Mindful exercise for the last day of the month

This is  good exercise when you are feeling scattered, tired,  and off balance.   It allows you to re-connect with the elemental quality of earthiness and strength within.  Doing this practice can ground you deeply in the present moment.

Stand or sit comfortably.

Breathe mindfully for a minute.

Set your intention.  For example, 'may this practice help me find inner strength."

Imagine you have seen the most beautiful mountain you have ever seen, either in person, or in a photograph.

As you visualize your mountain, let your body become the mountain.  Feel the same qualities of steadiness, unshakeableness, and majesty.

For the next few minutes, rest in your "mountain body."

Block out any thoughts, fears, worries, or other experiences around you., just as the mountain is unmoved by any weather patterns around it.

End by opening your eyes and moving gently.

This practice was written by Jeff Brantley.

The Yoke

"Come to me, all of you who are weary and find life burdensome; I will refresh you.  Take my Yoke upon my shoulders and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart.  You shall find rest because my Yoke is easy and my burden is light."  Matthew 11:  28-30

So, be one with Christ.  Be paired with him.  His yoke is sweet and light.

"“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls”

https://onsizzle.com/i/ah-my-child-come-take-up-my-yoke-my-yoke-16661711

The Good Things About Today

1.  a mindful 5 minutes
2.  a networking workshop at the NC Biotechnology Center in RTP
3.  Understanding how biotechnology has helped me over the past 10 years
4.  My wonderful neighbors, Sharon and Ted
5.  Someone finally came to fix the hole in my ceiling
6.  Having leek/pototao soup for dinner, so delicious, comforting, and filling
7.  hearing from my brother this morning
8.  a really cool dream just before I woke up:  that I was up in Virginia surrounded by cousins whom I'd never met before.  We were in an elegant old English inn, type of place.  The handsome guys (college age and older) were in maroon blazers.  The girls were dressed in a elegant fashion.  I got in the middle of the circle, looked around, and told them how impressed I was to be in the midst of so many family members.  I said I was looking forward to hearing about the ways we were alike, perhaps in our "brogue" (I used that word).  That dream left me with such a good feeling.
9.  A new interest has sprung up, the biotechnology field.  It's a fast-growing, fairly new field.
10.  Planning to go to Jaki Shelton Green's Documentary Poetry class at the Center for Documentary Studies.  Grateful that I might have a chance to!  I must get there early, and take the bus!

Five Mindful Minutes for Aug. 25, 2018

1.  Breathe mindfully for one minute.
2.  Set my intention and say out loud:  "may mindful attention to my body bring me greater health and serenity."
3.  Pay attention to my head, back, shoulders, hands, and feet.
4.  Relax for five minutes.

for today, I'm grateful that I got to church yesterday, that I did a little shopping and got my flu shot, all at the same time, that I got to see Morgan's race at Full Steam and laughed out loud at the costumes.

KHAJU BRIDGE

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khaju_Bridge

17th Century Bridge in Iran.  Mentioned in the book:  Rumi:  Bridge to the Soul

Powerful Brain

https://www.fastcompany.com/3032513/6-scientifically-proven-ways-to-boost-your-self-control


The prefrontal cortex is related to self discipline and delayed gratification.  Nurture it with good nutrition, enough sleep, and daily exercise.

Wonderful Things About This Day

1.  Taking care of myself by walking and stretching
2.  Brandon, my neighbor up the hill, whom I ran into on my walk to the woods.  Brandon is a mechanical engineer and went to A & T.  I told him the story of my Pilobolus workshop and he was mighty impressed.
3.  Protein smoothies
4.  A green smoothie with apple juice, kale and spinach juice, and blueberries
5.  A rice, kale, blueberry concoction.  Yum!
6.  Framing a couple of my poems and putting them on the wall.
7.  40 hz binaural beats
8.  Sending Nick's kids a photograph of Galloway cows.  Oh, how I miss them (the children!
9.  A brief rest
10.  Reading the "White Doe", written in 1901, about Virginia Dare.
11.  Not having to drive anywhere.
12.  Subtle grays in the apartment with the blinds closed to keep out the sun.
13.  Deep breaths.
14.  A feeling of accomplishment.

Today in History

On this date in 1587, Virginia Dare became the first child born on American soil.  The exact date was August 18, 1587.  Her parents were Anaies and Eleanor Dare.

In May, 1587, her Grandfather, John White, set sail from England for Roanoke Island.  Virginia was born .  Virginia was born several months later, in August.

Tragically, John White arrived to find that all the colonists had vanished.  The only clue he had was the word "Croatan"  written on a post.  Many surmised that the group had been killed by the Indians, however, to this day, no one knows for sure.

What could have happened to her?  Why did she vanish?

Sally Croughall Cotten penned a poem in 1901 about her thoughts on the disappearance of Virginia Dare.  It's called "The White Doe" and the story behind it can be found below.

https://www.ncpedia.org/culture/legends/virginia-dare

Meditation Really Does Work!

     Researchers at Wake Forest Hospital have shown that meditation can reduce anxiety.  

     Please click here for the full article:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130604114001.htm

Sepia

Sepia

by Dana Lee Stone

                                                             Sepia tones

capture his image

on the aerodrome in France

                                                  where he trained.

He smiles,

left hand placed

jauntily

on his hip.

Confident,

maybe a little cocky.

He was 19 that day.

Dropped out of U. Va.

to enlist in World War One.

This was the man who loved me fiercely.

The son

of a printer,

and a Southern belle.

Product of the Gilded Age

Before all hell

broke out

with the “war to end all wars.”

                             Smiling directly at the camera,

                                     eyes gleaming like the shiny steel

       of his Curtiss Jenny.

Dashing,

Handsome.

          This was my father,

veteran of the First World War.

           (and the Second).

     I want to know more

about him,

     but there are  so few letters.

All I have are

memories

of his stories

of France

 and the faraway places

in fairy tales he used to

  read to me before

   I went to sleep.

Father Christmas

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4I2ruyurXHvvUlkdH6TcAmUGhdZbVg7ViGCcEis12agsqkeQrhiSwpjjsmJHZunm9nICaicIDFxMYOvfROw2Qx_lqHounLnlFkI4HZVEkThb4pNSNTIkuw9iGinaOuquxNLEfEQ5IEZE/s1600/homecoming+1.jpg

Father Christmas is one of my absolute favorite Christmas books.

Herring Season in Sitka, March 28, 1984

Tonight after dinner, I decided to take you outside. It's herring season and there are huge fish processing boats in the sound near our house. They make a small spectacle at night but during the day look fairly impressive. We enjoyed the lovely night air for a while before a light rain started to fall. Yesterday, I learned that some is thinking about buying this house, meaning that we would have to move. I do not look forward to the prospect of re-locating, because I really like this apartment, especially the view of the ocean from the bay windows in the living room. I try to think of the things I don't like about the place, like the walk up Kelly Street, and the ramshackle appearance of the house from the outside. Also, the fact that I can't grow flowers or have a garden here.

I love the spacious living room and the warm glow that the hanging light creates. The positive points about moving, though would be having a larger bedroom for you, maybe buying a house, finding a healthier apartment (it's damp here), finding one with more friendly neighbors, and one where I could have a garden.

Left Side of Brain Throughts

Someone told me recently
that one of the requirements for
being a writer is unhappiness.
Unhappiness brings about
creativity
like the flowering of a lotus,
or gently falling rain,
or a whisper,
or a kiss.

On Meeting Marlon Brando at the Chapel Hill Library

The New Jersey accent is cool,
not to mention the plaid shirt,
grey hair, glasses, and jeans.
His manner is a little in-between
friendly and studious.

But helpful, yes, he answered my question.
"How far is it from Amherst to Brookline?
Do you think I'll have time
to see the home of Emily Dickinson?"

"Well, it's way over here,"
he replied, gesturing with both arms.
Half way across the state, apparently.

"Oh, you've been there?"
Yes, he had.  Even though he is from
New Jersey, home to Walt Whitman.
I've got to run.
But linger.
"Did you go to UNC?"

He did, not I.
Too many shots required,
like those for Hepititis C.
No, he doesn't have a library degree.
English, even better.
That means he appreciates poetry.

"So you live in Durham?  Where?"
"Downtown."  Me?  "Near Southpark Square."

Let the man take his break.
There is another place I have to be.
But let me see your face again, hear your voice,
you are beautiful to me.

David Rubinstein Library, Duke

     Yesterday, I took a walk on the West Campus and explored the new Rubinstein Library that recently opened.  There is an exhibit of Sidney Gamble's photographs and slides taken in China during the early part of the 20th century.  It is stunning!  The story goes that while Gamble was a graduate of Princeton, the library there did not show much interest in the collection.  Lucky for Duke!

     Apparently, Duke made inquiries about the materials, and Mr. Gamble's daughter, Catherine Curran donated the collection to Rubinstein Library.  The deal was sweetened by Duke's offer to digitize the photographs (there are over 5,000 of them) and they are available NOW on the library's website.

Ricksas is one of my favorites.

Bruce Springsteen and Richmond

     In 1971 or 1972, I remember Bruce Springsteen playing in Richmond.  I didn't see him, but I heard a lot of talk about it At one time, apparently, Springsteen considered moving to Richmond. His band played there about 30 times between 1969 and 1975.  The last time before they returned in 2015 was in 1975.  Then, the band was known as Steel Mill, which I distinctly remember my buds talking about.  I don't know why I didn't go to hear Springsteen.  I guess I was more attracted to Leo Kottke and Ry Cooder, who played at the notorious Mosque.

      Springsteen was on Fresh Air tonight and he gave a splendid interview, talking about his autobiography, just out.  I was impressed with how intelligent and articulate he was.  And sure, I regret not having seen him.  My minister did though, last year, near the Watt Street Grocery.  His daughter was a student at Duke then.  His daughter, an equistrian, represented the U. S. in the Olympics.

     Here's a link to the interview:  http://richmondmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/the-boss-is-back-in-town/   (from a Richmond magazine).

109 yr. old veteran

cigar smokin', still driven'!

90 day oa retreat in MA 10/18, Waltham

http://www.oambi.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Flyer-MBI-Retreat-Fall-Into-Recovery-2018-Updated.pdf

For Anglophiles Only

https://www.anglotopia.net/british-entertainment/brit-tv/living-foyles-hastings/

Location shots from beautiful Hastings, England from Foyle's War.

"There's a Sweet, Sweet Spirit"

This is a treasured African American hymn which was eventually published in the Methodist hymnal.

here's a history --

https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-sweet-sweet-spirit

A couple of years ago, Durham Presbyterian Church, had a project called "This is My Story."  The idea was for members of the congregation to pick their favorite hymn, then the band would play it.  My favorite hymn at the time was "This Is My Story" b/c my mother used to hum it.

In 2012,  my brother and I journeyed up to the Peaks of Otter in Virginia to lay my mother's ashes to rest.  The Peaks was my mother's favorite place as a child, and one of mine also.  We would hike up there with my cousins.

I wish my church would do the "This is My Story" again.  What a great way to get members involved -- speaking of which, we need to attract new folks to our church.

Here are the Imperials, singing "There's a Sweet Spirit"

Nice meeting Cherry today in the gym...she and her husband Vic just moved into Glenbrook...she's a hematologist at Duke, specializing in sickle cell anemia and other blood disorders.  I mentioned to her how wonder my docs had been last year.  She complimented my sunglasses and hearing the story behind them.  I got them at a Kwaanza Festival a couple of years ago, honoring Chuck Davis.  He was in a wheelchair and died a few years later, so sad.  But he was 83, and what a full life!  And a well loved figure in the Durham Community.

I believe he studied under Pearl Primus and founded the African American Dance Ensemble.

No Words

No Words

can capture the sadness

of a mother carrying her baby

dead

                    since birth

                                                           either  balancing the infant

                                                       on her head

                                                                                   or pushing it forward
                                                                                                to the surface.

Not even Aphrodite
could breathe life into
the little corpse

deep mourning
sets in
as other members of the family
take turns
supporting the burden

we can only watch
in stunned silence
from a distant shore


https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0249/1083/files/JPod_072918_FLD_20180729_235500_000.mp3?5879655354628321978   (audio of grieving whales)

https://www.boston.com/news/animals/2018/07/30/orca-carries-dead-calf-for-week-during-deep-grieving?s_campaign=bcom%3Asocialflow%3Afacebook