2012

Friday Five: Treasure-hunting on Balboa Island

I'm up for a beach walk anytime, especially since we live so close. My camera and I don't do it justice, but I thought I'd post a few pictures of our trek to Balboa Island last weekend, where we ushered in the New Year.


Here, where sun-soaked, extravagant "cottages" overlook the waterfront, wealthy homeowners provide upscale accommodations for all their guests.  


Even so, it's the humble, hidden treasures that most often strike my fancy. What I wouldn't give to have that glider on my front porch, rusted metal and all! It takes me back to sun-splashed days with Nana, sipping lemonade and gulping books…. 


Anyone know what kind of tree this is? It looks like it might be a member of the hydrangea family, but I'm pretty sure it's a non-native plant. Whatever it's called, it's gorgeous!


With so many treasures here, no wonder a pirate ship rolled in!


When I came upon this porch sign, I whispered a silent amen. These beachside walks are such treasures, more so after my sister's death. They teach me to look for grace in every moment, to breathe expansively in the now. 

2012: My Word of the Year

It's a bit deflating to think about a talisman word for 2012, especially after failing to live up to one of the key goals I set for myself in 2011. Nope, WITNESS isn't finished, so while I'm MUCH CLOSER to The End, I have to slide that one forward into the New Year. 

I won't use my blog to reflect on why that was; believe you me, I've already done enough introspection, all by my fretful/zen/embarrassed/triumphant/smiley-faced/teary-eyed self.

Don't get me wrong: I'm proud of all that I've accomplished. It's a substantial list, not all of them measured in word count or pages. I could recount them here, but I won't, because truly, none of that makes any difference. The past is behind us, and the future's yet to be written.

Writing my memoir? That matters to me, quite a lot. Always will, for however long it takes me. So does living a life that's full and true, and very much in the here-and-now.  In the end, these intentions are interrelated.  With that in mind, my Talisman Word for 2012 is NOW.

This moment…It's the only one we're guaranteed in this lifetime. NOW is our time. Your time. My time. I plan to make the most of it in 2012.

P.S. If you've found yourself on the same page as me, you might enjoy reading these articles: "30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself" and "25 Things Writers Should Stop Doing." I'm going to add them as shortcut keys to my desktop.

Cleansing tides

To stand at the edge of the sea, to sense the ebb and flow of the tides, to feel the breath of a mist moving over a great salt marsh, to watch the flight of shore birds that have swept up and down the surf lines of the continents for untold thousands of years, to see the running of the old eels and the young shad to the sea, is to have knowledge of things that are as nearly eternal as any earthly life can be . ~Rachel Carlson

Image Credit: hotyoga4youny.com
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I like that today affords me the unstructured opportunity for quiet contemplation…time in which inhale gratitude for life's blessings, and to exhale all that does not serve. It's sunny and warm on the home front, so I might take a walk on the beach. Maybe I'll take a yoga class later on. Time will tell.

I''m excited to learn what 2012 holds in store for me. For you, too! But for now, in this very moment, I want to walk along the sandy beachfront, waving goodbye to the past as the new year drifts in on the tides. Come with me, if you'd like…

P.S. If you haven't yet consulted the Magic 8-ball about your prospects for 2012, here's your chance.

2012: All Signs Point to…

It's New Year's Eve again, and you know what that means: Time to consult that orbital oracle, the Magic 8-ball!

The Magic 8-ball is one of the most powerful ways to connect with our future available to humankind. It allows us to view the world from a 360-degree perspective, to peer into our futures via the watery portal at the top. Aside from its mystical influences, it infuses our lives with vitality, invokes our intuitive abilities, and invites us to imagine the vast possibilities for creating peace on earth and perfect manuscripts, oh tidings of comfort and joy.

Okay, maybe that's a wee bit hyperbolic. How's this: Magic 8-ball = a fun party game. You set the boundaries with the questions you ask, and I promise not to cheat in relating its answers. 

The rules, they are simple:

  1. DO address the Magic 8-Ball with all due respect ("Oh Magic 8-Ball…" or something similar).
  2. DO submit Yes/No questions.
  3. DO concentrate as you click on the "post comment" button.
  4. DO ask as many questions as you'd like, but enter them as separate comments.
  5. DON'T be deterred if the Magic 8-Ball tells you to ASK AGAIN LATER. 
  6. While you're waiting for the Magic 8-Ball's 2011 predictions, take a quick glance in the rear view mirror. What did you ask the Magic 8-Ball on New Year's Eve 2010, and how accurate were its answers?
  7. DON'T take the Magic 8-Ball too seriously, but please accept my sincere wishes for the happiest New Year ever! 
What does 2012 hold in store for us? Queue up your questions for the Magic 8-ball!

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