Bird Droppings October 25, 2019
Within the circle of life a new life coming

I have wandered many miles emotionally, psychologically and spiritually the past few days. After being down physically for sixteen weeks limited to a hard cast from my leg injury it was removed yesterday and my adrenalin seriously kicked in. My wife and I had a super crazy totally eclectic day starting with our husky getting loose. We each had a few errands before my doctor appointment ne being I needed a tire repaired. I went by a shop where a former student worked. I thought back to my dad and his philosophy life and bought six cinnamon biscuits from Bojangles. I was going to leave with my former student at the tire place. He was off but I still shared with guys and got a free tire repair and told a few stories. I need to get my sleep habits shifted back to not having a fifty-pound cast on my leg. I had been sleeping on the recliner because the cast bothered my back when I laid down. It is a new day a glorious day today.

Resurrection
By Susan Thomas Underwood

The universe is energy in constant motion.
There are ebbs and flows;
Outcomes and income,
And change…… Always change.

The physical world reflects this motion
In the cycles of life,
There is spring and fall, winter and summer,
Birth and death; and rebirth…
Resurrection!

Einstein proved that even time is relative
In his theory of relativity,
All is relative …. All is change
You can count on it.

Be then as the willow;
Learn to bend with the wind!
Always dream, though your dreams may change.
Always produce, though your product may change.
Always love, though your love may change.
Always live, though your life will change.
You can count on it!

Susan Thomas Underwood is a native Oklahoman, Shawnee, and author. I saw her book of thoughts, Walk with Spirit, on Amazon.com and thought I might take a look. I am looking forward in the coming weeks ahead holidays and special events for me and my family. We will be celebrating a fifth birthday party for our first granddaughter; my youngest son and his wife who live in Winder Georgia are having a celebration. Then our second granddaughters third birthday is this week as my middle son and his wife who live in Southern Pines North Carolina will be having a party. Add to this and now five years ago roughly my middle son asked his girlfriend of over a year if she would marry him and she accepted and their anniversary is just past. My nephew and his wife celebrate their son’s fifth birthday and for an extended family so many blessings these days ahead to remember and more to come.

As I read this first entry in Underwood’s book I thought to my own existence these past sixty plus years and changes I have been through, as a son, parent, husband, father and now a grandfather.

“The beauty of the trees, the softness of the air, the fragrance of the grass, the summit of the mountain, the thunder of the sky, the rhythm of the sea, speaks to me. The faintness of the stars, the freshness of the morning, the dewdrop on the flower, speaks to me. The strength of the fire, the trail of the sun, and the life that never goes away, they speak to me and my heart soars.” Chief Dan George

I find myself quoting Dan George many times. Dan was a Salish chief from Canada and an accomplished actor later in his life. Some may remember him from the movie Little Big Man or Outlaw Josie Wales. But he was too an eloquent speaker and poet. He often spoke of nature but also of the intertwining of life. He would speak of the roads we each travel and cross many times. I spent most of the past weekend watching, observing, holding and photographing my grandchildren and helping my wife get the house ready for the holidays while she ran around hunting for bargains. I was at the baker and texted her a picture of the grandbaby’s birthday cake for the weekend and fortunately this year as she went to reach her phone she did not break her foot as she did last year. It is hard to recall a tiny newborn three years ago when each gesture and smile was first for her. I am so happy on how we as family responded and have encouraged her as she is learning daily. It seems even for a teacher watching my grandbabies learn daily I am amazed.

As a teacher being a grandparent becomes our teaching job number one, not so much to have them belief or think as I do but to provide pathways for them to walk and learn on her own. Our journeys in life are not always smooth going and it is being able to offer a hand when needed. I recall eight years back watching my granddaughter and my son as we went for blood work the bond that has been made in a few short hours is one of a lifetime. Watching her mother hold and talk softly whispering as she was carefully touching her eyes, nose and cheeks is a bond that is impossible to break. During a brief moment or two, I was peering through the lens of my camera as my granddaughter in a matter of seconds in her grandmother’s lap made a series of facial expressions almost as if she knew I have grandma wrapped around my ever so tiny finger now. We now have a fifth grand baby on the way and are excited all over again. As the orator and actor Dan George stated so many years ago, “they speak to me and my heart soars”.

It is the end of the week and grandbabies birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas on the way it is all happening so fast. May peace be with you all in the coming days and may we all keep those in harm’s way on our hearts and on our minds and always give thanks namaste.

My family and friends I do not say this lightly,
Mitakuye Oyasin
(We are all related)
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