"Today" for Today

A most spectacular sky full of clouds-T.Allen-Mercado 2009

Today is a new day, a day full of firsts: my first thought, my first sip of coffee (not necessarily in that order), the first cat/ child/ phone call to greet me; my first smile

Today is a new day, a day full of choices: forgive yesterday's foolery, reward today's accomplishments, forget old worries, forge ahead, take precautions, take heed; learn

Today is a new day, a day full of love: birdsong, trilling, laughter, familiar voices, a restful sigh, winds blowing, branches rustling; a joyous high

Today is a new day a day full of peace; silence

Tomorrow is unknown, seize your today

I wrote this off the cuff, inspired by a series of blog posts I read whilst sipping on the java; posts about yesterday, posts about tomorrow...here's one for "Today".

Peace

This Art-filled Life II

J-Murk (Jordan) performs in Scottsdale, AZ

Saturday, also known as "The Day After Christmas Crash" I sat sated, pensively feeling on a handful of new beads; both in my hands and mind's eye. Only one eye though, as the other ogle my new journal and color scanner; key components in my quest to break off the monitor and into print with my doodlings and musings. Yael Rose sit in her whimsy-filled quarters, focusing intently on her new skateboard and instructional guide for girl skaters. Joe is fidgeting with gadgets I should surely know by name after 20 years of art and love. He has that look...the one we all get around here when we're trying to balance the beckoning of the muse against the bellowing of real life. And the phone rings...(per usual I'm the only one who hears it) Grimace.

Hello... Din of voices. Hello...Hello Mommy? It's Jordan who has gone to a local venue to audition for their New year's Eve event. "Hey, how'd it go"? Most admirably restraining the desire to squeal-a mother knows these things, he says, "They liked me." Mom-always needing further clarification says, "Oh good, so you made it". To which he says, "Yes they liked me!" We exchanged a few more words then I hung up and told Joe the news. Yael Rose (yes, the same one who didn't hear the phone) enters and says, "Cool, Jordan made it!"

I go back to my spot and the playback begins, "Mom, they liked me..." It echoes through my thoughts in an almost surreal manner. For a moment, I'm frozen. I need to organize these thoughts, I need to make sense of what I'm feeling. Part of me feels like I need to have a grade school-like talk about self-acceptance and self esteem. But, I know better. In my heart, I know that Jordan is confident and self loving, I know that Jordan is a well-rounded young adult. In my [he]art though, I also know what he just said, what he is feeling is indeed genuine; completely honest. He does feel an overwhelming sense of acceptance at this moment, greater than even a mother's love. It's what we've been unknowingly preparing him for all along. Jordan is an artist; the Self and the craft are one. Pauses in ambivalence. Somehow, I suspect this realization weighs more heavily on me than him.

Peace, art and love

The Santa Cause

Blu's first Christmas here with us in in her forever home.

Last year I made up my mind that I’d add Santa Claus to the list. Yes, the list; I’d jot his name down right under religion and politics and there he’d sit forever in conversational purgatory, and then…well, it happened. You’ve heard the adage about great minds, yes? I bet you’re thinking, “great minds think alike” ironically enough, it’s been changed to none other than “great minds are subject to change”. That being said, today I’m going to talk a bit about the dude and his cause.

I am a lifelong supporter of the “Santa Cause”, my parents were supporters, my grandparents were supporters and short of a mischievous childhood friend or two and perhaps an evil cousin this was working for us. Or so I thought when I donned my red hat and took oath to bumble about in the wee hours of Christmas morn whilst (oft-unsuccessfully) trying to recall all the spots I’ve been stealthily securing goodies since the blasted day after Thanksgiving sale. Breathes heavily. It seems now I’ve been told this practice- along with doling meager donations for cute little, mottled, milk teeth, and hiding eggs at springtime is dishonest and a disservice to my children. Gasps.

You mean I’m doing them a disservice by engaging in benevolent fantasy play, by upholding traditions that have been a source of joy and fond remembrance in our family and many others for centuries? Hmm. I’m not sure I’m buying it. In fact, I can back that up by saying that NOT one of the now adults and parents with whom I shared far from “Cleaver-like” childhood experiences has been adversely affected by the presence of the fat guy, the tooth fairy or the springtime bunny-well, there was that one time I ate too many Peeps, but overall it’s all been a good run.

So, after much rambling, in closing I guess I’d just like to say I confess, “I have lied”. Rises whilst the big guy, the tooth fairy and the spring bunny remain seated. “I am the real Santa Claus, tooth fairy, and the springtime bunny. Wait, before you declare my penance: my kisses, they’re frauds; they have no FDA approved medicinal properties. I just dole ‘em out, cause well, I like kissing my children’s boo-boos. Oh, and perhaps there are smarter, prettier, more handsome children out there, and that’s a lie too. Mea culpa. Hmmm, oh yeah…that time at the dance recital, I did notice my angel turning in the wrong direction…I guess I should have told her instead of saying I hadn’t noticed and neither did anyone else. Instead, I took the low road and told her she was flawlessly graceful. Hangs head in shame. Not! Laughs. I learned that from the kids. Okay, okay…the real truth is, I’m not sorry at all. I’d do it all over again, and fully intend to, season’s greetings!

This post was originally published on Moms of Hue where you can read more of my musings and those of several other talented writers.

Peace and joy

Sweet Victory!

Front to back:

Dark chocolate & almond cookies, lemon ricotta, butter cookies,

and chocolate crinkles.

My first Tiramisu layer cake.

Delicious.

Aah, yes...a culinary success story.

Merry Christmas, friends

The Baking Undertaking

So, I'm baking and once again, I'm asking myself, "Self, why do you bake when it troubles you so?" Baking, much like sewing is an exact science. Tameka, much like her children [insert grimace here] has grave difficulty following direction. She just isn't happy unless she adds her own "creative spin".

My butter cookies needed a bit of almond extract. My tiramisu needed more instant coffee powder in the batter, less liqueur and more confectioner's sugar in the frosting. My chocolate crinkles needed to cook a bit longer. My lemon ricotta cookies needed a less lemony glaze. And now I need a Valium as I'm filled with worry that all of this tweaking will render my recipes inedible.

Stay tuned and cross your fingers, will you?

Peace and bad carbs