Ah. Christmas again. 2015

Unable to be with my children but still with family. That counts for a lot. Happy and sad all at the same time. Also, first Christmas without a parent living. Count your blessings everyone. There are so many things to be happy about. Never underestimate the power and value of having people who love you.

NEWBURYPORT ACTIVITIES ACCELERATE

The snow is almost gone. Mere patches here and there, mostly on the south sides of the streets where the sun has not quite stretched its rays. The docks are emerging, extending out from the banks of the Mighty Merrimack, and waiting for the boating trade to explode once again.

The animals are out and about, free from their winter hideaways. Newburyport is finally sunny. Open. Awake with spring. At last.

Not that Newburyport sleeps during the winter. On the contrary, people are walking here and there shopping. Making their way to the places where their cars hide buried in the latest snow-dump. Walking the dogs. There was even a trickle of brave runners. The trips were just shorter. Much shorter. Avoiding the biting cold winds and dangerous slip-and-slides of ice and snow-caked streets. And occasional narrow sidewalks that often resembled tunnels.

But alas. Spring has arrived and brightened the moods of those wretched in winter and releasing the energy and hope of all residents.

Tourism will reign once again, bringing with it ice cream. One of the best things about sunshine, warmer temps and hot sandy beaches. Ice cream. Worth the wait. And, in this writers humble opinion, the ultimate symbol of summer. Along with fried clams.

So drive carefully everyone. The streets are active again with out-of-towners. And let your face be warmed by the sun.

D-DAY 2014

70 years ago they went. They went into battle unknown. A battle like none other before. They were scared. They were brave. They were going to stop an evil from spreading around the world.

Our fathers. Our grandfathers. Our great grandfathers. Our great great grandfathers. Without them there may have been no halt to the accursed and fetid ideals that were poisoning humankind.

My hope is that we have fostered the idea of human kindness that they fought for. Offering our worldly brothers and sisters the opportunity and the hope of freedom from persecution and ugly prejudice. 

Honor the men and women that sacrificed on this day. Honor them by paying forward their bravery with acts of human kindness. #D-Day 2014

DRAWING FROM SEA

I have been to the ocean again. It mesmerizes my senses and draws me into its massive womb of wonder and mystery. The lapping or crashing of waves comfort me and the smell stimulates me. The feel of the salt on my skin and the taste of it in my mouth invigorate my body, sending my mind to a place from which I should never return.

Global turmoil whips around us so we forget the nurturing and substance of the natural world we live in. Its value. Its relevance. Its need for attention. While people cry out for freedom and rights – sometimes tragically – nature cries out for consideration and respect just the same.

How long can we debate the intrinsic importance of ecological systems before it becomes too late? If the value of our natural world continues to diminish, what will be left for the fighters of freedom and the negotiators of government to live for? Rising food costs? Landscape succumbing to massive seas? Oil disasters and devastations? Global warming and the human race sacrificing the environment for convenience and power can only accentuate its ignorance.

Everyone knows about global warming. The word is out there, but few enough change their way-of-life to assist in revitalization and ecological reform. More participants are needed. The rights and freedoms of rebels everywhere need an Earth worth fighting for. And the world might yet be replenished with the immense powers of the vast oceans and thriving natural environments, if only it would let it and enable it to do so.

So I continue my jaunts to the ocean to appreciate its beauty; hope for its future; restore my soul. And then I have hope for freedom for the environment from oppressive industrialization, and freedom for people everywhere from oppressive regimes. We are but one planet.

2011 is the Year!

Now the New Year begins! There are so many things I wish for. None of which I have much control over. Our troops safety around the world. Progress in global ecology. My daughter's continued health and success. Peace and happiness for my family.

This is the year I make progress in my life. I can feel the good vibrations pushing me in the right directions. That's positive thinking.... right? The economy has got to improve. People will be rising from the ashes of economic strife and boosting their lives to new levels of success. There can be no doubt.

Blessings to all!

Christmas Past

Yesterday was Christmas. It was one of the most perfect days in my life. There was no onslaught of gifts and yet, no traditions were broken. I am all about the traditions. That's the thing about Christmas. You don't have to sacrifice the traditions when you lighten up the Holiday.

My daughter and I went for our Christmas ride. It was a beautiful cool day and a couple of our cowboy friends joined us. The company was welcome and shared well.

We napped. I had stayed up late wrapping and preparing for the next day. A parental duty steeped in tradition. The Christmas nap was normally brought on by early-morning work no longer scheduled.

Then food was heated. My daughter and friends arrived and good company was enjoyed. We ate, we opened gifts. The stockings were full of fun and useful things with the orange snuggled in the toe. The same old bag was passed on as a gift. The treasure hunt for the last gift was embarked upon: inside . Outside. Inside. Outside again.

I fell light. I never felt the "burden" that sometimes weighs us down at this time of year. This was a truly lovely Christmas.

Back from DC

I just got back from Washington, DC. It rained. We celebrated our Veterans. But no one would even talk to me about a job..... or even just direct me somewhere. I just want to at least be talking to people. Professional to professional.

The rain was wonderful after not seeing any for months.... or at least since my trip to Boston and New York. Rain in Washington, DC brings out the hearty and may dampen the streets, but not the static atmosphere of a city charged with the nation's business. It really was fabulous to be there.

The countryside, where I stayed, smelled of Autumn leaves and damp grass. I hiked the Manassas Battlefield and got another stamp for my National Parks Passport. It never fails to amaze me that I can stand in a beautiful sweet-smelling field, basking in the sun, and know that hundreds of my fellow countrymen fell there, fighting for their ideals and their land and their families. The cannons are the only indication of the violence that shook the ground where I was walking.

OK. So back to my own battle with employment. I am working part time at Einstein Bros. Bagels,which fills a gap in my week that to me is fun. To the younger employees, it is drudgery. They want only to enjoy immediate gratification and money without working. I just enjoy interaction with people. Even the grumpy - and there are many who present a challenge, and it is always a reward to elicit a smile. Maybe I'm just weird.

Enjoy your day and rock on people!