We finally reach it - our last day. Mankind had reached a nadir while above the sun is shining. On the horizon is darkness and one can only wonder what lies ahead for us all. Will we go on? Was there a better place waiting? Or would the crouching darkness devour our very souls? What will we do?
The last year has been one of radical change, chaos, and confusion. We'd weathered it but there were many wounded and many battle-scarred. Some had died on the field. Even the earth had been assaulted. The villages and towns that still stood were reeling under fiscal problems, energy crises, and joblessness. In many places children cried for food while famine raged in the land. Wars among factions had only increased, their participants splintering skirmishes around the globe.
Terror had become a raging monster fed by a demonic mindset. Children had lain bleeding or dismembered in the streets, a sacrifice to a violent god filled with hatred and minds so twisted by their fables that they believe a lie and are damned themselves.
I scanned the horizon, looking for some sign, some rising star, some glimmer of hope. I saw none. We had obliterated hope along with faith. No one prayed anymore for peace and safety because there was no longer a God to pray to. Or if there was, He must remain hidden in case someone actually grasped His garments in desperation and began to believe in Him. Goodness was servant to selfishness. Mercy lay dying on the alter of intolerance, bigotry, and self-righteousness. No longer was there freedom to speak without fear. No longer could one assert a righteous indignation without fear of reprisal or accusations of religiousness. Death lurked around every corner waiting for a willing participant to utilize his tools.
I sat down on the rotting stump of an ancient oak. It had stood many centuries, growing tall, strong, and full. It's branches had sheltered many from storms, given shade to the weary travelers, and lifted up a multitude of downcast eyes. But long ago they'd begun to hew it down. It had taken a couple of generations to succeed but finally they had chopped it down and burned the carcase. Only the stump remained, a slowly rotting reminder of a time when people actually believed in something good. When ideals, dreams, and hopes were allowed to flourish without dissension.
The sun was lower in the west now, near the time when the darkness would be complete. From the East, it had begun to crawl along the ground, reaching long probing fingers toward us. We stood and watched, making no effort to greet it and none to stop it. I knew that it would overtake us but some part of me continued to search along that dividing line between light and dark, as a thirsty animal searches for a watering hole. Still I saw nothing but approaching darkness. The light behind me dimmed further as the power of that darkness began to overwhelm it.
Then, it came. One moment a fleeting glow suddenly shut out by overwhelming blackness the consistence of tar. My heart pounded so hard I knew others must hear but I couldn't see beyond my outstretched fingertips. I felt tears begin to course down my cheeks and my stomach twisted in knots as I stood in a a night deeper than any well I'd ever seen. I had no measure of how long it lasted because without the sun, time didn't exist.
Just as the last flame of hope in my heart began to gutter like a candle in the wind, I raised my head and hands and strained my eyes to the void. Suddenly, from the farthest reaches of the heavens came a tiny flicker, so faint it would have been undetectable to the casual observer. But I was searching for that flicker and as I watched through blinding tears, it grew and expanded and blazed forth with gathering strength, until it broke through the darkness and glowed brightly -a single star in a vast expanse of nothingness. All around me I heard gasps as first one, and another and then, another star broke through until all the heavens were filled with brilliant starlight, their beams stretching to touch one another.
I looked at the horizon again and saw where the earth and sky formed a line and stars blinked along it the way diamonds do on a necklace. I turned back to my ancient stool for a seat to observe the wonder of it all. At the base of the stump, where gnarled roots snaked away and into the ground, a single green stalk now stood. Tender green leaves had unfurled during the long dark night and now began to reach to the lightening sky.
Then, it came, blazing from the east and banishing the darkness to the depths. A fresh breeze began to blow and dawn came with a chorus of songbirds. We were here.
Now, what will we do?
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Impending Cosmic Event
A new year is on the horizon! Well, what did you think I meant?
Morning to all my visitors, friends, and wannabe friends. I hope as the end approaches you are taking the opportunity to spend time with your families, feast, and frolic. The end is near . . . when you have to go back to work.
For those already working, you have my sympathy. I've been off since Christmas Eve and will return to work next Monday. I'm not looking forward to it. It isn't that I am not thankful for my job, I am. I just hate working in an office 9-5 five days a week. I work with some fun people. I have a variety of duties that demand my time and provide a level of interest that allows me to survive until 5 p.m. But I'd rather be writing, reading, sewing, playing with Sarah, fixing up the house, writing, reading . . . oh, already said that.
This week my plan is to get this house in order but it has already hit several snags. Mike came over and helped me move the table back into the den (the one with no heat and junk headed for other areas, such as the dump if I have my way). But after that other people had places to go guess who was in charge of transporting? Jerry had to be at work at three so after three nothing got done. I had to get ready for church by six. He got off at 8:30 while I was still at church. I got in around 10:30. Uh, well, we have real church... singing, shouting, preaching, shouting, singing and praying. Not that other kinds of church aren't real . . . but I wouldn't know how to act. We are in the middle of Winter Warm-up at church. Great service last night and I expect another tonight.
I've been up since 7:30 and Jerry's still sleeping. I'm going to get dressed and get started but now I don't know where to start! LOL! There's plenty of places but what first?
I want to do some writing this afternoon. I'm working on Mist and have done two and a half chapters this week. Alice will be in clover! I need to get as many done on Winter. I have six months for that to be completely done and I reeeeeally want to do it.
So, I'm off for a bit. When I am home like this I find time to pop in more but the content is abysmally boring. So bear with me.
I have a couple of invitations pending out there. Please do not think I am ignoring you. I'm not. I just declined a couple that have been pending for a couple of months. I have a couple of posts . . . well, actually about four I think, on the process I use to add folks. If you're lazy and don't want to look them up, here they are in a nutshell. Being too lazy to read my posts will probably not get you added, by the way. They are listed as favorites on the home page and so should be easy to find.
I suggest you visit my current contacts to see what I like. I have some people I added for interest, some for entertainment, some for comfort, and all because I like them. Can you believe, I've actually added people at THEIR request and they later deleted me without explanation! How rude is that? They were "friends of friends" and I no longer accept these based on that relationship until I check them out for a bit.So, before you add me or invite me, be sure you want to be seen here. I certainly don't want to embarrass you or be embarrassed by you!
Now, daylight's burning and I have tons of work to do yet! Have a great day everyone!
Morning to all my visitors, friends, and wannabe friends. I hope as the end approaches you are taking the opportunity to spend time with your families, feast, and frolic. The end is near . . . when you have to go back to work.
For those already working, you have my sympathy. I've been off since Christmas Eve and will return to work next Monday. I'm not looking forward to it. It isn't that I am not thankful for my job, I am. I just hate working in an office 9-5 five days a week. I work with some fun people. I have a variety of duties that demand my time and provide a level of interest that allows me to survive until 5 p.m. But I'd rather be writing, reading, sewing, playing with Sarah, fixing up the house, writing, reading . . . oh, already said that.
This week my plan is to get this house in order but it has already hit several snags. Mike came over and helped me move the table back into the den (the one with no heat and junk headed for other areas, such as the dump if I have my way). But after that other people had places to go guess who was in charge of transporting? Jerry had to be at work at three so after three nothing got done. I had to get ready for church by six. He got off at 8:30 while I was still at church. I got in around 10:30. Uh, well, we have real church... singing, shouting, preaching, shouting, singing and praying. Not that other kinds of church aren't real . . . but I wouldn't know how to act. We are in the middle of Winter Warm-up at church. Great service last night and I expect another tonight.
I've been up since 7:30 and Jerry's still sleeping. I'm going to get dressed and get started but now I don't know where to start! LOL! There's plenty of places but what first?
I want to do some writing this afternoon. I'm working on Mist and have done two and a half chapters this week. Alice will be in clover! I need to get as many done on Winter. I have six months for that to be completely done and I reeeeeally want to do it.
So, I'm off for a bit. When I am home like this I find time to pop in more but the content is abysmally boring. So bear with me.
I have a couple of invitations pending out there. Please do not think I am ignoring you. I'm not. I just declined a couple that have been pending for a couple of months. I have a couple of posts . . . well, actually about four I think, on the process I use to add folks. If you're lazy and don't want to look them up, here they are in a nutshell. Being too lazy to read my posts will probably not get you added, by the way. They are listed as favorites on the home page and so should be easy to find.
- I want to see an actual site, with "stuff" on it that will tell me "who" and "what" you are
- I want to read several posts, usually several week's of posts
- I try and pray over each one I think of adding before I add them
- I look for things in common, of interest, or unique to your site that will keep me interested 'cause I will read it and don't want to waste either of our time (if you never post, I will eventually delete you . . . cause you're not home when I stop by! Well.... unless you're related to me. {sigh} Exceptions are not good and so rare.)
- I will add NO ONE with inappropriate content and will delete anyone who adds it later.
- I am religious, very much so but I do not expect you to share my feelings. But I do expect you to respect them and I welcome respectful disagreement
- I am, at times, funny, interesting, boring, sad, angry, frustrated, annoyed, irritated, and just spitting mad. I'll be saying so. This blog is all about ME. If that's going to be hard to live with, you may want to reconsider your invitations.
- I AM NOT LOOKING FOR BOYFRIENDS - I've had a husband 35 years. I'm over it. Although, here on multiply, I've had fewer marriage proposals . . . gee, I'm wounded.
I suggest you visit my current contacts to see what I like. I have some people I added for interest, some for entertainment, some for comfort, and all because I like them. Can you believe, I've actually added people at THEIR request and they later deleted me without explanation! How rude is that? They were "friends of friends" and I no longer accept these based on that relationship until I check them out for a bit.So, before you add me or invite me, be sure you want to be seen here. I certainly don't want to embarrass you or be embarrassed by you!
Now, daylight's burning and I have tons of work to do yet! Have a great day everyone!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Monday Morning Mission
I'm still adjusting the theme. I'm on a mission this morning. In about 30 minutes I will begin CLEANING MY HOUSE! I'm telling you, I 'bout had enough of this mess. Mike is coming over to help me move some things and I want to clean out closets and shelves and take down my tree. I never leave it up anymore until New Year. I want to start the new year fresh and clean and uncluttered. I have two days to do it. LOL!
Y'all better be praying for me, too, because I see major pain looming on the horizon after this. But it has to be done. I'm serious. The place is becoming a hazardous waste site. I told Jerry this morning he either cleans his side of the room up or I'm moving into Mike's old room. I can't stand it anymore.
I don't know what is wrong with him but he won't throw anything away and leaves his dirty laundry in the corner so he can do it himself. Now, why he can't take it out of the hamper, is beyond me but apparently that's too difficult. We have a small room and he can't put a hamper in the room. Besides, who wants dirty laundry in their bedroom? He can't remember to do his laundry if it isn't lying in front of him? I don't know. This is a person who was obsessively clean for decades and suddenly he hordes ever scrap of paper, every plastic bottle, every useless item he can and it is driving me nuts.
O.k. that's way more than I intended to share. Suffice it to say, I'm cleaning out some of the garbage. It has to go or I do. I'll see y'all when I get a spare minute.
I say Mike is helping. I suspect he'll help some but I'll have a time keeping him off the computer. He's a cyber-junkie.
Ta Ta for now!
Y'all better be praying for me, too, because I see major pain looming on the horizon after this. But it has to be done. I'm serious. The place is becoming a hazardous waste site. I told Jerry this morning he either cleans his side of the room up or I'm moving into Mike's old room. I can't stand it anymore.
I don't know what is wrong with him but he won't throw anything away and leaves his dirty laundry in the corner so he can do it himself. Now, why he can't take it out of the hamper, is beyond me but apparently that's too difficult. We have a small room and he can't put a hamper in the room. Besides, who wants dirty laundry in their bedroom? He can't remember to do his laundry if it isn't lying in front of him? I don't know. This is a person who was obsessively clean for decades and suddenly he hordes ever scrap of paper, every plastic bottle, every useless item he can and it is driving me nuts.
O.k. that's way more than I intended to share. Suffice it to say, I'm cleaning out some of the garbage. It has to go or I do. I'll see y'all when I get a spare minute.
I say Mike is helping. I suspect he'll help some but I'll have a time keeping him off the computer. He's a cyber-junkie.
Ta Ta for now!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Messing Around
As you can see, I'm messing around again with my page. Those blinking stars are a Google skin I added as a background. Bit busy but for now, I'll leave it as it is festive.
I've been working on the books again. Lordy, BOOKS! Two at once. I've never been this crazy! Only managed to write several pages in Mist thus far tonight. I was going to work on Winter too but I lay down at 7 p.m. and slept until 8:30 when I had to go get Jerry fom work. Since we are down to one car, I can't go to church on Sunday night if he works. He gets off at 8:30 and would have to stand in the cold for over an hour. I think I was really tired. I'm still tired and probably going to go to bed shortly. I am hoping to get a lot accomplished tomorrow and the rest of the week. I have several things I want to do before Monday.
I hope you are all enjoying your week. Some of you will already be into Monday and anticipating the New Year celebrations. My church has Winter Warm-Up every year the week of the month. Usually two to three nights. This year it is Monday and Tuesday night. Since Wednesday is a holiday, we are not having church that night. A lot of people do family things on Christmas and New Year so we usually cancel services that fall on those days and have it earlier in the week. Since Warm Up is earlier in the week. . . well you get it by now. LOL
I'm off ladies and laddies. Have a great evening if you're just starting and a great day if that is about to begin.
I've been working on the books again. Lordy, BOOKS! Two at once. I've never been this crazy! Only managed to write several pages in Mist thus far tonight. I was going to work on Winter too but I lay down at 7 p.m. and slept until 8:30 when I had to go get Jerry fom work. Since we are down to one car, I can't go to church on Sunday night if he works. He gets off at 8:30 and would have to stand in the cold for over an hour. I think I was really tired. I'm still tired and probably going to go to bed shortly. I am hoping to get a lot accomplished tomorrow and the rest of the week. I have several things I want to do before Monday.
I hope you are all enjoying your week. Some of you will already be into Monday and anticipating the New Year celebrations. My church has Winter Warm-Up every year the week of the month. Usually two to three nights. This year it is Monday and Tuesday night. Since Wednesday is a holiday, we are not having church that night. A lot of people do family things on Christmas and New Year so we usually cancel services that fall on those days and have it earlier in the week. Since Warm Up is earlier in the week. . . well you get it by now. LOL
I'm off ladies and laddies. Have a great evening if you're just starting and a great day if that is about to begin.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Whew! Glad That's Done
You know, I love holidays but I'm so glad when they are over. I really wanted a lovely Christmas day and for the most part it was. My sons argued and I sent one home before lunch! My sister got snotty about where she had to park Christmas Eve! I have a large drive area but you can only get so many cars in it and she said my husband was "double parked"! In his own driveway! So, she threatened to leave. How stupid is that? And then she didn't come to Christmas dinner because she had a headache. Whatever! I didn't point out to her that when I go to her house I have to park in the street. I don't know why she makes this issue about the parking here but she does it all the time and it is so foolish. It's my drive, for heaven's sake!
LOL, maybe I shouldn't tell all that. Makes us sound like savages. Or dysfunctional. Well, we are dysfunctional. I don't have a normal family and I've reached the stage in my life that I just am too annoyed to pretend otherwise. My sons are jerks for the most part. I love 'em dearly but those two are only about themselves. And they do not take after MY family! Daddy would have beat the crap out of us if we'd acted as they do. Believe me when I say they know better too but they're too old to beat. So, I send them home. I just won't tolerate ill manners any longer, nor pigs in the parlor!
But my son's in-laws, Sue and John, were quite nice and I enjoyed them. WE had a good dinner and visit. I really like Sue and she came over at 9 a.m. and helped me get everything ready. I'd done most of my cooking on Christmas Eve. We had ham, chicken dressing, sweet pea salad, green bean casserole (Sue's contribution), REAL banana pudding, cherry cheese cake, lemon pie, chocolate pie, apple pie and pumpkin spice pie (the last two both Sue's contribution.
Sue is a little woman but let me tell you, she can eat! I laughed because I don't see how a woman that tiny can eat like that and stay tiny! I have to get a photo sometime of Sue and post it. I feel like an Amazon next to her.
They left after dinner and I sent them some food that evening. There was plenty go around. When I make dressing I make tons! My family loves it and I freeze some for New Years Day.
My husband gave me a visit to the spa for a massage. My sister gave me an digital photo album for my desk and I think I will like it. My Dad and my step-mom, Mary, sent us money which was very much needed. I can't tell them how much I appreciated that gift. I am using it to get a new microwave. Mine went out about three months ago. We've been using Mike's because it was just sitting in storage. But he moved out and this week I gave it back not thinking I'd need one for the holiday! Dad's & Mary's gift only arrived on Tuesday and I didn't have time to shop for one. Becca brought her's over and we used it but tonight I needed one again. So, tomorrow I'm shopping for my own. Out of Dad's gift, I paid a bill for each of the boys. So, that gave them some help, too. Again, thanks so very much, Dad and Mary. And I will probably find a better deal now than I would have earlier in the week.
So, my the holiday is over and I can have a whole week to do what I want to do. I plan on doing some rearranging in the house and tossing. Things, not people. I have too much junk and am too crowded. I want my space back and no room to allow anyone to move back home. I've decided to redecorate my bedroom the way I did the study a couple of years ago. I think a hunter green with white trim. Not sure yet but my bed is blond wood and I have to find something to go with it. I don't favor browns much on the walls.
I am working on both Mist and Winter! It is hard but I think it is working for me. I've posted new photos of my little angel. Take a look.
Well, got to get going. I will be in and out. Hope you all have a great weekend.
LOL, maybe I shouldn't tell all that. Makes us sound like savages. Or dysfunctional. Well, we are dysfunctional. I don't have a normal family and I've reached the stage in my life that I just am too annoyed to pretend otherwise. My sons are jerks for the most part. I love 'em dearly but those two are only about themselves. And they do not take after MY family! Daddy would have beat the crap out of us if we'd acted as they do. Believe me when I say they know better too but they're too old to beat. So, I send them home. I just won't tolerate ill manners any longer, nor pigs in the parlor!
But my son's in-laws, Sue and John, were quite nice and I enjoyed them. WE had a good dinner and visit. I really like Sue and she came over at 9 a.m. and helped me get everything ready. I'd done most of my cooking on Christmas Eve. We had ham, chicken dressing, sweet pea salad, green bean casserole (Sue's contribution), REAL banana pudding, cherry cheese cake, lemon pie, chocolate pie, apple pie and pumpkin spice pie (the last two both Sue's contribution.
Sue is a little woman but let me tell you, she can eat! I laughed because I don't see how a woman that tiny can eat like that and stay tiny! I have to get a photo sometime of Sue and post it. I feel like an Amazon next to her.
They left after dinner and I sent them some food that evening. There was plenty go around. When I make dressing I make tons! My family loves it and I freeze some for New Years Day.
My husband gave me a visit to the spa for a massage. My sister gave me an digital photo album for my desk and I think I will like it. My Dad and my step-mom, Mary, sent us money which was very much needed. I can't tell them how much I appreciated that gift. I am using it to get a new microwave. Mine went out about three months ago. We've been using Mike's because it was just sitting in storage. But he moved out and this week I gave it back not thinking I'd need one for the holiday! Dad's & Mary's gift only arrived on Tuesday and I didn't have time to shop for one. Becca brought her's over and we used it but tonight I needed one again. So, tomorrow I'm shopping for my own. Out of Dad's gift, I paid a bill for each of the boys. So, that gave them some help, too. Again, thanks so very much, Dad and Mary. And I will probably find a better deal now than I would have earlier in the week.
So, my the holiday is over and I can have a whole week to do what I want to do. I plan on doing some rearranging in the house and tossing. Things, not people. I have too much junk and am too crowded. I want my space back and no room to allow anyone to move back home. I've decided to redecorate my bedroom the way I did the study a couple of years ago. I think a hunter green with white trim. Not sure yet but my bed is blond wood and I have to find something to go with it. I don't favor browns much on the walls.
I am working on both Mist and Winter! It is hard but I think it is working for me. I've posted new photos of my little angel. Take a look.
Well, got to get going. I will be in and out. Hope you all have a great weekend.
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