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Sleep solutions~

8/31/2015

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What about the silence, solitude and simplicity of sleep? I’m not a very good sleeper. It takes me a while to fall asleep, and then I wake up a couple of times before getting in a good four hours. I go to bed early (9:30) so I can get up early (5:30). Eight hours ought to do it, but of course I’m probably only sleeping for six of them.

      The other night I learned something, something that has been in the news lately but that I had to learn from my own experience. Do not surf the web right before you go to sleep; you won’t sleep. I was looking for places to stay in Florence when I go in October. Great fun seeing what’s available, but no fun afterwards being awake half the night. My brain was electric with unnecessary views of apartments and possibilities. All my usual tricks to stop thinking, slow down and fall asleep were useless; they didn’t even exist.

     We all know how hard it is to fall asleep after we’ve come home from an evening meeting or party that we’ve chosen to attend. But we don’t need to choose the computer as our final evening activity. Knit, listen to music, read (a hardcopy book or turn you kindle to white on black) and then turn out the light.

      So what about the silence, solitude and simplicity of sleep? I want it but it’s challenge to get it. One of my solutions—turn off the computer.


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Italy in October~

8/28/2015

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Two of our grandchildren are here for a grandcation (visit without parents). Because they are teenagers (need I say more), I have silence, solitude and simplicity in the morning.

     They are about to get up. After I cook them breakfast, I will telephone  the airline to change my frequent flyer reservation for Italy from November to October. I just learned that, without consulting me, Pope Francis has planned a four day visit to Florence right in the middle of my visit.

     www.florencedailynews.com reports: “Pope Francis will visit the city of Florence on November 12, 2015. The official announcement has not yet been issued, but preparations are already underway. In those days Florence will be the venue of the Italian Church Forum, organized by CEI, the Italian Bishops’ Conference, hosted by the Archdiocese (Fortezza da Basso, 9 to 13 November 2015).

     "The Pope plans “to spend in Florence the entire day of Wednesday, November 12, 2015. His participation to the conference will be only a part of the visit in the city.

     “According to early rumors, Pope Francis will visit some Florentine institutions that deal with charity and the poor. For the Mass, planned at the Artemio Franchi stadium, is already estimated that participate in more than 50 thousand faithful. This event will be remembered for the arrival of Pope John Paul II in Florence in 1986, when tens of thousands of people gathered around the Pope at the stadium.”


      I offer this detail of the Pope’s visit as I prepare to explain why I want to change my ticket. Where will all those folks coming to see the Pope sleep? Where they will eat? Where will I sleep?  Where will I eat?

     P.S. I did it! Italy in October, avoiding the Pope, the crowds, and the rainy season in Florence.


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The daily rhythm of weaving~

8/25/2015

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I’m doing my best to weave weaving into my daily rhythm. Sitting down at my portable rigid heddle loom brings immediate silence, solitude and simplicity. Some of the tasks are complex, especially for a beginner like me,  but the experience feels simple because my expectation is to enjoy, not create a perfect product.  

     I have gone through over one thousand (not an exaggeration) CBTS sunrise pictures, and selected about thirty to use as inspiration and examples of what I might weave. I’ve warped my loom with a light blue for background. As I weft yellow and blue I’m thinking that art is a series little experiments, with life being a big one. The experiment is the truth and reality of the moment. The best we can do.


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Sacred Saturday walk in August~

8/22/2015

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A sacred walk this morning after coffee inside. It was raining when I got up, but cleared by the time I walked down the driveway and along my usual country roads. August walks on Saturdays and Sundays around here are as silent as they can get. Today there were few cars, no leaf blowers or lawn mowers, and no dogs from open car windows yipping at me.

     A golden retriever, however, bounded to the edge of his property to greet me, but I put him in the category of offering hospitality. He was followed by his three owners, ages four, six, and eight, who wanted to chat. Maybe I equate silence with kindness, and not define it as the absence of noise.


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Morning coffee~

8/20/2015

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Morning coffee is the most sacred time of the day for me. This morning the weather was warm enough for me to sip and gaze while sitting out on the patio. At 5:30 the birds didn’t interrupt the quiet rustle of the trees, nor did the headless moles (they have no eyes) startle me as they skittered silently by my feet.

      I don’t expect the same quiet sacredness when later in the day I take my walk. Of course I will hear cars passing by. Although I won’t like it, at least I’ll anticipate the presences of leaf blowers as fall comes to New England.

    What I will never anticipate is what happened this morning--a dog snapping at me from a passing red SUV as I walked along one of my favorite country roads. This little dog was watching and waiting, head sticking out the back window. I am still upset about it; my reptilian brain is still responding. Oh, I know it wasn’t personal, I know I’m not the only walker he/she snapped at, I know it is easier to control one’s children than one’s dog. I know all this because I have owned several little yipping dogs.

     Although I also know I have to let go of this feeling of being attacked, I sure don’t have to like it. On a scale of one to ten, with ten being most offensive, there are many louder and more grating sounds than a yipping dog. So why is this one right up there as a ten?  Because I was surprised and startled, and felt personally attacked. It has to do with context.


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Weaving as a spiritual practice~

8/17/2015

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With people actually reading Very Grateful, I must confess that my mind has not been filled with much silence, solitude or simplicity. It is not even easy for me to remember to slow down. One help, however, has been my weaving. I sit at my loom, pull the shuttle through, in an out, change the color now and then, and wind the roller to open up space to continuing weaving. I don’t think, I don’t listen to anything. Being while doing. Weaving as a spiritual practice.

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August 13th, 2015

8/13/2015

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A print copy of Very Grateful is now in the possession of the four people who behind the scenes made it happen. I personally handed copies to my developmental editor, copy editor, and publisher, and mailed a book to the designer. In spite of all the work they put into it in the past months, this was the first time they held a copy--experienced how it felt and what it looked like. I could tell they were very grateful.

Random thoughts--
       1) Writing a memoir about one’s amazing mother is a setup for positive responses. Think about it! How could anyone be negative about a Mom’s message of gratitude?  

      2) During this first week that Very Grateful has been available, I’ve become aware that I have revealed a great deal about myself. I can’t believe I never considered that before! Good thing I’m okay with it. New revelation: I am fine being both a public and private person.



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Taking on a life of its own~

8/10/2015

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When I published Joyful Learning in Kindergarten and my other books about teaching, I knew they would take on lives of their own. What I wrote was personal, in that I opened the door of my classroom for readers to see what the kids and I were up to. Very Grateful, on the other hand, is both personal and intimate. I have opened the door of my heart and let people in. I can’t believe that I am just realizing this! 

    The books I mailed to family, and those ordered by friends on Amazon are beginning to arrive in peoples homes. They are being read as I write this, although I haven’t received any substantive comments yet. Maybe I never will, which will be okay with me.

    Here is one comment, however, offered in person from a good friend. “I want to read the book because you wrote it. But I wouldn’t choose it on my own because I know it will bring up more than I want to remember about the deaths of my mother and father.”

      We all have genre we read and genre we don’t read. Very Grateful is not a must read for anyone. Let us just be grateful that we have the choice.



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Silence in the midst of politics~

8/8/2015

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I’ve mentioned before that I’ve pretty much chosen to stay away from the news, and particularly from politics. It isn’t easy as the presidential  primary in the state just north of us is heating up, and as the debates have started. I watched the other night, telling myself that I needed a ‘visual’ of what was going on. I was disappointed on two levels.

     I was disappointed at the cynicism, rancor, rudeness, and negativity of some of the candidates. I was disappointed that the needs of the poor and disenfranchised were dismissed or framed only in legal terms. I was disappointed that these privileged men (and one woman) couldn’t show compassion, empathy or understanding for what it is like to be without health insurance, or the means to earn enough to live on. I was disappointed that there was no talk about gun control. I was disappointed at the subtle, and not so subtle racism and sexism.

    Although I wasn’t disappointed in my opinions, I was disappointed that I allowed my buttons to be pushed. How do I, who longs for silence, solitude and simplicity, want to respond as democracy plays itself out in the next fifteen months? For a start, and perhaps a finish, I don’t want to make cynical, rancorous, rude, or negative comments about a candidate. How about taking the log out of my own eye, and then, if I can’t speak politely, lovingly, and positively, keeping silent.


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Another Perfect 10~

8/7/2015

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This week continues to give us Perfect 10 days. Not just with the weather but with everything. Every day my mom expressed gratitude for her life, and I’m feeling that way right now. People know about my book: I’ve mailed copies to family, put it out on FB and emailed information to friends. And yet, with the exception of my niece who lives locally and received her book yesterday, no one has read it yet. They know about it, but they don’t know it.

    I’m very grateful for the first review given to me over the phone last night: "I can hear Grammy's voice so clearly.”



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