12 Days: Balance

This sunrise is the dawn of the quest. 12 days of Christmas - and a journey of the heart. 2014 has been filled with ups and downs, loud and quiet, every thing and nothing.  My goal for 12 days between now and the end of the year is to make 12 journal entries that will help build the path that will carry me on to living life fully alive in balance.

Balance is something that often eludes me. It's like the words in the song "The Music of the Night" hard as lightning, soft as candle-light....those words are so descriptive. Where is the medium light?

I look to the sunrise today. I feel it in my bones. I have a grateful heart, and because I have been seeking, I know the time is right.

The season of Advent - the coming of our Lord. In his great humility is the arrival of a king. The most humble, the most loving and forgiving moments of my life have been the times when I felt the most balanced.

Recent words shared with me: "You cannot open the door and let in the darkness"...Darkness is only the absence of light...and so it is with love and good. Is there no evil? Or only the absence of good...is there no indifference or only the absence of love?

Where is the balance?

Mind. Spirit. Body - harnessed in the breath of life.

This August 21st, the absence of breath in my mother, ended her journey on Earth....I miss her so and have been out of balance. Today, I dreamed that I can re-seat myself firmly in this life. Before you can be it, you have to dream it.

I have some work to do, Maranatha - Come Holy Spirit Come!

Some of My Favorite Things

I haven't written this Christmas like I have in the past with the 12 days of Christmas blog. I am up this morning to work on a few presents for family and I am remembering some of the things that made me smile from my childhood.  I remember my mom had these 'folded newspaper/magazine' christmas trees and angels. I thought they were beautiful and I always looked forward to seeing them each year. 

I also remember the 'ribbon candy' and in particular the peanut butter filled hard candy 'peanuts' that would magically appear on Christmas Day.

I always loved hearing Nat King Cole and the 'Christmas Song' and to this day when I hear it, I am transported to age 10 and Chesapeake, Virgina - making snowmen and admiring our beautiful trees. The other music I love to hear is Eddie Dundsteder - which also takes me right back.

The song 'Silver Bells' reminds me of my sister Cindy - especially the part '...as the shoppers rush home with thier treasures'...I remember she used to do a lot of wrapping and delighted in teasing us with packages to 'guess what's inside'. 

Finally, one of the best parts of Christmastime from my youth was 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'. Even today, I include the quotation from the movie "‘Welcome’ Christmas! While we stand, heart to heart and hand in hand. Christmas day is in our grasp - So long as we have hands to clasp. Christmas day will always be, just so long as we have “We”. 

My mom always had good food to eat on Christmas and I have continued the Christmas breakfast casserole tradition. 

One tradition I have begun with my own family....On Christmas eve, as the last task before bed-time, we hang a banner on our Christmas Tree that says "Happy Birthday"....and that is the last thought in our heads when we go to sleep for the night. All is calm, all is bright....may strangers, neighbors, family, and close friends or aquaintences feel the love of the christ-child radiating from my heart this holiday. 

This is the Day the Lord has Made - Alleluia!

Written to my family in an email April of 2012 - 

I hope that this note finds you well - I know I have loved the time change and more daylight and I love the warmth I feel in the air these days!

I wanted to share two articles for Easter. The attachments are sentimental as well as thought provoking! Grandma Thronebery mailed me the newspaper article sometime around 2001 and that same year
(I believe) the BC comic strip. Johnny Hart, the BC comic artist, always threw secular safety to the wind on Easter and he drew what he felt in his heart. (much to the criticism of his colleagues and the newspapers that published his comics.)

I feel blessed to have used both the BC comic strip and the newspaper article that grandma sent for discussion with the youth at my church for many years - enjoy!

You are all always in my prayers - I wish you a very blessed and joyful Easter!

12 Days: ChristKind and the Rausch Angel

When it comes to traditional images of Christmas in Europe, Germany's Bavaria is the heartland. One can savor classic holiday themes: glittering trees, old time carols, and colorful Christmas markets. These markets, called Christkindle Markets, enliven squares throughout Germany. The most famous is in Nurnberg. It's a festive swirl of the heart-warming sights, sounds and smells of Christmas. Bakeries crank out old fashioned gingerbread — the Lebkuchen Nurnberg — using the original 17th century recipe.

Long a center of toy making in Germany, a woody and traditional ambiance prevails. Nutcrackers are characters of authority - uniformed, strong-jawed and able to crack the tough nuts. And hovering above it all is the golden rausch angel — an icon of Christmas in Nurnberg. Rausch is the sound of wind blowing through its wings. It's a favorite for capping family Christmas trees.

Germany's grandest Christmas market, in Nuremberg, comes complete with an angelic Christkind ("Christ child") dressed in gold, played by a real-life teenage girl. How does a female Christkind fit in the Christmas story? Five hundred years ago, Martin Luther - the church reformer who hailed from Germany - wanted to shift the focus from St. Nicholas back to the Christ child. But as Germans had a hard time getting their mind around baby Jesus giving gifts, the Christmas gift-giver gradually morphed into a sweet girl who was still called the Christ child.

12 Days: Wise Men

12 Days - I made it! Christmas Eve! Thank you for joining my blog journey this Holiday.

I have always been fascinated by the story of the 3 Kings. The three magi have been described not only as wise men, but also as kings, Persian priests, and astrologers. Epiphany is the end of the Christmas season, 12 days after Christmas. According to legend, the first magi was Melichior (or Melchior – 'king of light') the second was known as the King of Persia; Gathaspa (Gaspar or Caspar – 'the white one') the third; the King of India, and Bithisarea (or Balthazar or Baltasar – 'lord of the treasures') the King of Arabia. These Wise Men started the gift-giving custom of Christmas by bringing gold (significance - a king), frankincense (significance - a holy person), and myrrh (significance - death/burial oils) to the Christ child on Epiphany, the day on which the infant was presented. I read a story somewhere that told a tale of miraculous things happening to these kings once they returned to their homelands.

Often I will put on my Christmas letter "Wise Men Still Seek Him" because I think that saying is so clever - it isn't really referring to the kings, but to us -- as we search for happiness, it will be a lifelong journey to heaven.  I am a Christian that follows the Roman Catholic Tradition. I am aware of the other traditions related to the Winter Seasons - Solstice,  Hanukkah, Eid, and those that do not celebrate any holiday. I was surprised when my Muslim friend's daughter showed me the Christmas tree she drew - even though her family had none. In the drawing, her Dad was on a ladder hanging a star! I wanted to share with you today how much I love experiencing all of the kindness, excitement and joy that comes at this time of year. Whether that love and happiness comes from shopping, chocolates, advent, cookies,  angels, caroling, charity, business, snow, toys or ornaments...it is wise to continue searching and finding that special love that can fill our hearts at this time of year. May you capture that love, joy and peace and may it burn brightly within you all year long! I wish for you Happy Holidays and a very prosperous New Year, and no matter what form it comes to you, more than anything... I wish you love!

12 Days:Ornaments

On our tree there are years of special ornaments...this year Greg and I went to an 'ornament-exchange' party. I got a glass acorn! Cool! My frog with the strap-on candy nose and deer antlers broke this year! Mah! We have lots of ducks, nutcrackers, and baby's firsts...I also have gotten Veronica some special ornaments of whatever cartoon she was into that year, sponge bob, power puffs...this year she found our Christmas shopping list and started whinning when she saw the word 'ornament' next to her name! Ha Ha Ha (she's gonna love it!) You can see behind this deer is a bell from Teresa's wedding :-).
Our tree is rather aclecctic, but I love it! I found this poem online...enjoy!

Don't Put Those Ornaments Away!
by Patricia M Eichler

My putting away the Christmas ornaments inspired this poem.

!!!

Joy is

Innocence.

Free of judgments,

Relying not on opinions,

Lacking constant attention,

Avoiding fear of the unknown,

Knowing that God is in control,

Not worrying about what we lack,

Getting along with what you have,

Finding a pathway to eternal life,

Knowing Godly love is practiced,

Realizing opinions aren't truths,

Free of making Judgments,

And a life free of guilt.

A Spiritual life

Is joy

!

12 Days: Toys

There is a saying that "Christmas is for children"...well, I certainly can see how they are able to enjoy the holiday in a care-free-innocent way! TOYS! I remember the toys I hoped for when I was a kid...we would get the JCPenney or SEARS Christmas Wish catalogs. We would go through them and circle things we liked. No internet lists, no giftcards, we got TOYS! One year I got a barbie doll and within minutes my sister had broken her leg off! OH NO! Also I remember hoping for bouncing balls and jacks, and simple things to play with! One of the best toys ever I remember was the 'Mouse Trap' game! We played that for hours! I just love the commercials that are playing right now where the kids open the present and it is a trip to Disneyland...and they are leaving right then - how cool would that be? The nice thing about getting toys for elementary school kids is that they are on vacation and can play them for hours and hours. It would be so cool to go out into the street and compare toys, share toys or play together with all the neighborhood kids!
Every year Greg tried to buy at least one TOY for all of us, yes, even the adults! I got a bubble blowing kit last year, I can't wait to see what happens this year!

12 Days: Snow

Snow is such a perfect Christmas decoration! If you think about it religiously, you can identify rich symbolizm. White, it is pure. It covers, and once melts, washes the world. If you have ever stood in a snowfall you know how peaceful it feels. The snow itself dampens the sounds of the world. It creates peace. In our society today, we are over-stimulated. There is constant noise in our lives; on the TV on the radio, on our ipods, on the street, and in our very own thoughts--endlessly buzzing. 
Standing in snow can be a spiritual experience. You are made aware of your breath (like in yoga) because you can see it in the air. You feel the coldness come into your lungs. You are aware of your hands and toes because you are either bundled up in gloves and uggs or your hands and feet are being nipped at with a chill. This is a photo of me as a girl in the snow in Norfolk VA. We are enjoying the snow, building snowmen...just playing. I have only had the opportunity to be 'in the snow' a few times in my life, but when I have, it has been magical!

12 Days: Busy

I appreciate being a part of the youth ministry at Good Shepherd, as well as the Classified Senate at my work, and I love my new running hobby, oh and facebook, working on websites.... Last Tuesday the youth coordinator told us a story about how Satan can make you 'busy' to keep you from giving attention to the loving relationships in your life...that hit me kinda hard. My family has been all about 'busy'. My Dad was a captain in the Navy and always had a long list of projects. We were all taught to be 'defined' by how much we accomplished each day. So when I heard his message, it really made me think and pray about how 'busy' I am.

The Holidays are a busy time of year. There's so much to do, so many people you want to thank and so many gifts you want to share with people that make a difference for you all year long.

I hope to slow down enough to give my son and daughter and husband the very best of my love...They are what I am living for!

12 Days: Charity

At this time of year, people find it easier to help each other out. They have a few extra minutes if they see someone they can help - or if they don't know, they open thier wallets to give thier treasure to the charities that are dedicated to helping others. Last Christmas my nephew was helped by a handful of complete strangers when he lost his wedding ring in the snow...people helped him for a couple of hours scratch in the snow and ice, they went to purchase a metal detector and batteries...and in the end, not only was the ring found, but Aaron was impressed with the charity of the people in his neighborhood.

I remember the first time I introduced 'charity' to my 7 year old son, Ben. At the time, I explained as we entered the store, that the man standing in uniform outside was collecting toys for kids that had none. I asked Ben to pick something out that he really liked -- that way we could be sure the other kids would like it! After we finished shopping, Ben had selected the action figure of 'Earthworm Jim' and we went to give it to the soldier. Ben started to cry! It was very hard for him to give up that toy. In the end, he finally did...I convinced Ben that Santa knows about how he might be able to get Earthworm Jim for him at Christmas...especially knowing he was being nice to other kids. I'll never forget that toy or that day!

Last year my friend Kurt challenged me to find someone to give some food and $10 away to at Christmas. It wasn't hard. I had a conversation with a homeless man at outside the yogurt shop. He was a bit scary, but I did it! Kurt had a handful of $10 bills and blankets he took around town on his own. I was inspired by his generousity! The act of kindness is more important than how much we give. I believe change starts with small acts of kindness - especially at the holidays!

12 Days: Caroling

Last year at Christmas, I was fortunate enough to go Caroling with a few Red Robe Choir alumni at the retirement home where my former choir director, Bob Boucher, was a resident. His eyes lit up when we came to sing. He even directed one of our carols. He passed away on March 25, 2010, but I am so glad to have had the opportunity to be in the group of musicians to last sing for him. We delighted him and all the other residents, if I don't say myself.

The teachers in our CVT department put on Santa hats and carol through the campus each year. One does have to be brave to do that these days knowing that you are affiliating with a Christian tradition...I believe singing carols is a beautiful display of joy and cheer, no matter the religion. (Hey, anyone see this week's episode of "Glee"?)
When I was in girl scouts we went to our local High School (Indian River) and stood on the football field in the shape of a tree. Each of us were given a rubber band and a piece of colored cellophane. We were instructed to bring our flashlights. When we all got in place and put the cellophane on our flashlights, they turned off the football field lights and we stood and sang carols as a living tree with about 100 different colored lights...It was very cool and didn't feel 'religious' at all to me.
Christmas *is* a holy celebration of love, to me. I challenge anyone that doesn't know what to do or think about the 'Holidays': take inventory of the good things going on in your life (not the bad), notice the good in others, (try not to find faults) enjoy the beauty of the winter-time. I had a friend say to me recently, Christmas is for children to get gifts. I replied, 'open your heart', find the time to give,  reconnect with your family and friends. Even if it was nothing more than that...just like singing carols, we can all use more permission to share joy in our world!

12 Days: Angels

The apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary told the children of Medjugorie that more souls enter heaven on Christmas Day than any other day of the year.

Home for the holidays...I am thinking of all my family members that are not any longer here on Earth, but are now heavenly creatures enjoying peace and eternal joy in heaven.

Missing family at the holidays...My heart breaks for all our family and friends who are having holidays without a loved one for the first time or the 20th time. We miss our family when we gather in celebration.

I like to imagine that the angel on the top of my Christmas tree represents the angels that are my family...My family angels ARE with me and see and hear all the joys and sorrows I am feeling. They share the songs, the wonderful cooking smells, the smiles the hugs, and they see our lonely eyes gleam with tears imagining the empty place at the table.

When the day turns into night,
And you’re way beyond my sight, I think of you, I think of you.
When the night turns into day, And you still are far away, I think of you, I think of you.
Even when you are not here, We still can be so very near.
I want you to know, my dear,
I think of you.
~ Life's Journeys According to Mister Rogers: Things to Remember Along the Way

12 Days: Cookies

I know I am behind on my posts by a couple days. December is, I think, the busiest month of the year for me. Not only are you getting ready to attend celebrations, but you are atttending celebrations!
Tonight I made Christmas cut-out cookies for a cookie exchange at work. I remember my mom making these sugar cookies. As I recall them, I remember each being a work of art! My sister Kathy, a real artist, has made great works of Christmas art, including Gingerbread houses and ice-sculptures that would really dazzle.
I remember my first attempt at Christmas cut out cookies...My mother-in-law was so polite when she ate them. I used too much baking soda and they were really bitter!! She was so nice, and didn't say anything...of course the real problem was the mess I left in the kitchen! Christmas cookies are hard to make!

I am proud to say, that I did not buy the pre-made 'sugar-log' but made it all from scratch and the icing too! AND the best part is, they taste good! Uh-mazing. I guess I won't be too ashamed to share them!

12 Days: Advent

Advent:

"Make straight in the desert--a highway..for our God..." When I attended SDSU, I was fortunate enough to learn many of the songs from Handel's "Messiah". This music moves me still today.

In hearing the gospel at Mass today, I envision John the Baptist shouting his message to a group of eager people in a hot, and dry and 'road-less' desert.

  

In my musical training, I learned that one must understand the music in order to sing it correctly. Understand the words, not only in the meaning, but in the heart.

When I hear the words 'make straight, a highway...', I kinda think of the movie "Cars" and the song "Life is a Highway", and when I put the two images of John the Baptist and Lightning McQueen together, I see myself standing at the end of the road out in the desert, and God is driving towards me in the car and I have 'fixed' the road (like in the movie) for Him to drive on. What's exciting to me is to think the God WANTS to RACE into my life. 

He needs a highway - you can't speed on the curves, therefore - I need to create that 'straight-away" for him. 

That is what 'Advent' is all about for me. I'm fixing my roads - getting them ready for someone that is eager to see me.

12 Days: Chocolates

I love chocolate and coffee. My daughter will often hear me singing about both. Put them together and we have one of my favorite holiday drinks = MOCHA!
When I worked at a Mexican Restaurant, it was Cinnamon Coffee! The chef would just put 2 tablespoons of cinnamon in with the grinds in the coffeemaker.
Smelling coffee on Chrsitmas morning always meant that it was almost time to be allowed outside our rooms. We had to be sure the coffee was ready! Whenever I smell coffee brewing it takes me back through so many happy memories...church meetings, coffee houses, late night breakfast diners....
They say that your sense of smell is the most 'memory-connected' sense of all. I can remember so many images when I smell chocolate or coffee. I have helped out with our Sees Chocolate fundraisers over the years, and you wouldn't think that chocolate is a strong scent, but it really is! My car would smell so good for days after I delievered the Christmas chocolates. So, this holiday, if you are enjoying a Starbucks tall mocha frappicino with triple shots floating on top (my favorite) or enjoying a Hershey's "Kiss" I hope it brings you a wave of warmth and happy memories!

12 Days: Shopping

I started a little tradition of my own last year. I made 12 blog entries, in 12 days, for the first 12 days of December. Although I haven't posted since September, I still enjoy writing. I guess my schedule got a bit hectic? Where did November go?

I experienced Black Friday for the first time this year. Veronica and I got up at 4am and went to Starbucks, then to Target, then to Plato's Closet.

We didn't have any big savings plans, but it was sorta fun to call my sister-in-law at 5am and ask gift questions. Yes, she was also up at 4am...(really, 3am I think) and was at another Target location! My niece had been in the Best Buy line since 2am shopping too! I guess it was the Black Friday year.

We all have shopped for that perfect gift. It is usually one you find in the summer and special order and tuck away - just aching for the Holiday to come and give it! How many of you have tucked that gift away so well that you forgot you had it? Ha! Finding a thoughtful gift is a big Holiday Challenge to me. I have to find the right balance between budget and treasure and personal and thoughtful. Happy Shopping everyone!

12 Days: Crafts

Hand-made gifts and crafts at Christmas are part of what makes this holiday so special. My mom made these 'santa face' cups when I was little for us. They are clear plastic cups with felt and google eyes glued on and a pull string for the 'cap'. We made a bunch this year for our confirmation group.
Another craft I enjoy making, I learned about in girl scouts. It is simple and easy and is not food or candy (which for diabetics and the like, is not a good gift) but it smells wonderful and will last about a week. It is a clove apple. You use red 'tule' and cover an apple with whole cloves. You stick a large paper clip into the top of the apple and tie the 'tule' around the paperclip with a green ribbon. I like to tell my friends that it is okay to 'toss' the whole thing after a week. It will make your car, or kitchen or closet smell wonderful!!
I don't always have time for hand-made items, but I love doing it when possible and I love getting ideas from friends and family when they make Christmas crafts too!

Life's Been Good to Me....Commentary

I remember my first computer - my brother sold us his old computer, with only 2MBs of memory, it would actually crack Windows 3.0! We had 80MB hard disk. He gave me one very sage piece of advice when I first started learning: "Pat, you can't break it, so you might as well just play around and see what you can do with it..." Since then, I have certainly learned the term 'machine is hosed' a few times and am so much wiser for the times I have 'broken' my computers...I tell you this on the way to remembering a few other firsts: My first real own computer: 1994, with a 486x processor and multimedia speakers. I remember AOL for DOS and the words "WWW coming soon". Ah yes...and in 1996, my first .mp3 download from Napster was "Life's Been Good to Me". I still have the CD entitled: "First Downloads" I was really amazed! I used to carry a CD player around with me on walks! (Yes, Of course they skipped and didn't play!)  I have recently enjoyed listening to that song again and thought about the lyrics...here is my commentary below.  For those of you that don't know the song - I have entered the lyrics in black below and my comments in 'italic purple' underneath the phrases.

Life's Been Good - Joe Walsh
I have a mansion, forget the price
Ain't never been there, they tell me it's nice
I guess having possessions don't really matter, especially if you don't use them - but I suppose just being able to afford a mansion would make me feel pretty successful.

I live in hotels, tear out the walls
I have accountants pay for it all
In most situations in our lives, there is someone looking out for us, in this case the person is paid, but I bet if you reflected a moment you could think of someone that would bail you out of jail or babysit or help you out of a mess if you needed it.

They say I'm crazy, but I have a good time
I think that we must find things to laugh at - life is not something that we can always understand always - it's good to know when 'not to try to figure it out' and just let be what is going to be. I have a saying "We don't have to figure that out today"...

I'm just looking for clues at the scene of the crime
Life's been good to me so far
It's very important to look for the miracles in your life - it helps us keep prospective. It is good to learn from your past, to help you have a better future.

My Mazarati does one-eighty-five
I lost my license, now I don't drive
Knowing how far one can go in life sometimes helps us understand what we are capable of becoming. Also no matter how fast you can go, sometimes it is worthless if you are not able to utilize the gifts presented to you in life. Be careful, what you have today, may not be here tomorrow. Having a plan B is always a good thing.
Also, it doesn't matter how rich you are, how many nice things you have, how fast your car goes...etc, if you can't use them. It's kinda like knowing you have talent and deciding not to use it - not to use the gifts God has given you...Sometimes, this is a difficulty for me.

I have a limo, ride in the back
I lock the doors in case I'm attacked
I make hit records, my fans, they can't wait
They write me letters, tell me I'm great
I think we all daydream about being loved. Our youth pastor says: "We are made from Love, to be Loved" and all our problems are about whether or not we are loved or are loving in one way or another.

So I got me an office, gold records on the wall
Just leave a message, maybe I'll call
Again, no matter how much we succeed, we might not be happy. I like to think that friends and family would be priority-one no matter what happens, like in this song. It is fun to imagine a big star really taking the time to call fans. I have another friend who says: "Everyone has an invisible sign hanging around their neck that says - Make Me Feel Important..." We can. It isn't hard. It really just takes awareness. Sometimes 'it’s all not about us...Hahhaa!!!'

Lucky I'm sane after all I've been through
Everybody say I'm cool, he's cool
I would like to believe that people think I am cool. One thing I try to learn is: we can only go forward - backward is not possible....What can I do for you NOW? is one of my favorite things to ask. It helps people to think about how to "shake it off and step up" when we think....5 minutes from now or 5 years from now, will this all matter?

I can't complain but sometimes I still do
Life's been good to me so far
I fail. I recognize that I am not perfect. I seek forgiveness and healing. I am not God, and I am not applying for the job - BUT I really, really try to THANK GOD for all the blessings in my life.

I go to parties, sometimes until four
It's hard to leave when you can't find the door
Boy -- do we all have stories about life changing situations...it is when times were the toughest, that I grew the most. ‘Nuff said.

It's tough to handle this fortune and fame
Everybody's so different, I haven't changed
It is great to realize 'Life's been Good' and appreciate the present moment. It is wonderful to think that when we are stripped of all of our gold, status and power, we are all made of the same basic fabric - I love to recognize that in all people. I remember admiring a community leader and wondering "How does she do it?" I thought to myself...well, I have no fewer brains in my head than did Einstein, nor do I have more minutes in my day than the president of the United States....the trick is, how am I using both as oppose to them?

They say I'm lazy but it takes all my time
Everybody say oh, yeah, oh, yeah
Back to enjoying the present moment....I think a lot about stimulus overload. Our society today is constantly bombarded with noise, music, advertisements, video games, computer applications, cell phone apps, and more talking than ever. Sometimes it is really, really good to just be S-I-L-E-N-T and enjoy the peace of a quiet moment. To me, this is PRAYER. Calming all the noises in my head competing for my attention long enough to just look around and hear the birdies singing. Now that is PEACE! I have to remind myself it is NOT LAZY to just 'do nothing' sometimes. Our family has always measured themselves by how many tasks they completed in a day. This is tremendously hard to change. It is a blessing and a cross. I used to tell my friend Darlene - If we do it all today...what will we do tomorrow?

I keep on going, guess I'll never know why
Life's been good to me so far, yeah, yeah, yeah
Life's been good to me- YES. I love this song. It makes me feel happy to hear it. It is upbeat and bouncy and it reminds me of a warm summer afternoon cooled with a chocolate ice cream cone! I know life hasn't been good to some people. I want them to know - it is not the end. There are still lots of chances to let 'Life Be Good' - find some time to 'Keep on Going', to love and be loved, to pray, and to enjoy the peace we are all be a part of - Namaste!

Summer's Ending

I read the following note in another blog I follow, and it so profoundly brought back some of my childhood memories that I had to write some down...
"In recent years, people around the country have been rallying behind a no-child-left-inside campaign, according to Richard Louv, the ground-breaking author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. In his book, he quotes James Sallis of the Active Living Research Program for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation who says that "an indoor, sedentary childhood is linked to mental health problems."

When I was young, I remember venturing out one day and I had no idea what the day would hold. I had with me: a styrofoam cooler, and cellophane wrap and some baloney. It so happened that while walking along a woodsy path in my neighborhood, my girlfriend and I happened upon a garder snake and we captured it. We put him into the cooler with leaves and wrapped the top with the cellphane and tried to feed him balony.

Afternoons like that were common. I would spend 12 hours a day out-of-doors. We would climb up (inside) the "spill-pipes" of the local resovoir to catch fish by hand, we wood build tree houses, or claim abandoned ones, in the "woods", and I remember flowers...fields of them! I remember my sisters collecting a bundle of daffodils one spring that was at least 200 stem count, and I thought it was so beautiful.

In my youth, I would be 'required' to go outside. I remember Mom saying..."better run along now and play...the summer's going to end before you know it!!"

Now I had to blush a little when the blog also read: "When I think about what so many children are missing today because they are stuck inside playing video games, or endlessly texting their friends, it makes me wonder who they will be tomorrow. Maybe they will be the computer gurus of the future. Or perhaps the next software developers. Or maybe the text messaging will spark an interest in writing a book."

My son is a "Video Game Designer" major at UCSC, and yes, he is left inside....hours and hours, playing and designing and thinking about games, how they work, how they are made, concept...the list goes on....He really is doing what he loves. That young man had plenty of out doors adventures, but it really isn't his bag. Is he missing out? I don't know. Maybe.

I remember once going on a walk with my Mom. I was grown with children of my own, and she was living in a retirement community, but as we walked along the beach, she pointed out a silver dollar, a starfish, a flower... and with each, a delighted look on her face. I so appreciated that the simple things in nature had brought her so much joy...I try to model that in my own world. I even notice when the birds are chirping in the tree down our suburban street. We have a hummingbird feeder outside of our front window - that is the ultimate joy for me...to see and hear the buzz of those tiny birdies.

This summer is "in the books", for me. The faculty come back to the college Monday and the Fall semester begins. We have had a busy summer - moving at work and working 10 hour days, but then I have filled my Fridays and weekends with the zoo, the theater, music, balboa park, and I have to say - I am one lucky woman.
Stay healthy and take a minute to enjoy being outside...I know my family, especially my sisters and Mom, truly love being outdoors...and in gardens, stargazing, hiking... and delighting in  all the wonder of the world.

Virgina, Carole King and me

Recently, I downloaded the album "Tapestry" by Carole King. One of the songs I needed to hear was "Beautiful". I have such great memories of listening to an 8-track tape player and that album. The year is 1973 and we don't have any fences between our yard and the neighbors. The smell of freshly mowed grass wafts up to my window. I live in a stately 2-story redbrick house on the corner of perfect suburbia.

What is even more cool about this memory is the fireflies. Yes, in summertime we would have these awesome glowing bugs that would glow off and on in the dusk - magical! There are recent recording artists that hit these memories for me - Owl City who has recently recorded a hit called "Fireflies" and also the artist Norah Jones who really reminds me of Carole King. Listen to "Come Away with Me" and then "Way Over Yonder" and tell me if they don't both emulate a beautiful sultry sound that really makes you melt!

In Virgina circa 1970's the mosquito truck would come around and spray our streets. It is kinda phenominal that I used to come out of our house to watch that truck spray it's fog of pesticide all over our neighborhood. Still...Carole King is still the ruler of some of my most very favorite childhood memories. Don't forget: "You've got to get up every morning...with a smile on your face and show the world all the love in your heart...and people gonna treat ya better - your gonna find - yes you will - that  you're beautiful, you're beatiful....as you feel!