BEAUTIFUL + Post Script

Sunlight

March 28th

 Feeling somewhat better today. The rash is almost gone.  My angel yogi friend, Joanne, delivered groceries this morning and gave me the best ever hug. Hugs heal.

(Smiling on the inside)

Wisdom
March 29th

https://youtu.be/ezaBqCf0hv0
If the owl stands for wisdom
what does the Senate of the United States stand for
having just voted by a small margin that climate change
is not the fault of humans.  Was that wise?

When the screech owl screes
what does the rodent populace underground know?
To burrow deeper, to count it's blessings, prepare to die.
 I have similar wisdom in these matters.

What matters then on this night,
that we be wrong or right in our endless calculus?
Perhaps the Western owl knows what the East does not.
I have no definitive answer, but to listen closely.

Humor

March 30th

"All those who believe in psychokinesis, raise my hand."
-Stephen Wright-

"What does a dyslexic, agnostic, insomniac spend most of her time doing? Staying up all night wondering if there really is a dog."

-not attributed-

"Buzz and the Dandelion"
(from Wendy Golden levitt)

https://youtu.be/wU4DgHHwVCc

Encouragement
I open my eyes to bright blue skies

Preview
March 31st

Tomorrow is my clinic visit and tests, fortunately I will be accompanied to and from it by taxi cab with my dear and compassionate friend 'Archangel' Michael.
 ~*~
Update
Miserable day Friday for travel to the clinic but my dear friend used an application on his smart phone to get us a cab ! The usual forty minute wait to be seen and, after blood pressure and weight measurements, the cursory run through of questions and answers while the poor MD types into her computer forms, then a blood screen down the hall done by an excellent nurse, and we were off by 5Pm and home in a cab by 6 to share broth and conversation for a few hours. I will hear about the results in three weeks at a follow up visit unless I get a call that the doctor was alarmed about anything in particular.  I also got a referral to a clinic near home for an evaluation of my leg aches.  Today my yogi angel will visit around 4 with a few food items.  

AFTERMATH

To Every one grieving, angry, or fearful,
l offer understanding.
To Every one rejoicing, relieved or hopeful,

I offer understanding.

~*~

(The Daily News decides on this full page gut-grabbing Headline)

Don't be caught by crass attempts to manipulate your emotions. Some disappointed folks are wading in the muck of what looks to them to be the worst disaster of all ages, forgetting in the passion of this moment the massacre of indigenous peoples at the start of the enterprise we call America, forgetting the lives sacrificed during our War for 'Independence', the Civil War that turned neighbor against neighbor and left farms and plantations with rows of mutilated corpses instead of crops, even neglecting to recall that, although abolition of slavery was a part of it, States rights was the major issue of contention. They've forgotten the bloodbath that was the First World War, as well as the unfinished business left over from World War ll, the displaced millions of innocent victims even though Germany was defeated. What I'm pointing to is that this election is not necessarily the worst thing that's ever happened, and I'm suggesting this same set of reminders for all those who feel they've won the day. Some simple facts and by no means the whole story, nonetheless worthy of a moments pause; nothing material lasts forever, not humans or creatures, plants or planets, and certainly not political systems, governments, parties, or policies. I take comfort in that knowledge so the prompt for me is "stay aware and informed, keep events in perspective, and be kind whenever possible". The same prompt might be useful to 'winners' and 'losers' alike.
~*~

("Gems of Wisdom", Firehouse Buddha, Bird Goddess)
  
I met Shree Ma and Swami Satyananda briefly while spending time at Ananda Ashram upstate in the nineties, and this little book 'Gems of Wisdom' was a gift from her: "Many people say this is the Kaali yuga, the age of darkness. But the yugas are a mode of perception...we choose to live in the Saatwa Yuga, the age of truth."  We can choose how we respond to whatever system or place we find ourselves in at any point. The situation we find ourselves in today is intense and grave, even dangerous no doubt about it.
~*~

 (Roses at the Zendo tonight)

One of my Zen teachers says his response is to dig deeper in to his practice.  Another yogi friend is running for local office to see what she can do to improve things for others.  Another is helping with efforts to elect candidates more in line with her values. Every thought and every gesture matters. Doing something positive is 'being' what you want to have happen. May we be that.
~*~