Stolen Ladders, Fellini Kroger, and love

So, we had 3 beat up, pitiful aluminum ladders stolen from the front yard a few nights ago. It's upsetting to have something stolen, but also sad that someone would steal such pitiful ladders. Truly crappy old ladders that you had to be specifically trained by Mike to raise and lower. Whoever the jackasses were that stole these ladders must have REALLY needed some ladders. Bummer for us and them. This happened on a particularly rainy and freezing night....so I hope the jackasses use the ladders for good purposes. This is my inner Buddhist talking......

On the  morning that we discovered the ladders were gone, I had to go to Fellini Kroger. For those of you who don't live in North Knoxville, Fellini Kroger is a funky neighborhood grocery store. You never know what type of neighbor you might run into. There are college professors, tattoo artists, Love Tower residents, college students, docs and nurses from St. Mary's (I know there is a new name, but don't care), hipsters from Fourth and Gill. Customers can drive, walk, bicycle or take the bus to Fellini's. Late at night, sometimes there is a security guard who looks an awful lot like 'THE ROCK'  (aka Dwayne Johnson)....so I like to go late at night just in case.  If I thought 'THE ROCK' would frisk me, I might accidentally forget to pay for a candy bar or something.

Anyway, I was trudging thru the post holiday grocery shopping, buying the back to normal food staples - you know - nothing good (as most of you know, I am not the most excited about my role as family food fairy and master chef), feeling a bit sorry for myself due to the recent ladder theft and the freezing wind and drizzling rain for my chore time. I checked out, spending more than I wanted to. As I emptied my numerous bags into my car, a little elderly black woman was pushing her cart to the rusty Toyota parked next to me. I offered to help her unload her bags - there were only 2. One full of collard greens and the other potato chips. She also had a twelve pack of Big K cola - not sure what her menu might have been. However, she refused my offer. So I told her I would at least roll her cart back to the cart rack. Then this adorable little woman looked me right in the eye (really looked right at me) and said. " I love you. Now, you have a blessed day and a happy New Year, baby."  It was so sweet and totally unexpected. I smiled at her, thanked her and rolled her cart away. By the time, I walked back toward our cars, she was already in hers, waving and ready to leave. I waved back as she pulled out while she blew me a kiss with her gloved hand. I was happy the rest of the day in spite of the ladder issue and the miserable weather. She was just what I needed.

So to all my friends and neighbors, even the jackass blokes that stole our ladders....."

"I love you. Now, have a blessed day and a Happy New Year, Baby."

World Peace and Family Time

I am the mother to three people. I would say three children, but the truth is  they are young adults now. I have had the good fortune to have a wonderfully crazy and diverse extended family (a quirky combination of luck of the draw in my biological family, my failed first marriage and subsequent colorful second union with Mike, not to mention the decisions of other family members on choices of mates). I hope I have instilled in my people that all of their assorted parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings are 'keepers'.  You can love someone and not be able to live with them. You can want the best for someone that gets under your skin. You can wish PEACE for your irritating  brother or sister (or cousin or ....even your Mother).

Loving Kindness Meditation (Metta)

May all beings be safe and protected.
May all beings be peaceful and happy.
May all beings be healthy and strong.
May all beings know love and be at ease.

As the holidays approach, with parties and family celebrations, let's all try to remember that we are connected by blood and affection, by chance and intention, by accident and divine coincidence. As we exchange gifts, let's remember it is not about the stuff. It's about the LOVE.

RELAX. Enjoy your irritating family. Embrace the logistical nightmare of coordinating events, arrival times, dietary restrictions, and make sure you have plenty to drink (alcohol is optional, but I recommend it) and paper supplies. If you can't embrace your own family, then world peace is probably out of the question.

I am going to practice some loving kindness for all my loves and their loves.

Namaste.