Songs that mean something to me..... (playlist)

It's almost that time. . .

Happy 18th Birthday Son

Today You Are an Adult.

Happy Birthday Honey,

I am so proud of the man you have become. I can only hope that I have taught you enough throughout your life to give you the skills to make good life choices and good moral judgements. I hope that you now have the tools necessary to become successful in life and to find happiness within yourself. I hope I have equipped you with the right values to know how to be nurturing, caring and respectful of all people without regard to sex, race, or religion.

Soon you will be leaving the nest and making a life of your own. I would like to give you the gift of my experience with some advice about the important things in life:

There is never going to be enough time . . .

To SEE everything

To LEARN everything

To EXPERIENCE everything

But never stop trying.

The more you see and learn and experience, the more EVOLVED you will become and the more satisfaction you will get from life.

Don't ever let yourself or your brain become stale, or it will wither up and have no purpose.

You must search deep inside to find your compassion.

Always keep kindness close.

Never intentionally hurt another, hearts are so fragile.
And so are people's feelings.
Sometimes people don't realize the pain they have caused another with their words.

Be happy and rejoice in life.

Don't waste your time on anger, impatience, envy or spitefulness.
These feelings only poison your soul and make you feel worse when you feed them.

Instead…

Try doing someone a favor for no reason at all.

Help an old person or someone less fortunate than you.

You would be surprised at how good it makes you feel and how it cleanses and heals your soul.

Goodness breeds goodness and good karma and happiness.

Don't forget to experience nature once in a while.

Walk barefoot in the grass.

Dance in the rain.

Take walks in nature and soak up some "negative ions".

Drive up a mountain and see the view of the world from up there.

Use only candlelight for a night – no electricity at all.

Allow yourself to be alone with your thoughts once in a while.

It will help you to see yourself and set your goals more clearly.

Sleep in once in a while, you brain and body need it to rejuvenate.

Take naps.

Write your thoughts in a journal.

Always respect your elders, especially your grandparents and your family.

Give money to charity once in a while, even if it's a small amount.

Join a charitable cause every couple of years like we have in the past, (i.e. The Basket Brigade, The Beach Clean up, Light up the Night walk for Cancer, Feeding the Homeless...)

Register to vote and stay current on what your country is doing so you can have a voice.

Listen to the news.

Mark all of your friends and families birthdays down and always wish them a happy birthday.

Allow people to have different opinions than yours – we are all unique and that is okay.

Let someone else have their way or their choice once in a while, you don't have to be right or in charge all of the time.

Try to not appear bossy because of your superior intelligence, instead have discussions with people and try making suggestions.

Create something sometimes: Paint a box, plant a garden, build a shelf, glue things to a canvas and hang it.

Take pictures, lots of them, make collages, make memories.

If you ever need to make an important decision, weigh the Pro's and Con's by making a list – it works!

Give someone a compliment.

Say thank you to your teachers, your parents, your co-workers, your boss and your friends…for the things they do.

Tell your wife and your children you love them every time you leave the house in case it is the last time you see them.

Make sure that you don't get so caught up in the rat race that you don't make time to reflect on the meaning of life or all of life's mysteries…this is your spiritual side and it also needs nurturing.

Challenge yourself and always learn new things, your brain needs exercise just like your body to stay healthy.

Get exercise, take a walk, eat a fruit and vegetable everyday.

Pay your bills on time and keep your credit good.

Whenever possible pay for all things in full up front and don't get yourself in hock by financing too many things and by running up credit card bills.

Always take care of your possessions – maintenance them before they break, (cars, computers, appliances etc), and keep valuables in a safe place.
Don't ever let a substance become more important than a person, or a job or your health.

Don't cheat – other people OR yourself.

Always have music in your life and dance on a coffee table once in a while even if you are alone.

Be silly and get the weakers.

Go to a place you have never been, (a town, a restaurant, a vacation spot, a drive).

Try new things, (snow ski, para-sail, racket ball, making pottery, kareoke, rock climbing etc).

Play with children (especially your own) - a board game, catch or anything. There are too many neglected children in the world and you will be helping them become more well rounded by the attention you give them.

Brent, AMAZE yourself because you are truly amazing and your life's adventures are JUST BEGINNING.

Just don't forget to remember your parents and remember your heritage.

You'll understand how much they love you when you have children of your own. Nothing compares to it!

I love you SOOOO MUCH my son!

Happy 18th Birthday!





Mom xxxooo

The Lost Dreams

What happened to the dreams I had?
When did I give them up?
When did I come to realize,
I'd drank the bitter cup?

When did I learn to compromise,
And not strive for the best?
Why does the love of life burn low?
Where did I fail life's test?

What happened to the girl I was?
So ambitious in my youthful way,
So eager to partake in life,
Enjoying each and every day.

How could "she" be what I am now?
So lacking in self-worth?
Disillutioned, bitter. . . and unloved,
And tired of this old earth.

How do the years go by so fast?
Where have the moments sped?
Can I believe that after death,
There's something better up ahead?

Why can't life grant a little bit
Of happiness to each?
And let us believe our goals in life,
Might be "within" our reach?

Shall I ever find the answers,
To these questions on my mind?
Or search forever for those things,
I'm destined not to find?

Slipped Away

Death Unveiled

Death in all its mystery
Should never be unveiled
The ugliness of loss of life
And hopes and dreams that failed
I saw a girl in bed with death
Consumed by its lecherous hold
I watched death feed on her life's force
As she changed from young to old
Before my eyes her spark expunged
Her spirit lay defeated
No fight inside no will to live
All her memories had retreated
I saw a girl too tired to live
I watched her inside erupt
Left with only anguish and a living shell
Waiting for her body to catch up
Her lifeless face, her fear of days
She wanted it to be over
I couldn't save her from herself
Her soul exposed without cover
I said good bye and watched her die
I've never seen such sorrow
She beckoned death in her surrender
She had no more tomorrow
I watched her die with eyes wide open
No color in her face
As death devoured her remaining life
For in this world she had no place
You should never die from the inside out
Or unveil death's mystery
I have never seen a more tragic sight
When the girl I watched was me

A Twisting Path

There Are No Straight Lines In Nature Or In Life

If you trek into the wilderness
and look around with a careful gaze,
you'll see that the trees, flowers,
and even the rocks have a tendency to flow.
There is the curve of the branch that leads to the blossom,
the smooth dip in a rock formation,
the gnarled knot in a tree trunk, and the forking of shoots.

As nature is overflowing with curves, corners,
knots, and unexpected directions,
so are our lives filled with unpredictable twists and turns.
While you may find yourself briefly on a straight path,
there is sure to be a sudden change in route up ahead.
The journey of life doesn't necessarily
always bring you closer to your goals.

In fact, sometimes you may find yourself backtracking
or meandering off in a wholly new direction.
Because there is no way to predict the outcome of your journey
(just as there is no way to predict the way a new bud will form),
simply living is in itself the path to wisdom.

Like a nature trail, this path can lead to unexpected destinations.
You may be faced with direct questions like
who am I and what is of value to me,
or you may find yourself acquiring the answer
to these questions through everyday experiences.

The path to wisdom is only blocked
when one expects it to be a straight line.
It is important to remember
that plans and predictions are not rigid and,
as your world grows in complexity, are likely to change.
It is therefore necessary to be open
to a multitude of different paths.

Obstacles, weariness, curiosity, or circumstance
may cause you to alter your direction abruptly.
There may be forks in your path,
where you will need to make significant decisions
based on the counsel of your inner voice.
There are both long and short roads
that are sometimes curved and sometimes straight.
Enjoy and learn from the adventure.





Often, when we look at nature,
the beauty is in the unexpected.
No two plants or minerals are exactly the same
and even the smallest plants curve gracefully.
The curving path is often the most interesting one.

The lesson we can take from that is
to avoid becoming attached to what "needs" to happen
and to remain flexible as we continue on our journeys.
If you are determined to achieve certain goals,
you will achieve them . . .
no matter how many twists and turns you must travel to do so.

Happy Birthday Daddy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!! May 1st

(and yes I call him "Daddy" - always did)

Here is your favorite poem for your birthday!!!

O Captain! My Captain! by Walt Whitman

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,

The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won,

The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,

While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;

But O heart! heart! heart!

O the bleeding drops of red,

Where on the deck my Captain lies,

Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;

Rise up--for you the flag is flung--for you the bugle trills,

For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths--for you the shores accrowding,

For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;

Here Captain! dear father!

This arm beneath your head!

It is some dream that on the deck

You've fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,

My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,

The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,

From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;

Exult O shores, and ring O bells!

But I, with mournful tread,

Walk the deck my Captain lies,

Fallen cold and dead.

In memory of a great man and father...I miss you! Happy Birthday.

A Tribute to Doctor Bombay

As I mentioned to all of you in an earlier post, my best friend's father (who was also a dear friend of mine), died recently. Well why digging through some old pictures I found some of "Doc" and decided to share them with you. We called him "Doctor Bombay" because he was from Bombay, India. Above he is napping with one of his dogs! The man truly loved animals!


To the right you see him talking to me and my ex-husband and my son who are sitting in the car. And yes, there is his dog in the background!
Here he is on the left holding my son. You can tell these are several years old since my son just turned 17 last week. Doesn't he remind you of Omar Sharif from Doctor Zhivago?







And here he is on our boat, don't ask me what he was eating! Below I have also included part of his obituary. We love and miss you Doctor Bombay!


BHARAT (BOB) JAYDEV KAPADIA, resident of Santa Maria, CA Died at age 63 Saturday, March 11, 2006 at 2:55am. Mr. Kapadia died from terminal cancer after being rushed to MARION HOSPITAL when his condition worsened. He passed away peacefully with family members at his side.

He was born on March 01, 1943 in Bombay, India and even as a small boy, Bob had a vision of a more abundant life for himself in America. After leaving his homeland and getting his Bachelors Degree, Bob made his way to California, the land of opportunity where he met Linda Linder. They soon married and had two children, a daughter Renee and a son Robert. His vision and determination continued throughout his life which lead him to become the owner of his own business, "Bombay Packaging", in San Diego.

Bob was survived by his two children and four granddaughters. His daughter, Renee Renuka Corcovelos and husband Andrew, and their two children Briana, 16, and Mariah, 14, along with his son - Robert Santana Kapadia and wife Erica with their twins, Shanee and Shalyn, 11. The Memorial Service (and Hindu religious ceremony) was held at 1pm, Thursday, March 16 at the Dudley Hoffman Mortuary, in Santa Maria.

Though our hearts are filled with much sadness on this day, our message should not be one of despair, but one of love and celebration. For anyone who knew Bharat (Bob) Kapadia, (whom we all called "Doctor Bombay"), knew how much he loved to make others laugh. He was a master storyteller and could keep people entertained with endless tales provoking gales of laughter. His stories were ultimately about people, because his preoccupation in life WAS with people. ALL kinds of people!! For you see everyone was welcome in Dr. Bombay’s circle of friends, as he was a man without prejudice.

His many friendships crossed the barriers of race and cultural background, crossed through barriers of age and generation, and even crossed the barriers of social position and educational background. And when Dr. Bombay bonded with you, believe me, he bonded with you for life. If you hadn’t seen him for quite some time, years even, he would always greet you with that, "Well Hello Stranger", flash you one of his big smiles while he scooped you up in one of his back-patting hugs and you’d pick up right where you left off! This man who in big and small ways, while he was still alive, never stopped trying to make others feel good, was always generous with his time and would do absolutely anything for you if it was humanly possible.

His was a life worth emulating, a life of great faith and generosity, a life of service to others, and a life of simple joys. But for someone who spent a lifetime actively seeking out great levels of interaction with others, he was himself a very private man of the Hindu faith. Bob was a man who knew a hard day's work and never complained about the cards fate dealt him. For him, the possibilities in life always outweighed the risks of personal loss or rejection. His vision in life always gave him the courage to take the risks and the courage to act.

So while we mourn the loss of such a great person, we should not lose sight of these ideals which Bob found so important. He would want us to laugh again and celebrate our memories of him.

Bob Kapadia:

OUTRAGEOUS? Sometimes.
INAPPROPRIATE? Occasionally.
COOL? Most definitely.

But DULL? Never!

Namasté to you, Bharat Jaydev Kapadia.

"I honor the place in you in which the entire universe dwells. I honor the place in you that is of love, of truth, of light, and of peace. When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, WE ARE ONE!"

It's Gotta Have Heart. . .

This is What Kind of Weather I am! OUCH!

You Are Lightning

Beautiful yet dangerous People will stop and watch you when you appear Even though you're capable of random emotional outbursts You are best known for: your powers Your dominant state: performing

What Type of Weather Are You?

Quiz - The sign of my true love?

Your True Love Is a Cancer

Why you'll love a Cancer: Cancer's loyal and sincere heart makes your own sensitive heart melt. Caring and devoted, a Cancer will take the lead in pursuing you - and not give up! Why a Cancer will love you: Cancer is laid back enough to deal with your mood swings and your passion for life. You know how to make Cancer comfortable with you and at the same time save them from boredom.

What Sign Is Your True Love?

OK...all I can tell you about THAT is that the men in my life were almost always ARIES and LIBRA. I only dated one Cancer. BUT it just so happens that my BEST friend in the whole world (for more than 20 years now), who knows every little thing about me, and who I consider my family - is a Cancer. She and I have gone through and still go through everything together. Do you think I should tell her she is my TRUE LOVE? Ha ha ha! Maybe I've just been looking at my love life all wrong all these years! LOL! (Just kidding - still a heterosexual here).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRENT!!!!

To my son Brent who turned 17 today!!!!!!




Love, Mom

Celibate in the City . . .

Well I could just keep on the track I am on now,
and just take a vow of "Celibacy" instead!!

The way I see it, sex is like playing bridge. If you don't have a good partner (or in my case NO partner). . . then you better have a good hand! LOL!

I realize that a lot of my ISOLATION and LOST blog entries were due partly to my loneliness, but there were also many other things going on recently that were very sad to me, including two deaths.
So I apologize that I wasn't writing my usual,

magical subjects!

But I promise that I am cheering up now!! In fact, I truly believe that it is in these such times of despair or unhappiness, that we are usually inspired to start searching for a better way or truer answers. It pushes me further on my road to wisdom!!!

Now don't confuse knowledge with wisdom, one helps you make a living. . . .

and one helps you make a life!

So now . . .
since it has been raining here for at least 40 days and 40 nightsit feels like, I will give you some things to do on a rainy day that

keep your inner soul happy!

And we must ALWAYS feed our inner soul and LISTEN to our inner voice!
Don't let the sound of DOGMA, or others opinions drown out your own inner voice and always have the courage to follow that intuition.

Believe it or not, it is there for a reason and that inner voice already knows what you want and how you feel and what is the best path for you. . .

long before YOU do!)

Here is the list:

Eat breakfast naked.

Take toys in the bathtub with you.

Do something Up-Side-Down.

Build a tent.

Unlock your secret powers.

Send out telepathic messages.

Take a nap.

Keep a promise.

Encourage silly.

Paint your tennis shoes.

Listen to the rain.

Dance on the table.

Make some mistakes.

Learn from them.

Value your own opinions.

Laugh loudly.

Forget to wear underwear.

Wear silly hats.

Practice random acts of kindness.

Allow the outrageous.

Invite someone dangerous to tea.

Stay up too late.

Change a routine.

Take a moon bath.

Wake up in love.

Trust your inner voice.

Leap into the unknown.

Be Alive!!!

Because Remember. . . life should never be measured by how long we live, or "how many breaths we take". It should be measured by how many things, "take our breath away!"

~ signing off. . .

Your "Occasionally Outrageous" MsCheeVS

Maybe I just need an encounter. . .

Isolation

Isolation

The effects of isolation

In all of it's magical strangeness

Waiting without purpose

But in a state of highest tension

All around is nothing emerging from the void

That external namelessness and formlessness

Which is the very substance

Of our concrete and transient universe

If only to be content to simply exist

To be intensely and absolutely there

Isolation gives everything an absolute

Thing-in-itselfhood

In nature the isolation of an object

Heightens its significance

And endows it like a piece of art

With a symbolic meaning

Which is identical with Being

Something Everything

Which I have looked upon

Now seems to scream of something that is gone

I walk solitary

To me the universe is void of life

Of purpose

Of even hostility

It is one huge, dead, steamroller

Going on in its dead indifference

Having no hope

No fear

Yet I live in a continual pining fear

Apprehensive of everything

Waiting to be devoured

By what?

Myself I suppose

Everything is negatively significant

So that every event is utterly pointless

Every object unreal

Every human being a robot

Going through the motions

As it they had all forgotten they were alive

Never giggling or feeling self conscious

Never praying or pining over absent lovers

Never gazing with envy at another's prosperity

Never flirting or loving or hating

Or you might become

More intensely yourself

Or you might have proper concern

With human relations

With the necessary chores and duties

With feeling compassion or charity

Just systematic SILENCE

Leading to obscure knowledge

Of the right kind of behavior

And the right kind of

Constant, unrestrained alertness

Contemplators hoping to formulate and express

The contents of all of this reduced awareness

Of which we are all the victims and beneficiaries of

Which can never of course be realized

To satisfy the appetite of the soul

~ MsCheeVS

Lost

Out of focus.
Falling . . .
Slipping on motherhood.
Stumbling on friendship.
Loosing balance on life.
Petty issues - Anger.
Procrastination - Guilt.
Feelings misguided by excess baggage.
Without relavance.
Missing answers.
Without questions.
Endless days.
Without time.
Lost on a quest.
With no beginning.
Looking for the end.
With no purpose.
Completeness?
Peace of soul?
Enlightenment. . .
Samadi Nirvana.

~MsCheeVS

New Day... Same Bullshit!! De ja poo?

Or would you call that DejaMoo? Same old shit... Let's just say I have had a "challenging" couple of weeks and I am doing my best not to crack under the pressure. I guess that old saying comes to mind, "Whatever doesn't kill you will make you stronger".

Feeling like I should be VERY strong by now.

But I've learned in the past that no matter
what happens, how bad it seems today,
life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

So I WILL NOT CRACK under this pressure!!
In fact you can tell a lot about a person
by the way he/she handles three things:

lost luggage,
a rainy day,

and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that, regardless of your relationship
with your parents, you'll miss them terribly
when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life."

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone literally. People love that human touch - holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

~~~~~ sigh ~~~~~

PLEASE LEAVE ME COMMENTS! Please?

Halloween, Conceptions & House Cleaning..Oh MY!

Well HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO EVERYONE!!!

...and Happy Birthday to me!! Hee Hee!

~<>~

Well...technically my birth date is July 26th (yes LEO)!

But I have it on good authority that I was actually "conceived" on Halloween night! So my "life" began on October 31st! SO, I like to celebrate both!

Halloween and setting the clocks back, make me think of Spring cleaning. Yes, I grew up with the notion that you are not supposed to do "Spring Cleaning" just once a year, but twice....(every time you reset your clocks!) I guess that would be Spring and FALL Cleaning.

BUT!!!

Since that time I have come up with a few philosophies about life when it comes to house cleaning:

1. I don't do windows because...
I love birds and don't want one to run into a clean window and get hurt.
(I am compassionate)

2. I don't wax floors because...
I am terrified a guest will slip, hurt themselves, I'll feel terrible and they may sue me.
(I am careful and poor)

3. I don't mind the dust bunnies because...
they are very good company, I have named most of them, and they agree with everything I say.
(I am imaginative)

4. I don't disturb cobwebs because I want every creature to have a home of their own.
(I am kind)

5. I don't Spring Clean because...
I love all the seasons and don't want the others to get jealous.
(I am fair minded)

6. I don't plant a garden because...
I don't want to get in God's way, he is an excellent designer.
(I am courteous)

7. I don't put things away because...
my family will never be able to find them again.
(I am considerate)

8. I don't do gourmet meals when I entertain because...
I don't want my guests to stress out over what to make when they invite me over for dinner.
(I am thoughtful)

9. I don't iron because... I choose to believe them when they say "Permanent Press".
(I am trusting)

10. I don't stress much on anything because...
"A-Type" personalities die young and I want to stick around and become a .

. . . .wrinkled up crusty ol' woman!!
. . . and on that note I say "Have an Outrageous Day!" Boo!!!!

I am so worried about Mozart!

Apparently no one knows where he is buried??? There is a challenge for you! The first one who can find out that fact will win ....ummm...hm? Well, I will have to get back to you on that one.

Ok...new topic:

As I am surfing the web today I am discovering all kinds of information about myself! I have been taking quizzes!!! Woo Hoo! They are pretty fun! I will list a few that I took and their links, and then show you what MY results were! You people can write me back and let me know how you scored!

IQ TEST
http://web.tickle.com/invite?test=3001&type=t

My results:
Your IQ is 138, Your Intellectual Type is Visionary Philosopher. This means you are highly intelligent and have a powerful mix of skills and insight that can be applied in a variety of different ways. Like Plato, your exceptional math and verbal skills make you very adept at explaining things to others — and at anticipating and predicting patterns.

Ink Blot TEST
http://web.tickle.com/jumpto?test=inkblotogt

My results:
Your subconscious mind is driven most by Imagination. This means you have a deep desire to use innovative ideas to enhance your life and influence the world around you. This drive influences you far more than you may realize on a conscious level. Your need to be innovative drives how you look at new opportunities and the kinds of experiences in life you choose to have. When you are unable to create due to restrictions imposed by your environment or even ones you unwittingly impose on yourself, do you feel trapped or confined? You may find these feelings of unease only get better when you find another outlet for your imagination. With such a strong creative orientation, you are willing to entertain a broad spectrum of ideas at any given time. The world is a fuller, richer place because you can contribute new ideas to any experience. Your natural curiosity inspires those around you and encourages them to come up with ideas they wouldn't have thought of without your help. Though your unconscious mind is driven most strongly by Imagination, there is much more to who you are at your core.

ESP TEST
http://web.tickle.com/jumpto?test=espogt

My results:
You have an unusually strong psychic talent in the area of Precognition. This means you have an uncanny ability to look into the future and anticipate what is going to happen. By knowing something's going to occur, you can even change the outcome of events for the better. Our in-depth analysis also shows you have other hidden psychic strengths including retro-cognition (the ability to know what has happened in the past), telepathy (the ability to sense people's true thoughts) and clairvoyance (the ability to see the unknown).

TEST Your Sense of Humor
http://web.tickle.com/jumpto?test=humorogt

My results:
Your sense of humor is Wit! You put the pun in punch line and you're probably always listening for the next play on words because you have a witty sense of humor. With your finger on the pulse of what's happening, your mind never stops thinking of the next clever line.You're an entertainer at heart and you try to keep your material as fresh as possible. There's nothing better than a little observational humor (unless someone else thinks of it first). The only problem with telling a good story is that it inevitably reminds another person of a dull one. Thank you folks, you've been great, good night!!! :-)

Some of my FAVORITE THINGS...

These are of my ONLY child, BRENT,
when he
was
growing up.
Wasn't
he a Doll?
So Sweet and Innocent. . .
back when he still loved to
hang out with his MOM!!
Sigh!!

~~~<>~~~

Of course this was before he became a teenager!!
And Mom became
obsolete!











This is my son NOW-A-DAYS.
Here he is getting ready to go
on a sailing trip!

He is 16 now!

YIKES!!

and getting his license next week!!

LOOK OUT!!!

~~<>~~

Here he is again down below in the cabin of the boat with one of his best friends Billy. They don't look too happy to be getting up at dawn!! See the pink sky? This was taken on a 3 day whale watching trip we took just West of the San Francisco coastline.

We saw both Orca and Humpback whales.

And of course this is my KITTY!

He loves the boat too as you can see him up on the mast!!

We call him "Skipper"!

. . . and the trip ended with this beautiful sunset in Sausalito...

*************

And while we are on the subject of favorite things, I would like to share a passage from "The Oriah Mountain Dreamer" that I absolutely LOVE !!!

The Invitation

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.

I want to know what you ache for,

and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are.

I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool

for love, for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon.

I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow.

if you have been opened by life’s betrayals

or have become shriveled from fear of further pain!

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own;

without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own;

And dance with wildness until the ecstasy fills you

to the tips of your fingers and toes

without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic,

or to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true,

I want to know if you can disappoint another

to be true to yourself.

if you can bear the accusation of betrayal

and not betray your own soul.

I want to know if you can be faithful

and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty,

even when it is not pretty every day,

and if you can source your life from God's presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours or mine,

and still stand on the edge of a lake

and shout to the silver of the full moon, "YES!"

It doesn't interest me to know

where you live or how much money you have.

I want to know if you can get up after a night of grief and despair,

weary and bruised to the bone,

and do what needs to be done for the children.

It doesn't interest me who you are

or how you came to be here.

I want to know if you will stand

in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what

or with whom you have studied.

I want to know what sustains you from the inside

when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself,

and if you truly like the company you keep

in the empty moments.

The End