Slum Lords

This article was originally going to be posted in early March, right after I received an eviction notice from my landlords because I had the audacity to put my requests for repairs in writing. However, I decided it might not be to my advantage to post it while I was looking for a new home. I have since moved into a fairly new condo and have zero issues with the landlords who own it. Despite living in a relatively worry-free building, I still stand by what I had written on this subject and decided to post it after all. Call it venting if you like, but I consider it a form of releasing all the negative energy I’ve been holding onto regarding my most recent move.

The New Pledge of Allegiance

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

I remember reciting that pledge every morning in school at the beginning of class; however, it was with the under God addition that had been inserted in 1954 during the communist threat insanity. Even as a young child, I was quite proud when I spoke those words. “I am an American,” I thought. “This is what it means to be an American.” I believed that we were better and smarter than all the people who were unfortunate enough to live in the other not-so-privileged countries of the world. The propaganda had worked.

To Dream The Possible

I’m a dreamer, a big picture kind of person. I’m able to see beyond the mundane details to witness life on a much grander scale. It’s taken me a long time to finally figure this out, but that frightens most people. When I start “thinking aloud” about all the wonderful possibilities and which ones excite me the most, those people will automatically assume that I want to enlist their help to make it happen, that they will be asked to commit their time, effort, and/or money to make it become a reality for me while I sit back and reap the benefits and do nothing. They can’t or won’t see past their own fear or selfishness to just enjoy all the possibilities with me. In the face of adversity, sometimes all we have are our dreams – it’s what keeps us going, what keeps us striving for a better life. Not all possibilities will be become a reality, but that’s the beauty of dreaming – anything is possible!

Saying Goodbye Is Never Easy

What was I thinking, taking in another cat? I already had two cats in the house:  Sonnie, a beautiful tortoise shell kitten my son begged to adopt from his grandparents, and Baby, a gray tabby we adopted after a neighbor abandoned her when they moved. We used to have a Yorkshire Terrier as well, Ted E. Bear, but he had passed away a few years earlier. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to have another animal. Maybe it would work out just fine. There was certainly plenty of love to go around. Besides this cat was only going to be staying with us for a short time – or so I thought.

Falling Through the Looking Glass

2013 slithered in on its belly, sneaking past December 31st without much notice, and it curled up in the corner of the room hoping to escape my attention. With the freshly devoured 2012 still bulging in its midsection, this viper makes no promise of an easier year. It taunts me with its fangy grin, quite content in the knowledge that it can peacefully lay in wait for the next twelve months. During the long nap it has settled in to take, it will undoubtedly dream about snatching up yet another wasted year before it moves on to one more empty corner upon awakening.

Pay Attention When Black Wolf Visits

When a black wolf appears to you in a vision, during a mediation, or in a dream, listen carefully to what he has to say. This wolf emerges from the shadows to teach a lesson or to issue a warning. Sometimes associated with a message of death or disaster, his arrival does not always have such ominous implications. Wolf is fiercely protective and motivated by love for his student. He will guide you through the chaos and help you to create or restore order and harmony in your life. If you listen without fear, he will reveal new paths for your journey. Through discipline, Wolf will show you how to create true freedom no matter what your situation might be.

Neanderthals and Stepford Women

During the months leading up to the presidential election, I intentionally avoided watching news reports. Unfortunately, that did not protect me from being inundated with campaign hype and propaganda, from Facebook posts to phone calls. I hate politics. I distrust politicians… all of them. However, I did exercise my right to vote, which is my duty as a citizen and something I don’t take for granted.

A Harp By Any Other Name

Every musical instrument deserves a name and my harp would be no different. I started picking out a few names before I even got it; however, it didn’t seem right to select a name until I could actually see the harp. Whatever name I chose would have to reflect its character. Once I received my harp, I realized that it also had to reflect the beauty of the craftsmanship that went into its making and the richness of its magnificent tone. It needed to exemplify the air of wealth and prosperity that it gave to the room without even making a sound.

Moving In and Checking Out

Not posting regularly on a blog can mean the death of any credibility to an author. While it’s been several months since I’ve posted anything on my own blog site, I meant to write many times, but each time I chose to ignore my audience. This is not to say that I didn’t care about them or that I had nothing meaningful to share. On the contrary. Like Mozart’s music with “too many notes,” my head was filled with too many thoughts. (Anyone who saw the movie, Amadeus, will understand that analogy.) Which idea deserved a voice? There wasn’t enough time in the day to give them all equal billing.