Cookies, Hoagies, Candles, or A Place to Stand?

When I snapped this photo of a bakery window (Sugar Buns in the Kitchen) in Annapolis, MD recently, I didn't fully appreciate the wisdom of these words.  Something told me that I would need them at some point, so I stored the photo in my "blog pictures" file for future use.  Today is the perfect day to pull them out and put them to use.  We have one dozen days to make a difference.

I haven't blogged in a while because I have been immersed in a Kickstarter fundraising campaign to make a documentary film about the life of my dear friend Jimmy Santiago Baca.  Check it out at http://kck.st/NsBX8g  Jimmy's story must be told, and Daniel Glick and his talented team must tell it.  This moving cinematic version of Jimmy's powerful memoir, A Place to Stand, has the power to change the hearts and minds of many, and I for one am all in.  Our campaign ends on July 31st.  As one of my best friends says when we're running out of time, "We're burnin' daylight here, darlin'!"  Can you help?  

Think for a moment about how many times you've purchased a couple boxes of cookies to support the Girl Scouts, a few hoagies to help your local sports team, or an awful smelling fundraiser candle to assist a neighborhood school.  These are all wonderful causes, of course, and I support all of them on a regular basis and have for years upon years.  For an equivalent amount, just $25, you will receive a copy of the film, which holds the potential to change the course of people's lives.  I know firsthand, for Jimmy's story has already changed mine.

My Old Rolling Pin

Yesterday I pulled out my old rolling pin and called upon my ancestors--particularly the Pennsylvania Dutch ones--to guide me as I made my family's recipe for chicken pot pie with homemade egg noodles.  (I hadn't attempted homemade egg noodles for at least twenty years!)  The experience was nothing short of magical.  They were with me every moment of every hour of the preparation.  I could hear their voices, crisp and clear, whispering to me.  My father told me not to waste one piece of the stewed chicken.  He, missing now for 37 Easters, and yet I heard his beautiful voice and my hands became his hands as I picked that chicken carcass clean.  Nothing wasted.  He would be proud.  And my mother, gone now 24 Easters, was behind me as I worked the dough in my hands.  And as I rolled, my hands became her hands, applying the perfect pressure to achieve the perfect egg noodles, which I cut with the precision of a surgeon.  Her sweet voice praised me for being patient during the process, reminding me that good things take time and can't be rushed.  Meaningful advice for life, not just for cooking and baking.

Toward the end of the process, my parents were joined by my German grandmother, Nanny Corish, as all three nudged me to add various ingredients to thicken and season the broth to just the right consistency and taste.  In just a a few short hours, my family, including my three beautiful grandchildren, will enjoy homemade Pennsylvania Dutch chicken pot pie thanks to my old rolling pin and my kitchen angels. 

I almost forgot to share the most important secret ingredient:  love, of course.  Don't forget the love.



The Art of Giving

"You give but little when you give of your possessions.  It is when you give of yourself you truly give."  The photograph that accompanies Khalil Gibran's wise words is an artifact I found on my way home from a trip to Italy a number of years ago.  It adorns the path to my front door, so I read these words several times a day, reminding me to be present in my personal interactions and to treasure each second with those I love because tomorrow isn't promised.  What we can all be sure of is this very moment, wherever we are, and whatever we happen to be doing.  Make it count; make it matter. 

Bud Burst

Two gorgeous redbud trees grace my backyard.  Today both stand ready to burst due to the unseasonably warm weather we've had in my area.  Still tightly encased, each delicate bud is poised to share its unique beauty with the world.  What if we viewed people as buds?  Could we be just as certain of each individual's innate beauty as we are of these tiny buds? 

Best Welcome Mat Ever!

It was nearly 70 degrees here yesterday. I  decided to visit my daughter and grandchildren in the afternoon.  I can think of nothing better than to see the joy on the the faces of six-year-old Max and four-year-old Emma as they sprint to collect their hugs and kisses.  Breathless, they take my hands and lead me to my chalk portrait in the driveway.  Both are anxious to show me their special effects.  Max says, "Look, Nonni, I gave you reddish hair, a purple shirt, and blue shoes and a hat!  Emma adds, "Do you see the sun and the hummingbird on the branch?"   I marvel at how accurately these two little beings have captured my spirit in this spontaneous bit of sidewalk art.  What you can't see in this shot is the addition of our dogs just above my head.  Sooner, their Golden Retriever, had to be put down in May, so they place him in heaven.  My dog Izzy is still with us, but I'm touched that they draw Sooner and Izzy together because they were best buds during Sooner's earth walk.  And so in a few collaborative strokes, these little people in my life managed to chalk my reverence for animals, my appreciation of friends and family, my penchant for hats and shoes, and my love of  the sun.  If you look closely, you'll even see that my eyes look like two little suns, obviously reflecting the beauty and sparkle around me.   

A Little Yarn

My daughter just finished knitting an infinity scarf for me, using this yummy yarn which I selected from hundreds of possibilities.  A creative soul and a wonderful mother of three active little ones, she somehow manages to dedicate herself to her photography business and teach herself to knit in her spare time!  When she sent this photo to me, I realized my scarf has the exact same mix of colors as the photo I used in my first blog post, "Love These Colors!"  Every time I wear this beautiful gift, I will be wrapped in my daughter's cozy kind of love . . . and the colors will serve as a gentle reminder to make ordinary days extraordinary.  Priceless.      

Teacher, Writer, Dancer, Dreamer

I have a new friend, JL, who is also a teacher, writer, dancer, and dreamer.  In fact, she and my beautiful and creative daughter inspired me to begin blogging.  JL and I met during JourneyDance training in San Antonio and we experienced an immediate connection.  You know what I'm talking about, the kind that makes you feel like you've known someone for a thousand forevers.  Within 24 hours we were finishing sentences for one another. 

In San Antonio, JL inspired me on the dance floor.  On this day, she inspires me in a different way.  Today she leaves one country and journeys to another.  Today she leaves behind a rich history in one place to carve out a new history elsewhere.  Many people dream of being able to take such a leap of faith, to be bold and brave and resolute.  Today I honor my new friend for dancing her dream!