Time to Go

“It’s time now to go

for everything must end.

I’ll see you soon I know,

knowing time is my friend.”*

📷 geralt on pixabay

All life is leavetaking.  Saying hello, only to say goodbye.  None of us escapes change.

The quote above is from a song, “Time is My Friend” that Julie Andrews sang at the end of her TV show in 1972-73.*  Those sentimental words have survived all these years in my mind and heart.

This year comes to an end.  Soon we’ll see what history has to say about it.  We welcome in the new year, again with many problems left over from last, but yet with the hope of embers glowing small, waiting to be stoked and stirred up again into a fervent bright fire of activism, urging humane and just means to work together- to unify -our hearts and our minds, to forge a more perfect union, using simple qualities of acceptance, understanding, fairness, honor, respect, selflessness, and love.

Time can be our friend.  Let’s treat it that way and quit wasting it on bickering and blaming.  Let’s move forward, together.   Happy New Year.     Theresa M

📷 MDevost on pixabay

*’Time is My Friend” by Julie Andrews and Leslie Bricusse 1972

Ho-Ho-Oh No!

Here we are rolling right into another holiday season.  Whether or not we want it, it’s happening.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could somehow just change the general public’s approach to all of this?  You know, tone down the consumer-focused masses, bring back the real holiday spirit of hope, happiness, goodwill, family/friend reunions.  All the good stuff without the pressure of gift-giving.

📷by annca on pixabay

Don’t get me wrong, gifts are great both to give and receive.  But why did we have to get to the point of so much consumerism.  I looked in my American Heritage Dictionary for the meaning of that word.  It pointed me to “materialism,” which noted “excessive regard for worldly concerns.”  Yeah, true dat!  Checked the word “consume.” Among the normal definition of purchasing goods, it noted “to squander,” and “to destroy totally.” 👀!!  Now doesn’t that define today’s holiday activities?

There is so much focus on the purchasing of goods, spending enormous amounts of money (mostly on credit) to the point of destroying one’s bank account (and peace of mind!).  For what?  Smiles, hugs, thank-you’s?

Seems to me simpler things, even more enjoyable ones, can be done to receive those smiles, hugs, and thank-you’s.  Also, any time of year, gift-giving/receiving is appreciated, I’m sure, by anybody.

📷 Joyce Meyer Ministries

The little things count: the surprise gifts and courtesies, helping a friend with a chore, donating something to a charity, sending a picture of silliness.  Any day.  Without having to shop for the big stuff (big as in large, or big as in price), we can give in a huge way.  And will likely receive the same:  a smile, a hug, a thank-you.

Wouldn’t it be sweet to be excited about the holidays approaching because you get to decorate, listen to fun music, see family/friends, share meals, visit animal shelters or nursing homes, spread a little cheer with tiny packages of sentimental keepsakes or pictures.  And give the big things to those truly in need.

Wouldn’t it be more special if holiday times (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year) was truly about the spirit of hope, happiness, goodwill, and sharing with anyone and everyone around you?

Happy holidays:  Merry Christmas!  Happy Hanukkah!  Happy Kwanzaa!  Happy New Year!  Oh, Happy Day!       Theresa M.

📷 by Larisa-K on pixabay

Snow Woes

Where is that snow?  It’s been so cold lately.  I hear “everywhere else” is getting it.  Some are even having blizzards.  Well, I don’t want that, just some snow. Enough to cover the ground, the trees.

I love to see the sunlight reflecting off the snow.  So bright - snow white (oh, pardon me, that name is taken).  But the glistening!  If you watch carefully, you’ll see tiny little rainbows in the snowflakes.  So magical indeed!

I don’t want snow on the roads or sidewalks.  Too bad we can’t just put in an order for where we want it, and for how long.  Silly idea.  Then people would be arguing about snow on their side of the yard.  It’s much easier to just complain about the weather in general.  Unlike an order at a restaurant, you can’t just re-order it, you just keep complaining.

I do like snow.  Not for toooo long though (oh, I better be careful what I wish for!).   I’m sure we’ll get some in time.  I’m not complaining though.  Well, maybe I will about the cold.  But you gotta have cold to have the snow.  Gee, this weather is stubborn.

Happy sleigh rides to all!       Theresa M

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                         Let It Snow! or Whatever    ⛄⛄

Ah, winter!  With its cold, cloudy days

some filled with snowflakes, some simply grays.

We bundle up and burrow in our warm huts and houses.

Some may drink a nip too much despite alarms from spouses!

Board games re-play for the bored and the grinch

To pass hours of day and night in such a cinch.

Or watch Mother Nature, the squirrels are getting cheeky

As they pop in and pop out, oh how very sneaky!

📷 by Jill111 on pixabay

A warm hot cocoa awaits me at bedtime

As do the cuddly kittens, oh so simply sublime!

Thus for all you summertime souls who dread 

the wind and the sleet

Await your turn for the seasons to complete.

Warmth wends its way under covers of quilts

So high they stack up, I might need some stilts!

Alas, I burrow in with my cocoa and kittens

Oh my goodness!  I left out my mittens!

Theresa M

📷 by Jill111 on pixabay

me and my snowman

Calm the Chaos

📷 Full Moon Arakawa by Hasui Kawase (1883-1957)

Just for today I will allow the world to be as crazy as it is.  I will let the breaking news carry on as if everything they say is really important.  Just for today I will let the shoppers compete for the bargains, spending so much more than they think they’re saving.

📷 mediamodifier on pixabay

Just for today I will read and write in the calmness of my home, while chaos ensues at every corner of the world.  I will sip my coffee while contemplating on the peacefulness within, as people with their holiday visitors argue with and annoy one another.

Just for today I will recline in my chair with the comfort of cats, a dog, and a blanket, and let the highways and roads clutter and clatter, with folks honking and yelling unfavorable epithets.

Just for today I will listen to music, calm and soothing, as the world carries on its noise of news and views, of booming and dooming, with arguments and agitations.

Just for today - a very fine day -  I retreat to a peaceful place I visit deep within where I am safe, happy, and calm.  Just for today can be any day, any time, just about anywhere.  Just let it be for today.   Theresa M

📷 Full Moon Magome by Hasui Kawase (1883-1957)