a drop of light...

one love

on a snowy tuesday...

Mother Nature has been demanding my attention
so i guess i will just have to give it to her. wheee...
but as much as I enjoy playing in the snow,
i am forever thoughtful of those
who remain without food and shelter
in these arctic temperatures.
tonight, I pray deeply for them.

(exhale).

* * *

okay, those of you who know me already may suspect that perhaps, maybe some of my roots are blonde.  did you realise that it is now summer in Australia and other parts of the world right now?  Like this very minute?  Australia has been on my mind a lot lately, especially with the recent devastating flood.  I have a very good friend who lives there and she turns half a century today!!!  Won't you stop over to her place and wish her very happy birthday.  it would mean the world to me.

* * *

just in case you're hanging out with lady luck, stop by here before friday for a special giveaway;

and

it's definitely not to late to still join us in a collective random act of kindness, forget.me.not.

one love.

embrace loving-kindness...

Recently, as we were returning home complaining of the bitter cold, my daughter and I encountered a survivor of an ongoing building fire.  She was standing in a corridor, dressed only in her obviously comfy pajamas, socks on her feet, wearing a do-rag (for those who have worn them, you understand the importance of this!) and was clinging to her top trying to cover her body.

Can i help you? in any way?, little Selah asked.

Oh no, my dear.  I'm just standing here keeping an eye on my apartment because i ran out, just like this, leaving the door open, the lady replied.

Her soft, familiar Haitian accent immediately warmed my heart and we burst into conversation.  We shared a quick geographical lesson, because the beautiful land of my birth, Montserrat, is barely visible on most maps.   A lesson I've rehearsed well by now since I've been giving it since I was a teenager.  Usually, the live volcano does the trick, and it didn't fail me this time either.

We talked a little about the Caribbean...the feeling of inter-connectedness you get when you meet one another.  (I wonder if it's like this for everyone.)  We offered her shelter from the cold, if only to warm up, but she decided to stand guard until it was safe to return.  Waving goodbye, we left.

Little Selah really wanted to help her.  So, we got her a cup of mint tea (a little refreshment in times like these), some of my homemade coconut pound cake (you know, for comfort food), and a sweater to keep her warm.  

...and they both smiled, and my heart was glad...  the end.

what random act of kindness shall i do today?  hmmm...

guest post: just me...

whoo-hoo!!! i am so elated...my baby sister is getting married!!!   I cannot thank her enough for gracing my space and sharing her love story with us.  Her words of poetry simply warms my soul.  I am speechless, at this moment.
i love you Sis (waving at Em).

you're sweet like a krispy kreme

and just as rare

if I was a songwriter

I'd write your song right here

you're better than the best that ever was.

Any person that questions that last statement gets punched square in the nose...

I'm your silly, random, violent, selfless, crazy woman

and your the muse to all my poetry and potential prose

like "the perfect verse over a tight beat"

you might be proof that movie romance is attainable

the way you make me feel: in-explainable

even if I had all the world's alphabets

to make up all the possible words in the universe

I'd have to use them all

and still couldn't compose an accurate verse.

if I were a collectors edition pair of Louboutins

for sure, you'd be the matching purse.

yang,

I'm happy to be your yin

and I jest

but you know

that forever

you're my everything

'course I'll wear your ring

and 'course I'll be your wife

there's no one else with whom I'd share

this crazy thing called life

so I'll take your hand

and kung-fu grip it tight

(so you don't do that stupid swingy thing you were doing

when we went out the other night)

and we'll figure out all that other stuff

married people are supposed to do,

know why??



I'll give you three guesses,

though you should only need one to get it right...

okay, you're taking too long

so I'll just tell you why



it's 'cause I love you.

(no takesy-backsies, double pinky swear,

promise, I'll always be there

even if your feet smell,

or you start losing your hair

know, that with rogaine and odor-eaters

I will be right here)


*image captured by Keith Claytor, Time Frozen Photography.  
one love, my friends.

a moment of togetherness...

I am elated to share that as of today, we are scheduled to send out 65 greeting cards filled with love from Selah's Angels.  It has been such an amazing experience to connect with all of you as we collectively perform another random act of kindness (forget.me.not).  Words can not describe the impact your kind words of inspiration has on our sisters in need.  melts my heart...  thank you all, so very much.

~ ~ ~

and as if i needed something else to amp me up...

this Sunday, January 16, 2011, a dream come true!!!
Buju Banton & friends, Live on stage in Miami.  And because Buju is so mindful of the global support he has received in his time of need, the Before the Dawn concert will be broadcasted online (pay per view) so that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy this historical moment of togetherness.  whoo hoo!!!  getting me dreads all twisted up in a bunch ;)

have a conscious friday and a divine long weekend.
happy MLK day.  one love. togetherness.

in the midst of a storm...

no sight of sun in the sky
but i know she's still up there
shining down upon me.

so if you see someone
in the midst of a storm
shine a little light their way.

*haiti, i still see you (one year later).  please take a moment to pray for our Haitian brothers and sisters today.

*p.s.  it's not too late to join in on our random act of kindness, forget.me.not

a wave of love...

mommy daughter time

make bath fizzies and

handmade greetings cards

send love notes from angels

pray. meditate. exhale

break bread together

hug me and dance

then shower each other
in lots and lots of kisses.
muah!

how did you spend your day?

* * * 

A most special thanks to all of you for taking part in forget.me.not, a collective random act of kindness.  You really inspire me with your capacity for kind deeds.  I just know that your greeting cards will send a wave of love and positive vibes out into the universe, and deeply touch the hearts of the recipients:

iasa, blissfully unaware lounge singer

anyes, far away in the sunshine

cathi, every adventures of a curious gal

vickie, operation you

cinner, things about the who, what, when, where, and why

ELK, red and gray depends on the day

lyn, lyn's life pixels

m.heart, secret notebooks.wild pages

lisa, lisa's chaos

tracey, quietly kickin' and screamin'

tracy, pink purl

baracka, walk by faith

chris, an inch of time

kass, the K Is no longer silent

gail, know your it's

margie, soeurs du jour

kim,  a box of chocolates

beth, be yourself...everyone else is taken

gayle, planet m files

birdie, simple ways

sharon, happenings on chaos ranch

libby, the art of starting over

kim, queen of arts

connie, loose lemons

teresa, the cottage on the corner

jessica, life is but a dream

mother/daughter, spread your wings

anu, my courageous life

vickie, nature's details

darcel, the mahogany way

lisa, anali's first amendment

One Love, Se'lah.

forget me not...

changing the world
one random act of kindness
at a time...

* * *

Two years ago, my beloved friend BJ was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. (exhale). Quite a sobering experience for sure but JAH has walked in stride with me, even carried me along the way, in my attempts to shower her with as much love as is humanly possible.  

At the outset, a friend suggested that I write BJ each week.  It would be good for both of you, she said.  I didn't know what to say at first...I mean, what could I say?  I cried.  I prayed.  I meditated.  And deep in the stillness, I found my words...

In sharing this experience, Selah's Angels soon emerged - a group of wonderful bloggers and friends who volunteered to send anonymous greeting cards to BJ at their leisure.  Their words of love and random acts of kindness lifted BJ's spirits to unimaginable heights, and continue to make a world of difference in her life.  thank you oh so much.  BJ was so touched by your compassion, she requested that I connect her with someone in need to periodically shower with love.  As you may (or may not) remember, I taught her how to quilt during our most recent visit together.  Imagine my surprise when BJ called me all excited to tell me that she made a quilt and sent it to this beautiful soul she has never met, just because.  

For two years now, Selah's Angels have been sending greeting cards to those in need - primarily the sick and elderly, especially those touched by cancer.   The recipient list has since grown by request (which we have happily embraced).  

This year, Random Acts of Kindness week will be celebrated globally from February 14 - 20, so I thought it would be a good time to invite you to join Selah's Angels in sending one of the recipients on  our list a warm greeting card in the mail (anonymously of course).  You need only send one greeting card (handmade or store bought) and there is no future commitment required in this shower of love. If you are interested, please leave a comment here or email me at necessaryroom@gmail.com.

*All greeting cards should be mailed by February 14, 2011*

forget.me.not

embracing life...

i remember not so long ago

as i was giving birth to new leaves

you cursed the pollen i released

because it made you sneeze

but now you curse my naked branches

because they provide no buffer

to protect your frozen cheeks

from the bitterly cold wind

and then there are those

who embrace winter's arrival

because they recognise and appreciate

that each moment is precious

so if you just happen

to drive by a snow covered hill

why not grab your sleds

and go for a ride ;)

wheeeeee...