Lessons from an old tree

Photo of me loving a huge tree on the coast of Lake Chautauqua on the grounds of Chautauqua Institution.

Lessons from an old tree

"Encased in marble, the letters were old.
The spelling was odd, but not to far off to be told.
The "U's" were exchanged for the letter "v" -
the reason for this is far past what I can see.

Discomfort, confusion, frustration and fear
are fellows that hang around letters hard to hear.
Their message is odd and hard to grasp;
like something that made sense in years that have passed.

Moving down a path where the shade is just right,
the breeze is blowing and still-green leaves dance in sunlight.
A fountain flows freely in the midst of this place,
with Lilly pads floating in a pool of water with incredible grace.

At the end of the path there was an enormous old tree,
with branches reaching high even with all the age we could see.
It stood proudly there in this place it had grown,
half-facing the water and half-facing the stone.

This tree has wholeness in the place that it stands,
even though it's surroundings are half-water/half-land.
Fullness, beauty and purpose can be found;
in the spaces of paradox and unpredictable ground."

T.L. Eastman September 11"

Sleeping with Bread is a Monday Meme. Pick one of the examen prompts listed and write on that topic in regard to the last week of your life. You are free to post a link to your blog post here in the comments at the host page "Sleeping with Bread".
Here is the list of prompts to choose from: You can also phrase the question in any of the following ways:

For what am I most grateful? Least grateful?
When did I give and receive the most love? The least love?
When did I feel most alive? Most drained of life?
When did I have the greatest sense of belonging? Least sense of belonging?
When was I most free? Least free?
When was I most creative? Least creative?
When did I feel most connected? Least connected?
When did I feel most fully myself? Least myself?
When did I feel most whole? Most fragmented?
In this photo, the marble sign has the u's replaced with v's - If you know the reason, leave me a comment. Thanks for helping to solve this mystery.

Wearing summer thankfulness all year round

(Image from Petco)

Last night while waiting for my daughter to get done with work, I heard a chorus of geese singing as they were flying overhead. They were working on migration practice runs over the lake.
This morning, I went out for my usual morning trek, and found that I needed to keep my sweatshirt on throughout the whole jaunt. The foggy chill this morning was one I haven't felt in a while.
In these bittersweet moments ( I love the sounds of fall as well as cosy sweatshirts), I realize just how quickly this summer has rushed past me - and I feel as if I did not have the opportunity to be outside enough to take it all in!

There are moments in life so sweet and full of warmth that come too quickly and are gone too fast - just like this summer. This Monday Meme is an opportunity to think upon what need to be let go of, and what need to be held close. If I could, I'd attach all the lovely things about this swift summer to my cosy sweatshirt, just so I can 'wear' those balmy, sun-filled days - even in the midst of February's-multi-layered-clothing-just-because-of-the-gray-chill. Yes winter is coming, but not before the beauty, color, and crunchy leaf walking fall has it's bold and glowing say. There are loves and dislikes to every season.

So summer, the things I'd not attach from your season to my cosy sweater are:
temps so high that sweat runs down the back of the leg and into the crook of the knee, days too busy to get outside and play, fear of the unknown, a month without rain and then weeks full of rain - a little variety is good, saying no to time at camp because other work needed to be done, no time to read good books, rolled ankles that keep jogging at bay, and tiredness that won't go away.

The qualities of summer I would attach to my cosy sweatshirt are: s'more making with white chocolate, having a weed pulling race with my youth group, family adventures in day trips to art parks, reading a few wonderful gems of books, time with new and old friends, hunting for and finding that winery I'd been looking for, floating in Gram's pool and gazing at the puffy clouds in the sky, courage to keep going, a dog that is just as happy with long walks as fast runs, scrabble with twizzlers, and tiredness that finally says 'Uncle' to a good nights sleep in a night just chilly enough for wrapping up in a comforter.

Seasons may come and go, but an attitude of gratefulness and recounting what to be thankful for has the power to warm the heart in all sorts of weather, especially with the right cozy sweatshirt to wear.