One Of Those Open Threads

 

The Walkin’ Duck 

(don't they fly?)

It seems appropriate to me on this day, the 29th of February in the highly unlikely sounding year of 2024, to celebrate the unusual.

How unique to find ourselves washed up on this shore. We blink. We gaze around. Do we see anything familiar?

Ah, the horizon looks about right! That’s a relief. The sky is still blue or gray. Maybe that’s about it.

Nevertheless, in change there is also opportunity! Shall we proceed?

An Arizona Thunderstorm

 

    The spring and summer wore on. There were fantastically hot days. Days that Beth, but not Jessie so much, were not really prepared for. It slowed her down. She spent many mornings sitting on the porch of Aunt Julia’s mobile watching Jessie work in the small kitchen garden. Often in the afternoon she would be sleeping in the hogan until the sun sank below the top of the hill to the west. Then she would rouse and wander into the house to confer with Julia about dinner.
    All the gifts for the child that had been brought by Aunt Sarah and her grandsons had been set up in the hogan in readiness. Beth often gazed upon these things in a mild state of amazement. Life certainly held some changes!
    The season of leafy greens was over. It was so hot. Now, he was growing beans, corn, and big hard squashes. Things went well. They had even had a few early ears of corn with dinner.
    One day Julia, Jessie and Beth with Honda made the trip into Winslow to visit the old man who bought gold from the Navajo. He was Navajo also but had lived in town for many decades. He had air conditioning in his house. They had a nice time feeling cool for an hour or so while they talked. Julia and he had known each other for many years.
    He weighed Jessie’s nugget and said he was surprised to see one of those these days, since the Navajo mines hadn’t been producing those lately. It was worth about a thousand dollars. So, Jessie made his first sale of gold, for cash. The old man, Peter Tso, strongly suggested that Jessie take some more time to explore John Chee’s old mine. On the way out of the door, Peter winked at Beth and patted her shoulder.
    Before they went home, they located Dr. Miller’s office, just to know where it was for later and then they had a nice late lunch at Mi Pueblo. Honda was left in charge of the pickup parked carefully in the shade. He was sitting there grinning at two boys who had stopped to talk to him, when they all returned to the pickup.
    One of Jessie’s projects that summer had been to bring power out to the hogan just for lights. They weren’t intending to cook out there or anything requiring a lot of power. He had to get some supplies, but it wasn’t a hard job. As a cabinet maker up in Washington Jessie had become very handy at making things. He had improved the hen house also, adding roosts for the girls and a better door. He also put some blocks under it to raise it up higher off the ground. The hens rewarded them with several eggs each day.
    When she was around six months into her pregnancy Beth called Dr. Mary Miller as Sarah had suggested and made an appointment to go see her. They got along well, and Beth could see why Sarah liked her so much. Dr. Miller talked about how traditional Navajo births were until rather recently experienced in the home surrounded by family and maybe a midwife or even a traditional medicine man if they felt he was needed. She said Beth could go to the hospital in town, Winslow, or they could have the birth in her office, or if Beth wanted to, she would come out to Julia’s place and assist there. Beth rather liked that idea but would make a final decision when she got closer to the delivery.
    That night, while they worked together in the kitchen, Julia explained a bit about Navajo culture and birth traditions. It surprised Beth to learn that Navajo traditional culture is matrilineal. The hogan belongs to the wife. When a young man married, he went to live with his wife’s people. As Dr. Miller said, the birth took place at home with the mother surrounded by family members. She stood or sat upright, leaning on a doorway, or holding onto a rope descending from the timbers of the ceiling. It also turned out that they didn’t do much preparation for the child before birth out of a superstitious anxiety about this being asking for trouble. But Aunt Sarah was a modern woman, she didn’t worry about such things.
    Finally, Beth thought it would be appropriate to have the birth at home with Dr. Miller assisting. Dr. Miller agreed and gave Beth her home number in case she went into labor at night. She said she would need enough time to drive out to the Chee’s, so to call early when it first started.
    Now, as everybody knows, babies choose their own time of birth. They love to do it in the small hours of the morning, the time of change, the time of deaths and births, when people are coming and leaving. Changing Woman watches over these events.
    As it happened, the last day of her pregnancy was a heavy stormy day. The air was close and damp. A storm was coming. Dark clouds approached from the west, passing over the nearby hillside. A wind sprung up. Random splatters of rain began to hit the windows of the house. Then rain just descended. A lot of rain, and it kept it up. Water puddled up in the yard between the house and hogan and in the driveway. Then water began to run down the driveway in small rivulets. Jessie stood at the window watching the water pool up and run downhill.
    Lying in bed Beth could hear thunder coming closer. She felt restless and thought maybe she had a low backache. Jessie spoke to her soothingly and it helped some. But soon she knew she had a backache, and she knew that was a sign of labor. Then she felt some tightening across the front of her belly. Jessie said, “we better let that doctor know to start heading this way.” Just then their light went out. So, in the dark they picked their way to Julia’s door and called Dr. Miller from her landline. She said she would get ready and start driving their direction immediately.
    The heavy rain continued. The storm was directly over them then. The thunder was deafening and lightning lit the room through the window frequently. Since the power was out, they had no way to even make a cup of tea. All Jessie and Julia could do was to sit with Beth. In a way they had a nice time together there in the storm. They had candlelight. It was rather cozy all considered.
    As Dr. Miller drove toward them that night, or early morning, she made it within a few miles of the Chee’s but there had been too much rain. There was an awful lot of water coming downhill and it filled up a dip in the roadway. She couldn't drive through it. She sat for an hour waiting to see if it would abate but it didn't. She was forced to give up. She drove home to Winslow through the storm. She had a mobile phone but couldn't even call the family as their phone was out too.
    Aunt Julia could see that Beth's time was approaching quickly. Beth said she would like to be sitting up. So, Julia brought her little utility stool into the living room, with some old towels and so on. She had been at several births and had had a couple of her own, so she knew what to expect. Beth moved to the stool. Jessie sat behind her on a kitchen chair so that he could hold her and support her. Beth became drowsy and fell into her labor. Time seemed to pass quickly to her, but not to the others. A couple of hours passed as the lightning flashed and the thunder rumbled.
    Suddenly Beth became alert. Julia noticed this and knelt on the floor in front of her. Her black eyes caught Beth’s blue ones. They gazed into each other, and the work was begun. Julia opened her mouth and almost hissed a long breath. Beth copied her. They breathed together many times.
    So, it happened that Julia Marie Nez was born during a wild thunderstorm at home with Aunt Julia presiding and Jessie supporting Beth during her labor with his strong hands on her shoulders.

    As the sun came up, the thunder rumbled away to the east, the wind quieted down and all was peace.

So far...They haven't taken my phone yet.docx

Philosophizing Without A Permit

 

    A little idea came calling a couple of days ago. I wonder if you will agree.

    It occurred to me that when the enemy of our souls shoots his fiery darts at us, that they must be aimed at a target area. I’m sure he tries with the innocent also, but maybe not so effectively?
    Maybe if I wasn’t covered with these target areas, he would have nothing to shoot at? What if I could give him the slip, more or less? Would that work in this bifurcated world? I think it's a principle that is useful, though he will keep trying.
    It seems to me that the two major areas that our enemy prefers to torment us with are Fear and Pride. If I drew up an outline, there would be many items cascading under those two headings.     I actually believe that fear and pride are two sides of the same coin. But I wonder which is stronger.

    Upon a bit more considering, I think pride is stronger than fear. It's pride that causes us to hang onto our fears.  It's also pride that causes us to not be willing to accept help in the form of that calling that LoneStar was talking about.
   What if I could drop all of those target areas? What if I changed my mind?
    What if every time a thought of, say, rejection from someone, came to me I laughed a little and dropped it? What if I didn’t care how I compare to others in this life?
    What if all I cared about was following directions? Jesus/Yeshua said to love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself. Simple. Clean. No funny business.

    Holiness means to be set apart from the world. Now, why did I say that? Because If I am not playing the enemy's game, not accepting those darts because they are not "mine" I can begin to be set apart. I can have a different mind that is Godly.

*O*

Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one. And as for you, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Deut. 6:4-5 

This is what Jesus was referencing. 

That means everybody, not just literal Israel.

My goal, as always, is to incite comment.  

An Arboreal Rescue And A Love Story

 

“You know, I was mostly solitary until I was growing some silver hairs on my chin and down my back,” said Ralph. “There aren’t that many of us. Sometimes I wouldn’t see another Forest Keeper for many days.” 

“Forest Keeper? Is that what you call yourselves,” asked the forgetful hiker.

“Yeah, ‘course most of us don’t speak English very well. Other hairless have called our language Saslingua. I’m kind of a translator. I mean I don’t call it that. You people hang names on stuff, not us.”

“What did you say your name is,” asked Ralph.

“Now that you mention it, I don’t quite know,” murmured the hiker, dreamily.

“Oh. I expect it’ll come back to you. But, hey, good to have a guy to talk to. Maybe you can help me with idiom.” Ralph patted the man’s back with a big warm hand covered in sort of Chestnut colored fuzz. It almost knocked him over.

“Ramona, you don’t know her, is a talker. But, man, the girl always needs something.”

“You’re married,” asked the hiker, as he looked around himself. He seemed to be missing something. He looked worried or confused.

“Say…do you know what a leap year is?” Ralph smiled encouragingly.

“Yeah, I remember that. Feb. has 29 days in a leap year,” said the hiker vaguely.

“But do you know that custom where a female gets to be the one choosing on the 29th of February,” Ralph asked him.

“I guess so,” said the man.

“Let’s have a seat here on this convenient log and I’ll tell you the story of how Ramona met me,” invited Ralph. “You look like you could use a rest. By the way, where are your shoes? Shouldn’t you have a pack of some kind?”

“I don’t know. Not sure how I got here. So, um, what’s your name?” The young man sat down on the log wearily.

“Some lady who worked for a newspaper told her readers that my name was Ralph. So, Ralph I became. It was the beginning of my interaction with you hairless.”

Ralph sat down on the log with a great big sigh. He looked at the guy amiably.

“You hungry?”

“More thirsty,” said the guy. Worry lines formed between his eyebrows.

“Hang on, I’ve got some beers stashed under this log here.” Ralph pulled out a bottle of some kind of pale ale, the label said Likely Story.

“There, better?”

“Hey, thanks Ralph. Yeah, that is better.” Some life seemed to come back into our hiker. He smiled even. But like a little kid just waking up.

“Alright! It was several years ago. I was out doing my usual walk-about around some RV’s and camp sites, just to give the people something to think about. It was by a river up in the Baker National Forest. Well, that’s where we are now, but you probably don’t know that. Sorry, dude.

“What I would do is chuck a rock or a big hunk of tree at one of the campers during the night. Then I would hide behind a tree and see if anyone came out. Usually, they did. It was great.

“One of main things you should know about us is we love a practical joke better than dinner!

“The moon was shining with all its might! I decided to take a stroll downriver since it was so pretty out. The surface of the water shone like silver. I came to a little eddy where there was a nice pool. And I could see something happening out there in the water.

“Well, I’ll be darned. It was a girl Forest Keeper! She shone too. What I could see of her was reddish blond and curly. Hm, I thought. Maybe I should check this out. She almost seemed to be aware of me. I wasn’t sure. So, I approached the pool to get a better look. Her bosom winked in and out of the water and then she smiled at me. Well, kiddo, that was it. It was a leap year conquest. I saw those big brown eyes smiling at me and something weird happened to my head. I required her. I set about charming her with my songs and jokes, but really the joke was on me. She met me in the forest! Turnabout is fair play according to some of your hairless traditions. 

“So, yes, I am married. I have a little Twigg too. ‘As the twig is bent.’ It’s a joke, right?”

“Shoot. You can’t stay here. I better get you somewhere you can reconnect with your life. I bet you start remembering pretty quick here.”

Ralph snapped his fingers twice sharply. The hiker looked shocked all of a sudden and gazed all around himself. He leapt to his feet. His mouth gaped open in wonderment.

“I’ll walk with you to the Ranger’s house. I know it well. He has an outside outlet where I charge my phone. He pretends not to know. Anyhow, he will help you out of this dream you’re having Bub.”

So, they walked through the mighty Douglas firs and down paths through the undergrowth until the Ranger’s house was visible.

What’s your name now,” asked Ralph with a grin.

“Um, Pete. It’s Pete! Hey thanks Ralph!”

But when Pete turned to thank Ralph face to face, he found that he was alone. He shrugged and walked over to the Ranger’s front door and knocked.

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

Now, you wouldn't be blamed for wondering how Peter Lennox found himself lost in the woods like this. Goodness! There is a starting point for every tale and maybe I should wander back up the narrative a little!

About Pete, well he was always a good kid, but he lost things, and forgot things. But he was smart. He ended up teaching beginning physics at the University of Washington. He had some ideas that he was working on, that if anyone ever took them seriously, would change how things were perceived and how some things were done.

He had gone hiking that fateful day with two of his students, also brilliant young fellows. They were walking the highway beside a pleasant little river when Pete wanted to rest and put his feet in the water. He told the two students to go on. He would catch up with them in a few minutes if they didn’t walk as fast as they could. So, they said OK. They would go on down the road but expect to see him coming along soonish.

Pete picks his way through the brush beside the road and stashes his daypack under a convenient fir, up against the trunk. He goes down to the bank of the river, sits on a large basalt erratic and removes his shoes and socks. He throws them up the bank, so they don’t get lost or wet. Then he happily puts his feet into the glacier melt, very brisk it was!

He was sitting there musing on string theory and particles or some such, when he noticed an odd thing. Coming down the river toward him, but under the surface of the water were some very bright lights. So bright that even in full daylight they were very visible. It caught his attention to the extent that he was somewhat dazed. He didn’t run or even just walk out of the situation. His bemused state and his curiosity kept him stationary.

As he was watching an NSV lifted out of the water and moved over to the riverbank, settling there. It was dark green, with a dull surface. Not shiny at all. You know the scene. The craft opened. Two characters got out of it. They wore dark green coveralls with a plastic device like a planet fused onto the left side lapel.

They looked humanoid enough for a slightly befuddled physics type to feel comfortable chatting with. As he was answering questions and making whatever strange type of small talk that would happen in such a situation, the techs from the green NSV, took blood, skin, and saliva samples from Peter, who didn’t seem to mind at all.

They were just asking him if he would like to have a ride in their vehicle, when they heard someone approaching on foot. This was not supposed to happen. They only meant to encounter isolated individuals, so they packed up, leaving Pete on the riverbank, plunged back into the river and continued downstream with lights off.

Lucky for Pete, the person approaching was Ralph, and they got to talking….

Answering The Call

Mexican Plum

-💮-

The other afternoon, in anticipation of spring, which is coming on fast this year, I was in the backyard, pruning the excessive growth and deadwood from some trees and bushes. Things needed to get done. The Mexican Plum was on the verge of blooming, and it's always the most eager to get started after winter. 

A few hours spent cutting and snipping produced a couple sizable piles of branches that next needed to be burned, so I dragged them over to the burn area in the yard and proceeded to light the fire. 

As I was tossing the results of my labor into the flames, I noticed a few clusters of plum blossoms that had already opened, and some bees buzzing around them. My heart sank a little at the thought of destroying that beauty and denying those hungry insects their nectar, so I saved those limbs from the fire and set them aside for the time being. 

A few moments later, while watching a bee land and begin working one of the blossoms, a silent message came in the form of a memory when an image flashed by of my smiling mother holding a vase containing some flowers she had gathered from her flower bed. Just like that an angel thought had come to call, and I knew the right choice was to cut off the ends of the budding and blossoming plum limbs and put them in some water in order to preserve them for the bees. 

As of now, they are blooming gloriously and still being visited—not only outside by the bees, who are busy converting that pollen, which would otherwise have gone up in smoke, into life-nourishing honey, but inside on a windowsill by my thoughts as well. Isn't it funny how the spirit of Life always gives us the answers we seek when we choose life? And the taste and fragrance of eternal Life, manifested in any form, can only produce joy! 

I suppose what prompted me to write this little Sunday message was a video clip of Dr. Steven Greer I saw last evening, who said something rather astute, which fit my experience and gave the words of Jesus a clearer meaning. Paraphrasing, he said, "We often hear the saying, 'For many are called, but few are chosen.'" Greer explained there's an underlying meaning to it: that we all have free will, and we should view the statement from this perspective: "For many are called, but few choose to answer the call." 

Greer's thought helped reinforce for me the fact that eternal Life is the true, uninterrupted spiritual realization of life, ours to enjoy now, the gift we are chosen to receive, by virtue of aligning our thoughts and actions—our will, with God's will—by always answering that guiding call to choose life. 

In simple terms, I'd like to suggest: —God is Life. Choose the path followed by the chosen who've passed this way before and answer the call which leads to eternal Life—at all times and in all situations—and Life will choose you. I know this to be true. 

Have a blessed Sunday, y'all!

 -💮-

...I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life....
    —Deuteronomy 

-💮-

Sometimes I'm catchin' all I can
In the steady watching
Of the Prophets' plan, oh

 

And the good life of 'live' they foretell
Will keep us our souls very well
In the wisdom of right ever long
And the spirit of us is just livin' on

 

    —Tommy Hall  

-💮-

✯

Why Do They Call Them That And Why Do We Like Them?

The history of polka dots begins with the polka music craze—or more specifically, polka dancing. The dance, which comes from půlka, the Czech word for “half” (referring to the half steps used in the dance), began to sweep up dancers throughout Europe and the United States in the mid-1800s. In 1857, Godey’s Lady’s Book made the earliest known mention of the term polka dot. Before then, dotted patterns were sometimes called quiconce or dotted Swiss.

There.  Those are the basics.   We all knew it was a dotted pattern on fabric.  But I just wanted to ask why it is so compelling and wearable. I always feel great in polka-dots. I wish somebody could explain why a regular pattern of dots is so satisfactory.

I love them even though I associate them with photos of matronly ladies in the 40s and 50s. I also associate them with high fashion of the same era.

There was even a song!

They also suit children!

A History of Polka Dots, in Case You’re Wondering How They Came to Be

A Visitation From An Adult Daughter

 

Tiny old Aunt Julia woke abruptly. She sat up, then laughed. Someday she thought, “I am going to have to try to explain this, before I get into any more trouble!” 

***

Evidently Ben Sr had called his elder sister regarding their mother. He was worried about Julia and wanted his sister to know about it. Their mother had always been a bit of an enigma to them. This had not changed.

Therefor Sarah called Julia early the next morning and announced that she and her grandchildren were coming for a visit. She didn’t mention hearing from her brother. This was just a normal visit, according to Sarah. They would arrive after lunch. It was settled. 

Sarah had married out of the tribe way back in the early 70s. She had fallen in love with a young cotton grower from Casa Grande. He had taken over his dad’s place eventually and had done very well. So, Sarah had money and an easy life. She was used to being in charge and doing as she liked. She felt her mother needed some checking into. Her brother had worried her with his rather preemptory phone call the night before. 

The drive from the farm to the Chee place was nearly two hundred miles all told, but she would start out in the morning taking her time and entertaining her two teenaged grandkids. They were nice kids, according to Sarah, easy to travel with. Two boys. Jeff, 16, and Micky, 12.

Accordingly, at about 2PM, Sarah and the boys drove into the yard in a big brand-new British Racing Green Escalade. It shone with newness and bigness. The dust settled around it as it parked and the occupants disembarked. Sarah looking just like a well-to-do, though Native, matron and the two laughing boys. Sarah told them to go knock on the door and to be nice about it.

Micky knocked on the door of the little blue mobile home. The door opened and there stood Julia, Billy at her feet and cane in her right hand. “Hi great grandmother,” said Micky. Jeff echoed him. “Come in, come in,” said Julia sweetly, like any little old woman would. Sarah followed her mother and her grandsons into the house. “You didn’t need to knock, I was expecting you,” said Julia. Everyone hugged everyone and drinks were apportioned.

“I wondered how you were getting on out here in the sticks,” said Sarah. “But I can see that things look pretty good. I hear that you have help these days. You didn’t build that chicken house or spade that garden.”

“No, of course I didn’t. You must have heard. Jessie came back home a few months ago with his wife, Linda. They have been nothing but a blessing to me. Linda even does most of the cooking,” said Julia. “They have cleaned up and furnished that old hogan out there. It looks really nice, Sarah.”

“Why don’t you boys run out there and find Jessie and Linda. I think they would like to come in and see your grandmother and you of course,” Julia said to the kids.

Once the boys were out of the room Sarah attempted to take her mother in hand. This had never worked, but she would try it again. “Mother! You know you can tell me anything,” said Sarah.

If Julia had had a long tail, it would have been switching back and forth. A little bubble of irritation was forming in her mind. “Here we go,” she thought.

“Why Sarah, there is nothing to tell. Jessie and Linda panicked yesterday. They thought I was missing. Jessie called Ben, and then he called the Sheriff. When I got out of bed, I came out here and went to sleep in my chair. They all came in and were shocked to see me alive and well. That’s it. I was in bed, harmless as a baby.”

“Now, speaking of babies, did you know Jessie and Linda are expecting soon? It won’t be long now and there will be a child around the place again.” Julia was used to handling her rather officious daughter. Julia thought to herself how funny it was to have this person, who had been a helpless child in her care, now decide to manage her own mother. “Perhaps it is the way of people forever,” she told herself.

Sarah softened a bit and said, “well yes Ben mentioned that. I have come with gifts for the baby. And its parents of course. Do they know if it’s a boy or a girl yet? No? Probably not.” They sat quietly together. Mother and daughter. Détente.

Soon the door popped open. Micky jumped through, then Beth aka Linda and Jessie, Jeff followed, closing the door.

There were more greetings and huggings. Jessie got re-acquainted with Sarah, whom he had not seen for many years. Beth was introduced as Linda and the coming child was commented on to great approval.

“Who is your doctor,” asked Sarah, who couldn’t help herself.

“Well, we don’t really have one yet,” admitted Beth.

Sighing, Sarah said, “if you don’t mind, I can introduce you to a good one. Mary Miller in Winthrop.”

“We didn’t know who to see, I guess, so we just kept putting it off. I suppose it is about time,” said Beth. “I would be glad to meet Dr. Miller Sarah.”

Relieved, Sarah said, “now Jeff would you and Micky go out to that bus and get all the packages we brought?”

In five minutes, they returned. Jeff carried a beautiful white crib. Micky had several bags and boxes. Sarah had included bedding for the crib, newborn clothing in three-month size, because the first size was too little for most babies in her opinion. She also brought many bags of disposable diapers. The clothing was white, yellow, and green because she didn’t know the sex of the baby.

Beth got a little weepy while thanking her. Sarah grinned and was happy. Julia smiled her wise little smile, and the men all felt a bit extra, but pleased anyhow.

They would have ordered in dinner to celebrate, but there was no way to do that way out in Indian country, so Beth made burgers and potato salad because boys like burgers. They had a fine dinner. It was a lovely visit.

Towards evening Sarah announced that she and the boys would spend the night in a hotel in Winthrop, completing their return home in the morning.

Sarah felt that she had checked in on her mother sufficiently. She could see that she was in good hands with Jessie and “Linda” there.

Julia felt that she had escaped further scrutiny. She hummed happily to herself, but said nothing.

So far....They haven't taken my phone yet.docx

"You And I Are One!"

 

Do you see the Puma?

Before Beth had even turned out the bedroom light, Julia fell into a profound dream.

When she was alone Julia’s dream deepened. She entered the realm of memory and the sorting of realities. She found herself to be once again a young woman full of the beauty of youth and strength. She walked into a moonlit landscape. It was the landscape of her natural home with myriad stars overhead. It was a warm night in this dreamland. The soft air brushed her arms and face like ministering hands. Her cotton blouse and skirt were enough to keep her warm and sheltered. But her feet were bare. In a dream, feet barely touch the earth when a dreamer is on their own path.

She found that her path led her upward into the familiar horizon of jagged rocks. She found that she did not tire on this steep path. Urgency hastened her steps.

Looking down at the dusty path before her own feet took another step, she noticed the footprints of one who had gone before her. They were quite large cat footprints. She had a choice then. Follow or return downhill. She chose to follow. Several potential realities fell into oblivion. In fact, they had never existed, by definition.

Further uphill on the steep path she found that one walked beside her. Glancing to her right, she saw, in this dreamworld, a tawny back just about as tall as her own waist. It was a great cat. A shining glorious golden starlit cat. As she did not pause, Julia followed along, floating footsteps just a bit behind the Puma, for Puma she was. A Mothering spirit Julia realized. 

Julia thought of her own son and daughter then.

As they climbed, the Puma began to speak. Her voice was low and warm, with a feline burr to it. One might have thought she was purring a comforting chant.

“Higher Julia. We go to the realm of spirit.”

“You and I will make a pact together.”

“You and I are one.”

At length the narrow steep path leveled out. They were very high into the rocks indeed now. Julia only saw darkness where they had walked before and all the stars of heaven blazing above their heads. So near the stars were. The moon, risen high, shone like a polished silver coin.

Up there, where change and promise lives, the mighty lioness gazed into Julia’s dreaming eyes. Her great golden eyes became almost all. Finally, she began to fade until Julia could not see her at all. For a moment Julia was afraid and full of sorrow for the loss of the great Puma. Then in her heart she heard the warm purring voice.

“When you need me, I will come. You and I are one.”

Then Julia was comforted, and she walked down out of the mountain rejoicing. As she walked, she sang a high laughing song quite loudly.

As she left the high rocks sunlight returned to her dream. Soft grass was under her feet. Far off she saw her own village and heard the sounds of the people living. The dream became ordinary and soon she was cooking in her old kitchen. She dreamed of her own children when they were young eagerly eating at her table, while her husband laughed from the other room.

*** 

Tiny old Aunt Julia woke abruptly. She sat up, then laughed. "Someday," she thought, “I am going to have to try to explain this, before I get into any more trouble!”

All of it, so far....They haven't taken my phone yet.docx

As Aunt Julia Told It

 

Rather like Aunt Julia Chee, if not exactly.

Thus, when the coast was clear, lioness and cat wished for the Gate, entered once more and went home. 

When the loved ones returned home and opened the door, they found Aunt Julia snoozing in her chair with her hair a bit fluffed up and her cat Billy asleep on her lap just like any other day. The remains of a partially eaten lunch were beside her.

*****

Amazed, truly, Beth first and Jessie after her, tiptoed into the room and sat down on the sofa together. Honda followed and sat at their feet. They were speechless.

Hoping not to wake Julia, Jessie called Ben Sr’s cell phone from Julia’s landline. He whispered “she’s here, Ben, asleep in her chair. We don’t know anything yet.”

Ben said he was coming over to see her. Ben Jr would be with him. Ben said he would let his friends know that the emergency was over.

Jessie called the Sheriff’s office to report that the missing person was found. The original officer would be notified and probably come by just to check on the situation and see that she was alright.

Since they had been running around in a state of dread all morning and into the early afternoon, neither Jessie nor Beth had eaten a thing. So, Beth walked as quietly as she could to the kitchen and fetched a couple of tuna sandwiches from the fridge. While she was in there, she started a pot of coffee also.

Julia and Billy slept on. Beth and Jessie ate their tuna sandwiches in silence. Half an hour ticked over. “Not eating didn’t help at all Beth, you can’t do that right now,” Jessie said. He gave half of his sandwich to Honda.

Ben’s truck rolled up the driveway, slower this time. Father and son got out of the pickup and in a moment stepped into the living room. They found chairs. Ben Jr. had to get one out of the kitchen. All four sat watching Julia sleep.

Soon the officer who had been there in the morning arrived also. He came in and sat on the arm of the sofa. His radio popped a bit. It emitted a few quiet words. He looked around the room at the four waiting and the two sleeping. He cleared his throat.

“Oh, Beth,” Julia said, blinking, “is the coffee done? I’m a bit dry today.”

Beth picked up Julia’s cup and headed out to get a fresh cup of coffee. When she came back, she asked the others if they wanted some also. No one was ready for coffee drinking yet. There were too many questions in their minds. She set the cup on Julia’s little table. Then she sat back down beside Jessie.

Deputy Frank Williams spoke first since he was on a business visit. “Ma’am. Mrs. Chee, my goal here right now is to determine whether you are safe or not. Are you safe? Are you harmed in any way?”

Julia smiled. Her black eyes twinkled. “Of course, Deputy, I’m just fine. I was just sleeping here because I was a little tired. So, Billy here and I decided to take it easy today.” She appeared to be happy and perfectly at ease. She had a little sip of her coffee while it was still warm. Billy gazed up at her and then glanced around the room.

Greatly relieved, and not wishing to pursue the matter further, Deputy Williams got to his feet and wished them all a good day and left. Everyone listened as his vehicle drove sedately back down the driveway.

There was silence for a moment while each waited for the other to speak first. At last, Julia’s son, Ben Sr cleared his throat and began, “Mother. We have spent half of this day looking for you. Jessie and Beth, my son and my two friends and I could not find a trace of you. The law didn’t search like we did but that deputy couldn’t find you either. Where is hell were you Mother? Because you were not in this house, or outside this house. You were not in the mine or down by the stream! You were not out on the highway. Of course not, but we had to look. So where were you? Even this dog here couldn’t find you!”

All eyes turned to Julia sipping her cup of coffee. She smiled, just like a harmless little old grandmother would smile. Sweet but a little amazed at all the excitement these young people were projecting.

“I was in bed,” Julia said finally.

“But your cane was on the floor by your chair,” said Jessie dryly.

“I can get to the bed without it,” said Julia, “I just usually keep it with me, in case I need it, Jessie.”

“But Auntie, I looked in the bed,” said Beth faintly with a stunned look on her face.

“I don’t make much of a bump in that bed sweetie, I was there,” said Julia, rather more firmly than before.

Both Bens stood up. Ben Sr said, “when you decide to tell the truth Mother I will be pleased and happy to hear it. Right now, my son and I are going home and eating lunch, or something anyhow. I thank God that you appear to be fine.” They walked out of the door and got into their pickup and drove rather abruptly down the driveway.

“Would you like another sandwich Auntie,” asked Beth, not knowing what else to say.

“I believe that I would like to go back to bed now, Beth. Can you help me?” asked Julia. “Just come with me and tuck me in again.”

Jessie watched, mind unsatisfied, as the two women, so different from each other walked together to the back rooms of the house. Tall pregnant Beth helped tiny ancient Julia along. She took her cane this time. He decided to go outside and check on the chickens and see if anything was happening in the garden. This seemed like the wisest course at the moment, to Jessie. He would wait. So he and Honda left also.

In the bedroom Beth got a clean nightgown out of a drawer for Julia, who slipped out of her little dress and her little old lady undergarments. Beth dropped the nightgown over Julia’s head and helped her get her hands through the long sleeves. Then she brushed out her long hair for her. Julia did seem unusually weary to her. She had Julia sit on the side of the bed and she knelt before her on the floor and slipped her little leather leggings off. Dressed for bed at last, Julia climbed in under the covers with a sigh.

“How are you feeling these days Beth,” asked Julia. “I had been meaning to ask. I don’t mean to neglect you. I am a little absent minded you know.”

Beth didn’t believe that the old lady was one bit absent-minded. But she didn’t say that.

“We were so worried about you today,” said Beth. “Jessie prayed for you. Did you know he prays quite a bit, in his quiet way?

“I feel fine Julia. I’ve never been pregnant before, so I don’t know how I am supposed to feel. I feel like I have a very small person in there moving around. It’s quite something. After a few years Jessie and I just figured that it would never happen.”

“Arizona is a different kind of place Beth. There is an oddness to it that doesn’t seem to exist in other places if my observations are correct. Also it is hard to explain until you experience it. Sometimes what we see isn’t really there, but sometimes we don’t see things that absolutely exist. I don’t know if that makes any sense,” said Julia from her pillow where her long grey hair was spread out loose.

“Long ago, when I was a young woman, I discovered those cat tracks out there…” And with that she drifted off to sleep as sweetly as a baby.

Beth stood in the doorway gazing at the little sleeping form, trying to believe that she had been there earlier. She shook her head and turned off the light. Then she walked outside to see what Jessie and Honda were up to.

All so far...They haven't taken my phone yet.docx

Why Billy Woke Up

 

It was still dark outside. A fell wind blew through the brush and stones. 

Billy heard something. Maybe heard is the wrong word, but smelled is also wrong. He was told in a sensory way that something approached. His yellow eyes opened in the dim stillness. He lifted his head and tuned his ears to the sound and his heart to the message. The old one slept on. It was time to wake her.

Billy stood in her lap with his forepaws on her chest and he howled a long high note. She stirred in her sleep. Black eyes fluttered a bit. Billy called her again. This time she heard him and became aware. Black eyes stared into yellow eyes and a message passed between them. Battle is coming. Julia knew she must change form.

As the Change Gate opened, Julia sat forward in her chair and prepared her mind. Billy sat close beside her. Both waited for the gate as they had before. Julia began her breathing discipline to ease the changing. In and hold, slow release. In a moment, the same again. Ten times. Her mind took on a different tone. She began to remember other battles. Eagerness filled her being.

The gate did not appear to be a gate as such. It looked like an indistinct area in the field of vision. One could glimpse distant stars writ very small in the field of the gate. It seemed to be a sort of cloud of golden shimmer that enveloped both old woman and cat. Both would have faded out of view if there had been a viewer. Then the gate faded too, leaving a quiet dark room, a lamp on, an empty chair and a cane lying on the floor beside it.

*!*

Outside, lioness and cat waited on guard.

This Sniffer had set out months ago. He had followed a trail of great delicacy. It had been given Beth’s phone to sniff and to remember her genetic traces. The Sniffer would know that scent anywhere on earth, distinct from all others. It had been built into his mind, for he was a customizable machine of great specificity. He had access to all of the internet and had spent months analyzing routes, bit by bit discovering their direction, until at last he understood that they had gone to Jessie’s boyhood home.

But it had taken the Sniffer such a long time to approach its quarry. Even Novus Mundo had forgotten about this Sniffer. They had forgotten Beth also. But a Sniffer never forgets its quarry. It had no idea that it had been forgotten or given up for lost. As long as it is able to absorb energy from sunlight and it can move it will keep seeking.

This Sniffer was in fact a kind of Ronin. A lonely hunter, but adamantly persistent. He started at the house in Washington where Jessie had destroyed the Novus Mundo Manbot. Then he followed Beth and Jessie step by step through each stage of their journey. They had covered their tracks well, but no one can remove every trace of their genetic fingerprint as they move through the world, or in fact, any trace of their business dealings, cash or not.

Similar to the Manbot, this one appeared roughly human. The human design is a good one for travel on this planet. It could walk and run, and it wore the typical clothing of a young hiker. The hoodie deeply obscured its face. The face, if seen, looked rather mechanical, a soft rounded machine with unblinking blue eyes. It stayed away from humans, walking cross country through empty landscapes when it was convenient to do so. If seen by a human, it ran away. It simply vanished leaving the person to wonder if they had seen what they had seen.

Billy was Julia’s Watcher. He might have been called her Familiar in another age. A Watcher might be called a sort of angel. They are in touch with the intangible. They interpret the intangible to others, such as Julia.

Julia Chee, though old, was still a guardian with a double spirit. This could even be her last battle as a spirit lion. She waited near the hogan while Beth and Jessie slept on. She especially set herself between this hunter and the unborn child. Perhaps this battle would win final freedom for her young people, and she was eager for it. Her tail waved slowly as she waited. She panted for the fight. Billy stood close, all four feet together in a bunch looking wide open and watchful.

Further down the yard a chicken or two muttered in its sleep as if they too knew something was coming.

*** 

The Sniffer was very close now. It felt nothing. No eagerness. It didn’t possess feelings. But it sensed the nearness of its long-term goal. It came upon the home site in long even loping strides, almost at a full run.

Between it and Beth were two animals. Not human. Not machine. One large, heavy and muscular, and another small and light. The Sniffer attempted to understand why they were there waiting for him. It decided that they were irrelevant and continued in its path. It sensed that Beth was near. Her traces were thick here. She had been all over the area for a long time.

It swerved around the lionss, but just as it passed her, she leapt up and grabbed the back of its “neck.” The small cat watched intensely, owlishly. Her goal, according to her Watcher was to break off its head parts, for its controls were up there behind its eyes, as that is also a good design feature for something shaped roughly like a man.

The lioness slung the machine around in a great circle with its feet almost clearing the ground. On the second time around its head did break free. The Sniffer stopped as if a switch had been thrown. The head lay with its eyes still lit blue making gobbling sounds and moving its jaws around hideously.

The body lay inert, prone. It hummed deep inside its thorax like a great swarm of insects was in there. The sound diminished but was still audible.

The lioness and the small cat didn’t want to leave any trace of the battle there for anyone to see. It seemed good to dispose of the broken thing. So, the lioness fastened her teeth into one shoulder of the body and the small cat did likewise with the jaw of the head part. Then they began a long tortuous trek uphill into the nearby towers of rocks. It took them a couple of hours but love and exigency drove them on.

At last way up high where no one ever walked because it was such rough terrain and there was no reason to go there, the cats found a deep fissure in the rocks. First Billy dropped the gobbling head thing into the dark crevasse. They heard it hit, but it was a long way down there. Then the lioness dragged the body to the edge and tipped it over. That done, they rested in the shadow of the rocks as the sun came up. Then they started walking home.

But when they got near, they saw a scene of disorder and frantic activity. Julia’s absence had been discovered, along with Billy’s. Beth and Jessie had called Julia’s son. The Sheriff’s dept had been there. The lioness and the cat had to dodge Bens Sr and Jr and the two friends as they searched the area of the stream and the mine and the land near the house and hogan. Finally, Jessie and Beth took off in the old blue pickup with Honda riding shotgun. 

Thus, when the coast was clear, lioness and cat wished for the Gate, entered once more and went home.

When the loved ones returned home and opened the door, they found Aunt Julia snoozing in her chair with her hair a bit fluffed up and her cat Billy asleep on her lap just like any other day. The remains of a partially eaten lunch were beside her.

The whole shebang so far....They haven't taken my phone yet.docx

When The Deal Goes Down

 

In the still of the night, in the world's ancient light
Where wisdom grows up in strife
My bewildering brain, toils in vain
Through the darkness on the pathways of life
Each invisible prayer is like a cloud in the air
Tomorrow keeps turning around
We live and we die, we know not why
But I'll be with you when the deal goes down

We eat and we drink, we feel and we think
Far down the street we stray
I laugh and I cry and I'm haunted by
Things I never meant nor wished to say
The midnight rain follows the train
We all wear the same thorny crown
Soul to soul, our shadows roll
And I'll be with you when the deal goes down

The moon gives light and shines by night
I scarcely feel the glow
We learn to live and then we forgive
O'er the road we're bound to go
More frailer than the flowers, these precious hours
That keep us so tightly bound
You come to my eyes like a vision from the skies
And I'll be with you when the deal goes down

I picked up a rose and it poked through my clothes
I followed the winding stream
I heard a deafening noise, I felt transient joys
I know they're not what they seem
In this earthly domain, full of disappointment and pain
You'll never see me frown
I owe my heart to you, and that's saying' it true
And I'll be with you when the deal goes down

*?*

It occurred to me as I was napping after the big shopping trip, to ask what the song is about.

What do you think?

What is "the deal?"

Who is he addressing? One assumes a loved one? With Bob, it could get complicated.

 

 

Just Fooling Around

 I was just playing with an idea for a department.

I suspect more could be done.  This is a first attempt.

As you may suspect, it's an open thread.

Heck, it's always an open thread!

The Empty Chair

 

Jessie had always been a praying man though he didn’t make a big deal of it. It was just a subtle part of his personality. Most people didn’t even know. He thought it would be unmanly to draw that kind of attention to himself. Jessie could be a very inward sort of man. 

Spring was well underway one day when we woke early because of the mighty fuss being made by the local birds and the sunlight leaking in the doorway. As usual, we put on slippers and headed to the mobile. I was showing pretty well by then. It was obvious to any observer that there was a baby coming in a few months. So, I was stepping carefully, and Jessie went with me to make sure I made it, of course.

Everything indoors looked the same as usual but there was no one home. A mystery indeed. Aunt Julia had never driven and besides, the truck was still out in the driveway as usual.

Nothing had been done in the kitchen. Everything was cold. She wasn’t still in bed. Her lamp beside her chair was on, as always. She never turned it off. But to make matters very much worse, her cane was lying on the floor where she normally put it down when she was sitting there. If there had been any reason for her to walk anywhere the cane would be with her. Stranger and stranger, Billy was missing also.

None of this made any sense at all. It was like someone had picked her up in their arms and carried her away. This also made no sense at all. Such things do not happen. We didn’t know what to make of it or what to do next. We didn’t know if it was something to get the police involved with or not.  

I went out into the kitchen to start coffee while we thought about this for a few minutes. When I came back into the room Jessie was deep into the quiet prayer thing he did. His eyes were closed, and he didn’t seem to be aware of me at all, so I stood watching over him and waiting. When he opened his eyes and saw me, he said, “I think I should call Ben Sr and let him know his mom has vanished. It seems like he should be part of any decision making. Also, if we didn’t, he would have a good reason to be furious.”

“Maybe he knows something. Maybe he has her, but in that case, it would have to have been a sudden medical thing where he zoomed in here and grabbed her and didn’t even tell us,” I said. I thought maybe if that had happened she would call her son, because there was no phone in the hogan.

Jessie made the call. Ben didn't have his mother, nor did he have any idea where she might be, and he was on his way. He was bringing Ben Jr along also. Nobody mentioned the police yet. I had the feeling that there might not be a great deal of confidence in the local force. We did figure that eventually, if we couldn’t find her, we would have to submit a missing person report. Obviously, Jessie and I were not eager to be recognized by any police department. But we had to put that aside.

Jessie left me in the house and went outside just to look around. When he came back, he said, “nothing. Not a sign. Though I would have been surprised to see anything out there really. There were some cat tracks, that’s all.”

The minutes ticked by while we waited for Ben Sr and Jr to arrive. The little house seemed very hollow without Julia, very much its animating spirit.

Finally, a pickup came tearing up the driveway and parked rapidly beside ours. Two sets of steps quickly approached. Both Bens came in looking very serious. There were no smiles and happy greetings this time. They both stood, hands in jeans pockets looking at us.

“Did you look outside,” asked Ben Sr. Jessie said, “yes, but just around the immediate area. I didn’t go out into the brush yet.”

“We’re going to have to do that and look down at the stream and into that old mine too, though none of it makes any kind of sense,” said Ben the elder. “I’m going to call a couple people to come and help.” He sat right down in Julia’s chair and started phoning his friends.

I was beginning to be very afraid for her and was near tears. “We love her so much,” I said. “We heard nothing during the night. Nothing at all.”

We all waited for another half an hour, while Ben Jr went to look down at the little stream. She was not there. Then two men arrived in another pickup. They were friends of Ben’s. They went out immediately to fan out around home, further out into the desert around the house. They found nothing. The whole thing was strange. But they had to do the search of the surroundings. Next, they went up to the mine taking Jessie’s lantern with them. She was not in the mine.  They did not mention cat tracks, even though Jessie had.

It became time to make the missing person report. There was no police dept in Joseph City. Jessie called the Navajo County Sheriff’s office in Holbrook. An officer would come and talk to us and take the report he was told. While we were waiting to talk to him, the four men continued to search further out around the area. I thought maybe I should make something for people to eat because people have to eat. So, I started on sandwiches. Tuna and cold cuts. I stuck them in the fridge for whenever they were wanted. Jessie and I took a few minutes to get dressed. We had been in our pajamas and slippers all during this part of the searching.

The Sheriff's dept officer was not a tribal member, but he was a local man. He was kind, and he was very concerned also. He said they would get a dog out here to help search and some more men. That would take a couple hours, he said. The dog was in Winthrop. He suggested that Jessie and I drive around the area’s roads, just to be sure.

The officer left. The two Bens and their two friends stayed around the place looking in any corner they could think of. Jessie and I got into the old blue pickup and drove out of the driveway. It was a sad sort of drive. It didn’t seem like there could be a good outcome no matter what. We drove up and down highway 77 for quite a few miles very slowly, both north and south. Then we went into Joseph City. Jessie went into the Trading Post and talked to the clerk there. Of course, he knew her slightly, but had not seen her. We drove the streets of the little town just because we had to look. She was nowhere in sight. It was just like she had become air.

We drove home, still watching out of the windows carefully. We examined everything along the road in detail, pulling over out of the way when other vehicles passed us.

When we arrived home the other two pickups were gone.

Jessie took a moment to take care of the chickens. Then we went into Julia’s little blue house together.

Looking around the room, I grabbed Jessie’s arm in shock. Aunt Julia Chee was asleep in her chair with Billy on her lap. A tiny Native lady in her blueprint dress and knee length leggings. Her hands were lying still, loosely wrapped around Billy. Her black eyes were closed, but she was breathing. Her hair was slightly mussed. She had a cup and a half-eaten tuna sandwich on her little table with the lamp.

So far....They haven't taken my phone yet.docx

Just A Little Crow Tale

 

One that was rescued by Sam and stayed with us until it could fly.

I have nothing much up my sleeve today. So, I thought I would tell you a little bit about my youngest’s crow adventures at the University of Washington Medical Center. 

My girl has been a chemist in their lab for at least 16 years. Might be longer. She often eats her lunch outside of the building if the weather permits.

This has been going on for so long that the crows introduce their young ones to her. They all know her. In a way it fits because a famous crow researcher also works there at the University. I will include a video of his telling you all about it. 

In her experience crows are very curious and learn quite handily. Many of them have ankle bracelets on, which means they have already met Professor John Marzluff or his hench-students. So, they already know that people are interesting and a good source of food.

She shares her lunch with them. The only food they seem to find odd is jello! They can be quite insistent about requests for a handout. Getting the beady-eyed tipped head request is always good for a giggle. I will include some of her photos of some of her friend crows. 

One other funny thing about these guys is that at some point their parents “abandon” them to learn how to find food and make it in the world as a crow. Some of the kids’ attempts are pretty silly. They have to investigate everything to see if it is edible, including cigarette butts! Ew. They will attempt to eat anything that is of a suitable size. Poor things. And their feathers are all rough too. They look pretty bad. They don’t get all sleek and pretty until later. 

There are many tales that could be told about crows. I won’t go on except to say that a few years ago all the crows here in town were dive-bombing the local cops! I sure wonder what made them so mad. Crows don’t forget you. They are always up there paying attention!

Giveth me the chills!

  "CAW!"

HE Will Wipe Away Every Tear

 

Where is the locus of meaning? 

Last evening I was thinking. Oh, I’m afraid so. I was thinking about where meaning exists for me. I was thinking that it must have a location.

Now, if meaning for me is located inside my earthly flesh, I am doomed. Even if it exists outside of myself. Say in my loved ones, loving them as I do. I am still doomed to sorrow. If I locate meaning in all of mankind, it still doesn’t work. For all of these things are passing away.

World peace. Good health. Good government? The climate? Art and culture? No matter how much I care, these things are passing away also. Even if I try to put it into love itself, I fail.

I am reminded, naughtily, of the Fugs song “Nothing.” A rather crude take on the same thing.

If I take any of the above for the source of meaning I put life out of order. I am struggling here to express something I am just now thinking of in an orderly fashion. Obviously I have heard similar thoughts for many years but I had not processed them through my own soul.

Perhaps when Jesus let his earthly life go as he did, one of the things he was doing was demonstrating that the flesh is doomed. This might not fit in proper theology. It’s just an idea I am working on.

However, if the locus of meaning for me is in the eternal now, in the realm of the spirit of God, then all else falls into place and I can love without committing idolatry.

This is my day after love day’s true love gift to all. It isn’t nice to make idols of those I love.

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

❣

—Kaitlyn Guenther

❣

Hearts, flowers, hugs, kisses, love and well wishes; chocolate, cupcakes, candy, pink and red and white... and perhaps a glass of your favorite cheer. May the sweetness and joy of it all be yours this Valentine's Day!

I've always considered Valentine's Day to be the dividing line between winter and spring, and we know spring is coming, because traditionally around this time the birds begin choosing their mates... at least the doves around here are cooing like they mean it.

Traveling down memory lane late last evening, I dug out a few old Valentine's Day cards from my elementary school days to share... a couple of them are from my dear childhood sweetheart, Anne. 

Meow wishes everyone a happy day. Please help us make this Valentine's Day special, and raise earth a little closer to heaven by telling someone how much you love and appreciate them, today.

Peace and Love!

❣

❣

❣

❣

❣

(Hallmark! Anne cared enough to send the very best... lol!)

❣

❣

✯