Monday

“Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth”
 

 Pema Chodron

 

Saturday

Ali McGraw on LOVE

"I've found that love resonates enormously differently with age.

 For many of us,

the young version is just the tip of the iceberg.

It's all wrapped up with heat and excitement,

and enough trashy literature and TV to completely shortchange

the bigger picture of what it means with time.

The definition for me has become the ability to be nonjudgmentally, compassionately, forgivingly connected to others.

It's like the great John Lennon song 'All You Need Is Love.'

Damn right.

To live in the possibility of behaving toward all living things

with love is going to determine our survival as a planet.

But let me be clear: The early version—the fall off a cliff,

what is he thinking, when is he going to call feeling—

is really fun.

Some of us never let go of wanting a hit of that.

Love is bigger than that, but it's not instead of that.

And it's a piece without which life is a little grayer."

"Begin doing what you want to do now.

We are not living in eternity.

We have only this moment,

sparkling like a star in our hand

 and melting like a snowflake."

  ~ Francis Bacon

Venice

Sunset Hike

The Kitchen

The focal point of my family home was the kitchen so not surprisingly it is a familiar backdrop in many family photos.   Its transformation charts the passage of time and domestic trends -- rotary to push button, formica to butcher block.  In 1968, the set of Revere Ware pots appeared on the wall, and remained through out the decades like a cherished metal sculpture. The copper bottoms required special attention, polished with a specific cleanser and dried immediately to avoid staining.  In the second to the last picture, the pots are 34 years old, and as pristine as the day they were unwrapped in 1955 at my parents' engagement party.  Although I don't have a photo to prove it, they are in the same condition today.  Perhaps 60 years ago, products were manufactured to last longer, but I also believe it is the care we gave them.  My mother cherished them, and by default we did too.  I roughly calculated that over 20,000 meals have been cooked with these pots and pans, and they are not close to being replaced.

The Art of Kissing

Mad Men

My 40s

This recently published NY Times  article about being in your 40s

is making the rounds in social media.

It's a topic I've been thinking about a lot lately.

In this decade I've gained wisdom, and perspective while my youth faded further into the distance.

I'm more balanced because my life has more balance.

I've taken big risks, and they have served me well.

I'm grateful for my courage, clarity, and conviction.

The depths of my friendships continue to anchor me.

My aspirations are as strong as they were 25 years ago.

I feel whole.

There are no compartments where I separate my personal life from my profession one.

I have one wardrobe. 

My dreams are as vibrant and detailed as when I was young.

There is so much more I want to achieve and experience.

Will there be enough time?

The alternative would be for my life to be behind me instead of beckoning me to move forward

with excitement and awe.

Stormy Oscar Weekend

Glorious Rain