Mentally assign a + and a - to each hand.
For each + or - raise that hand a bit.
Okay, ready?
It is the pros and cons game.
I've been doing this since I used it as a tool to help my young daughter
work through processing things.
- Change is hard for me, I like the familiar
+ It is a beautiful new facility + New = Clean!!
+ It is close to home
- Parking is only available in a structure,
not my preferred parking
+ "State of the art" technology (it seemed, what do I know!)
- Have to learn all the new technology
and new procedures
that I will have to interact with
+ More services now available closer to home + Same connection to all of the other local facilities
-I will have to figure out the
two pharmacy locations
for refills in the future
+ Same or better Urgent Care services for my area + Potential for growth of services + Always grateful to have very good medical coverage
Drop your hands back down to your sides and give 'em a good shake.
Take a nice breath in...and out.
Repeat after me:
Shake it off, go with the flow, you have no control anyway
⇄
☺
*Click on photos to enlarge, not that they are interesting enough for that!!*
Peaceful Entrance
Then I had time to sit and wait and look around to get my bearings
(that liking the familiar thing)
Pocket door
There are bays and rooms. The rooms closed off with pocket doors.
I'm a sucker for those (and dutch doors, Mr Ed style).
Extra privacy and a "screen" to...? View x-rays?
Really cushy place to lay down, if needed
Foot controls: Steer, Brake
I wonder if the staff needs lessons on how to steer and brake this thing!
Many things remind me of recent work trainings
or just look familiar from work (like the gloves)
Patterns & Light art shot
As usual, I see the patterns, textures and fiber materials
from a cloth world perspective
Rolly desk and "Sharps' container
Something new that the nurses and other staff are getting used to is entering all of the information on a small tablet, instead of a regular traveling desk-top computer.
Super sensitive touchpad makes their work more of an adjustment.
Who else remembers when there was a pocket outside the door where staff would drop your paper chart for the doctor to grab on his/her way in?
Oy, I'm dating myself!!
ChhChhhChhanges!!
Equipment reflected
So much of the equipment is now in the room,
sterilized in a bag and ready to go (like a 'breathing treatment' mask etc.)
Automatic water at the sink and a hole in the counter to drop
the trash straight into the trashcan.
I laugh at myself for noticing that the counter area is built to the precise size of this particular trashcan.
What if "Rubbermaid" stops making these?
Is it a 'standard' size?
And why not an automatic soap dispenser too? (going with the germ thoughts here!)
These little thoughts come from being involved
in my Ex's construction family for 17 years.
haha
Hold habits DO die hard!
Lobby Art Installation
While waiting for medication in the general lobby area,
which has some new name I can't recall,
I notice an art piece on the wall and go to check it out.
Supporting young children through the arts!
Nice!
Flowers for Hummingbirds
On my way out I see hummingbirds at these flowers,
but couldn't manage to capture them in a photograph.
They are fast, but I felt calm.
Diagnoses: Asthmatic Bronchitis (the usual)
May you find what you need to stay in good health.
May you roll with the many changes in our world,
or at least tolerate them with grace.
May you find peace and calm, no matter what.
xo
Please head over to the link and check out the pages of information. You may be inspired to make two X's of your own.
X's
I made the bottom one first, using the removable cross stitch fabric. I chose this method because I like cross-stitch and this was a way to put it here on the muslin. Plus if you imagine a couple of O's with them...well, you've got hugs and kisses! As I worked, many thoughts floated around in my head. I thought of many people I know/knew who may have gotten those XX's placed on their medical charts. In thinking of them, I considered how many lives they would touch. How each person deemed not worthy of living was loved by many. Many little X's make up the bigger ones. Every life touches another. Every life is made up of many who love that person deeply. As in other projects, I wrapped the XX's in the blanket stitch, my symbol for a loving hug and sense of security.
finger paint XX's
The second set I made was created using what I think of as my finger paint fabric. Bought on a road trip in 2010, one in a set of many colors, it has always reminded me of the finger paint art of young children. I've known many children over the years, children who may have had XX's at the bottom of their medical records. The red here touches my heart. The marks that look like finger painting led me to reflect on the idea that fingers have a fingerprint. Each one of us, as individuals with our own unique fingerprints. Each of us with our own strengths and weaknesses. each of us whole in some ways and broken in others. Each of us worthy of our lives.
I used this same red fingerprint/paint cloth on my contribution to the Hearts for Charleston project (follow the link on the labels of this post). This fabric runs deep.
I'm posting this on a day when the youth in our country came together to inspire all of us in the world. The youth that used words and their power to shine, for us all.
Because we all deserve this life.
May you find love, meaning and compassion in your days. May you shine. May you thrive.
I guess it goes hand in hand with clearing out stuff.
First you look at, embrace the memories, consider where or if it fits in your current life,
and decide.
Keep or let go?
↔
Then you listen to the news or try not to listen to the news.
What changes with each new BREAKING NEWS?
Usually nothing, sorry to say.
Just think of the guns in America issue...
ranting, raving, tears
then nothing.
If our government couldn't do something after Sandy Hook...
need I say more?
⇱ ⇲
My head and heart are in a tired and grumpy place.
I keep searching for the positive...
touching base with nature...
loving what and who I love...
doing what I love.
But, I'm having a hard time not feeling let down, by people, by circumstances,
by our country.
⇔
There is so much that is important,
yet the media is stuck on a porn star.
⬆⬇
I did a deep cleaning, looking at and honoring of my treasures shrine.
All the tokens from my cloth people, plus other trinkets,
crammed into this space.
Treasures
The top of the old 'bar counter', which belonged to my mom and birth-father,
bought in the early 1950's.
Early American style with a copper top.
You can see J.'s bowl in there among the many gifts or things I've had/made.
A wood flute and feathers.
Photo was taken before Michelle's beautiful pomegranate print made it into the collection.
Although there are many letters from her.
I sat and read each letter and touched each item.
Absorbing.
↔
Important things.
Below you can see clothmakers cloths on the big bare wall behind the TV.
I can see all of this every night as I relax, watching Public Television 'murder shows'.
Dee, Grace and Jude
Hanging Jude's latest was a quick clothespin moment, connecting it to Grace's,
mostly because the push pins wouldn't push and I didn't want to fool with more driftwood (having a how much driftwood is too much driftwood moment).
But then, yes...connected.
How much I really like that.
Els, Jude and Saskia
I can't begin to tell you how much joy is brought to me through these cloths and gifts.
These are the things that matter.
The important things.
↭
Before deciding to write this tonight,
I re-read some old (really old) posts while looking for something.
I was so touched to realize how long we've been here together.
Some of you visiting the trail since the beginning.
It has been years!
That is amazing.
❤
So, with all of this in mind,
I want to say thank you...
for coming here...
for the conversation...
for caring...
for the gifts and/or the gift of your friendship.
❤ ← ❤ → ❤
You matter to me.
xoSage
PS Maybe I'll get to cleaning out the drawers and cupboard
on the old 'bar counter' soon!
Today was spent writing, preparing packages for mailing and working on a new weaving.
New Blooms
J. told me he was walking out back when something just barely caught the corner of his eye...he very slightly turned his head and POOF one of the first mystery bulbs of the season opened up! How cool is that?!
I took a break and stepped outside upon hearing the cries of my hawk.
The clouds really caught my eye.
I took many more photos than just these, trying to capture what I saw.
Then my eye fell on this old thing-a-ma-jig.
You met it here a long time ago.
I'll look for that post later and edit.
UPDATE: Here is the link
for the goofy item above!!
Anyway, most of the color has faded from so much sun over the years.
I am heartily considering tossing it into the garbage.
It barely looked like cool art or anything of any purpose when I first made it.
Now, well now it is just faded and ugly.
That is, of course, until I looked at this photo
with our beautiful blue sky in the background!
I could almost like it again. Haha
UPDATE: My eye is almost completely healed, only a bit red.
I still have to use the artificial tears (which I keep calling 'liquid tears'!) -
but the dry eyes is not new and an easy thing to adress.
I also am still wearing my "fly" glasses (given to me in the hospital)
over my regular glasses.
They provide great coverage, were free and cheap to replace.
I did some research, so I'd be ready or in case I want to order extras now.
you'll see the Google logo designed to celebrate the 30th anniversary of "Pi Day".
Around here we've taken note of this day ever since my 34 year old daughter was an 11 or 12 year old, somewhere around 5th or 6th grade.
6th grade, I think.
That was when her upper grade classroom pod (4 classes) studied Pi.
They learned about it through experiments, surveying those they knew - to learn What they knew about Pi and by having a contest.
All of this culminated on March 14th, Pi Day,
with real pie from Marie Calendars!
3.14....
The contest involved what her teacher called a "bumper sticker" of Pi. It was about the size and shape of a bumper sticker and held line after line of the numerals in Pi.
3.14...
176 digits in all.
The students were told 'whoever memorized the most Pi would 'win'.
What they would win I no longer remember.
But, my girl took on the challenge and went out to recess.
She came back with the first 4 lines memorized!
Her teacher couldn't believe it!
He told her the 'if you memorize the rest of it over night, I'll just die'.
There was her motivation.
Of course, not really...she liked this teacher.
But it was a challenge, so her being her...
she took it!
She came home that night with her 'bumper sticker' and
went back the next day with all 176 digits firm in her brain!
The four upper grade teachers went on the mad hunt for 'more Pi' for her.
They presented her with an 8.5 X 11 page of tiny printed Pi!
Off she went, to memorize!
Within two weeks, she memorized something like
470-something digits!!
Everyone was shocked and amazed and wowed!
I was proud.
What a memory!
She (of course) won the contest, hands down.
At the Pi Day celebration, she recited it in front of all the upper grade students
and a few scattered parents.
She COULD NOT understand what all the fuss was about...
why I wanted to video tape her reciting it...
why everyone talked about it...
why I told her grandparents.
It was just something she did.
Years later, she understood our amazement better.
She explained to me that she memorized it in sets of three.
3.14...
add on 3 more digits...
add on 3 more digits...
add on 3 more digits...
add on 3 more digits...
and so on.
One year later on 3-14, I video-taped her again.
She still knew way over 200 digits.
Two years later, she still knew the original 176 digits!
I have never been able to wrap my head around this
(and yes, I don't care for this phrase, but it fits here).
Other things I just couldn't get:
When watching the video of herself, she corrected a
mistake somewhere within that 400+ digits!
When getting in the car one night,
she looked at the digital clock saying,
"Oh man!!"
When I asked her what was up,
she said that it was 9:24.
Yeah??
"9-2-4"
And off she went into her memory of those numbers, carrying on from that point,
somewhere in Pi!
924...
Amazing!
Happy Pi Day to you all and to my girl the most,
because she brought Pi alive for all who knew her!
Run River North - Growing Up
There's a fight to be won
For the love you find at home.
There is work to be done
Before you rest your weary bones.
Finding peace don't come
To everyone I know,
So I will love in this life
Until I finally have to go.
Said I will love in this life
Until I finally have to go.
Well I know I have lived
Just a wrinkle of my life,
And I hear so many times
It'll be over if I blink twice.
Please forgive if I don't walk
Off that plank stuck in your eye.
I've got my life to love
And I'm here to take what's mine.
I've got my life to love
And I'm here to take what's mine.
Growing up child
Is just a matter of time,
For giving all you've got,
So won't you dance under the sun.
Growing old
Feels like you're giving up your soul.
I'd rather give it freely
To the ones that I call home.
I ain't scared, no not afraid
Of the world in front of me.
I found my way without your help
With a broken family.
I'll take my breaks with my sins,
I'll do as I do please
With my friends 'til the end,
There lies my loyalty.
With my friends 'til the end,
My lies, their loyalty.
I used to close my eyes
To what stirred under my bed,
Now they're open wide
To the monsters in my head.
Instead of claws, they whisper lies
Sinking fear in quiet steps,
So I will fight in the light
'Til I give my final breath.
Oh I'll fight in the light
'Til I give my final breath.
Said I will fight in the light
'Til I give my final breath.
Oh I'll fight in the light
'Til I give my final breath.
Growing up child
Is just a matter of time,
For giving all you've got,
So won't you dance under the sun.
Growing old
Feels like you're giving up your soul.
I'd rather give it freely
To the ones that I call home.
Growing up child
Is just a matter of time,
For giving all you've got,
So won't you dance under the sun.
Growing old
Feels like you're giving up your soul.
I'd rather give it freely
To the ones that I call home.
Growing up child
Is just a matter of time,
For giving all you've got,
So won't you dance under the sun.
Growing old
Feels like you're giving up your soul.
I'd rather give it freely
To the ones that I home.
I heard this in the car today. I'd been reading over at Liz's
about her story bag, filled with memories. This led to a link to an old post of Grace's,
which I remembered so clearly upon rereading it.
And then this song came to me, giving me even more to ponder. So, I have been.
I like this song, this band.
I'm too tired for any more tonight. A very bare-bones post. Nothing eloquent or mind-boggling (wait, are any of my posts like that?! haha)...just sharing.
Sharing seems to be one thing I'm really able to do.
I hope you enjoy this song too.
xo
When my body won't hold me anymore
And it finally lets me free
Will I be ready?
When my feet won't walk another mile
And my lips give their last kiss goodbye
Will my hands be steady?
When I lay down my fears
My hopes and my doubts
The rings on my fingers
And the keys to my house
With no hard feelings
When the sun hangs low in the west
And the light in my chest
Won't be kept held at bay any longer
When the jealousy fades away
And it's ash and dust for cash and lust
And it's just hallelujah
And love in thoughts and love in the words
Love in the songs they sing in the church
And no hard feelings
Lord knows they haven't done
Much good for anyone
Kept me afraid and cold
With so much to have and hold
Mmh
When my body won't hold me anymore
And it finally lets me free
Where will I go?
Will the trade winds take me south
Through Georgia grain or tropical rain
Or snow from the heavens?
Will I join with the ocean blue
Or run into the savior true
And shake hands laughing
And walk through the night
Straight to the light
Holding the love I've known in my life
And no hard feelings
Lord knows they haven't done
Much good for anyone
Kept me afraid and cold
With so much to have and hold
Under the curving sky
I'm finally learning why
It matters for me and you
To say it and mean it too
For life and its loveliness
And all of its ugliness
Good as it's been to me
I have no enemies
I have no enemies
I have no enemies
I have no enemies
Songwriters: Timothy Seth Avett / Scott Yancey Avett / Robert William Crawford
