"For PEACE Sake"

Personality versus nationality

I was at a social function yesterday and there was a couple that had just come back from a Caribbean cruise.  One of the things that they said was very interesting.  They said they were fascinated that despite the fact that the passengers on that cruise ship were from various countries around the world, representing various ethnic races and cultures, there seemed to be goodwill and a congenial atmosphere among them all.

Would not our world be a beautiful place if we all could just put aside prejudices and judge people by  PERSONALITY rather than by NATIONALITY????   How nice it would be if we practiced "live and let live" and, (as long as people did not harm or take advantage of us - or anyone else) we could all treat each other with respect and dignity. That could  stop all the hatred and discord that is such a cancer in our world today. If only......... 

Meeting Life's Challenges

Confronting Challenges

Life is an endless journey

Of challenges and trials

Of countless opportunities

Strewn along those weary miles.

Sometimes we fail to see them

Or we choose to just ignore

The road signs that point the way

To wherein lies that store.

False dreams may be our blinkers

That detour us off the course

Alter our fate and fortune

And conceal that info source. 

If we cleared our minds just to grasp

Just opened our eyes to view

New prospects that await us

New directions to pursue.

A closed door holds no promise

Of happiness that we require

But capitalizing on opportunity

Brings the success that we desire!

So broaden your horizons

And examine every angle

Try each likely option first

Each tangle to finagle.

You may just find solutions

You never saw before

It may just spur you on to find

Ne passions to explore.

Appreciating Special Talents

Special Musical Talents

I was listening to a music station the other day and I was thrilled to come across a piece with some actual yodelling.   I have not heard yodelling in a long time, though I used to hear it often when I was growing up, back in our little farming community in rural Manitoba.  One of the neighbour boys could have yodelled his way through the Swiss Alps, he was so good at it.  I was always convinced he must have had a special multijointed tongue and very special vocal cords to be able to produce those unique and fascinating lilting musical sounds. I think all of us kids dreamed of being able to yodel like Rudy. I believe each and every one of us tried to imitate him – with absolutely no success at all. 

I recall the time I determined to try my luck at it.  To preserve my dignity and protect my reputation as a sane and at least somewhat intelligent persona, I had the good sense to test my capability in the barnyard with no human ears to pass judgement on my skill or lack thereof. Still, even there, the roosters hid their heads under wings in shame and the turkey gobbler almost killed himself laughing.  (He couldn’t yodel worth a darn either, but he did possess some unique skills which he utilized to do his "gobble, gobble, gobble" so he felt qualified to pass judgement.) 

Suffice it to say, I gave up trying to yodel after that, but I certainly learned to appreciate and admire that scintillating musical talent in others – and I still do to this day!

Survival

The Big Blow

I had never considered myself a dainty little woman (though I always envied the women who were). Born and bred on a farm and having lived on a farm till "75, I always rather considered myself somewhat more like a Clydesdale horse - strong and tough - able to withstand whatever nature threw my way.  But last Wednesday was a day of revelation for me.  Wednesday was the day of "The Big Blow" for us here in Edmonton (and apparently in other parts of our province as well. Some areas clocked winds up to 120 km.

Had I checked the weather, I would not have ventured out of the building, but I checked it out my window and it did not look that bad.  Well I simply boarded the bus like I always do and by the time I discovered how bad it was, I was downtown and half way to my destination so turning back was hardly an option.  As I stood there in a bus shelter waiting for my connection, I literally feared for my life as the shelter rattled and strained to maintain its position - and remain intact - against the force of those gale force winds.

I arrived home several hours later, still alive, still in one piece and thankfully unhurt, though I was shaking like a leaf from the sheer effort of walking the short distances between the bus stops and from the fear that I would not survive it.  I am not a "feeble old woman" but I certainly felt like one on Wednesday!!!!!

Ukrainians All

Happy New Year

To all Ukrainians out there.  (and all those that would like to be,) I wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!  May all your endeavors be fruitful, and may all your dreams come true!
May 2014 be the best year yet!!!!!!!!! 

Winter woes

Maintaining Balance

I’ve not been drinking horiwka

I have not been smoking pot,

I’m not  “under the influence”

Though I seem to stagger alot.

I’m not the least bit tipsy

Though I look like I can’t walk

It’s really not my fault at all

That I waddle like a duck.

My head is really screwed on right

It’s the iceman who lost his head

He forgot where t’was that people skate

And flooded the streets instead.

So we grumble at that iceman

As mutter #*&%$@ under our breath

We struggle to maintain our balance

In spite of the his wicked threat.

We slip and slide and wobble

As we strain to stay upright

We're still trying to be civil

But we're losing that darn fight!

.

Another Milestone

My Poetry in a Book

Finally received my poetry books.  Over the years, I have dabbled in poetry. Just simple purging of thoughts, ideas, emotions and just plain whimsy. Somehow poetry expresses thoughts and emotions so much better than prose, particularly when emotions are somewhat strong or intense. Poetry is "the great catharsis".

My poetry has been all over the place and last month, I  decided to collect it, sort it out, and get it published in book form.  The result is this little book of my poems. Shown, front and back covers. Another project completed!!!  Next project is finishing that novel that is still in progress.   (Honest, I am working on it!)
And perhaps even a sequel to "Secret In Her Heart" someday. Hey it doesn't hurt to dream, does it?!!!!

Titles

Redundancy of Titles

I was reading some material on the net today that really hit home with me. It was a bunch or “writers” responding to an editor who was trying to encourage them to write by infusing them with confidence in themselves. The gist of the message was that  you need to believe yourself “a writer” in order to become one. Most of the responders to the message had problems with calling themselves “WRITERS”.

Before I published, I, too, was reluctant to call myself a “writer”.  I feared being ridiculed because I felt it was too presumptuous of me. I have since published my books and I don’t know if that is the reason or if I am just now starting to see straight.  When asked what I do, I now can confidently say “I am a writer”. I don’t view it as some prestigious title or award. I am simply answering the query about what I do.  I write – consequently – I am a writer! No big deal. You lay bricks – you are a bricklayer. What is this thing about  titles??? Why are we so hung up about “titles” all the time? We do what we do – consequently we carry the label.  No biggie! Why do we intimidate ourselves by attaching so much importance to things that really do not matter at all in the grand scheme of things?

When I started writing, I did not know if I would publish, but my motto was “even if I never publish, at least I will have had a whole lot of fun trying!" And I did have fun! And it had absolutely nothing to do with pronouncing myself a “writer!” Let’s lighten up folks.  We’re all just people who do things--- and liking to do what we do is just icing on the cake! 

Happy New Year

Second Chances

"Out with the old and in with the new!"  This is the time for new beginnings. Whatever the old year has held, good, bad or otherwise, NOW is the time for a new beginning.  Here is your second chance!

A chance to do much better

A chance to start anew

A chance to aim for loftier heights

New victories to accrue.

A chance to dream, envision

New horizons far to view

New adventures to experience

New vistas to  pursue.

A chance for new beginnings

A chance to change a mind

To look toward a future

Not what we left behind.

To welcome each new dawning day

With a positive belief

All struggles in our lives will cease

And bring us sweet relief.

A chance to see a future bright

Glorious foresight to foresee

That life is ours to shape and groom

To what we wanted it to be!