and the home of the brave

One of my very favorite things in this whole wide world is to be standing in Chicago Bears' Soldier Field when our National Anthem is sung.
The joy.
The pride.
The energy that flows is simply electric
&
sometimes...
Sometimes it gets even better.

Our National Anthem
! ... & ... !
A flyover.

A. FLYOVER.

Weeeeeeeee !!

There is absolutely nothing more thrilling and heart pumping than hearing "and the home of the brave ....!" as those U.S.A. jets zoommmmmm overhead.

!! AMERICA BABY !!

I sometimes worry that one day I just might explode with red, white and blue happy bubbles during this incredibly patriotic moment
&
if I could, I would capture it's super uniting power
& I'd sprinkle it around
& sprinkle it around
and sprinkle it around a little bit more so that all of America would wake up, inhale that glorious glory and remember to thank our Veterans.

Every. Single. Day.

For all the big, for all the little.
For all the millions of things they do to make these United States of America possible.
Their courage truly, always amazes me
& I so wish  'we the people' were as consistently, continuously unselfish.
This land that we love is ours because of those wonderful human beings.

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

THANK YOU. VETERANS.

:)

I Am My Feelings

Thank You, Today

So.
I started this day with a pinball machine ring ding-dinging through my brain.
Nothing super stressful or terribly strenuous
just STUFF.
Lots and lots of this, that, little, bitty STUFF.

I needed to, I had to, I should, I will, I better
I, I, I, I,
iiiiiiiiiiiiii

uh huh
& in the process of listening to this continuous noise, I opted out of writing my daily blog because, you know, I was consumed with my STUFF, man.
MY STUFF

oy

& then,
I happened to glance out my window
and I saw this

 and this

and the mumble jumble drumbeat of my mind began to soften,
to hush

& soon, instead of doing the many things that my pound, pound, pounding told me I should be doing,
I found myself bundled up walking on my walking trail instead
and
I saw this

and this

& as I sit here with my early evening ponders, I think, things SURE don't seem as urgent as they did at dawn

& yeah
I know my multitude of teeny, tiny STUFF is still out there.
Nothing magically disappeared, things will still need to be done.
But, you know what ?
for now ??

Thank You, Today.

Thank You.

:)

I Am My Feelings

 

Whispers Work Too

I visited a grocery store recently.
Milk, bread, miscellaneous stuff
& as I was finishing my biz and heading towards the door I heard a woman yell.
STOP ! STOP THAT ! STOP ! STOP ! STOP ! ! !

I glanced over and saw a two or so year old reaching for a banana.
No stretching, no arching, no falling out of the cart worries.
Just an innocent hand touching those interesting yellow things that just so happened to be sitting RIGHT THERE.

Whether the little person STOPPED THAT or not, I do not know.
I exited.
But I can tell you the majority of the people in that building halted their actions to the woman's command.
She was THAT DEMANDING.
Over a child and a thisclose banana.

I can still hear that voice in my head.
Angry, BOOMING
& I wonder ...
Why ?

A whisper works
& a calm whisper works even better.

So.
I get home and the national news is on the television
& as much as I occasionally enjoy catching up on all things happening in this world, I switched to off.
Anger.
Anger, anger and more deafening anger
& I wonder ...
WHY ?

Many a point has been made, many a change has begun with a sincere, echoed throughout the land, whisper.
That quiet, I was thinking the very same thought, courageous, rumbling, rolling thunder.
Yep.
A whisper works
& a calm whisper works even better.

:)

I Am My Feelings

God Does

"I would submit this to everyone - my families here and you guys there - whatever life brings to you, lean on the lord rather than your own understanding. I don't understand, but I know my God does."

These beautiful words were spoken by Pastor Frank Pomeroy of the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas yesterday.
& sadly, they reminded me of another horrific church shooting in June of 2015.

I repeat that day's blog with heartfelt awe and sincere respect to the true believers of this world.

--------------------

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping."

I have read this Mr Rogers' quote countless times.
It seems to pop up when tragedy strikes
& I love it because it is so true.
Mr Rogers' mama is right.
The helpers are always there.

As I watched the news yesterday, I thought of this quote.
The families of the South Carolina Emanuel AME Church victims spoke
& the words they said to the man responsible for their unimaginable pain speak volumes.
We should all be listening.

These people of faith reacted and responded just as people of faith do.
They accepted.
They forgave.

The person reporting this hard to fathom breaking news sat in pure disbelief.
She commented a few different times on how the families aren't consumed with hatred for the man who took their loved ones.
She was shocked.
Appalled.
Hate should be what these families are feeling.
HATE.

What I saw in that repeated courtroom clip was faith at it's core
& I've seen this beautiful power many times before.
In Oklahoma City, Columbine, New York, Newtown, Boston ...

Believers.
Believers accepting what was handed to them.
Horrifyingly painful acceptance.
They steadfastly remain focused.
Focused on Jesus.
Because that's exactly what true believers do.

Mr Rogers' mama said to watch the helpers.
I suggest watching the survivors.
The ones who have to carry on.
These wonderful humans have and will continue to show the world how faith should be done.
& as heartbreaking as their pain is to watch, the power of their faith is truly, awesomely inspiring.
They are our proof that time after time after time good does overcome evil
Hope will always, always, ALWAYS survive
&
Love. Conquers. All.

--------------------

Believe.

♥

I Am My Feelings

Refreshed

Ok, PC
You go right ahead and do your thing.
I have a free as a bird day on my horizon so ! no worries ! I'll just sit here and wait

& wait
and ...

um.

Hello ?

This was taking wayyyyyy longer than I expected, so I lifted my bottom off the chair and looked out my window.
My front window this time because that's where November's full moon shined it's early a.m. bright
& as I stared at it's cosmic beauty, my mind began to wander.

hmmmm

Hey Mr Moon or you over there, Star ?
Could someone advise me as to WHY I am awake hours before the crack of dawn each day to write words that may or may not be read by the people of this planet ?
& hmmmm
Why does every single full moon that ever was always and I do mean ALWAYS bring the doubter out in me ??

ugh

As much as I enjoy the quiet, I didn't want to deal with my doubter's questions anymore, so I grabbed my iPhone and earplugs and pulled out my music instead

& ahhhhh

Certain voices, certain songs just calm my soul like no other
& after a few solid minutes of peaceful listening, I aligned.
Doubter must have fallen asleep.

shhhhh

I better go back and check.
Are we done yet, updates ??

No ?
gaaaaa

Let's see, where can I dilly-dally next ?
How's about the back door view ?
 
My tree looks incredibly weary in the darkness.
Like she's just so darn tired of holding her arms up and wants to call it quits.
Please don't leave me yet, Friend.
Maybe one more Winter ?
Maybe if you stay for just one more Winter I will finally have the strength to say goodbye.
Just hang on a little bit longer.
The leaves on the others will be gone soon then all the trees will look as lovely as you, my big, bald, buddy.

Leaves.
I suppose I should think about raking them.
grrrr
I wonder if I can cut the grass and chop up those buggers this weekend instead ?

or, hmmmm

Maybe I'll finish that new poem I began yesterday.

Gotta turn the clocks back.
This time tomorrow it'll be an hour earlier.
hmmmm
Probably be a good idea to hydrate hydrate hydrate !! as I will be donating blood soon.

Ok
This is getting ridiculous.
Just HOW long is this going to take, Windows ??

85%
oh good
We are almost there.
I'll just sit back and rest my eyes for the remainder

& as I lingered between half awake, half Zzzzz they appeared.
Mom, Gramma, Auntie.
Well Hi There, Girls !!
You are all looking so happy and pretty and sooooo very content.
Thanks for dropping in for a visit
& yes, I did feel that slight touch upon my hand.
I know it was you and I know you are perfectly perfect and oh so joyfully fine.

What's that ?
The update is complete ?

Well alrighty then ! I too am refreshed !
& you know what my Full Moon Doubter ?
I've been reminded as to why I get up hours before the crack of dawn each day.

Thanks for the time to ponder, dear Laptop.
It all makes sense again
& yep.
It's time to write my words.

:)

I Am My Feelings

My Sunbeams

They'd be considered insignificant to some,
these teeny, tiny, little happenings
& those who offer often whisper, 'it's nothing'
but, I beg to differ,
because it's something, alright !!
Something wonderful.
Something magical.
Something genuinely sincere.

Sunbeams.
They are my sunbeams

& the priceless beauty about these rays of bright ?
They appear out of nowhere and expect absolutely nothing in return
& if that ain't the most precious perfectness ??

here you go
I was thinking about you
just because

I don't think they realize how happy they make my heart or how very much they fuel this soul because thank you sometimes feels so small
& BIG HUGS just aren't big enough.

Oh, sunbeams.
I am who I am and I do what I do because of you and your incredibly unselfish light
& I appreciate you more than you will ever, EVER know.

I love you, my sunbeams.

Shine on.

:)

I Am My Feelings

Right Now

Seems this is going to be a day where these words of mine refuse to flow
& I'm thinking,
ya know,
just go back to bed and give inspiration a break.
seriously
It's not worth racking those brain cells for something that is obviously not there

or

I can write, see what appears, hit delete at any moment
& no one will know but me

& there's that tune.

"Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now"

I haven't heard that song by The Youngbloods in YEARS, but a Walmart commercial I happened to see last night has it stubbornly strumming in my mind.

Try to love one another right now.

ok.

Sounds pretty darn easy, if you ask me
& yet, here we sit.
Again.
Repeating the same, old, tired, words as hatefulness continues to thrive throughout this land and our lives.

I am so, so tired of ugliness

& no matter what words I conjure up to counter the venom.
No matter how many flippin times I plead 'it's easy if you try'
I've got to, you've got to, WE have to TRY.

Try harder, try better.
Try today and tomorrow and all the tomorrows that follow.
Try until our very last breath.
Try forever and then some.

Because if I try and you try and she tries and he tries ....

Oh no, Hate.
No. No. NO.
I cannot,  I will not hit 'delete'.
Not today.
Not. Ever.

I will continue.
I will TRY.

So, please.
PLEASE.

Come on people now
Smile on your brother.

Right now.

:)

I Am My Feelings