Finding Time To Write

Finding Time To Write, and then What?

It took me a long time to check emails today, and I didn’t even get to writing the piece I earlier intended. A phone call at 11:30 ended my computer time. I would much rather talk to a real person instead of ‘working’ on the computer.

I was delighted to submit an article to the Pari Centre a month ago, for inclusion in its June newsletter. I contributed a few comments during the Q&A time during their sessions on Synchronicity. So now I have written an article entitled “Synchronicity, Risk, and the Tarot”. Once it appears, I will post it to this site.

I also am working on my memoirs, but I plan to write them primarily for my daughter. I doubt that other people will read the memoirs! However, it’s a good thing to occupy my mind during the pandemic. Besides, I am old. It will be part of my legacy for my son, daughter, grandkids, and great-grandkids. I would like to find other places to submit articles. Maybe even poems. Perhaps some of the songs I wrote for the Raging Grannies years ago.

I will keep trying. As my friend said on the phone earlier today, “It’s better than the alternative.” So we keep on carrying on.

The Sleeping Buddha

This book was written by Hamida Ghafour, a Canadian journalist who was born in Afghanistan. it is sub-titled ‘The Story of Afghanistan through the eyes of one family’. I had started to read it a few weeks ago. Then President Joe Biden announced last week that he was bringing the US. troops home from Afghanistan. It’s the end of a twenty-year commitment, and has been called by some to be war, by others rebuilding, by others an occupation. I knew my knowledge was incomplete, and largely informed by American news media. So i have finished reading it today, and I have learned a LOT! Hamida Ghafour was sent by a U.K. newspaper to report on the situation in Afghanistan in 2003.

For the next fourteen months, Hamida travelled in her native country, interviewing a wide diversity of people, meeting relatives barely known but often described by her parents, and describing the country after 25+ years and viewing the devastation. This complex land and its inhabitants are proud and gracious, determined to preserve their county despite foreign powers and wars. The first three chapters describe the history prior to invasions by Britain, Russia, and America. The Coalition of nations that commit to rebuilding the country face challenges that can only be understood after learning about the culture and history. An excellent read! Much to think about!

LEAST FAVOURITE THINGS

LEAST FAVORITE THINGS

A song about being old during a pandemic

By Sharon Montgomery

(tine: My Favourite Things)

Oh to be aging with Covid nineteen,  So many challenges often unseen,

Wearing a mask when you’re leaving the house!  I think it’s easier just to de-louse!

Then we could spray and be spared from the mask,

Why keep complaining? the younger folk ask,

You can stay home while you’re feeling frenetic,

Aren’t you just griping about this pandemic?

I wear hearing aids!  And my glasses fog.

Yes, it makes me mad. 

I know for some others it’s easy as pie.

But sometimes I want to cry!

Pulling the mask strings right over my ears

Tangles the aids that assist me to hear.

As I keep breathing while wearing the mask

Warm air escapes and it clouds up the glass.

I sewed four much longer ties at the corners.

But tying them tightly just makes me forlorner.

My hair is longer than it was before,

So the knots mess up my hair, that’s for sure!

So I stay home!  I don’t mind it.  I can phone a friend. 

We visit and chortle and maybe complain,

Until we can wait again! 

So many factors of aging are showing,

Arthritic knees need a cane to keep going.

 Sometimes I hobble when leaving the car,

I move quite slowly, and I don’t go far!

My doctor tells me I’m really quite healthy.

I would be happier if I were wealthy.

Pensions are welcome; they help me to live,

And some day callers won’t ask me to give!

I can stay home.  I don’t mind it.

I can read a book.

Sure I am eighty but I’m also wise

And Covid nineteen’s no prize!

Synchronicity

Today I attended a lecture presented by the Pari Institute, where Remo Roth describes theories about synchronicity. Very interesting! He affirmed my journey, and provided an explanation which has been difficult for me to understand previously. I have had so many instances of synchronicity in my life that I cannot deny its power and providence. Despite initial difficulties on accessing a zoom link, I persevered and contacted the Pari Center, receiving help and a link to attend the meeting. It appears that when I registered for this in January, it didn’t go through and the organization had no record of my attending. I shall continue to attend these lectures, as I learn a lot. For once I didn’t give up. I persevered.

Motivation To Write

This morning on The Morning Show (Global) I saw and heard a speaker talk about mental health in 2021. He had a few steps for living in ambiguous times like now. He talked about making plans, structuring your day into doable activities, and (most important to me) pursuing a hobby or passion. I realize that my initiation of a zoom talk-group is my pursuit of a passion. I joined yourtango.com last week, as it is an online publishing company (?) that seeks authors who will submit articles to their newsletter. It cost enough that it convinced me to take my writing more seriously, and to write in a more disciplined manner. Of course I have known for years that is my problem I easily give up and I don’t persevere. I make excuses for myself: I’m too old. I’m too tired. No one cares to read my thoughts anyway. Why bother? Why not just relax and read another book? Then I realized I need to update my websites, and post more regularly to them. I have learned a lot during this solitary time. My partner and I are both learning how to navigate during our senior years. I read books, and wish I had been writing blogs about each one. At least I could be promoting other writers, if not myself. Will this blog even appear on my website? It is a new format to posting.

Too much isolation?

This is the sixth month of self-isolation, and I am sure missing my former life.  Me and millions of other people, I’m certain.  There is no vaccine in sight, and I hear various opinions from friends who may or may not visit with me in person.  Outside in my back yard, that is.  Not in the house.  My bubble is small.  We did have two friends over for dinner on Saturday.  It was windy and noisy outside, so we ended up at the indoor table.  At least we were able to have a more spontaneous conversation!  No one knows when this will end, so I just have to accept the restrictions. I will try to remember to wear a mask whenever I go out.  I am better at hand-washing and keeping my distance.  Thank goodness I can still talk on the phone!

About Self-Isolation

Now … we have to become like  trees.

We cannot wander freely.

We need to stay on our own property.

We can receive from the sun, the rain,

The air, and the wind.

We nurture ourselves through the root.

We have to grow deeply … to learn what is true for us.

Time to stop doing.  Time to start feeling.

Grow deep.

So Many Books … now’s the time

With the need to self-isolate I have lots of time to read.  I have read about 20 books the last few months, and haven’t recorded them here.  But my latest book was a good read.  ‘Casual Vacancy’ by J.K. Rowling produced many different reactions as I read it.  It is emotional, and triggered my sense of politics and local meetings and activism and so many of my values…. it took me halfway through to just see the humour and enjoy it.  Definitely worth a read, and it reminded me what a good writer she is.  It’s not Harry Potter, for sure, but it looks at small towns in England with a universal eye.  Check it out!

Gratitude > Greed

Gratitude is greater than greed.

I have learned from Andrea that taking chemo has strong immediate reactions but good consequences.  Her last chemotherapy session was 10 days ago.  When I told her I thought it must be very hard for her, she said, “Oh no.  I’m grateful for it.”

Something like enforced self-isolation, it is short term pain.for long-term gain.

Pain: for not being able to  hug my partner.

Pain: for not being able to chat to a friend over coffee in a cozy cafe.

Gratitude for my partner.

Gratitude for my friend’s voice and words as I sit in my rocking chair with a cup of coffee beside me.  We laugh together!

Gratitude for a walk at my neighbourhood park,

Gratitude for living here, in my home and my city and my country. I am safe.

Gratitude for my life.

yet another lesson to my aging mind

I have tried to access this page with several different names, so I can include a link to interested people who have responded to my email on “my opinions”.  A few people have said they don’t do Twitter, other people have said they will phone me, and few want a link.  So my Twitter page will have mostly philosophical, spiritual, or political posts.  This page will have more personal posts, and is more likely to have photos and shares.   I hope this works!