Yin and Yang

"Toby, I just ate a medley of Springtime...fresh strawberries...fresh blueberries...a splash of cream...a soupçon of honey from local bees."

"Me too!" he said...a mouse, fresh from the field...a rat..."  He rolled over so the sun could bake his other side.

Sometimes I forget he's a carnivore from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail. Wendy has confirmed a bird has been seen to be among his rations, but my mind's denial system likes to think that rodents are his staples, not our avian friends. Ah, the yin and yang of our lives.

Which reminds me...

"Toby, did you know that ten years ago the United Nations started up a world happiness report?"

"Do you mean to tell me somebody is keeping track? There are almost eight billion of you humans! How could they do that?"

"Each year, the UN sends out questions to people in 156 countries--not all the people, that would be billions--but still, a large amount. When they get the answers back, they tally them up to see which countries have a lot of happiness and which ones don't. This year, they also looked back at all the answers over these past ten years to get a better idea how to sustain people's happiness."

"What did they find out?" he asked.

"Well, Jeffrey Sachs, an economist who helped get these yearly surveys started said, 

'The lesson of the world happiness report over the years is that social support, generosity to one another, and honesty in government are crucial for wellbeing,'"

"Ha! That guy over in Russia needs to hear that!" Toby exclaimed.

"I wish!" I said, "and maybe some others. Just think, three simple things..."

"Yes," he said, "a mouse, a rat, and a b....." he stopped and left my denial alone.

Yin and Yang...

*

We'll go now to The Sports Desk:

Today, the Arts, and Health mingle with Sports in texts and mails from Kingston and family. Kingston weathered recovery from his tonsillectomy and after about a week was resuming activities. He colored a picture of his favorite car, a Lamborghini, for me...

And, I got in the mail a picture card of him from his basketball season...

Way to go, Jazz Man!

And, he soon was flying kites in the park...

So, I texted him this from my happy iPad and Apple Pencil.

Wonderful to see you feeling better, Kingston.

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Weather changing to spring opened up the horseshoe and quoits pits for residents where I live. I jumped in with three others who showed up to try their horseshoe chops for a couple of games...

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I caught Wendy just before she was taking off to the stables nearby for more jumping practice...

She is enjoying the others who ride at the stables, too, and has taken up Salsa lessons and dancing with them.

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The Arts Desk:

In Tucson, springtime has been abundantly evident in Paula's art and journaling...

This one stays in my mind when I think of springtime in Tucson. Thank you, Paula.

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In the Time of Pandemic: Alone on Another Grey Day in April

alone doesn't work anymore

it's gone on too long

the pull of projects

mists away in

sinking enthusiasm

single activities 

lie about in

fractured fits of

procrastinations

sadness

and grief

years advancing

cry for fulfillment

just one more time

just one more time

was that last journey

the last journey?

was that last visit

the last visit?

old age challenges

grow steeper

and deeper

to sob at pandemic

barricades

the dual reality

closing time windows

one-by-one

the throb of alone cries out

for the each other

in each of us

      --JM--April 2022

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How good it was to re-connect with our two young musicians again. 

Aidan got home from Cincinnati, his Freshman year completed with commitments to teach cello this summer. He has six students already. We've had several enjoyable walks. And, I don't have to worry about getting back to my car if I fall and break my leg. He could just sling me up over his shoulder and haul me back.

Keoni came home on the train for a brief visit before a week's tour in Germany with the NY Philharmonic. I enjoyed picking him up at the train station to go together to the farm for his mom's Mother's Day--me included. Can I get my head around him as a Texan when he leaves to his new employment with Houston Symphony in September?

Lone Star Man exiting SEPTA at Lansdale Station.

*

With sadness we remember our artist friend Phil who passed away a couple of days after the post here two weeks ago, yet I feel joy and deep gratitude for his friendship. May Peace and Love and Kindness be your forever fare, old friend.

*

From Wendy.