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Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
"No, really!"

My Favorite Bit of Paper Cup Philosophy

The Way I See It #76

The irony of commitment is that it's deeply liberating - in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Home After Solstice

I did something most unlike myself during my Solstice Fairy gig. I took out the camera that has gone everywhere with me for years and . . . I took some pictures with it. No longer the digital accessory, that Sony was employed for the purpose it was intended.

Solstice at Grandmother's house, after the remodeling and landscaping were completed.

The solstice outing to the dunes was a most wonderful holiday get-away. Things were a bit different this trip. Shorts taken, but not worn. The skies not quite the same as every other time. New things to see, old landmarks gone missing. Conversations made while being pulled into the most marvelous of campfires. Observations made while climbing in the dunes. "Hey, cat prints -big cat! What do you think, cougar?" Soon we observed there are at least two, and possibly three, cats. Some of the footprints are smaller than others. They appear to hunt together, one following the other, until their tracks diverge. Perhaps some bird flew off at a tangent, or a small mammal changed course and appeared worth following.

I found time to think and consider things. I weighed a few matters in my head, trying to land on how much more time and energy I will throw at them. And I realized on the ride home that I've got through "the holidays" without any negative energy or events. It is a challenge for me and not only did I get through, I walked upright. I even managed a very difficult personal situation during the holidays to the extent that I feel very good about it, very strong.

And so, I will spend a day reading all the blogs, making my comments, and then I will proceed to write and tell what I am compelled to set out.

In my ears right now: Steve Earle & The Del McCoury Band ~ The Mountain. It was requested of me as a holiday gift. The beauty of that is one gets a free burn of the CD! It is very good and features a little input from Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch and Iris Dement. Enough said? I recommend it.

Something that charmed me: I love finding a marsh - wetlands! - in Death Valley. It just doesn't easily compute for me. Yet, there it is. We heard frogs croaking and waterfowl chirping. There it is, just like last time. Just like next time.


10 comments:

  1. There is such solid beauty and calm in what you write and photograph here. It sounds like a good camping trip. How do you manage to SLEEP on camping trips? I've never managed that. Nature ****WIRES#### me, even when I take Xanax.

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  2. Kass, wait until you see some of the photos of the dunes themselves, speaking of beauty and calm. I'm wired up when I'm out hiking in it and exploring. But I sleep the best sleep of life in my sleeping bag and tent. Saturday I pretended to read for about 5 minutes, then asked how it would be perceived if I took a nap in the tent. "I'll get you up when it's time to take the other hike," I was told. I slept so deeply that when I woke, I wasn't sure where I was! And then I put the remainder of 10 1/4 miles on my feet for the day.

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  3. Looks like you had a gold Christmas.

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  4. Kirk, I'm blessed. I spent my holiday the way I wanted, as long as I wanted, with whom I wanted. I don't think it gets any better than that. What's warmer than conversation around the fire with someone you've known and cared about for more than 41 years? I tried new things and that was wonderful, as well. I hope your holidays are spent doing the things that mean the most to you.

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  5. Always an accomplishemnt to come out of the holidays strong. Nice to have you back.

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  6. Well, it's also nice to BE back, Tag ~ thank you. I have to confess it was nice not to use a keyboard for more than 2 days. I have to confess it is nice to use one now! I am so pleased that I got through. I made up my mind to behave as strong as I am. I DID it! Come on, 2010. I'm ready for you.

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  7. Sounds a perfect as it can get. I understand the sleeping, when I've trekked sleep came immediately and was completely restorative. May you have more such wonderful experiences.

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  8. Welcome aboard my bus, June ~ I've been seeing you around and plan to visit your place soon. "Perfect" is a good word to apply. I am so untwisted. I am so at peace. I am serene. Oh, yes ~~ I plan to spend the rest of my life doing this. I LOVED the snippet from a poem you put in a comment somewhere I saw you: "Mom and dad, they fuck you up. . . ". It knocked all the wind out of me for a moment. I thank you for boarding today.

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  9. Well, Badger, I thank you for that! I was a little reticent to put them up, but I decided to behave as sturdily as I am feeling in other respects. I feel good that you took the time to tell me. As you know, there are many more to come.

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