Love and Peace

I just went downstairs to get my username and password to sign into my blogspot. In the darkness of my kitchen, the one with the 1930's breakfast nook and small table that my father made for me when I was 3, with friendly light from the street lamp illuminating the walls, I came upon my devoted, humble, sweetheart of a servant, rumbling and whooshing, my beloved dishwasher. This hunk of white metal, with hidden hoses and plastic coated racks, with whirling parts that I never get to witness racing around, and with the magic dispensers of dish powder and glass sparkler dancing open at just the right time, actualizes the wishes that women of the past never even dared to dream. Think about it. While I am up here with you, my friends and family, someone fantastic is doing my dishes, efficiently and sweetly. For when I open the door, there they all are, clean, smiling at me, hopeful and ready, not one broken, sparkling and sanitized; happy dishes. I love my dishwasher.

These pictures are from a secret place here in the Hudson Valley that holds onto its natural beauty the way that I hold onto my dream of everyday peace on earth.

How does peace feel? Like you can really breathe freely. Like you have plenty of time; you don't have to rush anywhere. Like you are being loved and taken care of by an entire universe that adores you. Like you can have anything you want just for wanting it and loving it. Like you are truly loved for who you are -- an evolving sweet soul, a beauty. It feels like you always wanted to feel, like you felt when they brought out the birthday cake all glowing with candles and sang happy birthday, happy it was just for you.

Let yourself get the feeling of peace now no matter where you are. For wherever you are, your opportunity is to appreciate hanging around this amazing place called Earth. Jet'aime

Ashokan Days

Dearest Reader
I am living in New York now -- since my last blog I have spent a divine summer -- some say the best ever in the Hudson Valley. Although many people have not heard, the SF Bay area does not really have a summer. Certainly not the kind that we here in the east enjoy. It was so hot here that you could easily not wear clothing around for days. You could take a nap naked, or swim naked or dine naked and never miss any article of clothing whatsoever. Of course I did not do that except when safely in my bedroom, but one could if the culture allowed it.
The moist air of summer in the valley is so smooth that sometimes you feel you could swim through like a fish twirling your body around with head down or up, tail in the waves. Pixley, my 3 year old grandson and I spent many days together having picnics, playing with water, letting the wind blow through our hair and hanging out in the basement with train tracks, engines, freights and woo wooooo's. Almost no one in Kingston is excited and happy when a train cuts off the streets as they rumble by, but Pix and I searched them out. We pulled up as close as we could and watched, shouting out the names and colors of the cars and staring in amazement at the connections so necessary to make a train do what it does -- travel along, pulled by an engine on a track.
That is the theme of my night. Connections.
I have never valued my connections before the way I do now. The links that I have with other people have become like precious seams in an endless quilt of time. I have begun to accept that I am loved and lovable, valuable for simply who I am, for my sweet heart, my soul's desires, for my journey as a simple pilgrim walking along the paths, wandering in the forests and holding the hands of those who I meet. No frills, glitz or can can is necessary. Just the authentic being.
The fascination of a small boy, a strong boy, a bright and energetic boy for trains and tracks carries me along to appreciate being with the people here in this community, this joining of lives together in honoring the river, the mountains, the streams and honoring what happened here before us and will happen here after us. The dance of the sun, the stars, the clouds and the seasons all whirl around us as we alamand left, and right, swing our partners and fall satisfied into our beds at night so grateful for this place we call home.
Je'taime