Halloween/Samhain.

Maybe sometime this weekend, you can light a candle, say a prayer, put a picture out of your loved ones who have passed. Honor them, remember the joy and love you shared with them.

I know I will.

Blessed Be

(The Heart Rock Pic I took in Bar Harbor, Maine)

Back to Reality

Well, i've had quite the week of celebrating.

My friend from London and I spent the week running around town and then up the coast for my birthday on wednesday. We went the long way so we could see the rainbow of leaves that are now at their peak of color.

My friend had rented a red mustang convertible, so of course we had the top down most of the way.

We ended up in Bar Harbor and spent the night at a gorgeous Inn on the ocean. We had an amazing meal with expensive champagne! I haven't eaten that much in months! It was worse than thanksgiving as far as the fullness factor went, but well worth it! I had wanted to go out dancing afterwards but couldn't manage it. I think my friend was content with not going anyway. He's not much into dancing.

I got my fix however. I got to go out dancing on friday night. Some friends went out with me to let it all loose on the disco lit dance floor. I had a blast!

I've noticed the last couple of days that my jeans are barely fitting me. I've eaten way too much this week. A bit glutenous.

Its back to reality. Back to eating a bit better and walking more. I don't have the fancy car to drive me around anymore. Just as well, I need the exercise.

I saw a pretty good movie today with an amazing woman who is a survivor as well. It was about an inventor who had his idea stolen by a huge car manufacturer. It was really about how he didn't give up even with all the temptations. He stuck to his morals and persevered through many obstacles. He did end up losing some valuable time and relationships in the process. His efforts have helped so many. Was his sacrifice worth it? That question has been on my mind.

Do you keep on moving forward with your decisions even if it hurts people you love? When is sacrifice worth it?

Is there a path for all of us to take? A path that maybe our souls have chosen before we were born? A path that if we take on leads us to heartache but possibly a necessary choice?

Who's to say?

Was my cancer part of my chosen path, or do things really just happen to us randomly?

When inventors or scientists spend years and years of their life devoted to finding the solution, or the cure, is it worth it in the end?

I'd have to say yes, if its a cure for cancer, an invention to help others in the future.

But then again i'm not the inventor or the scientist who is sacrificing their lives. There are also the monks who spend their whole lives in prayer. The peace corps volunteers who live to help others. The military soldiers.....the list goes on.

This is when I wonder if i'm on the right path.

Am I doing enough to help others? Am I on the right path?

The guilt can sink in when i'm out celebrating my birthday, eating way too much, dancing the night away.

There has to be joy and love in the world too. Its o.k. that I celebrate and love life. I can balance both responsibility and fun can't I?

I do hope that after I'm gone from this world that I have left some kind of footprint, some kind of evidence that I did do some good for others, that I did follow the path I was meant to.

One Year!

October 5th marked a year since I finished my cancer treatments, other than having a hysterectomy.

Saturday the 4th I threw myself a party to celebrate that and also my upcoming birthday (the 8th).

I had lots of friends and family join me at one of my favorite Japanese restaurants.

Party favors were passed around. I wore the devils horns (pictured here). I love having party gifts to play with.

My brother made a trip up with his girlfriend, that was really special and I also got a huge surprise of having my friend from London show up unexpectedly. I was like a deer in headlights when I saw him standing there. I had spoken with him the day before and had no idea of his plans. No one has ever given me such a surprise before!

As you can see from the picture I also had my hair color changed. I wanted to do something different to honor this time. I have always wanted to try dark brown or black hair.

I'm just grateful to have hair at all!

I had a wonderful time and am so grateful for everyone who joined me! I felt a bit undeserving but am working on that. :)

This week while my friend is here we'll be doing some more celebrating by driving up the coast of Maine and hopefully seeing some great leaf colors.

So, heres to a year of survival!

I'm still here cancer!!! You haven't beaten me! So there!!

Paul Newman

Another great person dies of cancer.

Paul Newman seemed to me like such a wonderful human being.

From his actions alone he appeared to do all the things I feel people with fame should do.

To not take money and influence for granted. To share his wealth and ability to give in so many ways.

I won't list all his accomplishments, they are many.

I just wanted to note his passing and say how much I admired him and what he did for children, for the earth, for humanity in general.

I also absolutely LOVE his Newman O's, the chocolate/chocolate ones, YUM!

I hope people can learn from him and follow suit.

You'll be missed Paul!