Spin-a-pain!

Blog 30 …

My head begins to faintly spin.  Next, a throbbing pain builds up at my nape.  Soon it gets full blown and travels slowly, but surely from back to front of my head. I get nauseous, but I hold on.  I search with one hand for a relief bottle among the many bottles of pain relievers lodged in a drawer by my bed.  I spot one, open it frantically, and get one pill to my mouth.  I slump my head into a pillow and stay in it.  In minutes, the pain subsides.  A terrible headache attack is no picnic!

Click!

Blog 29 …

 

One squirrel, two squirrels, three, and then four, come tiptoeing out on the porch.  The first one checks the perimeter.  Stealthily, it moves a step or two to the spread out seeds.  “All clear!” it hollers to others crowding the porch steps.  They don’t know of the hidden bait that waits.  Sunflower seeds will bring the playful critters close to my window, and I shall have the front seat to watch and preserve their visit.  Click!

SpringFling

Blog 28 …

    Spring is four days old, but winter weather would not relent.  Not even the sun’s warmth could melt it.  Soon, the skies darken a good heavy gray.  Before anyone could protect young plants anxious to bloom and stretch, snow, for the seventh time, falls and covers them up.  I wonder if the already budding and sprouting daffodils would survive.  I have little hope that tree buds will hold on.   It is always a wait and see with creation!

Frozen Beauty

Blog 27 …

 

          Two times in a row, my young Magnolia trees suffered violent freeze from a variety of wintry precipitation.  A few more calendar days to spring season did not stop temperatures to drop and invite the clouds to cool and pour.  Without ceasing for hours, my poor Magnolias sucked up and stood tightly all it could take of the torrential downpour – alternating sleet, rain, and snow.  Drenched, they trembled and shuddered from the downpour.  In time, their fate was sealed … shiny, cold glazing built upon their still weak limbs and leaves.  It took long, but as soon as mixed precipitation showers stopped, I went out where they stood.  I frantically, though carefully pressed each leaf to shake and break the formed ice on each leaf’s face and back, hoping ... praying they survive the treacherous storm visitors. 

           As I took down the formed leaf-shaped ice coating, a hopeful idea burst in the back of my brain.  I gently pressed a few leaves and took the ileaf-shaped ice.  Then I created flowers on the ice covered ground.  Voila!  There they were - wishful, hopeful image of Spring!

Living&Dying

Blog 26 …

Winter storms surpassed their quota for year 2014.  It is the sixth downpour of not only snow, but also sleet. All things green outdoors had more than enough they could bear, so a little at a time, trees and bushes’ limbs, branches, leaves, and established nest resting on them, still useful to birds for the coming spring, all drop and fall to the ground.  Trees and bushes’ crown and trunk, which for many years long stood firm and proud, could neither carry the weight of snow and ice.   It was only a matter of time before they fall to the ground, and sure enough, they break and splatter on the ground.  Then … something happens in time.  The fallen trees complete their transformational magic.  From their buried seeds and spread pollen come new growths.  It was as if their fall simply was a passage … an eventful rising and birthing to fresh and young trees!
 
 

Service?

Blog 25 …

        

          Being summoned by a court system to serve peers should be perceived as a humbling task.  Service is necessary for all people who believe that justice must be upheld.  Jury Duty, better thought of as Jury Service nowadays however, can either be a learning experience of sort or be a huge drag and a waste of time - my personal time … that is!  

           Getting up as early as six AM just a day after daylight savings time change from fall back to spring forward is unpleasant for a must-do civil duty, if you know what I mean!  There I was though … giving in to it, but grudging and whining within.  After all I have no excuse getting out of it.  So I get in my car, still icy-cold from yesterday’s sleet storm.  I was glad to start the car without a hitch, but I drive in anxiety.  I weave images of what could happen at the courthouse as I move and merge with early traffic.  Soon my car’s GPS gets me close to “Jurors” designated parking deck downtown GSO. 

          “From here, where do I go now?” I quietly ask myself. 

Even though the downtown parking garage appears alienating, I am, nonetheless, glad to arrive at it, slide into a space, and park.  Out in the open, next to the main street, I realize the parking deck is located a few blocks away from the Courthouse.  I rush my walk so as not to get late, only to regret it.  At the entry door where other fellow jurors-to-be have already convened, a long line greets me.

          "Belts, coat jackets and personal paraphernalia must go into a bin and carried in through the security check," the court clerk’s voice blares.

          We all pay attention and do as told.  We queue, and then wait a turn to pass through the check booths.  Soon we are led to an exit door and instructed to get to a room in Floor 3.  We all quietly wait some more in a Juror Assembly Room.  I look around.  I begin to sense everyone’s fretfulness.  I am pleased that I am not alone with apprehension.  At the appointed time, the Clerk of Superior Court briefs everyone on procedures for juror selection and expectations: sit in one day’s trial or sit at duration of a trial, we learn.  Clarifications complete, we all sit some more, and wait for judges’ call for jurors at trials scheduled to happen for the day.  At half past eleven, roll for service is called.  It was not my fortunate day to serve. 

          I gripe over my wasted morning, but what a relief!

Mountaintop

Blog 24 …

The Samaritan, a character in one of Jesus’s centuries-old biblical parables, brings light to life’s challenges.  It is easy to focus attention on his assumed pain caused by being shoved in the cracks of society.  Ironically, a Samaritan's set apart status inwardly invites great rewards. Though in the story he was aligned with the afflicted, he found adversity as a bright and clear window for a compassionate action toward another mistreated stranger like him.  Others' indifference and non-acceptance of Samaritans, wherever they may be in the world, do not only create a compulsion to right a wrong.  It likewise builds on the iniquity, and makes it rise above challenges. That in itself isn't just a good outcome.  It is far excellent!

 

Ditch

Blog 23 ...

          Oftentimes, we say and convince ourselves that others' opinions of us matter not!  While this mantra encourages, it doesn’t always help strengthen resolve to simply ignore others’ negative opinions.  Not only do those unkind thoughts based on false perceptions wear us down; they also heavily trample and deeply wound us. They slam us in an uncomfortable spot that could devastate and bring us total ruin if we do not put our guard.  When such calamity steps in, our only chosen response is to rebound fast!  We must remind ourselves that we are God’s creations, sensible, productive, well-educated and resilient beings.  We must not be beaten.  We must more than ever find ways to rid of our world’s indifferences and callousness.  We should not succumb to being driven into the margins of society.  We must not let injustice of any kind breathe on us or shadow our existence!

Tweet!

Blog 22 ...

          Light from the roof window peeked early at six AM.  I refused to get up because the bed was just perfectly comfortable.  After all, the chilled air still lingered, and the layered bed covers offered pampering.  I was close to dozing off again when I heard twittering just outside the backyard access from the bedroom. The birds' cheerful chirping was so inviting; it was difficult to ignore the energy expending from their little tiny bodies.   

          I grudgingly asked myself, "What would it be: stay or get up?"

           Get up, of course!  I was gratified by the gathered birds and the gift they brought in songs to wake and cheer me!

SpringFever

 

Blog 21 ...

 

          There are three more weeks of winter, but an unusually beautiful sunshine bursts outside today!  Warmth comforts the trees and the entire outdoors after the winter chill two weeks ago.  Even critters rejoice and already, they are at play.  At the window, Dink and Cinn wait anxiously and wonder when the doors would open so they too could rush to embrace the gorgeous weather.  I tease them a bit.  I hold off their excitement.  I put on my shoes, wrap around a jacket on my back, pick up my walking stick, and then I head out to soak in the early spring-like weather.  Nothing beats a leisurely stroll out in the sun after weeks and days of cold!