Tuesday, June 30, 2009

My Review of Urrea's "Into the Beautiful North"


As expected, I enjoyed Luis Alberto Urrea's newest novel. I feel like he synthesized his life experiences around a "Quest" theme with an odd and delightful assortment of characters who are more real to me than my neighbors.
The women of Tres Camarones, Sinaloa, Mexico find themselves with a serious shortage of men; so many have gone North into 'Los Estados Unidos'. Inspired by the movie The Magnificent Seven, the main character, Nayeli (Nah-yell'-ee) decides to go North to recruit seven men to return and revitalize her village, and protect them from the drug bandidos who have just taken notice of how isolated yet close to Mazatlan their town is. With her are her two girlfriends and their friend Tacho, the gay taqueria/Internet Cafe owner.
I found many of the scenes funny and endearing, and many more that were frighteningly real in the illegal border crossing experience.
Again, as expected, I recommend this latest fine work to any reader.

Monday, June 29, 2009

The Shepherdess Parable

I wrote the first draft of this last September.


Once upon a time there was a shepherdess who inherited seven sheep. At first she was excited about this.
"This is just a beginning," she told her neighbors, "my flock will grow very large and I will be so proud of my many, many sheep."
The first year passed and two of the seven sheep, who were quite old when she first took possession of them, died. Another had an accident and went lame. But three new sheep joined the flock and the shepherdess was content. She still dreamed of having the largest flock in her village.
The shepherdess was especially fond of her strong, obedient sheep. There seemed to be always about four of those. The weak or lost sheep she found annoying and unworthy and when they wandered off she was not upset.
A few more years went by and the number hovered still around seven. No new lambs were born since her sheep were older and past their lambing days. More of the older ones died and any new weak, lazy or shabby ones would wander off looking for someone to love and help them.
When ten years went by the shepherdess became distraught that her dream of a large flock was not being realized.
"What can be wrong?" she asked herself. Being a godly woman, she prayed to the Great Shepherd asking for more sheep to be added to her flock but through the years, the number continued to hover right around seven.
The shepherdess was growing older herself and was becoming discouraged.
One night as she lay down to sleep, she implored the Great Shepherd to tell her why she still only had seven when she wanted seventy. And thus she fell asleep.
In her dream she saw the seventy sheep she had felt should be hers. When they walked past her she looked at each one and realized that she already knew most of them, they were the weak and lost sheep that she had not given her attention to; had not been sorry to see drift away. Then she heard an angel-voice saying, "Every single sheep was sent by the Great Shepherd, just as you asked. You and your strong, wise sheep were meant to care for those you judged weak and unworthy. Go now and gather up the needy and show them the path to strength and wisdom."
When the shepherdess awoke she understood what her gift was and she spent her remaining years looking for the ones who needed her.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Remember Where You Are

When my grandson A.J. was 2 years old, I was in the habit of entertaining him with animal sounds. I think it started with a book he liked me to read to him about a character who was good at animal sounds but couldn't speak. Anyway, I worked at Arizona AAA back then (1991). His mom, Wendy, called me at work because A.J. wanted to talk to 'Amah'. That's what he still calls me (he's 20 now). A.J. indicated he would like me to make some animal sounds and being 'in the moment' I started right in. I did my wooh, wooh, wooh for a chimpanzee. Then I did my personal favorite, the crow: Aaaa, Aaaa, Aaaa. This is one I had practised in the great outdoors and it was LOUD!
My boss, a tolerant fellow, came out of his office across the room as if shot by a cannon, saying, "What the hell was that?"
I stood up and wide grinned him. He came over to me, eyebrows aloft, and merely said, "Please try to remember where you are, Carol."

Monday, June 22, 2009

Darwin Award: Convince the Jury

This Darwin story is in honor of my own week of court-related events.
First I had to go into our local Cochise County Courthouse for jury selection on Monday. We were asked to be there by 12:30PM and there were a whole passel of us. We waited and waited. We were put in the kitchen to watch an orientation film. By the 4th time around we were able recite the dialogue by heart. The clerk came and relieved us of another repetition by putting the equipment back to television broadcast. Before I could expel my sigh of relief, however, I realized that she had put on Fox News, so my sigh turned to a groan. Luckily, I had a good book with me (Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie) and was able to tune out most of what was being said on the news program. The only thing I gave my attention to was a story about a 14 year-old boy who was getting national attention as a chef.
Anyway, it turned out that the judge had been delayed in Tucson and we didn't get into the courtroom to begin jury selecton until after 3PM. At last we emerged from the on-hold pattern of bored waiting. Once the proceedings started, I must say, I was favorably impressed by the staff of the court, especially, but not exclusively, the judge himself , the honorable Wallace R. Hoggatt. I was actually sorry that I wouldn't get to be on a jury in his courtroom, just for the experience. And as it turned out he excused me so that I could go to Tucson with Sharon for Wendy's Guardianship of A.J. on Thursday, the 25th.

...................................................

June 16, 1871


During the Civil War, Clement Vallandigham was convicted of treason for his speeches attacking the administration of President Abraham Lincoln. He was banished to the South, where, still voicing his opinion for states' rights, he became a lawyer.



His last appearance in the courtroom he represented a client on trial for murder. The defense claimed that the victim's method of drawing his own gun resulting in it firing and killing himself.



To prove the defense argument, Vallandigham demonstrated the victim's method of drawing the gun - using the loaded evidence gun as his prop. The firearm went off, and he lost his life- but proved his case.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Chick in Shell analogy


Quoting Michael Bernard Beckwith in Spiritul Liberation:

"When we are immersed in the depths of a problem, our situation is like the baby chick encased in its shell. As the chick evolves, the shell becomes a polluted and claustrophobic environment where its space, mobility, and plentitude are challenged. God does not step up to the plate and 'solve' this problem for the chick. The solution has already been placed in the seed of the chick's existence - the chick pecks its own way out when she has sufficiently evolved to maintain a life outside the shell. An so it is with us. All we need to peck our way out of any challenging predicament is already within us, awaiting activation by our taking self-responsibility."

Affirmation:
Right here and right now, I acknowledge myself as an ever-evolving being and surrender to the transforming touch of Spirit. Throughout this day, I have dominion over my consciousness and happiness. Patience, forgiveness, and loving kindness are the order of my day.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Fotos for fun or photos for phun

You never know who you might meet when you get out there and explore.






My Ada Catherine Memorial Desert Willow tree at one year old.






The white rose specifically concerns purity and innocence, acceptance, and unconditional love.






Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Short one today: Lenticular clouds


Lenticular clouds, technically known as altocumulus standing lenticularis, are stationary lens-shaped clouds that form at high altitudes. These clouds are formed by so-called “mountain waves” of air created by strong winds forced over high mountains.
We get a lot of these here in the Mule Mountains lately. Sure look like UFOs don't they?

Friday, June 12, 2009

Landing in the Now


We sometimes get caught up in the question - "What are we here for?"
Tolle says we are here to bring consciousness into this dimension.

Through detachment, nonresistence, and nonjudgment you gain access to inner space and consciousness.

My mantra for today:
I shall not judge, I shall not resist, This, too, will pass.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

My New Poem - "Rain"


Underneath it all, in the quieting thunder,

more echo than sound,

more Now than remembering;

is a peaceful loving energy.


The cat is curled in a furry circle,

the dog rectangularly alert.

Water sings its splattering sound,

Dust is darkened, leaves glisten.




Clouds are parting, the sun returning.

Light infuses, all things brighten.

An arch of prismed color bows wide.

I am grateful for the rain.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Mail Boxes all in a row...

More on the cottage:

Our mail came to a row of boxes at the farm roads intersection about a mile from our cottage. I only remember letters and an occasional postcard. It was one of my favorite chores to volunteer for. Often I went alone, but sometimes Grandmother would come along but mostly I went with a friend from a nearby cottage, or my cousins when they were visiting. (Arlene) When a friend came with me we would sometimes cut across the farmer's cow pasture. Once, we were chased by a bull. In late summer I carried a cellar of salt to use on the green apples. There was a tree catty corner to the boxes that put out some nice apples. We usually went back to the city before they ripened, but with salt I loved the green ones with white seeds, although I soon learned that too many of them gave a tummy ache. I would bring a green apple back to the cottage for Aunt Ethel, who loved them at least as much as I did. I have a clear memory of her lying on the porch sofa eating green apples and reading magazines. Ethel seemed always to have time to laugh with me and listen to my stories. Besides green apples, she also loved sour pickles. I sure loved my Aunt Ethel.


Sometimes Grandmother gave me money to buy fresh vegetables (mostly corn) from the farmer close to the boxes. The farm dogs were a little scary but I never ran into a mean one. They just like to bark at new things in their yard. I especially remember the fresh corn I brought home with the mail.