thoughts on how we fit into the web of community, family and society
The space between the spheres thins and the wind creates passageways.
The spirits are outraged; how could they be otherwise? Their dance tramples
And blows things down, but still cannot help but create beauty.
The leaves–green, red, gold, brown from the drought, that distant memory–
Hang listlessly with the weight of rain and a bit of slush
Hardly even dancing in the wind, but still becoming perhaps
More extravagantly lovely by the storm’s grey light.
This morning, as I read this poem by Janet Hoffman, which is collected in Plain Living–A Quaker Path to Simplicity by Catherine Whitmire, I thought of friends and family and students and colleagues who are living with loss and illness and other struggles.
I wish sometimes that I could heal or make happy everyone I know. Knowing that is not possible or even right, I wish for myself and those in need to know strength and courage and joy even when faced with causes for deep suffering.
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
Watching traffic blocked, standing hands over ears having to wait to cross the street as an ambulance races in an emergency gives us the opportunity to b grateful that this time it is not for us and also that the emergency workers are there if we need them (so long as we can remember them in our societal budget priorities). It is also an opportunity to respond from the highest, to be reminded to offer love and healing instead of responding with annoyance at the minor disruption in our path.
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
How long will they be allowed to stay without repercussion? I am holding all who are brave enough to be “occupying” in the light. I walked past McPherson Square on my way to a routine doctor’s appointment covered by health insurance. Shouldn’t everyone be able to get medical care for only a modest co-payment?
Below: photos of “Occupy DC” at McPherson Square on 10/27.
Snagged in the trees were
Balloons that escaped skywards.
Or were they released?
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
It is time to pay attention to the garden, to watch closely whether it will be a warmer fall or whether there will be an early frost. Yesterday, there was a chance of temperatures in the mid-30’s F in the next few days. Now, the first day below 38F (which is when I bring in the hardiest of the tropicals–they like to get nights in the 40s F, but not the 30’s F) is toward the end of the 15-day forecast. I gambled that temperatures would stay warm enough until the next time I would be able to spend the hour and a half moving plants inside. It is best when I can do it on a weekend, but in a pinch I have done it first thing in the morning instead of my regular practice before starting the work day. I wait until the last minute because the plants are so much happier outside. They don’t mind four months inside, they are ok with five, and they start really suffering at six months. This means I watch closely danger of first and last frost to keep the plants outside as long as possible.
Some things, such as the impatiens and begonias that I was taught by my paternal grandmother to bring inside as cuttings to root in winter and then replant in spring start struggling outside when lows are steadily in the 40’sF, which is why I did the cuttings today. The tomatoes are still producing, so I have not yet switched the raised beds from tomatoes to hardy greens, but the seeds I planted when I pulled up the peppers and the eggplant are starting to come up.
Today’s harvest included: Cherokee purple, roma, and cherry tomatoes, green beans, baby butternut squash, thai hot chili peper, white and orange carrots to eat now; sweet herbs to dry for infusions–stevia, licorice mint, lemon balm, lemon verbena, spearmint. Coming up: spinach, chard, turnip greens.
On the remote chance that you (dear reader) did not already receive it directly below is a letter from Move-On about President Obama’s statement that all troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by year’s end. My post on FB was as follows:
“I wish my reaction wasn’t ‘I’ll believe it when I see it,’ immediately followed by, ‘and what about Afghanistan?” Still, it is hopeful news.”
Dear MoveOn member,
Today, President Obama formally announced the end of the war in Iraq, as the remaining 48,000 American troops in Iraq will be brought home by year’s end.1
After almost nine years, the loss of more than 4,400 American troops and countless Iraqi civilian lives, and a cost of $800 billion that was badly needed at home, a war that should have never begun is finally coming to an end.2 It’s bittersweet relief from an ongoing tragedy—and for MoveOn members who lost loved ones, a very personal tragedy.
While it’s long overdue, it’s important to remember that even up until today, conservatives and military advisers have been pressing to keep tens of thousands of troops in Iraq indefinitely.3
So there is no doubt that we would not be here without the dedicated work of millions of Americans nationwide who struggled tirelessly to bring this war to an end and our troops home. From small vigils to massive marches, from phone calls to our leaders to letters to the media, you and many others helped make this day possible.
Yet, it’s also true that the struggle to bring our troops home continues, as long as tens of thousands of troops remain in Afghanistan. The future of Iraq will now be left to the Iraqi people, and it’s long past time to leave the future of Afghanistan to its people as well.
And though the war is ending, tens of thousands of troops will continue to struggle with the physical and psychological wounds from their service in Iraq. We encourage you to visit the Wounded Warrior Project to learn more and to donate to support those who served: http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
We can’t rest until all troops are safely out of harm’s way—and our veterans and families are given the support and care they deserve.
Thanks for all you did to fight for this day and for all you do to fight for a safer, more peaceful world.
–Justin, Carrie, Elena, Sarah, and the rest of the team
P.S. You can see photos from years of MoveOn member work to prevent and end the war here: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90208&id=32202-1983776-lxe54Jx&t=2
Sources:
1. “Obama announces full withdrawal from Iraq,” USA Today, October 21, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=265907&id=32202-1983776-lxe54Jx&t=3
2. “After Nearly Nine Years of War and Occupation, America to Withdraw All Troops from Iraq,” The Nation, October 19, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=265893&id=32202-1983776-lxe54Jx&t=4
3. Ibid.
“Conservatives launch pre-emptive strike against Obama’s Iraq plan,” Foreign Policy, September 15, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=265896&id=32202-1983776-lxe54Jx&t=5
“A troop drawdown that would fail Iraq,” The Washington Post, September 16, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=265897&id=32202-1983776-lxe54Jx&t=6
Want to support our work? We’re entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.
PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. This email was sent to Elizabeth Goodman on October 21, 2011. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here. 
This just in from William Penn House’s Executive Director:
You are invited to attend a potluck and Quaker dialogue at 6:30 PM on Sunday November 6, 2011
Our Program this First Day is presented by Ann Wilcox & Micah Bales
“Occupy…”
The outcry against the political influence of financial institutions that has swept the country in recent weeks has crossed many boundaries, including class, gender and age. “Occupy” events are growing in cities and towns throughout the world. Here in DC, there are two groups occupying different parks. The movement has energy, and is gaining attention. But how much do we know about what is driving this? Are there certain issues and an agenda? Is this a culmination of many issues of our society coming together, or is it something completely different? Is ignoring the movement a good idea? Is presuming to know what is going on too presumptive? These are among the questions we will be exploring and discussing.
Ann Wilcox will be leading the discussion. She is an attorney in Washington, DC, practicing for more than 20 years. She is active with the National Lawyers Guild, which provides legal representation and works on issues of social justice and economic equality. She provides Demonstration Support for many activists who come to DC to advocate for peace, the environment and other issues. She is currently providing legal support for the October 2011/Stop the Machine andOccupy DC groups, and can speak about issues related to the occupations. Ann has attended Friends Meeting of Washington and is currently active at Foundry United Methodist Church.Micah Bales is coordinator of Young Adult Engagement for Earlham School of Religion and lives in Washington, DC.
Micah has been an active presence with Occupy DC since its inception. Micah, a graduate of ESR, is a member of Rockingham Friends Meeting of Ohio Yearly Meeting Conservative.
Bring a dish to share; family members, neighbors and friends are always welcome. Note: William Penn House is an alcohol and tobacco free facility.
For more information, see www.WilliamPennHouse.org
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
I woke up woozy and sore this morning and went back to sleep for about 45 minutes after I was done with my morning practice. Although it is atypical for me to need more sleep after I have practiced, I knew that I was not sick. I was just experiencing side effects from the flu shot.
I have only gotten the flu shot once before. The side effects felt like I had the flu (albeit a mild case), and I got the flu any way that year. As I haven’t gotten the flu in the past several years, I have not gotten the shot in subsequent years. (Note: The vaccine has been very effective 17 of the past 25 years, and not particularly effective for three of the other years. It was suggested to me that I should not continue basing my decision on having, by coincidence, only gotten the shot during one of the ineffective years–2003-2005).
I was strongly advised to get the flu shot this year as a precaution for the trip to India. The plane travel, regardless of how much healthy living I do otherwise, will both tax my immune system and put me in contact with a host of viruses, etc. Also, and perhaps more important, I know I will be visiting loved ones in the hospital this flu season. Going through a little discomfort now is worth it to minimize the risk to those I will be visiting.
Have you gotten your flu shot?
Below: Workers line up to get the flu shot at the Health Unit.
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.