Acceptance is a filament that takes our resistance and makes it bright,
Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
makes it luminous enough that we might see ourselves exactly as we are.
…exactly as we are
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Just listen…
Coffee shop in Portland, Maine – 2008 The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention…. A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well-intentioned words.
Rachel Naomi Remen -
Love…the energy of world
The conclusion is always the same:
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
love is the most powerful
and still the most unknown
energy of the world.It felt more like September 1st than it did August 1st this morning. My weather app said it was 55 degrees with 100% humidity when I left the condo. So my ride to coffee was invigorating. Elisha was my barista and an Old Town mocha was my drink of choice this morning. They just hired two new baristas, so we irregular regulars will be busy training them over the next few weeks. My ride to coffee was via Spring Creek Trail. This was the scene along the creek. You can see the effect of the smoke from the fires in Arizona and southwestern Colorado.
My blood draw numbers were not what I wanted. Platelets are still low at 57, down 6 counts from May. PSA numbers up to 4.72 from 2.86 in February. I will meet with the hematologist on Monday morning and my PCP later in the month. We’ll see what they say about the numbers. And, I didn’t hydrate myself enough, or my body is tired of having needles pointed in its direction, so it took four stabs to get my blood. Each left a bruise. However, when I had coffee later there were no leaks at any of those stabs sites.
What gifts we will receive and give today is always a really good question. The answer to that question is more about reflecting back on the day than having some instantaneous answer through a text message, an email or a bolt of lightning. So on that note, may you have a wonderful August 1st!
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filled with mystery…
I no longer feel that life is ordinary. Everyday life is filled with mystery. The things we know are only a small part of the things we cannot know but can only glimpse. Yet even the smallest of glimpses can sustain us. Mystery seems to have the power to comfort, to offer hope, and to lend meaning in times of loss and pain. In surprising ways it is the mysterious that strengthens us at such times…
Rachel Naomi RemenI changed up my morning routine. I got up early, made my necessary trip to the bathroom, made the bed, made a chai latte then headed up to Pineridge Natural Area for sunrise. As I pulled into the parking lot, I was greeted by two coyotes. I told them I was here to witness and photograph the sunrise and share the quiet of this sacred place with them and they could go ahead and continue their hunting. They turned and scampered up the ridge. After a few minutes of quiet time in my car I moved out to a location where I have another uncomfortable rock to sit on and where I like to take photographs. It was almost the perfect temperature and I loved the refreshing breeze. I enjoyed the singing of the meadowlarks and robins and the clouds were stunning. All of this reminded me of the blessing it is to live where I do and the gift of life. When I returned home, I had my meditation time, then mounted the red steed and rode to Mugs. Adriana made me my Old Town mocha and I enjoyed conversations with Jeff, Curtis, Terri, and Joan. I do not consider my life ordinary in the least but feel it is filled with mystery.
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An Onion
When my barista gave me my cortado, she apologized that her latte art
turned out to be an onion rather than a rosetta. No apology necessary as it’s still latte art and it tasted wonderful. -
But I’m tempted…
As I rode through the CSU Oval on Friday there was a young woman walking barefoot on the grass. Almost made me want to stop and take my shoes off. Yet, when I think about all the chemicals they put down on that grass, to keep it green and growing, I keep my shoes on and keep riding. But I’m tempted… If you look closely you will see chalk drawing on the sidewalk. I assume made by the children who have come for a summer camp week and encouraged by student leaders. We had rain during the night so we awoke to overcast skies and cool. I saw where we had from one tenth of an inch to half an inch in Fort Collins. Happy Saturday!
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Meg’s latte art
“Latte art is a way to express love.”
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Bike to Work Day
Today is Bike to Work Day in Fort Collins. They have nearly 90 morning stations and 12 afternoon stations, hosted by over 150 local businesses and organizations, who are planning to pop up all around Fort Collins. Breakfast will be available until gone or between 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and afternoon stations will be open from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. As Jeff and I sat at Mugs we got to watch and notice all the colors, shapes, and types of bicycles as well as colors, shapes, and types of bicyclists. Dogs riding in baskets, kids pedaling as fast as they can, old codgers meandering along, Tour de France wanna-bes, tandem bicycles with one rider (in the front seat), an incumbent tandem bicycle, some first time riders and old geezers who don’t ride to work anymore. I was surprised to see the variety of bikes and people. Bike mechanics were also available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Today was our barista, Dean’s, last day at Mugs. She is moving back to Omaha where she is from. We are sure gonna miss her, her smile, and her latte art. Thundershowers are predicted for this afternoon. Hope you have a wonderful day!!
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A Love Affair
I’m having a love affair with my coffee life.
mwsI was awakened during the night by rain gushing down the rain gutter outside my window. It sounded like a river but we only received about a quarter of an inch. This morning it is still overcast, looks threatening, and more rain is possible. The high today is only expected to reach 56 degrees so about 20 degrees cooler today. Tomorrow is expected to be the same so I have makings for cream of chicken noodle soup for the crockpot in the morning. It does not feel like June which made my Old Town Mocha seem like just the right medicine I needed. Thank you Dean!!
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All that I don’t have…
Sun bursting through the trees outside of Mugs coffee There is a lot of truth to the saying,
“I am thankful for all that I have,
and for all that I don’t have.”When I honestly think about this I can make a list just as long of what I am grateful I don’t have as what I do have. Detachment decreases our needs because the less we have the easier it is to appreciate what we do have. Something for me to ponder and journal about. I hope you have a wonderful Friday and upcoming weekend.
