Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I visited my friend who is moving and therefore downsizing, and was thrilled with some of her things she gave me.  Everything in her place is dear to me, and a lot of it has a memory of when she acquired it, who gave it to her, or some other memory we share.  She is ready to let go of much of her possessions, and cheerful and generous.  I felt a little teary though she's moving much closer to me and I will see her more, I'm sure.  It's just that she has the most exquisite aesthetic sense and her place is like an art gallery, filled with treasures for the eye.  As she says, each of the objects has a soul.  Her soul is rich and deep, and it is, of course, she who is the treasure.  But I found myself a bit stunned as I left, and perhaps having more trouble with the transition than she herself is having.  I know she is wise and right, but the change is giving me a bit of trouble.  I'm not quite the Bodhisattva she is.

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

We had a lovely week up at our cabin with our older son, his wife and our grandson.  Lots of walking, swimming, music, puzzles and reading.  Then we returned and yesterday I saw our youngest grandson for a couple of hours, and afterwards our younger daughter and middle grandson visited and ended up having dinner with us.  This morning I walked and caught up with a dear friend, then talked on the phone with my bestie.  I've gotten groceries and adjusted my sleep and our mail and newspapers have resumed.  There is always a bit of disorientation coming and going, and a slight sense of motion sickness.  I'm not fully here yet, but I'm getting here more and more.  Tomorrow I visit a friend who is moving, but luckily for me, will be much closer than she is now.  So things are changing, there are transitions, big and small, and through it all we adjust and go with the flow.  It's all good.

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I'm packing up for a week at the cabin, and, as usual, I'm not quite sure what's up there and what needs replacing, so I will make a list up there for the next time, when I know for sure what is necessary.  We leave nothing in the refrigerator over the winter, because the power goes off and on with the winter storms, so except for dry goods, we have to start over each spring or summer.  This year there was so much snow we weren't inclined to go up, because we are a little old for trudging up the road in five feet of snow.  But now the lake is up, the wildflowers must be spectacular this year, and I, personally, am ready for heat.  I've bought a new shovel and pail for our three and a half year old grandson, lots of sunscreen, a big, colorful ball, and I can't wait.  We have a lot of history after over thirty years owning the cabin.  Our youngest was four when we bought it from an insurance policy my father left when he died.  It's the best use of money I ever spent.  I love the trees, the lake, the smell of pine, the canoe gliding through the water, the movies outside, the ranger talks, the whole nine yards.  I'm a lucky duck.

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I dropped by a baby present for my friend's daughter, who is due this week.  Us grandmas are greatly relieved when the baby is born.  We know too much, have too many stories in our heads, to be sanguine about birthing.  It will all turn out fine I'm sure, but my friend is tense and jumpy, because that's the way it is.  We discussed the marvels of the development of babies from birth to one year old.  She'd just had her friend stopped by with their eleven month old grandchild, and before their eyes he figured out how to stand up from sitting.  They are amazing.  How the brain does what it has to do is extraordinary.  My personal favorite for amazement is how the heck babies learn about humor.  It seems so complex and depending on so many signals.  But they all know what silly is and that if grandma puts a pan on her head that's cause for giggles.  Yes, babies are the ultimate entertainment!  And boy do they like an audience!

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I went with my friend to see "Late Show" with Emma Thompson and Mindy Kaling.  I laughed out loud a few times, and it was well written, but it certainly could have been better without the Cinderella touches for Kaling's character Molly and even the giant one for Thompson's Katherine.  I think the film would have benefited from more honesty about how they would fare in real life.  After all, we aren't exactly post Metoo.  The battle is still being waged.  I also don't know why Katherine's husband needs to have a dread disease.  But I'm happy to support a film written by a woman and directed by another woman, and Kaling is bound to be feeling a bit Pollyannish given her own success as a writer and actress.  There was a touch too much Disney in this version and it undercuts the anger and points being made.  Also, as all the other writers are white males, they get a disproportionate about of screen time, even though each has his funny moments.  Give Molly more standup and perhaps and let's leave out the phony romances.  Not necessary.  The movie is worth watching alone for Emma Thompson, of course.

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

My husband and I saw the documentary about Toni Morrison yesterday.  It's a terrific film and gives you real insight into who she is and how she thinks.  I was most fortunate in the early eighties to be in an MA program which brought her to our university, and I was chosen to accompany her various places, have dinner with her, and escort her to her lecture on campus.  She seemed so down to earth and easy to talk to and she laughed a lot.  That MA program also brought June Jordan and Paule Marshall to speak and they were similarly inspiring, and later, at a writer's conference in Saratoga Springs, I met and studied with Russell Banks.  I met Angela Davis through my older son.  She was an adviser of his at his university and she came to our party to celebrate his graduation.  She, also, was grounded and kind and relaxed.  All these people were and are good friends of Toni Morrison.  My favorite part of the film is at the end, when Ms. Morrison says the best thing you can say is:  She was loved.  None of the rest of it matters.  It's clear a lot of people around the world love her, and we are passionate about her writing. 

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I wisely chose not to see the debate last night.  I might have actually liked one of the candidates, and then where would I be?  MY candidate would end up not being THE candidate, and I'd be in my usual situation of voting for the lesser of two evils with zero enthusiasm.  Let the herd peel off and then I'll take a look.  I'd like a female candidate, but look how that turned out last time.  Misogyny poured from the rafters.  And if I have to fall back on what candidate could win, well, I'm not participating in that speculation.  Surprise, surprise is the new politics.  Vote with your impulses, your base impulses.  I will eventually read up on everyone, and try to make an informed, measured choice, but until some of the dust settles, I want to not be on that particular roller coaster ride.  It turns my stomach.