I've been contemplating the Earth and her incredible and delicate power. It is springtime here and when I took the kids for a nature walk as part of school last week, we were marveling at violets, magnolia blossoms and tender shoots coming from the ground.
Then, yesterday, the earthquake in Japan. The earth shifts, moves, and half the world is in peril. Powerful almost beyond belief. When an earthquake hits all equilibrium vanshes and the very ground we stand on rolls and jerks. The steadiest thing we know moves islands, creates mountains, and sends waves crashing on distant shores.
A favorite poet of mine, Wendell Barry says in one of his poems "What I stand on, I stand for" I stand for the earth, attempt to protect her and love her as a Mother. I also see her now as Kali, the destroyer, who can unleash her wrath at will. A twitch and her children are destroyed. How to reconcile the two? The one?
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
I have been surrounded by cats today. They have kept me and themselves warm cuddling in and giving me dirty looks whenever I get up. Apparently, they think they have a say so in things. My big black and white kitty, Ricky, just had his teeth cleaned and two pulled on Friday. He is sticking close in case Virgil gets any other bad ideas.
The orange and white tabby is being very lazy. She just yawned and turned over. Her name is Pukuk (two short u sounds.) This name is from my husbands' time in Alaska as a child and it means "always getting into something, mischief maker." I think she knows what her name means and strives to live up to it. She is always testing gravity to make sure it still works, and has an almost freakish ability to find a ball of yarn and scatter it all over the house. Most of this is done while we sleep.
She is also the one who climbs to the top of the bird cage to watch our parakeets. She knows she can't get to them and so do they, but she manages to jump up, spill their water, and generally cause a ruckus. She is blase about it, but I can tell she loves shaking everything up. That's it for a Sunday Post.
The orange and white tabby is being very lazy. She just yawned and turned over. Her name is Pukuk (two short u sounds.) This name is from my husbands' time in Alaska as a child and it means "always getting into something, mischief maker." I think she knows what her name means and strives to live up to it. She is always testing gravity to make sure it still works, and has an almost freakish ability to find a ball of yarn and scatter it all over the house. Most of this is done while we sleep.
She is also the one who climbs to the top of the bird cage to watch our parakeets. She knows she can't get to them and so do they, but she manages to jump up, spill their water, and generally cause a ruckus. She is blase about it, but I can tell she loves shaking everything up. That's it for a Sunday Post.
Friday, March 4, 2011
We spent a wonderful day exploring a breeding compound for exotic and rare cats. Watching the powerful leopards, snow leopards, black leopards, bobcats, etc. was mesmerizing. The kids were excited, but soon learned that their enthusiasm would scare the cats into their hiding places. So they became quiet and observant. We had a great tour guide who gave us facts about each cat, and educated us all about their habitats and rarity in the wild. This is one of the many things I love about homeschooling. Kids get to learn what interests them, and ask all the questions they want. Our guide was surprised at the good questions.
The cages are relatively small, so we saw many nearly face to face. There were several of them that I could sit and watch all day, namely the snow leopards and the black leopard. Their power, their utter relaxation, their "sawing" which are vocalizations they make that sound like handsaws going through wood, and their huge, soft paws fascinated me. Many zoos are unsettling to me, but for some reason this wasn't. Maybe it was because the cats looked content. They lounged, yawned, and enthusiastically ate the chicken that was given to them at feeding time.
Barry Lopez on said "if you see a lion in a zoo, you have not seen a lion." In general, I agree with him, but today seemed to dispel some of that. These were wild, alive animals who showed their strength and power.
The cages are relatively small, so we saw many nearly face to face. There were several of them that I could sit and watch all day, namely the snow leopards and the black leopard. Their power, their utter relaxation, their "sawing" which are vocalizations they make that sound like handsaws going through wood, and their huge, soft paws fascinated me. Many zoos are unsettling to me, but for some reason this wasn't. Maybe it was because the cats looked content. They lounged, yawned, and enthusiastically ate the chicken that was given to them at feeding time.
Barry Lopez on said "if you see a lion in a zoo, you have not seen a lion." In general, I agree with him, but today seemed to dispel some of that. These were wild, alive animals who showed their strength and power.
Friday, February 25, 2011
2010 was a difficult year for me. Building my private therapy practice was work, but work done in joy. Being with my BFF in a practice is a dream come true!
However, Isaiah's grandmother died last June after a respiratory struggle for over a year. Isaiah was devastated, and when our chilren hurt, we hurt. We became closer attending a grief group, and having long talks about what happens when you die. I had become her friend over the last year or two, and we miss having her here on holidays. Did I mention she was my age? Yea, that threw me for a loop.
My favorite Aunt Dorothy died later in the summer, she saved my life when I was a teenager, showing me part of the world and a way of life I would never have seen otherwise. I was sad, and yet her memorial helped me reconnect with cousins I like but had lost touch with.
The year culminated with my mothers death on Thanksgiving. I am grateful it was quick. The things that unleased I will cover in a later post.
However, Isaiah's grandmother died last June after a respiratory struggle for over a year. Isaiah was devastated, and when our chilren hurt, we hurt. We became closer attending a grief group, and having long talks about what happens when you die. I had become her friend over the last year or two, and we miss having her here on holidays. Did I mention she was my age? Yea, that threw me for a loop.
My favorite Aunt Dorothy died later in the summer, she saved my life when I was a teenager, showing me part of the world and a way of life I would never have seen otherwise. I was sad, and yet her memorial helped me reconnect with cousins I like but had lost touch with.
The year culminated with my mothers death on Thanksgiving. I am grateful it was quick. The things that unleased I will cover in a later post.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
I didn't realize how long it has been since I posted. My private therapy practice is blooming, and you can see my website at http://www.lgavin-cruse.com/ I am taking new clients!
I will post over the weekend!
I will post over the weekend!
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