Different Amercian Dreams?

Is your Amercian Dream
that of:
health
wealth
continuing traditions
good friends
close family
and home sweet home?




Or:


helping others
sharing what you have with those who have-not
educating others
using your strength to build for those who are weak
trying to heal
feeding the hungry?




Or:
hoping your offspring
grow to achieve more than you
and live prosperous lives?




Or:
using your skills to create
music
art
beautiful structures
more efficient inventions
your own business?




I'm waiting...
Let me know.
M

What is the American Dream?

Travel to distant lands?


Or living in wide open places?



Or your own hometown?
M

The Amercian Dream - Contest!

In the 1980's when J & I were first married,
we both believed
our American Dream
consisted of:
2 jobs
2 cars
buying "the first house"
and filling the house;
(from garage - to basement -
to main level - to attic)
with furniture
dishes
a large TV/stereo
sporting goods
gardening/lawn tools
"hobby supplies"
camping gear
several kitchen appliances
seasonal decorations
and lots of clothing.
Which worked for about 20 years.

J commented a few days ago
that we have "let go" of that description.

Our new American Dream:
Rent, don't own.
Simplify clothing, hobbies, tools,
appliances, decorations.
Enjoy other things.
Repeat daily.




As you know I LOVE comments on my blog:
What is your American Dream?
Or your (insert other country here) Dream?

I will sponsor a contest:
Email me, or comment at this blogsite
with your American Dream response.
Comment with your name - sorry, no anonymous replies!
Contest now through May 15th.

J & I will be judging all entries.
Multiple entries from the same person
will be allowed and encouraged.
Written submissions, photographs, and
photos of artwork will all be allowed.
Bribes, unfortunately, will not be allowed.
All ages encouraged to compete.
The winner (and all other entries)
will be posted,
and a "Lovely Santa-Fe Prize"
will be presented/sent to the winner.

Let the contest begin.
M

Magic

About a year ago
I decided that J & I
"have magic"
when it comes to:
finding lost items
getting things done
adventure travel
being lucky with a really old car
having close family ties
enjoying good health
catching & releasing hummingbirds
being comfortable with simple
finding what we need
knowing what we want
and being lucky.

Well the good news is;
All those crossed fingers may have
done the trick.

The not-so-magic news is;
our little red car
(just shy of 300,00 miles...)
aka "mouse"
is sick and is visiting a mechanic.




We have magic.
Everything will be OK.
M

Crossing Fingers

The custom of burying St. Joseph
to assist with the sale of a home...





(Excerpts from the booklet:
"St. Joseph The Worker...
Sell Your Home With the Help of St. Joseph the Worker!"
edited by Mark Etling)

<< The custom of burying a statue of St. Joseph
in the yard of one's home at the time of sale is now common.
Its origins, however, are somewhat obscure,
and at least two possible explanations are offered.
Some say the statue should be buried upside down
to symbolize that St. Joseph is being challenged to answer
the seller's prayer quickly so that he won't stand
with his head in the dirt for too long...
Another, more popular story has it that St. Teresa of Avila
(1515-1582)... prayed to St. Joseph for more land for Christian converts.
St Teresa encouraged her fellow Carmelite nuns
to bury St. Joseph medals in the ground as a symbol of their devotion,
consecrating the ground to St. Joseph.
Eventually this custom evolved to the point where
statues were used instead of medals.>>

A few pointers:
-Most people bury the statue upside down
in the yard of their property.
-Face the statue toward the front door of the home.
-The most common location for the statue
is the front yard, usually near the "For Sale" sign.
-Have faith, and pray for St. Joseph's intervention.

What we did:
First: One 4-inch statue, is buried upside-down
near where the "For Sale" sign is located.
Second: The statue (or what is left of it...
Long story- won't go into it now...), is facing the door.
Third: Invited "a religious person" to assist with the prayer/ceremony,
and recited:
" Let us pray. Almighty God,
through you all things are possible.
Grant us now, in your loving mercy
and through the intercession of St. Joseph,
your help in finding a family to purchase,
live in, and care for this home.
We ask this in the name of Jesus,
the Lord, Amen."

I have since repeated this prayer
several time in the first week following our move,
and about once a week since then.

Cross your fingers
St. Joseph is working...
M

Jabba the Pizza Dough

Pizza Dough:
a very large lump of pizza dough
on a sidewalk
in the middle of the afternoon
in Santa Fe...




Jabba The Hut
in a galaxy far far away...




Similarities?
Coincidence?
Same guy?
Yes, I think so, too.
M

Baby, I'm Amazed

I'm amazed:
-at friends who have taken
four foster children into their
previously-childless lives,
with hopes of future adoption.

-at two friends in different parts of the country
who were unhappy;
have gotten divorces,
and now seem
happier and brighter
than I've ever known them to be;
with new lives,
new jobs,
and new men
who strive to make them happy.

-at my daily gaze on mountains
in all directions
within my view
at the post office,
or the grocery store.
or my job,
or my back door.

-at meeting friends of friends
and enjoying
our first time together
with a feel of;
wow, this person
is also
"Good People" .

-at laughing so hard
my stomach hurts
tears run down my face
and I want more of
this
everyday.

-at jellybeans;
sour
tangy
fresh
multi-colored
only-in-the spring
multi-vitamins of choice.

-at my Mom
who is
87
today,
and who "digs" her flowers
in her front yard
in her side yards
in her backyard
and throughout her house,
who feeds and waters
the wild birds outside
everyday,
who still subscribes to
"National Geographic"
and "Audubon",
who enjoys
sparring
over opinions
at her monthly
book-club meetings,
and still hates to cook,
but isn't afraid
to eat a Hostess pie
(individual-sized and
grip-sized)
while she drives
and then only complains,
"the steering wheel
was really
sticky
by the time I got home".

-at my life
and how lucky I am;
being amazed
every day.
M

Cottonwood Dance (#26)

Cottonwoods curving near
long red grasses;
both guarding irrigation streams
on sacred native lands.
Passing evenly-plowed
tidy plots of land
in the shadows
of the Santa Ana Mesa,
waiting
for sun
for warmth
for spring
for planting.
Cattle and horses
graze on rounded tufts
of green
while the
silver-edged
cottonwoods
dance
near the water.


(Please note;
photography
on native lands
is not permitted.
This photo was taken
near Tesuque.)

Spring in Santa Fe (#25)

After six inches of snow -
over one inch of ice
two days ago...

Ahhhhh spring.
M

Railrunner - Santa Fe & Bernalillo (#24)

Our first trial run on the Railrunner passenger train
The pride and joy of New Mexico.

Short trip today;
Santa Fe to Bernalillo, NM.
(population in 2003: 6,986)








Late lunch at The Range Cafe in Bernalillo
(Mary, you were right - the food was great!)





Wandered around the town for a few hours
and then a quick train ride home.





Score for the Railrunner experience?
Great! I just wish it ran on Sundays, too...



M

Tax Cat/Potsticker Cat (#23)

Luna
at her best:

Fine dining



Helping with taxes


Good cat.

#22

I'm too tired to think.
Wait, maybe not:

Marty's Universal Truths
About Being A Patient
In A Hospital:

****Caution!!!
The term "crap" is used
in this blog.
If you could be offended by
the term "crap",
please read no further.
****Secondary Caution!!!
The term "butt" is
also used -
beware!


Rule #1
Have family & friends who will visit
who are not afraid
of hospitals
or nurses
or doctors
or (possibly)
seeing your bare butt...
Make sure one or two of them
are by your side most days.
Remind friends
to let you sleep
whenever you are tired.
You are not there to
entertain them -
or they - you.

Rule #2
Post a calendar/clock
where you can see them at all times.
Mark off each day - yourself!
Keep a journal of
timely events;
such as types of medicine
and times for medicine
and the name of your daily nurse
the phone number of your room
your doctor's name
"unknown" terms to be checked later,
and start a list of
your dream foods to be enjoyed with freedom.

Rule #3
Question the doctor
about your medicines
when you can get rid of that **** catheter
about your tests
when you get your freedom,
and work very hard for
that freedom.

Rule #4
Do not put up with any crap.
Be firm, be strong, and
decide what treatment
works best for
YOU
-not your doc
-not your nurse
-not your friends/family,
-you.

Rule #5
Be careful of hospital food.
Sick people eat that stuff.
Check with your nurse;
I bet a friend can bring in food...
Enough said.
If hospital food tastes good...
You need more medicine,
because you are still sick.

Rule #6
(If they deserve it;)
be nice to your nursing/therapy staff.
Try.
They want you
back home
as much as you do.

Rule #7
Bring whatever you need:
Good slippers.
A nice robe.
Several good books.
A radio/CD player.
Lotion of choice.
Your own toothpaste/brush.
Stuffed toy?
Whoopie cushion?

Rule #8
Please shut off the TV
and keep it off.
Convince your roommate of the same.
TV will
suck your brains out
if given half a chance...

Rule #9
Get outside if at all possible.
even if it is raining.
Or snowing.
Rain/snow won't kill you -
stale air might.

Rule #10
Do everything
in your power
to stay out of hospitals.
They are not fun.
If you find yourself in one;
get better
and get out.

M

#21

What would YOU do if you knew you would not fail?

(Comments from #21):

Silver Fortress said:

Hurray for leaps of faith! You and John are keeping it real - very inspiring!
-NMT

Mercia said:

What a beautiful reply!

What a beautiful life!!!

(We all miss you both in France. Keep enjoying and exploring life in the Southwest:)

Globalgal said...

Really lovely! This is how I feel about my last few years. Thanks for the opportunity for happy reflection!

Your turn!
Comment or email me
and share your thoughts;
of what you would do....

If you send the thoughts
I will post them all!
M