resources for hope and happiness

 This morning I tumbled into a wonderful resource that I want to share. The essay, Doorways to Our Childhood Selves, introduced me to the global oneness project: Stories and lessons for growing minds which, in turn, brought me to the short film Water Flows Together. The  fact that a web site like this one exists gives me more hope for the future than most anything I’ve seen in months. I suspect there may be more treasures of which I’m unaware, but now I’ll be more on the lookout for them and happy to share my discoveries here.

local waters flow together

Photo by J. Harrington

In fact, I’ve another treasure I want to share, this one is a book of poems by Ted Kooser and Connie Wanek, illustrated by Richard Jones, titled Marshmallow Clouds. It seems I missed the review last March that was published in the Star Tribune.

In their new book, "Marshmallow Clouds: Two Poets at Play Among Figures of Speech," Kooser and acclaimed fellow poet Connie Wanek offer 30 poems to inspire readers ages 10 and up to relish this magic in the seemingly quotidian. Organized by the elements of Fire, Water, Air and Earth, these poems encourage the notion that, "as if it were a favorite cat or dog, playing with your imagination can keep it healthy and happy," as Kooser writes in their afterword.

Similar to an earlier collaboration, Braided Creek, between Kooser and Jim Harrison, the poems are not identified by poet. I think that helps me pay attention to what’s been written rather  than trying to second guess what the poet means.

Childhood Stories

By Matthew Rohrer

They learned to turn off the gravity in an auditorium

and we all rose into the air,

the same room where they demonstrated

pow-wows and prestidigitation.

 

But not everyone believed it.

That was the most important lesson

I learned—that a truck driven by a dog

could roll down a hill at dusk

and roll right off a dock into a lake

and sink, and if no one believes you

then what is the point

of telling them wonderful things?

 

I walked home from the pow-wow

on an early winter night in amazement:

they let me buy the toy tomahawk!

As soon as I got home I was going

to hit my sister with it, but I didn’t know this.

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Thanks for visiting. Come again when you can.
Please be kind to each other while you can.

Let’s hope!

 The first post on the first day of a new year--no pressure, right? Well, not much since this will be our 3,691 daily posting, but who’s counting? In a little while we’ll be watching the “border battle” between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. If the Vikings win, it will be a pleasant surprise.

Meanwhile, the Weather Underground web site is currently forecasting 7.4 inches of snow on Tuesday. They’ve been regularly revising the forecast over the past few days. The National Weather Service appears to be firmly committed to “A winter storm is still on track to impact the area Monday evening through Tuesday. Heavy snow, freezing rain, and rain are all possible at times - depending on how far north or south the storm tracks.” I have an appointment Wednesday morning and I can’t yet sort out whether I should reschedule because the roads won’t yet be cleared. That may be tomorrow’s challenge. Remember Harvey Cox has taught us that “Not to decide is to decide.” One piece of missing information is what options are available for rescheduling from Wednesday.

a burst of hope

Photo by J. Harrington

The snow may be welcomed by the Granddaughter person. Her grandmother recently got a kick-sleigh and, until today, the Granddaughter wanted no part of sitting down for a sleigh ride. Somehow, her parents convinced her otherwise and today we saw a brief video of a seated two-year-old enjoying a ride propelled by dad. I’m choosing to interpret this as an indication I need to have more faith in the future. Peter Leschak, a local author, offers a similar perspective in today’s Opinion Section of the Star Tribune.

In fact, by coincidence, the first book I finished reading this year, a Christmas present from the Better Half, is a short collection of Emily Dickinson poems entitled Hope Is the Thing. May our year be fulll of well-founded hopes and our needs be met so we can keep the faith.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers

By Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.

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Thanks for visiting. Come again when you can.
Please be kind to each other while you can.