January 28, 2013 · 10:35 pm

Of such is life

Today:

I purchased a ticket to go to Korea;
the church there has invited me to come
and speak about engagement in the
public arena.

My heart broke for women who
endure a culture of rape and violence;
for children who cry to sleep
with nothing to eat;
for peoples whose countries are
torn by war;
for sisters and brothers I do not know
who are violated in ways I
cannot imagine.

I raised a glass in memory of my father
who died 39 years ago
this day.

I spent significant time doing laundry and
washing dishes.

Exciting.
Joyful.
Heartbreaking.
Painful.
Grief-filled.
Mundane.

Of such is life.

See you along the Trail.

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January 28, 2013 · 3:21 pm

Purple Flowers, Dubhlinn Gardens 2

Dubh Linn Gardens, Dublin Castle 2

While in Dublin waiting for
Roja and Joel’s wedding,
I visited Dublin Castle with
Tricia, Bruce, Nancy.

There I discovered,
artfully disguised as
miniature purple rabbits,
the guards who stand watch
over the Dubhlinn Gardens.

27 April 2012
Dubhlinn Gardens, Dublin Castle
Ireland

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January 26, 2013 · 9:37 pm

Sitting vigil

vigilThe news crossed my Facebook page early this afternoon. People in Ohio and in India called for a worldwide blackout and candlelight vigil as a witness for an end to rape – for today – January 26 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. T.V.N. Clutch, India, the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, and the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence sponsored the event.

The word came to late for me to organize participation with anyone else. So I spread the word as widely as I could on social media. And from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., I turned out the lights and lit candles. It was a tad disorienting. But for those affected, the experience of being raped is more than a tad disorienting.

In the silent darkness, I reflected on how rape is not only a violation, but a means to control. I grieved. I prayed. I pondered what I have done, what I have failed to do, and what I could do. I took a picture of one candle and shared in on Facebook, using my phone, not my computer.

As I turned the lights back on, one of the first things I did was to send  a message to my Senators asking them to co-sponsor the Violence Against Women Act. While not the only piece, this legislation represents an important part of the effort to end sexual and intimate partner violence that violates women, and some men, and shames us all.

See you along the Trail.

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January 25, 2013 · 10:47 pm

25 January – an Orange Day

Orange DayToday, January 25, and the 25th of each month, is an Orange Day – a day to witness and work for an end to violence against women and girls.

On this day, I:

Work remains. Much work remains.

See you along the Trail.

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January 25, 2013 · 10:36 pm

Knight of the 21st century

Battered, but  unbroken,
he rises.

Beaten, but undefeated,
he rises.

Bruised, but undaunted,
he rises.

The shine long gone,
dents make his armor
appear infected
with a rusty pox.
Still he rises.

Creaks and squeaks,
from metal joints –
or human joints –
fill the air.
Yet still he rises.

There be no dragons,
no endless tasks,
no giants,
but simply living –
decent, loving,
just living,
day by day by
endless day.
And to that quest,
the highest quest,
again he rises,
still he rises.
always he rises.

He rises.
He rises.
He rises.

25 January 2013
Shire on the Hudson 

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January 21, 2013 · 6:41 pm

Purple flowers, Dubhlinn Gardens 1

Dubh Linn Gardens, Dublin Castle, April 27, 2012

Behind Dublin Castle
lie the Dubhlinn Gardens.

In the Castle’s shadow,
by the Chester Beatty Library,
eels entwine:
Veronica Guerin is remembered;
members of An Garda Síochána
killed in the service of the people are honored;
and purple flowers grow.

27 April 2012
Dubhlinn Gardens, Dublin Castle
Ireland

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January 20, 2013 · 9:45 pm

Ice, thin and thinner

Some ice is thin.

Some ice is even thinner.

The ice today at The Lake at Central Park was the thinnest I have ever seen.

IMG_9948 (1024x683)20 January 2013

The Lake, Central Park

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January 19, 2013 · 5:06 pm

Why I like New York 26: art

photo (3)Art decorates the city.  One finds art almost everywhere – in the museums for certain, but also in unexpected places.

After my adventure at Riverside Cleaners, I made my way down Broadway toward Village Copier. At 117th Avenue, Aphrodite caught my eye. One of seven pieces by Saint Clair Cemin, she stands on the Broadway Malls.

As with most art, I am not sure, I understand the sculpture. I am sure I could not explain it. But I am glad New York has the sculpture and that art fills the city. It helps make me classy.

See you along the Trail.

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January 19, 2013 · 3:10 pm

Why I like New York 25: good people

The people. The good people. Of course no place is perfect. No group of people is perfect. Of course we meet good people everywhere. And anywhere. And any time. But I met one today and so I need to give a shout out.

I dropped off some dry cleaning at Riverside Cleaners. It was a bit complicated of an order involving some work for a tailor. Maybe I am getting too big for my britches.

In the process of explaining the situation, I put an envelope with some important papers down on the counter. Going in I made a mental note not to forget the envelope. Apparently my mind heard the mental not as saying, “Forget the envelope.” So I did.

As I entered a restaurant a few doors up the street, I felt someone tug on my arm. I turned around to find the manager from Riverside Cleaners with my envelope in her hand.

Imperfect we may be, but I gotta love New Yorkers.

Let me know if you need a recommendation for a dry cleaner.

See you along the Trail.

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January 19, 2013 · 2:23 pm

From Time to Time

Maggie Smith did it again. She almost always turns in a great performance. Today’s film, chosen because of her presence, proved no exception.

From Time to Time is not a great movie. The story is more than a tad sentimental. Many characters remain undeveloped. Some seem out-of-place. Dialogue is often stilted. One strand of the story has a fairly unbelievable ending as do some scenes. Another strand ends in a predictable manner.

But the movie deals with great themes – class, slavery, life, death, and character. Most of all it deals with relationships and love. In the end, it gets no greater than that.

One piece of dialogue stays with me. When faced with a situation that worried her, one character observes:

What will people say?

To which comes the quick response:

Nothing that will interest me.

A wonderful attitude. A difficult attitude to keep. But an attitude to which it might do well to aspire.

And of course, Dame Maggie was wonderful as the grandmother who has much to teach and maybe even more to learn.

See you along the Trail.

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