1953-20?? Happy Birthday To Me

Nothing makes you more aware of your mortality then celebrating a birthday. As those years click by you wonder more and more about the life you are living. The life (your life) is immortalized by a dash separating the year you were born and the year you died.

THE DASH
(Author Unknown)
I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone,
From the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came her date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth...
And now only those who loved her,
Know what that little line is worth.

For now, it matters not, how much we own;
The cars...the house...the cash
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard...
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real,
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile.
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy's read

With your life's actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

On your birthday I hope all of you have a long "dash" filled with all the dreams you've made come true for yourselves as well as others. How is your dash looking right now? How do you most want your life to be remembered?

BLOG CHALLENGE

The blog challenge did three things for me.
It gave me an opportunity to see if I could cut the pressure of blogging to the alphabets which took creative management, late nights and something I really needed in my writing world ...consistency of writing every day. The lack of these things have contributed to what I call my failure to publish.
Why write if no one wants to read your stuff? Every writer wants to feel validated by having people read their work. I didn't want just "followers" though. I wanted relationships with my peers. I am a writer but I am also a reader. I wanted people to value what I write and at the same time read blogs that I valued.
Lastly I wanted to advance my platform of intelligent, compassionate conversations.
I wanted a place my friends can come to ponder over my topics on religion, race, spirituality, dreams, set backs, accomplishments, failures etc; And we could laugh and cry together. We could support one another. Learn something together.
I've gotten all this from the past challenge and I am changed forever. I didn't acquire friends and peers I found my family. That's what good writing does. It forever binds you to the characters and the story becomes your own.
Thanks Arlee you did real good! Kudos to all the co-hosts and good writing to all who has accepted the challenge. What do you want from the A-Z challenge?

Rush To Judgement

You have to be a jerk not to be upset over the words Rush Limbaugh used to describe the young lady speaking in favor of government aide to purchase birth control pills for those that cannot afford them. Some say Rush is just an entertainer. The truth is, to a conglomerate of people, Rush is the voice of reason, the one that influence how they think. Rush's words carry power.

What is more powerful though is what Rush is not saying. The words he don't let drip from his fowl mouth. Did you know the government pays for Viagra for its Vets? Yep, its a fact...google it.

You see in this world of trick mirrors and smoke screens you have to have the gumption to seek the truth for yourself.

So why aren't we debating that funding? I'm not saying it's wrong or right to pay for Viagra for our Veterans, I'm just asking why no one brings that fact up. Are these men sex addicts, and sluts for whom we demand that they make sex videos for us to watch? Do you appreciate that your tax dollars pay for erectile dysfunction medicine?

My point is this. Compassion warrants that some people in society have medical necessities that they can't afford to pay for. Medical necessity should be determined by the one that is suffering not by the one's that are watching the suffering. Humanity to try to alleviate one's suffering is what distinguishes us from the Rush Limbaughs of the world. What do you think? Really.

SEVEN TIPS TO HAPPINESS

Someone remarked how I always had a smile on my face. What's my secret? Here are seven things I live by that keeps a smile on my face.

1. Forget about the numbers that make you unhappy like age, weight and days til Christmas.

2. You are who you keep company with. Keep only positive friends.

3. An idle mind is the devils workshop. Keep learning something new.

4. Bad things happen, grieve, endure, pray and move on.

5. Don't take guilt trips. Go to New York, Arizona or to my blog instead.

6. You are your best friend. Treat yourself to what you love.

7. Laugh, love, and live. Enjoy the journey that is your life! And SMILE!!!!!

BOOGEY MAN

When the kids are little we spend an enormous amount of time convincing them and re-assuring ourselves that there is no such thing as a boogey-man.

Kid in tow we triumphantly open the closet doors, check under the bed and with complete confidence look behind the bedroom curtains.

Flash forward 15 years. Daughter is in her first apartment. Son is off to college. They are confident and intoxicated with the youthful notion that they are invincible. Nothing bad will ever happen to them. Maybe someone else but not them.

Now it's time to fess up. After years perpetuating the "there is no boogey-man mantra," out of our own fears and watching the news we have to say that there is in fact many boogey-men.

There are rapist, killers, freaks, druggies, robbers, fire bugs, criminals, sex offenders of all kinds and many other things that go bump in the night. All boogey men, all capable of inflicting harm, mutilation, and death. The boogey-man is real!

Please be careful. Never approach a vehicle alone, lock your door, stay alert, check in with the ole parents often, never have a first date in unfamiliar territory and let people know where and who you are with.

And pray!

Are you afraid for your 20 something children and grand children? What do you tell them to make them believers of the dangers of this world?

I AM MY BELOVED; AND MY BELOVED IS MINE

May 2010 was the last time I succumbed to my uncontrollable urges. You know the passions I mean. The one's that hurt you, yet your heart aches for them. Desire is a beast. No matter how hard you run and hide your true self always catches up to your desires. No matter what petty distractions capture your thoughts, it is fleeting and momentary.

My lover always return to me. And my desire is made stronger by the time we have spent apart. As I sink into my chair, I can feel the rush of blood run through my throbbing veins. My fingers tremble as I inhale deeply preparing myself for the electricity to jolt my heart. My mind is alive as my fingers run deftly across the keys of my lap top and words, pictures, sights, sounds, stories come back to me as I am thrust into an imaginary magical world of writing.

My lover has returned, and I prepare myself for the criticism and rejection that surely will follow. I can run no longer.

In other words....I'm baaaaack!!!!! Forgive me for staying away from you so long.

ZEST

Just when you think life couldn't get any better here comes Arlee with the Alphabet Challenge and bam a big heaping helping serving of zest adds a different flavor to the mix. My blog for certain will never be the same. Despite being a lady of a certain age and finishing up my last semester in college I rose to the occasion and blogged my heart out. I only regret I didn't have time to comment as much as I wanted and read every one's blog every day.I am grateful to my new friends and followers and I am looking forward to making house calls on everyone once school has ended May 11th.SO THANK YOU ARLEE FOR THE ZEST...IT WAS JUST WHAT WE NEEDED! Mmmm Mmmm GOOD!