Soar-Dream-France: March 2017

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March 2017

March 19, 2017

The Evolution of a Journey in Time

On my 40th birthday, I was getting ready to go into the hospital to have a hysterectomy a couple days later. I wanted to celebrate in fine style, so I threw myself a party at Lafitte's in Exile on Bourbon Street. A friend of mine was a bartender there, so we got to have the party upstairs. Friends came from all walks of life, all over the state, all over the country, and there were many memorable gifts.

One might think that the male inflatable doll we dubbed Wayne (because he looked so much like Wayne Newton) who was NOT anatomically correct would have been the most memorable; but it was in fact Ron's and Wilson's gift of the book:

Time and the Art of Living by Rober Grudin

Here I was, about to have a whole month of recovery time. What in the world was I going to do with myself? This gift not only eased these times of my recovery, but encouraged my first big baby step at really looking at time and how I used (or didn't use) "time" in my life. For a 60-hour+ a week workaholic, it was full of epiphanies. I was definitely a "do-er" and NOT a "be-er."

You might ask why so many years later, I'm returning to ponder "time?" It has been an ongoing process for me and has evolved nicely over these now almost 23 years. Do the math! I'm certainly at that "pushing retirement" age, even though many of my friends would tell you that I've been semi-retired for most of these!

Having even more recent "time" epiphanies, I thought it might be fun to share those from over these oh so many years with you.

My copy of "Time and the Art of Living" quite appropriately lives at the Chatette in Cadrieu. I chuckle because it is one of my many "Books on the Beam" that I cherish. This line in the Amazon description screamed at me:

"Ultimately, it's a book about freedom--freedom from despair of the clock, of the aging body, of the seeming waste of one's daily routine, the freedom that comes with acceptance and appreciation of the human dimensions of time and of the place of each passing moment on life's bounteous continuum."

Off we go!

Happy Sunday!

Posted at 02:45 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, France Life, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, New Orleans THEN, Paris, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 18, 2017

Mobilizing and Wonder Woman Mercis

Yesterday's budget disclosures had a lot more people than me screaming! Despondency can settle in quickly for me, but yesterday ACTION was necessary. Once you get over the SHOCK that some bureaucrat in the budget office who works for this president believes that cutting essential programs is compassionate to the tax payers...action is required. I did my venting, and then got busy.

EVERYONE MUST GET BUSY!

Cards went out to my Louisiana Senators and my Representative. There were FIVE, yes FIVE huge issues that they needed to know my stance on:

SAVE MEALS ON WHEELS

SAVE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAMS

SAVE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

CAN AHCA-MEDICARE FOR ALL

RESTORE ANIMAL WELFARE REPORTS NOW

Out of these 5 issues, the health care issue is the only one that really directly affects ME! BUT, that doesn't matter! These are issues and programs that are important to many people and need to be protected. Each issue got a card all its own! Fortunately for me, my Representative Cedric Richmond comes down on my side of these issues regularly. Yesterday, he received a special thank you card to let him know how much I appreciate him.

I also sent a thank you card to my Senator, Senator John Kennedy to thank him for standing up for the need to investigate Trump's ties to Russia. I also like to send thank yous to those politicians who continue to fight the fight from all over the country. Al Franken is a favorite! I said "Thank You" with Wonder Woman!

I probably rode about 20 cards and a few pieces of mail over to the post office on my bike yesterday afternoon. I did have a little fun in there sending some cards to my brother in California, my friend who takes care of my yard in Cadrieu, and a little "happy" for Evelyn. You gotta find the fun and the joy in here somewhere.

If we all do it...I have to believe it will do some good and make a difference.

Happy Saturday!

Posted at 04:15 PM in New Orleans NOW, Photography, SOAPBOX | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 17, 2017

Softening the Blow or...

...making it worse? Yesterday, I was shocked to discover that the current administration is proposing to substantially cut the funding for the "Meals on Wheels" program in the United States.

For those of you who may not know what this program is all about (and if you don't you must live under a rock somewhere)...

...it is a program that delivers nutritious meals to the elderly. Beyond nutritious meals, this program provides human contact to those senior citizens who may be living alone. Some may be unable to leave their homes on their own. I've always considered this a program that provided both NUTRITION and NURTURING, and can be a safety net for those seniors. It sometimes happens that the inability to deliver a meal, leads the program to discover that their senior is in need of help to due to a fall or unexpected illness.

Needless to say, these cuts disturbed me greatly! Then this morning, the spin on these proposed cuts to the Meals on Wheels program from the administration is that these cuts are "compassionate" to the taxpayers!

COMPASSIONATE to WHOM? We are being governed by the 1%!

The mantra of this administration is so clearly:

We will help NO ONE BUT OURSELVES!

And so today, I reflect on what I have seen in Cadrieu. The love and care for the elders in our village has always touched me. I have often commented that the French do a much better job of taking care of their own, than the Americans do. A certain amount of love and respect are at the heart of their policies and programs. At the moment, in the USA it's all about MORE MONEY for those who already have it! I'd call it "Reverse Robin Hood:"

Take from the poor, ill and disabled

so the wealthy who already have it ALL can have more!

I shall step down from my SOAP BOX NOW...

...so I can get back on the phone and to sending MORE POSTCARDS! SAVE MEALS ON WHEELS!

Posted at 12:42 PM in New Orleans NOW, Photography, SOAPBOX | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 16, 2017

Stoking the Steam

Sending Women's March on DC postcards to Congress on a regular basis has been invigorating, but I must confess to losing steam. I'm not doing it every day anymore, and I've been wondering if the cards are being read or just shunted aside.

I don't plan to STOP, but for yesterday's #IdesofTrump Day I needed to do something different. I will probably carry on with these postcards that are a little more personal in nature and maybe find a way to put the Women's March logo on there somewhere. I may need to make a whole stash of new postcards to try to keep it interesting to EVERYONE!

My other special touch yesterday was Wonder Woman. The US Postal Service has issued a Wonder Woman stamp that I just love. She was the perfect postage for my card to the President, even it it meant it went by full postage rate! I still have my postcard stamps waiting in the wings, but yesterday was special and I liked the idea of Wonder Woman and her power carry that particular postcard to DC.

Let's Keep Stoking the STEAM! Don't STOP!

Posted at 10:24 AM in Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, Photography, SOAPBOX | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 15, 2017

My Social Book-A Plug

Facebook has been a struggle for me in many ways. I've worked hard to find a balance that works for me in my life. It was something I was resistant to doing back in 2009 when BOTH of my brothers encouraged me. So, I dipped my toe in to all that is Facebook.

Like all else, there are pros and cons to using Facebook. I'll save those for another Facebook discussion that could be very interesting, but for now I want to share a little bit about the My Social Book that is promoted regularly on the site.

I'd looked at a sample of what one of mine would look like. When I opened the 2016 sample, there was Mom. It was wonderful to have posts, comments and photos from Mom's time of departure that year. It grasped all in one place, what I never could have done on my own without a tremendous amount of work. There also was Mr. Twist. I loved seeing the collections of photos and yes, even the "Don't Grab My Pussy" memes with all the cute kitties!

I purchased a book for each of the years I've been doing Facebook. The earlier books are smaller and cheaper. The later books are full, poignant, and more expensive. It doesn't capture my blog, but it captures so much else. It has also impacted how I use Facebook these days, since it captures the photos that I post. I am posting more photos on Facebook now, and even changing my banner and profile picture to get more favorite photos in.

I'll be ready for 2017. But this time, I'll be waiting till the year is over to order it. It's such a treat to sit down and page through a year of events, memories, friends, and the love we share.

Posted at 02:36 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 14, 2017

From a Window...

...in Montmartre,

you see a world in Paris

where all big and

little girls' dreams

just might come

TRUE!

Posted at 11:39 AM in France Life, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, Paris, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 13, 2017

Ice-Buckets, Pitchers and...

...PANSIES!

Most summers in Cadrieu, I found a way to sprinkle pansies around the Chatette. They were one of Mom's favorite flowers, so I'd often press one and stick it in a letter to her.

I wanted something pretty and interesting to present them in one year, so when Jean and I went to the market in Limogne one Sunday-voila...I discoverd these interesting pitchers and small crystal-like ice buckets.

Not only were they whimsical, beautiful and reasonable; they were great conversation starters.

Pansies always make me smile!

Here's wishing you a pansy smiling kind of Monday!

Posted at 02:04 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, France Life, French Funnies, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 12, 2017

A Plum Tree Blooms in Cadrieu

Evelyn has done it again! She's captured my beautiful plum tree for me blooming in Cadrieu when I can't be there. Even if had I been able to get over at the end of this month, I'd have still missed this event.

It's always poignant for me.

Before becoming full time French girls with Dali and Sam, I'd often tell myself that:

"Someday I'm going to be here to see that plum tree bloom!"

And, I made it!

Not only am I loving on my plum tree in Evelyn's photos above, but it's fun to see how "green" my garden grows. I didn't know that the trailer (la remorque) is still there from last summer. It's a sign of all the work ahead. And, a reminder to get in touch with my friend and gardener again since my arrival is going to be much later than originally planned.

As you can imagine, my plum tree is also a favorite subject of my springtime photos when I'm in Cadrieu.

These photos from on high are no longer possible since my top of the cliff neighbors have fenced along the edge of the cliff. It just shows you...

...grab these special shots when you can.

Happy Sunday!

Huge merci encore, to Evelyn for bringing home to me once more through her photography/

Posted at 12:26 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, France Life, French Funnies, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 11, 2017

The Simple...

...softness of lace, light, flowers, tapestry, water and wood, against the strength of the stone; is centering and nurturing. After many days of travel, appointments, workshops, and errands; I finally have a day for me.

I channel this soft, sweet and nurturing place in my life.

It is home. It pulls me.