inspiration

FRIDAY FOTO: DEATH AND HOPE

/ The Coastal Crone / 49 Comments

 

A couple of weeks ago we went out to Freer to celebrate my brother-in-law’s 92nd birthday.  It was a beautiful clear crisp day with just enough warmth to make you want to soak up the sun after being hunkered down at home.  Then we saw the vulture perched defiantly on a light pole as if waiting for something to die.  Yet to its right and just below was an equally defiant bird – a male cardinal resting on a dead limb.  Neither flew away as Husband took a photo.

The tranquil scene seemed to me a perfect relection of this time in the middle of a pandemic.  Yes, there is death and the threat of dying, but along side the darkness there is hope.  While a vulture conjures up thoughts of death and decay, the cardinal is seen by some as a sign of a departed loved one or at least a good omen or good luck.  My mother always told me to make a wish if I saw a cardinal.  That day I put two fingers to my lips, made a wish and blew it a kiss as my mother had taught me when I was a child at this same place.

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FRIDAY FOTO: Boobs and Betty Bombers

/ The Coastal Crone / 59 Comments

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

On Saturday, October 17, I participated in a walk to raise money for the American Cancer Society as a member of the BETTY BOMBERS team from the USS Lexington on the Bay Museum  where my daughter works.  Husband trailed along to take these photos.  My daughter and I walked in honor and in memory of my niece, CHERYL LYLES SMITH, who died in 2012 of cancer.  There were 16,000 walkers who raised $460,000; the BETTY BOMBERS raised $5,374.  Below are photos that Husband took  on a gloriously beautiful South Texas day. 

2015 10 17 Making Strides (108)

 2015 10 17 Making Strides (22)Some of the Betty Bombers getting ready to walk.

2015 10 17 Making Strides (1)Young walkers arriving.

2015 10 17 Making Strides (2)Pink Men from Radiology Associates, a sponsor.

2015 10 17 Making Strides (7)Walkers checking out the booths before the start.

2015 10 17 Making Strides (12)Harbor Bridge and floral sculpture

2015 10 17 Making Strides (13)The Water Garden was turned pink.

2015 10 17 Making Strides (17)Crone and Daughter

2015 10 17 Making Strides (24)Source of the “pink” fountain with the original part of the Art Museum in the background.

2015 10 17 Making Strides (26)Old Glory raised with a pink crane.

2015 10 17 Making Strides (30)They’re off and walking/running along the bay front!

2015 10 17 Making Strides (86)The pink gorilla in the walk.

2015 10 17 Making Strides (35)Cooks walking for a cure!  Their aprons read, “Cooking up a recipe for a cure!”

2015 10 17 Making Strides (87)The marina is in the background; many of the boats had pink flags.

2015 10 17 Making Strides (89)This blood hound and his parents wore tutus.

2015 10 17 Making Strides (118)We made it!  So did the pink gorilla!

2015 10 17 Making Strides (126)At the pink Corpus Christi fire truck with ribbons for each type of cancer.

2015 10 17 Making Strides (128)Husband/Photographer

This post is dedicated to those who survived breast cancer and to those who fought and lost and to all whose bodies have been marked with cancer of any type.

Lesson from “La Cage Aux Folles” – The Best of Times is Now

/ The Coastal Crone / 30 Comments

 

One of my favorite movies is “The Birdcage” with Robin Williams, Nathan Lane and Gene Hackman, as there are so many layers to savor.  Yet I had never seen the musical, “La Cage Aux Folles,” until I saw it last month at a local theater, Harbor Playhouse, in Corpus Christi.  Husband, Daughter and I attended a Sunday matinee performance.

2015 05 31 The Bird Cage (1)

2015 05 31 The Bird Cage (9)

Daughter and I were delighted when Husband brought our wine in commemorative  glasses.

2015 05 31 The Bird Cage (11) The production was great fun and an outstanding last performance.  My favorite song was “The Best of Times is Now”as it reminded me (at this age) that the best times are those right now in the moment…tomorrow…who knows…CHEERS!

2015 05 31 The Bird Cage (10)

A PLEDGE FOR EARTH DAY

/ The Coastal Crone / 28 Comments

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“Wintering in Port Aransas” by Steve Russell

 I Pledge Allegiance to the Earth
And to the Universal Spirit
Which gives us Life;
One Planet, Indivisible
Peace and Justice for Us All.

I Pledge to do my Best
To uphold the Trust bestowed
In the Gift of my Life;
To care for Our Planet
And our Atmosphere,
To Respect and Honor
All her Inhabitants,
All People, Animals,
Plants and Resources,
To Create a Legacy
For Our Children
And Our Children’s Children
In a World of Harmony and Love.

I Pledge Allegiance
To the Universal Spirit,
By whatever Name it may be called.
I align my Life
With the ongoing Process
of Creation;
To grow Myself with Care,
To Act from My Own Integrity,
To Be for Others
How I would want them
To Be for Me.

Together
May We carry this Vision
Into our Hearts,
Into our Daily Choices,
And through Our
Expanding Consciousness
Within and Beyond Our Planet.

Edna Reitz, 1988

 NOTE: Several months ago I found this pledge from a 2011 post on the blog, The Native HeartLight, and saved it for an Earth Day post.  Since then I have not been able to find out anything more about Edna Reitz ,who was given credit for it on a poster, or the pledge itself.  Perhaps she got it from someone else.  I attempted to contact the author of the blog but never received an answer. If anyone knows anything about it, please share.  I still liked it and wanted to share it.

UPDATE ON A RESCUE

/ The Coastal Crone / 19 Comments

My last post, “Reprieve From Death on New Year’s Eve” on January 2 was about my son rescuing a dachshund from being euthanized.  The dog had extensive burns of unknown origin on his lower stomach, leg and tail.  As part of the services of Dachshund Rescue of Houston (DRofH) he was treated at a clinic and then placed in a foster home.

Kip has now healed and is ready for adoption!  I thought my readers, especially those dachshund lovers, might want to see a positive update.  May Kip find a forever home soon.  Dachshund Rescue of Houston and their generous volunteers do a great job of saving this breed.  Kudos to them and all the other organizations that care about animals.  Several of my readers commented that they have rescue dogs.  Images below are from the DRofH website.

Kip