Friday, August 14, 2009

LIMITED TIME......


THESE ARE THE PLACES
WHERE I BECOME SO TOTALLY
IMMERSED IT THE
MOMENT
THERE IS NO ROOM FOR THINKING
I JUST AM
(Beach in Northern Oregon)


Limited Time:

I live in an apartment built on the side
of a mountain. I am on the 2nd floor
and my patio faces a retaining wall
so that I am eye-level with the ground
about 10 feet away.

Living among the trees and flowers
on the side of the hill was a brown
salamander. I've been watching it
go about it's life for the past 6 months.
It scurries up and down the shrubbery,
monitors a few ant hills and blooming
flowers looking for insects to dine on.
It is always on the look out for the pair
of red hawks who would find it a tasty
snack. It was as if it had it's own piece
of paradise and it's life meant only for
the pure joy of existence. Sunning on
top of the wall, doing those funny push ups
that salamanders do, it seems to have
the perfect life.

Yesterday I was relaxing on the patio
watching a yellow butterfly coast on the
breeze, the hummingbirds intimidating
each other for exclusive rights to the feeder,
and the salamander streaking across the
space between bushes.

Then out of nowhere appeared a scruffy
black and white house cat. I guess the
salamander did not realize this too was a
predator. In a flash the cat pounced and
ran off with the salamander in it's mouth.

And yet, another reminder that our time
on earth is not permanent.

Presently the children of my neighbor, Mary,
are clearing out her apartment.
She died in her sleep Wednesday morning.

Mary was the nicest, sweetest neighbor
you could imagine. She was the neighbor who
brought me chicken soup and home
made cookies after my surgery and after Art died.
She said I needed comfort food.

Mary did this for everyone in the building.
She was a friend to all as well as sharing
her love of life and joy with living no
matter what her age and maladies did
to slow her down. I never asked Mary her
age. I assume she was in her mid 80's.

And now as her children pack up her belongings
it is as if they are packing up her life.
Soon the apartment will be occupied by a
new tenant and it will appear as if
Mary never existed.

Mary is gone from existence here on this earth
but the spark of her life will forever burn
somewhere in the universe.
She will never be gone from the memories
of her family and friends.
Mary was a lady who made a difference
in every life she touched.

I shall choose a star and name it Mary Caldwell.









Saturday, August 1, 2009


HAPPY
BIRTHDAY
DIVA
EVA

Now the secret is out....
How at age 39 could I possibly
have children older
than I am?

Well, here ya go....
This is Eva as she emerged
from my egg.
Like any good mother
hen I was there keeping a
watch over my clutch of "Egg".
Tee Hee

I love ya "GOOD DAUGHTER"