Indigo Butterflies

Inspiration and Joy. Women and trees.

A friend once told me that my blog thought (A journey into life and all that inspires and moves us not to settle.) was on his daily read list.  I don't know if it still is or not, but I have made it a point to read it myself, every day.  To remind me to keep my eyes on what I want and where I want to be.  To remind me not to get caught up in my every day... remind me not to settle.

And so, I found myself thinking this afternoon about what inspires and moves me.  Trees.  Their form, the way they move in the wind, their colors, the way they grow and change, all give me unending joy.  Perhaps I appreciate them so much, because I see in them the same qualities I see in the women that have had such bearing on my life:  my mother, sister, grandmothers, aunts, friends...

Trees have strong roots for balance and gathering nourishment.  They are flexible and able to bend and sway with the wind during life's storms.  They are providers.  Giving shelter freely to those in need by providing shade, a place of respite, and homes for others in their branches.  They provide sustenance in the nuts and fruits they bear. 

Like women, trees are all different, they are tall, short, slim, stout, graceful, and awkward.  Some are full and some are spare.  Some are more flamboyant and change their garments with the seasons, from green leaves, to gold and red, and then shed them altogether.  Others are modest and steadfast in their greenery.  Some have branches that are no-nonsense and straightforward, others are curvy and sensuous. 

They are all different and they are all beautiful. 

We are all different and we are all beautiful.

   

Photos, Photos, Photos Everywhere....

I was supposed to be in Washington DC to help my friend, Meredith, get unpacked and settled in her new apartment, which I did...somewhat...  But I spent a lot of time on my own, while Meredith was at work, roaming the city and visiting museums and memorials, since I'd never been to DC before. 

Washington is a beautiful city.  Everyone I met was friendly and ready to talk to a stranger.  And while DC is big it felt manageable and comfortable, not overwhelming.  The Metro was clean and easy to navigate, even for someone like me, with no experience on subways.

I'll have to make many more trips to see everything I would like to, but I did see a lot and took a lot of photos.  So you'll see Arlington Cemetery, the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Museum of Natural History, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Library of Congress, and others.

I'm so glad I had the opportunity to visit Meredith and roam around.  She is my oldest friend, but it had been more than 15 years since we spent any real time together, but we fell right in step and never missed a beat.  I guess that is the way it's supposed to be with true friends.

Oh, and don't worry, two more of Meredith's friends came into town the last couple of days I was there and between the lot of us we got Meredith pretty well settled in her new apartment.  We certainly had fun doing it too!  We even had our own pool tournament.  You can click here to see some of those photos.

I also had the opportunity to get to know Meredith's friends Judy and David.  We had a blast; they are great people!  And thanks to Allan for all the tips on places to go and see, especially that often overlooked gem, the Library of Congress.  It is absolutely beautiful.

Widespread Panic

At one time or another, most of us have suffered from "Foot In Mouth" disease; we've said the wrong thing entirely or at least said it to the wrong person.  When this happens, things can go from bad to worse in rapid succession.

For example, you are talking with someone and half-way through your sentence you realize that you are saying completely the wrong thing.  You think "Crapcrapcrap" What are you saying?  STOP!".  Widespread panic ensues.  You come to a screeching halt mid-sentence, trying to figure out what to say next.  You have just pulled the sheet off the elephant standing in the middle of the room -- "Ta Da!".  By slamming on the brakes you have just brought attention to it.

Next, you try to fix it.  You either back track on what you've all ready said or you try to change the subject.  Now you not only have an elephant standing in the middle of the room, you have an elephant in the room with flashing neon signs pointing at him.  Yep, you have ridden the wave of widespread panic and landed smack in the middle of Embarrassment Town.  And they want to make you mayor.  Now what?

You give up and give in.  You know you've been caught, so you might as well just go ahead and finish the sentence and get it over with so you can apologize.  Now you're still very much embarrassed and feeling like an idiot, but at least you can say you're an honest idiot, right?  The elephant is still in the room, but the neon has stopped flashing.

I have found in many cases that your best bet is to just continue with your original thought -- no slamming on brakes or back tracking.  Just skate on through nonchalantly like what you're saying is no big deal.  If you do, it probably won't be a big deal to anyone else either.  You can still apologize, but it's a little less like a circus with elephants parading around the room.  Most times we make our own mole hills into mountains and lead the elephants into the room ourselves. 

I am still working on a censor to review all my thoughts before they are converted to words.  I actually do have one, but it breaks down far too often.  I think I need an upgrade.  In the meantime, I will try to avoid widespread panic and remember that a closed mouth gathers no foot.

If I come across something foolproof, I'll let you know.