06.29.11
Posted in Music, Poetry and Inspiration at 8:31 PM by Ann Hornbeck
Tracks
We are like snails
Moving slowly forward,
Yet trying to hide
Inside our shells.
We arm our souls with
Knowledge, but
Choose weapons to
Even the score.
We point into the distance,
Yet turn quickly away.
It must be better
Far from here.
Tracks to the left,
More on the right,
Which way will take
Me to paradise?
We held one another
Tightly, but let go so
Easily. How many times
Can I do this?
And, how will I know
If right or wrong,
When all I know is
Loss and pain?
Where did it start
And how did it end?
How much I dream
Of you today.
- Copyright 2011; ann@annoftheleftcoast.com
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06.27.11
Posted in Miscellaneous at 9:39 PM by Ann Hornbeck
My grandchildren never cease to amaze me. This afternoon, Ben was eating his lunch and he looked at me and said: “I love everyone I know.” I replied with: “What a nice thing to say, Ben! You are a very special boy!” My, my, my. Well, I survived yesterday “helping” my daughter babysit a six-month old baby. She was so darn cute with a full head of hair and the cutest little face and perfect lips and coloring. She could be a doll model! Of course, her mom and dad could both be models too, so I am not surprised! The only hard part of the day was (a) the baby would not eat or drink her bottle, (b) my body was tired from the previous day’s hike; (c) I needed more rest! and, (d) I was tired! Ha, ha, ha! As my mother would say, “She has the patience of Job.” That’s my Angie!
Today, I finally opened “The Complete National Geographic” DVD set that I received from donating to our local SF public radio station. I also received an earthquake kit that contained an emergency battery-operated radio, an American Red Cross nightlight and flashlight combo, and a pack with information about what to put in it as part of the preparation process, etc.. Good stuff. Back to the DVD – it contains every issue since 1888! And, every image is also stored on the disc. I could spend a lifetime reading every article, but more importantly, it will be a great resource for my grandchildren, and for me. Of course, all you have to do is “Google ” National Geographic to find more information than you could ever imagine. But, I like the fact that I can hold it in my hands, insert the DVD into my Mac and pick and choose what I want to view using the “Algorithm of Ann” which means “Insert DVD, Start reading, Watch for two minutes, Get interrupted, Stop, Respond, Re-start, Read, Walk to kitchen, Pour glass of wine, Return to line 2, Re-start, Watch for five minutes, Walk back to kitchen, Make a snack of cheese and crackers, Return to room, Go to line 2, Re-start, etc.” So, I decided to start at disc 4 – January 1947 through August 1963. Now there’s something I can relate to!
I see an advertisement for Remington Typewriters. The ad shows a woman’s beautiful hand tapping lightly on a few typewriter keys with the words, “She’s got rhythm!” as the letters fall gently into the typewriter below. I read from an article that reported “At Pentagon desks sit men and women, in and out of uniform, directing activities that take the largest single bite out of the taxpayer’s dollar. Military expenditures will account for 67 percent of the $79,067,000,000 to be spent according to the Federal budget for fiscal 1953.” Everyone is happy, people hanging out on the shoreline, watching the annual sail boat races in the Washington Sailing Marina, while families and children sit on the grass outside their apartments where an ad purports: “More Space and Lower Rents Lure Washingtonians to Arlington.” Those were the days, my friend! We thought they’d never end….” But they did, for better and for worse. So where to now? “Where have you gone, Joe Dimaggio?” Oh, the songs are many, but the story remains the same.
I had a great time at Jessica’s house this evening. I once again was the brunt of Jessica and Angie’s remembrances of times past that sometimes make me howl with laughter, other times make me feel like hiding under a blanket on the couch in a fetal position, and other times where I just let it roll on by me. Some day they will understand. Until then, I have the grandchildren to behold, even when they are crying and fighting over a toy, or scrambling to be the first one to do this or that, or hiding behind their headphones so they don’t have to participate at all (that would be Karlie!) and on and on it goes and THANK HEAVEN for that, too! Life sure is precious and I must admit, I sure did some silly things in my past, but I sure am proud of who I have become and even more proud of the family I created. What was the name of that comic strip? For Better or For Worse! Yep, that’s it! And, I love it. Now, it is time to go as “Chatty Karlie” is sleeping with me tonight and while I’m typing this sentence she is chatting, chatting, chatting – and how much joy I feel.
Peace out!
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06.26.11
Posted in Just Me at 12:20 PM by Ann Hornbeck
I had another amazing hike yesterday with the MeetUp group. Actually, it was two hikes, both on Tomales Bay in West Marin County. The first hike was a 3-mile round trip up the hills and through a canyon to reach the waterfall. The group leader had literally gone into those woods a couple weeks before and forged a path for our hike, but the plants had already taken over many of the paths, forcing us to do our best to stay clear of the poison oak, blackberry bushes and nettles – those buggers! The foliage was so thick with wild flowers, ferns, and redwoods, one that included a giant nest that must have been built by an owl. It was quite stunning. The path took us higher and higher with the stream becoming louder and louder as we jumped over, walked under, or slid between trees and branches to get down the path to the waterfall. The waterfall was beautiful and at least 50 feet high. It was such a humbling experience to stand right in front of it so we could feel the spray on our bodies. Climbing back up to the main trail was much easier than going down! At one point, I was on a very, very, very fragile and narrow piece of the trail and my foot started to slip. I looked at the group leader and I felt the fear on his face, but somehow, I hopped up and out of the situation. Otherwise, I would have rolled down the hill through the brush and the creek and it would not have been pretty.
The second leg consisted of a hike a mile away in Audubon Canyon Ranch. The purpose of this hike was to see the Great White Egrets in their nests. We started first with lunch on the grass of the ranch, peering up into the trees where the white egrets tended their young ones. My, my, my – what a site! You can choose to download and enlarge the photo I posted. Those little dots of white are the nests with mother and father guarding their precious little chicks. Once we were re-energized, we began our trek STRAIGHT UP the mountain to the outlooks for viewing the nests. Each outlook deck has multiple telescopes for viewing the nests. I saw the female open her beak as the male dropped some goodies into her mouth. Nesting takes a lot of work! The hike up to the top of the mountain was intense, but the forest was beautiful. In some places, the redwood trees formed circles around what used to be the mother tree, as generation after generation took their turn in the circle of life, most evident by the saplings of all sizes finding their way into the circle of life. “Burn baby, burn” was the mantra of the day as all of us had to stop once in a while due to the steep grade of the trail, but it was so totally worth every step! At one point, a tree had fallen and someone left about six “stools” for our resting place. On the way back down the mountain, we came across a swinging bench that someone had designed and installed in a big tree. It seated three people comfortably and it was a wonderful resting place. Once down and off the trail, we walked to a couple ponds where we witnessed a Blue Heron fly out of the reeds, over the bay, landing safely on Stinson Beach just in time to share a banquet of fish with those who waited patiently.
We did the same, driving to Bolinas, a community that became famous due to all of the hippies who moved to West Marin in the early 1960′s and still live there today. On our way to the restaurant, we walked through this small circle of local vendors selling silver jewelry and such, and I heard this 60-plus woman ask another 60-plus man why he was packing up already, and his response was: “It’s almost 4:20!” I had to laugh. We had a great meal and by the time I got back to my car and then to my home it was 8:30 pm. That meant a 13-hour day for me! But, once in bed, I fell fast asleep after one page of reading in my New Yorker magazine. Today is a new day. I am having lunch with a friend and then possibly a short hike, assuming it isn’t too hot. “The Great Circle.” My, oh my.
Peace.
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06.22.11
Posted in Just Me at 7:44 PM by Ann Hornbeck
Today, I read a really good piece on Greg Brown from the “No Depression” website where he was interviewed. The interview itself shows a lot about Greg’s character and the soul that allowed his family to work hard, play hard, and share the blessings that came from the loving gardens tilled by the same loving hands. It got me thinking about my own life in West Virginia as a very young child and how Greg’s “Ella Mae” quickly becomes my “Pauline.”
My grandmother was born and raised in West Virginia and I know she lived her early life close to Morgantown, but also near the panhandle that borders Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. Preston County is an area full of Indian and Civil War history and beautiful scenery and calm. As a young child, I remember going to family reunions and getting car sick from the drive that required great skill at maneuvering the switchbacks up and down and around the mountain in both directions. No reading a book for me!
The reunion was held at the old family farmhouse in Aurora, WV, a small community and originally a German settlement. The town’s name means “high altitude” in German! I never met my grandmother’s father and mother as both passed away before I was born, but I remember them well from pictures. Her father, my great grandfather, was a professor of German and Philosophy at WVU. My mother and aunt always commented on how stoic and staunch he was yet very gentle at times. When he came home from a day of teaching, he would say a brief hello and enter his study, only to come out when it was time for dinner. So the stories go!
My grandmother entered WVU at the age of 16 – now that IS amazing! But, lo and behold, it didn’t last long as she and my grandfather married early as the result of some hanky-panky at a young age. They were together for 55+ years before my grandmother passed away in the 1980′s. They were such a loving couple, as were my Aunt and Uncle. I guess not having a father in the home, it always struck me when I witnessed these “old” people still holding hands, laughing together, cuddling on the couch, and being so close and happy. I loved seeing them together and I always wished that my mom would be able to experience the same thing. I guess it was up to my brothers to take care of her and they sure did a great job of it. Without them, none of our immediate family would have survived the test, but we did! And, guess what! The hugging and cuddling and holding hands is always most apparent between my brothers and their wives. What a beautiful thing to pass through the generations!
Pauline was a true Appalachian woman. Even though we lived “in-town,” we were surrounded by gardens bearing strawberries and a never-ending variety of vegetables and greens. In the summer, she was always canning the fruits of her labors, or those of her neighbors who always graciously left bags of something on the porch. I spent hours it seems, “shucking” corn, snapping peas and stringing beans. If not that, then I watched her making some wonderful cobbler from the cherry tree in her backyard or from a friend’s peach tree. And, of course, the bounty was always shared among all three families.
Nothing went wasted and nothing was ever thrown away – food or otherwise. “A hole in your sock?” “Here, let me fix it!” “A tear in the elbow of your shirt?” “Grab my sewing basket, please.” “You’re cold?” “Here, wrap yourself up in this quilt I just finished today.” “A broken glass?” “I bet we could make a nice wall hanging for your bedroom wall!” “You’re bored?” “Here, hold out your hands so I can fix my yarn!” Resourceful is the word of the day. And, most importantly: “Don’t forget to count your blessings before bedtime. And, tomorrow’s church, so you best get yourself to bed!”
And then: ”I love you.”
“I love you too, Grandmom.” “Good night.”
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06.21.11
Posted in Just Me at 8:53 PM by Ann Hornbeck
I’m back! It was a wonderful, wonderful getaway among the giant redwoods. And, a great trek getting to them! Saturday was a blast. Diane and I stopped for supplies on the way up the mountain to the cabin. After getting the cabin in order, we headed out for some wine tasting. My goodness, I think Calaveras County has as many wineries as anywhere else in Northern California. We enjoyed our wine tasting, and then it was time to meet up with Linda in Murphy’s, so down the mountain we went. After some walking and shopping, the three of us had a wonderful, light, healthy and early dinner. Afterwards, we hit another tasting room and lucky us, the man pouring the wine was a charmer, a historian, and a political consultant at the young age of about 77! Linda and I began asking him a ton of questions about world economics, war and everything in between, and I even got Linda to speak French with him for a while. He calls himself an Ambassador of Peace. I liked that. Their wine was really, really good, too! Interesting how that happens! The day ended with a little more wine and a game of Yahtzee before the day took its toll.
Early Sunday morning, we drove to Big Trees State Park so we could beat the crowds, and actually, we did! Diane didn’t even get to drink her extra cup of coffee before Linda and I were ready to go! Fortunately, Big Trees State Park is a hop, skip and a jump from Diane’s cabin. The weather was perfect and the sun was shining in all its glory. We walked what is known as the “interpretive trail” that “winds through pristine groves of Sierra redwoods, the earth’s largest living objects!” This is also known as the South Grove where 1,000 Giant Sequoias have lived for centuries upon centuries. Tread gently takes on a whole new meaning when you walk with giants. Being spoiled by living in the SF Bay Area, there isn’t much of this state I haven’t seen. So on some level, at first it seems like “been there, done that” but only for about a split second. As you stand below and stare up, up, up, dwarfed by the sheer eternity of it all, it becomes a spiritual moment and a reason to keep trying. I looked around at the saplings and wondered if they would be able to survive in the turmoil that will continue to impact our world over the next century and beyond. And you know what? I have not one doubt that those trees will survive and someday, someone just like me in a future far, far away, will be equally blessed with their presence. How could it be any other way? For me, the message is loud and clear. Nature tends to show us “the way,” doesn’t it?
I opted for a run back to the car and after hiking in, it sure felt good to set myself free among the trees – until I went SPLATT onto the dirt path. I pulled myself up, picked some rocks out of my palm, and performed a cursory check of my body and then kept on going. It was just what the doctor ordered. I sure felt it the next day, though! We said our goodbyes to Linda and took another drive into Murphy’s just to poke around and then guess what – wine tasting again before heading back to the cabin where we made and consumed a beautiful casserole of homemade “Eggplant Parmesan” before Ann fizzled out and let the night take over. I woke up around 3:30 a.m. listening to something foraging around the property, realizing I am the one in their space, not vice versa.
It’s Monday! Diane and I did a nice, short hike near Arnold and it sure did help my aches and pains from yesterday’s fall! Later, we hopped into the car and drove up to the top of the mountain near Bear Valley and Alpine Lake. We sat on the deck overlooking Alpine Lake in the brilliant sunshine. As we munched on some pistachios, a chipmunk came right up to the table, begging for a nut. It gently took the nut and placed it in its cheeks and scurried away. It was so darn cute! The lake was so pretty with a layer of white still covering those ancient mountains at 10,000 feet while down below, two kayakers broke through the ice and glided across the lake into oblivion. My, my, my – what a weekend! And, my, my, my what a life!
My cup is full, my mind is clear, and my body is wanting more so that’s exactly what it will get on Saturday when I do a full day of hiking at Stinson Beach where the group remains ever-hopeful to witness the giant Blue Herons leaving their nests with babies in tow as they fly away for the season. Now, how blessed is that!
Get up, get out and don’t look back, it’s alright!
Peace.
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06.15.11
Posted in Just Me at 8:45 PM by Ann Hornbeck
I named this photo “A Helping Hand.” I think it fits nicely, don’t you? I have decided that I will try to be a bit more P O S I T I V E. No more politics, no more “wah, wah, wah,” only positive thoughts streaming into the universe and beyond forever and ever and ever. Does anyone else out there keep your dial tuned to NPR Radio – constantly? Besides listening to Fresh Air and every program between Sunday and Sunday, I love listening to Science Friday. The more I listen, the more I learn, so that basic principles that I thought I would never understand, become clear(er). However, I am like my mother – arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, and trigonometry – forget about it! Ok, that’s not true. I made it through high school algebra and geometry with a B and C, but steered far away from calculus, trigonometry, and definitely never physics. But, I truly do “get it” on some innate level. I love the varying topics such as the science of multiple universes, and silly things like that. “What if the fundamental laws of nature not only allow the possibility of a universe different from ours, but allow there to be more than one, maybe three, or 10 or a gazillion universes?” Consider the possibilities! I am gearing up for a trip to my friend’s cabin that is in Calaveras County. Besides relaxing, taking in some wine tasting and doing a little window shopping, we will be hiking, and hiking, and hiking some more, including a leisurely stroll through the Calaveras Big Trees State Park. That will most definitely put my life in perfect perspective for a while. So, if you see three beautiful women huddled together, laughing and crying and trying to quickly locate the bathroom, they will definitely NOT be us! No, we will be the other three beautiful women, oblivious of anything or anyone else around us except for the memories of before and after, of then and now, of why and why not, of life and living, sunshine and rainbows, trees and flowers, big and bigger(!) trees, green and brown, thick and majestic in fields of gold below skies of blue where rivers rush, rocks fall and the mountains share a promise for a better tomorrow and how the heck did those trees get so darn big, anyway!?! I bet the answers will be blowing in the wind.
Peace out!
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06.14.11
Posted in Politics at 8:54 PM by Ann Hornbeck
Help, help me Rhonda! It’s way too soon for the presidential elections. Please! No more New Hampshire gatherings or dragging the same old pile of S H I T into my world. What to do, what to do?!? Is there no escape from the madness!?! I think I am going to follow my daughter’s decisions – one who has decided to vote Libertarian and the other who has decided not to vote at all. Maybe I can create a new party named “The Apathetics” (she retorts apathetically). And, if not an apathetic, then what?!? A Blasphemer? ”Yes!” (she thinks profanely, but only as it applies to politicians.) WTF? ”Have you lost your mind?” (they wonder, seriously.) Oh, dear God – and now, I read on Salon.com that ”At Tea Party camp, conservative writer Jeff Lukens will teach your children to say things like “America is good” and “I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.” (That is a mouthful for an 8-year-old!)” Who’s insane? And, this: “One example at Liberty: Children will win hard, wrapped candies to use as currency for a store, symbolizing the gold standard. On the second day, the “banker” will issue paper money instead. Over time, students will realize their paper money buys less and less, while the candies retain their value.” Ok, whatever. I give up. I’m done. Even Obama has made it perfectly clear that he’s not sure he even WANTS to be President anymore! Who would? We are in deep, deep doo-doo. I say vote every single freakin’ person out and put someone else in. It won’t change much, but it will send a terrifying (terrifying?) message. Who’s in charge? ”It ain’t me babe, no, no, no it ain’t me babe, it ain’t me you’re searching for, babe.”
“Off the Grid,” coming to a theatre near you…
Peace out!
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06.12.11
Posted in Just Me at 4:40 PM by Ann Hornbeck
Thanks to my daughter, I was able to have some time off today so I could fulfill my duty as the worship leader at church. It was fun and I wasn’t nervous at all. I do need to brush up on my public speaking skills though! I was reading a lengthy piece from the bible and I was having a hard time breathing and talking at the same time! I started looking for a church after a series of losses in my life, and I also wanted to carry on the tradition of having my grandchildren sit beside me at Sunday service. I also hoped it would be a good way to get my daughters to come, but that’s not going to happen, but that’s ok, too! They are definitely wonderful and caring women who know how to nurture and love. And, I can still get the grandkids there once in a while! I was raised in the church, and living in WV in the 50′s and 60′s, it wasn’t something you considered, you were more or less expected to attend. My grandparents had made sure my mother and her sister were always there, and the cycle continued for my brothers and me. The picture posted here is a drawing that also graces my mother’s historical chronicle that she wrote for our church in the 1990′s (I need to look up that date!).
The arched entry way on the side street brings you into the church, and once in, you can go left or right to enter the sanctuary, or enter the parsonage that is connected to the church. There is also a door on the main street where you enter into the back of the sanctuary, or access the balcony above, or go down to the bottom part of the building. The bottom floor is where I attended Bible study, vacation bible school, and also where the kitchen and dining area exist. Many, many dinners were served out of that kitchen! Those Methodist women could dish out some great meals. All of the dishes were homemade, of course, and always something very special. And desserts – oh my goodness – those ladies sure could cook and my grandmother was one of them! If there was anything going on at the church, she was there. And of course, many times, so were all of us. Funerals, weddings, Christmas, Easter, you name it. My mother was a single working mother raising three kids and what she wanted on Sunday was a quiet house and a chance to listen to her albums from the 40′s and 50′s and 60′s, and later in the day, watch one or more football or baseball games. Or, depending on the season, she might just sit outside on the backyard patio reading and watching the clean sheets blowing in the breeze, or busying herself with watering and weeding plants. Even at a young age, I seemed to understand her need to be alone and why.
The inside of the church is breathtaking. The pews are sturdy and comforting, handcrafted from hardwoods that still grow throughout those West Virginia hills. The choir area includes an organ with beautiful piping that always filled the church with a cacophony of sounds that seemed to rise to heaven all on its own. The pipes were solid brass and of different sizes, but made from the same design. Those pipes shared a sound so special that it seemed to plant itself deep into your soul where it found God even if you couldn’t. I believe that organ has been put to rest. But, perhaps someday, someone will leave money to the church specifically for refurbishing the organ. Oh, and the windows are full of beautiful stained glass, each telling a story while overhead, the dome is filled with cut glass and inscriptions throughout.
I know I have told the story before how in the mid- to late-60′s, the United Methodist Conference voted to close the “black” churches in order to integrate them into the community. It was such an interesting experience to witness. If people were enraged, I never noticed, and my grandparents sure were on-board with supporting them as much as they could. Many times, in the middle of the sermon, one or more elders from the “black” churches would open up with a “Hallelujah” or a “Praise God Almighty” and many heads would turn. It didn’t stop them and I was always glad to see they could maintain their place just like anyone else in the congregation. The times, they were definitely changing.
Once I moved away from home, and many times in my life, I would find myself in that church, always walking through a dream, trying to find my way back home, not literally, but definitely spiritually. Whatever it was, I know that it was because of the foundation that my grandparents created for my mom and aunt, and the same one passed down to the next generation, and the one after that. That little town in the middle of those Appalachian mountains sure is in my bones. It’s just like the song says – “…rock of ages, let me hide myself in thee…”
Peace out!
Update: I just spoke to my aunt who told me that the organ is back in service! And, she informed me that our church is celebrating its 100 years this month!
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06.10.11
Posted in Politics at 8:21 AM by Ann Hornbeck
My short trek to the chicken coop finds a warm breeze and rising temperatures. The hens were anxious to fly off the plank into the yard where they immediately began to forage for bugs and worms in the freshly mowed yard. After work yesterday, I did a hike with a friend, followed by a glass of wine and an appetizer before heading home. My legs are feeling it this morning because I was so focused on sharing a glass of wine with a friend, I forgot to stretch! Ow! Today will be a quiet one for the most part, including a drive through the country to get fresh eggs at Soul Food Farm where ”You are what you eat.…and what you eat, eats.” So goes their motto. When you drive into the farm, there are hundreds of hens nesting everywhere around the farm house and in the pastures. My first time there presented a small group of hens who held their ground in front of the car, jumping out of the way only at the very last moment. Their mission – to grab the nuts that are crushed once the car passes! Smart little birds! A few years ago, the entire brood were destroyed in a fire that swept the property. But now, there are more chickens than ever! I love the way so many people are learning to supplement their diets with organic foods but there sure is a lot of catching up to do – especially as it applies to the diets of young children and teenagers, but truly, many of us. Now, if we could only change “Fast Food Nation” to become “Healthy As A Nation” it would be a perfect world. God bless capitalism. I know we can do it! I have babysitting duty all weekend as Angie and Robin are off to L.A. Thank goodness I will be able to take them to the pool on Saturday where they will be able to play with their cousins and enjoy the water. ”Have you heard the news today, oh boy.” The media is waiting for the release of the Sarah Palin emails during her stint as governor. The whole thing is ridiculous according to Palin: “Every rock in the Palin household that could ever be kicked over and uncovered anything, it’s already been kicked over.” This is going to be an interesting witch hunt. ”The Woman Who Dared” sounds like a good book title. Such is life in the big city where the chickens cluck, the bunny hops, Jack the Dog protects and Kona sleeps.
Peace out!
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06.06.11
Posted in Miscellaneous at 1:11 PM by Ann Hornbeck
MOTHER'S NECKLACE, HIMALAYAS
These two photos represent the amount of climate change that has occurred since 1957 when the original pictures were taken in the Himalayas. (A picture is worth a thousand words!) And today, I share a story titled “Millions displaced by natural disasters last year,” written by Bjoern H. Amland and sent across the AP wires. It is a report on the increase in natural disasters in 2010, most likely due to climate change, but also because of “mega-disasters” occurring across the globe. Elisabeth Rasmusson, the secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council shared this quote in the article: “The intensity and frequency of extreme weather events is increasing, and this trend is only set to continue. With all probability, the number of those affected and displaced will rise as human-induced climate change comes into full force.”
Human-induced climate change. How does that make you feel?
Just this morning, as I sat at the breakfast table with Ben, I was showing him the 42 photos of the Chilean volcano eruption that occurred over the weekend. They were absolutely beautiful, and of course, heartbreaking for me, knowing what we elders know to be true. I pointed out to him that as miraculous and beautiful as it is, it also means the volcano took along with it the rocks and trees and birds and bears and insects who called that mountain their home. I countered that reality by pointing out the astounding beauty of nature and how she destroys and recovers. I think he truly understood the situation and enjoyed the photos.
But, unfortunately, there is a darker side to what WE have created for our future generations.
For those who have been blessed with grandchildren, or even if you haven’t, it is heartbreaking, and many times, overwhelming to think about what their lives and their generations will be like in 20, 50 or 100 years from now as Mother Earth continues to take “control” of her promise to the world. A promise to protect the beauty of this perfect creation through all of time – until the sun falls from the sky, the planets come crashing down, the stars lose their twinkle, the moon no longer shines, and the sands of time cease to exist – until they exist again. We have no control over that, but we have complete control of our choices.
What is your promise to the world? What one thing can you give up? And, once you give up that one thing, what is one more thing that you can change about your existence on this beautiful orb called Earth?
What have you already changed?
I have been considering getting a new bicycle for quite a while. I know I have shared that fact before. But I truly “fear” riding on streets that have no bike lanes, and, I am literally frightened by the high volume of impatient drivers in this town of ~100K people. I guess it is time for me to face my demons. And it is absolutely time for me to get real.
A change is gonna come.
Peace.
“A Change is Gonna Come”
I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh and just like the river I’ve been running ever since
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
It’s been too hard living but I’m afraid to die
Cause I don’t know what’s up there beyond the sky
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will.
I go to the movie and I go downtown
Somebody keep telling me don’t hang around
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
Then I go to my brother
And I say brother help me please
But he winds up knocking me
Back down on my knees
Ohhhhhhhhh…..
There been times that I thought
I couldn’t last for long
But now I think I’m able to carry on
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
- Original words by Sam Cooke
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