I am continually surprised that friends still think I am going to the cottage by the sea. Because I keep the title and picture for this blog, they assume I am still driving up to Maine and sitting on the deck looking out. Those days ended in 2015, but memories remain and as does my longing for silence, solitude and simplicity. Plus, I sometimes like to be alone.
     In place of this weekly cottage time, I have traveled more, and as I am confident to claim, I love traveling alone. This works out well because my husband loves staying home and working in the garden.
     When we went through our recent decision to move to a condo, I had to put off my usual spring trip to Italy. But when we came to our senses and decided to stay young in this old house for at least a few more years, I immediately got on the internet and arranged a trip to Italy with Monastery Stays. Usually I just go to Florence, but my April 4-19 itinerary is different: Rome (4 nights), Assisi (3), Cortona (1), and Florence (6). I’ll be staying at convents—guesthouses run by nuns. They are beautiful spaces, inexpensive, simple, and all ensuite.
     A cottage by the sea is wherever you feel at peace. 

     Today some friends and I took a field trip to the Museum of Russian Icon in Clinton, MA. Although we spent time looking at the museum’s stellar exhibit of icons, the main purpose of our visit was to view exhibit of the Rushnyky: Sacred Ukrainian Textiles.
This from the museum’s website:
www.museumofrussianicons.org/current-exhibitions/
 
Rushnyky: Sacred Ukrainian Textiles celebrates and explores Ukrainian culture through one of its most ancient and valued traditions.
A rushnyk is a long, rectangular cloth, typically made from linen or hemp, which is woven in one solid piece and sometimes adorned with bright, intricate patterns. They are traditionally made by women, who start learning to spin, weave, and embroider the cloths at a very young age. Today most rushnyky are machine made using modern materials, and can be purchased in retail establishments.

     Here’s our latest plan about moving from this old house to a condo. Indefinitely postponed! As long as we’re physically and mentally active, we might as well enjoy 16 Concord Road—the funky interior and luscious yard, as well as the ease to scoot around the corner to church, walk across the street to the library, or drive a quarter of a mile to the supermarket. So the move is on hold for at least the next two summers, which at our age is about as far ahead as we can consider.
    This exercise has produced many positives. We’re having the downstairs painted, which trust me, is very much needed, and we’re getting rid of stuff, which is always a plus. We will be ready to move when and if the time is right.
    And let’s not forget. we can enjoy the place now. Jim can garden and Bobbi can plan a trip to Italy.

     I follow some blog for older people, name those of us over 70. On 70candles.org women share their joys and concerns about their particular situation during the aging and retirement phase of life. Here’s the response I wrote to Evelyn who admitted to depression and isolation.

Dear Evelyn,
     One of the reoccurring themes I notice for those of us who have lit 70 candles is that it becomes more of a challenge to find meaning in our lives. I believe that that meaning comes more and more from what is inside us and less about what we do.
     If you have a faith tradition, how can to tap into it? A way to start is with meditation. Sit for 20 minutes, noticing your breath, letting go of thoughts. I am amazed how this brings me to a place of contentment and peace both at the moment of meditation and at other times during the day. New insights and peace flow over me. Then there is prayer. There's no 'right' way to do it, so follow however you feel called to communicate with a higher being (which I call God, although the name doesn't matter).
   As a prayer person I pray that you will be lifted from this depression and find purpose. I have faith that things will shift for you. Bobbi

 Nothing seems silent, solitary or simple about the news these days . But of course that’s not the point. I can’t blame school shootings or domestic abuse on my lack of silence, solitude or simplicity because I know it is to be found inside me.
     So how do I respond when my mind and heart keep my thoughts on the Florida victims and their families? I shut my eyes and pray God’s peace surrounding them. That’s my Christian way.
     If you don’t participate in a faith tradition, I trust you have your own way of settling yourself down and disseminating peace into the universe. Very likely you wouldn’t be following this blog if you didn’t.

     When I was growing up, buying clothes was simple. There was no mail order. We went to a store, tried on a couple of things, made a selection, paid our money, went on home, and the next day wore our new outfit to school. That was the culture of the times
     I remember the first time I went clothes shopping on my own. By prearrangement with my mom, I went after school to the store in town that had preteen sizes. I can still picture the grey cardigan sweater and grey and red plaid skirt I selected. Then I called my mom, who drove to town, and parked outside the store. I came out, took the money she gave me, went back in to pay, and home we went. The next day I proudly wore my purchase.
     To this day the entire event plays in my imagination like a marvelous movie. I don’t know which scene is my favorite, the selecting and trying on, or the financial transaction. I do know, however, the winning theme; my mom staying in the background and trusting me to select an outfit that I would never consider returning.
     This memory was sparked by L.L. Bean’s recent announcement to adjust their return policy. Very likely, you’ve received the letter they emailed to their customers. I know times have changed since the 1950s when our country was still struggling with a Post WWII economy. And it’s hard to believe that my mom and I carried out this shopping event without cell phone or credit card! But that's no excuse for abusing L.L. Bean.
     Regardless of the times, these questions come to mind. What is the correlation between the ease in returning things and our general decision making process? If returning purchases is related to the surplus of consumer goods in our country, is there something we might be doing to share with those without even the basics? Just because we can get away with something, does that make it right? Should the law of the land be our only or final guide?

     Most mornings I write what Julia Cameron has named ‘morning pages.’ I open my journal, pick up my pen, record the date and begin writing until I have nothing more I want to say. I then close the journal, never rereading.
      Today, however, I did glance up at two words I had underlined: know and now, noticing their similarity—just one added letter. I had been thinking of knowing as being certain of something deep in my heart more than in my brain--truth, not a fact. Now, as I had written it, referred to being present to the moment I was in.
    For now, here’s my new knowing. It is when we live in the NOW that we KNOW.

     The Super Bowl is over for another year. If you live in New England, and venture out today, I can guarantee you would never know that that such a game was played. No one will mention it, the stores will be stripped of memorabilia, and sweatshirts will remain in closets.
    I don’t even like football, nor do I understand it. I used to boycott it by refusing to talk about it at all, ignoring that it even existed. After I post this I’m returning to that stance. What a brutal sport! Who would ever let their kid get involved, knowing that very likely he will die from some brain injury. With all the concussion news I wonder, big bucks aside, what will happen to the NFL in twenty years. I don’t want to live forever, but I’d love to know how it all plays out.
    One more thing, and then I’m done with football. Most people in the United States are happy today because the Patriots lost. The rivalry, turned hated seems to be the way we’re living these days. Just look at the political arena. The idea of universal love one’s neighbor is qualified by our desire to chose who will live in our neighborhood and who will be stopped at the gate. What happened to Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood.

Righteousness is not just the private practice of doing good; it sums up the global responsibility of the human community to make sure every human being has what they need, that everyone pursues a fair sense of justice for every other human being, and that everyone lives in right relationship with one another, creation, and God.
John Dear