To Take or Not to Take

Kevin & Michael 

In the past I followed the blog "The Admitted Liberal", written by the son of a good friend of mine from my high school days. His blog dealt with many of today's issues - political and otherwise. He became frustrated or like so many of us, felt like it was a futile effort to continue his commentary as the appalling state of the current administration continued to spiral out of control. He comments on this blog from time to time, and I email him in return. I did not know this last time that he had moved out of the country. His mother informed me, and shortly thereafter Kevin answered my email containing my request. He has already published one book, and is working on another. The following details his most recent move with his husband, Michael to Mazatlan, Mexico. If any of you ever consider moving south of the border, you must read this!

"Northern end of Playa Gaviotas...two blocks from our apartment."

"Marilyn recently asked me three questions.:

1. If I’d finished my book (the same book for which I cited the discontinuance of my blog last spring). 

2. If I was bored, and 

3. If I’d like to submit a piece for her blog.

I hope the following addresses all three. 

"Since last April I have come up with a myriad of reasons not to write in my home in Portland, Oregon; Beer-fest, urban hikes, beer-a-palooza, out-of-town visitors and beer-o-rama, just to name a few. But in addition to self-doubts about the project, the most pressing (and genuine) excuse for ignoring the next great American novel is the decision my husband and I made to move to Mexico. 

"Though the move was not accomplished until this month (January), we had hatched the plan last May. Michael had a full-time job to worry about until just before our departure, leaving me with most of the responsibility for research and planning. The bulk of my efforts involved hours pouring over the Mexican government’s immigration website and scouring blog entries of past and present U.S. ex-patriots, many of which contained conflicting or completely contradictory information. A common detail was, however, that Mexican apartments are typically rented furnished, a fact we validated during a house-hunting trip to Mazatlan in mid-December. 

"So we sold our condominium in Portland and ended up donating almost all of our possessions (a gesture of 'free-cycling' after a moving sale held a week after Christmas failed to produce any buyers), though we didn’t have a lot. Our one-bedroom unit was sparsely furnished primarily with IKEA products and a minimum of other chattel. Once all of the donations had been removed, we were left with five small suitcases and five small moving boxes.

Sometimes people smuggle the darnedest things! 

"The suitcases contained our newly pared-down wardrobe (as FedEx had listed 'used clothing' at the top of their list of things Mexico would not allow to be shipped in), our laptop, all of our important paper documents and a few small keepsakes. Among other things, the contents of the moving boxes included a couple of framed art pieces, some favorite kitchen accessories and containers, some bed and bathroom linens (including an at least 75-year-old quilt from my grandmother and hand-crocheted throw from my mother), a gallon-sized plastic bag of over-the-counter drugs that every household collects over time, a computer printer, two well-seasoned Le Creuset pans, four Baccarat wine flutes and a nearly new Vitamix.

"Michael had suggested several times that we were retaining too many things. He expressed his belief that to be geographically (and emotionally) nimble, we needed to divest ourselves of almost all physical possessions. It wasn’t that I disagreed, but even the Saharan nomads moved various trinkets and accessories required to equip their tents and I had already relinquished three pairs of Cole Haans, so I had insisted on the final inventory. As is often the case, however, the Universe sided with Michael.

"The five moving boxes had been hauled to FedEx the day before we left for Mexico. The boxes each contained a meticulous packing list that included a description of every item (in English and Spanish), their declared value and a declared 'box total' value.  A copy of each list was provided to the FedEx staff members assisting us, who verified the acceptability of the items being shipped before charging us an exorbitant fee for each parcel and indicating that they should be delivered in five days. 

"We boarded a plane to Mexico the next morning and spent much of the next eleven days hostage to erroneous delivery windows offered by FedEx. Three of the boxes had come straight to Mazatlan, but for various reasons the local office could not get them to our new apartment. Two boxes were held for a week in Mexico City by Mexican Customs to determine that 'bed and bathroom linens' were considered 'used clothing', OTC drugs were considered illicit, and the wood in framed art 'had to be tested'. They threatened to refuse entry for the boxes entirely, but we persuaded FedEx employees to remove the 'offending' items so that the remainder could be cleared. When they finally arrived, the residual items had not been properly repacked and consequently many were either damaged or destroyed.

"There was much gnashing of teeth and cursing of both FedEx and the Mexican Customs Office during that period. But I awoke on the twelfth day to find that the sun had still risen, our loved ones were still alive, and that we at least had our laptop (which contained what there is so far of my new book), so I calmed down and committed to resume writing ASAP.  The only hitches so far have been Cerveza-fest, beach outings, Cerveza-palooza, out-of-town visitors and Cerveza-o-rama. Oh Dios mio!"

I couldn't help but laugh at Kevin. I can certainly relate to the disposal of worldly goods. There is no way I could ever part with all my "treasures" to move anywhere. (Except maybe to Heaven?) I suggested that they might have got a lot of help if they had followed the Marie Kondo method of de-cluttering that is so popular on Netflix today. Marie Kondo  However, I told Kevin that although I am able to "thank" all of my treasures and possessions as Marie suggests, I could never throw them away afterwards! 

He replied: "Michael was VERY familiar with Marie. Of course, in my most recent experience, I didn't get to say "thank you" to all my stuff before it was gone." 

Thank you, Kevin, for such an informative essay on such an important move. I hope you continue to think it was worth everything you two went through, and that you enjoy your life in Mexico to the fullest! You must give me an update from time to time. Especially the progress on the new book.

Peace, sunshine, and lots of the best cervesa,

Marilyn

Two for One..

Kelly and her dad Matthew

First, I would like to give a "shout out" to my youngest grandchild, Kelly,

who turned 13 this past November. Kelly is a very unique young lady. She's a straight A student and has been throughout her school years, while also participating in various academic tournaments, such as a national mathematics pentathlon in 2015. She takes dance and cheer leading, loves to draw, and even shows a great interest in music, begging her dad for a flute when she was only nine years old. She valiantly tried to learn to play it from YouTube videos. When she became frustrated with the flute, she decided she needed to learn to play the ukulele! She got a ukulele that Christmas. A couple of months later, she was playing fairly well - again from watching YouTube. She then asked her dad for a special case for the ukulele, which was rather expensive. Dad proposed a challenge. Learn to play a particular song, and he would buy it for her. When Miss Kelly made her debut her cousin Cameron was there and decided to join in on her rendition of "Stairway to Heaven". This was only a couple of months after she received her ukulele for Christmas.

(I have tried several ways to embed this video with no luck. I even tried adding it again. I hope you can watch it now. If not, watch it on YouTube.)

I think they did a good job! Now I hear a rumor that Kelly may next be asking for a guitar. (She got a keyboard!)

This is the young lady who told me that she wanted to be a mechanical engineer when she grows up! Early last year she attended "Girls Day" at the University of Texas. I haven't heard yet if she will attend the next one in February.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)

https://girlday.utexas.edu/

(Kelly at Science Fair 2018 - W/Astronaut)

She's always on hand to help when her Dad, Matthew, is doing something for Grandmommy that requires a little mechanical skill. My birthday gift this past November was a new blind for the front door. Here's Kelly helping with the installation: (Note the electric screwdriver.)

And last, but certainly not least, we have discovered Kelly has another talent. Kelly was in her middle school UIL One Act Play, "And a Child Shall Lead Them", on December 1st. She won an Honorable Mention award for Solo All Star Cast member. Aunt Carajean went to see her perform. The play was about the Holocaust. Part of her performance was playing a "fake" violin, which she "air-bowed" to violin music. My heart swelled with pride when I heard about this. 

"And a Child Shall Lead Them"

Congratulations, dear granddaughter. I cannot wait to hear what you accomplish next! I see success in your future no matter which direction you choose to go.

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On another note...

Recently a good friend of mine told me the following true story. I was enthralled with it, and asked him if he would write about it just as he told it to me. He did, and gave me permission to post it here. The one condition was that he remain anonymous.

"About two weeks ago on a very cold day, I came across a shabbily dressed man, one clearly living on the streets, sitting outside my supermarket having lunch consisting of a bag of potato chips, a can of Goya beans being eaten with a spoon, and a bottle of Gatorade. It was emotionally disturbing to see such despair in a human being's attempt to survive. Considering how I might give money to someone in need without offending his dignity, I was in a bit of a quandary. So after passing his table, I returned to his table holding out a $10 bill (all I had with me) saying to him that I had seen this money under his chair and thought it had perhaps fallen out of his pocket. His response was that he had not seen any money under his chair when sitting down. Well, I told him the money was his if he wanted it. He graciously accepted, with heartfelt thanks.

"Fast forward another week, I was standing in line at the supermarket, and there was what appeared to be a poorly dressed young woman of color checking out using store coupons for various items being purchased. By all appearances as well as her accent she may have been of Haitian descent, and I had to curiously wonder at what was an anomaly in a rather upscale supermarket. Only a short moment after stepping away with her purchases, and while I was being checked out, she turned and coming up to me, handed me a $10 bill. I was puzzled about why she was doing this, and she said she wanted to give me $10 toward the purchase of my groceries. I cannot remember when I have ever been so humbled, while thinking it should have been the other way around. 

"Afterwards, I approached her with thanks, and putting my hand on her shoulder, I asked why she had shown such kindness towards me. Much of what she said was indiscernible, when in broken English she explained that her mother and her grandmother, had always taught her to do kind things for others...and I was the one she had chosen. 

"This paranormal moment reminded me as something worthy of Rod Serling's 'The Twilight Zone.'"

My friend happens to be a very kind, cultured and well-educated man. I feel that there could not have been anything in his appearance or manner to indicate to anyone that he was in need. When he first told me this, he seemed completely unaware of the connection between the two events. The ten dollar bill seemed to be the only common denominator. He said his first instinct was to refuse the money from the woman. "Oh no, you would deny her a blessing by doing that," I cautioned, "this was your blessing in return for helping out your fellow man."

"The (spiritual) Law of Reciprocity, also known as the Law of Sowing and Reaping, allows us to receive as a result of what we give or do. Scripture makes it clear we might receive the same thing we give, such as mercy (Mt 5:7)...Typically, we receive to the same degree we give." (Larry Fox) "Genuine giving feeds joyfulness. The more generosity, the greater joy. And we can be more generous than we ever thought possible."— Geri Larkin in The Chocolate Cake Sutra

The law of reciprocity is also used in business and psychology.. and there is even a law of physics in the same vein. I prefer to think it all started with the "spiritual" law.

Knowing what a kind and generous man my friend is, I think he will be seeing more of the Law of Reciprocity popping up in his life.  Next time he won't be so puzzled when it happens.

Sowing love and peace,
Marilyn

BLESSINGS ABOUND

Having been dealing with personal financial "issues" with the government for over a year now, and being mortally depressed by the state of said government under the current administration, I've had to rely on love, understanding, and more than a little support from others. Not wishing to sink to the level of leaving this formidable mess, I've been using many affirmations, pep talks, prayers, and spiritual websites and books to keep me at some level of sanity. After speaking with four different friends in the past week on several different topics and hearing from others via email, I reminded myself this morning to recognize the richness of having so much love in my life. It reminded me of a poem I've had bookmarked in a volume of Leaves of Gold, which was given to me by one of my best friends (now deceased) when I was going through a divorce at the tender age of 20.  

Old Friendship

by Eunice Tietjens

Beautiful and rich is an old friendship,                 

Grateful to the touch as ancient ivory,

Smooth as aged wine, or sheen of tapestry

Where light has lingered, intimate and long.

Full of tears and warm is an old friendship

That asks no longer deeds of gallantry

Or any deed at all -- save that the friend shall be

Alive and breathing somewhere, like a song.

I am blessed with friends not only from my high school years (still breathing like a song), but also newer ones. I treasure the high school friends that I have reconnected with, and friends I made so many years ago -- some as long as 50 years ago, that still correspond with me. When I begin to feel a sadness overtake me, I shake myself, and thank God and the Universe for such an abundance of riches! Even though we may not see each other in person, there is joy in the communications we share.

Ahh, then I am delighted to have a new friend show up in my life from time to time. As I rarely go out anymore except for medical or dental appointments (this will change soon, as my daughter's new residence is less than 5-minutes away), the Universe has taken to moving someone in next door to rattle my thoughts and become a new friend. The latest happens to be a lovely woman around the age of my children. She's from the mid-west, and until recently
she worked from home for the U.S. government. Our latest talks revealed the concerns she has on the government shutdown. She is one of the ones
placed on furlough. Luckily, she is a smart, savvy woman who has a savings account to keep her afloat if the shutdown doesn't go on forever. Not married, and having no children to come to her rescue (as I do) if things got really tough, my own fears seem minuscule in comparison. I am determined to put a damper on my complaints when talking to others

Just a few friends..I need new photos, please!

This self-absorbed reflection on my personal life is something I guess I really needed to do to get out of my blue funk, and to express my gratitude for all the friends and loved ones in my life. Now that it is out of the way, I am going to share the good news that abounds in the lives of my loving family. My grandchildren in particular have had lots of interesting events going on. Many of us got together Christmas for good food, music, fun and laughter. Lots of news since my last posting. It will have to wait until next time.

Love and Peace,

Marilyn

Turning Republicans to Democrats

My favorite curmudgeon, John Nance Garner - known to friends as Jack, has been at it again.  He's had another Letter to the Editor of the Denton Record-Chronicle published.  

Turning Republicans to Democrats

"Christmas time again. The time of the year when even tightfisted Republicans sometimes display a spirit of giving. The magic of the season brings about profound changes in some people.

Ebeneezer Scrooge blasted everyone who dared wish him a Merry Christmas.

(Disney image)

Scrooge was visited by three spirits that changed the old miser in such a manner that it was said, “He knew how to keep Christmas in his heart the yearlong”; as a Democrat should.

Then there is the nemesis of the Christmas spirit; the Grinch’s blah makes Scrooge’s 'Christmas, bah humbug' sound like 'Silent Night.'

The Grinch doesn’t like anything about Christmas, not the singing, the laughing and not an outpouring of love.

The Grinch decides to steal everything that smacks of Christmas. He is caught by a large-eyed child who just stares at him.

His thievery complete, he is astonished that the people in the village below are singing, laughing and there is an outpouring of love on Christmas day.

As the Grinch ponders this phenomenon, the little girl flashes into his mind and with that an outpouring of Christmas that fills his Grinch heart with joy, and it swells to the size of a Democrat’s.

The Grinch returns the stolen Christmas items and joins the people making merry.

And so, the spirit of Christmas turns two hardened Republicans into Democrats.

Now if it could do something about Donald Trump.

Merry Christmas, everyone." ... Jack   

I second that!
Peace and Love,
Marilyn

I've been thinking...

There have been few reasons for me to feel like posting on this blog during the summer, but I have been doing a lot of thinking. The political climate has been so depressing that it spills over into my thoughts much too often. I am fed up with all of the news being dominated by our current President and his administration.  Not being on Facebook, at least I do not have to get into snarky political debates. And if I receive too many political emails (unless they are cartoons) I have begun to delete those.

A few times in the past, some have made me feel apologetic about my "liberal" political/philosophical views. Mostly this was by members of the small West Texas town where I attended high school. Many of those folks are ones who profess to be Christians.. ignoring the fact that Jesus the Christ was indeed a liberal. If He were alive today, He probably would be "throwing them out of the Temple" (the hallowed halls of Congress)!

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"Forgiveness should not lead to forced reunions. There may be some people you are better never to see, hear from, or even think about."..(Stephanie Dowrick "Choosing Happiness") This quote comes to mind every single time I "think about" those people! Why not some good advice on how to keep one from thinking?

We are told both from a spiritual and a psychological viewpoint that it is necessary to our emotional and physical well-being to forgive the people who harm us. (I wonder if that includes a government administration that appears to be destroying our way of life? But I digress..) 

There was a time that a particularly abusive person who had brought a great deal of pain into my life showed up at my door. He asked me if I could forgive him. I answered, "Of course. I've already forgiven you, but I can never forget what you put me through." He was one of those people I never cared to see or hear from again - and I (kindly) told him so. Our thinking can sometimes be intrusive...something we cannot control. At least I cannot. However, the blessing bestowed by passing time, in this case over 30-years, is that negative emotions are no longer attached to the thoughts. That may not be true for everyone, but it works for me. 

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(from Brainy Quotes)

Maybe the above quote from my favorite Transcendentalist, Emerson, is the reason there is so much dissension in our country today. Too many folks are watching the 24-hour news stations or reading the online news sites, or listening to carpers like Alex Jones. The people who are in the worst shape, i.e., out of work - or if farmers, suffering from drought (or trade deals), and are otherwise discouraged by what they think is all caused by our government, have more time on their hands to watch, listen, or read.  Human nature causes each of us to seek out the things that most represent our own beliefs or needs. Based on the last election returns, the current administration won overwhelmingly in states that contained the most suffering and discontented. Fed daily by information from FOXNews and the likes of Alex Jones and Infowars, they believed the likes of our current POTUS had all the answers and would "fix" what was wrong in their world.

All of that negative "thinking" and the reinforcement by negative commentators must have been complicit in the formation of the current chaos that is coming out of Washington. Do you think?

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Somewhere it was written that Matthew Fox -- the former priest and noted progressive political activist -- was talking about his pet dog. Like most of us pet owners who love their dogs and speak to them as if they always understand what we say, he said that when he leaves his house he tells his dog "Do your job, now. Protect our home." I told my beloved little dog Fancy (who lived almost 20-years) the same thing for years after that. I'm not certain she understood my words, but she allowed me to leave her and the house feeling a lot less guilty.

FANCY

"..only human beings talk for the sheer pleasure of it."..(from Senior Moments by Willard Spiegelman) Maybe that's why seniors who live alone often get depressed. No one to talk to! And maybe that's why pets are so welcome to those who live alone. I have always talked to my pets - even to my daughter's little dog Nimbus, who is totally deaf. She reminds me, "Mom, he can't hear you!" But he and I share a secret. As I talk to him, he locks onto my face, and we make a heartfelt connection. I know that little darling understands me. It's a language of love. (Nimbus dropped by for visits recently, and we have had lovely conversations. But then, it may be the back massages I give him rather than our conversations that makes him excited to see me!)

NIMBUS

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School is back in session. It's so hard to believe that my youngest grandchildren are so grown up now! Travis proudly celebrated his 16th birthday in July by getting his driver's license. My little beauty Kelly will turn 13 in November, and is now in the seventh grade.

Travis played in a golf tournament in Fredericksburg last weekend, and his parents and Kelly all went to cheer him on. I've heard through the grapevine that mom Amy woke to see a ghost at the foot of her bed! I'm anxious to get the whole story soon. Dooh dooh dooh dooh..Daughter Carajean and my neighbor April and I have decided we need to hold a seance, as I have had a resident ghost in my cottage! Things That Go Bump in the Night  I'll keep you posted.

Until next time, may all the September stormy weather miss you and yours completely!

Peace and Love,
Marilyn

SEASONS

"To stay in one place and watch the seasons come and go is tantamount to constant travel; one is traveling with the earth"...Marguerite Yourcenar

I've done my share of traveling over the years. Besides driving to visit friends or family, I had the added pleasure of "watching the seasons come and go" and photographing many.

Old Bridge at Burkett, Texas

"Relish the changing landscape of the place where you live."

Springtime in the Hill Country
(Near Burnet, Texas)

 Texas Bluebonnets (Near Burnet, Texas)  

      

Anole Lizard on Front Porch Plant

(Austin, TX)

         Front Porch in Austin

   My own "Van Gogh" Irises in         Burnet, TX Backyard

As I no longer drive, I am very happy to view the changing seasons from my front porch or deck at my current Lake Cottage. I call it that because I am only a couple of blocks from Lake Austin. These are some of my photos I've taken from my front porch or back deck. My way now of enjoying the outdoors and the little creatures that I share my space with.

Yes, it snows in Texas. I have yet to see enough accumulation in Austin, where I now live, to photograph. Burnet is a little north of Austin.

Summer Blooms in Burnet

Summer Blooms in Burnet

Beside my front porch in Austin

The following video is of landscapes that are beautiful even when dying.

From film "Five Seasons: The Gardens of Pief Oudolf" 
Directed by Tom Piper

Praying for a definitive end to the heat wave we've suffered this summer, and a cool fall and even colder winter.

May many colorful living things inhabit your own space on Planet Earth..

Marilyn

DON'T BE A SUCKER

(Those salutes look familiar?)

Released to the general public via theaters in 1947, fanatical propaganda depicted in the short film below brings images of our current President to mind. When clips of one of his recent speeches to a crowd of his supporters is shown on television, I cannot help but think he must have taken lessons from some of the old-time films of Nazi Germany and it's infamous leader. Remember, Hitler fooled a lot of the German people. 

 "Don't Be A Sucker" - 1943 US War Department Video about Racism and Fascism.

"The Hungarian speaking in this film reminds Mike (the 'everyman sucker' in the film) that Germany was 'a nation of suckers' who allowed 'crazy people; stupid fanatics' to use prejudice to 'cripple the nation.' 'We must guard everyone's liberties, or we can lose our own,' he declares. 'Let's not be suckers! Let's be selfish about it; let's not think about 'we' and 'they'. Let's think about 'us'!"...(from the film). That sounds familiar, too, doesn't it?

I was a child during World War II, and as I've mentioned before, my parents often used movie theaters as babysitters. There were always newsreels, a cartoon, and I'm pretty sure I saw something like this (or even this one)  as well as the feature film.

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"Sooner or later there comes a time when it hits us: “oh, s*** – this is real.”.. John Beckett

"Asylum seekers arrested. Families separated. An order to reunite them, only to find that many of them can’t be matched up. And while we were fixated on that (and rightly so) a bill to gut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, to “balance the budget” barely six months after a huge corporate tax cut.

Trade wars. Alienating allies. Photo ops with dictators." THIS IS REAL

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Let us not forget this famous poem written by the the German anti-Nazi theologian/Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller during Hitler's reign. We could substitute "immigrants" and/or "Muslims" for some of these. 

First they came for the Jews

and I did not speak out

because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists

and I did not speak out

because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists

and I did not speak out

because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me

and there was no one left

to speak out for me. 

We must continue to speak out about the "unspeakable" directives and mandates being carried out by the current administration. Rallies, visits with despots all over the world (GOP congressmen visiting Russia on the

very day we celebrate our nation's freedom), and even the deplorable situation with the precious children being separated from their families tend to cover up the real destruction of our democracy that goes on behind the scenes and unnoticed by the general public.

Let our voices ring loud and clear in November's elections.

And may God bless America,

Marilyn