Wednesday, November 23, 2005

"Go To Them Now"
6:04am

the white page, no longer white Somewhere, a continent is being formed from the islands of my mind. I will go to them now. JAL

Thursday, November 24, 2005

"On This Thanksgiving Morning"
6:19am

Thanksgiving day! Another holiday has come around, and wasn't it just a short while ago that the last Thanksgiving day happened?

What did I do that day? Oh, my god! That was the day I was only slightly puzzled that I couldn't reach my Mother. We went out to the new Harkins theater to watch Sideways, were nabbed by a news reporter for 'what we were grateful for', and then out to Yuma Landing for delicious barbecued ribs. I was only oddly puzzled that I wasn't able to reach my mother, and hoped she had a good time.

Then next day, I got the horrible message:

"I called my brother. Thursday, he'd called Mother at noon to make plans to pick her up for Thanksgiving. Mom said she didn't feel well, and wasn't up to going. Then at 3:30pm he got a call from my mother's neighbor. She found my mother fallen on the ground at the foot of the steps to her back door. It was snowy, and maybe she slipped. Or maybe she had the stroke first and then fell."

Then it was hurried plans to get back to the birthplace for the funeral.

"I wish she'd have hung on one more year. I'd have made it up there, I would have. I feel so bad."

But she didn't. So I was going there instead for the funeral.

It was so unexpected. Yet maybe it shouldn't be. All the time, if I watch the news, I hear of one celebrity or another who has died. The fragileness of our existence comes home to us in varying ways all the time. Yet inbetween these times, a sort of numbness settles in.

I worry so often over petty, trivial things. In so doing, I lose the bigger picture. I will endeavor not to do that.

I pause now to remember my Mother, and thank her spirit for the gift of life. I pause now to remember all my loved ones who have passed on: my Gramma, my Dad, the other grandparents I didn't get to really know, because they died when I was young and other friends and family, a list that is getting longer, the more I get older. And, of course, I remember my Dear Laura.

If she were alive, this house would be filled now with the smell of baking turkey. She liked to do it that way, cook it in the night. We always had an early turkey teaser. Oh, the meat was so juicy and tasty. Neither Julia nor I cook turkeys. Oh, I miss my dear Laura! But I'm grateful for the years we had. Nothing can take away what we did share, as long as I can remember those days. Fortunately, I have a few little words gathered here in these websites to cue me.

"Stars fade like memory the instant before dawn. Low in the east the sun appears, golden as an opening eye. That which can be named must exist. That which is named can be written. That which is written shall be remembered. That which is remembered lives . . ." - from the Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead.

That which is remembered, LIVES. That is comfort to me on this Thanksgiving morning.

Thursday, November 24, 2005

"On This Thanksgiving Evening"
9:30am

After writing today's earlier entry, I went back to bed and slept a nice long while...

Should I do the laundry now, or clean up the table behind me?

I will clean up the table by getting rid of the huge mound of catalogs we've collected. Oh, one has an intriguing picture of a colorful Hawaiian shirt on the back. Need I say more?

I sent for two of the expensive things, in lightweight lawn cotton, perfect for our wretched heat. I'll be having a 'Santa Cruise' and a 'Jungelaya' in a couple of weeks or so.

I WILL just throw the rest of the catalogs out...

6:36pm

Well, that makes it easy. I wiggled the mouse and the wiggly screensaver disappeared to reveal my journal, right in place for the typing.

We went to Mandarin Palace for Thanksgiving dinner. I loaded up on prime rib, turkey, and mashed potatoes. I did have some veggies, too, and an egg roll, while Julia had a sushi bonanza and lots of shrimp. I was moderate and quit before I got too full, though.

I've been a bit excessive in the sweet treats lately, but that TIGHT blouse I wore Monday is wearing on my conscience. (It's tight around that, too.) As for the new blouses, I figured the XL would be safe, because lightweight lawn cotton isn't too annoying if it's too large. Not that I'm planning on expanding to fit them.

We had time to kill between the meal and the movie, so I suggested a short walk in the West Wetlands Park. They've made some improvements since we were there last. Standing before the Colorado, it seemed like I was watching time go by. "You can't step in the same river twice," some ancient Greek said. Yes, more determination not to 'waste time'.

And then the movie, Pride and Prejudice. it was WONDERFUL! Perfect in every way. The actors really do well. Mr Darcy really looks at Lizzie with love. That's how a 'chick flick' SHOULD be! Julia loved it too, and described it as a rich chocolate to be savored over time.

When I got home, I did make a point to call Laura's mother, for which we are both glad. She's feeling quite a bit better these days, which is good.

Oh! I didn't mention the 'fortune cookie oracle'. Mine said, "A kind word will keep someone warm for years." Maybe that's true, and maybe I can do a small part of that. I might lack other social skills, but I can do these small things, and as such, it will make me feel good to do them.

7:49pm

I've pulled up the 'official' UK movie site, and looked at the photo gallery. I had in mind to do one of the beautiful Lizzie and handsome Mr Darcy, but the image of her father, as played by Donald Sutherland, appealed to me for some reason:

I've really enjoyed this day, and I hope you, dear reader, have enjoyed yours!

Saturday, November 26, 2005 A

"Weirdly Amusing"
12:35am

I did a new automatic drawing tonight, and I found an amusing placement for it in my gallery. I put the Timid Man after Book Like A Door:

Book Like A Door

Timid

The studious person is perusing a 'book like a door'. Then the timid man is about to enter a 'door like a book', (The numbers 411 on the door give clue that information will be gained.) However, in the next sequence, he discovers a rather frightening clown. He goes from being scared to being terrified and then makes a run for it, getting himself very LOST!

Stop By Here

Lost!

Maybe it's the lateness of the hour, but I'm finding that oddly amusing. Or is it just because I'm odd?

(Note of March 25, 2007)
If you look closely, you'll see these four pictures are no longer placed in the Intuitive Galleries, but I've preserved them here.

Saturday, November 26, 2005 B

"Decorate Like An Egyptian?"
7:01pm

An event entirely unpredecented in my 47 years of life happened today: We ran out of toilet paper! Needless to say, as soon as the last roll was unreeled to the bare cardboard, we had to leave to go shopping. I had other things to get, anyhow. I think the most important essentials have been taken care of.

Julia was off yesterday, while I had to work. But she thought of me. She felt an urge to go to the Upscale Resale shop near us. While there, she saw a lovely marble obelisk and knew I'd love it, being it's Egyptian. She lugged the heavy thing back all the way back in her soft little hands. It's so heavy I can bearly budge it, as it's nearly 17 inches high (40cm). It's now to the right of Pluto and his reluctant Lady, and behind the Chinese dragon:

I also got my small red "Set, Great of Strength" on the wall. As the original sketch was only 3 inches big, I couldn't manage a full size version. I even had to tweak the picture so it would fit in a 5"x7" frame. But I'm pleased with it now: