On this day, snippets of life

Yep, I really like FB memories - not only because they remind me of places we’ve been and people we’ve seen, but also of thoughts that we have pondered.  Things that have entertained me, things that have upset me and things that have motivated me.

This date, September 20, has provided a variety of some such people, places, events and thoughts through the years.  

The thoughts expressed here are not necessarily my own but obviously have gotten my attention through the years and have caused me to ponder - and hopefully to become a wiser person for the effort.

Here we go...

... on this day

2009

I am thoroughly enjoying the last day of summer. Mmmm......... Everything is beautiful.

2012

Thankful Thursday:

I am feeling thankful that I got to see my grandkids today for a bit.

AND I get to see ALL THREE daughters this weekend!!!

2013

If I had a year…

Anne Lamott:  Someone asked me the other day how my life would change if I only had two weeks to live. I said I would definitely eat a lot more creme brûlée, and not floss at all. But I don't think it's the right question.

The better question is, What would you change about your life if you had a year or so to live? Of course you would have to floss, or you would become repellant with your oyster-y breath; and you'd probably have to limit yourself to one creme brûlée (or two) a day. But would you write? Would you exercise? 

I would not write for publication, that's for sure. Stitches, the handbook on meaning, hope, repair, will be my 15th book. It's a little unseemly to keep cranking them out. It's unnecessary for me to keep publishing. Besides, I always say the same things: you are loved and chosen, a unique, lovely, wild and slightly screwed up creation. Try to get a little writing done every day--it will help you know and forgive yourself, which is why we are here. Earth is forgiveness school. 

...

And yes, I would still exercise. I'd walk the dogs and take myself on a hike in the hills, in the woods and around town, because that is where I most directly experience the divine, in the glories of nature, in breezes, breath and birdsong. I'm amazed on every single walk. Maybe that makes me a simpleton, but Simpletonian principles would be the way I'd want to live my last year.

...

So if you want to have happy, loving feelings, do loving things. That's the secret of life, whether you are at all Jesusy or not. Be of service. Get people water. Clean up the litter on your block, even though there will be more tomorrow. 

...

So that's how I would live, starting right now, if this were Day One; which it is.

2015

Referring to view from our bedroom window - just below the chimney

What an awesome view. The SS Badger is heading out across Lake Michigan past a row of four sailboats as a speed boat zips past all of them. There are several fishing boats spread across the horizon as well.

Photo cred:  Bob Sims at SimsShotsPhotography.zenfolio.com

The storms have passed and left us with gorgeous weather around the dunes and the lighthouse. Our 2-week tour of duty is about half done.

2016

Bob Goff:  Don't let being "right" talk you out of being kind.

…

Ian North:  What degree of racist violence will break our national blindness, bring us to grief, and compel us to acknowledge that black lives matter? 

2017

Winnie-the-pooh:  How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.

…

Rich Mullins has been gone 20 years but his words live on:  If I want to identify fully with J.C…. the best way I can do that is to identify w/ the poor. This will go against the teaching of a lot of the popular Evangelical preachers, but they’re just wrong. They’re not bad; they’re just wrong.

Christianity is not about building an absolutely secure little niche in the world where you can life with your perfect little wife and your perfect little children in your beautiful little house where you have no gays or minority groups anywhere near you.

Christianity is about learning to love like Jesus loved. 

And Jesus loved the poor and the broken.

...

And there we have it.  

A day's worth of wisdom from some of my favorite modern-day prophets.

And some lovely scenery and fun memories, too.

This week in my town

Why in the world did you move to Flint?

What is there to like about Flint?

We still get strange looks and comments and questions like these.

I’ve written about some of my answers to those questions here and there.  I mention things like culture and diversity and history and the arts.  This city is full of those things.  

Maybe I should just tell you about last week.  

It was quite a week.  Lots happening in Carriage Town Historical Neighborhood as well as downtown Flint. Lots of culture and diversity and history and the arts - but also a bit of celebrity.

Let’s start with Sunday...

We had invited a few new friends over for a cookout, but not quite as many as the previous week for another cookout to welcome International students.  That night 53 people showed up - people from a bunch of other countries and quite a few Americans.  

But this night was much more relaxed.  We had invited just a few and we had a lovely time together.

And yes, some celebs came to town this week - including  Michael Moore, Chris Hayes of MSNBC’s "All In" show, Miss Michigan, and the CEO of General Motors. 

Michael Moore had come back home and appeared at the Whiting with Dr. Mona for a screening of his new movie on Monday night.  On Tuesday Chris Hayes interviewed Michael Moore, Dan Kildee, Miss Michigan, Emily Sioma, and several of the "water warriors" during two different shows. 

The live show with Moore happened right here in Carriage Town at Factory Two.  The place was hopping with big white trucks, men in black suits, helicopters overhead, people standing in long security lines and over-flowing parking lots. 

On Wednesday those parking lots held an abundance of Corvettes and Cadillacs as well a long row of shiny Chevy trucks parked along Water Street for the gala event for General Motors big-wigs. 

This was also the week for the usual Friday Art Walk and the annual Hispanic Festival at the Farmers’ Market. 

What a lovely evening to stroll downtown browsing art work on display and listening to sidewalk musicians playing! 

At the market the leisurely stroll became a quest to find one’s way through the festival crowd.

Amazing food options

Mariachi music in a big tent

Beautiful people everywhere.

There has been yet another bit of excitement in Carriage Town.  For months we have been looking forward to new pedestrian bridges at the confluence where Swartz Creek joins the Flint River.  These bridges will “fill the gap” between the Flint River Trail to the north of the city and the Genesee Valley Trail to the west affecting far more than just our neighborhood.  Hikers and cyclists from all across the county will benefit from this new connection.

We’ve been watching the progress at the site and were excited when the first span of bridge arrived and was waiting on shore.  Could this be the week for the other bridge to arrive?  Sure enough; on Thursday it was spotted being transported across Corunna Road. By mid-Friday the final section was put into position and Saturday morning kayakers were paddling under the new bridge!  Learn more about Kayak Flint here and here.  

'Twas a busy and exciting week in the neighborhood.

Now we wait for the completion of the trail and the bridge approaches so we can ride across it.

AND we wait for SOMEbody to set up an ice cream shop somewhere in the neighborhood!

I LOVE my porch!

I know that there will be many weeks coming when I will not be able to enjoy sitting on my lovely porch - so I have determined to enjoy lots of mornings and evenings out here now when I can. 

Hopefully that way instead of wishing I had done so more often I will have lots of memories from when I did - and that I will be grateful to have taken advantage of the opportunity.

So here I am out here once again - enjoying the moment.  But yikes, I might need some sleeves!

And that in itself is something to be thankful for after all of the unseasonably hot weather we've had recently. I am very happy to have to find some sleeves.

An August morning in the country

*Lines from my journal - seven years ago today...

...

What a glorious morning - all fresh-washed and lovely. 

The hostas bloom
amongst the black-eyed Susans on the hill. 

Deer tracks criss-cross the driveway

and gather at the mud puddles

with some smaller paw prints - presumably raccoon. 

Suddenly - lo and behold - the deer themselves! 

Two of them, then another,

probably much more startled than I. 

Bounding off, they seem to fly. 

How majestic!

Thankful Thursday: thankful for... ME?

I started this thankful Thursday practice many, many years ago as a way to remind myself to be grateful. To stop and notice the good stuff. It has been an excellent exercise.  For awhile, I tried to to it regularly because it was so beneficial.  These days I'm not very legalistic about it - because it has already worked its magic!  

My perspective has gradually shifted.

I am so grateful for so many things. 

My man, who was born on this date, tops my list today because he is an integral part of so much of what is good about my life.  

- Our kids & grandkids

- Our life together and all of our adventures

- Our sense of mission and teamwork

- The encouragement he gives me

All amazing stuff.

But that’s not all.  There is more.

I have even come to a place where I can be thankful about some of the wonderful things about ME... and my personality and my worth.  

Whew!  That feels weird to say and until recently would have been a foreign concept.  I have made massive strides in the way I feel about myself.  

Self-love.  Wow.  

Self-care.  

Self-nurture.

Treating myself with kindness and respect.

…and with compassion.

I’m not there yet.  

Not perfect by a long shot.

I still get down on myself.

And I still complain and grumble...

But I’m getting better - at both loving myself AND being grateful.  

Lots healthier these days...

…

Funny thing.

A long time ago, one of my favorite people famously said to love my neighbor as myself.  For a lot of years, I tried hard to do that.

Now that I am learning how to love myself, it seems like it’s easier to love my neighbors. Like it comes more naturally.

Imagine that.

Funny how that works.

Or maybe it’s just that I happen to have such lovable neighbors!

At any rate, I am so very thankful on this Thursday.