Hello blog friends,

Do you have a favorite photo that helps you escape into another time or a different world? I've several treasures that I keep near. The one below is from a journey to Alaska. I didn't climb the mountains in the picture, but I travel to them in my dreams. I can look at this scene and disappear into the misty wonderment. 

I mention the above because Robbie Cheadle has a poetry challenge involving a photo. Her selected, spin-the-bottle, poetry style is a shadorma - a six-line stanza poem written as 3-5-3-3-7-5 syllables. If you'd like to know more, just click on the link above. 

My poem, which I've entitled The Invitation. I hope you like it. 

​I hope you have a wonderful week. Let's all find time to escape into nature - even a virtual one will suffice. ❤️

Hello blog friends,

Earlier today, I visited poet David Bogomolny's blog site, in which he offers an invitation and a prompt for interested poets. The prompt is hope or renewal, and you can read the details by clicking on the link above. 

I've spent much of my life seeking peace. That quest took me to Japan in 1972. I lived in a small home, much like the one below, for five years. My family and I sat and slept on the tatami mats. We did not have chairs or beds. It was a simple but beautiful life, and the environment itself prompted peace. 

​My poem focuses on finding peace.

Below are a few photos of our years in Japan. Two were taken in the countryside, and one is of Jes standing beside our garden. 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend -- filled with sunshine and PEACE. ❤️

Hello, blog friends...

It's been quite a week - winter storms, fires, earthquakes, and so much more. My heart aches for all who are struggling with these natural disasters. Blogger Thomas Wikman dives into these phenomena on his site, Super Facts. I've found his posts very helpful and recommend a visit. 

For the last couple of weeks, we've also focused on mysterious drones. People everywhere are asking what are they, and why are they here? I don't have an answer to either question, but the phenomenon prompts me to share an experience. ​

In 1970, my spouse and I rented a farmhouse in Indiana, just west of Purdue University where we were grad students. Grain fields surrounded the home and barn. 

One evening, my husband shouted for me to come outside. I did and froze at what I saw. A large cylindrical craft hovered over our home. I had never seen anything like it before.

I ran back inside the house terrified and called the police. The officer asked if I had been drinking or if I had taken drugs. Once he was convinced I had not, he told me to call the airport at Purdue. I did. This gentleman asked me similar questions and then referred me to Grissom Air Force Base. I made that third call, and the Airman listened and responded, "No one else has reported seeing this craft." There was nothing more I could do. But, in the morning, local farmers told us that they had seen the saucer-shaped craft. 

​Since 1970, I've known that we are not alone in the universe. I've known that these visitors mean no harm. They are far more advanced than we, and if they wanted to do us harm, they could. I don't know who operates the drones, but I doubt it's aliens.

My simple tanka reflects on the quandary. If you are like me, the night sky beckons. 

I recently listened to a sixteen-year-old sing his own song, What If. The final line is, "If I'm a fool for dreaming, then what is left for me." My heart went out to him and to all our youth. They need to dream, to hope, to love. Listening to this child brought me into the future. You and I are creating that future now. Let's be gentle with it. ❤️ 

​I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week. 

Hello, blog friends!

It's the last day of the year, and I suspect most of us stand uneasy on the shifting terrain. We're unsure what 2025 will bring. Whispers of hope abound, but thunderclouds mount. With this situation as a backdrop, I smiled when I read ​Colleen Chesebro's poetry prompt for today. 

Colleen has asked participants to focus on the Native American Zodiac and our particular sign. It turns out that I'm a Bear. Who knew? A couple of the characteristics, per www.spiritanimal.com, include the following:

The Bear birth totem is tied to the element of Earth and with an inner strength that's balanced with truthfulness, acceptance and sincerity. Your personal space is very important to you. Your cave is secure and welcoming. It is a place where you can safely explore all aspects of your inner world. You go to that sacred place for quiet revitalization. 

My simple tanka (syllables of 5-7-5-7-7) is about my bear. 😊

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. To you and all, my wishes for a happy New Year! ❤️

Hello, blog friends! 

I'm on the road, visiting family in Southern California. Most of my brothers, sisters, and cousins live in Imperial Valley, where we grew up. This desert area borders Mexico and Arizona and is known for its agriculture, extreme summer heat, and perfect winters. If you don't see me in the blogosphere, you know where to find me.😊Below are a couple of family photos. 

Because of travel, I've pre-posted my #TankaTuesday poem. Writer Melissa Lemay is the host this week, and she offers a beautiful prompt. She asks that interested poets write a Haiga - a "refined visual art of combining brush painting, haiku, and calligraphy." Since most of us are not skilled in calligraphy, she suggested we focus on a painting to write our haiku (5-7-5 syllables). Melissa describes the process and history of the Haiga on the TankaTuesday blog site. 

My selected image is a painting by Nellie Franz Edwards. It is called Mother of Life. This framed print rests in my office and keeps me company during the day. With my four grown children living in the greater New York City area, I sometimes worry for them. This image calms those concerns and gives me hope.

My haiku is from my heart to yours. May your holidays be filled with laughter - and treasures. And if you are traveling, may you and yours be safe. ❤️

​Hello, blog friends!

It's #TankaTuesday, and Colleen Chesebro has an interesting prompt of three Tarot cards. We are to use the cards as inspiration in finding our joy. 

​If you'd like to join in the writing adventure, just click on the above link and you will travel to the poetry site where you'll find instructions. Below are the three cards:

​I don't have any experience with Tarot, but looking at the cards, some thoughts surfaced about a recent encounter, which I've decided to share. 

Since the mid-1980s, I've followed the research on the Near Death Experience phenomena and read numerous personal accounts. So, when I learned last summer that the IANDS conference would be in Phoenix, I lept at the opportunity to attend. 

There were many physicians and nurses at the conference, along with a large group of folks who had had a Near Death Experience. At each of the presentations, speakers shared their NDE and talked about how it had changed their life. At one of the sessions, the speaker led us into a very relaxed state through a guided meditation, with the intention or hope that each of us would meet someone on the other side. 

As I moved into silence, I expected to see my mom and dad, because I often feel their presence. But, it was not they whom I met. In this meditative state, I saw a man with dark hair, his head lowered in sadness. This man did not look at me, but he said, "I wasn't there for him. I wasn't there for him." Then he left. I instantly knew who this mystery man was. And just as instantly, I felt compassion. 

Three weeks after the conference, a distant in-law visited. I had felt frustrated with this man because of his weak work ethic and stringent religious views. But this time was different. I decided to tell him about my experience, even though I expected a negative response. To my surprise, the man listened attentively, and then with hesitation, he explained that his father had dark hair. He added that his father had deserted the family when he was just a child and died in a tragic accident a couple years later. The in-law acknowledged that he had no fathering. I listened and realized I had just received confirmation of my experience.

I believe that life is eternal. And whether earthly or heavenly, a loving embrace can be transformative. In the experience above, two people were changed. I let go of frustration and welcomed compassion. And, the in-law felt his father's regret and unspoken love. 

What does any of this have to do with Tarot? Images are suggestive and often stir memories. In my case, seeing the house card and the fairy card brought to mind the IAND conference. My two tankas reflect on that enlightening experience. I hope you like them. 

Stay warm, dear friends, and have a wonderful week! ❤️

Hello, blog friends ~

Today is #TankaTuesday, and Lisa Smith Nelson provides a photo prompt for interested poets. We are to consider the image to the right when we compose our syllabic poem. 

Studying this battered black cat, I thought back to my childhood attic. Though mostly bare, the space had a few things worthy of a child's imagination. I especially loved an old rocking chair that sometimes would rock without anyone's assistance. Mom explained that it used to be my grandmother's chair. She passed away when my mom was only seven. I liked to sit in that old chair and imagine Grandma holding me. Wouldn't you have done the same? 

I've composed a two-stanza tanka and entitled it A Writer's Treasure. I hope you can relate to it. Have a great week! ❤️

I hope you have a wonderful week. There's so much to be grateful for, don't you agree? Let's forget politics for a while and let nature speak. ❤️

Hello, blog friends. . . 

I hope you had a wonderful week with abundant laughter and good food. Hubby and I were in Southern California for a family get-together. Because of our travels, I've been absent from social media - and late for my weekly poem. 

Yvette Calleiro hosted the #TankaTuesday challenge this past week. She asked that we focus on silver linings and the contrast between struggles and blessings. This was an easy assignment because of our drive on Interstate 10. Two major truck accidents caused a delay of a couple of hours. Imagine my delight when we finally reached the ocean. 

​I took the photo below after escaping the car and walking the coastline. There's something so calming and restorative about the water, don't you agree? My silver lining after a very looong drive was sand under my feet. ❤️​

Have a wonderful week, dear blog friends!

Dear blog friends,

Thanksgiving Day is rapidly approaching. For those unfamiliar with this holiday, it is a time when families gather and give thanks through a special meal and precious time together. In some locales, there are parades and other celebrations. 

As the title Thanksgiving suggests, the Day is focused on gratefulness. We pause, step back, and recognize the gifts we hold - through our family, friends, pets, health, and so much more. 

You are part of my Thanksgiving. We probably have not met, but you're included in my extended family through your writing. I've read over fifty books this year, and each has opened my eyes to another world - your world - captured in fiction. Thank you! 

Two quotes come to mind, and I suspect they will resonate with you as well: ​

We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.
Anais Nin

A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only once. George R. R. Martin

​Below are a few of my recent reads - all of which were excellent. And below these wonderful books is a compilation of other great tomes I read this year. Thank you - all - for sharing your brilliance and enriching my life.  ❤️  

You'll find my reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and BookBub.

It's probably no surprise that my Kindle is still packed with unread books. I hope to finish a few more stories by the end of this year. Fingers crossed, those books will include yours. ❤️

From the Smithsonian Magazine's "Brain Matters" ~

According to a recent study by neuroscientists published in the journal of Brain Connectivity, reading a novel can improve brain function on a variety of levels. The ability to use your imagination and put yourself in the shoes of another person is similar to developing muscle memory in sports.

Quite the incentive, don't you agree? 😊

Hubby and I are on the road, and because of that, I've closed the comments for this post. We will spend several days with his family in Southern California. I hope you'll also be with your family and friends this week. Blessings to all and . . . ​

Hello, blog friends. 

It seems the United States has survived the elections, even though strong sentiments remain. Looking back over the years, I've experienced 14 different presidents. 7 were Democrats and 7 were Republicans. I was inconsolable when John F. Kennedy was murdered. And a couple years later, when two people I greatly loved were also killed - Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy - I thought surely the world was coming to an end.

I’ve always supported the underdog, the discriminated, the homeless, and the ignored veterans. Politics hasn't done much for these populations, but good-willed citizens have (hurricane aid - a recent example). I mention this because ordinary people, like you and me, are the hope for our beautiful planet. My poem below reflects on that truth.

Cheryl is the host for today's Tanka Tuesday challenge. She invites us to write a Shadorma - a Spanish poetic form that consists of six lines with a syllable count of 3-5-3-3-7-5. This is my first attempt at this form. Maybe you'll give it a try too? 

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. 

Hello, blog friends!

It's Tanka Tuesday, and this week poet Willow Withers offers the prompt. She's asked that participating poets choose a piece of music and "write a syllabic poem about how the music either makes you feel or what it suggests to you."

For my contribution, I've gone back in time to 1976. Judy Collins and Leonard Cohen are two of my favorites and in this song, they shine. I offer "Suzanne". 

My music-inspired tanka tries to capture some of the life-movement suggested by the song Suzanne. I hope you enjoy it.   

I hope you have a wonderful, music-filled week! 

Hello, blog friends ~ 

It's Tanka Tuesday, and I've another poem to share. This week writer Lisa Nelson offers the prompt. She invites participants to use synonyms for the words promise and comfort in their poem. 

One of my sons is an outdoorsman. Since he was a little kid, he'd disappear into the woods and make friends with the critters. He's climbed numerous mountains, surfed the oceans, hiked obscure trails, and these last years, he's enjoyed mountain biking.

Brian's photographs of his adventures always elicit wonder. A couple of days ago, he emailed me the photo below - from a fifty mile ride in the Northeast. I've used it as inspiration for my Tanka. 

My synonyms for the two prompt words (promise and comfort) are covenant and peacefulness. I've entitled it Life's Covenant. 

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. Let's explore the wilds . . .

Hello, blog friends ~

I'm excited to welcome author Jan Sikes to my blog today. She has a new release, and I've invited her to tell us a bit about this latest masterpiece. 

A Noble Bargain hit the bookshelves last week, and it has already garnered much acclaim. Let's hear from the author herself. The floor is all yours, Jan. ​

​​Thank you, Gwen, for hosting me today, as I end my blog tour for A Noble Bargain. I’m deeply grateful for your generosity and support!

I owe a huge thank you to everyone who has followed along on this tour, left comments and shared on social media. We are never on this writing journey alone.

I want to close out the tour with a family reunion of sorts. As I stated earlier in the tour, there are three Blaine siblings—Harlan, Rose and Jack. When everything falls apart, Harlan goes his separate way while Rose and Jack make their way to an aunt in Missouri. I couldn’t stand the thought that they’d never all be together again, so I created this reunion at Layken Martin’s farm in Missouri.

EXCERPT:
​
Coming up the long driveway, a man wearing a worn hat pulled low ambled along carrying a bedroll and knapsack. There was something oddly familiar in his gait. For a moment, her breath caught in her throat. Whoever he was looked uncannily like her dead pa.

The dogs sat at the bottom of the steps, their tails wagging, but at least they stopped barking.

As the man drew closer, she sucked in a breath and bounded off the steps, with Sadie and Pearl on her heels. “Harlan!” She ran toward him as tears sprang into her eyes.

He shifted a bedroll to his back. “Rose.”

When she reached him, he embraced her. “Harlan. How did you find us?”

He hugged her tight and cleared his throat, then held her at arm’s length, looking her up and down. “I called Uncle Rube yesterday, sure you’d be there, and he told me where you were. I was worried about you and Jack. Had to come and see what was happening and why you weren’t in St. Louis.”

He looked thinner and older than she remembered. She took in the scruffy beard and dusty clothes. It was obvious he’d been on the road for a while. He looked so much like their father. Yet there was something different about her brother. He’d lost the hard look in his eyes. “Come on up to the house. I’ll tell you everything. Jack’s going to be so happy to see you.” While they walked, she caught him up on things.

When they reached the house, he deposited his bedroll and knapsack on the front porch. Then she led him through the kitchen and out the back door.

“Jack, look who’s here.”

With soap up to his elbows, Jack glanced up, then did a double-take. “Harlan?”

“Hey, little brother. I see you’ve resorted to doing women’s work.” He grinned widely.

“Hot damn!” Jack wiped his hands on his pants and bolted toward his brother, giving him a man hug while Harlan tousled his hair. “How did you find us?”

After Harlan explained, Rose took hold of his arm and pointed toward Seymour and Tab, making introductions all around. Then, she explained about Sara Beth, Layken, and the new baby.

“What a surprise.” Rose couldn’t believe he was there. “I want to hear everything. Where have you been? What have you been doing?”

Jack nodded. “Share, big brother.”

“Got anything to drink? Been walking a long way.”

Rose rushed into the house and poured another glass of tea, then went back out.

Harlan took a big gulp and wiped his mouth. “Been traveling around mostly. The jalopy took out on me the second day and I sold it for a little money in Hot Springs. Hopped a few freights and got rides with some truckers.” He shrugged. “That’s about it. Just been trying to figure out what to do next.”

BLURB:

A true testament of character, resilience, and the magic of never giving up.

The year is 1948 and folks in the sawmill town of Crossett, Arkansas, work hard and play hard. Oliver Quinn does both. Oliver is the son of Irish immigrants who firmly believe in pursuing the American dream. His deepest desire is to play major league baseball. He only needs one chance to prove himself.

Rose Blaine is living in a nightmare where dreams don’t exist. She’s suffered for years at the hands of her violent moonshiner father and his partner. During a brutal attack, she must fight back or die. The aftermath is devastating.

Fueled by desperation, Rose strikes a life-changing bargain with Oliver. If he’ll take her and her brother to St. Louis, Missouri, she’ll introduce Oliver to her uncle, a baseball legend.

While their journey is fraught with unseen perils, they forge an unbreakable bond and make surprising allies.
​
When destiny throws them a curve ball, they must find the courage to create a hopeful future out of the ashes of shattered dreams with newfound fortitude.

​I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed this tour and if you’ve chosen to pick up A Noble Bargain, I pray you find it to be a satisfying read.

Again, thank you for following along, and a big thank you goes out to all of my hosts!

UNIVERSAL PURCHASE LINK:  https://books2read.com/u/booMQR

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

        Website      Blog      Twitter      Facebook      Bookbub      Amazon      Goodreads 

​

Hello, blog friends ~ 

Halloween is just days away in the United States, and writer Colleen Chesebro invites us to write a poem related to this event. 

A confession. I grew up on a farm, and the closest neighbor was a mile away. There was no trick-or-treating. Halloween was a costume party at the country school. Yep - apple bobbing was a great hit. 

When I worked at Fairfield University in Connecticut, I lived near Union Cemetery in Easton. I only learned of this cemetery after I purchased my home. Especially around Halloween, visitors would sneak into the cemetery after dark -- when it is closed. I was not one of those curious folks, but I worked with police who arrested wayward students from the University. Some claimed to have seen ghosts.

My Halloween Tankas deal with forgotten homes and the secrets they hold. Because I'm a solid intuitive empath, I listen -- not with my ears, but with my heart. It's amazing the stories that emerge. I hope you enjoy it.

Happy Halloween!   🎃

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. Stay safe and laugh much! 

Hello, blog friends ~ 

I'm home a little earlier than expected and have a poem to share.

Lisa Fox (aka JadeLi) offered the prompt this week for Tanka Tuesday. She used a random word generator to form a list from which participants were asked to create a poem. She suggested we include at least three of the words in our poems. Here are the words (mine are in bold): wave, bite, down, soon, dune, sail, do, woman, farm, eight, ate, two, study, new, step, castle, short, car, listen, smell, the, garden, speak.
 
I feel reflective these days, so my poetic contribution involves looking back through time. I hope you'll join me on this walk by the beach . . .

Have a wonderful rest of the week. I hope to visit your blogs over the next few days. 🌞

Dear friends,

I'll be on the road much this week, so it is unlikely I'll visit your blogs until the weekend. I'm leaving with a poem I wrote a while back. It may be familiar to you because I've shared it before. It's about a different kind of journey.

​ The truth is that when I read, I'm drawn to the writer. The story may captivate, and the writing may impress me, but ultimately, I search for the writer. I want to know him or her through the words spread across the pages. It is a journey that sometimes concludes with just a sentence. 

Do you do the same? Do you look for the author? It's a curious thought, isn't it?

Most of us will never meet. The miles between us keep us apart, but we leave trails in our stories and poems, and those trails lead to the treasure I seek.

Have a wonderful week. I'll meet you this weekend. 🌞
​

Hello, blog friends ~ 

It's Tanka Tuesday, and poet Selma Martin has a special prompt for interested participants. She asks that we use synonyms for these two words in our poem: mindless and humdrum. 

I've focused on the morning light. Daily, I am moved by the silence that accompanies this early morning experience, and almost without fail, I see that which I didn't see the day before. My tanka uses these synonyms to capture the experience - daydreaming, everyday, and treadmills. 

I hope you enjoy it. ​

Have a wonderful day, dear friends. Even amidst the craziness in which we live, there's extraordinary beauty. Let's escape into that miracle. ❤️

Hello, blog friends~

Today is Tanka Tuesday, and I've another poem to share. Writer Sadje holds the magic wand this week, and she's offered a thought-provoking prompt: I’d like you to write a syllabic poem about something that brought a big change in your life. 

This is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and so I share personally. Three of my siblings and I deal with cancer. Three of my cousins are in treatment as well. My beautiful daughter-in-law is fighting for her life, each day a rare treasure.

None of us know how long we may live, but surely, we can laugh when we can, forgive frequently, and rise with our tears. Tomorrow is another gifted day. 

​My poem . . . 

I hope you have a wonderful week. Blessings to you and yours. ❤️

Hello, blog friends –

It’s Tanka Tuesday, and today Robbie Cheadle hosts the challenge. She asks that we write a Tanka Puente, with the theme of best and worst. Robbie explains, “A Puente poem comprises three stanzas with the first and third being separate thoughts but sharing an equal number of lines. The second stanza is the bridge stanza and is a single line.” She adds that this single line may be a quote, and mine is one from Albert Einstein. 

If you'd like to contribute your Puente poem, Robbie offers detailed guidance on the Tanka site. I've chosen to focus on current events. Not a pleasant topic, but it lends itself to the theme of "best and worst." 

My poem --  

My heart hurts for those caught in the terrors of the recent hurricane. It hurts for those caught in wars that beg for resolution. May we all reach for understanding -- and offer a hand to our neighbors far and near.

Have a wonderful week and may blessings abound in all its forms...

Hello, blog friends. . .

I'm home from the family reunion at Priest Lake, ID. What a wonderful experience! The area itself is magical with extraordinary views, great hiking paths, boating, and warm campfires. One evening we were treated to the rainbow you see above. 

The best part of the reunion was catching up on family stories. My three brothers and two of my sisters were there with spouses, so you can imagine the excited conversations. The children ran freely and kept us entertained - especially with their run-ins with three black bears. OMG!

Below are a few photos. I could fill pages with the snapshots, but hopefully this small sharing will give you a sense of the area. 

Family members rented ATVs and drove along the perimeter of the lake and to the Lookout on Sundance Mountain. From this elevation (6,298'), much of Priest Lake is visible. I was not one of the adventurers, but my eldest son smiles for me. 

One of the blessings of Priest Lake is that visitors have very limited Wi-Fi. Most of my family gave up even trying to get a signal. This handicap meant we could not check email or send text messages or watch the news, etc. We were in an isolated world -- and it was beautiful.

If you haven't had a social media break for a while, I highly recommend it. I will visit you this week through your posts and hope to get caught up. Till then, I send good wishes with these photos of the Northern Lights.

Hello, blog friends!

Last night I returned from a family reunion in Idaho. It was extraordinary, and I'll write about the experience in another post. Today I'd like to share a book I read while traveling to and from the mountain campsite: Born for Revenge by Staci Troilo. ​

Staci has a knack for writing unforgettable stories, and this one is no exception. I was drawn in from the very beginning pages. The unfolding drama is fast-paced and darkly mysterious. At the nucleus is envy and pride. We all know these sins or aberrations, because we see them manifest everywhere - in the political arena, in our schools, and perhaps even in our neighborhoods. Staci makes them real through well-crafted characters, and ingeniously, takes us back in time and through our own experiences. As the horror unfolds, the secrecy and deceitfulness unravel.

If you're looking for a fast-moving and heart-pounding story, this is one I can heartedly recommend. 

WEBSITE: www.StaciTroilo.com ​

Some of Staci's other books:

Hello blog friends,

It seems many of us face erratic weather this week. The forecast spares no one - of the worries of high winds, heavy rains, or electrical storms. And I wonder, is Mother Nature struggling with the human division we've created in our neighborhoods, towns, and countries? 

This week Colleen Chesebro invites us to reflect on any topic we'd like. I've chosen to focus on the turmoil we see on the streets. If I had magical abilities, I'd find a way to soften hate and resurrect kindness, but magic eludes me and probably hides from you as well. 

I tend to stand in the middle - not directing traffic but trying to bridge positions, circumstances, and crises. I listen and pray - not for the Divine to intervene and stop the madness, but for Love to mercifully clothe each of us as we chart our way. 

My Tanka reflects on Nature's role as it accompanies us through life's storm. I hope it resonates, and more importantly, I hope you have a wonderful week. 

And on a happy note, I'll be visiting my granddaughter later this week. She just graduated from high school and will attend the University of Washington in Seattle, where she'll study Environmental Sustainability. If anyone can save the planet, she can.

I'll share a sweet story.

When I last saw her, she explained that she shops in places like Salvation Army and Goodwill, because there is so much needless waste. She objects to buying anything new. I smiled and explained that my favorite business suits came from Goodwill. But there was a big difference between us. I needed to buy the family clothes there, and she has the choice. 

​Seventeen years have passed, but my granddaughter's smiles live with me. 

P.S - I'll try to keep up with blog posts, but if I miss yours, you know where I'll be. ❤️

Hello, blog friends! 

The season is changing, and magic is in the air! Yes, summer is finally taking leave. Colleen Chesebro invites us to write a syllabic poem to celebrate this change. I've created two tanka, inspired by the autumn sunsets.

This is my favorite time of the year. The skies are alive, and everyone seems relieved by the cool winds. Creatures, large and small, have returned - the pronghorn and geese, foxes and rabbits, and birds of all sizes and shades. Nature's orchestra has begun its song. 

Last week I mentioned a unique gathering in Phoenix - the IANDS (International Association for Near Death Studies) conference. I attended one day in person and another live-streamed. The experience left me in awe of the gift of life. Many medical professionals (surgeons, general practitioners, nurses) attended. And, as well, those who had a Near Death Experience. This was an evidence-based gathering.

​What are my take-aways? I've many, but here are three that stand out for me: (1) The NDE experience is transformative. When people recover from the death experience, they change their lives - often dramatically. (2) Love is at the core of creation, and we can begin to experience that Love in our lives now. (3) Life is eternal. 

The presenters often mentioned nature as a means of touching into the realm of Love. They spoke of the difficulty of using words to describe their experience. They explained repeatedly that in the heavenly or celestial or Love realm, our human words cannot adequately capture the felt emotions. 

I remain deeply moved by my experiences at this conference, and I look forward to attending such gatherings in the future. 

​Have a wonderful week, dear friends! ❤️ 
   

Hello blog friends,

I had hoped to share some beautiful sunrises with you, but alas, since the supermoon, I've had technical difficulties. I can't seem to import photos. The one below is from canva and doesn't come close to the incredible sights we've had this last week. It seems the monsoon rains brought in magic -- as well as much cooler temps. 

This week poet Colleen Chesebro suggested that participants focus on the arrival of Autumn. For the northern hemisphere, she shared three possible phrases: remaining heat, Milky Way, and mackerel clouds. I chose to include the last phrase - mackerel clouds. Almost daily, our skies are covered with these marvelous clouds. If I can fix whatever is wrong with my computer, I'll share some of the photos in a later post. 

Here's my simple Tanka. I hope you enjoy it. 😊

I'm excited to share that I'll be attending a few workshops at the IANDS conference in Phoenix. The two-hour drive is no fun, but some of the speakers are extraordinary and not to be missed. I'll do what I can to respond to comments, but I may be a little tardy. For my next blog, I hope to post about some of what I learned.  

Have a great week and enjoy the change in seasons.