On the death of a Friend…

My Family-of-Choice recently suffered a great loss – one of our Brothers crossed over the Bifrost Bridge very unexpectedly, while his partner was out of town. Chimbai was a pillar of our community, and had been a vital part of Us for well-nigh 30 years (long before I came around!).

In conversation with Twit this afternoon, we came around to “How are you dealing with this?”, and I was able to articulate, for the first time really, how I actually perceive Death ~

I’ve “lost” many people who were very important to me, over the years – parents, other relatives, friends and lovers – and my responses have varied, depending on both the circumstances and my maturity (of course!)

Where I’m at now, I look at Death as the ~ONE INEVITABLE THING~ in every Life: the Reapers (Guides, Valkyries, Angels, whatever name you like) will come for each of us, sooner or later, one way or another,

no matter what we do in the meantime!

I believe in an everlasting Soul, which may (or may not) manifest again on the Earth in a human body.

Meanwhile, the Soul is in another Cosmic Zone, doing things that we, here, have a hard time even imagining: Learning, growing, choosing, teaching, maybe even flitting around and playing harp in the clouds…

I believe that the pain we feel when someone else dies is mostly for ourselves and our loss ~ and that’s Okay. A Funeral is a collective sharing-of-pain, and an opportunity also to share our memories of joy.

Inevitably, Death’s timing really sucks. It seems to “take far too long” or shows up “much too soon”.

~ This was originally written (and shelved) on May 25, 2009.   Since then, we have lost 3 more Brothers from this Plane ~ 2 after long and painful illnesses, and yet another both ‘too young’ and ‘without warning’. We are reeling, both individually and collectively.  We will, each and all, move past this intense and immediate pain, to a place of a ‘dull ache with occasional twinges’. We will each use our own methods, and make our own progress.

And we will suffer through more such losses, until it is our turn, each of us, to BE the loss whom others mourn.

Meanwhile, I will live my life with JOY ~ and celebrate those who have gone ahead ~

Bright Blessings!

 

mmmmmmm…typing while tipsy!

So, today is Mother’s Day, {Happy Mother’s Day! all you Mom’s out there!}and yesterday was the 33rd anniversary of the Mother’s Day when my 2nd daughter was born ~ and WooHoo! she got to be here for it, for the first time since she turned 19! Flew in from Tampa yesterday, for the weekend, because …

The band that DH has been Head Roadie for (for, like, 25 years) and the band who owned the bar where they first started playing Irish music on a regular basis, had a blow-out Reunion concert this evening.

What a rockin’ good time!
(Damn! I can’t play with the fonts and sizes in QuickPress! Oh well – if I could, that last sentence would be about 4 times the size, and BOLD, and maybe even in some exotic typeface – ‘cuz I really Really REALLY mean it!!!)

The Dooley Brothers and Brogue have *always* had a very special magic about them, separately, and especially together – and it’s been close to 20 years since it happened last.
What an extraordinary event, even for the Irish American Heritage Center, where extraordinary events happen on a fairly regular basis!! (links to be added when I’m far closer to sober!)
~~~
Many Thanks, from the corners of my Soul, to all who helped make this evening such a success for me, personally ~ Tengri, and the Lady of the Full Moon, and Mommy and Daddy and Peter, – who helped me channel enough energy to metabolize *enough* alcohol to get us all home safe and sound, and Mori, who knows the way, even when I forget … and my Brother in Minnesota ~Dude, you win! my sh*t-storm-day was already getting better when I talked to you – yours has a ways to go, yet! ~ bunches of Good-Words-Energy to you …
~~~
The whole show, and alot of side stuff and background people was recorded, so there oughta be a CD and maybe a video available down the road, for those who weren’t able to be there …

And, it’s now 4am, and I really need to get horizontal for a couple hours – thanks for reading, and believing in me (*somebody* checks to see if I’ve gotten my nerve back, every once in a while!)! Catch ya on the next go-round!

Bright Blessings ~

 

On the fight against hate …

I’ve been trying for a while to formulate a post about the new future that I believe Barack Obama is working to craft with us (all of us). This may be seen as a “lazy way out”, but I think Mr. Stranahan has hit several of my favorite nails right on the head.

I’ve added emphasis because I don’t want to get into any arguments over gay rights or the legal  definition of marriage – my point here is this:

“one position that I don’t like doesn’t invalidate all the positions you hold!”

∞

Embrace What You Have In Common With Rick Warren

Lee Stranahan Filmmaker, Writer, Photographer

Posted December 18, 2008 on the  Huffington Post

Apparently, Barack Obama meant what he said about our politics being too small for our problems.

With job layoffs and new miserable financial statistics being announced every day, how else can we explain the press and some Republicans being endlessly fascinated with the non-connection between between Obama and Blagojevich? How else does one explain the thrashing about of some progressives over the idea of Pastor Rick Warren saying a few minutes of prayer at Obama’s inauguration?

The answer is simple: we currently practice a mighty small politics in the United States.

You might not like the idea of Prop 8 supporter Rick Warren anywhere near Washington on January 20th. None of my friends do. This isn’t hype; the people who are so bent out of shape about Warren are literally all my friends or people I admire.

Like my comrades, I think Warren is dead wrong on same sex marriage. But the reality is that at the end of 2008, a majority of voters in California agreed with him. A majority of Americans agree with Warren about same sex marriage and many more states have made marriage equality unconstitutional than have ratified it.

So Warren isn’t out of the mainstream. He seems to agree broadly with the position of Barack Obama, John Edwards and Hillary Clinton in supporting equal legal rights but not gay marriage. Just to underline this again – I think they are all wrong but I also recognize I’m in the minority on this.

I don’t understand how anyone who listened to Obama during the campaign would be shocked that Obama lets Warren give the invocation. It’s vintage Obama. It does not signal agreement with Warren’s political positions, some of which are clearly at odds with Obama’s. Warren isn’t making policy or even giving a sermon. He’s saying a prayer and then possibly dancing later at some inaugural parties. If anything, it’s the possibility of this dancing that should be deeply troubling to all Americans.

Rick Warren felt some of this same heat when he invited Barack Obama to speak at his church on World Aids Day. Conservatives railed against Warren for legitimizing Obama. People with different political opinions aren’t supposed to come together in anything but a shouting match.

In a few weeks, Barack Obama will be sworn in as President and be joined by two men leading prayers – Rick Warren and Joseph Lowery. Lowery is the ‘dean of the Civil Rights movement’, the man who founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Martin Luther King Jr. Lowery supports same sex marriage.

There’s something bigger at play here and you can’t say Obama didn’t warn you. He talked about reaching out, about expanding our politics and that crazy bastard actually meant it. Nobody on the left or right quite knows what to make of it. We want to cram Obama into our old, divisive, two toned ideological and political frame and if he doesn’t fit, we’ll attack him too. Attacking is what we’re used to doing.

But in the long run this new politics benefits us all. Ironically, it benefits the minorities and marginalized and ill-treated the most. I know this may be hard for many to see right now but the truth is that this sort of symbol is what America needs. Not seeing just Warren on stage or just Lowery but seeing both of them of there at once

Obama said it in the abstract time and again during the campaign. Now he’s showing us. Seeing the things that Pastor Rick Warren and Reverend Joseph Lowery have in common is more important than seeing the things that separate them. America needs to see that. It’s a step down the road where a majority of us see the things that straight Americans in love want are the same things that gay Americans in love want, too.

If you are mad about Rick Warren, I’m not attacking you. I understand your anger and I’m not saying it’s not justified. But it’s all right to let your anger go, too. It doesn’t mean surrender, it doesn’t mean giving up the struggle for equality.

It means doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. It means winning, right now – because the fight against hate starts whenever you want it, in your own heart. You can win a battle right now by not hating.

Can I get an amen?

Amen! and So Mote It Be!

 

I Need to Eat Something!

This will probably sound like a “Duh!” to those of you who already pay close attention to your body’s “signals”, but I just now, today, figured out (in so many words) that part of the reason this blogging thing is “so hard” is because I have a hard time focusing when I’m hungry!!!

Like I said – “Duh!”   Maybe even “Double Duh!”

I’m sitting here listening to my tummy rumble, and wondering why the most I can keep attention on is Chuzzle on King.com games!

I’ve seen at least 5 things that have flickered through my brain as  “I should write about that” items since Noon, including:

* the new Rules proposal at the Dept. of Health and Human Services (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-conscience2-2008dec02,0,7013690.story);

* why (and how to address) the fact that I couldn’t get sound from PE Obama’s weekly address (http://change.gov./newsroom/entry/the_key_parts_of_the_jobs_plan/) (I think it was my settings, but it may be that you need to click the MP4 download. I don’t know what exactly I did that fixed it – computer magic, again);

*  acrylic is sooooo much warmer than polyester;

* part of the problem with replacing petroleum as our primary fuel source is it’s so damn efficient;

* another problem with reducing petroleum use “for fuel” is the potentially reduced availability of all the Other Things we get from oil – nylon, polyester, uncounted numbers of other plastics, chemicals and who knows what else; and

* how do I learn how to ask “Why?” or “Why Not?” without p’o-ing the people with the answers.

Well, that’s more than 5 already! See my problem?  So, I’m going to go eat something! and then do my job-related paperwork, go see my friend Ardena, and come back to this later – today.  *I also want to figure out how-exactly to add Share This and ClustrMaps and AskLizRyan widgets (with affiliate link$?) over there (insert arrow pointing right) (oh yeah, figure out how to do that, too!)

Thanks for hanging in with me while I figure myself out! See ya later!  K

 

(Nov. 5, 2008)

At the risk of sounding trite, only because absolutely everybody can say it ~ this IS an historic morning.

Voters across this country have chosen to give Hope and Change a chance to function in America again, instead of the fear and hate which have been so loud, if not strong, for the past decade.

Many news reports have mentioned the Power Shift that Barack Obama’s election shows – but so far, I haven’t seen much notice of the shift in the concept of  Power – as Riane Eisler has discussed in her book “The Power of Partnership” – the difference between “power over” and “power with“,  the shift from Domination to Partnership in all kinds of arenas.

The difference is far more than rhetorical – Barack Obama has spoken and acted mostly from a place of “Power With” since his college years as a community organizer and political activist in Chicago. The most telling line, to me, in his acceptance speech, was

“… to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright –tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.”

We DO still have a mighty long road to travel, and I sincerely hope and pray that we have the courage and strength to travel it together.

 

“The Best Service is No Need for Service”

I just commented on this excellent article (The Best Service is No Service) at destinationCRM.com., for 2 reasons, which became clearer as I wrote -

1) The article itself hits one of my hot-buttons: Customer service should be about fixing the system that caused my problem, as much as fixing *my* particular current problem; and

2) While I haven’t seen any distorted readings of this particular article (yet!), the wording of the title (and their book) simply begs for misinterpretation, by both sound-bite commentators and the anal bean-counters of corporate America.

The simple addition of 2 words to that headline would have made their content clearer AND greatly reduced the chances of misinterpretation: “The Best Service is No Need for Service”.  As it stands,  it practically begs to be used as an excuse to completely eliminate the Customer Service function! Maybe that’s my just cynicism of corporate America coming out, but maybe not…

I found this article while cruising The Livin’ the Dream blog: http://mydreambizblog.blogspot.com/ . It’s mentioned in Leo’s June 8, 2008 post.  {I just posted a comment there, too}

Bright Sunny Tuesday Blessings!

Karen J

getting back on this posting-horse after FAR TOO LONG spent procrastinating!

 

I need a whole gross of Tuits!

This has been the worst blank page I’ve ever encountered – for no particular reason that I can figure out!

You may remember that I was going to report on Pennsic, oh, almost 3 weeks ago?  Well, it was wonderful to see people, as usual, but I just couldn’t get a handle on what to write about …

I did some shopping, but with no money – that’s boring.

I didn’t get to the Battlefield – very seldom do – that’s boring.

I didn’t take any classes – ditto – that’s boring.

I didn’t even get up to the Archery range – not much to talk about there, either!

I did finally “see” the slight twist at one tip that the Marshalls have been concerned about for years, and talked to the man who made my bow (Yumi) – it should be any easy, simple fix, but he had all his tools packed up already, so it’ll probably be next year(!) before I can get that fixed.

I did make it to the Rosaki Party, which I hadn’t done in ages, but I didn’t dance – boring.

I actually did do some artwork – actually, I drew and colored 3 miniature wooden shields to be added to the annual Viking Memorial Boat which is burned each year on the Lake, in honor of those who have passed the veil in the past year.

~~~

So, I’ve at least gotten back on the horse, as-it-were. I hope this is cathartic in some way, and I can get some of the other three hundred things on my List done, or at least definitely started. I’ll let you know tomorrow – it’s time now for some Seriously Horizontal Time!

Bright Blessings!

Karen

 

It’s been so long – and it’ll be awhile longer ~

I apologize for not being “here” in the last couple of weeks – I’ve been either Chicken or Busy …

… and it’ll be a couple more weeks. We’re literally on the way out the door to go camping for almost 2 weeks!

I’ll tell you all about it when we get back.

If you really want to know more, right now!, check out  http://www.pennsic.net

Bright Blessings, All!

Karen

 

“To-Don’t” List – Brilliant!

I just read this article on Henrik Edberg’s Positivity Blog -

“7 Ways to Reduce Stress With a To-Don’t List”, a guest post by Liz Massey of Creative Liberty.

It’s given me permission to think about that dreaded, ever-expanding ToDo list in an entirely different way!

Haven’t actually DONE anything with the idea, yet  – been busy writing about it! – but I know it will be very helpful, and just recognizing (once again!) that it’s not only *Okay*, but *GOOD* to say “No” to some thoughts, projects and ideas, and even people!, has freed my mind of a short-ton of crap!

Off now, to actually Do something that’s still on the ToDo list!

 

To Vince, Wherever You Are …

Happy Trails!

It didn’t occur to me to give you my email, but maybe someday you’ll see this – I hope you’ve had a grand adventure!

◊◊◊◊◊

Driving home from Florence, Kentucky, Sunday afternoon … after a long weekend of meeting and partying with friends from across the country – I was inspired to pull over for a hitch-hiker walking along the Interstate – no bag, no car *back there*, just a cup of soda, a tank top and cargo shorts.

Me: “What’s up? Where ya headed?”

The Kid: “California. I just lost my job, so I lit out this morning.” “Where are you going?”

I told him, “Indy” – the CYA in my head didn’t want to get stuck with *some weirdo* for 5 hours, all the way to Chicago – so I fudged. (Sorry ’bout that, Kid!)

His name was Vince and he’d set out from small-town-in-Ohio, about 30 miles NE of Cincinnati, to walk to California. His uncle, whose name I simply cannot remember, had walked around the world and was his hero all his life. It would cost too much to put gas in the Jeep, and be boring to sit around home all summer, so he’d gotten up early Sunday morning and “just did it”. Hadn’t even told his Mom he was on the road yet. (The phone was busy when he’d tried calling earlier.)

“My Mom’s been real supportive of the idea, since I started talking about going, and I was planning to go later in the year, like in August. But when I lost my job (the boss wanted to bring in his son, so I had to go) I figured ‘Why not now?’” {KJ goes palm-to-forehead here: Why didn’t I offer to let him use my cell to try again? Vestiges of paranoia, I guess}

A fellow on his way to work had given him a lift to Cincy (and $25! He’d started out with a pack of smokes and zero dollars) that morning, he’d slept for a while under a railroad bridge, and walked north about 5 miles when I saw him.

We talked about his old job (selling used copiers and printers on eBay), what to tell the cop who wants to give you grief for walking on the highway (I suggested “I had a ride, but it turned into a rolling domestic disturbance, so I made them let me out”), what else he’s done and enjoyed (carpentry and handy-man-type things, riding and working on dirt bikes), how to listen to your gut when picking the next ride, where to find same, and what he wanted to do in CA.

We also talked about “Pay it forward” and “What goes around, comes around”, and the adventure of meeting new people and seeing new places and doing new things.

He looked at my atlas, to pick out a “where-to next”, and decided that St. Louis sounded good. (That let me feel a *little* better about fibbing about our destination.) He kinda wanted to avoid Iowa, ’cause of the floods, but then again, there might be work there in the clean-up areas.

I reminded him that “Few plans survive intact after contact with reality” (Badly mangled quote from a WWII general, but he knew what I meant. I have to remind myself of this frequently). Then I told him if he gets to Boulder CO, to look up my brother Gaffer who plays the harp by the Trattoria on Pearl Street!

We parted ways at the Road Pilot on I-74 at Rt.31, and I gave him a long-sleeved shirt to help avoid sunburn. (Also good for pillow or blanket; do-rag or sack).

So …                                                                                                                                                                     If you run into a tall, blond, soft-spoken young man wearing a black tank, khaki cargo shorts, and a “ChiCon 2000″ chambray shirt, give him a ride (or work) if you can and greetings from Kharmin with the red diesel Jetta. I’ll think of him whenever I miss that shirt!