Watching Things Grow

I really think that there is something fabulous about watching things grow up from  the ground, or in this case, out of a planted pot. During the winter, I always buy plants that I can watch get bigger, materialize, and finally become something quite beautiful. When I was first married and we had bought our first little house, the first thing I wanted to do was have a garden. My husband who grew up on a farm, and knew everything about growing things in the ground was not quite so excited, but encouraged me with interest to plant those seeds in the spring. You cannot believe how astonished I was, and elated when I saw those first little green shoots coming up. I ran into the house to tell Mike with such enthusiasm that my husband thought that maybe I had just won the lottery. You see, I grew up in the city, and never once in all of my growing up years did I ever plant anything, and then watch it grow. Like so many other city children of my generation, I had no idea where our food came from; it just ended up on our table for each meal, and I never questioned it or thought about it. Today, I am close to the farm where my husband grew up, and we now have a farm of our own. It is a real joy for me to watch things grow out here in the country; to see the rows and rows of corn and soybeans come up after planting in the spring, but just as important to me is my own little garden at my kitchen window that I watch grow over time, and bring such joy and delight to me on winter days.

PURE JOY

PURE JOY  (grandson, Ben on his 4th B.D.)

 When I was a freshman in High School, my good friend and classmate, lived just across the ravine from me. I was often at her house in the evening, in her bedroom, doing homework (darn little), playing records, crank-calling boys and laughing hysterically! My friend's older sister was a senior that year; serious, lacking in humor and, so it seemed to us,  no fun at all. Her name was, uncharacteristically, JOY. And like the commercial at the time, my friend and I would say, "Joy in a Bottle," and then add, "don't you wish she was." And then again, we would laugh. How wonderfully naive and silly we were then! But this memory brings me to my thoughts today on the subject of Joy which I added to my Christmas wishes,  wishing family and friends "a joyous new year." And as I think of it now, how I wish I could capture that joy in a bottle; save it, and bring it out when I needed it, like on a cold, dreary, winter day. But as we know, not so easy to do, for joy is elusive, undefined, fleeting and often mysterious; here one minute and gone the next. So what are the events, moments, situations etc. that fill us (me) with joy? For me, it can be a first snow storm like the one I am seeing out my window this morning, or it can be a beautifully played symphony. It can be a great class like the one I took this past summer on Music, taught by a great professor. It can be a book I am reading like "Traveling Merceries" by Anne LaMott and so many others, or reading a poem like "Daffodils" by William Wordsworth, or even some of my own which speak to my soul.  Nature in all its variety brings me joy; a yellow finch at my bird-feeder; a red bird at my window; a robin with her off-spring in a close-by nest. Browsing in a bookstore  brings joy to me as well as a good movie like "Mama Mia." Completing something challenging, like skiing the mountains of Colorado years ago was always cause for joy as well as a beautiful painting or sculpture in a museum. One single flower in a vase or the first tulip of the spring season brings me joy! Laughter always brings me joy. And yes, walking the woods on our farm yesterday with a good friend,  in fifty degree January weather, was a great joy! And, as I write this, I am thinking that I need to pay more attention to these times of joy, for, as I begin to relate them here, I realize there are more in my life than I ever knew. So maybe I can begin to store them away, not in a bottle, but in my memory so that I CAN bring them out when I need them, and by their memory bring joy to my life on any day.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

Every year at this time, I reluctantly and disconcertingly think about New Year's Resolutions that I never keep. For, who's list does not include something to do with food? Either we are going on an out-and-out diet, eating only certain foods over others, getting more exercise or in some way or another, losing weight. And just like my Lenten resolutions growing up Catholic, I seldom made it to the "finish line," especially if it involved giving up candy! SO, this year, I am making a new kind of resolution list that I think I can stick to, and one which will, I hope, be a WIN-WIN, reasonable and even enjoyable. Here is my list, not necessarily in order of importance. What's on your list this year?

1. Go out some nights and look up in wonder at the sky.
2. Go for more walks in the woods.
3. Plant a tree
4. Smile more, especially at people who look as unhappy as I sometimes feel.
5. Make new recipes
6. Buy and cook more locally grown food.
7. Drink tea in the afternoon.
8. Keep the bird-feeders full.
9. Write more letters to my grandchildren
10. Be silly more/ laugh more.
11. Sing more, even if people are around.
12. Have some quiet, meditative time each day.
13. Make more nutritious home-made soups.
14. Spend more time at book stores and libraries.
15. Think of three things each day to be grateful for....

Elves at Christmas

Recently we went to visit our grandchildren and while there,  experienced the joy and excitement the days before Christmas bring. I remember these days as a child, and can still recall the butterflies in my stomach as Santa's visit drew closer.
Today, our grandchildren, in the days before Christmas, enjoy the fun and antics of two special elves who showed up just after Thanksgiving, and have delighted the children with their nightly activities. It is the magic of the North Pole snowflakes sprinkled on themselves each evening which makes them come alive, go on nightly adventures, cause mischief throughout the house and hide for the "grands" to find them in the morning. Some work for the parents, but great delight for the kids!
Elves which first came to be known in Germanic and Scandinavian folklore continue to be mysterious with wonderful supernatural powers. They do lots of good things as well as cause mischief! One thing I like about elves is that they love nature, and dwell in forests, wooded areas and leaf-filled trees. Even Santa's elves are said to head south after Christmas to live in the warm, southern forests until they are called back by Santa to the North Pole. They love the springtime when they celebrate the first blooms and enjoy swimming in lakes and running rivers. Elves have exceptional endurance and as they grow older (some live to be 1,000 yrs.), they become stronger and wiser. (Nice!)
Are elves real? Well now, I don't know. Is Santa real? I put these two questions in the same category. And, all you have to do to answer the Santa question is read the book, "Is There A Santa Claus;" the story of eight year old, Virginia O'Hanlon, who was beginning to doubt, and wrote to the New York Times for the answer. If you do not know the New York Times's answer, it is a book worth finding and reading!
It seems to me that elves can be like angels (do you believe in angels?) in our lives; that we, ourselves, can be elves and angels in each other's lives; not just at Christmas time, but all year long.

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

It's that wonderful time of year again, and I am walking down memory lane with all these pictures now displayed on my refrigerator. I love to think about my own Christmases as a child at this time of year; always happy and exciting with my six brothers and sisters in Cincinnati, Ohio. My memories include the time when I was very little, and both my  brothers and I were in the hospital through Christmas with Scarlet Fever, and how Mom and Dad had Christmas for us after we were home, presents, trimmed tree and all. I remember putting out food for Santa's reindeer, the Jingle Bells that my parents rang late at night to suggest that Santa was near and all children should be asleep in their beds. On Christmas morning, I remember all of us waiting impatiently for Mother and Dad to get up so that we could go in line from youngest to oldest down the steps singing Jingle Bells into the Living Room to see what Santa had brought. I remember the year that we all got bikes; the year that we all got ice skates; the year that the girls all got beautiful dolls. I remember the only year that we were allowed to open our gifts on Christmas Eve because my mother was about to deliver our youngest sister, Christine Helen, who came on Christmas morning. Always exciting "stuff" going on at our house on Forest Hill Drive! Most Christmases, our large family of children put on Christmas plays for us, put together, costumes and all, after they had eaten, and while the adults enjoyed their Christmas dinner.  My memories also include the fun and traditions of my own family and the joy my husband Mike and I had watching our own two little girls open their presents from Santa. One Christmas in Colorado was particularly memorable with a snowstorm that would not allow anyone out of their driveway. We had great friends there, and all Christmas Day we had parties on our front porches all up and down the street, some people getting around on skies. One Christmas we went to New Orleans, where my sister lived. That year we enjoyed the sunshine of the south, and the interesting traditions of the people of New Orleans including burning wood-built structures to burn and light the path of Pere Noel along the Mississippi River. As you can see from the pictures above, we have had many Christmases with our large, extended families which is the best gift of all; to be with, and celebrate this special time with the ones you love the most. One of my fondest thoughts for this season came one year via a poem written by a good friend, then in her 80ies and I will add it here. It is called, "WINTER GARDEN"

WINTER GARDEN

Yes we can have roses in December

Someone has said (I can't remember who?)

Because God gave us memories,

And it is true

Kaleidoscopic pictures turn

Behind closed eyelids, sunsets burn

Of many summers gone.

And tawny woods of autumns sped

Still swirl the leaves inside my head,

Still make my eyes and nostrils sting

With perfume of burnt offering.

The vernal fires of greening trees

Ignite the songs of chickadees,

And lo! The robins and the cardinals come!

No longer, nature stricken dumb

In crystal caves of ice and snow

Indeed, the winter roes grow!

In hearts like mine that are contrary

The monarchs fly in January!

And all bright loves and friendships shine

That once were ever yours and mine.

SARA BUSH

Wise Women

Friday night in downtown Bloomington, Illinois, I had the entertaining privilege of being one of the three wise women in the living window display at Cross Roads, a Fair-Trade Shop where I volunteer, and am on the Board of Directors. I love the humor in a piece that was sent to me long ago that says, if the three wise kings who came to the manager had been women, they would have asked for directions, gotten there on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stall and would have brought practical gifts. So what is this thing called wisdom, and how do we get it. Well, the most wise person I have known in my life is my father and so I will try to describe what I think wisdom looks like modeled after him. First comes humility. My dad was a very humble guy, often in the lime-light because of his brilliance, but never wanting the lights to shine on him. He was willing to impart his knowledge to all who needed it, but only saw himself as a fellow-traveler with his own flaws. He was never one who knew everything or thought he had all the answers. Secondly, I will mention "listening." My dad was a great listener; he did not take sides nor did he judge you for your thoughts or actions. Mistakes were for learning, and the gathering of wisdom. Dad listened to everyone from the tallest to the smallest; from the judge in a courtroom to my four year old daughter showing the same amount of interest. He was  singularly focused and made everyone think that what they were saying was the most important thing, and at the moment, it was. Dad knew that there were things to be learned from "important" people with money as well as those who were poor and without power. He knew that he could learn from children as well as adults. My dad listened to the stories of the kitchen help, the waiters, the sales-clerks, the maids, the garbage men as well as teachers, professors, professionals and CEOs. And in his encouragement of these people, he came to understand life better. He had many different perspectives that contributed to his growing wisdom. Next, I will mention, "suffering." My dad was a deep thinker, and was often pained by the unfairness of life he saw all around him, and often did things to help make people's lives better. So, my dad was keenly aware of the suffering of others, but my Dad suffered also with his own demons and problems , and through that suffering, came to appreciate himself, and all human being as flawed but worthy....most often doing the best that we could each day. There are many qualities that contributed to my Dad's wisdom but the final one I wish to mention is Love. Dad demonstrated his love in the many behaviors of his everyday life. When a poor "off-the-street" man came to see my father at his prestigious law-firm, my Dad welcomed him as he would any client, listened to him, and then took on his cause of saving an Alcoholic Drop-In Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. When the good people of a neighborhood in Cincinnati would not allow a six-person home for mentally challenged adults to be in their midst, Dad took the case to the Ohio Supreme Court and won. The House was named "The Conlan House" after my Dad who found this out minutes before he died. He would not have cared about this honor as much as he cared about the people who could now live there. No problem was too big or small for my Dad, and there were so many times that he helped his seven children, and showed his love to them. I remember one Thursday afternoon at Marquette University in Milwaukee (a long trek from Cincinnati) where my sister was entered into an elocution contest. Right before Maureen spoke, my Dad walked in the room having flown by airplane to hear her speech. Now that is Love! I would like to think that, as I age, I am also learning and gathering wisdom. I am lucky. I had a wonderful role model who gave me some of the tools I needed. I don't always act wise, but I am always striving for the wise approach to my life which my Dad taught me through living his own life.

THANKSGIVING

Yesterday was Thanksgiving, and before I sat down to eat turkey and all the trimmings, I intended to write on my Blog the things that I am grateful for in my life. There are, of course,  family and friends etc. but there are many more things in my everyday life that I am so thankful for, like the lovely sun that is pouring through the window this morning as I write this! And humor; God, what would we do without humor in our lives? Perhaps this is one of the greatest gifts man has given to himself and to each other. I could not live without it, and the people who have given me the greatest joy in life are also the most funny. So, to them, especially today, when I am thankful for my many blessings, I say thank you to them; those who are still here and those who are gone. So, once again, as I do each year, I will make my list of what I am most thankful for today...this moment; this day in 2011. I will include the sunshine I spoke of earlier, and also good friends, especially those who make me laugh, or laugh with me. I will also include good books that have kept me interested when I am bored to tears, and yes, beauty....beauty all around, especially the beauty I see everywhere in nature.Yesterday, after a large Thanksgiving meal at the farmhouse of my husband's grandparents that is still in the family, I took a long walk down the country road, and around the two lakes  there, and then sat on a bench in the sun as it shimmered over the water. A small piece of heaven for me, and a small piece of peace. I would be remiss if I did not say this year that I am also grateful for the wisdom I gather from the books I read, and the peace that comes from reading about those who have come before me, and struggled with the same issues and questions that I have. Their wisdom and words often bring comfort. And last, but not least, I must tell you that I am grateful for cinnamon rolls that have been a tradition on holidays for a very long time in our family. Slathered with butter, they melt in your mouth on a cool Thanksgiving morning with the fire in the fire place, the blanket covering your legs and that good book in your hand ready to read. So many wonderful "little" things to be thankful for; so little time.