Saturday Snippets

waking with a cold nose cocooned in  a down duvet
puttering in bare feet, looking for slippers
making hot coffee and French toast with maple syrup
blogging and watching CNN
chatting with Dad from Florida
stripping beds and doing laundry
bundling up and venturing out into frigid
banking and shopping
watching Kidlet's game
chopping, peeling and cooking
eating
folding laundry and daydreaming
catching up with MIH
catching up with Big Girl
savouring a piece of KitKat left over from Christmas
making tea
hanging with Kidlet
drifting off
winding down
closing up
bidding all a good night.

And how was your Saturday?

Stood Up - Almost

So NOW you decide to show up!
You were expected last December and you were a no show.
Oh sure, you dropped by briefly with empty promises of a quick return ...
you stood us up.

We resigned ourselves that you weren't coming
The salt by the door, the shovel standing sentry - both used but once
Don't get me wrong, we weren't disappointed
But you could have called.

Like an unwelcomed guest you blew in last night
And greeted me full force this morning.
Winter - we thought we had dodged your wrath
But apparently not.

Please don't settle in for a lengthy stay
When you failed to make an appearance
We started looking foward to Spring
Albeit optimistically - and prematurely.

So now you've made yourself known
Just in the nick of winter time
And even though I complain about you
It just wouldn't be the same without you!

Simple Things

It's the simple things that deliver joy, comfort and contentment.  Here's my list ...

~ waking up with 30 minutes still left on the clock, drifting in and out, meeting the day lazily
~ standing in a shower so hot it makes my skin red

~ finding my soft place to fall - the sweet spot just below his shoulder
~ wearing warm woolly socks on my ice cold feet

~ seeing the shining eyes of my reflection when I am rested and relaxed

~ hearing a John Denver tune on the radio
~ strolling along the waterfront while my mind wanders the infinite

~ catching a rerun of The Way We Were on a wintry Sunday afternoon

~ singing from the top of my lungs to my music as I clean

~ sipping something steaming from my favourite coffee mug with a handle big enough for me to slip both hands through

~ eating leftovers

~ rummaging through memory boxes bins

~ I love you's that are murmured, proclaimed and jotted in notes.

~ peeling a perfect banana - firm, unbruised and little on the unripe side of things
~ pulling my luggage through airports, knowing I am on my way

~ using a fresh bottle of shampoo for the very first time

~ being bundled on the couch with a book and a whole day stretched out before me

~ bleeding hearts - the kind that peek through winter to herald spring's arrival

~ piling cheddar cheese on a piece of fresh homemade bread covered with strawberry jam

~ eating the above with a hot cup of perfectly steeped tea

~ not being able to roll over because my dog Fritz is laying right between us
~ writing with the perfect writing pen - the kind with a comfy grip and that glides across the page

~ snapping a picture knowing you got the perfect shot; that you captured the perfect moment

~ wearing new underwear

I met a new blogfriend a few days ago ... Christina from Soul Aperature. Her blog is fresh and creative and well worth a visit (you'll overstay!). She is inviting us all to post the simple things in life that we appreciate and for each blog that participates, she and her family will donate $1.00 to Doctors without Borders. Just leave the link to your post in a comment on her blog. It feels good to support her giving ways.

Still

It was still - a momentary lapse with no disturbance - absolute quiet.
The sun hadn't risen yet as I made my way to car this morning.
Tiny snowflakes were shimmering silently in the dark.
I paused, inhaled deeply and savoured the moment.
For if this is the only moment of
utter peace that I have all day -
I will be grateful for this single,
reverent, reprieve from
everything.

For one single
moment in time
there was only
cool air filling my lungs,
hushed city hum,
diamond droplets falling from the sky -
and me.

E x h a l e

No thought, no action, no movement, total stillness: only thus can one manifest the true nature and law of things from within and unconsciously, and at last become one with heaven and earth.

- Lao Tzu

Dropping Monica a Line

I finally wrote my first letter to my Sudanese sister from Women for Women International. It was hard to know what to include ... but I decided a heartfelt introduction was in order. Here is a little of what I wrote:

Dear Monica,
I have waited for this chance to write to you for a long time. From the moment that I learned about the need and struggles of my fellow women and the work that Women to Women was doing, I wanted to be a part of it. As women we share a common bond of sisterhood. We are caregivers; we have people we love and nurture and have to be the strength that our children, husbands/spouses and parents turn to when they need support.

It was wonderful to finally see you my sister – your noble face staring back at me. Your eyes look so sad Monica but you look like a strong woman. I wish I could sit with you and share a cup of tea; you could tell me about your life, your family. You could share your pain and tell me what makes you happy. I could wrap my arms around you and hug you close so you would know that you are have a sister on your side. I would tell you that I am a mother of three daughters ... and  am a wife, daughter, sister, aunt, friend. I would tell you so much ... but I would listen more...

I want to know all about you Monica ... maybe you can write back. But if you can’t, I want you to know that someone very far away thinks about you and is sending you lots of love. I know it is difficult to take care of children and make a life for yourself but I can see the fire in your eyes and I know that if you make a picture of the life you want, you can have it. Life will get better. Believe.

Love  – your far away sister.

Kenya Confirmed

The dream is slowly crystalizing from those wisps of imagination, desire, visualization and passion. It's morphing from dream state to concrete reality. Trip is booked and half of the cost paid as a deposit. [Bad news: now the bank account is empty.Good news: we have 2 months to save up for the rest.]

Flights are booked. My credit card is bursting (and so am I) but I keep reminding myself that this trip with Kidlet to Kenya is a once (or twice) in a lifetime opportunity ... worth every penny or shilling. I am not used to spending money I don't have. I have never taken a trip that I haven't paid for upfront so this credit thing is taking a bit of gettng used to. The flights have escalated exponentially thanks to the tourists capitalizing on the World Cup. But those charges on my statement remind me that Kidlet and I will soon be travelling to the other side of the planet to experience something exquisite -- together. We have so much to learn; much to share; and much to experience. This trip is about so much more than the animals and nature (although that is a definite highlight) - it will be about learning how the people in Kenyan are living - what their struggles, dreams and hopes are. This will be a bonding opportunity with Kidlet - and that is going to be the best part of all.

Another part of this journey that has absolutely blown me away has been the unwavering support from my family, friends and friends I haven't met yet. Life is so wonderful when you have the world on  your side nudging you towards your dreams and goals. [silent prayer of thanks]

 Kidlet and I are starting a separate blog to document our journey to Africa so this one doesn't become deluged with Africa chatter. It will be a fun project to share with Kidlet. Do you sense the ongoing theme ... share as much as possible while she is around here to share with?

 Africa - the call is getting stronger and so is our anticipation!

More about my dreams of Africa ...

• Heeding the Call
• Postcard from the Universe
• Journey is the Destination
• Ready, Set Goal
• Africa in My Dreams
• Detours
• Dreaming of Africa

Outreach

O u t r e a c h.  I love that word - the power it carries and the image it brings to mind. The act or process of reaching out.  We've seen our share of outreach on the world news these past ten days in Haiti.  Mixed in with the coverage of horror and devastation were the stories of resilient survivors, life trumping death, courageous rescues, and truly spectacular demonstrations of the human spirit and the caring souls of aid workers, volunteers and community reaching out to help.

I have been moved beyond belief and as usual, I've been digging for the "take away" of this disaster. Just when the black cloud of negativity seems ready to burst and hope becomes elusive -- humankind rises to the call and reminds us that at the core we are connected; and when one of us hurts - we are hurt. We are reminded that we belong to something bigger than ourselves and that we need one another.

It reminds me that outreach is not just about world disasters (which of course are paramount) - but also about continuing outreach in our families and communitites. Pulling the focus from wide angle to close up -- do we have members of our own clan who need a caring call, a kind word, a visit, an expression of love ....

After my posts expressing frustration with the speed at which needy people were receiving basic essentials, my optimism is restored and even stronger than ever. The human spirit and love will prevail and we will emerge from this crisis as better versions of ourselves. And that is my gift in this adversity.