First Morning Back Home

Grandsons "licking the bowl" at Thanksgiving - My Window and Pond in the background

I'm back in my chair by the window. It's cold this morning, but not too cold for the ducks and the geese. Our lone goose has been joined by three more - not sure if the same ones who disappeared in September - I suspect they moved to another of the many nearby ponds for a while. If they hang around, I'll be back to scooping goose poop again. Do you suppose some good is in all this? Could it be good for the grass? What do the local golf courses do about it? I remember when we lived in Clemson and walked the path at the Y on Lake Hartwell we occasionally saw what seemed like fifty to a hundred geese there and, of course, did some close watching of where we stepped.

What a way to start a blog post! Didn't really intend doing this when I sat, but that guy was honking so loudly I couldn't think about anything else. He's stopped now.

I am so pleased! I have been able to transfer my meditation practice as it was at South Beach to here. I have switched to my Claritas crystal candle holder since the red Christmas one was nearly exhausted. But, still the frankincense stick and the lovely healing bowl Anne gave me, my prayer shawl knitted by Sara, and the same calmness. I was pleasantly surprised by a halo around the candle flame this morning - a first - the colors of the rainbow appeared as a halo while I was repeating my mantra for each family member - beginning with me. The mantra came to me by way of Claritas and Karen Drucker, our beautiful musician when we were in Boulder. It is in the form of metta (lovingkindness) meditation. For those who didn't receive my Christmas annual letter, here are the words:

May I (you,we) be filled with lovingkindness

May I be well

May I be peaceful and at ease

And may I be happy.

And, indeed, I am happy. It is good to be home again - especially knowing I'll be leaving again on Wednesday to join family in Cumming and Suwanee for Christmas. I guess when I get right down to it, I am a wanderer. There is so much that I don't know yet and the most delightful way to learn is to be there!