An Invincible Summer - A Woman's Journey

This is one of my favorite bloggers and I love what he has to say here. I hope that I am not breaking any rules copying and pasting but I'll risk it. Dear Franklin Graham, LGBTQ Christians Don’t Need Your Blessing APRIL 26, 2019  /  JOHN PAVLOVITZ Dear Franklin Graham, Recently you   tweeted   about Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, writing that the Mayor “says he’s a gay Christian.”   You then immediately implied that he isn’t—as if his sexuality somehow disqualifies him.   I know that you’ve been sequestered within in the gilded gated community of your privilege and guarded by sycophants and yes-men for so long that you’re unaware of your catastrophic hubris here, so let me help you: You’re wrong. Pete Buttigieg is a Christian because he has chosen to follow Jesus. Full stop. His sexual orientation is irrelevant to the matter—as is your evaluation of him as a gay man.   He doesn’t need your permission, doesn’t require...

Rabbit's feet. It was common, when I was a child, to see them hanging from backpacks, purses, mirrors and belt loops. I may or may not have owned one; I cannot say for sure. It never really occurred to me how horrible and gross it is. A silly superstition that caused an industry of rabbit killing for feet. As a child, I am pretty sure that I assumed they were not real. As an adult, I don't doubt that they were. I am not a vegetarian. I, on occasion but not often, buy leather shoes. I do not wear fur. I am not a purist by any means. But chopping off animal feet for a silly superstition ...unconscionable.  I am glad it's mostly a thing of the past.  A few not-so-fun facts: There are a few  specifications  the rabbit’s foot must adhere to in order to  technically  be considered lucky: 1. It has to be the left hind foot. 2. The rabbit needs to have been captured or killed in a cemetery. 3. The rabbit’s foot needs to be cut off on a spec...

The other day my girl comes home from work and I can tell she's down. I wait.....which is something I have learned to do....wait. I am not pro at it, I must bite my tongue, resist the urge. A few hours go by and she comes in to the room where we sit and out it comes. Her dad, whom she loves very much, invites her up to a local camping spot. She doesn't especially want to go but makes the effort. She knows how much their camping experiences together were special to him (and her) and feels as if she can stop by for his sake. She gets there and he is not alone. He is with one of the guys from his sober living home. One thing about the sober living homes is that you can kind of tell the men who are trying hard and the ones who really are not. This is one of the guys who appears to be going through the motions but not actually getting it. The Secret Keeper is happy to see her. After light talk, he seems to need to tell her about a recent problem and explain what happene...

WORD FOR THE DAY There are many things to be grateful "for" but, as I ripen with the seasons of life, the many reasons blend into a sacred mystery. And, most deeply, I realize that living gratefully is its own blessing. MICHAEL MAHONEY The older I get, the more I work with my counselor and foster my ACA program, the more this is a real and compelling truth. The knot in my stomach, the negative racing thoughts, all lessen as I sit back on what is truly important and reason I am here. Living gratefully allows me to love more freely and focus on the here and now. Maybe sounds a little kumbaya-ish but all-in-all, as a way of life, I am liking it. What about you? What comes up on your gratitude meter today?

The other day, while standing near the door inside the super market, a gent came out of the bathroom, headed to his personal cart and started heading out of the market. He made a quick stop by the ready made display of sandwiches and salads, glanced for a bit, and then continued on his way. My heart told me to stop him. My concience said feed the man but my fears kept me from chasing after him. I’ve always been afraid of the homeless, especially the mentally ill. It frightens me that they may react poorly to my efforts, they are unpredictable and, therefore, a threat. Lucky for me I had an answer. My Boy Scout has no such qualms and when I made my request, he beamed from ear to ear. He grabbed the sandwich, chips and potatoe salad, ran through the register and chased after our guy. He came back 5 minutes later with a defeated look and said the guy gave him the slip. I wondered if our gent had peeked into the pharmacy or the goodwill store and, undaunted, the man ran back out. No...

They borrowed and I lent. It's all ok....I did it without regret. I could.  But for a little while, I felt........disappointed perhaps. But not anymore.  When repayment came, I honestly felt uncomfortable taking. I do not need it. Conflicted I suppose. Perhaps a feeling of greed even though that has nothing to do with it. Maybe the appearance of greed. Ah well. They borrowed and I lent and all the complications that accompany that whole damn thing.

I just checked and realized that I didn't blog for a long time.  Not quite sure how that happened. Things are going fairly well. Been busy with my ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholics) and enjoying it thoroughly. Growing, learning and becoming more emotionally mature while meeting fascinating people from every walk of life. It's not right to relay these stories, as they are not mine, but I will say that I see more resilience and determination in the ACA rooms than anywhere I've ever been. The abuse and degradation that my fellow travelers have survived astounds me, yet there they are, striving for peace, happiness and just an all-around better way to live. I, too, am looking for a better way to live. One without the records in my head telling me how stupid I am, without fear ruling my reactions, and one where I set up really healthy boundaries and stick to them without guilt or shame. I'd say overall I am doing well and heading in the right direction. All in all, ca...

Sometimes, even though I have people in my life, I feel incredibly alone. It’s bearable but uncomfortable.