Back to Spirituality, the Hippie Way

I was watching Wife Swap the other night, the husband version. I suppose you could call it Husband Swap but I don't recall that they did so I won't either. The big, bad, biker Dad was to swap lives for a week with the communal living, hippie Dad. And it hit me then as I was watching the celebration of the turn of the seasons in the commune. I'm part hippie. I am a flower child repressed. I watched the show intently to gleam bits of communal living information. I could so easily see myself fitting into a place like that.

It wasn't so much an anarchistic society, rejecting establishment or organization. When some people think of a commune, they may think of free love and drug use. While certain communes practiced these acts, many had strict rules to abide by when it came to such matters. In essence, it was the notion that the void of capitalism (the gimme-gimmes, greed, self-serving idealization) could be filled with something more interpersonal. A society that relied on one another. A society dedicated to creating and controlling the environment their children were to be raised in. Working for a common greater good.

Communal living is uncommon, but basic principals still remain. Neighbors help neighbors, they don't just pop in when they need something. Sometimes resources are pooled for common purposes within the community. There's a chore list that is passed around and neighbors take turns completing tasks to better the community. They recycle and compost, garden and thank Mother Earth for her bounty. They ride bikes when at all possible...that would totally bring me back to my youth! They practice yoga. And heaven forbid, no television except for maybe the occasional news program once the kiddies are in bed. Can you honestly imagine a world where our children's minds aren't being turned to mush by the hum and incessant chatter of a television? I am impressed that the television does not become the entertainment, or the baby-sitter. Taken altogether, it doesn't sound that bad. In fact it sounds delightedly HEALTHY.

It's back to nature and spirituality all at once. I would get back to the land. I would dawn overalls that my neighbor so lovingly hand-stitched and I'd paint her shed in return. I would dig in the damp dirt of my own garden. I'd grow carrots and corn and potatoes. Maybe even butternut squash. Afterwards, I would prepare the feast gifted to me by Mother Earth and I'd invite friends over to share it with. I would be content to serve my children things I could guarantee were nothing but pure and healthy for their bodies. After dinner I could sit down and color with my children, maybe craft a few of my own soy candles or settle into a few yoga poses. Later I'd fall asleep content that I went another day preserving the beauty of the Earth for my children, and theirs, and theirs too. But more importantly I would be at peace with what my children were learning about taking care of people around them...that contrary what culture feeds us, love IS enough.

Signing off,
Dancing Daisies Disguised

Big City Dreamin'

These letters make me feel like I'm walking down the street of a city much more lively than my own. The letters of my town are small and dull and desert-colored. They reek of russian olive. Spell your words out in photo letters at Spell with flickr. Thanks for sharing Tess.

Color Blind

Heredity gives us many things, some of which we aren't so found of. For example, my husband's temper and the increased odds he will someday be afflicted with cancer. I've got my father's skinny toes and height. I can only hope the boys got the so-called "good genes." Tyler is laid-back like my Dad, but he hasn't been so lucky when it comes to his vision. He's got poor eyesight, and we are coming to learn he's color blind on top of that. He can thank his Grandpa for that! The school nurse told us today that it's something we should inform each of his teachers of so color activities won't frustrate him in the future. So far he's shown no indication in class that his eyes were a trouble to him in any way. He performs above expectations. His teachers were shocked to learn of his eye troubles, but thanks to heredity- we weren't. It just wasn't something we actively seeked information about. Unfortunately, it looks like not much can be done. 8% of men have color vision difficulties, while just 0.5% of women will have to deal with it.

If you are interested, test your color vision here!

I'm Starting to Wonder

What is wrong with me? Or maybe I should be looking at what ISN'T wrong with me to explain why I haven't been blogging lately. A recent article published in Computer Shopper magazine claims that nearly half of 600 bloggers surveyed reported blogging as a form of therapy. The article is appropriately titled "Are Blogs Freud for the 21st Century?" should you want to check it out. 31% of bloggers surveyed claimed that in stressful times they write in their own blogs or read blogs of people in similar situations, rather than choosing counseling. I'm one of them, and it's working, hence my need to blog lessens in times of contentedness! Technorati.com has estimated the number of blogs double every five months. To add another number to the mix, I came across this tidbit of useless information- 1 blog is started per second. Wowzas! What would Freud have to say about that?

This may not be what you want to read today

If you came here in search of a jovial blog entry, you might want to close out this page. Maybe you came seeking a laugh or holiday sentiment; there's still time to go. If you came seeking words of wisdom, today I have none. My cousin's wife is burying her Mother today. So my blog entry is about death and if it's a little gloomy or disheartening, you've been advised.

I'm trying to do myself a favor and make death a less-taboo subject. I want to be comfortable with the thought of leaving this earth when it's my time to go. That those around me face the same fate. But Charlene's Mom wasn't ready- her body had expired but her soul had so many things it didn't get to experience, like being a Grandma. Her body literally gave out on her but I can remember still so vividly the day she danced a tribal dance dedicated to Charlene at her wedding reception. Such a display of love and devotion.

Today, I sit here instead of attending Charlene's Mom's funeral. I can't imagine what she must be going through at this point. We are almost the same age, Charlene and I. Yet I feel somewhat guilty sitting here while she bids her Mom's body a final adieu. You may be wondering why I'm not attending. My heart tells me it would be good for me to go and support my cousin Joe, and Charlene. But Jason is out hunting today and while I've been told it's ok to bring the kids along, I am not ready to expose them to death and grieving. I did have people offer to baby-sit for me, family members who are going to the funeral. I want them to attend. They need to. My Aunt offered to help me watch the kids while there to "lighten up the mood," but I feel that these people want a distraction and that would not allow for proper (nor respectful!) grieving to take place. I have made the personal decision that my boys aren't ready. I just hope Charlene can understand.

It is inevitable this will hit closer to home for me. I will be a wreck when my Grandparents go to heaven! There will come a time that the boys ask me about death. When they inquire, I will give age-appropriate and honest answers. I'll explain that they have an Angel in heaven that watches over them...my Grandpa H. who passed away while I was pregnant with Tyler. He saw me pregnant but didn't live to meet Tyler. *Ok, now I'm crying! I have strong faith that he watches over and protects my sons. My husband's Grandparents are also in heaven. These are the people that dedicated their lives to raising him. I never got to meet them but if they were anything like he talks them up to be, I bet it would have been like having another Grandma and Grandpa. There will be peace in death because I'll get to reunite with loved ones who go before me, and I'll finally get to meet those I never got to meet here on earth. I have that to look forward to. Could I be so lucky in heaven, to have 3 sets of Grandparents?

2 weeks?

Has it really been almost 2 weeks since my last post? My bad?! It must be the time of year (or the time of month! I know, TMI!) Yeah, I can blame it on the time.

We got our first official snow of the year today. I don't know what it is about the white stuff falling from the sky that people are so intrigued by. It's fricking cold out for one thing. Sure it's pretty, until it starts to really pile up. Seeing the ground turning white only makes the boys more anxious to go apeshit around in it. I am not putting on one of those puffy ass coats and long johns, rounding up 3 hats, 3 snowsuits, 3 coats, 6 mittens and 1 giant plastic sled and dragging my cold ass down to the hill to watch idiots sled headfirst into the cement baseball dugout. Yep, it happened. The ambulance got called at least three times last year for sledding accidents. Sledding is hazardous! Please use common sense and don't aim your sled at solid obstacles, ok? Yeah, mmmhmmm.

And the drivers? Yeesh, don't get me started. It's just snow! No need to disengage your brains. And yes, it's slick so stay the hell off my butt! The first snow of the year always makes people jittery. If you are not comfortable driving in it, please stay home because you are going to cause more problems than good, thank you very much.