Two close friends sent news about different stages of death –  both came as a text message.

June just received her friend’s dreaded news:  the heartbreaking, but inevitable forewarning of a mother’s death.  June and I understand that breath-holding stage.  Both of us have been there and know the value of connection.

A Crisp Morning Coffee at Morris Brook

A quick introduction – last summer, June ditched career and city life to return to the land.  She has just begun sharing her new life on Morrisbrookfarm - a blog written from a tranquil rural setting in Canada.

Bravo, June!  You’ve made the transition from your red Cuisinart Automatic Grind and Brew coffee maker to the good, old-fashioned perculator.  Does this mean it’s safe to head to Morris Brook for another visit?  Are the bear out of hibernation yet?  Hiking blossoms with a tinge of risk.

Another friend, one of my walking buddies, dashed away last week in time for her mother’s passing.  Through a text message, the dreaded date of death has been cast in the cement of electronic history.  I know the strength of this beloved friend, a mother and grandmother herself, but I hope her walk through grief will kindly bring relief as soon as reasonably possible.

In the midst of grappling with new grief, it’s impossible to understand how a mother “never really leaves us”.  Why did people say that about a loved one?  What did it mean?  Does the spirit just stick around hoping to comfort us?  Can it help us and still carry on with its evoluntary process?

After nine years without my mother’s touch, voice, guidance or laughter, I’ve come to an understanding.  I’m left with my mother’s Love.  I’m reminded unexpectedly and without provocation.  I walk through the scent of the talcum powder she used after she “freshened up”.  I laugh over a joke we shared.  I pick up a book that thrilled both of us.  Her wisdom rolls out in my conversations with others.  A sharp pain shoots through my left shoulder and I remember how she couldn’t lift an arm because of pain.  I drop something and mimic her expletives over clumsiness.  A dream brings us together agelessly as though nine years didn’t exist.

Well, they don’t exist.  Not when Love’s in charge.

Stanka Kordic revolutionized my heart.  It started with this painting:

Maya by Stanka Kordic ©Stanka Kordic 2008-12. All rights reserved

♥

What are these feelings this painting stirs?

Who is this artist?

How is she giving this sense of ALL?

How could I touch the mystery of Stanka Kordic’s soul?

Stanka’s video, “Imagine” offers clues.  It shows how she  absorbs nature, then releases it intuitively onto the canvass in partnership with her subjects.  She describes: “I’m feeling it.  I’m taking note of what it feels like.  Do I need to describe it all so visually?  Is that really what’s important?  Isn’t the greater experience more important?” 

♥

♥

Yes, Stanka, the greater experience IS the experience.  Thank you for speaking words I had not yet found in my soul.

May I be able to write even a modicum of the Unity that appears in your paintings.

I hope my work can manage even a small degree of the Peace that nests so naturally in yours.

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Blogging may be a great reason for having a computer, but it’s not the only one.

The computer provides family connectivity.  I love glimpsing the lives of  three generations after me.   At first, I thought it was necessary to jump in with comments, but I soon learned that I needn’t waste my time.  

“Hi…this is your great aunt…no wait!  This is your grand, great…  Maybe I’m your great, great aunt.  Oh hell!  I’m your fabulous aunt.  Deal with it and acknowledge my damned comment!”

When I’m not decoding the younger set, I’m using the computer for each aspect of my personal life; from stock trading to games that have improved my eyesight to cooking.

When I think about life 20 years ago, we epitomized patience.  We waited for everything.

Remember when we dared to dream about one computer talking to another or looking after chores that would save us time?  Today, thoughts of being without my electronic assistant cause an apoplexy akin to caffeine or cigarette withdrawal.

I had an appointment off-island recently and smugly thought, ‘Aha!  This will be good.  Let’s see what I observe without any electronic distraction.’  

I walked out the door, proud of my disentanglement.  Just as I keyed the door’s lock, a rush of dread gripped my chest.  I flung the door open, grabbed my laptop sans electrical cord, shoved it into my briefcase and raced to the ferry.  My trip to the appointment gave me 3/4 of an hour to scheme when and where I would find WiFi and how long my battery would last.

I am not surprised a man has invented a software package that allows the user to set the amount of time to be  locked out of one’s computer.  He’s touting it as a tool for children, but in a radio interview, he confessed that his self-discipline is so bad that he also needs this capability.  This man who could feasibly end up with a fortune may never have time to use his own software!

Over the past year, I’ve deliberately watched how much time I spend on my computer.  It’s lots!  I made a promise to take better care of myself.

Then, a lightning bolt struck.  An astute young CBC interviewer, Strombo, talked to some folks from Reporters Without Borders.  They presented findings that made me re-think my whingeing and whining about self-discipline.

Imagine living in a country where people are locked out by their government.  Imagine my surprise at these data from The 2011-2012 Press Freedom Index*:  (Click on the photo to enlarge)

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I’m off to do something else that I love – spend time with real, live people.  I’m going to wallow in their laughter and share the passing world while watching their faces.  I’ll hug a few of them and revel in delicate scents of their soaps and lotions.  I’ll feel their arms around me and know that I am still a part of a vibrant community of caring people.

While I’m doing that, I’m going to remember that I can come back home and choose whether or not to turn the computer on.  My heart will be with those who have no choice.

Let’s plan a day when this map is all one color – one that allows all of us to discipline ourselves, as and when we wish.

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*Map Source:  Strombo:

” The rankings are based on a questionnaire that is sent to partners and correspondents of Reporters Without Borders in every country considered. The “Press Freedom Barometer” is determined by statistics that show the number of journalists and media assistants killed or imprisoned in the country in the last year, and the number of netizens – bloggers, internet activists and social media organizers – sent to jail.”

George Stroumboulopoulis does investigative interviewing on CBC:  Strombo.  Yes, followers do actually pronounce his whole name!

Welcome to

OCCUPY BLOGOSPHERE

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Every Thursday

let’s OCCUPY this space

and give this planet a shot of

fun, support and positive energy.

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Share a slogan you’ve been wanting to tell the world.

or

Link to an Occupy “whatever” on your own post.

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This space thrives on positive material.  Soul Dipper reserves the right to decline any submission that is presented with a flair for the negative, that is deemed as derogatory or that could be surmised as slanderous.

***

Just before I give my shot, a neat thing happened today:

Near the finish of my morning stomp, a truck pulled into the Lumber Supply Shop.  I respect the driver alot.  I hired him a few years ago to look after the maintenance of the local business that I managed at the time.  We hadn’t chatted since I left the business two years ago.

“What are you doing with your time?” he asked.  I’ll call him Rod.

“Still writing…and…well, I’ve started something that I find hard to talk about.”

His mouth took off sideways into his signature, zany grin.  I always liked this man.  No matter what we talked about, his integrity came through like the fragrance of a fresh spring blossom.  Today was no exception.

“That reminds me of a crazy movie…”   It was familiar to both of us; it’s name long gone from memory.  In it, two men ran into each other and b.s.ed shamelessly about their lives.  Our shared laughter paved the way for me to nervously offer my research activities about the events going on in the world.

Dreading the glazed look that I expected, I could hardly believe what I was hearing.  He was talking about the 1%.  He was addressing the same issues that David Wilcock covers in his newsletter/blog.  Rod’s sources were entirely different from mine, but the same specifics were related.

I asked him how he learned so much about this subject.  He told me he is connected, through the internet, to a group of people with whom he shares a faith.   One of them is a descendant of the Rothschild family.  This descendant has shared, with this group, some of his horrific experiences in the “1% world” before finding his means of escape.

As Rod recounted the man’s story, he was expressing the same evil practices that Svali explained in her radio interview.  (See Occupy Blogosphere – here.)  Rod related numerous hideous facts which, again, are detailed in Wilcock’s newsletter/blog.

I told Rod about Occupy Blogosphere.

“Thank goodness,” Rod said.  ”People need to be aware.  How do we carry this stuff around?  Ya can’t just start talking about it because it sounds insane.  It’s so ghoulish that people don’t want to hear about it.  Over the years, some aspects of it have surfaced, but it was so bizarre no one believed it.  Now we are being given the proof.  Occupy Blogosphere is a good idea.”

I soaked in his positive response.  I told him, “I hope this Occupy can be one where we say “we know” and send out Love.”

“Good”, said Rod, “It needs to be positive.  The facts are too horrible.  If we let them, they could drag us down.”

Thanks, Rod.  Here’s to a shot of goodness.

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What’s worse than being wrong?

Being:

• apathetic
• uncaring
• critical
• suspicious
• cynical
• uninformed

Therefore, I decided to act.  I moved toward a gaping abyss, silent in its blackness.  I stepped into the unknown and hit the Publish button.  I posted Occupy Blogosphere.

I didn’t fall on my face.  I didn’t die of embarrassment.

My blog didn’t explode – with either shame or hits.

What have I learned?

The heart may be in the right place, but I’ve got lots to learn about activism.

I spent more time on that post than any other in my blog.  I agonized over the writing until it became a mud puddle.  I slept on it.  I ended up with:

• Too much text
• Too long
• Too many facets
• Too many links
• Not enough specific information.

There’s my critique.  (I’m confident readers could add more!)

How did that happen?  I decided against being apathetic and inactive.  Enough evidence had surfaced in world events that I had to do my part in exposing atrocities.

However, I am a coward.  I do not want that despicable information or those well-know names on my blog.

I’ll risk acting on another person’s investigative information, but I’m not willing to jump into a pool of piranha.

Blessings on anyone taking time to investigate.  Pouring Love into that abyss hurts nothing.  How can that be wrong?

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The only way to deal 

with an  unfree world

is to become so absolutely free

that your very existence 

is an act of rebellion.

- Albert Camus

“The crime is not making a wrong decision.”  Mom was at it again.  ”The crime is in… not making the decision.”

“Crime?  Aw come on, Mom!  What makes it a crime?”

“Because vacillating drives you crazy… and the people around you.”

“But what if I make the wrong decision?”

“Make the decision and wear it for a while without acting on it.  If it doesn’t feel right, change it,”  Mom said.  ”Your decision has to feel right for you.  When it affects other people, you may have to ask them to wear it with you.”

My mother’s advice has seen me through life changing decisions with little duress.  However, I discovered that other people do not offer the same consideration.

Over the past few years, I’ve been learning the who’s who of the 1% in the world.  I’ve learned about the 1% hiding sinister motives behind seemingly caring programs.  Ordinary people have had no opportunity to “wear the decision” before events such as war, disease, or financial disasters.  These events are controlled by extremely wealthy people who only want power.  They are the ones who stop access to natural cures and prevent farmers from using healthy seeds for next year’s crops.

This negative “force” has been controlling world politics, media, finance, education, military, agriculture, science and religion.  High level people from Europe and America make up the 1%.   Discovering their identities is disheartening.

People supposedly in positions of trust are controlled by the 1% – through finance and fear, and support the perpetuation of ugliness.  Pieces of this puzzle have been offered in the media, but the whole truth has been withheld.  Remember hearing about Trillions of dollars worth of gold being smuggled through Europe?  Did you learn anything about its origin or where it was going?  Or, who was involved?

Finding the truth in some of these reports takes the insight of one of Einstein’s angels so I will share the source that I’ve found to be trustworthy.  This source consistently reminds us, without being preachy, to replace fear with Love.  He reminds us that members of the 1% have infiltrated the world’s powerhouses, but that doesn’t mean others in that “house” even know.

Why share this?  Exposure diminishes the power of those who have been manipulating us.  We’ve been ruled by intellect, ego and wickedly negative motives long enough.

Who do you think is behind the attempt to pass a bill to squelch the Internet?  Don’t just stop at “the Entertainment Industry”?  Who’s pulling their strings?

Get your electronic placards ready.  Occupy Blogosphere!  

My Beloved Guides are nudging for some air time:

Love’s not reserved for just children, pets, family and romance.   It’s your weapon against the travesty that’s been injected into lives on your planet.  Love will lead you to the facts.  Love unleashes a power greater than any other yet so many refuse to make use of this gift.  It starts with your willingness.  When you accept the Power that is yours to share, you will see there is no need for fear.

What a difference between the lives of the ordinary people and those within the 1%.   We get to decide our description of the All Loving Source and we get to work in partnership with that Source.  The 1% have a very different idea about who is all-powerful.

It is time to be and stay informed.  Being informed means having special eye-wear, glasses that spot insidious and devious tactics that undermine the Love intended for humanity.  It is time to end this reign of harmful shackles and dire disrespect.

You are capable of having a planetary home that exists on Love; not fear, poverty and war.  Take the grains of exposed truth and spread them.  Take care to offer the news like a drink of water, not a fire hose.    The 1%, as you prefer to call these humans, love generalities.  Generalities keep the spotlight off them.  Seek out the specific.  

These devious members of your world know that emotionalism causes most reasonable people to turn away, close their ears and not look any deeper into any grain of truth.  In other words, encourage calm presentation.  More people will then read and participate.   We trust you will have participants who investigate and assimilate information with time, patience and due diligence.  

Thank you, My Beloveds, for your help and participation in Occupy Blogosphere.  

So, dear readers, with respect to sources (and I hope you’ll share yours), I’ve been following David Wilcock for 2 1/2 years.

In a perfectly straight zigzag, David’s been uncovering facts and sources that substantiate the who’s who within the 1%.  He’s been working diligently to validate both his data and his sources since 1993.  He’s made many videos, some movies and has recently published a New York Times Bestseller “The Source Field Investigations”.

David’s site, Divine Cosmos, provides a broad outline of his activities, but facts about the 1% are found in his newsletter-here.   Simply subscribe and you’ll understand my request to Occupy Blogosphere.

The gist of his message is to expose the 1%.  Let them know that the world knows and sees them.  

About 3/4 of the way through the Second section, under “The History”, David posts a radio interview with a woman named Svali.   She defected from working with, living with and being one of the 1%.  Her story, including massive and cruel indoctrination of children, will appall and infuriate anyone with a heart.  At times it seems a fairy tale sprinkled with gothic nightmares within a futuristic fantasy -precisely why the average person wants to pooh-pooh the evidence.  Some events are so bizarre they risk becoming unreal to the reader.

You will see how devastating tentacles reach into every part of life.  There’s a reason why some world events simply do not make sense.  And why some leaders seem to turn their backs on sanity.

Svali’s insights, knowledge and experiences are shared by other defectors on the Internet – though I have no validation of their authenticity.

Since the 2006 radio interview, Svali’s been in hiding.  David wrote in his newsletter:

“Svali has never again made a single written, public statement anywhere after this show aired in January, 2006, but we do know that she is alive. She was severely tortured for doing this radio show.”

Svali has risked her life by lifting the veil of secrecy.  She and other defectors assure the outside world that many, many other members would like “out”, but are too frightened of being caught and having to return to torturous consequences.

To ignore this horror is to perpetuate it.

Salvi’s interview exposes the power strategies that these people have used to control the masses.  We are not powerless.  We can turn the blogosphere into one huge candle that transforms the darkness.

Go ahead, do your homework and wear the decision for a while.

Then help us blast the blogosphere one day a month.

-  Thursday -

 Write about it.

Post e-placards.

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Thank you Svali, for your intelligence and bravery.  

This one’s for you!  

May it bring you freedom.

See?  This is a world motivated by Love.

“My mom and dad said I hafta pick who I wanna live with.”  The ten-year-old boy sobbed to his Grade 4 teacher, my mother.

Mrs. Doyle - Teacher - Retired 20 years in this photo.

Mom described the scene to me.  The youngster, usually full of enthusiasm, had been sitting with downcast eyes, not turning pages with the rest of the class.   While the others were engrossed in an exercise, she knelt down and quietly asked if he would stay a few minutes after school.  ”I won’t keep you long, but I have a question to ask.”  Hesitantly, he nodded.

Once the classroom cleared, she asked him, “Is there something going on that you can talk about?”

Through choking sobs, mom learned that his parents were separating.  His father was moving to an apartment and they asked him to choose where he wanted to live.

“Can you imagine?”  Mom’s voice rose to a higher pitch, each word enunciated with the energy of an enraged advocate.  “The burden they have dropped on this youngster!  Do they really believe a child could possibly make such a threatening decision?  Choose between a mother and a father?”

She paced the kitchen unable to sit.  She shook her head and extended her arms out front, fingers formed into claws, “I’d like to take each of those parents by the ear and make them choose who was going to promise to never see that child again!  If that didn’t penetrate their selfish hearts, it might at least penetrate their thick skulls.”

“Wow…”  I didn’t know what to say.

“To top it all off, they probably don’t realize that most children automatically believe they caused their parents’ decision to separate.  A child’s universe spins on self-centeredness.  Children usually believe any negative outcome is their doing!  My gawd!”

“I’ll make you a coffee.  Just the way you like it.  I’ll add a glug of brandy.”  Serendipity surely motivated my decision to visit my mother after work.

Mom disappeared while I put the kettle on.  As the water boiled, I found the ceramic, two-cup mug that she favoured.  I half-filled the mug with milk, added a healthy measure of brandy and measured two heaping teaspoons of instant coffee.   As I poured the boiling water, she returned and sat at the kitchen table.  After taking an approving sip of the coffee, she wrapped both hands around the warm mug and said, “Ah…God bless Brazil!”

‘God’, I thought, ‘right now the brandy’s just as important as Brazil.  Just bless it all….’

“So, Mom, what did you say to this little guy?”

“Well, as a teacher, I had to be careful. First I assured him that adults make these kinds of decisions and it has nothing to do with the children – what they have done or not done.   I gave him the chance to speak his feelings.  I reassured him that his feelings were completely valid…that what he felt was important.”

“You mean he made a decision?”

“He made a decision, but not a choice.  He was upset because choosing one parent would mean hurting the other.  He wants to be with both.  He wants them to stay together.”

“But that won’t change the parents’ decision,” I said.

“No, but he said he would tell his parents what he told me.  I trust that his honesty will encourage them to reconsider how they arrange the separation details.”

Weeks later, I asked Mom if she knew the outcome of this dilemma.

“Yes, his mother came to see me.  They worked out a much better plan, in my opinion, and then discussed it with their son.  They all agreed this would be a trial approach, but they would do it for the duration of the school year.  The husband has moved into an apartment and his son can visit on weekends.  The lad is okay with the plan.  He did not have to make the decision to stay with his mom and it means he still has his own room and all his school friends.”

“Were you scared when you knew his mother wanted to see you?”

“I hoped it was because she was a diligent parent.  I wasn’t disappointed.”

Thanks to my blogger friend, Poch, at Plato On-line, I learned that The New York Times presented an article about the value of teachers.  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/12/opinion/kristof-the-value-of-teachers.html?_r=2    The article claims that quality teachers can raise the earning power of people.

I’d far rather consider how it raises the quality power of people.

Listening to anyone describing their favourite teacher means hearing a story that includes at least one profound lesson of threaded backbone-building significance.  The teacher who lives in my heart repeatedly gave me the joy of discovery over the doldrums of pedagogy.   She profoundly affected my approach to managing, facilitating and sharing life with loved ones.

I hope that one little boy became a man who is unafraid to speak up and share the goodness that resides naturally in his heart.

I hope our planet contains enough quality teachers to incite that brand of courage.

Two fellow bloggers – on the same day – raised my gratitude to a new dimension.  Their votes of confidence not only lit my candle, but also put some “om pah pah” in the Love that hangs around this platform.

 First thanks to: “On Dragonfly Wings With Buttercup Tea”

It only takes one small candle to alter a darkened room.

Becca appeared in my life with a request for an intuitive session.  During and after the session, Becca and I corresponded through email as well as our blogs.  She mostly loves to write Haikus and occasionally writes prose.  In both, she portrays a spirit that guides her through life.   She presented the award by saying:  ”Since you are such a positive inspirational messenger, I have nominated you for The Candlelighter Award.”

May I not falter from my ascribed post, Becca!

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The other award came from:”Perspectives & Prejudices”

The translation, "Dearest" or "Favourite", means I have to fill some very big shoes.

P & P read blogs for a while before she took the plunge and set up “Perspectives & Prejudices”.   She nudged my heart when she wrote about the positive energy she encounters on Soul Dipper, then hit my soul with this comment:  “I love reading her comments on my blog – the thoughtfulness behind each one feels like she’s dipped into a part of my soul.”

Mission accomplished thanks to you, my sweet young friend.

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Now it’s my turn to pass on these awards:

I’m sending the The Candle Lighter Award:

“The Candle Lighter Award is an award for a post or blog that is positive and brings light into the world.  The Candle Lighter award belongs to those who believe, who always survive the day and those who never stop dreaming, for those who cannot quit, for those who keep trying.”  Others say that it is for those with “faith of steel.”

to Tracy Todd’s Blog:

The best description of Tracy Todd comes from her blog – the first question in her  ”About” tab:

“Why walk when you can soar?”    

“Tracy Todd was an active woman who loved sport and outdoor activities, but her life changed irrevocably when a tragic accident left her a quadriplegic. Since her set back, she has learned that you do not need to walk to be able to soar in life. She talks from the heart and is sure to touch the heart of every person in the audience.

Tracy has influenced the lives of thousands of people all over South Africa through her powerful and entertaining presentations. Her life story will touch your heart and make you look at life with renewed appreciation.”

At the time of the accident, this teacher and her husband were raising their son.  Now, she lives alone…well, as alone as one can be with a stream of care-givers ever being needed for each and every activity.

Tracy’s honesty in dealing with every aspect of daily living shows the rest of us how we take life for granted.  Her Candle Lighting spirit shines through struggles and triumphs.   She also presents her story and her light to others – through speaking engagements.

Tracy, as one who teaches the world how to manage the dark – candle by candle – please accept this award and pass it on to another.

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Next, the Leibster Award – as explained at  “Perspectives & Prejudices”:

Here’s a little about the Liebster Awards as passed on by P & P:

“Liebster is a German word meaning ‘dearest’ or ‘favourite’ and the thought behind it, is to award those blogs that you think are your favourites.

These are the rules:

1. Show appreciation of the bloggers who nominated you by linking back to their blogs.
2. Choose your top 5 favourite blogs and award them by linking back to their blogs.
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. Last, enjoy the love and appreciation you’ve got and share the blogging karma!

Your chosen blogs should have less than two hundred followers.”

In choosing five bloggers, I decided to take the root of the word “Liebster” and extend it to the German word for love: Lieben.  I decided to thank those bloggers who have expressed their love of nature and/or humankind.  Whether the blogger has done this through posts or comments, it does not matter.  As long as the bloggers, in some unique manner, gave me a clear sense of quiet passion powered by their hearts.

( I do not know the number of subscribers other bloggers have…)

1.  Naomi’s Notes:   Naomi and her husband, both from South Africa, were the photographers on our Soul Safari of 2009.  Upon meeting Naomi, I knew her heart was brimming with love and a spirit of giving.  Actually, before we met, I watched her, in the Airport, lovingly massaging David, her husband before we hopped on the plane to Madikwe.   Upon learning of David’s love for extreme sports, I realized he gives Naomi many opportunities for practicing her massage skills.  Naomi encouraged me to begin my blog.  Since I love writing, but have not been interested in writing a novel, blogging was the perfect solution.  (Two year anniversary, Naoms!)

Naomi and Dave’s photography captures their love for life – especially in South Africa.  Check it out at Naomi’s Notes.

Naomi, out of  respect for your advancing business activities, I would understand if you are not posting awards on your blog.  However, I hope you will accept it, and tuck it away somewhere, as appreciation for all your work towards evolving humanity and the planet.

2.  synch-ro-ni-zing:  Ruth presents her love of mankind and the planet with masterful diversion.  She features poets, writes her own poetry, writes prose, shares photography, describes people she admires, and responds to comments as though she was having tea with each one of us.  She  shares her life with grace and invites the reader to join her in the act of being.  In other words, we don’t just read a poem about a leaf.  She takes us by the hand so we know what the leaf sees, what it hears, whether or not it gets hungry and perhaps even its frustration over living through a creature’s sneeze.  Her love of being one with all she encounters displays vividly throughout her posts.

Ruth, I know you’ve been blogging for a number of years and are probably well over the 200 mark, but we cannot neglect our seasoned mentors!

3.  Raven’s Press:  During 2011, I began seeing Liz’s soulful comments sprinkled throughout many of my favourite blogs.   She was obviously a person with seasoned depth and love for the world.  I visited her blog and found she was then very involved with poetry challenges.  I continued enjoying her comments.  When she came to Soul Dipper, she and I were able to confirm a connection through email.  She showed signs of many facets yet to be discovered.  Recently,  Liz wrote a guest blog at Into The Bardo  about her shamanic journey while visiting Machu Picchu in Peru.

Liz, thank you for having the courage to share your love, your healing insights and wisdom with us.  Please write something about yourself on your “About” page on Raven’s Press.  Readers love a glimpse of who the writer is. I hope you have set up the “subscribe” widget so we can receive notice of your new postings.

4.  The Kitchen’s Garden  Celi came from New Zealand to The States through some circuitous route that included a stint in England.  She and John now farm somewhere in the Midwest and live off the land.  Their dogs, cats, sheep and cow keep all of us entertained with their phenomenal personalities and antics.  Celi recently did a post about a woman in a neighbouring town committing suicide .  Feeling it was motivated by sheer loneliness and dire hopelessness, Celi decided to make a difference.  When the weather shows signs of Spring, she will dedicate time and effort to having young people come to their farm.  They will learn life skills through working with the animals, growing a garden, learning some culinary skills and being in the company of a woman who is interesting and interested in them.

Through the blog, we will all learn.  We will be planting, hoeing and growing together, thanks to Celi’s enthusiasm.   Celi!  I said “hoeing”!  :D  (She’s a very cheeky Kiwi, this one!)

5.  Kate Shrewsday:  Kate showed up in South Africa for some time before I noticed that she also jumped the pond to land in parts of America.  Her comments were clever, informative, witty and full of promise that her blog would be one of quality.  When I finally organized time to visit her blog, I was delighted.  Not only does she turn an amazing phrase, she takes family situations – usually animals and children, but occasionally hubs – and spotlights a healthy, loving, active, and full life.  As she portrays her dedication and love to the two-leggers as well as four, she manages to produce a point of interest that allows her erudite side to shine with luster.

I learn from Kate, but it’s deeper than that.  She builds an environment of inclusion, awe, stimulation and love.  What more honourable move could one mom make?  There she is, making certain that the children in her keep will be evolved well past the rest of us as they rush to the platforms of our past decades.

 ”Primus Inter Pares” – First Among Equals 

My friend, Priya at Partial View, also received awards recently and responded with a heartfelt summary of appreciation for almost every blog she reads.  I can understand her gesture!  No matter what I say, there are dozens of blogs I am not mentioning.

There are pros and cons to this award process.  To newcomers, I encourage you to keep your objective clear, keep writing and keep commenting on other blogs you enjoy.  You’ll find that some people post so frequently that you cannot keep up with them.  If you enjoy their posts and can only make it to the odd one to comment, do so.  Sporadic comments of substance will be noticed and appreciated.

I keep in touch with a group of bloggers who have been posting for many years.  They don’t post daily.  They don’t have gimmicks.  They don’t attempt to get around to all the posts they have connected with over the years.  It’s impossible.  Yet they post and/or comment when they have something substantial to say that is going to fulfill some need and give something worthwhile to the readers or humanity.

Be discerning…don’t fall for the numbers game.  It  can become a racket that takes you away from your true reason for blogging.

Quality finds quality.

Without down payments, I would have missed my graduation ceremonies,  a hitch-hiking trip around Europe, a Porsche, and a few house deals.

Selling shoes as a teenager meant servicing many pairs of feet before a particularly gorgeous graduation gown could be mine.  Suddenly the shop owner was beside me explaining the lay-away plan without even asking my age.  It would only take one small down-payment, she explained.

She represented the epitome of a business superwoman.  Then she became part saint after my ninth visit to touch the dress.  Its silken and glorious whiteness and pearled bodice stayed as magnificent as memory provided.

Packed carefully in a box, I carried the dress home one week before graduation.  I rode the bus prepared to apply karate to any obstruction or deterrent.

Over time, the price tags contained more numbers, risks and conditions.  Contracts became more complex.  Transactions began to incorporate other people.  Diligence, follow-through and commitment played a significant role.  Nevertheless, enthusiasm overrode fear and down-payments opened doors to otherwise insurmountable achievements in my life.

Down Payments Lead to Beauty - Moon Outside My Home

Today, I wanted to make another down-payment.  I decided to make a contribution towards the evolutionary Transformation of our planet – a tad bigger goal than buying a house.

I decided to deal with a situation that did not sit well in my soul.  I wrote to a business that has not lived up to the sales pitch that motivated my doing business with them.   I explained my point of view with no inflammatory words, just facts from the heart.

I closed by explaining that they will lose my business if they respond condescendingly, with quotes from their policy manuals or philosophies from their mission statements.   I invited them to be creative because clients are not longer willing to live without authenticity and service.   They may not care, but I know they will remember my email.

I gave them one tiny starfish to put back in the water.  I sent them a hummingbird that is capable of putting a drop of water on a fire.

I exercised my power to make a small spiritual down-payment.  It took a white graduation dress and several joyous occasions to convince me that no matter the size, my down-payment will take me to matching the numbers on our planet’s evolutionary price tag.

Susan's Angel joins Tibet on Antique Glass.

It’s here!  Please tell us, Beloveds.  What’s really going to happen in 2012?

What do you want to happen in 2012?

Is that all there is to it?

We exist for these moments.