Here and Now...What's Happening?

[A Voice from the Mountains]

Posted by Dennis Leahy (here)
I'm suggesting that we never lose sight of our deep and abiding love and compassion for one another. It's our foundation, our glue, our nucleus. Don't ever forget. :~)

I second that.

Someone was posting earlier about how certain other people were so much better than her in this and that way. Compliments are nice to give sometimes but I hope everyone here remembers that no one is truly better than anyone else.

We all have our own blessings and challenges and everyone is here to learn something. No one is better than anyone else. I just posted this in some other thread too, but none of you are better than me, I'm not better than any of you, and none of you are better than each other. And I hope you all love yourselves too because you can't really love anybody else if you aren't able to really love yourself first. Then we can treat each other with more respect.

As equals.

[Mikelodium]

My beloved aunt Pilar past away this early morning.

Here and now, with my heart full of tears and sorrow, I want to share with you villagers this wonderful song.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=-J6PPkKBXoU

Where did we come from?
Why are we here?
Where do we go when we die?
What lies beyond
And what lay before?
Is anything certain in life?

They say "Life is too short"
"The here and the now"
And "You're only given one shot"
But could there be more
Have I lived before
Or could this be all that we've got?

If I die tomorrow
I'd be alright
Because I believe
That after we're gone
The spirit carries on

I used to be frightened of dying
I used to think death was the end
But that was before
I'm not scared anymore
I know that my soul will transcend

I may never find all the answers
I may never understand why
I may never prove
What I know to be true
But I know that I still have to try

If I die tomorrow
I'd be alright
Because I believe
That after we're gone
The spirit carries on

"Move on, be brave
Don't weep at my grave
Because I'm no longer here
But please never let
Your memories of me disappear"

Safe in the light that surrounds me
Free of the fear and the pain
My questioning mind
Has help me to find
The meaning in my life again
Victoria's real
I finally feel
At peace with the girl in my dreams
And now that I'm here
It's perfectly clear
I found out what all of this means

If I die tomorrow
I'd be alright
Because I believe
That after we're gone
The spirit carries on






May Gaia take care of you, Pilar. I love you so much.

[araucaria]

So sorry to hear about your aunt Mikelodium. I am not very good at comforting words, but you are in my compassionate thoughts listening to your music..

[Natalia]

I'm sorry to hear about your aunt, Mikelodium

For the true and genuine care and kindness that has been shown to me here in this thread, I thank you.

I don't belong here, and that's not really a personal thing, it just is.

I want to leave it with the love that is in my heart, and remembering the good that is in all of us. So I am going to do a meditation on that in a minute.

We are all god's children (I'm not religious, but I believe that).

[Stephanie]

Material as I am, I know that I am born for a day.
But when I follow at my pleasure the serried multitude of the stars in their circular course,
my feet no longer touch the earth.
Ptolemy

Wings of light and love, and a crown of stars, for dearest Pilar.
All my blessings, Mikelodium.

[Violet]

Posted by Iarmhéid (here)
I just wanted to say I'm 'back' sort of, as time allows - I've been abroad teaching English in China... a very difficult experience for someone who loves nature, clean air and sunshine... so much so I cut my contract short. I 'needed' money.. but now I've found new appreciation of such basic things, and a deep feeling of grief for what is being stolen from the children of that corner of the world... such basic things we take for granted..

I'm actually very lonely now I'm back in England. There are few to discuss matters of earth and spirit with here, and I hope I can find some friendships here. Soon I will venture to N.Ireland, Spain and Portugal, perhaps I can find some Avalon folk from these countries. :-)

I knew a girl. She only returns to Belgium when the money runs out Then she works some temporary jobs, collects enough money and plunges back into the African greens/deserts/.... Up and off. Unfortunately (I find), she doesn't make much notes (says she's not much of a writer), she has the most beautiful and poetic stories...

I read some of your poems too, a while back. Although I don't remember them well enough to trace any travel experience processing.

Paula still clearing snow is pretty fascinating from here:



(Yea, windows need cleaning again)

A big week's time.





My condolences, Mikelodium.

[RunningDeer]

Posted by Violet (here)
Paula still clearing snow is pretty fascinating from here:

Attachment 29458Attachment 29460
(Yea, windows need cleaning again)

A big week's time.

Purty tulips, Violet. No flowers yet. Happy to finally see the brown and green grasses.

Yesterday, the landlady’s hubby plowed down the rest of the springtime piles of snow so they’d melt in the above freezing daytime temps. It snowed last weekend but that 3-4 inches/7-10 cm was nothing by comparison to the winter’s non-stop bombings.

Alls that’s left around town are the really big piles of dirty snow, the salty dust and sand and bits of litter that got trapped this past winter. The highway crews are beginning to shovel and recycle the sand.

Been up since 3:30 a.m. filled with Christmas morning excitement. Today will top off at a sunny 66F/18C degrees. I’m going for a walk in state forest. The river will be loud and icy cold.

This past week was the catch and release program for my ladybug friends. I scoop them up with a dixie cup and gave them one last ride to the outside deck rail.
“Thanks for the hospitality,” they said as they flew off.
“Be careful out there,” I tell them. “See you in the fall.”

<3

[RunningDeer]

Posted by Mikelodium (here)
My beloved aunt Pilar past away this early morning.

Here and now, with my heart full of tears and sorrow, I want to share with you villagers this wonderful song.

Mikelodium, sorry for the loss of Aunt Pilar. It happened fast. I’m trying to find a bright side. At least your second mother figure (if I recall correctly) didn’t suffer with long, drawn-out pain.

Speaking of pain…there’s only a couple more weeks before for your first hip surgery. (Trying to figure what to write for the next line here.) I got a nothin’. So I’ll leave you with a teddy-bear hug.

And one for Aunt Pilar.

[RunningDeer]

And a Kitty Bear hug for Ulli.
))squish, squish((

Posted by Playdo of Ataraxas (here)
Compassion and mercy. Harumph! Thanks Ernie and 1InMany, as a Capricorn, I will take your hugs!
If you want love, be willing to give it when you don't think you're getting it. Ho'oponopono.

Right now I'm asking Universe for hugs! Mucho abrazos amigos y amigas!

So it is…
mushy hug for the Playdo.
))squish, squish((


And for the Villagers
))squish, squish((


And Guests
))squish, squish((

[Mikelodium]

Thank you so much for the kind words, villagers.

Paula, you are right. She was like a second mother, we shared so many things and we were neighbours too. Fortunately she did not suffer, the worst part happened in a few days. I can't believe it yet... I'm planning to plant an Holm Oak in the mountain with part of her remains next weekend. She loved our island and our mountais as I do.

And yes, my first hip surgery is near, hope all goes well. I'm a bit scared because never faced a surgery before.


Hugs for all of you, villagers.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=nrTt0daF1Ak

[ulli]

View from my bed this morning...still a lingering cloud.
But the plants are happy, they enjoyed the recent rains.

[Natalia]

Flash, ulli, Marianne,

I see that we have clashed at times and more so lately, but I care about you all, maybe you all care about me to.

Sometimes misunderstandings happen, and clashes, and triggers, as well as boundaries being crossed.

I mean no harm and don't want to hurt anyone, and in all of our hearts and higher self, I am sure that we all don't.

If we are not going to be buddy-buddy we can at least be respectful to one another, and forgive each other.

Peace and love

[Wind]

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=CLEtGRUrtJo

[Selkie]

This afternoon I went to a fine restaurant and had a lovely, very rare filet mignon and got a little drunk

[Selkie]

Posted by ulli (here)
View from my bed this morning...still a lingering cloud.
But the plants are happy, they enjoyed the recent rains.

You know, don't you, Ulli, that these scenes are practically surreal in how astoundingly verdant they are

[RunningDeer]

Posted by Silkie (here)
This afternoon I went to a fine restaurant and had a lovely, very rare filet mignon and got a little drunk

And I got drunk on Mother Nature in the State Forest a couple of miles from where I live. A powerfully regenerative place. Her music touches me deeply. Enjoy!

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=cc_dxLWTujI

[Selkie]

I don't mean anything nearly that refined!

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=NVY75G7Qu-Q

an addition
I also had a wonderful, far-ranging conversation with the bartender, a really awake and aware younger (than me) man. A very enjoyable afternoon, all around

[Ernie Nemeth]

Paula:

That reminded me of when my son pulled a temper tantrum in the store. I invited him to get louder because it was he that everyone was looking at. I pointed to some of the understanding folks who became instant aunties and uncles for those couple of moments that felt like an hour.

Reminded me of a similar incident at a restaurant when my daughter was four years old. She fell to the ground yelling and screaming and carrying on. I scooped her up and headed back to the car where I placed her in the back, turned her around and slapped her on her backside. Then I told her now she had a reason to cry. She never had another tantrum again.

But I like your solution far better - wish I'd thought of it at the time.

Although I'm not sure the other patrons would have been as understanding as your store shoppers were.

[ulli]

People, I am soo tired after the latest Natalia Show that I want to say my farewells, at least as a writer.
I might still send the odd picture. Progress with garden work, etc.

Her attack against me was so unwarranted, and it left me drained and depressed.
I just re-read my offending "harsh" posts and was reminded of how much care I actually took when composing them, to not sound condescending at the time, but in view of the fact that she sent those provocative underwear photos of herself, hugging her teddy bear, I felt my responses deserved a medal for self-restraint.

I wish you all well. Someone else can take over from here.
Long live The Village.

[RunningDeer]

Posted by ulli (here)
People, I am soo tired after the latest Natalia Show that I want to say my farewells, at least as a writer.
I might still send the odd picture. Progress with garden work, etc.

Her attack against me was so unwarranted, and it left me drained and depressed.
I just re-read my offending "harsh" posts and was reminded of how much care I actually took when composing them, to not sound condescending at the time, but in view of the fact that she sent those provocative underwear photos of herself, hugging her teddy bear, I felt my responses deserved a medal for self-restraint.

I wish you all well. Someone else can take over from here.
Long live The Village.

Dear Ulli,
I vote we ALL take care of the Village.
I vote you take some time for yourself and join in when you are refreshed.
I vote don't be so hard on yourself.

I think most folks are the hardest on themselves.

))squish, squish, squishy hug((

Love,
Paula <3