01.29.11

Posted in Just Me at 6:30 PM by Ann Hornbeck

My morning was spent with Little Anna where she had breakfast at her new table, and then we watched Dora the Explorer before working on puzzles and other games. It was a comforting moment in time!  Afterwards, I felt a bit melancholy, or perhaps, just bored or needing exercise.  I was going to take a hike after running errands, and then the rain came.  It has been nothing but gray, gray, gray for so long, but who’s complaining! Perhaps because the rain came today, tomorrow will be sunny and clear!  We shall see.  I just finished watching a movie from the Sundance genre. I knew it was a good one but I didn’t particularly want to watch it at the time it came out as it is about Alzheimers, and when you have family members who have suffered from it, you don’t need to see a movie to know the details. The movie is named “Away from Her” and the three main characters are Julie Christie, Gordon Pinsent and Olympia Dukakis.  A great cast! I felt the story depicted quite accurately what I have witnessed, and I especially liked the ending.  Love is a beautiful thing, at any age and at any moment.

Peace out!

01.26.11

Posted in Just Me at 9:17 PM by Ann Hornbeck

I seem to be busier and busier – isn’t it the way of the world! Unfortunately, I am not exercising enough so I have decided to join a 10k running class – the cost alone will inspire me! I enjoyed parts of Obama’s speech last night. Other parts, not so much, but what do you expect when you are trying to embrace and command. Like preaching peace in time of war, or falling in love when all hope is lost.  I remain tuned in to Gabrielle and her family as she continues to make progress.  Many of you are doing the same, I’m sure. What a long road before her, but such determination and hope for one so young and driven.  And what a beautiful name – one that paints a picture of castles and princesses and everything good! I suppose everything is exactly as it is meant to be, like a caterpillar that loses its cocoon to find its true self hidden in the wings of a butterfly. What a beautiful life. Ben is lying in my bed waiting for me to complete my post before he must head to bed.  I recognize that by sitting here, I am losing precious moments to lie beside him and listen to his four-year old voice and a mind that exhibits empathy and compassion at such a young age. How sweet the children of the world!

Peace.

01.21.11

Posted in Just Me at 8:30 AM by Ann Hornbeck

The blinds open to find the moon shining in the western sky through a layer of light fog. My steps take me to the family room and kitchen where the sunrise presents a crimson hue dotted with gold.  I witness the purity and sanctity of life and find peace in my heart. Today will be a good day!  I will be interviewing a woman who won $25k in the early bird drawing of the San Francisco Dream Home Raffle.  The reason for the interview is she chose the nonprofit where I work as the beneficiary of the event. She is now automatically selected to participate in all future drawings, and if she were to win the grand prize, our nonprofit would win $1m dollars when all is said and done.  This will be my first interview and I am excited about this opportunity.  By the way, you don’t have to live here to buy a ticket.  And, since the tickets are pricey, you can opt to be part of a group of people who buy a ticket and split the proceeds if you won!  Check it out: sfbayraffle.com. If you and your friends decide to purchase a ticket, make sure you specify “Children’s Nurturing Project” as the organization to benefit from this event.  I finally got my car back from the body shop.  It took a while but it looks brand new!  Hopefully, I can keep it that way! I am so amazed and hopeful for Congresswoman Giffords. What a remarkable person! News reports stated that she was taken to the hospital deck where she “breathed in the fresh air and felt the sun.”  A joyous moment for all, and many prayers for a full recovery!

Peace!

01.15.11

Posted in Just Me at 8:57 AM by Ann Hornbeck

Fog covers the valley as I prepare for a run. In the meantime, I envision the tree-lined streets, the gardens in their winter sleep covered by the last layer of rotting leaves while insects far below churn the soil in anticipation of a kinder, gentler time when the sun shines in full glory, promising warmth and an awakening amid a sparkling blanket of color. Life is beautiful!

“Catch the Wind”

In the chilly hours and minutes
Of uncertainty
I want to be
In the warm hold of your lovin’ mind.

To feel you all around me
And to take your hand
Along the sand,
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind.

When sundown pales the sky
I want to hide a while
Behind your smile,
And everywhere I’d look, your eyes I’d find.

For me to love you now
Would be the sweetest thing,
‘T would make me sing,
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind.

When rain has hung the leaves with tears
I want you near to kill my fears,
To help me to leave all my blues behind.

For standin’ in your heart
Is where I want to be
And long to be,
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind.

Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind.

- Donovan

01.13.11

Posted in Just Me at 6:18 AM by Ann Hornbeck

Bruce passed away at 7:30 a.m. England time, his family beside him keeping vigil for days. His struggle removed, peace now surrounding him. Many, many prayers to his family and mine and to all who knew and loved him.  I know I certainly did.  I sit watching the candle flame dance about within its glass container.  That dance, a familiar one; the light forever.

Blessings.

01.11.11

Posted in Just Me at 8:18 PM by Ann Hornbeck

My first full day of work and already my brain is working overtime.  But now, I sit with a glass of red, red wine, wondering what tomorrow may bring.  My new title is Fund Development Coordinator, but don’t let the title fool you as it is loaded with many challenges and other related functions.  I will be securing unrestricted funds by pleading with donors and finding and writing grants, hosting fund raising events, assuring sponsorships for the Turkey Trot event, attending the Turkey Trot committee meetings, managing mailing lists, creating newsletters, keeping the CNP website up-to-date, and investigating copyright and trademark information for securing some of our programs, as well as updating policies and procedures and whatever else falls on my lap.  And, all of this to be done within a 24 hour week at a salary $4k below my my first position working at a well-known software company in Marin County in 1983! Ha!  I am WOMAN, hear me ROAR! No complaints and happy am I to be able to make a difference and be working with the caliber of people that work at this agency.  The other great thing is I have four days to do what Ann wants to do, and how special is that!?! Of course, that time will include building a side business with a friend so we can secure some extra $$$ to assure we can continue to survive in this great state. Isn’t it the case that most of you reading this are doing the work of three people, living in fear that at any moment, your job may disappear? I am fortunate to work within a nurturing environment where people truly care about YOU as a person. I read recently that it will take at least 7 years for the job market to come back to levels that were seen in the late 1990′s and early 2000′s. That is a gloomy report and most likely not far off the mark. Enough! I am winding down now; the wine has soothed my soul, my thoughts have mellowed, my outlook is good, and my thoughts are calm as the hour creeps ever closely to the witching hour. Prayers to John’s 87 year-old mother who was accosted in a parking lot while getting out of her car at 11:00 a.m. to have lunch with a friend. She was stabbed in the hand as she tried to protect her purse, her small and frail body falling to the ground, breaking her pelvis in two places, all for a $20.00 bill to buy a sack of freaking cocaine. There are no words, only hope.

Peace.

01.09.11

Posted in Politics at 8:47 AM by Ann Hornbeck

A tragic event in Arizona continues to echo across our nation.  A very sad story and one that we as a country have witnessed in the past, as we hope and pray for a gentler nation in the present. My mind continues to go back in time to the campaign trail when I cited the antics of some candidates as begetting violence. Cross-hairs? Really?!?  If the significance wasn’t obvious then, the vitriolic nature of our politicians is now most evident in the minds of many.

“What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy?”

- Mahatma Ghandi

01.07.11

Posted in Politics at 1:49 PM by Ann Hornbeck

Today is a day of journeys.  It is a very sacred journey for the family; an opportunity to visit with Bruce and to vocalize everything that needs to be said before the final good-byes. I pray for a peaceful journey. For me, it is a journey back into the work place as next week I may be offered a position to do grant writing for the nonprofit where I volunteered so much of my time last year. The only hard part is giving up my seat on the board of directors, which is a requirement, as you cannot hold both positions. I will also be back on the Turkey Trot committee, helping to manage another successful 5k and 10k race on Thanksgiving morning, 2011. The committee consists of four agencies and each one is given a lot of assignments! My daughter is also on the committee, so between the two of us, we should be able to handle all of our agency’s tasks. The new Republican House is trying to repeal the health care overhaul while California legislators “embrace the new law.” That’s the California I love, where people accept change and vote for fairness across demographics. Inquiring minds want to know why fish are dying and birds are falling out of the sky. Of course, there are hundreds of theories and so far, no one is coming clean. Is it the apocalypse? Is it Monsanto? The weather? Terrorists?  Government officials testing a new agent?  And so it goes from Planet Earth.

Peace.

01.06.11

Posted in Politics at 7:56 AM by Ann Hornbeck

I love you, Mom! And, Happy Birthday Brian!!!

01.05.11

Posted in Just Me at 4:43 PM by Ann Hornbeck

I just posted a tribute to Mama Betty.  You can read it in the “Musings” section of this blog. As you may or may not know, tomorrow is the 2nd anniversary of her passing. And then today, we found out that Bruce has only “days” left to live, perhaps a week, but very likely, not, as the cancer has now appeared in his trachea. Bruce has chosen to live out his life in the hospital as it brings him security in knowing that the nurses are nearby at all times.  But, knowing him, he is probably putting himself last, thinking of his loving family and what he thinks would be best for everyone else.  He is a good man, a wonderful father, a loving husband and grandfather.  We all pray for peace and comfort in his last days.

Blessings.

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