Under a Red Roof

Mutant Cookies

May 7, 2008 in Eating, Giving by Colleen | Permalink

Despite the fact that I’ve never actually wanted children of my own, I am a sucker for them.

Take these cookies. I bought the dough from the cute neighbor boys in support of their little league baseball team.

Next time, I think I’ll just make a donation – straight up, no purchasing of wrapping paper, junk food, chocolates, or cookie dough. It will save me the agony of having all these things that I don’t really need, like Slim Jims and three pounds (yes, pounds!) of peanut butter dough taunting me every time I open the refrigerator.

“You know you want to eat me. I am rather tasty by the spoonful, or you could stud me with chocolate chips (the way Gregory likes), so I get that mutant cookie look, and then bake me up. How great would I be with a glass of milk on a perfect Portland day?”

Well, darn it all if the dough wasn’t right! Now if Monday’s weather would return…

Said So Well

May 5, 2008 in Quoting by Colleen | Permalink

Gregory took this photo on our French vacation last summer. I love the composition: the washed-out brightness in the foreground, in contrast with the pleasant glow of the slightly blurred background, beckoning visitors. It reminds me of a poem that I like.

Just Delicate Needles

It is so delicate, the light.

And there is so little of it.

The dark is huge.

Just delicate needles, the light

in an endless night.

And it has such a long way to go

through such desolate space.

So let’s be gentle with it.

Cherish it.

So it will come again in the morning.

We hope.

Rolf Jacobsen, translated by Robert Hedin

The light reminds me of people too, often delicate and more likely to come again when cherished and treated with tenderness.

May you be treated with tenderness on this fifth day of May.

Touching the Universe

May 3, 2008 in Being, Feeling, Practicing, Receiving by Colleen | Permalink

Something amazing happened to me the other day, mind blowing, wonderful kind of amazing. I was finishing my yoga practice with a meditation before shavasana, something I don’t normally incorporate for reasons of time and laziness.

Anyway, as I was sitting there, listening to Shiva’s kind voice, I felt my body moving, only I didn’t feel like I was the one doing it. It was just happening, smooth and effortless, a birch branch slowly oscillating in the breeze. As I continued to move, I had this sensation of fullness, effervescence. I could no longer tell where my body ended and the rest of the universe began. In my closed eyes, I could see and feel billions of tiny bubbles of light pulsing and emanating to and from what I can only guess was the essence of all being: me, you, the sun, moon, and stars.

As you might imagine, it was exhilarating. It brought me the greatest sense of joy, peace, and wonder, and the moment I became fully conscious of what was happening, I wanted it to continue, to watch where it might take me, but, of course, in this same moment, I made the connection back to my thinking mind, and it was over, leaving me with tiny traces of its perfection.

Thinking about it now, I feel a bit empty but in the most positive way. Empty of pain, worry, suffering, and full of hope at the possibility of my life and our world. Now I am sharing it with you.

Namaste…

Tags: Shiva Rea, Yoga

Even better than a penny!

May 1, 2008 in Giving, Receiving by Colleen | Permalink

I am touched by the kindness of whomever left this delightful surprise on my door. Thank you!

Sarah

May 1, 2008 in Being, Loving by Colleen | 2 comments

Thanks be to the friendship gods that brought me to my dear, dear friend Sarah. We met eight years ago when I was an Americorps Member at Reach Community Development. I painted houses and did home repairs for elderly and disabled low income folks (I used to despise this word, and now I’m using it – sigh). Sarah worked on lead safety and abatement.

One day, we walked to Anne Hughes Kitchen Table for lunch and a friendship was born. I have known her through her first born’s first Halloween party (Hunter), the birth of two children (Bryn and Grayson), moving house, and many, many preschool and elementary school fund raisers.

She has known me through more jobs than I care to count, just as many “ended” friendships, and one novel, to which she gave a rave review.

She is kind, thoughtful, generous, ever so caring, crafty, and loads of fun to be around. I spend hours and hours with her in person and on the phone, yet never tire of her company. More importantly, she never tires of mine. I am the quintessential Gemini – stodgy, yet silly with wild abandon and irreverance, uptight and totally mellow, infuriating and exhilarating. Through it all, Sarah laughs at me as well as I do. Thank you, my dear.

So, on this day that is weeks before your birthday (something I am terrible at remembering when it actually counts), I honor you and our wonderful friendship.

I love you friend. Have a beautiful day!