peace on the table
undiluted, unabridged
indescribable
a taste of freedom
delicious imagining
how sweet would it feel?
God in your wisdom
please grant the balm of world peace
all children deserve.
peace, people.
I awakened to the sound of music with a heavy back beat: Thump, drag, thump, drag, thumpety-thump, drag.
Four behemoths surrounded me, circling closer at every turn.
Three were unholy physical specimens, long of tooth and claw. Fearsome in their intent.
The fourth was lame, addlepated, carefully moving one stumpy appendage in front of the other.
Snatching at the box of sanity I kept on my nightstand, I watched and waited for an opening.
When the crippled beast stumbled, as we all knew he would, I dashed between his grasping arms.
Stinging pain sang through my neck, a lucky blow rained down.
I screamed, a tuneless melody of injured flesh, and the beasts paused.
“Yes! Yes!” they all cried out. “Now the dance can begin.”
Hold my hand,
Say the right lines.
Give me something,
Solid to believe in.
Scramble my brain,
Realign the stars.
Make me question
Heaven and hell.
Parade my intellect
Along with my form.
Chastise my tastes
In music and art.
I’ll sip discreetly from a
Chalice of champagne,
Inhale collitas rising
Through the refrain.
Loosen the bindings
My soul in a slow burn
Chafe my wrists
Until feeling returns.
Don’t be surprised
If I don’t reappear
Even if I do
I won’t be the same.
http://youtu.be/lrfhf1Gv4Tw
peace, people!
No bull! 
Apart from the skirt pulled up way too high–Erkel style under my boobs and the dainty sandals on my pretty feet I look like a real life bull rider. Right? Right? Why do I hear crickets?
******************************
I own a ukulele now, purchased from a shop in Amarillo. So far, I know two notes, but the ukulele is small and my body is bulky. Together we look odd, like the instrument is being absorbed into my flesh. Like Jabba the Hut swallowing a little invertebrate whole. Gulp.
I’m not going to let appearances prevent me from learning to play the ukulele. Nossirree. But I might need to purchase a muumu just to complete the whole vibe.
****************************
Each day, the tattoo my nephew Russell bestowed upon me becomes prettier. I’ve tried to explain my feelings about it which go above and beyond anything I expected.
Having never been a particularly attractive woman, it pleases me more than I can say to have such a beautiful piece of art adorning my body. It makes me feel happy. And just a little bit special. I only regret not having it done sooner.
******************************
One friend asked what I’d listened to during my adventure. If I were to try and list my choices in some kind of order, it might look like this:




I also listened and sang along to the Classic Vinyl station, as well as the 60’s and 70’s stations on Sirius/XM. The comedy stations helped me cover many miles as well.
And then there were great distances without any sound other than that of my tires on pavement. Driving through the cities of Nashville, Kansas City, Dallas, and Houston required a great deal of concentration, and radio silence was a balm for my soul and a boost for my driving skills.
*****************************
Being home feels good. Today is a day for tackling mountains of laundry and snuggling cats, and for reading blog posts. I’ve been a terrible follower these past two weeks, clicking through blogs with nary a comment.
Thanks for all your positive vibes and support during my journey. Here’s a little Simon and Garfunkel to tie things up.
Peace, people!
buildings, red and green,
blue, coral, with shades of brown
stacked in city high
I purchased this coloring sheet to work on with the grandchildren when I went to babysit them in Illinois a couple of weeks ago. As you can see, we didn’t finish it, so I brought it back home to Florida.
I’m easily amused.
Peace, people!
Incredible!

Some people think that sled dogs are forced to run. It’s not true. As I’ve been told already a dozen times this week by mushers: You can’t push a rope.
Sled dogs are Alaskan Huskies. This means that they are an amalgam of breeds; sled dogs are different sizes, different colors, different looks. What they have in common is a genetic desire to run along with physical characteristics that support the ability to run long distances in cold.
There’s a science and an art to raising sled dogs and putting together a winning team but the part that impresses me the most is the relationship dimension between the musher and their dogs. There is an enormous amount of physical affection that goes on, a lot of physical care and handling, laying on of hands at every stop, praising and long talks.
Yes, long talks. Kristin Pace told a story of…
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