tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-256984712024-03-27T02:36:18.849-04:00Mimi Writes.......A blog of inspiration, humor, and peace
Penned by Mimi Lenox, Founder of Blog4PeaceMimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.comBlogger1895125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-38536688447640074292024-01-15T15:15:00.001-05:002024-01-15T15:15:39.317-05:00Monday Mimisms ~ Touching Memories<center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRqSg1jXAurZH10EPJU51Ic8VE8Lc2Hn3PMMf95ohXV2bnu8KK9RF2HcIUkPomKPOgwbKfqbZ713ivFSTl3Pyyqk6RjTe047igSQ5GqWFtd814VBh75rL0WggZq2wWg1bvvWhbvwtvJ9S15O9Fapkeidx9Dfc7VqTSDEBLIHf2ih55Hi5PMCwu" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="793" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRqSg1jXAurZH10EPJU51Ic8VE8Lc2Hn3PMMf95ohXV2bnu8KK9RF2HcIUkPomKPOgwbKfqbZ713ivFSTl3Pyyqk6RjTe047igSQ5GqWFtd814VBh75rL0WggZq2wWg1bvvWhbvwtvJ9S15O9Fapkeidx9Dfc7VqTSDEBLIHf2ih55Hi5PMCwu" width="149" /></a></div>Don't you hate it when you're discussing something of importance to you that is causing some angst and the person sitting across from you says, "Oh, let it go. You've got to let that go. Just let it go." REALLY ????</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">POOF. GONE like Girl Gone??</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Hardly</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Walk a mile in my snowshoes, Buster! I don't know what the magic bullet is in these matters, but I DO know (and have recently discovered) that when I'm ready to let something go, <i>I'm</i> <i>ready</i>. REALLY ready. Not one minute sooner. Not at the moment of glibness, right on time! </span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><i>As I opined on Facebook's mass platform of memes....</i></span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I'm getting better at letting go. I noticed today as I threw out bag after soggy box in the basement (Did you know there was a GREAT FLOOD in Bloggingham yesterday??) that hardly any of it bothered me. Nothing I couldn't part with was damaged and it game me an excuse to deeply purge. That roll top desk I've been staring at for 40 years? I used it in the piano room of my first house. Donated.</span></b></center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyqiIY6OZ5LfmRa_FiFoq-a-i_qhJISxWa50xEgsS3FXVSA8a2YMl1PoFMsC3gpFBvC8yipwzM3yGNXNf8DNyhIDyydS1dxxBfyLH7YVd6FAnzFHvmYYys-_pVZk8MlwMfb1ZavFy0kKelJXAL9UswBVRpHWAVJdqElC1QO4ROMlhJ2pHHIpaS" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="1280" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyqiIY6OZ5LfmRa_FiFoq-a-i_qhJISxWa50xEgsS3FXVSA8a2YMl1PoFMsC3gpFBvC8yipwzM3yGNXNf8DNyhIDyydS1dxxBfyLH7YVd6FAnzFHvmYYys-_pVZk8MlwMfb1ZavFy0kKelJXAL9UswBVRpHWAVJdqElC1QO4ROMlhJ2pHHIpaS" width="320" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">My son's infant chest of drawers. Donated.</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Twelve notebooks of meticulously created Music Theory and Sight-Reading lessons, complete with originally composed vocalize for my classroom back in the day? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUniTvWGXOMvLd5TeaOXejL1iSzDNcxu_JsAwZNi7c6tJYjjQz9mCXzsR8zCrw5VOw7HzSgHBxhBN9Kf5dse9nUoLrPtuBPTjmoG0XYzrqFvZgatlkKVqILTRZMDO0kkS6tDszQfn7cH1sM5it_zlLjB9AY7WrV0-vb6QteBAI6wZkIb88Vkml" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="1280" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUniTvWGXOMvLd5TeaOXejL1iSzDNcxu_JsAwZNi7c6tJYjjQz9mCXzsR8zCrw5VOw7HzSgHBxhBN9Kf5dse9nUoLrPtuBPTjmoG0XYzrqFvZgatlkKVqILTRZMDO0kkS6tDszQfn7cH1sM5it_zlLjB9AY7WrV0-vb6QteBAI6wZkIb88Vkml" width="320" /></a></div><br />That was a hard one.....ummmm...it took weeks to gather all the resources (stop it, Mimi!) You're not teaching anymore and you're so old those resources are out of print)! GONE</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">But it was nice to sing them again before I trashed them. </span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A few lamps were ruined but I realized they weren't my style anymore. Now I can buy newer ones that suit me better. Silver lining!</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I threw away five Christmas trees. FIVE! Who wants a soggy tree?</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Twenty-five bags later and I'm still far from finished.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibcFCogAa92euhHXjUPDYW0ya0phhWLlI2Zv5cUf0BYppBXZb1w60buQU9qesA88fJIQtw3tQU4TE96PECvVqk4Qsy-l1rPaGKWLkFmumPkilXrs_uDcJOJgbrjA32y43lNX9Pvr6wALEQB5CbdFGxb3rnvQ1UOjFI5zmBlTBVB0z4IW8xh0aa" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="901" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibcFCogAa92euhHXjUPDYW0ya0phhWLlI2Zv5cUf0BYppBXZb1w60buQU9qesA88fJIQtw3tQU4TE96PECvVqk4Qsy-l1rPaGKWLkFmumPkilXrs_uDcJOJgbrjA32y43lNX9Pvr6wALEQB5CbdFGxb3rnvQ1UOjFI5zmBlTBVB0z4IW8xh0aa" width="169" /></a></div><br /></span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>I'm exhausted and exhilarated at the same time.</i></span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Rinse. Repeat. Tomorrow.</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I touched a lot of memories today. Stories! Stories I'd forgotten.</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">You will most undoubtedly hear them.</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">There are some sad AND marvelous tales in that basement...</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">most are completely unbloggable.</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Homer made me sign a non-disclosure agreement </span></b></center><center><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GrLGH8zFvGyejOm3i0y7fk_4SB17a2YRnet6S7676DHSdcXrIko18-bu_oCBNqCAEj_MlLNlo6COT8vM4GwrSyEEgVAX4Tv0GhSTtEEIIKCuuTNMXb9frazp3D4xJO2HRtU7Z7mFzyt73yNZRP0xJTB-FwnG5HPCRavmmDhGIYI4unSYJC_O/s240/homereyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GrLGH8zFvGyejOm3i0y7fk_4SB17a2YRnet6S7676DHSdcXrIko18-bu_oCBNqCAEj_MlLNlo6COT8vM4GwrSyEEgVAX4Tv0GhSTtEEIIKCuuTNMXb9frazp3D4xJO2HRtU7Z7mFzyt73yNZRP0xJTB-FwnG5HPCRavmmDhGIYI4unSYJC_O/s1600/homereyes.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /></b></center><center><b>Back to the soggy dungeon. See you on the upside.</b></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center>Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></center>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">BlogBlast For Peace November 4 ~ Join us!
http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-21415309495230651142024-01-01T15:56:00.004-05:002024-01-01T15:56:43.967-05:00Monday Mimisms ~ Happy in My New Year<center><br /></center><center><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Homemade Apple;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-size: large;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNjtLZK9qje8t-d15rPmGi19xZFRC3RWiy1zDBqTzDdWvy6RM8LMOL0dLNLWVRi07aLcjNLPjWHiwsWUS-Bv4q_xsvsFNy3m61zAHsNoMxz94ISjqdVTsrr_4WWaYzcQ1IVI-exxjdmdoWJ5wHxAkJC67BKjmujpL8RvbW2S-NSXHKTsZsLLk8f9brh0/s400/mimi%20trees.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="98" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNjtLZK9qje8t-d15rPmGi19xZFRC3RWiy1zDBqTzDdWvy6RM8LMOL0dLNLWVRi07aLcjNLPjWHiwsWUS-Bv4q_xsvsFNy3m61zAHsNoMxz94ISjqdVTsrr_4WWaYzcQ1IVI-exxjdmdoWJ5wHxAkJC67BKjmujpL8RvbW2S-NSXHKTsZsLLk8f9brh0/s320/mimi%20trees.jpg" width="78" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mimi 2008 </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Homemade Apple; font-size: large;">Monday Mimisms ~ Happy in My New Year</span></b></div></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Homemade Apple; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Welcome to 2024 in the year of the blog. Thanks to the WayBack Machine (keep of old blogs!) blogs are infinite and eternal, omnipotent and omnipresent. I wish people have one of those machines. We could crank up our young, newer, healthier bodies and go from there. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Back in the day when I used to hide behind trees all day long and try to conjure a word or two, blogging was much more intimate. Our communities were a tight-knit group. We looked out for each other. When the occasional naysayer or troublemaker showed up, we (usually) shoooed them away and blogged on. With the exception of the peace globe bloggers (AMAZING you are!) most of my blogging friends are posting on Facebook or Instagram. I enjoy interacting with you on social media platforms, but sometimes it takes me years to put two and two together..."Oh! Cindy is really Blogging Catalina from Amsterdam! Who knew?" And then we have a small reunion. There are those who do not want blog and real life Facebook to meet. Totally understandable. I try to honor those requests. I won't out you! </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">But seriously, I'm amazed that the majority of my friends on Facebook are peace bloggers. We've gotten to know each other over the years in more personal ways (thanks, Facebook) but as many of us have discussed, it's just not the same as regular blogging. "Blogging is dead," we say....MAYBE....but that's not going to stop me from re-entering the arena. Blogging makes me happy. Journaling makes me happy. Writing feeds my soul. And I PROMISE...this year I will publish a book off-blog...I PROMISE!! </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">2023 was a loooooong year for me and so many of my friends. I've had perpetual health challenges and a car accident mid-year that I'm just now starting to recuperate from, realizing that blogging and living in my 60s is a different universe. Retirement is wonderful!! Aches and pains are not. It takes a little longer to recover from trauma than it used to. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> Still, I'm determined to fully regain my health in 2024.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I had a fantastic healing beautiful Christmas visit with my kids and grandchildren in their home (as it should be). I have room for a little more hope these days. Let's stay on this path, shall we?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>***wait a minute....I thought I wouldn't have anything to say this morning when I decided to crank up the blog; instead, I'm a regular bloggermouth (that's blog + blabbermouth for all your non-blog speakers)....**</i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>I truly hope that if you are still blogging or have a new platform, that you will leave a link below so that we can stay connected and supportive. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>This morning, after meditation/prayer, washing dishes, making bed, starting laundry, feeding Snickers, organizing a drawer...I stopped mid-chore and asked myself, <i>"What creative thing have your done in three hours? Exactly how are you spending your time, Mimi? Priorities seem to be askew!"</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>And while all those things must be done and I am content to do them, the only thing remotely creative was my silent time (essential to my day) but then I jumped right back on the To-Do Train. This must stop!!!! And it must stop now. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7M1Fi6h1rKb_U3fkwI2PsjNKH79BVTaK-T-wMEtmevpi50MiJQXscMbbLvM9_f1nJ02Kv3Yvxbsy_8FNtGzLpms8489W10WEW0J-uNcKmV0dAqJI6ViCzlt8sdRWm4ru5BjylPEsPbAy543OfKJnBXASvZeDwb11uwH874oZlVCqXN3eM497I1qCCws/s353/mimi%20writes%20meme%20stealing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="292" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7M1Fi6h1rKb_U3fkwI2PsjNKH79BVTaK-T-wMEtmevpi50MiJQXscMbbLvM9_f1nJ02Kv3Yvxbsy_8FNtGzLpms8489W10WEW0J-uNcKmV0dAqJI6ViCzlt8sdRWm4ru5BjylPEsPbAy543OfKJnBXASvZeDwb11uwH874oZlVCqXN3eM497I1qCCws/s320/mimi%20writes%20meme%20stealing.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THIS was dangerous and exciting...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">While I don't think meme--stealing is exactly my vibe anymore, I sure am thankful for the fun times right here on <a href="https://mimilenox.com" target="_blank">Mimi Writes</a>. But that book has been writing itself for awhile in my pencil head, many chapters here in the Blogosphere with you. So much more to tell. I think the crux of the matter is that with age comes wisdom. How much to blab? What to camouflage...But I think I have the perfect balance between privacy and authenticity in mind now. The latter always wins. Always.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> Not to fear, the "old" (vintage!) Mimi will show up soon enough with new pencil skirt tales of craziness. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>It's already happened.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I just posted on Facebook, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">"New year, new routine. Before I sat down to write the first blog post of the year (new routine) I reached for the bottle of Vitamin C serum (on the right below) and smeared it all over my face...except...ummm....what's that smell??!</span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>It was CBD oil.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>I'll be happy all the day long. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>This is going to be one doozy of a post. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>They look alike, right? In case you're wondering, No, I did not wash it off."</b></span></div><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPd2qseBDnOnvZUHOYd1hjOSNLXW1tsgfFCMKB6TIm4gHkGVV0jTl_m-yYHHv5Hcs6hm5RJfV7PR8d7knZAzW4pwgFFSWEyd4NMY9rQURURDWhoYBzHVSIs_XydQBIYtute5CyyTjCY643wpeuaEOYO2qoRjjuAbqHZxIefFzHiur3t5rWSRPKCSw8uJ8/s1290/vit%20c%20cbd%20jan%201%202024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPd2qseBDnOnvZUHOYd1hjOSNLXW1tsgfFCMKB6TIm4gHkGVV0jTl_m-yYHHv5Hcs6hm5RJfV7PR8d7knZAzW4pwgFFSWEyd4NMY9rQURURDWhoYBzHVSIs_XydQBIYtute5CyyTjCY643wpeuaEOYO2qoRjjuAbqHZxIefFzHiur3t5rWSRPKCSw8uJ8/s320/vit%20c%20cbd%20jan%201%202024.jpg" width="279" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ananda Full spectrum hemp extract 300. <br />Ten mg cannabinoids oil for nerve pain.<br />Works for me! Let's see what it does for my wrinkles.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></b></center><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Homemade Apple; font-size: medium;">Some things never change.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Homemade Apple; font-size: medium;">Welcome to my vintage blog and all the memories it holds. </span></b></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Homemade Apple; font-size: medium;">Let's make some new ones.</span></b></div></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Homemade Apple; font-size: medium;">You can smell the cannabis from there right? </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Homemade Apple; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Homemade Apple; font-size: medium;">Snickers won't come near me.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="text-align: left;">Join us for </span><a href="http://blog4peace.com" style="text-align: left;">BlogBlast For Peace</a><span style="text-align: left;"> Nov 4 Like </span><a href="http://facebook.com/blogblastforpeace" style="text-align: left;">Our Facebook Page</a><span style="text-align: left;"> ~ </span><a href="http://peaceglobegallery.blogspot.com/p/get-your-own-peace-globe.html" style="text-align: left;">How To Get Yo</a><center><br /></center><center>Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></center>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">BlogBlast For Peace November 4 ~ Join us!
http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-83104297381150771432023-11-04T01:13:00.003-04:002023-11-04T11:49:43.986-04:00Dona Nobis Pacem ~ The Room<center><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Welcome to the 18th annual <a href="http://blog4peace" target="_blank">Blog4Peac</a>e aka Dona Nobis Pacem in the Blogosphere. We will post Saturday and Sunday, Nov 4-5th wherever you are online. </b></span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;">Please leave your blog or post link in the MR. LINKY below or in the comments section or tag me on social media. Your peace globe will be added to the <b><a href="http://blog4peace.com" target="_blank">Official Gallery of Peace Globes</a></b></span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></center><center><center><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our 2023 theme is <a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/2023/10/announcing-blog4peace-post4peace.html" target="_blank">Change The Room ~ The Transforming Power of Walking in Peace</a></span></b></center><div><b style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"><br /></b></div></center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_FtguJopKoAwYn1MpdoTEcqX_rxkYAKoB0BThY34FXQhTydl3glgDhmj_lKFiDqDLN63zktsW9QeC9dUkLFUV31qMU_w-q_OqljhLpqd7il_NC6RxuKxJGRemI9Zp1qjG3oV0WgzBJGmHBXTRnD84tiNx6bDwtxAxupJ-0vaKGfPciASD7_a/s169/Mimi%20Lenox%20peace%20globe%20NOV%202006.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="124" data-original-width="169" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_FtguJopKoAwYn1MpdoTEcqX_rxkYAKoB0BThY34FXQhTydl3glgDhmj_lKFiDqDLN63zktsW9QeC9dUkLFUV31qMU_w-q_OqljhLpqd7il_NC6RxuKxJGRemI9Zp1qjG3oV0WgzBJGmHBXTRnD84tiNx6bDwtxAxupJ-0vaKGfPciASD7_a/s1600/Mimi%20Lenox%20peace%20globe%20NOV%202006.JPG" width="169" /></a></div></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></center><center><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Dona Nobis Pacem 2023</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>The Room</i></span></b></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;">A conversation with Spirit </span></center><center><br /></center><center><span style="font-size: large;">"<i>Fill them up</i>," He said.</span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"><i>With what?</i> asked the tired peace blogger on the eve of Dona Nobis Pacem. </span></center><center><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7JCyhyaex8GoSZ61tJOtvVOnlJRUwk_f7gMeLihBWiT4Zl39bo7Tz7WHTSIsvXNNrT4UrTe-isJMvdWrcPXWd3oNXIP_oN7CvZKh0PelkXajtslXKYKlkH5pljH_bqM4LuGfV675nyJ3Rjj6QllYtvD_KlOqlWH02kE2lOtwAklf2uORI3R5/s4032/1a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7JCyhyaex8GoSZ61tJOtvVOnlJRUwk_f7gMeLihBWiT4Zl39bo7Tz7WHTSIsvXNNrT4UrTe-isJMvdWrcPXWd3oNXIP_oN7CvZKh0PelkXajtslXKYKlkH5pljH_bqM4LuGfV675nyJ3Rjj6QllYtvD_KlOqlWH02kE2lOtwAklf2uORI3R5/s320/1a.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My peace boxes<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">For weeks I've known that the box marked "Early Writings" in the back of the closet would provide the backbone of my peace post. And is my usual custom, I waited until nigh the hour to investigate.</span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Fill up the peace angel boxes with words you will choose from your fairly ancient writings.</i></span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"><i> I will show you the pattern...</i>"</span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ha Ha, Lord. That's a funny comment you made. Ancient, eh?</span></i> But You know best. Let's begin.<br /></span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;">And just like I've picked up Papa's hammer or his earth marble in years past, I listened. </span></center><center><br /></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00H-LiHyJONvna-Sc8ry9Nu51opMZ1YwcS4P-uj8UOSvAjDl278PL9em6ili0ckyE8CC6fcitamJ1kMTzWpDfUUrzYHNwXK7N8Z2yGjf9EataHVta7iyAKfRcjpXcUfr9NoYsd0Q97xM-NB33C2MvkdAoKHInvQXvfLQZ_9NyXT8dGoWZgwEM/s1280/room%20pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00H-LiHyJONvna-Sc8ry9Nu51opMZ1YwcS4P-uj8UOSvAjDl278PL9em6ili0ckyE8CC6fcitamJ1kMTzWpDfUUrzYHNwXK7N8Z2yGjf9EataHVta7iyAKfRcjpXcUfr9NoYsd0Q97xM-NB33C2MvkdAoKHInvQXvfLQZ_9NyXT8dGoWZgwEM/w400-h266/room%20pixabay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">I am nothing if not obedient. </span></span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Inside the closet box I found love poems....<i>lots</i> of silly love poems. Anguished teenage diaries, college essays, journals, quotes, love letters written and received, peace signs and flower power patches, concert tickets....all in the box. It was the seventies and I was young and overly sensitive about most things; and yet...when I read my teenage epiphanies today, I realize not much in the way of what I <i>really </i>care about has changed. </span></span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Peace. Relationships. Music. God. Rinse Repeat. </span></span></center><center><br /></center><center><center><span style="font-size: large;">Life happened. I became a very young bride back in the days before electricity (ahem). We made our first home in a little mobile house in the middle of the woods. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgN0C7NWiHDVgF1tapRAi2tIicySzmsxOa44TolwIhWgybGhcJkPBsDQOBZY7vLMt5G29FeW6MIBv8-DbfOah4xohuzEn4KmXQPsXfPhYglJjsmiroI4ODt7tqxZVlWfQZFNCBSNzSadCvd3AN1Zzjk6pIW2zCjLXBPqmd-HPc8vI_o47ajTYhm" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="74" data-original-width="320" height="74" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgN0C7NWiHDVgF1tapRAi2tIicySzmsxOa44TolwIhWgybGhcJkPBsDQOBZY7vLMt5G29FeW6MIBv8-DbfOah4xohuzEn4KmXQPsXfPhYglJjsmiroI4ODt7tqxZVlWfQZFNCBSNzSadCvd3AN1Zzjk6pIW2zCjLXBPqmd-HPc8vI_o47ajTYhm" width="320" /></a></div><br />It was clean and efficient, secluded and perfect for two. And because I grew up with a grandfather whose favorite pastime was folding his hands in prayer, the first thing I did was make a prayer and meditation room. A floor cushion, a cross, a Bible, a picture of Jesus, and a candle traveled with me to our first real house in the suburbs. </span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;">That was denominational "meditation" back in the day. I've learned and adjusted much since, adding A Course in Miracles later; nonetheless, it was a fine foundation when I didn't even realize I was building a spiritual practice.</span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"> Wherever we lived, I needed a room. A place to be quiet. A place to pray. A sanctuary of my own away from noise and life's chaos. That has not changed in my ancient times (thanks Lord) though sometimes the "room" is under the wide canopy of an oak tree in the stillness of woods and rocks on my little mountain.</span></center><center><br /></center><center><span style="font-size: large;">And that's what I did in that little flat-roof suburban house while I waited for our baby to arrive. </span></center><center><br /></center><center><span style="font-size: large;">Every day. Every day. Every day. </span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;">at precisely 4:10 pm</span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;">It was my favorite part of the day. I couldn't wait to shut the door, kneel on the floor and spend some time alone with God and my writing journal. </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Going IN the room was like being siphoned into a vortex.</span></span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;">I was <i>drawn</i> into it.</span></center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsopxzllNNcSxT3cnGfx5mQGSEk6KtnTkPNjqeVUb7oxCeuDoSs-UmOnRenIIIW6mfbOuXCYAVQ1cygvC-hGFaXXf9fUG6SarC0GZ5MMn2GnMiz3zYVwFbI_cSS7QMHi_sF3ZsKXCIlD9ym_1WhMl5_1OMVgWH2YxegICylPwgsD3Fd0E9cuz/s1280/light-3176887_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsopxzllNNcSxT3cnGfx5mQGSEk6KtnTkPNjqeVUb7oxCeuDoSs-UmOnRenIIIW6mfbOuXCYAVQ1cygvC-hGFaXXf9fUG6SarC0GZ5MMn2GnMiz3zYVwFbI_cSS7QMHi_sF3ZsKXCIlD9ym_1WhMl5_1OMVgWH2YxegICylPwgsD3Fd0E9cuz/s320/light-3176887_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"> I knew the "meeting" had been called to order as soon as I shut the door behind me. Palpable presence and peace. The atmosphere was climate controlled by a Presence I can only describe as perfect peace and joy. He never failed to meet me there. When I gave Him my time and attention, He gave <i>me</i> strong weapons: patience, love, clarity, compassion, a softer heart, inspiration, mindfulness, solace</span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"> peace</span></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center></center><center><br /></center><center><span style="font-size: large;">When I was a little girl, I watched my Papa change atmospheres all the time. It was as effortless as changing his hat. People acted differently when he was around. What he carried was palpable.</span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;">But the question is...<i>where </i>did he get it? </span></center><center><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIiRCVNSInKduGWYL4YHOmNtF98p8yyMNxYHFWFk99X0cS-hOoLS51BbloFAQv4Iu_lcqeT6ELa5JeNBUWEycWOE4lR2KJySwgNdOZtiWGXVZ_IUSLQdLeTvK7HyKuI0fppGo26VsHVS51PgiUR1oGWbhFyH7QGsTAPTgLWiV-Vu4sx3jRFA_/s212/papa's%20marbles%20of%20peace.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="212" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIiRCVNSInKduGWYL4YHOmNtF98p8yyMNxYHFWFk99X0cS-hOoLS51BbloFAQv4Iu_lcqeT6ELa5JeNBUWEycWOE4lR2KJySwgNdOZtiWGXVZ_IUSLQdLeTvK7HyKuI0fppGo26VsHVS51PgiUR1oGWbhFyH7QGsTAPTgLWiV-Vu4sx3jRFA_/s1600/papa's%20marbles%20of%20peace.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papa's marbles</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;">That's easy. Listen carefully. I'll tell you a secret.</span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"><i>He' s the one who taught me about the room.</i></span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;">His "room" is scorched in my mind.</span></center><center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJY-7jpFRKcZFjYyUlvoxO8cUn48HkOaPAQDWlsV0d52pB7eI3RhNuAyu_ksL8743vZPIKp0KJXJRdCT6LNklBUerMPGpA6EX8DQkJ6c9_Poy_WIckOPyyVZbUHZWyONOqqdLD98u54LU2D9mfCp-q5ozQ_U7mwaEAXVZYOjiH03HW8DjVzlfM/s1280/man%20praying%20pixabay.jpg" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="853" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJY-7jpFRKcZFjYyUlvoxO8cUn48HkOaPAQDWlsV0d52pB7eI3RhNuAyu_ksL8743vZPIKp0KJXJRdCT6LNklBUerMPGpA6EX8DQkJ6c9_Poy_WIckOPyyVZbUHZWyONOqqdLD98u54LU2D9mfCp-q5ozQ_U7mwaEAXVZYOjiH03HW8DjVzlfM/s320/man%20praying%20pixabay.jpg" width="213" /></a></center><center><span style="font-size: large;">His <i>room</i> was the Bible on the nightstand in a cold back bedroom, the first thing he touched in the morning.</span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></center><center><center><span style="font-size: large;"> His room meant devotions at dawn and scribbled scripture notes in the margins of books you weren't supposed to write in</span></center><center><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;">His room gave thanks at mealtime. </span></center><center><br /></center><center><center><span style="font-size: large;">His <i>room</i> was a recliner that welcomed silent sunrise prayers..</span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;">a place none of us disturbed (except the occasional kiss I planted on his forehead as I passed by on the way to breakfast, quietly, quietly you see....) </span></center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdN3SSJfiJPqx0R_KAJBp1ytZ4TFQTet-3-zVZheLeF-tcT25Pg9Zx1GL5FPF8TbsM9QbADfKSobfEkBV8pIDFE9eT-lvo3RIZvyJJIyehBHelvlaPlLiBPceHdQHg2J0ZEBsGXK0HjR0tfZpZwmkAK2pIv5pqDSEv8hVFriIvSPqie19aRm1B/s1280/monk%20walking%20pixabay.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdN3SSJfiJPqx0R_KAJBp1ytZ4TFQTet-3-zVZheLeF-tcT25Pg9Zx1GL5FPF8TbsM9QbADfKSobfEkBV8pIDFE9eT-lvo3RIZvyJJIyehBHelvlaPlLiBPceHdQHg2J0ZEBsGXK0HjR0tfZpZwmkAK2pIv5pqDSEv8hVFriIvSPqie19aRm1B/s320/monk%20walking%20pixabay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;">His</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"> </span><i style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;">room</i><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;">meant gentle hands on my shoulder and a tug on my sleeve</span></center></center></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><center style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></center><span style="font-size: medium;">There was a Lamp in his room</span></span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;">It showed us who he was, no need for preachy words.</span></center><center><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;">It was fueled by The Book sprawled open on his lap - The Book from which he gathered his strength. </span></center><center><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></center><center><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRauPVNssoflD0ynmTuoZxIb3HeSWyeWwdUgPbc0pU4UQpX0wlM2661qORIBH5LMxkrjtYdEqr2TO9XijG1OzpVCBZYcZppfYjzUYuqOFURQMvZ0KU8iQQSXHEV2nVc_lVvaXu6eyN4bjUZkoAjolHE-i9mz7iSauu-MgThtsysyrxoPD7waCX/s4032/20a.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRauPVNssoflD0ynmTuoZxIb3HeSWyeWwdUgPbc0pU4UQpX0wlM2661qORIBH5LMxkrjtYdEqr2TO9XijG1OzpVCBZYcZppfYjzUYuqOFURQMvZ0KU8iQQSXHEV2nVc_lVvaXu6eyN4bjUZkoAjolHE-i9mz7iSauu-MgThtsysyrxoPD7waCX/s320/20a.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copyright 1941 The Upper Room</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">His <i>room</i> was a well-worn pocket prayer book that he carried with him. Buried under a lifetime of rhymes in the box of many ancient words, I unearthed the small stained power book and its leaves of gold.</span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"> Tonight when I opened the tiny pages,<i> it fell open,</i> right on cue, as if it were still open on his lap as I walked past him to the kitchen </span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;">Tears fell on page 40 as I read</span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"> "In Time of War" and "Prayer For</span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;">Peace"</span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;">Can you imagine anything more timely in this hour?</span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dMlQQfPiEzUA24j_W4aMF_9IyUg4Cc-TBcxGHbVgeioyHPR0nHIfCwiQtehoAWpp4wlnAFu2BK9Z56pQKq9pq73e1U6qFu41WXyYjNcESq_llJoQ_bX5AAezjSU_wxx0LRaMA_rpvntWKz7YnPtmrhKYm34BEGb7wg6c5vRsVQcA5xlDF35Z/s4032/16.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dMlQQfPiEzUA24j_W4aMF_9IyUg4Cc-TBcxGHbVgeioyHPR0nHIfCwiQtehoAWpp4wlnAFu2BK9Z56pQKq9pq73e1U6qFu41WXyYjNcESq_llJoQ_bX5AAezjSU_wxx0LRaMA_rpvntWKz7YnPtmrhKYm34BEGb7wg6c5vRsVQcA5xlDF35Z/w240-h320/16.JPG" width="240" /></a></center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></center><center><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;">He </span><i style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;">has</i><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"> shown me the pattern.</span></center><center><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"> I will place the prayer book in the peace box</span></center><center><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;">where it surely belongs</span></center><center><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdarivqeCj0n01HLTjAlIhX_sOmQFHItSJWYF-MpZS8ZUl5-6gYBy5amaPQK9M0kjKfZVs1a2kp8GlFBNhx-PgdJP9R0HswTPYcFN5qzzob4LCLsPK_d5O6cn8LxRJsINga43zrzReJKv5qvZhNxxv9Ggpmx7M_qlmgKWJN9lGW44CpGKyJxcp/s4032/IMG_8332.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdarivqeCj0n01HLTjAlIhX_sOmQFHItSJWYF-MpZS8ZUl5-6gYBy5amaPQK9M0kjKfZVs1a2kp8GlFBNhx-PgdJP9R0HswTPYcFN5qzzob4LCLsPK_d5O6cn8LxRJsINga43zrzReJKv5qvZhNxxv9Ggpmx7M_qlmgKWJN9lGW44CpGKyJxcp/s320/IMG_8332.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></center><center><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;">Marrying prayer and peace sounds like a mighty fine idea.</span></center><center><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;">It was Papa's way. I aspire to his way. </span></center><center><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;">He didn't make peace, find peace, or go looking for peace -</span></center><center><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></center><center><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>He carried it.</b></span></center><center><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></center><center><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In his pocket, in his coat, in his mind, in his heart, in his actions, in his demeanor, in his attitude, in his <b>love walk</b></span></center><center><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Going into <i>the room</i> was easy for him. He simply yielded.</span></center><center><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I watched. </span></center><center><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></center><center><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">No matter what beliefs you hold or where you find your rooms of solace, know that it <i>matters greatly</i> how much of it you carry out into the world with you. </span></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In this dark and trying time in the world, I'd like to offer <b>Papa's Prayer For Peace</b></span></center><center><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>He passed it to me. I pass it to you.</b></span></center><center><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></center><center><center><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">"O God, who hast made of one blood all nations of men, mercifully receive the prayer that we offer for our anxious and troubled world. </span></center><center><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Send Thy Light into our darkness and guide the nations as one family into the ways of peace. Take away all prejudice and hatred and fear. </span></center><center><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Strengthen in us day by day the will to understand.</span></center><center><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">And to those who by their counsels lead the people of the earth, grant at right judgment, that so, through them and us Thy will be done through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen." </span></center></center><center><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></center><center><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Shalom</span></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center></center><center><br /></center><center>Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></center>
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http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-32426027666104756732023-10-02T10:00:00.007-04:002023-10-30T21:58:18.054-04:00Announcing Blog4Peace ~ Post4Peace ~ November 4-5, 2023!<center><br /></center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDLHMW0aKOV7ssH-yW5hXv2I1y2Aqw920uVadVWza9G6kS8kT39cAEa7tSU_oFNGZghreLZrAwAoPM_2hMAWSg7w474wxBXTRO3_KnXBxucWBgPN2lXAz15paU8bemH4UPpLiPSvKMt-993ZqG_mpjuEd2lZmwtf7-f7fuPO-j5o_WrW_z-ZS2" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="212" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDLHMW0aKOV7ssH-yW5hXv2I1y2Aqw920uVadVWza9G6kS8kT39cAEa7tSU_oFNGZghreLZrAwAoPM_2hMAWSg7w474wxBXTRO3_KnXBxucWBgPN2lXAz15paU8bemH4UPpLiPSvKMt-993ZqG_mpjuEd2lZmwtf7-f7fuPO-j5o_WrW_z-ZS2" width="314" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgf1nEokUFO97RCeBrqFZ4CLyxYJZPbnf9YaQQ5_8JgZfOnzYo09WpMce5J2bVuCJdQ9jsdtif0RV47HksASTDgPnDpY8ZMzMtwp0RHzvpGmm6Qon80jE0w5JNvneC0-dsVaczkjc6hMf0yz2f2WWjrS5r1mFghnas4ZaAw-ZI9s8VG-cvK2qaY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgf1nEokUFO97RCeBrqFZ4CLyxYJZPbnf9YaQQ5_8JgZfOnzYo09WpMce5J2bVuCJdQ9jsdtif0RV47HksASTDgPnDpY8ZMzMtwp0RHzvpGmm6Qon80jE0w5JNvneC0-dsVaczkjc6hMf0yz2f2WWjrS5r1mFghnas4ZaAw-ZI9s8VG-cvK2qaY" width="303" /><br /></a></div><br /><br /></center><center><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">Welcome Peace Bloggers who </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Blog4Peace</b>!</span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Welcome social media posters who </span><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Post4Peace</span></span></b></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"> on a myriad of social media platforms including Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram and beyond! <i>Wherever</i> you are online, you can join our talented community for this annual worldwide event. We are represented on every continent and country in the world. </span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;">This is our 18th year of peace blogging.</span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;">Whether you choose to Blog4Peace or Post4Peace, </span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;">it's the same community and it's all good!</span></center><center><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBQZlqMpWwY6Vct8A46zk7lYdJ_v_8zN1hqsc3DMsOA1kO0MPT2PKIXdFL1CAjpFiZzvrHpYTEy55mRNRBl7z9zTdeztmnO-gARc9nzSw1mplwItCI3GuRA3fTVFmbob39j9gBnFvxoE_Xzn3uDDUwIl-Rrmw1Uo3ZKJJ9rqi0cOmKl6iTUzZV" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="131" data-original-width="200" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBQZlqMpWwY6Vct8A46zk7lYdJ_v_8zN1hqsc3DMsOA1kO0MPT2PKIXdFL1CAjpFiZzvrHpYTEy55mRNRBl7z9zTdeztmnO-gARc9nzSw1mplwItCI3GuRA3fTVFmbob39j9gBnFvxoE_Xzn3uDDUwIl-Rrmw1Uo3ZKJJ9rqi0cOmKl6iTUzZV" width="320" /></a></div><center style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></center><b><span style="font-size: large;">Bloggers and social media posters from all across the globe</span></b></span></center><center><span style="font-size: large;"><b>will blog and post for peace</b></span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></center><center><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">NOV 4-5, 2023</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-large;">Our 2023 Theme is</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></center><center><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Change the Room"</span></i></b></center><center><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">The transforming power of walking in peace</span></i></b></center><center><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxot1t-bgEUaG0TJnAgW-m-5B74M8pt6izAPs2lkW8t87wULsWNI-69hQgRdSm9NJVtuRL2jIoSoAwH6XQc1pibiKDsFBfoGXNPwTxBSklB6VyNPnnVAJKVM-OXcePvGLY4Kbrsx8eaHSilxnd_rtnJNcw3HotTExnB9ydoxprMh3BG7MzYYfj/s600/Change%20the%20Room%202023%20Ann%20Adamus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxot1t-bgEUaG0TJnAgW-m-5B74M8pt6izAPs2lkW8t87wULsWNI-69hQgRdSm9NJVtuRL2jIoSoAwH6XQc1pibiKDsFBfoGXNPwTxBSklB6VyNPnnVAJKVM-OXcePvGLY4Kbrsx8eaHSilxnd_rtnJNcw3HotTExnB9ydoxprMh3BG7MzYYfj/s320/Change%20the%20Room%202023%20Ann%20Adamus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Created by graphic artist Ann Adamus @ Zoolatry<br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></i></b></center><center><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">Last year we wrote about FREEDOM and how that privilege is entwined with PEACE. We said No Freedom No Peace. You were amazingly insightful and bold from all corners of the Earth. We talked about how to GET FREE in the midst of unwanted invasion (personal or global). </span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;">This year we're turning inward and moving outward. Let me explain.</span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;">This is my challenge to you </span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtzKq428lxUnJvWQdbLbM5-rNWVSzJk_Ian6z-MqYnCc5TxPmvMTG2H0IZvqoBWFViIoEU4DTVq8lw8I7Jnlftp7I-IfgOi9RnR6gvnL6e_LChXMADJDsTE91aW_LAprFTsqJTLnIqGCXGRdauZB5KDEACiwH2_mfaSfEC90rIs3Gu76FPOSG/s1280/monk%20walking%20pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtzKq428lxUnJvWQdbLbM5-rNWVSzJk_Ian6z-MqYnCc5TxPmvMTG2H0IZvqoBWFViIoEU4DTVq8lw8I7Jnlftp7I-IfgOi9RnR6gvnL6e_LChXMADJDsTE91aW_LAprFTsqJTLnIqGCXGRdauZB5KDEACiwH2_mfaSfEC90rIs3Gu76FPOSG/w400-h266/monk%20walking%20pixabay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Imagine what would happen if instead of trying to <i>find</i> peace, we walked <i>in </i>with it?</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-size: medium;">What if we simply carried it in?</span></b></center><center><br /></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>What if <i>we</i> were the peace everyone else was searching for? </b></span></center><center><b><span style="font-size: medium;">What if we expected the room to change when we entered?</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Don't you think it would?</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Why can't we be the water <i>and</i> the well?</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbU2fJ7Wq4REbmMYREZbKihbW6gVFPUI90OaBSgaFj5jXPK_AvSpmj_Fyn4qVEpJCi7QsNwwgiopFo-_a0ynWWiqSfG-V5t6SK4-AMUz1Rmgf5WWVK6UTIqKycBoOOke_OlELFiMyXua4M1s9hxdrfX7HXuWDyeBjqQb2jRReVP-QioFObQKLi/s1280/room%20pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbU2fJ7Wq4REbmMYREZbKihbW6gVFPUI90OaBSgaFj5jXPK_AvSpmj_Fyn4qVEpJCi7QsNwwgiopFo-_a0ynWWiqSfG-V5t6SK4-AMUz1Rmgf5WWVK6UTIqKycBoOOke_OlELFiMyXua4M1s9hxdrfX7HXuWDyeBjqQb2jRReVP-QioFObQKLi/w640-h426/room%20pixabay.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><center><br /></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>When I was a little girl I watched my Papa change atmospheres all the time.</b></span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It was as effortless as changing his hat.</b></span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>People acted differently when he was around. You never heard loud voices or cursing or strife when he was in the room; they respected him too much. </b></span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>What he carried was palpable. </b></span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I've spent a lifetime trying to follow his example, trying to understand where that power came from, then founded an accidental peace movement from a ragged bag of his dusty marbles. Decades later they came to life in the story that became <i>Dona Nobis Pacem</i> for all of us in 2006. It was only then that I knew his uncanny penchant for atmosphere shifts was no accident at all. </b></span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Years later he is STILL transforming that wide-eyed little girl </b></span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>STILL transforming all of us.</b></span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A bowl of marbles and one person</b></span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>His quiet </b></span><b style="font-size: large;">unconditional </b><b style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">love</b></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>changed rooms, changed atmospheres, changed me, changes you</b></span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Still.</b></span></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></center><center><b><span style="font-size: medium;">What <i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">you</span></i> carry is palpable.</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-size: medium;">HOW you carry it alters the atmosphere you're in</span></b></center><center><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMON9WJSQQNXTec6QxyjQcKnOT4srPTzJaFxF_HYVKq4DVMOrM2-0YfSpZbi1qv7sVYW0lidAVQrdTF3rcAQf9_s9koUV-W6pji4xZEWo6MUfD5yRagR4mdW4q86RDdimz1QJlRgfYe86ybLidBC1npaMt63nwgHFm8PhvLyY-_cMhaDPiTlRa/s1280/children%20walking%20peace%20pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMON9WJSQQNXTec6QxyjQcKnOT4srPTzJaFxF_HYVKq4DVMOrM2-0YfSpZbi1qv7sVYW0lidAVQrdTF3rcAQf9_s9koUV-W6pji4xZEWo6MUfD5yRagR4mdW4q86RDdimz1QJlRgfYe86ybLidBC1npaMt63nwgHFm8PhvLyY-_cMhaDPiTlRa/w400-h300/children%20walking%20peace%20pixabay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">You either change the atmosphere </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">or the atmosphere changes <i>you</i></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Maybe if we all learn how to <span style="font-family: helvetica;">change the room </span>we could collectively change the world.</i></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">We have called attention to the <i>absence</i> of what we want. Instead of focusing on the absence of peace, why don't we <span style="font-family: helvetica;">just walk in with it</span> like we own the planet?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Because. we. do. </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Maybe I was a bit naively ambitious in 2006 when I asked you to change the world and expected a peace globe to magically appear on 70 million blogs. Today there are 1.9 BILLION websites worldwide; of those, 600 MILLION blogs. Apparently, we're <b><i>still</i></b> expecting to make a dent in the atmosphere because, after all, we're still here. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So walk in like you own it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Because. you. do. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghuX5BSJjX85BDFu-E8BJ2UMkL2_McGC4LWCRYehy3Bd9WKmiNWc6ERxuzOtBg53F8TnNgdGEEbdU2HJlB7oIQHE0P6oIElWoLEncMTq-GOKv-iQVxIzDgjxVSg2QaxRWVOdsBRwnerEnZhp94xCiStwtoWNofriSrFrcSiS-6jipzNhKOZ5_q/s200/Logo%20TRANSPARENT%20background%20removed%20200%20x%20188.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="200" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghuX5BSJjX85BDFu-E8BJ2UMkL2_McGC4LWCRYehy3Bd9WKmiNWc6ERxuzOtBg53F8TnNgdGEEbdU2HJlB7oIQHE0P6oIElWoLEncMTq-GOKv-iQVxIzDgjxVSg2QaxRWVOdsBRwnerEnZhp94xCiStwtoWNofriSrFrcSiS-6jipzNhKOZ5_q/s1600/Logo%20TRANSPARENT%20background%20removed%20200%20x%20188.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The planet is groaning for peace and stability and the world is watching how you carry yourself. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We are not the ones to fall down or offer tired platitudes. We are not the ones!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If that's who we are, if that's ALL we are, then I'm out right now.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm about to make a bold statement! </span></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>THIS YEAR</b></i> you will write words that transform. And nothing less.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> You will draw and paint and sing and created from a place of clear knowing! This will be the most powerful year of peace posts we've ever seen. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">From the moment you set your pen to paper, you will feel it. It will happen <i>in</i> you. How do I know? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Because you've been peace blogging for many many blog years and you just happened to walk right past me a time or two.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b> I caught it then and I sense it now. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3J8yr_q7w9PA1YmmbRr_XKqQJkIQkzz0nmGkHUt63M05QoeLQm8KedKgBWkAxZb09lX958WVs6sXPA0ti3QXY12Q6cvIvYXCV6KpFe3qlnQpQyLBQHv6Yu0fxGKDiXAhpmb_7a-sNO5sFMteNYjRpMPf8HQDqIDSjbhuiPw_I6PPk1tv9qUp5/s1280/crowded%20people%20on%20stairs%20pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="1280" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3J8yr_q7w9PA1YmmbRr_XKqQJkIQkzz0nmGkHUt63M05QoeLQm8KedKgBWkAxZb09lX958WVs6sXPA0ti3QXY12Q6cvIvYXCV6KpFe3qlnQpQyLBQHv6Yu0fxGKDiXAhpmb_7a-sNO5sFMteNYjRpMPf8HQDqIDSjbhuiPw_I6PPk1tv9qUp5/s320/crowded%20people%20on%20stairs%20pixabay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>So tell us. Tell us how you do it.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>You will write stories</b> of how you walked on seeming hot coals unscathed in the past year.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">. When all seemed lost and you wanted to give up, you prevailed. When your body and spirit grew weary and the challenges seemed more than you could bear, you prevailed. .<b> </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Someone out there needs to hear that story.</b> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We don't change the world or the room by ourselves. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We pass what we carry to each other.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Peace expands.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We transform. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">People will behave differently around you. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I promise.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxiRP04dpssRvxAErxBUu41M3TS2UZkBo5kQNp5rElVsm-8lfnX76O0df1GaYF9tkku44nX7Lq6ZP__weI91ALvDyPY9a8tbda2RxxEM7ZTQuRMX-7Z1Ur3BH1x9MqmLWuMeBJkzSQUxzzZ8tE3Ijwcg_F-HXcYTgpTDil6UltEfM-qxNkLZik/s320/Blog4Peace%20Template%20%2317d%20Nov%204%20Mimi%20Lenox.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="196" data-original-width="320" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxiRP04dpssRvxAErxBUu41M3TS2UZkBo5kQNp5rElVsm-8lfnX76O0df1GaYF9tkku44nX7Lq6ZP__weI91ALvDyPY9a8tbda2RxxEM7ZTQuRMX-7Z1Ur3BH1x9MqmLWuMeBJkzSQUxzzZ8tE3Ijwcg_F-HXcYTgpTDil6UltEfM-qxNkLZik/s1600/Blog4Peace%20Template%20%2317d%20Nov%204%20Mimi%20Lenox.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><center>Let's go! It's a launch.</center><center><br /></center><center><b><a href="https://peaceglobegallery.blogspot.com/p/get-your-own-peace-globe.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">How To Blog For Peace</span></a></b></center><br /><center><b><span style="font-size: large;">Peace Globe Templates <a href="https://peaceglobegallery.blogspot.com/p/peace-globe-templates.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://blog4peace.com" target="_blank">Official Peace Globe Gallery</a> </span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-size: large;">(<i>see thousands of globes from every country</i>)</span></b></center><center><br /></center><center><b><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVb8HqMpFXQjjGkY59iAN_sCIxC2UwZFUDPQt6Ks_fm05tbm3JLUVqx-7f2iUFAuHJifsYlq4O2P-DV4CIIdC-JVb00CLSBN9Z-RXWV8RH4efTGAnE6H3KdZgHgZtaLhAbaZwauW0Ae6Ntw5NGW9VIHrchAqk_VJM_FYzfRCNxmSG4B2mWq7xW" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="178" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVb8HqMpFXQjjGkY59iAN_sCIxC2UwZFUDPQt6Ks_fm05tbm3JLUVqx-7f2iUFAuHJifsYlq4O2P-DV4CIIdC-JVb00CLSBN9Z-RXWV8RH4efTGAnE6H3KdZgHgZtaLhAbaZwauW0Ae6Ntw5NGW9VIHrchAqk_VJM_FYzfRCNxmSG4B2mWq7xW" width="232" /></a></div>Peace globe #1<br /><br /></span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></center><center><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPvg691dYGhX1eyNrjWLJ_v8hWbpt8S8f4UO5S9Ss6ipogB_lnssPf62GjXDAtSn3A7gz0sxzUqC_IplLZtuHcp4G_295U_41XadKIFqEgvTNlPMbb1vLF4qGBTjPUKurgzGzyM2OI0I-ROfpuS4yOCa8SoaFErYeF3XvmERZvU5BwJPEcli2U" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="312" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPvg691dYGhX1eyNrjWLJ_v8hWbpt8S8f4UO5S9Ss6ipogB_lnssPf62GjXDAtSn3A7gz0sxzUqC_IplLZtuHcp4G_295U_41XadKIFqEgvTNlPMbb1vLF4qGBTjPUKurgzGzyM2OI0I-ROfpuS4yOCa8SoaFErYeF3XvmERZvU5BwJPEcli2U" width="234" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Use this blank template to make your own peace globe</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Contact me at blog4peace @ yahoo.com or on Facebook if you have questions.</span></b></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Images: Mimi Lenox, Pixabay</b></span></center><center><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">©Mimi Lenox All Rights Reserved </span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blog4Peace™ Blog For Peace™ Post4Peace™ BlogBlastForPeace™ et al</span></b></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center>Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></center>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">BlogBlast For Peace November 4 ~ Join us!
http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-17452501263024591472023-07-09T23:37:00.003-04:002023-07-09T23:46:29.744-04:00Monday Mimisms ~ Powerful Whispers<center><span style="text-align: left;">Where have I been? </span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">It's been a minute. The entire month of June got away from me. Complications showed up. I took a fall on the porch and spent a few painful days sleeping away the bruises. Friends said, "Rest and heal!" That's sooo hard to do. I'm a terrible patient. I keep pushing through sans common sense. </span></center><center><br /></center><center>Lost my writing mojo for one red hot minute while the anti-inflammatory meds became the most important task of the day - but sorely needed (pun intended).<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KeVFHDTnETcfM-RNsHVlubPIehPggkU7QAaQzKEjmrwKf4VDNuimJht3DQp7Ksfd3-iBG43GS2hSZGa__jDESn-gmYhGZ1qK1foPYHG_sBRZqtB4M99_yQWAbfV3OniUuYm-4xuki29xouazsQwztKxEq8c4EE6hPZP6L_5mQvDxovnP3bcD/s416/mimi%20and%20the%20lion%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="416" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KeVFHDTnETcfM-RNsHVlubPIehPggkU7QAaQzKEjmrwKf4VDNuimJht3DQp7Ksfd3-iBG43GS2hSZGa__jDESn-gmYhGZ1qK1foPYHG_sBRZqtB4M99_yQWAbfV3OniUuYm-4xuki29xouazsQwztKxEq8c4EE6hPZP6L_5mQvDxovnP3bcD/w400-h253/mimi%20and%20the%20lion%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finding courage in an antique store<br />2013 - Revisited <b><a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/2013/04/monday-mimisms-lion.html" target="_blank">this post</a></b> and reclaimed my writing chops<br /><br />Then I got off my prissy behind (literally) and started venturing out again.<br />More thrifting. Lunches with beautiful friends to catch up. Soaking in Epsom. Burning lavender candles in the middle of the day. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1YbOgN_3Z081n9D735GO6n3_-zt8F0RvNr-qbkDCVtDal75xB4e_NBtJi87V-UI2OrhTJMwy3eKeC5-ObBHAEDhnjQStFu3SZtvtTeY8cNwfQeibz-vKh4nP7DCwZj2w56QlF_DMF1WEH1f3U_ubsdVSLi71pw4_cgH252LkHCufKKZL4m8v/s1124/restaurant%20Mimi%20Lenox%20photo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="843" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1YbOgN_3Z081n9D735GO6n3_-zt8F0RvNr-qbkDCVtDal75xB4e_NBtJi87V-UI2OrhTJMwy3eKeC5-ObBHAEDhnjQStFu3SZtvtTeY8cNwfQeibz-vKh4nP7DCwZj2w56QlF_DMF1WEH1f3U_ubsdVSLi71pw4_cgH252LkHCufKKZL4m8v/s320/restaurant%20Mimi%20Lenox%20photo.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br />Looking for furniture as I redecorate my house. More gentle house decluttering. All gingerly. Slowly. Mindfully. <i>Thankfully. I came so close to breaking my hip. </i>Ummm....perhaps I should sloooooowwww down instead of thinking I'm a modern version of Laura Ingalls Wilder on the Bloggingham Prairie trying to do things I shouldn't be doing. Getting tangled up in a heavy water hose was NO fun. <br /><br />I couldn't sit for long periods of time, which turned out to be a good thing: it made me get outside and wander around. Sunshine and grass under my feet. Good for the soul....and the soles.<br />Naps happened.<br /><br /><b><i> <a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/2013/04/monday-mimisms-lion.html" target="_blank">The Lion spoke</a> ten years ago this spring. </i></b><br />I remember the sound of the muse. Powerful whispers.<br />And his roar. I'd like to catch a glimpse of him again. It took falling down to get my attention. I'm ready for a new set of words.<br />I'm ready for inspiration from the Lion. <br />I wonder if he remembers....<br /><br />Dusting off my pen and paper...<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center>Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a> <a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></center>
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http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-69962454682932765032023-05-29T14:17:00.002-04:002023-05-29T14:17:42.562-04:00Memorial Day 2023 <center>Honor and respect</center><center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJ7zIrDf449-LEC1Q6otJlW01mOT7WPpusF5hOLK5cdB_RtUR9FKvflMMojm0-rGVnfju80KFdUQOWKyJO65Pz_PH26PHFID9bTHOWHnkL_lIU7wPKPYPlTuRw0Ic0TBEiXUVZYmNx2DP0Q1Gqvqakzn19Ws0eeiu3gY_SjHSfFhc6AhcAQ/s1280/memorial%20day%20pixabay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1280" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJ7zIrDf449-LEC1Q6otJlW01mOT7WPpusF5hOLK5cdB_RtUR9FKvflMMojm0-rGVnfju80KFdUQOWKyJO65Pz_PH26PHFID9bTHOWHnkL_lIU7wPKPYPlTuRw0Ic0TBEiXUVZYmNx2DP0Q1Gqvqakzn19Ws0eeiu3gY_SjHSfFhc6AhcAQ/w400-h275/memorial%20day%20pixabay.jpg" width="400" /></a></center><center><br /></center><center>Some gave all</center><center><br /></center><center><br />Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></center>
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http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-43431004175698401532023-05-22T17:01:00.001-04:002023-05-23T12:35:23.529-04:00Monday Mimisms ~ Toes Out the Window<center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was seventeen. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-RlszbcJUGT4tvpAAeq7SKAzfpOm8ga9vqdCgO0z_Wnh0fsRN4f4bJEwW22uma-iXJq2FaMLYhTaNmt0qNay4K_NbqLkNtWQT1GUuOsWdUkDpXpdQvhjtwZziMCGwQ29snXy5NHiDdRirBoCAN3IDGzukdSDPLF3pAvqaprEi4YL6ddcyg/s897/mimi%201974%20a.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="418" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-RlszbcJUGT4tvpAAeq7SKAzfpOm8ga9vqdCgO0z_Wnh0fsRN4f4bJEwW22uma-iXJq2FaMLYhTaNmt0qNay4K_NbqLkNtWQT1GUuOsWdUkDpXpdQvhjtwZziMCGwQ29snXy5NHiDdRirBoCAN3IDGzukdSDPLF3pAvqaprEi4YL6ddcyg/s320/mimi%201974%20a.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Performing in 1974</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><i></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>My hair weighed more than I did.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>We'd just finished a Beatles medley for the student body of our high school</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>and all I wanted to do was step out of the Yellow Submarine we'd build out of cardboard and slide into the passenger seat of my boyfriend's car</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span> Toes out the window. Coca-Cola in my hand.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span>Hair-in-a-ponytail-happy-I was.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><span style="font-size: normal;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span>Fast forward forty-seven years. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span>and volcanoes are exploding in my pencil head</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEh2kAQTRgOwYQwTKyyJdEFoKP9UXh5KydPY1XYPwHfCAezIPXB1eS352QKgYu0seUemhFoAB0jXXjiMPIk2bde-25vLEXGoDPZvhsbLv9MAxXnDVat2slxujn0iJbQArU_fD8w7lou3uKgpu5op5_xt8zy2WBu-KR0cETUm7QB91uX7WKJQ/s1551/Mimi%20Elvira%20Mistress%20of%20Snark%20Facebook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1551" data-original-width="1124" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEh2kAQTRgOwYQwTKyyJdEFoKP9UXh5KydPY1XYPwHfCAezIPXB1eS352QKgYu0seUemhFoAB0jXXjiMPIk2bde-25vLEXGoDPZvhsbLv9MAxXnDVat2slxujn0iJbQArU_fD8w7lou3uKgpu5op5_xt8zy2WBu-KR0cETUm7QB91uX7WKJQ/s320/Mimi%20Elvira%20Mistress%20of%20Snark%20Facebook.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><i>Pandemic Me</i><br /><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span>So much time on my hands</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span>Thinking about the one I should have married</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span>Thinking about the one I <i>could</i> have married</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span>The one I shouldn't have married</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span>The one I didn't marry</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span>All of those shoulda-woulda missteps brought lifelong consequences unbeknownst to the long-haired girl.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span>The one who got away before I found myself at the ripe old age of thirty-something. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span>What is it about sixty-something that causes one to psychoanalyze the whole of a life? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span>Shouldn't I be knitting sweaters or something? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span>Who <i>does</i> that?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span>Me. This week. That's who.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span>Then I hit a big bodacious bad brick wall. SCREEEEECCCCHHHH.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">BAM. OUCH.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1_lB88kvM9RUskO4rMYy2JOHOdfvsFtKYBn8A8nbzJOLaieGerwJJLhDiF0Psc82ti3-JDCNR0OT-CZEceAlUsHNh-OUxGi2ZJDdew29lZmX7ImlemttoWgNM85oQUnweMBApmENs_0c1_QUbVZsZWz6ilGSdVKzfALBgrUHj7SWjilVsA/s834/brick%20wall.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="834" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1_lB88kvM9RUskO4rMYy2JOHOdfvsFtKYBn8A8nbzJOLaieGerwJJLhDiF0Psc82ti3-JDCNR0OT-CZEceAlUsHNh-OUxGi2ZJDdew29lZmX7ImlemttoWgNM85oQUnweMBApmENs_0c1_QUbVZsZWz6ilGSdVKzfALBgrUHj7SWjilVsA/s320/brick%20wall.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last Thursday night I was sitting on the couch staring at the wall in silence, evicting a few rickety ghosts from my head, watching them fly away into mist. Scribbling on paper. I'd been there awhile...just kind of numb. Needing to <i>not</i>-think. You get that, right? There had been unpleasantness, you see. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't like unpleasantness. I like peace.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Breathe in. Breathe out. Meditate. Pray. Listen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before I knew it, all the ropes that held me down had been untied. I lit a match and symbolically burned a paper full of angry words in my left hand. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Watched it burn. Watched it burn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Ashes. Poof. Gone.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then picked up what was left of those I-should-have-could-have-shouldn't-have people with my right hand and blew. them. away. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjND42w6YpPYNJrm3QaQFFZyFrGdnQqGmZfPvUG5QjsTxQ5t66V9GBTvRe7ai8osdIRVpBfpA4xsppIwOcFmJm7JVKx0QnmxAEt0yhsl_tpj3B4QUXwTdvGq48mgRFyX6Zqmh8M3MnBClJIXsbR2-MoVMJaxfhflLlO-oIxOxX1QHQ_zAJemw/s822/ashes.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="822" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjND42w6YpPYNJrm3QaQFFZyFrGdnQqGmZfPvUG5QjsTxQ5t66V9GBTvRe7ai8osdIRVpBfpA4xsppIwOcFmJm7JVKx0QnmxAEt0yhsl_tpj3B4QUXwTdvGq48mgRFyX6Zqmh8M3MnBClJIXsbR2-MoVMJaxfhflLlO-oIxOxX1QHQ_zAJemw/s320/ashes.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I looked at the clock. It was 2 am. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I straightened my dented crown and went to bed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've been on a slippery slope you see.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Trying to function and still save <i>me</i>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There. I said it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It doesn't matter how long ago your loved one last misused a substance or drank to excess or suffered a bout of depression, in a mother's head and heart they're always a fool's breath away from active destruction; except with addiction or alcoholism or even narcissism it's<i> mutual </i>destruction. A person with a substance use or personality disorder can look at you stone cold sober holding a Bible in one hand and Holy Water in the other and you <i>still</i> won't believe they're sober or truthful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's <i>my</i> problem, not theirs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpZI7_B3fYyWpkYu0sR_uikUirgupKL1MeXgSg_WD-Jwgc7qtOCS9RWr5n5hy2y4DwdnLP5CQV_YXH8wvX6rVliRnjuwIwfxZMu7TOopHz1VhjBOU8H-JSzLrVzwdBnWKI68cVdJu62doy4bV4T0pQo-JcTNCaI2WavVzxpPsodHKSvagvQ/s850/mothers%20heart.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="850" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpZI7_B3fYyWpkYu0sR_uikUirgupKL1MeXgSg_WD-Jwgc7qtOCS9RWr5n5hy2y4DwdnLP5CQV_YXH8wvX6rVliRnjuwIwfxZMu7TOopHz1VhjBOU8H-JSzLrVzwdBnWKI68cVdJu62doy4bV4T0pQo-JcTNCaI2WavVzxpPsodHKSvagvQ/s320/mothers%20heart.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I don't want to cover it up anymore.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not because of my beautiful loved one - he's been successfully working his sobriety for many years - </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but because of ME.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Standing in the wide weary gulf between helping and enabling </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">when I found myself alone and climbing out of the recent brief foxhole we shared, <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzzDDNblado6gVOhUlb3WKS2K69pSuj3qHPIsPD-FZKPzsO9KENfu62T3-dm1uZEmoCKkofV-PORNxR3zt_zFyopSDiq84WiyrAi-ZvQq4GvU4fPw72eEMvzDc4Dnv7OlHaCF0i078wTY1YfWCNdBJE8Li7sMGjQM17KMYMPNMY6r72Xx4A/s853/gulf%20pixabay.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="853" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzzDDNblado6gVOhUlb3WKS2K69pSuj3qHPIsPD-FZKPzsO9KENfu62T3-dm1uZEmoCKkofV-PORNxR3zt_zFyopSDiq84WiyrAi-ZvQq4GvU4fPw72eEMvzDc4Dnv7OlHaCF0i078wTY1YfWCNdBJE8Li7sMGjQM17KMYMPNMY6r72Xx4A/s320/gulf%20pixabay.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>it resurrected all kinds of emotional baggage from years and years ago when he was actively struggling with substances. Oh, the memories. We found ourselves dancing to that worn-out record despite ourselves</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">my eyes were opened</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to what I had become</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">what I needed to deal with</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">what I needed to admit</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">what I needed to understand</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">what I needed to</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">stop</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">doing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't you hate that word?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>What word, Mimi?</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Codependency</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes, I hate it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The day I started blogging, half my face fell off</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then all kinds of wonderful adventures began</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today, this many years young,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I found the other half again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There is a thin line dangling between the edge of authenticity and the need for dignity and privacy. My writing has always walked that wire. But in <i>every</i> word and every story I try to err on the side of transparency, in the same way I would want less shame-based words applied to the people I love.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDN6EUsnGX4ys66vo6Y6DJDea4rOdK_pGRjL9FoK7nqvUWfnCotzLuu7Nlj9lDoc63903DZo1fb_kr-oHWaF25QM_omdMWn-A76PMrsZnVOIXghVZQUHu8DFtD7aKioYUmjrb1EFofnIv15J3ABDAiWG_W57YFQYr0-OFomg-JOiKv2Bzl-Q/s454/moonwalk%20tightrope%20pixabay.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="375" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDN6EUsnGX4ys66vo6Y6DJDea4rOdK_pGRjL9FoK7nqvUWfnCotzLuu7Nlj9lDoc63903DZo1fb_kr-oHWaF25QM_omdMWn-A76PMrsZnVOIXghVZQUHu8DFtD7aKioYUmjrb1EFofnIv15J3ABDAiWG_W57YFQYr0-OFomg-JOiKv2Bzl-Q/s320/moonwalk%20tightrope%20pixabay.JPG" width="264" /></a></div><br /> Addict is not a noun or an identity. Alcoholic is not a noun or an identity. Codependent is not a noun or an identity. They are disorders and struggles, not moral failures. The disease is not the person.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've wanted to say it for years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>That I am proud of him</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That I love him with all my heart</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That I see him</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Despite me and my uneven walk with worry and faith</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But just for a little while, I think we need a mini-divorce. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulryUKzUYqJRdo37daoIQesFe0Xg6FUKaTzrGBQq6AciUmCJj_uzTDmeFYS97IG5znVcYWVo59vZ2aQLEj01RDZTT2C3Gn43_oLiviG61JnJhT2UrmdhiiQ7eqS9DeIXhFYokjxxb14s9MSVs0-iJuO4lnp3FdSMTN8DRmOLUdderdDkjXg/s240/Homer%20what.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulryUKzUYqJRdo37daoIQesFe0Xg6FUKaTzrGBQq6AciUmCJj_uzTDmeFYS97IG5znVcYWVo59vZ2aQLEj01RDZTT2C3Gn43_oLiviG61JnJhT2UrmdhiiQ7eqS9DeIXhFYokjxxb14s9MSVs0-iJuO4lnp3FdSMTN8DRmOLUdderdDkjXg/s1600/Homer%20what.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Hush Homer. I'll be checking <b>your</b> medicine cabinet tomorrow..</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /> Just until I regain my sea legs and he sprouts more of those beautiful wings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He can be free to make his own adventures </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> I won't be holding him hostage with my smothering</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I can be free to make <i>my</i> own adventures </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> not holding <i>myself</i> back with fear </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What codependency does to your peace of mind is insidious and suffocating </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You don't even know it's happening! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's a learned belief and habit that I must unlearn</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Have you ever seen your son or daughter nearly dead from a disease?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You'll do anything to keep that from happening again. <i>Even when you no longer need to.</i> Even years later. And therein lies the devil of enabling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkn2FZwH7MJ1oWPdLKBqqRfz_UvKJpUkEnUm7YqqsRmSr9lFbxZZO7gBDg9IVSAObf-ugamj88akCd63rMWH2yLtk4k_X06oh-UUht4hilxeoGJ0zdbcjKbYKX_EP3Sk7Fsuwle3QonqeYCK5Tsf70lRdWWtIziSwGdDRkD7byzym5WpyG_w/s811/lonely%20sad%20pixabay.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="811" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkn2FZwH7MJ1oWPdLKBqqRfz_UvKJpUkEnUm7YqqsRmSr9lFbxZZO7gBDg9IVSAObf-ugamj88akCd63rMWH2yLtk4k_X06oh-UUht4hilxeoGJ0zdbcjKbYKX_EP3Sk7Fsuwle3QonqeYCK5Tsf70lRdWWtIziSwGdDRkD7byzym5WpyG_w/s320/lonely%20sad%20pixabay.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The job of addiction is to kill and destroy. When you enable (helping someone do something they can do for themselves) at first you believe you're actually helping. You feel good about it. You get a rush of feel good dopamine. Sound familiar? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here's the problem. The <i>real</i> sneaky job of enabling is <i>also</i> to kill and destroy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> My hardwired need to protect, spills over into the decisions I make about everything and everyone <i>else</i> in my life. Now that was an eye-opener.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Codependency grows from a normal natural parental instinct which screams <b>protect.my.child.</b> Mothers have it the moment their babies are born.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There's no shame in it. It's motivated by love. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTtyPOqPAwdudHnT7psQsf0hlgbvduZwYuhEZUUD4jIGoXM4r3V0UAULf4G1zSy1VKrEeR52E3pwI9Q5aaA-vl-Rh60J0jRtm7dnLKdfVWXxovl9pXO9yH37PudEW0IRMQHGIreXhe3vmTfibY61y3tWgYMyeXtJ0_fa53ayQjJLpvOAcvQ/s320/mimisept1launch6blog4peace2%20aa.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="206" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTtyPOqPAwdudHnT7psQsf0hlgbvduZwYuhEZUUD4jIGoXM4r3V0UAULf4G1zSy1VKrEeR52E3pwI9Q5aaA-vl-Rh60J0jRtm7dnLKdfVWXxovl9pXO9yH37PudEW0IRMQHGIreXhe3vmTfibY61y3tWgYMyeXtJ0_fa53ayQjJLpvOAcvQ/s1600/mimisept1launch6blog4peace2%20aa.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>But with substance disorder, because of the unpredictable trauma that goes on in families as a result, it can grow wild and out of control and you start <i>looking</i> for a recurrence of symptoms in your loved one. It drives them away. It feels like moral judgment even when <i>your intention is to only throw love. </i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sometimes I move about the world in shoe-drop mode, post trauma reactions that aren't even real in the moment. It's not irrational or hypothetical. The triggers of past events can still be seen in my mind and felt in my heart. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQnE3eNLQiyBta4vWf3sjVDlN5dG-rxyMFmThYvyM6D1XFBtkS7y9XY8Sfo1Amkk4FfOz75DrjJ6fQkeK2lKzgf2aRF1IF745wMLCntiEYFuFSi8A3zRiZZJQr9Bzas_ilP6IH0fqDP-_V8lm8egPPQSRqNqUBqt9GHgQ_9EFWZAdiS6WEw/s421/shoedrop%20pixabay.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="387" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQnE3eNLQiyBta4vWf3sjVDlN5dG-rxyMFmThYvyM6D1XFBtkS7y9XY8Sfo1Amkk4FfOz75DrjJ6fQkeK2lKzgf2aRF1IF745wMLCntiEYFuFSi8A3zRiZZJQr9Bzas_ilP6IH0fqDP-_V8lm8egPPQSRqNqUBqt9GHgQ_9EFWZAdiS6WEw/s320/shoedrop%20pixabay.JPG" width="294" /></a></div><br />So I make up my own scary stories in the now and convince myself that I need to DO something to prevent them from happening again. It's that dead-child-coffin-dream fear, to put it bluntly. It's very common for parents of children who've suffered from substance abuse. It's like you're watching a horror show on the big screen of your life. The substance has the starring role, the protagonist. Everyone is in desperately twisted love with the alcohol, the pill, the high, the drama. Your loved one is drowning. You are the unintentional antagonist. Everyone dies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You run yourself ragged trying to help. It doesn't help. It makes things worse because they lose the dignity of making their own choices. And you lose your mind watching them suffer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think I dented my crown when I hit that wall, my friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But I'll be OK.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdOpLLb-fe4kCYSLECKxqrm6UAN5_VqKm8AY3N0EgaD6iVXEL-czxjavhIk-qhaCFYGjmVoY2AEZg212JE4qoSObOCm8rxzEh-tLE7d6rRkFE6sYt79_lHmIlDJRhhmajAhGGgAJg3AkemjTgqbq2lDHOl4u-8niCUBnz3fW4TqeeJPZs8A/s825/addiction%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="825" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdOpLLb-fe4kCYSLECKxqrm6UAN5_VqKm8AY3N0EgaD6iVXEL-czxjavhIk-qhaCFYGjmVoY2AEZg212JE4qoSObOCm8rxzEh-tLE7d6rRkFE6sYt79_lHmIlDJRhhmajAhGGgAJg3AkemjTgqbq2lDHOl4u-8niCUBnz3fW4TqeeJPZs8A/s320/addiction%202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No matter how many times I stick my toes out the window and put my hair in a ponytail, some days are like a roller coaster ride. You either hold on or fall off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But mostly, I discovered the amusement ride in my head wasn't fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I joined a support group. I took an assessment. I signed up for a codependency class online. I wrote emails and ask questions. I watched podcasts on parents who also struggle with enabling NODDING and NODDING and NODDING my head.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Who knew I belonged to a club that no one wants to belong to all these years? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> I didn't join to fix him. I joined to fix me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center>Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></center>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">BlogBlast For Peace November 4 ~ Join us!
http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-34969956960721975132023-05-08T08:00:00.003-04:002023-05-29T15:06:51.130-04:00Monday Mimisms ~ Getting Back To Me<center><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHaPBYofqWme2M_5T-MTtp0yZfgVsTYe2BnYEr4RnOfQ8_zP664HkPUoK5blN6vWb-GgGxR0HYvX6_C32tMw4Zj6Is2ZLV7AgoOo3-OzmnFmqHf6SdQG0X61wD2tVygqIWf2GX4G9xq6jl-NLl4GNbLrr8iuFYVE6t23oUwqB-dDZxPC61bA/s510/housing%20market%20pixabay%203.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="510" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHaPBYofqWme2M_5T-MTtp0yZfgVsTYe2BnYEr4RnOfQ8_zP664HkPUoK5blN6vWb-GgGxR0HYvX6_C32tMw4Zj6Is2ZLV7AgoOo3-OzmnFmqHf6SdQG0X61wD2tVygqIWf2GX4G9xq6jl-NLl4GNbLrr8iuFYVE6t23oUwqB-dDZxPC61bA/s320/housing%20market%20pixabay%203.jpg" width="320" /></a> The housing market exploded into doom-for-buyers about the time they settled in. No reasonable rent to be found. No affordable housing on the horizon. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"> They were stuck here with me, Homer, Snickers, squirrels and trees. For the past eighteen months I've had guests in my house; changing jobs, seeking housing, and going with the flow of economic turmoil. The bonus? A delightful 3-year-old who calls me Mimi liberally planted kisses on the mirrors....and on me...every single day. It's been challenging and wonderful all at once. At times the experience forged our relationships with in-your-face fire, followed by loving transitions of the heart, only to be followed by more fire. All necessary. Part and parcel for three generations under one roof. And probably long overdue. I'm happy and proud to report they've moved on to a home of their own ... new commitments, new adventures. I still haven't washed the lipstick marks from the mirrors.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center><br /></center><center>Now there are only the ghosts of Bloggingham...</center><center> and me.</center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERbT591kMwzMs67NWKXkUbSUBl1EeP4nrFDeVwb71P7IgwYZGJCCbylGosSrkfX9_t4aoBM6r9PivbfQmXXVso9441aR9kaAu3L_W8pDGCF6-5D5FQGQt1xNe9IatH5kE214Udx6CvSDvJo8fErh1rOEuCGFw_DebkOprytoWgiaYjFVdNQ/s960/Gothic%20ghost%20pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="960" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERbT591kMwzMs67NWKXkUbSUBl1EeP4nrFDeVwb71P7IgwYZGJCCbylGosSrkfX9_t4aoBM6r9PivbfQmXXVso9441aR9kaAu3L_W8pDGCF6-5D5FQGQt1xNe9IatH5kE214Udx6CvSDvJo8fErh1rOEuCGFw_DebkOprytoWgiaYjFVdNQ/w400-h264/Gothic%20ghost%20pixabay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></center><center>While I love them and will miss them, </center><center>I'm rediscovering what it means to be truly <i>finally</i> retired and free.</center><center>My life has been on pause for a few years. </center><center>Lately I've been to a couple of lunch meets with old friends and colleagues, bought a new dress for Friday night tip-toeing into a nightclub (if I remember how to walk in heels), found a new Farmer's Market and stocked the freezer with healthy foods. </center><center><br /></center><center>And the music?</center><center> UP. LOUD.</center><center><br /></center><center>Sleeping?</center><center>IN</center><center><br /></center><center>Clothes and shoes?</center><center>FLUNG OFF</center><center><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(did I say that??)</span></i></center><center><br /></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">Mostly, I appreciate and value my independence. I don't think I'll take for granted, again, <i>any</i> little thing in my home. Did I fully appreciate my space before? NO. Did I remember to stop and be grateful for pine cabinets, wood floors, porches and tire swings? Not always. </span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-family: courier;">I'd almost forgotten what it meant to hear silence.</span></b></i></span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"> I have learned to be thankful for the smallest of things: the forks and spoons I now wash in the </span><i style="text-align: left;"><b>quiet</b></i><span style="text-align: left;"> of morning, the </span><i style="text-align: left;"><b>sound</b></i><span style="text-align: left;"> of a perking coffee pot, the sight of birds making </span><i style="text-align: left;"><b>new nests</b></i><span style="text-align: left;"> under </span><b style="text-align: left;"><i>inconvenient eaves </i></b><span style="text-align: left;">and dust...even <b><i>dust.</i></b>..because I get to do a big spring clean and spruce my home new into what I want it to be </span><i style="text-align: left;">just for me again</i><span style="text-align: left;">. I feel like I walked into a brand new house. <br />I need rugs. And lamps. And art on the walls.</span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">I'm throwing out carloads of accumulated junk from attic to basement.</span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">VERY liberating.</span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"> I've lived alone for the past twenty-one years! Having others here for so long was an intense experience for me. I like my own company. I like my own space. I like my own routines. And let's face it, I drive people crazy!!!</span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"></span><i style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Just ask them!) </span></b></i></center><center><i style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY22QgdLNySk6tc4puPTFXcSCPDovFehJ2Gbsevg6MKsKXRO3iIhZvvpwLFcnm7Ww1_jUU3pIpHZ31NWWCaGg6mDonH-KPo6ZczOX3Jm8mdpSY-FjKrz8gO-pITkSq6Fn1A8UBsWz9vVhrN75hl46ac6RCn1XGM6MJ9I_b4mg2I4ru4pSOzw/s240/Homer%20you%20can%20say%20that%20again.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY22QgdLNySk6tc4puPTFXcSCPDovFehJ2Gbsevg6MKsKXRO3iIhZvvpwLFcnm7Ww1_jUU3pIpHZ31NWWCaGg6mDonH-KPo6ZczOX3Jm8mdpSY-FjKrz8gO-pITkSq6Fn1A8UBsWz9vVhrN75hl46ac6RCn1XGM6MJ9I_b4mg2I4ru4pSOzw/s1600/Homer%20you%20can%20say%20that%20again.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></b></i></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hush Homer..</span></b></span></center><center><i style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></b></i></center><center><i style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Someone said to me the other day during one of our post-pandemic marathon phone calls, </span></b></i></center><center><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>"You </b>never<b> apologize."</b></span></i></center><center><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Excuse me?" popped right out of the snarly mouth of mine. "I don't apologize??"</span></b></i></center><center><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">"You're the most unapologetic person I've ever known," he said. "You don't explain yourself. You're just who you are all the time. I admire that about you.</span></b></i></center><center><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">You don't care what anybody thinks....</span></b></i></center><center><i style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">I pay attention."</span></b></i></center><center><i style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></b></i></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">I appreciated the insight but me thinks I need to do some serious tweaking on this codependent thing and learn what boundaries I'm sabotaging for mySELF that causes me pain and stunts my personal growth. Inner Truth time. </span></b></span></center><center><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></b></i></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">So </span><i style="text-align: left;"><b>this</b></i><span style="text-align: left;"> time in Act 3 of my life</span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">it feels like starting over</span></center><center>from <b><i>scratch</i></b></center><center>like flour and dough-making scratch </center><center>mixing mud in a wild strawberry mud-pie scratch</center><center>making love in a cold backseat scratch</center><center>moving off to college starting over</center><center><b><i>scratch</i></b></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">lyrics and crazy chords</span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">out of thin air scratch</span></center><center><br /></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">staying home </span></center><center>BEING</center><center><br /></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">88 keys of blank pages</span></center><center>just waiting for me</center><center>and my time</center><center><br /></center><center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMv21AfKTXOVFR_Pm1mku12MynP6hQi-Zy5V2G1OW2UCVsAJnWxUPOBQkr5PPvMWQDocAj5X_SJtuP897dx-ANzK7qrebZK92LNH84yR3_goEv58Y8iKnM05HgEbMGZ2f8Sq5o6v8kT2fan5Eh7WJpsISqqFvR0IpW9yF5GFdK3hXPGlnmw/s1125/me%20and%2088%20keys.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="1125" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMv21AfKTXOVFR_Pm1mku12MynP6hQi-Zy5V2G1OW2UCVsAJnWxUPOBQkr5PPvMWQDocAj5X_SJtuP897dx-ANzK7qrebZK92LNH84yR3_goEv58Y8iKnM05HgEbMGZ2f8Sq5o6v8kT2fan5Eh7WJpsISqqFvR0IpW9yF5GFdK3hXPGlnmw/s320/me%20and%2088%20keys.jpg" width="320" /></a></center><center><br /></center><center>That's what musicians do. </center><center>That's what writers do.</center><center>That's what<i> I</i> do.</center><center>No apologies.</center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><span style="font-size: x-small;">Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></span></center>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">BlogBlast For Peace November 4 ~ Join us!
http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-23929388713647991692023-05-01T00:45:00.002-04:002023-05-01T05:25:58.973-04:00Monday Mimisms ~ Hemlines and Shoulders<center><span style="text-align: left;">The plan: Band playing. Outdoor music and festival food. Scores of antiques. Hotdogs. A raffle. Socialization. And oh yes....there was rain. Lots of rain.</span></center><center>The much anticipated event cancelled by a thundercloud. </center><center><b><i>Spring.Fling.Interrupted</i></b></center><center><br /></center><center>The dress would have to wait.</center><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DnhEBR1ENYvvgor_IwzGpjOb_2k2IF4Ysnu1XSWYcPISZV68ixUNhLZb0Nz31huYVAYnGPNZtsMMw1mvrb3TQscbILbK4ule4LOXhMSG_wfOLPEJk9Ll5XWA0wtl3K1nkffMTVzWQK66s77X6KpOSqUr5xJgq4T_VJg5xY3ycyoAX-w7PQ/s3993/1%20dress%20c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3993" data-original-width="2822" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DnhEBR1ENYvvgor_IwzGpjOb_2k2IF4Ysnu1XSWYcPISZV68ixUNhLZb0Nz31huYVAYnGPNZtsMMw1mvrb3TQscbILbK4ule4LOXhMSG_wfOLPEJk9Ll5XWA0wtl3K1nkffMTVzWQK66s77X6KpOSqUr5xJgq4T_VJg5xY3ycyoAX-w7PQ/s320/1%20dress%20c.jpg" width="226" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you can imagine an off-the-shoulder look....</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><center><span style="text-align: left;">As luck (unluck) would have it and in perfect (imperfect) timing, Beans came down with some sort of virus (not Covid) and a high fever, so...I couldn't have gone anyway. When I picked him up from school on Friday his fever was 102 degrees. He had to hunker down with me for the weekend in lieu of spreading it to #theheartpatient at his house. A quick wardrobe switch from that new-dress-floozy-feeling to a nurse cap and thermometer bag and I was good to go. Those quick wardrobe changes in opera workshop classes back in the day really pay off from time to time. Poor little guy has been so sick. I'm masking up and staying as clear away from him as I can, spraying Lysol, singing German Lieder to make him fall asleep <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXrgUqoR6oH9PWap4Fd-S8lichWHzhSnP0OAt4uoIn9rN6QB_LBYlewHizSnmN8peqxq4iWLP5vCJkuE2uGZMcqBtCBPLbNCs0D4-om4goslANEFavIfuzs6kbEaImLoQ5NWXZSVOo55JLqT56lk8QCDWDee6mXZXU70KDs7vTN2t8y6AMQ/s2155/dress%201%20l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="2155" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXrgUqoR6oH9PWap4Fd-S8lichWHzhSnP0OAt4uoIn9rN6QB_LBYlewHizSnmN8peqxq4iWLP5vCJkuE2uGZMcqBtCBPLbNCs0D4-om4goslANEFavIfuzs6kbEaImLoQ5NWXZSVOo55JLqT56lk8QCDWDee6mXZXU70KDs7vTN2t8y6AMQ/s320/dress%201%20l.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />and eyeing that cute little dress hanging in the hallway just begging to be accessorized.</span></center><center><br /></center><center>I've decided to wear the dangling Cherokee feather earrings and strappy floppy Clark sandals with a gold petaled fleur atop for comfort and attention. Yes, I said attention. I need some attention. The kind that a new dress can bring. Because it's not really about the way you look in it or how others see you in it...</center><center>it's about how it makes you feel. </center><center><br /></center><center>And right now I'm feeling pretty darn lucky that I get to spoil this little person who loves and depends on his Mimi AND pretty excited and looking forward to the next sunny weekend full of spring festivals and fun</center><center>sans thunderstorms </center><center>and flu</center><center><br /></center><center>That dress makes me happy</center><center>Bodaciously clashing with the wallpaper</center><center>The hemline hangs short in the front</center><center> longer in the back</center><center>symmetrically askew</center><center>and that's why I laughed</center><center>when the mirror said "<i>It's you</i>!"</center><center><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJ4EPdHgiBtPetx5FJBZHIgPUSDcAbpTywblFmpH9ijWHf3Q07vr-6pkxmnHHZ6Hzcuj6ApXRpSDtMdhnKMGBVAYmHTSejvHthsPKtyfY9szJh4pbS0NOqudHZqB6QnZFxD2dZZAAySn3coDWsngh-aFXXNSKzOK3iqVBi7liD9OfCuyHfA/s2729/1%20dress%20n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="2729" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJ4EPdHgiBtPetx5FJBZHIgPUSDcAbpTywblFmpH9ijWHf3Q07vr-6pkxmnHHZ6Hzcuj6ApXRpSDtMdhnKMGBVAYmHTSejvHthsPKtyfY9szJh4pbS0NOqudHZqB6QnZFxD2dZZAAySn3coDWsngh-aFXXNSKzOK3iqVBi7liD9OfCuyHfA/s320/1%20dress%20n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><center><i>Gute Nacht</i></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center>Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></center>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">BlogBlast For Peace November 4 ~ Join us!
http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-85451759356556037382023-04-18T12:29:00.002-04:002023-04-18T12:30:14.078-04:00Monday Mimisms ~ The Cherokee Girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNV0Tz2cQlHm053S0Slu4De1eyAUrMQwf5S5QHIYC6hz4BXjATYhZ1ZoWyRZjOMiWZTnYjb3uKHBIVYIfAfwFK7NXqEP25F7rtqsqi279U5DtkUGdf_lEhj7n2iRXWqgN4idk7aJZ3ZRehFJDmuyNZmd8fVJA7rV8wot32vWyo3pSP8s1Kw/s400/cherokee%20girl%20mimi.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNV0Tz2cQlHm053S0Slu4De1eyAUrMQwf5S5QHIYC6hz4BXjATYhZ1ZoWyRZjOMiWZTnYjb3uKHBIVYIfAfwFK7NXqEP25F7rtqsqi279U5DtkUGdf_lEhj7n2iRXWqgN4idk7aJZ3ZRehFJDmuyNZmd8fVJA7rV8wot32vWyo3pSP8s1Kw/s320/cherokee%20girl%20mimi.jpg" width="253" /></a></div>*Reprised from 2010* <br /><center><br /><br />I am slightly north of fifty.<br /><br />Most days I like my place on the chronological globe. Some days I want to string it up from the highest rafter and kick the bucket of wrinkle remover off the highest cliff and call it a day.<br />Today was a bucket kicker of a day.<br /><br />I took my 6-year-old grandson shopping through the neighborhood yard sale boutiques. He had a pocket full of money (mine) a skip jump and a heartbeat of joy (mine) and most everything else in his wiry little body that you can count on in this world that means a blessed thing. And he’s mine.<br />Wrapped around my sinew and bone like a web-spun intricate cobweb of blissful peace.<br />He is.<br />Blissful.<br />Peace.<br /><br /><div style="font-style: italic;">My hands have a few wrinkles.<br />I know they weren’t there yesterday.<br />And my eyes look tired. Must be the heat, I tell myself.<br />No.<br />It’s because I’m past-midlife-never-mind.</div><br /><i>And then I went home and got properly stuck on the age thing.<br />And why some days I look like hell<br />and some days I look like twelve<br />and how today I feel just like the Cherokee girl my grandmother was</i><br /><br />I tried to wash my freckles away in the morning dew when I was 8 years old because she said they would disappear. Lo and behold, at 53, I am still trying to cover those blasted freckles and make my smile stop being crooked like hers and my nose wrinkling up oh.so.adolescent.like when I really really smile.<a href="http://mimilenox.com/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498042691808968850" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IMCsoHEmcok/TEz4ssU0wJI/AAAAAAAA5Mo/Mek4usa_H4E/s400/1blogearring.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 400px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 351px;" /></a><br /><br />For years I fought it. I wanted it to shift into Hollywood styled sophisticated perfection. I wanted to pout like Garbo, sizzle like Marilyn, slink like Ginger. I did not want to effude giggles like a pigtailed Mary Ann. (Oh, I do alright in the catwalk department on a good ole’ day you see…..but it’s days like today …..when the sun is long and my freckles come callin’ that I see…I see…..(“<span style="font-style: italic;">I brought my grandson today, ma’am. His name is Baby Boy”</span>) a wisp of<span style="font-weight: bold;"> her</span> staring cold in the mirror and laughing cause she still sees the marks behind whatever makeup I put on (<span style="font-style: italic;">“Grandson? He’s n</span><span style="font-style: italic;">ot your son?”</span>)……knowing full well I can‘t wash them off with the dew (<span style="font-style: italic;">“No, no,”</span> I laugh<span style="font-style: italic;">, “my own baby is 30.”</span>…) even though that’s what my greatly superstitioned grandmother told me (<span style="font-style: italic;">“That’s about what I th</span><span style="font-style: italic;">ought <span style="font-size: 26px; font-weight: bold;">you</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>were.”</span>) while she watched me wash my face with dewdrops one morning at 5am in the backyard trying to scrub them away….(<span style="font-style: italic;">“Oh DO go on, ma’am…I will buy everything you have in your garage today…</span>“)<br /><br /><div><b>Whoever heard of a movie star with <a href="http://mimilenox.com/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-style: italic;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498016122526171602" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IMCsoHEmcok/TEzgiKCLAdI/AAAAAAAA5MY/7fdFgzK2nJM/s400/1bloga.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 105px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 400px;" /></a>freckles?</b></div><br /><div>I can't have both.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Can I?</span></div><br />So I came home flailing all my will into a long dramatic selfish pout, casting winks and coy glances hither and yon for the birds and the squirrels and trees, splashing on makeup and dropping pearls round the long strands of auburn that also belonged to the glorified goddess of an Indian-laced grandmother and took this shot and that and that shot and this trying to see what the yard sale lady said she saw in the shadow of my grandson‘s smile this morning…...oh I was bound and determined to have a dandy of a roll in the whine fields if I couldn't coax that number down and have a long satisfying look in the yard sale lady's mirror...... I desperately needed those years to wash away you see and since it was not morning, but a sun-washed afternoon in my fifty-third year I felt time turning pages in the solstice of a day that I knew I was meant all along to land in with my grandmother laughing all wrinkled and joyful behind that willow tree looking at me flirt shamelessly with wildlife and memories......wondering how did I get here so fast in a spot where spots are signs of age and not of youth with no stopwatch to slow them down... down.... down....<br />Until finally I saw something in the lens I’d never seen before.<br />Something steadfast.<br />Something strong.<br />Something …..<br />Cherokee<br /><a href="http://mimilenox.com/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498065313589450066" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IMCsoHEmcok/TE0NRdBlVVI/AAAAAAAA5NU/xBlyuWo4tmE/s400/1ablog.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 304px; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px;" /></a><br /><div>a streak of stubborn<br />A chiseled chin<br />A bold lined woman<br />Who never takes no for an answer<br />and knows exactly where she's been</div><br /><div>One random streak of grey<br />And <span style="font-style: italic;">freckles</span><br />Not in the dew<br />But in the <span style="font-style: italic;">new</span><br /><br />And then<br />I had an epiphany<br /><br />About perfection<br />And the lack of it<br />In me<br />And imperfections<br />And strength<br />in the middle of<br />imperfect things<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">that I no longer want to wash away</span></div><br /><br /><div>My grandmother's gift of stubbornness and grit might have been borne on the backs of those unsophisticated marks, but she knew what she was doing when she passed them on to me.<br />She knew I would need them<br />there's some kind of magic in dew</div><br /><br /><i><b>*NOTE 2023: Baby Boy is now in college studying Computer Science. </b></i></center><center><i><b>I am north of sixty. Still wearing dangling feathers and feeling ever so much more like a Cherokee girl inside and out. Grandmother had wisdom that has served me well. This morning I found a white feather on my walk at precisely 11:11. Thank you, Grandmother...I miss you too.<br /></b></i><br /><center><!--AddThis Button BEGIN--></center></center><center><br /></center><center>photos: Mimi Lenox</center><center>Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></center>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">BlogBlast For Peace November 4 ~ Join us!
http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-77535026446525938102023-04-10T10:36:00.002-04:002023-04-10T12:20:24.459-04:00Monday Mimisms ~ Do I Look Like Annie to You??<center><strike style="text-align: left;">Three</strike><span style="text-align: left;"> Five Things I Will Never EVER Say to Anyone Again</span></center><center>Who Is Going Through a Hard Time</center><br /><center><br /></center><center><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">1.</span></b> You are stronger than you know.</center><center><br /></center><center>Please, for the love of all that is BloLy (that's blog + holy for all you non-blog speakers) </center><center>Let's not tempt the Universe and test that theory.</center><center><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilknu1dKRiBfQxC-X7pTi1rU7dRuYMW0xu0fGIX85OFB-Mo6F3Ys3q2zMo8qZPXcZF0u8hBMPPrc6yJu6oCEYl6G4NwTUXcBOkrMlFEW6fKhoBHvJZ6-1R76Jl3Zo92Uc4ku_qjmrXUR_X7sVwSWRuTCHSg-iPH1X0bN4D7hSa60ivmR3VYw/s417/0%20blog%20april.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="417" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilknu1dKRiBfQxC-X7pTi1rU7dRuYMW0xu0fGIX85OFB-Mo6F3Ys3q2zMo8qZPXcZF0u8hBMPPrc6yJu6oCEYl6G4NwTUXcBOkrMlFEW6fKhoBHvJZ6-1R76Jl3Zo92Uc4ku_qjmrXUR_X7sVwSWRuTCHSg-iPH1X0bN4D7hSa60ivmR3VYw/s320/0%20blog%20april.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">maybe I need to look in the mirror</span></i><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></center><center><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2</span></b>. This too shall pass.</center><center><br /></center><center>Sometimes it takes a loooooonnnnng time to "pass." <span style="text-align: left;">In the meantime it's perfectly logical to schedule a nervous breakdown.</span></center><center><br /></center><center><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">3.</span></b> You've been through worse times than this! </center><center>You can do it!</center><center><br /></center><center>Bite me.</center><center><br /></center><center><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">4.</span></b> I'm sorry you're sick. </center><center>Are you sure it wasn't caused by stress?</center><center><br /></center><center>Now you have insinuated that I don't <i>have</i> the strength to soldier through and I'm somehow to blame for my own distress. A double-whammy to my pain. </center><center> See #3</center><center><br /></center><center><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">5.</span></b> Tomorrow is a new day.</center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CY6Ff0GE0fMnvK5wVzlut4HodKX6qMPfm9OTiDwjlLbsAECp0gNbTGpdeTxVl_qn8MHQRi6Qx0I9ciCbzEzuUEUJb-N4OXI6G6tHo7K07b3m6aF4hmAPTFxtfbQdRupvtlc6d_2zktOGVyFyMa31ryFfESu_owf6LQCz8LmAa9cRuAxfXw/s251/0anniea.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="251" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CY6Ff0GE0fMnvK5wVzlut4HodKX6qMPfm9OTiDwjlLbsAECp0gNbTGpdeTxVl_qn8MHQRi6Qx0I9ciCbzEzuUEUJb-N4OXI6G6tHo7K07b3m6aF4hmAPTFxtfbQdRupvtlc6d_2zktOGVyFyMa31ryFfESu_owf6LQCz8LmAa9cRuAxfXw/s1600/0anniea.JPG" width="251" /></a></div></center><center><br />Thanks. Another day of this???!!</center><center><br /></center><center><i>Instead.....</i></center><center>Have a big ugly cry. Throw some things. I tried Velcro curlers but it was so unsatisfying. Shut the bathroom door and cuss in the mirror. If you're not used to cussing you'll start tripping over consonants making up new debauchery! Feels so good. Then you'll start laughing because you can't even cuss right.</center><center><br /></center><center>Crawl under a blanket or a rock with a bag of Cheetos. Works for me.</center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4J8a-nA0LtJOUe-jKvMzlNAhCugjyNn5iFBoQEBIUBp9qF3V8J-ixI0HpXLqgCCWcsNLde6RAIEH4saTrexgYT9Gcmcnm1NW_d78kcmSJGu8nL-l3EMNC7cy8FJKFuX-jqsh7LwEP65Ed2I_9zMKR8cSBHjFQSD044Uc2Azdb5CW0BCqxw/s851/herb%20roots.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="851" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4J8a-nA0LtJOUe-jKvMzlNAhCugjyNn5iFBoQEBIUBp9qF3V8J-ixI0HpXLqgCCWcsNLde6RAIEH4saTrexgYT9Gcmcnm1NW_d78kcmSJGu8nL-l3EMNC7cy8FJKFuX-jqsh7LwEP65Ed2I_9zMKR8cSBHjFQSD044Uc2Azdb5CW0BCqxw/s320/herb%20roots.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Anger. Let's say it. It's there because you're hurting, exhausted, and you want the pain to stop. Call up your best friend. Tell her to bring wine, a Bible, a witch doctor, a Priest, some herb roots, Reiki people, anointing oil from the Nile, snake-handling gloves, a Santana album for dancing and a box of very sinful chocolate. Yep. We're covered.</center><center>I have friends who already have bags packed for such occasions.</center><center><br /></center><center>As for the above well-meaning offenses, I have been guilty of saying all of them.</center><center>And I vow to do better.</center><center><br /></center><center><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">P.S. I hope this made you laugh</span></i></center><center><br /></center><center>Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></center>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">BlogBlast For Peace November 4 ~ Join us!
http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-49980086186737481342023-03-20T13:22:00.008-04:002023-03-20T13:51:14.346-04:00Monday Mimisms ~ Omega 3 Omega Me<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwcL8_Ufev-PvVUy4389ajnj4toXcHoO_O3HaT7pQop9_ZK26nIVaUB1oIJhiwbIpYGz5Xu-JoPfDJZE4jP7KL3oEzZeEk2WB1HWaBjknqemCKZCzL11slpwhIYouazJl4Us4kFmq4pI63--bgttWcfAgv_LhwUk-GDzc0GDWPMWWd8OCm3A/s1268/Mimi%20studying%202023.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1268" data-original-width="843" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwcL8_Ufev-PvVUy4389ajnj4toXcHoO_O3HaT7pQop9_ZK26nIVaUB1oIJhiwbIpYGz5Xu-JoPfDJZE4jP7KL3oEzZeEk2WB1HWaBjknqemCKZCzL11slpwhIYouazJl4Us4kFmq4pI63--bgttWcfAgv_LhwUk-GDzc0GDWPMWWd8OCm3A/s320/Mimi%20studying%202023.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>My study perch</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><center><br /></center><center>I woke up this morning feeling very clear-headed and centered. </center><center>Happy. Calm. Healthy. </center><center>Change your diet. Change your life.</center><center>Change WHEN you eat and HOW you eat</center><center>might just reverse your diabetes. </center><center><br /></center><center>I'm on a new path of nutrition and healing. My glucose needed a good kick in the pants and out of my body for good...so....I took a deep dive into how my body actually works; binge-watching youtube videos by cardiologists and endocrinologists, kidney specialists and nutritionists. I had to weed through the quacko-pretend doctors first (!) but it was entertaining and enlightening. The subject of lipopolysacchirides was intriguing. Did you know that there are fluffy LDL particles <i>and</i> small dense LDL particles? I never knew. You want the big, fluffy kind (think snowflakes) not the little ones that wreak havoc on those pesky cholesterol numbers. </center><center><br /></center><center>And why do I think dietary changes will improve my diabetes even more? </center><center>Precisely because I can tell you from my experience that quitting CAFFEINE reversed my hypertension. I replaced coffee with French chicory root coffee. It's a natural diuretic. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobdZSIxaW_BCe9Qm7SP9ul397naCUHu8BqfGqcNwtnlsymnVLrcVAtGNslHR2RoM7b7Rp6a2dZl1DrRWBZ6XYzXJX81g5K94wEKFTtx8Sn2Bz5HVJQHkbdm2aGeOy-7COdUuo3zYhUFY9Z3VDYM2ZOVm6_S92k0DywMXP-4SpCAIIfWpBlQ/s444/French%20chicory%20a.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="295" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobdZSIxaW_BCe9Qm7SP9ul397naCUHu8BqfGqcNwtnlsymnVLrcVAtGNslHR2RoM7b7Rp6a2dZl1DrRWBZ6XYzXJX81g5K94wEKFTtx8Sn2Bz5HVJQHkbdm2aGeOy-7COdUuo3zYhUFY9Z3VDYM2ZOVm6_S92k0DywMXP-4SpCAIIfWpBlQ/s320/French%20chicory%20a.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br /><b>No more high blood pressure</b>. This morning's reading was 118/77 and has been consistently so for many months. Such a simple change made a huge difference in my life. More importantly, NO pills, NO side effects, NO caffeine jitters. In fact, it helps with sleep as well.</center><center><br /></center><center>Then I put my Milani knee-high combat boots on!</center><center>I am NOT playing. All business. </center><center> I am not one to blindly follow the status quo.</center><center> Knowledge is power.</center><center> I hunkered down.</center><center>I focused.</center><center><br /></center><center>I'm on the first week of intermittent fasting and major dietary changes; only allowing myself an 8-hour window to eat and then nothing but water, chicory, or tea for the rest of the night. Rinse. Repeat. Since removing insulin some time ago, I've felt better overall, lost weight (I stay out of strong winds) and have had good-to-moderately-OK control on no medications with periods of perfect control and low blood sugar. In each season of your life your body changes.</center><center> Diabetes, too, is always changing. </center><center><br /></center><center>THIS recent uptick in numbers is totally my fault. I really thought I could eat ...oh say...a bowl of popCORN at night? Seriously, Mimi? </center><center><br /></center><center>My diabetes started nine years ago just past the middle of my life. As you learn to live with it, your body has to adjust to all kinds of new medicine chemicals and protocols and habits (finger-sticking yuck). Shots were not fun. Then I learned I had hyperinsulemia. Who needs that??! The shots had to go. </center><center><br /></center><center>Doctors hate patients like me. I'm allergic to everything (literally)..in particular, three classes of diabetes' drugs, two insulins, and most every antibiotic known to man. It's not that I'm opposed to medication, it's that it most always makes me sicker. And I'm just stubborn enough - and annoying enough - to ask 40 trillion questions at every single appointment.</center><center> I want to control it myself because I have to control it myself.</center><center><br /></center><center>That reminds me...Did you know there are 40 trillion bacteria in your gut?!</center><center>This microbiome is incredibly important for your overall health.</center><center>Aren't they pretty?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOlRKJ7-z_TvahyJektYSYAeVIO1Kz8hkhxi1q8fpYABMvx3Ss6P9gKbWz58o2ZSawVsr4MMlblevCcrKyaN_OJ2MkhexQH8nVDGrbQLYzBzL0eovseL7JyVGc6HiEP-1279G0-VXUf_-zHS-muGol2ftcmhCeAjsJUCIDCaMInHVjvAdVA/s612/microbiome.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="612" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOlRKJ7-z_TvahyJektYSYAeVIO1Kz8hkhxi1q8fpYABMvx3Ss6P9gKbWz58o2ZSawVsr4MMlblevCcrKyaN_OJ2MkhexQH8nVDGrbQLYzBzL0eovseL7JyVGc6HiEP-1279G0-VXUf_-zHS-muGol2ftcmhCeAjsJUCIDCaMInHVjvAdVA/s320/microbiome.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>and critical to metabolic health</i></center><center><br /></center><center>My struggle is nighttime snacking. I "think" I'm hungry when, in fact, it's emotional eating. I'm not eating past 7:00 pm now and it's totally reducing the morning basal reading which is EVERYTHING. </center><center><br /></center><center><i>When you start out low, you have somewhere to go! </i></center><center><i>When you start out high, you might actually die!</i></center><center><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRyhWj_hJ0P7iIJm7ls0Ft4T6ZRwLc2oKqNKpcm7L6it_hq_4UX7QI-k6t1CHznm1s0LDqASccQo-LSt8LO7fp4KYS_BWKKq-fBrQnly8wooF1Uj1SsaHLnaVPVzJmhfQnBBMn9vMys8sKkgJgUjwUGT8jZzBwG3ATKnBV2VeDP7DKXIeqQ/s4032/6.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRyhWj_hJ0P7iIJm7ls0Ft4T6ZRwLc2oKqNKpcm7L6it_hq_4UX7QI-k6t1CHznm1s0LDqASccQo-LSt8LO7fp4KYS_BWKKq-fBrQnly8wooF1Uj1SsaHLnaVPVzJmhfQnBBMn9vMys8sKkgJgUjwUGT8jZzBwG3ATKnBV2VeDP7DKXIeqQ/s320/6.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Yes, I have an old-fashioned <br />telephone!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></center><center>That is my motto from experience. </center><center>Today I made an appointment with a nutritionist/dietician to help me navigate these waters and will have a virtual visit with an internist tomorrow. </center><center><br /></center><center>I'm currently researching Omega 3s & 6s. I learned recently that you're not supposed to overheat olive oil and cook with it but it's OK to put in your salads. What??! I do that every.single.day. I'll ask the doctor. </center><center><br /></center><br /><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJQF-N1Azjf3pXvetKk1xc02UVkXVdtfNECJaLQUwEMVKa-MW26NgJRDFSV2ZHqNCzTuWIb-1g2gfLKonpqVMDLVWkS9D6ImyR_k2jWgC1fK4uMi2HcSewLW4Z_gHcn2U2MmNTowJeqOHEm00TSxGmK-wbf5mQPYUqKiVE81PN-9d-vxQaQ/s1489/2%20princess%20yes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1489" data-original-width="947" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJQF-N1Azjf3pXvetKk1xc02UVkXVdtfNECJaLQUwEMVKa-MW26NgJRDFSV2ZHqNCzTuWIb-1g2gfLKonpqVMDLVWkS9D6ImyR_k2jWgC1fK4uMi2HcSewLW4Z_gHcn2U2MmNTowJeqOHEm00TSxGmK-wbf5mQPYUqKiVE81PN-9d-vxQaQ/s320/2%20princess%20yes.jpg" width="204" /></a></div></center></blockquote></blockquote><center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-mMHEftBmnY0jJx93_FCBsprrQssPSgn4iUzmWyrVSgWIe-LqGKCIj3jefOI1YyAUM1A6nf1allOp-tKCNe54l0jvBSLGoEyWAlNoi6L1aztBcJRulv3Q41QwtdLrTh5ZVhJDcQcY60tXcaoxSgsgQdN6bsFIVD6koGNPjTMNcl67Bn6Sg/s1358/1%20princess%20yes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="727" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-mMHEftBmnY0jJx93_FCBsprrQssPSgn4iUzmWyrVSgWIe-LqGKCIj3jefOI1YyAUM1A6nf1allOp-tKCNe54l0jvBSLGoEyWAlNoi6L1aztBcJRulv3Q41QwtdLrTh5ZVhJDcQcY60tXcaoxSgsgQdN6bsFIVD6koGNPjTMNcl67Bn6Sg/s320/1%20princess%20yes.jpg" width="171" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Meanwhile...there's a real live Princess in the castle.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">I'm a little distracted by all the wand-waving. I bowed and asked her name.</span></div></center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">"I'm Elsa," she seriously declared, then wafted back down the stairs to re-accessorize.</span></div></center><center> Her braid fell off. It was tragic. <br /></center><center><br /></center><center>She told me her wand is "magic"</center><center>Somehow, I believe her. </center><center><br /></center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8Ylugu5qGqM34PfH16739cyI-j4YGZX0a-gOQ8JQY2lS4Tms2H_4IZg1WF5WQFdD4iP8ptTndas7U_vYtGznxBr2NEOmxUWcErR8QwcEhU9OnMSiH5TOCFpzQdp3ocly_NGgZWpEIYDxHOfvkaq9aSPscsLlMfnGuoFhNXC6lQ9Y--Kssw/s2838/1%20studying.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2618" data-original-width="2838" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8Ylugu5qGqM34PfH16739cyI-j4YGZX0a-gOQ8JQY2lS4Tms2H_4IZg1WF5WQFdD4iP8ptTndas7U_vYtGznxBr2NEOmxUWcErR8QwcEhU9OnMSiH5TOCFpzQdp3ocly_NGgZWpEIYDxHOfvkaq9aSPscsLlMfnGuoFhNXC6lQ9Y--Kssw/s320/1%20studying.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></center><center>Back to studying. </center><center>I hope you all are healthy and happy.</center><center><br /></center><center><i>P.S. I am not a doctor. Consult yours before embarking on major changes. </i></center><center>Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></center>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">BlogBlast For Peace November 4 ~ Join us!
http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-33823360076404196862023-02-13T10:49:00.001-05:002023-02-13T10:59:59.796-05:00Monday Mimisms ~ Like He Just Walked Through The Door<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrBEU_PymhrE6m1wajp2TYx5uoRgtfydVBiX5dEseEvojouVya5qLcGPaSi8XNUVVOIKl0TytNszvJ1C8BXore9vMxAKw4MHaZRP5x2XzMd21Kb2akvewB4CMfLGVLcVJ6fLwBHTmi-0DltaefWUhrCQTg5REj1VsbmDaWq_PPAtKwzXtxQ/s3033/4a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2901" data-original-width="3033" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrBEU_PymhrE6m1wajp2TYx5uoRgtfydVBiX5dEseEvojouVya5qLcGPaSi8XNUVVOIKl0TytNszvJ1C8BXore9vMxAKw4MHaZRP5x2XzMd21Kb2akvewB4CMfLGVLcVJ6fLwBHTmi-0DltaefWUhrCQTg5REj1VsbmDaWq_PPAtKwzXtxQ/s320/4a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papa's box 1974</td></tr></tbody></table><center><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">Somewhere in the attic is a box....and another....and another......that looks like this one. Every year of my life until the year that he died, on Valentine's Day, he brought one home with him - one for her and one for me.</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><br style="text-align: left;" /><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">It was the same every year.</span></div><div><b><br /></b><span style="font-style: italic;">Wonderfully the same.</span></div><div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A red medium sized heart-shaped box of chocolates<br />with a red silk rose and a ribbon.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>From Papa</i></span><br /></span></div><a href="http://peaceglobegallery.blogspot.com/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="text-align: left;"></a><br style="text-align: left;" /><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">It wasn't the chocolate I craved. Nor the box.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span>It was <span style="font-style: italic;">this....</span></span></span></div><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">As if on cue, he would enter with an eager smile and a faithful gift for both of us on February 14th. He would kiss my grandmother on the cheek as she hugged his laughing belly, cup my uplifted adoring face with the other hand and ask, <span style="font-style: italic;">"How's my girl?"</span></span></center><center><b><i><br style="text-align: left;" /></i></b><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">What a silly question.</span></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">He knew I was his girl.</span></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">I still am.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Today I asked my own sweet three-year-old granddaughter the same question: </b></div><div><i><b>"How's my girl?" </b></i></div><div><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div><b>Her answer was a big sloppy kiss on the side of my cheek, and then the other, as if she knew I needed affection that only she could deliver, with an extra smack of "wipstick" smeared from one end of her face to the other now transferred to mine, she laughingly commanded, "Go look in the mirror, Mimi!" And there it was. Two big love lips on both sides of my face, purposely planted by none other than "my girl."</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpp1UFV8BM7fxosTaXyC6KFtYCeAjo5euOrRhFbta4gtdelBDa1j9_NiUSBpTeeiSpA3htT7XMWjnLDH67Ec8oVM8g_6ynRa9Qr78A_N_FooGFtbOO85EhMs5wXf1scu1xX84ig7jXzZSqlN4lvUPRJQSDFBpdSzG-gnnB9IPZjryRY9-Sw/s3608/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2128" data-original-width="3608" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpp1UFV8BM7fxosTaXyC6KFtYCeAjo5euOrRhFbta4gtdelBDa1j9_NiUSBpTeeiSpA3htT7XMWjnLDH67Ec8oVM8g_6ynRa9Qr78A_N_FooGFtbOO85EhMs5wXf1scu1xX84ig7jXzZSqlN4lvUPRJQSDFBpdSzG-gnnB9IPZjryRY9-Sw/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><b>It was the <i>faithfulness</i> of those boxes that made me love him so.</b></span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><b>It's the memory of that faithfulness that teaches me <i>how</i> to love my own.</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><b>It's why I make sure she has heart-shaped boxes on Valentine's Day. She will have seasons in her life - as I have had recently - when there is no tangible presence of sentimental gifts, times she'll feel alone. I hope she keeps the boxes. This one from Papa has a reflecting surface in the middle. I can see my own face clearly in the box year after year. For the past forty years, no matter the season I'm in, when I pick up the box I not only see myself..... I see and feel how he loves me </b></span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><b>Still</b></span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><b>And it feels like he just walked through the door</b></span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQKIaCgTJLJoImOXoWI2P9HF0UA_hmnhfspiPqa4H-7YAyMVPVygFqrARFFpua1-_qWYNEEZ73JrETcZAWx7EvqX4O2Deu2-AkVTDNqf0n5G_UeYIahG96P0bVz3Fk0ethiIGwmxIIV_57OZqXS4ytzVR3iGL6hdb06nAftRK1mG9RbZu8A/s1125/1a%20box%20mirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1125" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQKIaCgTJLJoImOXoWI2P9HF0UA_hmnhfspiPqa4H-7YAyMVPVygFqrARFFpua1-_qWYNEEZ73JrETcZAWx7EvqX4O2Deu2-AkVTDNqf0n5G_UeYIahG96P0bVz3Fk0ethiIGwmxIIV_57OZqXS4ytzVR3iGL6hdb06nAftRK1mG9RbZu8A/s320/1a%20box%20mirror.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div><br /></div></center><center><br /></center><center>Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></center>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">BlogBlast For Peace November 4 ~ Join us!
http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-66174116069817689602023-01-16T13:50:00.001-05:002023-04-16T11:59:41.823-04:00Monday Mimisms ~ Who Would Ghost a Queen?<center><br /></center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaif80ci1vxMlMPhn1RqBHLJwlGw5VE9tdJwjO3cPnAq5GGNzU4-Eg0hKHtYrGnkf5gW_olQvpJft63t22Slbze2WRXBDFTnruaNolZOQFNtjJrVL8WC_04RdTMsniDiQ6kKixCnXVMGpzv2OWwXZjWOJlYY3eWY1JvPLJ7wUAdyG7J3V6Bw/s3216/Bree%20chair%202022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3216" data-original-width="1962" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaif80ci1vxMlMPhn1RqBHLJwlGw5VE9tdJwjO3cPnAq5GGNzU4-Eg0hKHtYrGnkf5gW_olQvpJft63t22Slbze2WRXBDFTnruaNolZOQFNtjJrVL8WC_04RdTMsniDiQ6kKixCnXVMGpzv2OWwXZjWOJlYY3eWY1JvPLJ7wUAdyG7J3V6Bw/s320/Bree%20chair%202022.jpg" width="195" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">So THAT's where you're<br />hiding the candy..</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Why am I explaining? Questioning?<br /></center><center>Again. My newest non-resolution. Stop explaining.</center><center> Just be.</center><center><br /></center><center>My days are nuttier than usual. Busier than usual. </center><center>Mostly I'm spinning this one around in a chair 'til she's "Bizzy!" as only a three-year-old can hilariously proclaim, gently fighting with Beans (age 11) about the battles he's "not" fighting in video games when I walk around the corner and hear him declare "victory" over his enemies. </center><center>Can't he just learn to meditate?</center><center><br /></center><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZ6BCULCnnwS9EeahG6abUa9EevEv6s4DV2yQ8ZrJGZRhYE_ifVc65E6kRjD9aoBuW8yXmIK8O5BYirEKE_jsbptMATIlmNGYmAeqmJrTt_6jKPfFORwkJJs5vL1O78WvXWFyFXzUXolf21FTqyDgQuNaHghBFmVeqOKGpDhz1INdXdhjuw/s4032/Mimi%20watching%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZ6BCULCnnwS9EeahG6abUa9EevEv6s4DV2yQ8ZrJGZRhYE_ifVc65E6kRjD9aoBuW8yXmIK8O5BYirEKE_jsbptMATIlmNGYmAeqmJrTt_6jKPfFORwkJJs5vL1O78WvXWFyFXzUXolf21FTqyDgQuNaHghBFmVeqOKGpDhz1INdXdhjuw/s320/Mimi%20watching%202023.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Learning to "watch" <br />in the doctor's office. Fun times.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><center>Or relentlessly checking the "watched" spot on my back. Watch it? I can't SEE it! So, I've decided not to "watch" it. I told Dr.</center><center>Derm that SHE should be the one watching, <i>not</i> me. I will drive myself and the whole Blogosphere crazy if I watch.</center><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jtYeEjgCI6LYj6vm0MlFslRCUm613L1uDGwJtHiYP_Scfhrto8WYV93X4yey_eWo58cA1gbmsY30r2lnLZe4kf62e-EhSigSWvAASC0GvzalHwSQDY6NFpO0AaGbr-_BorKQXWCm4KaHmt04_3g3s9MC5E6eO9Voq-8v0QmBJhiegFK1Tg/s3024/mimi%20watching%202023%20d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2224" data-original-width="3024" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jtYeEjgCI6LYj6vm0MlFslRCUm613L1uDGwJtHiYP_Scfhrto8WYV93X4yey_eWo58cA1gbmsY30r2lnLZe4kf62e-EhSigSWvAASC0GvzalHwSQDY6NFpO0AaGbr-_BorKQXWCm4KaHmt04_3g3s9MC5E6eO9Voq-8v0QmBJhiegFK1Tg/s320/mimi%20watching%202023%20d.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">You see it, right?</span></i></b><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><center>Maybe I should take a picture of it backwards in the mirror and let YOU watch it. Oh, I crack myself up.</center><center><span style="text-align: left;">All I know is that when I go back in March to see if all this "watching" has produced any crazy results, I shall declare ('cause I'm a Queen) that I'm done with the eye and body contortion routine. Just take it off. Please. Now. "These take yeeeeaaarrrsss to develop into a problem," she said, "Don't worry."</span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Then. Why. Are. We. Watching???</span></b></span></center><center><br /></center><center><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7z1ZXMaJvM5rSrYURjbuKZqXqdy8XyzygDs5pru2SLZ1sczKepY5pjgcI7ugeiYjfiO2ebEmflN5n_TO_XTR8fIdJt2P9Vn4A35EseADukGqta2730BDXd1AR3Gki5Pd3-YW2Z9iDKwsFTFjV_9Ou67uyTEnW8l30VupfX10CwAUh6u0NQ/s2041/Bree%20flower%20roots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2041" data-original-width="1454" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7z1ZXMaJvM5rSrYURjbuKZqXqdy8XyzygDs5pru2SLZ1sczKepY5pjgcI7ugeiYjfiO2ebEmflN5n_TO_XTR8fIdJt2P9Vn4A35EseADukGqta2730BDXd1AR3Gki5Pd3-YW2Z9iDKwsFTFjV_9Ou67uyTEnW8l30VupfX10CwAUh6u0NQ/s320/Bree%20flower%20roots.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bree "watching" flower roots<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">She knows how to get to the bottom of things.</span></center><center><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Which brings me to my latest sad and silly malady.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've been ghosted. Ghosted! Me??!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Who would ghost a Queen?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It started out so lovely. Five-hour phone conversations. Morning texts. Goodnight emails. Mutual commonalities and laughter. Then New Year's happened...er....or didn't happen. And I realized that the more I talked to him about my own personal goals and aspirations the less interested he seemed to be in understanding that independent streak in moi. He could have just said what I suspected...that he wanted to be joined at the hip. I can't even FIND my hips.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Instead. Ghosted. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8K5InCLptJeqm4CdM_nDchqrsrPoCiiQDG9RaKKu33Cf17v4CR3DBnQ5EnG38q0AU3ig0nV_H8atKGTLadv5VELCew6t-ttoIJjQjlhI-uPUE46Hpi0yFr9JcchB-74QEqGPRzUn2VXb3kxVDx437gJWIdBWL7rhTxWVuWzLNa1vLRO9_VA/s296/Baby%20Boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="231" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8K5InCLptJeqm4CdM_nDchqrsrPoCiiQDG9RaKKu33Cf17v4CR3DBnQ5EnG38q0AU3ig0nV_H8atKGTLadv5VELCew6t-ttoIJjQjlhI-uPUE46Hpi0yFr9JcchB-74QEqGPRzUn2VXb3kxVDx437gJWIdBWL7rhTxWVuWzLNa1vLRO9_VA/s1600/Baby%20Boy.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>I'm going to talk to Baby Boy. Since he's eighteen now soon-to-be majoring in Computer Science, he should know the ways and whys of intraweb romance. </center><center>Or not.</center><center>All I know is that he never had any trouble with dating in Kindergarten. Wait...there was that Tiffany girl.....and Amy...oh, and Susie (!) who popped him in the head with a paper airplane. </center><center>Maybe I'd better not ask Baby Boy.<br /><br /></center><center><br /></center><center>Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></center>
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http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-53282680674871384442022-12-25T17:03:00.001-05:002022-12-25T17:03:10.955-05:00Quicksand and Mistletoe ~ A Holiday Card From Me<center><span style="text-align: left;">The Christmas Holiday season is not happy for all. </span></center><center>At times in my own life it has been bittersweet. </center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbtPxGRiOdArm4Vlv1TyNwbYndPM2uh3Li57YXOxqdmpwWymcbX11FCv1MRqFTErSbGUHcgbS8YmRykMB6CWblp5OeMZNds4prXIYcdlDyAcFhOWQnwtVZNSUxIg6O_XzumGzu_ZAjEWa3BVoZvADOuPO3AcAF2LkECaqh5gxtmhIx_z2ZQ/s960/christmas%20tree%20pixabay.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="960" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbtPxGRiOdArm4Vlv1TyNwbYndPM2uh3Li57YXOxqdmpwWymcbX11FCv1MRqFTErSbGUHcgbS8YmRykMB6CWblp5OeMZNds4prXIYcdlDyAcFhOWQnwtVZNSUxIg6O_XzumGzu_ZAjEWa3BVoZvADOuPO3AcAF2LkECaqh5gxtmhIx_z2ZQ/w400-h225/christmas%20tree%20pixabay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><center><br /></center><center>Overshadowed by schmaltzy Hallmark Christmas movies, rife with Walton-Family-Like dinners around a flowery table, carols and presents and music and smiles. Christmas. Right.</center><center>Wrong. For some, just wrong.</center><center> </center><center>To me, holidays can be fraught with landmines and quicksand. When I was growing up, the holidays brought long white-tableclothed layers of southern cooking with scores of cousins and aunts and uncles. Tight squeezes in the bosoms of very large aproned women I only saw once a year. "My, how you've grown! Now go take Grandma the baking soda." </center><center><br /></center><center>Somewhere in between the sweet banana pudding and Uncle Joe's smelly cigar, there were happy car rides with Daddy on Christmas lights hunts and Mama (who hated Christmas) throwing hissy fits (it's a southern thing) with wooden spoons full of cherries meant for the meringue pie that landed on the linoleum floor instead.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjse-j-G0Eh-HjE-72M827sMIakB9LNe_qj1t6_Caf2A4ITLbFP4dVOXE8_4VCZGEfvX9N9PKI7c6pr13bvlSyS6IT0fL78tVPYLQdTAqE8ZSLJ-trueKbdamrIdvd7SfugsMWEk26oxE81qHFXXhlAirhsd91RnPU1NXLF7sWbZrZYr_kYHA/s960/choclate%20cherry%20cake%20pix.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjse-j-G0Eh-HjE-72M827sMIakB9LNe_qj1t6_Caf2A4ITLbFP4dVOXE8_4VCZGEfvX9N9PKI7c6pr13bvlSyS6IT0fL78tVPYLQdTAqE8ZSLJ-trueKbdamrIdvd7SfugsMWEk26oxE81qHFXXhlAirhsd91RnPU1NXLF7sWbZrZYr_kYHA/s320/choclate%20cherry%20cake%20pix.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I learned to dodge.</center><center><br /></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">It also brought worries over money, arguments that kids shouldn't overhear through the bedroom door, and the ever present reality that some adult </span><i style="text-align: left;">somewhere</i><span style="text-align: left;"> would get too intoxicated or high as the evening progressed and old family scores to settle would ruin the last of the whipped topping goodness in my impressionable soul.</span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">Stomach aches.</span></center><center> It always happened. </center><center><br /></center><center>So be careful when you longingly dream over those perfect Christmas candid shots on Facebook and Instagram. Nobody's family is perfect. Nobody's life is immune to addiction or alcoholism, depression or stress - even when they try to hide behind a filtered screen. Now that I have my own crew of flawed holiday traditions, I see those generational threads of dysfunction pop up occasionally in the midst of mistletoeing and whispered conversations at the kids' table. I hear them. And I remember. </center><center><br /></center><center>Children and adults need a safe place to <i>Christmas</i>. Over the years I've managed to re-purpose my unpredictable lineage into happier spaces for my own kids and grandchildren. That's the thing about painful memories. We have the power to change the way we create the future.</center><center><br /></center><center>Whatever your situation - and God bless you if you are lucky enough to have one of those Walton Family scenes at your address - I DO believe it's a good thing to honor our spiritual and festive traditions, spiritual or secular. But for some, the season is excruciatingly lonely and sad.</center><center> Pressured in the quicksand, memories rise to the surface. </center><center><br /></center><center> Not everyone will celebrate this day or this season. </center><center>There won't be a card for them, so I wrote one. </center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGn3w73iYeQWxpxPMWObwizRjZQRcIk_c5WJrYp0UvafVqVPR_1PZtyLKpdMGHO-YNLRPHYJ7hTAqBXRf8IuuPypicfJWAuU-6ykDJF9fHFgoXRmo9sX_SsVQ95HTkhytjaEKuY26E_SERn-4t4yKLfKPQ2IqCemgGW25IDSyJz5m2_oSYYA/s878/christmas%20ball%20pixabay%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="878" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGn3w73iYeQWxpxPMWObwizRjZQRcIk_c5WJrYp0UvafVqVPR_1PZtyLKpdMGHO-YNLRPHYJ7hTAqBXRf8IuuPypicfJWAuU-6ykDJF9fHFgoXRmo9sX_SsVQ95HTkhytjaEKuY26E_SERn-4t4yKLfKPQ2IqCemgGW25IDSyJz5m2_oSYYA/w400-h266/christmas%20ball%20pixabay%202.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><center>To All .....</center><center><br /></center><center>......whose children are not coming home and will never come home</center><center>I wish you peace and fragrant memories</center><center><br /></center><center>...who never knew their father or mother </center><center>I wish you nighttime visitations in the form of dreams</center><center>words and whispers in your knowing place</center><center>to help you understand</center><center><br /></center><center>...never had a happy childhood Christmas</center><center>I pray you make your <i>own</i> holiday so beautiful and full of wonder as an adult</center><center>on your own terms, in your own way, wholly and deeply meaningful</center><center>just. for. you.</center><center><br /></center><center>To All...</center><center>who live with abuse, chronic illness, poverty or grief</center><center>I wish you strength</center><center>in leaving, strength in staying, strength in remembering</center><center>wisdom and abundance and self-care</center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center>And if you are alone</center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdlym3XKmL_bNlkUjL_yhYM5A9lWJdQrCjh_UthBPC3quSxrgraHjM4Lu0qcr9k9WbTPgWbBXxPDIjNODaaO1bcKejhI74UXBJ5FN2BbPXT6wYGymGbpoziejqGg8dlSR9xwya9fJsauDm3ti6-QYDLPCAkNs9bb4WJcQn_n8rP-4HLn2QA/s960/christmas%20lights.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="960" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdlym3XKmL_bNlkUjL_yhYM5A9lWJdQrCjh_UthBPC3quSxrgraHjM4Lu0qcr9k9WbTPgWbBXxPDIjNODaaO1bcKejhI74UXBJ5FN2BbPXT6wYGymGbpoziejqGg8dlSR9xwya9fJsauDm3ti6-QYDLPCAkNs9bb4WJcQn_n8rP-4HLn2QA/w640-h408/christmas%20lights.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><center><br /></center><center>I hope the Spirit of Christmas makes you rich with palpable joy </center><center>with NEWNESS and anticipation (!) 'til it bubbles over right down to your socks</center><center>melted like hot chocolate that lost its cup</center><center>and keeps you warm at night</center><center><br /></center><center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEws7IAo1HRVY6OIe5mV_IyqRcmIUwtYAJ28-s_gwpuhr47wt9hXiMLF-zhmFAQCi0qL3H7D2-7nQA1WWLAsaKWt3zOG6Im62nHZ5nrttbjpUZGVC1f_fv3pQ-kdjkzAeJQFMEoekTJ7e5XPaCDqNjAF_nhHNYSqYuZvR1beY_xGyf79HgmA/s960/christmas%20street.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="960" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEws7IAo1HRVY6OIe5mV_IyqRcmIUwtYAJ28-s_gwpuhr47wt9hXiMLF-zhmFAQCi0qL3H7D2-7nQA1WWLAsaKWt3zOG6Im62nHZ5nrttbjpUZGVC1f_fv3pQ-kdjkzAeJQFMEoekTJ7e5XPaCDqNjAF_nhHNYSqYuZvR1beY_xGyf79HgmA/w640-h413/christmas%20street.jpg" width="640" /></a></center><center>Know that life is full of wonderful people</center><center>just waiting to know who you are</center><center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center>To All ...</center><center>whose children will call from jail or rehab</center><center>I wish you calm in the midst of your fear</center><center><br /></center><center>....who children are sick and in need of a miracle</center><center>I wish you words to pray and an audience with your Maker</center><center><br /></center></center><center>To All....</center><center>...who felt as though an alien ship dropped you into the house of your birth parents</center><center>may you learn to parent yourself with the kindness and insight that comes from loving YOU and then give that gift to your own children </center><center>may the cycle be unbroken</center><center><br /></center><center>To All </center><center>whose homes are silent</center><center>where no none speaks but in anger</center><center>May you <i>only</i> speak in love</center><center>or not at all</center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center>To All....</center><center>whose empty nests are emptier than they'd hoped</center><center>I wish you years of bringing your parenting to a new level </center><center>where letting go feels like flying</center><center><br /></center><center>To All...</center><center>whose families live far far away</center><center>I wish you warm breezes that speak of hugs</center><center><br /></center><center>To All.......whose children will sleep in a car tonight, under a bridge, or in a shelter</center><center>I wish that you will <i>only</i> see the quiet adoration in the trusting eyes of your child</center><center>and that every star in the cold night sky leads you HOME </center><center><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGDapJ4wlXt-lY9dA3Fe63CbJfVVmAg1SHfGG9OFkyvzD_Spibqk4ECnaK3iFy967Bp6fsL3-CowQ-SPXOdH9b3r90gVWffmL91Pzq4yuYlRowyNgcxkVxtweAjCrEaSqXOOTb411tx6asK-wfMyqcnV6pJTUsPkDQUhmICdS-t61L8mLOA/s400/mimi%20daddy%202009a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="400" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGDapJ4wlXt-lY9dA3Fe63CbJfVVmAg1SHfGG9OFkyvzD_Spibqk4ECnaK3iFy967Bp6fsL3-CowQ-SPXOdH9b3r90gVWffmL91Pzq4yuYlRowyNgcxkVxtweAjCrEaSqXOOTb411tx6asK-wfMyqcnV6pJTUsPkDQUhmICdS-t61L8mLOA/s320/mimi%20daddy%202009a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><center><span style="text-align: left;">To All .....</span></center><center>whose time is short</center><center>I wish you arms of Love and whispers of the God-kind</center><center>so that your family will never be alone and you can leave in peace</center><center><br /></center><center>And to All..</center><center>who hear "I love yous" but know it's just an annual Christmas ruse</center><center>I pray you speak loving <i><b>fire</b></i> that burns and pierces </center><center>and calls for nothing in return but truth </center><center><br /></center><center>To All...</center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9aWpG2FGdYlJ1K6YtXBMZInZdZFbTkx_w67Ft4DA-9ruxQ0X6PsMQSb9s084LQRrpeH_TfC0tptIVt7SFRznjbkcGwLmsHoe87Xj9hkzPSj3YBnUpMmAanuPsg7XFzASBDa_M0zRX2132VqJ_wI34yWNwzgULS1HSUJqyrkIAUNGFFgAxg/s720/young%20soldier%20pix.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="478" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9aWpG2FGdYlJ1K6YtXBMZInZdZFbTkx_w67Ft4DA-9ruxQ0X6PsMQSb9s084LQRrpeH_TfC0tptIVt7SFRznjbkcGwLmsHoe87Xj9hkzPSj3YBnUpMmAanuPsg7XFzASBDa_M0zRX2132VqJ_wI34yWNwzgULS1HSUJqyrkIAUNGFFgAxg/s320/young%20soldier%20pix.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>whose child became a casualty of addiction </center><center>or mental illness</center><center>I wish a reunion with a healthy child</center><center><br /></center><center>To All </center><center>who knows not where your Loved One is tonight</center><center>I wish a phone call</center><br /><center><span style="text-align: left;">If your fresh-faced child fights in a war</span></center><center>I wish an end to the insanity and a laying down of arms</center><center><br /></center><center>And To All..</center><center>whose arms are empty today for whatever reason</center><center>I wish a visitation</center><center><br /></center><center>of peace</center><center><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7X9BaDr7oDVd998utyc_RaMGxXlO6FfkGq0qqOutBgl1wa-6jHdPZKsmrTtxfiYAH2uws0XpSRaXShSqNx-j-_Nl8GQ2k1KuU7Ya6DQdQj7QxqKCOsmH0-JwzAdKclbwRRVElLBtwfESP2BLrErLavS8VjBWx_TKJm3ZvQNRzLiZEIaqLg/s960/flying%20dove%20pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="960" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7X9BaDr7oDVd998utyc_RaMGxXlO6FfkGq0qqOutBgl1wa-6jHdPZKsmrTtxfiYAH2uws0XpSRaXShSqNx-j-_Nl8GQ2k1KuU7Ya6DQdQj7QxqKCOsmH0-JwzAdKclbwRRVElLBtwfESP2BLrErLavS8VjBWx_TKJm3ZvQNRzLiZEIaqLg/w400-h268/flying%20dove%20pixabay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><center><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><center><br /></center><center>Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></center>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">BlogBlast For Peace November 4 ~ Join us!
http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-29482962184144154452022-12-19T15:30:00.000-05:002022-12-19T15:45:31.268-05:00Monday Mimisms ~ Snippets of Life<center><span style="text-align: left;">There are so many people in my house right now that sometimes I feel the need to go sit in my car for privacy. Has this ever happened to you? I pray to the God of Real Estate every day! Help my relatives find affordable housing.. Puuuhhlllleeeaasssse.</span></center><center><i>These people are making me itch. </i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4M62n_xOOrJ5FPz_bt5KAr_oiKwlcfpM3Uvm6FEe0NXj3XCLmj2Ie7AAem_cGa6kPrn63K3j5864WgQsHvqeXey8fVH9dDOw-gyKJ3DzIvVQgqzvppfZJJjxXdJVvHZCqBljqE4sDoUY4sQ9XPAEZUWokJQlK48E1X7hls6DAbJ17bQz62w/s240/homer%20cant%20take%20it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4M62n_xOOrJ5FPz_bt5KAr_oiKwlcfpM3Uvm6FEe0NXj3XCLmj2Ie7AAem_cGa6kPrn63K3j5864WgQsHvqeXey8fVH9dDOw-gyKJ3DzIvVQgqzvppfZJJjxXdJVvHZCqBljqE4sDoUY4sQ9XPAEZUWokJQlK48E1X7hls6DAbJ17bQz62w/s1600/homer%20cant%20take%20it.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /></center><center>Now that that's out of my system....</center><center>I have a gentleman caller and we are making our way through the beginnings of friendship and such. <i>Six foot two eyes of blue</i>. Male FRIENDSHIP. Perfect. It's push and pull with me. He must think I'm a yo-yo. One minute I say I'm too overwhelmed with my current Situationship to focus on a new one; the next minute he convinces me that I need him in the kindest of ways. </center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><b>I'm drowning in dishes. </b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcU-3z85KvtxaWEzc27PHG0zF21vkiBxRwqYwTjnx-EU1QYIkaydlyPjhImM1d-6kHl973GMMrWtwGk4tH0cRX99RvY0Anp94Q1E27rAKvFP_WfzZ4mUaINJ6aX1qwu8xAMCDyJfZKawarwp9PmrIC1RRr8hXnI6DhbcHIofJVIDBGFKROw/s200/7aa%20small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="200" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcU-3z85KvtxaWEzc27PHG0zF21vkiBxRwqYwTjnx-EU1QYIkaydlyPjhImM1d-6kHl973GMMrWtwGk4tH0cRX99RvY0Anp94Q1E27rAKvFP_WfzZ4mUaINJ6aX1qwu8xAMCDyJfZKawarwp9PmrIC1RRr8hXnI6DhbcHIofJVIDBGFKROw/s1600/7aa%20small.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Remember all those dishes I bought in September at the <a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/2022/09/me-and-my-little-red-wagon-monday.html" target="_blank">Sale of the Century</a>?</center><center>Most of them are still here. Sales are UP but not fast enough for me. </center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcjnBfRBeEp0MT9sQZfgFjNdiR105jgxremuOl519dkxwVN0Iv1zCEH6oyDBzac72Fi4pjF0bPCC8x3UdMrrl0gLH90zuiZX5OjyXTWF-xkQAEjg0OKAOngA8ShzRHWA_k13EpUsuOtpy9LNj3qcdRfvZu2576QK5PeKSvKTh8zaEpU0oWw/s3058/1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3058" data-original-width="2918" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcjnBfRBeEp0MT9sQZfgFjNdiR105jgxremuOl519dkxwVN0Iv1zCEH6oyDBzac72Fi4pjF0bPCC8x3UdMrrl0gLH90zuiZX5OjyXTWF-xkQAEjg0OKAOngA8ShzRHWA_k13EpUsuOtpy9LNj3qcdRfvZu2576QK5PeKSvKTh8zaEpU0oWw/s320/1a.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I think I'm allergic to bubblewrap. I'm sure it's not the people...</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>MUST. FIND. SOMETHING. SMALLER. TO. SELL.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Seriously, I do NOT have time for all this packing and shipping. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bree is keeping me entertained day and night. She wants to play "makepop" all the time. So we smear on "wipstick" in a myriad of colors. Then she kisses me on the cheek with a loud POP to leave a BIG mark. It's insanely funny to her. This is why all my mirrors look like this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0LnAP3jf9h7xIKdXyyP0hFj9Tdpa5WbKM_lLEQ42Mp0c7rXbSp1eCohMDh7uhrWY15ftfswWy7umc8orqjPfS4kWECb4k2CdSE-9Jineb97W1VVt2J6k-Sh2yTI0jXjYjzY6FYUxMBrCmqVakjB-9F6thm3erJtJUFzRQqP2upcuAZ2NNw/s284/lips.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="284" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0LnAP3jf9h7xIKdXyyP0hFj9Tdpa5WbKM_lLEQ42Mp0c7rXbSp1eCohMDh7uhrWY15ftfswWy7umc8orqjPfS4kWECb4k2CdSE-9Jineb97W1VVt2J6k-Sh2yTI0jXjYjzY6FYUxMBrCmqVakjB-9F6thm3erJtJUFzRQqP2upcuAZ2NNw/s1600/lips.JPG" width="284" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meanwhile...Beans has started Tae Kwon Do! He can kick higher than a kangaroo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oVNoYanNLGYG3HKUWpSuxq7b4s8LuFguozo21gNdMy_lPPNqBI7hgX1LCERerbbyrGdnvFqAwf9U4B89mpC6_AFPDeqDUhymtxeMdYy1iI0EbVj5u5H6TWeIhW4SdeOFaWVIXJnMS0tWC86cmMTNcIFo9SteCi1vwkztYdDwHjs6kLZYIg/s1352/Beans%20TKD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1352" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oVNoYanNLGYG3HKUWpSuxq7b4s8LuFguozo21gNdMy_lPPNqBI7hgX1LCERerbbyrGdnvFqAwf9U4B89mpC6_AFPDeqDUhymtxeMdYy1iI0EbVj5u5H6TWeIhW4SdeOFaWVIXJnMS0tWC86cmMTNcIFo9SteCi1vwkztYdDwHjs6kLZYIg/s320/Beans%20TKD.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RlFCAUWKcshL0gT7c_jy2vTsxnVLQft7tNh-XKFdjGQS7y3xwDME6JszDf0alRMZbuIgidih-C9z3NAp2kvNsJEySpzqKkp_M3j8WXBAliUk5b3FJWHwaHPmSTrBWZvb4G9784Jm-VMgkZhttxWJOlZkMV98BHsBaqZJNLyF0GCotobnpg/s1125/Beans%202%20TKD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1125" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RlFCAUWKcshL0gT7c_jy2vTsxnVLQft7tNh-XKFdjGQS7y3xwDME6JszDf0alRMZbuIgidih-C9z3NAp2kvNsJEySpzqKkp_M3j8WXBAliUk5b3FJWHwaHPmSTrBWZvb4G9784Jm-VMgkZhttxWJOlZkMV98BHsBaqZJNLyF0GCotobnpg/s320/Beans%202%20TKD.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I'm afraid of him.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><center>I sent out Christmas cards. I had a falling out with a friend that made me sad. I had RSV for a month. I had more nausea from the falling out than the virus. Plumbing and electrical issues here. ACK! Who neeeeds that? My first grandson started college majoring in Computer Science. Remember Baby Boy?</center><center><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlUEmw1MczIvHM_8FXzc4lndSn7Wg2rja5U_ke1UfX1IB1zDsPKuN-7XnAYEOlPwGHYGPOIusY0h7xB1rdKSUsOj2qjpTBuLtIHSPnKkB-T-26vACghDBiOFDn17lf4G8SNR82PBIOuzPNp-JHZSjVhdcaLwGr7J9FXTztwAiVcgwBh0R8A/s296/Baby%20Boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="231" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlUEmw1MczIvHM_8FXzc4lndSn7Wg2rja5U_ke1UfX1IB1zDsPKuN-7XnAYEOlPwGHYGPOIusY0h7xB1rdKSUsOj2qjpTBuLtIHSPnKkB-T-26vACghDBiOFDn17lf4G8SNR82PBIOuzPNp-JHZSjVhdcaLwGr7J9FXTztwAiVcgwBh0R8A/s1600/Baby%20Boy.jpg" width="231" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Baby Boy 2010</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Making Snowman and Santa cookies with the little ones. Trying not to eat them myself. We're driving around looking at lights like when I was a kid. It was the thing to do! Getting used to having a cat in the house - something I thought I'd NEVER EVER do. And I'm at the age that most times when I search someone on Google, I find an obituary instead. Seriously???! The pandemic has not been kind to mankind. Or maybe I'm just....vintage.</center><center><br /></center><center><b><span style="font-size: medium;">And.oh.the.purging.</span></b></center><center><b><br /></b></center><center>I'm throwing out boxes of STUFF. I can't believe I thought I needed all this STUFF. Instead of "stuff" in 2023, how about I try something really important...like a relationship, like taking peace globes to the next level, like taking a ballroom dance class, like finishing that book, like starting all over in the castle <i>once again</i> with a new metamorphosis and a single life vibe that suits me just right. </center><center>I've climbed over a lot of dross in 2022. </center><center>I'm long overdue for new pencil skirts. </center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_ufjKu_9pyabTKAMbUcIsipfkV_kMZ7G-SM04DiANS1TP58XOcpgFyIxRDNi3LGvEgMBB5zPswKhplaW1N_154rjOwQLz8GNig5CcjyMAYoqZqjra1EJepafG6qhtPqI76wAg9_ZQ9-Zh6AMvBV8Q-lJI7-CljtQwkoNhqoy9KyzJWbKzQ/s2048/beans%20cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1744" data-original-width="2048" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_ufjKu_9pyabTKAMbUcIsipfkV_kMZ7G-SM04DiANS1TP58XOcpgFyIxRDNi3LGvEgMBB5zPswKhplaW1N_154rjOwQLz8GNig5CcjyMAYoqZqjra1EJepafG6qhtPqI76wAg9_ZQ9-Zh6AMvBV8Q-lJI7-CljtQwkoNhqoy9KyzJWbKzQ/s320/beans%20cookies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><center><b><i>Cookies anyone?</i></b></center><center><b><i><br /></i></b></center><center><br /></center><center>Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></center>
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">BlogBlast For Peace November 4 ~ Join us!
http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-71453624291119981082022-12-04T22:23:00.001-05:002022-12-04T22:35:11.714-05:00Monday Mimisms ~ Me and a Meme<center><span style="text-align: left;">I decided to do a meme on Sunday for </span><a href="https://mimiwrtes.com" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Mimisms on Monday</a></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieR7iV11Yb4vTwJ268Uf0zMbKUH5cAuBB2TA4jZ8Toiz2OudLVQab7e-XeGV6r112FZfOuCG6fe3k9rzN6SQ6fJgHVw4bfMlPbGXy2pdCei-gPacaCq4xPi_8E3B-FKOrfYjeWmaLeyvrcnLLJW76yRhx0AoA-QoRWhRSqEHWFWqzyDo5doA" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="162" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieR7iV11Yb4vTwJ268Uf0zMbKUH5cAuBB2TA4jZ8Toiz2OudLVQab7e-XeGV6r112FZfOuCG6fe3k9rzN6SQ6fJgHVw4bfMlPbGXy2pdCei-gPacaCq4xPi_8E3B-FKOrfYjeWmaLeyvrcnLLJW76yRhx0AoA-QoRWhRSqEHWFWqzyDo5doA" width="256" /></a></div>! Does that make sense? No worries. I was shocked to see that they had stolen my meme (shocked!) from way back in the day. Just kidding. It's what they do. That's why it's called Sunday Stealllliiinngggg. So. I shall play </span><b style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://mimiqueenofmemes.blogspot.com/2011/04/queens-meme-77-grocery-meme.html" target="_blank">the meme I wrote</a></b><span style="text-align: left;"> from my blog called </span><b style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://mimiqueenofmemes.blogspot.com/2011/04/queens-meme-77-grocery-meme.html" target="_blank">The Queen's Meme</a> - although these questions are a mishmash of romance and groceries. I have no idea who really wrote the first seven or number 14. I like to play tongue-in-cheek. Buckle up. </b><span style="text-align: left;">Thanks </span><a href="https://sundaystealing.blogspot.com" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Bev</a><span style="text-align: left;">.</span></div><center><br /></center><center><b>1. What do men really want in a woman? </b></center><center>That's like asking, "<i>What do fish really want from the ocean</i>?"</center><center>Who wrote these questions??!</center><center><br /></center><center><b>2. Should marijuana be legalized?</b></center><center>Absolutely</center><center><br /></center><center><b>3. Why did the cow jump over the moon?</b></center><center>To get to the pot store.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81fyq3bO5VihEGCsUVw6VzTXNNyoNvbUfGBeSdAsxAMFTRZMkJGaE5iUXMOE38h78f2BbUkkYe0isN9WyO27aLWGULOodJwmNszU3snYKDfpV5VUS7GIQu42FtioMIv7GAhwrkd5rfMgmQe-KZgwjvx4BIzoQTd9HN2jZYo58JojJDqbQGw/s960/pot%20seedling.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81fyq3bO5VihEGCsUVw6VzTXNNyoNvbUfGBeSdAsxAMFTRZMkJGaE5iUXMOE38h78f2BbUkkYe0isN9WyO27aLWGULOodJwmNszU3snYKDfpV5VUS7GIQu42FtioMIv7GAhwrkd5rfMgmQe-KZgwjvx4BIzoQTd9HN2jZYo58JojJDqbQGw/s320/pot%20seedling.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">(I can't believe I said that)</span></div></center><center><br /></center><center><b>4. What do women really want in a man?</b></center><center>That's like asking, "<i>What does the ocean really want from fish</i>?"</center><center>Who wrote these questions?!</center><center><br /></center><center><b>5. When you are having a really good day, what usually makes it good?</b></center><center>A day at the river with Beans.</center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdo7ohM6NBbF4felWAW-4l7PHzj-mGVFIXr4_ki3WnEt6svVuAmNhzYjLy8JOosN2wtxEqhmFV8QaawxF3l10jJX80D7DdYmpNVwaFlcnhDEGvCmGFm6PONuGtGXozqUgyCh2OJGPEKJA7ygT2JG5X6e_iopsiWuoRdt3P9lw4Hql8yAMprg/s800/Baby%20Boy%20Mimi%20Lenox%20Aug%202010%20river.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="800" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdo7ohM6NBbF4felWAW-4l7PHzj-mGVFIXr4_ki3WnEt6svVuAmNhzYjLy8JOosN2wtxEqhmFV8QaawxF3l10jJX80D7DdYmpNVwaFlcnhDEGvCmGFm6PONuGtGXozqUgyCh2OJGPEKJA7ygT2JG5X6e_iopsiWuoRdt3P9lw4Hql8yAMprg/s320/Baby%20Boy%20Mimi%20Lenox%20Aug%202010%20river.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><center><br /></center><center><b>6. What can make your good day turn into a bad day?</b></center><center>If we fall off a rock and plunge into the river. I can't swim.</center><center><br /></center><center><b>7. If you could start from scratch and turn back the clock for a re-do, what would you re-do?</b> I would major in Music Therapy instead of Music Education. </center><center><br /></center><center><b>8. Do you make a list when you go grocery shopping?</b></center><center>No. I make a grocery list BEFORE I go shopping.</center><center><br /></center><center><b>9. Do you buy more groceries when you're hungry?</b></center><center>I buy more EVERYTHING when I'm hungry.</center><center>Just ask Amazon.</center><center><br /></center><center><b>10. Coupons. Use them?</b></center><center>Yes Yes and YES!</center><center><br /></center><center><b>11. Have you ever complained to the manager of your grocery store?</b></center><center>The day I found expired dates on my precious keylime yogurt. </center><center>Alas, I had to buy blueberry instead.</center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiCNxDl8kWpb0RlTo_cMAKYd-5PtXKhuiMwrAKihtlJV_CRJ2ksxwiET_RY8MwXnOSivFud-disohgCRn1AQNx2Iidcz3vRSo0_USeETn8Az70sC0ZYZkMXAzURZ174sHnZjyyWMIVAy3E7AYvzR-QKtVC_LzCNlQxHi_iotnREteCSUjQg/s960/yogurt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiCNxDl8kWpb0RlTo_cMAKYd-5PtXKhuiMwrAKihtlJV_CRJ2ksxwiET_RY8MwXnOSivFud-disohgCRn1AQNx2Iidcz3vRSo0_USeETn8Az70sC0ZYZkMXAzURZ174sHnZjyyWMIVAy3E7AYvzR-QKtVC_LzCNlQxHi_iotnREteCSUjQg/s320/yogurt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><center><br /></center><center><b>12. Do you like to buy groceries at huge chain stores like Walmart? Or do you shop exclusively at food stores?</b></center><center>I don't like to buy food at Walmart. I want a real food store with better sanitary conditions for groceries. The vegetables are left out in the bins hardly ever misted and washed. The watermelons are never fresh. Yuck.</center><center><br /></center><center><b>13. What do you typically have for lunch?</b></center><center>Salad. Protein. More salad.</center><center><br /></center><center><b>14. Tell us about your last lunch date and what made it special.</b></center><center>I met an old friend and colleague for lunch in town. We taught together for twenty years on the same hallway. Oh, if those walls could talk! I just hope the security camera footage has long been destroyed. </center><center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5M5_2VtJnWIzecvOQTA_R9taJvRGgYxSe9sus324AjKFE9gLVKjxt6IUZA5wgRVMza9yb3BpXMZqQZ1eEbF6PqXmK7TbDC_J66TCssUxqTejnEn6-K50zXAMfTUa7DN8KJniYrlDkh-NKomwLBYk1nJya4k5MbcJE4PStpHKJMN3ft7jciA/s319/Mimi%20Persian%20Patticakes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="241" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5M5_2VtJnWIzecvOQTA_R9taJvRGgYxSe9sus324AjKFE9gLVKjxt6IUZA5wgRVMza9yb3BpXMZqQZ1eEbF6PqXmK7TbDC_J66TCssUxqTejnEn6-K50zXAMfTUa7DN8KJniYrlDkh-NKomwLBYk1nJya4k5MbcJE4PStpHKJMN3ft7jciA/s1600/Mimi%20Persian%20Patticakes.jpg" width="241" /></a></center><center><br /></center><center><b><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Images: Mimi Lenox photography & Pixabay</span></i></b></center><center>Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></center>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">BlogBlast For Peace November 4 ~ Join us!
http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-74995616461633534482022-11-29T12:27:00.000-05:002022-11-29T12:27:17.488-05:00I Am Sure (Quite Sure) That Today Is NOT My Birthday<center>I've been saying this every year on this blog for the last one hundred years. In the interim...wars have started and ceased. The cosmos went backwards in time and came around again. Three presidents have passed by...and passed on. God rest their souls. And Twitter was bought by Mickey Mouse. The jury is still out on that one. </center><center><br /></center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8wsVYto-ftCWiPXSgujGLPf2nGBUBFoHyQL8rK32IxkY9LlNG97MEaVbIjge7KfnMWwSNja4wgc-UAFymEAfhPkMAZP2rkOFmup1IJ3LF7pI_JHGTsUxL0BkikQmu4YUWUNGT_3gHtN9k28iA75jI320_kuxZLYiyDj3z_U62YGgZgbcHA/s400/mimi%20coffee%202007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="207" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8wsVYto-ftCWiPXSgujGLPf2nGBUBFoHyQL8rK32IxkY9LlNG97MEaVbIjge7KfnMWwSNja4wgc-UAFymEAfhPkMAZP2rkOFmup1IJ3LF7pI_JHGTsUxL0BkikQmu4YUWUNGT_3gHtN9k28iA75jI320_kuxZLYiyDj3z_U62YGgZgbcHA/w166-h320/mimi%20coffee%202007.jpg" width="166" /></a></div>Homer baked a birthday cake for me KNOWING I can't eat cake. I wonder what's in this lovely strawberry concoction? I hope it's just strawberries with no evil sugar. Thank you Homer!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1bUuCaszqNCy79JS9oqGgEsAO08N3MenhFeqlacAGVwjmoK4QrMopERfQcvKoPbM_ytpxiB1G3262uaYsCgUcnQcLeQiizW3hXhg_n3kOhRqdxxAibgTClU_nB5oYsPXvj7Nq9B9EJXyXFLbO_i-DymQ9d-tM2DqP8sMV8bMBVhLjQYxRA/s240/homer%20the%20nerve%20a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1bUuCaszqNCy79JS9oqGgEsAO08N3MenhFeqlacAGVwjmoK4QrMopERfQcvKoPbM_ytpxiB1G3262uaYsCgUcnQcLeQiizW3hXhg_n3kOhRqdxxAibgTClU_nB5oYsPXvj7Nq9B9EJXyXFLbO_i-DymQ9d-tM2DqP8sMV8bMBVhLjQYxRA/s1600/homer%20the%20nerve%20a.jpg" width="240" /></a></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Meanwhile I am enjoying the once-a-year attention on Facebook. Birthday wishes are the BEST part of that platform. Thank you!!! They make me smile and I love sending birthday wishes to my friends. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And still is it NOT my birthday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I know it is not my birthday because I have yet to use color on my natural brunetteness. I will not be one of those women who embrace the grays and let them flow freely. Nothing wrong with that, but I don't think I'll join the party. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So far. So good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I know it is not my birthday because no one in the "real" royal family has bothered to send a greeting. The day is young. I'm still waiting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I know it is not my birthday because I can still wear a baseball cap and a pencil skirt, although my French nails are beginning to fall off when I'm stressed. I wonder if I should talk to my doctor about that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvyf978sxLKCkZJrhYTNu2TrszQRDmPJW0KIK9hr8RvigvIc446YgU68p7urJ13y7lFtS_QE0Sv4kXECs1C4AOxJUOQM0uOQIvjS0u4bdS3pG4OR7--5CoJ3qqJ_iEu-hkl-yoN41QRLvxO0Dx_dnOWNtGciSMStzUro2UreykPlDFg8qZA/s240/Homer%20birthday%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvyf978sxLKCkZJrhYTNu2TrszQRDmPJW0KIK9hr8RvigvIc446YgU68p7urJ13y7lFtS_QE0Sv4kXECs1C4AOxJUOQM0uOQIvjS0u4bdS3pG4OR7--5CoJ3qqJ_iEu-hkl-yoN41QRLvxO0Dx_dnOWNtGciSMStzUro2UreykPlDFg8qZA/s1600/Homer%20birthday%202.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And lastly, I know it is NOT my birthday because FINALLY those pesky "Sign up for Social Security" commercials have stopped coming in the mail. I did that last year. It takes an Act of Congress to get that little red, white and blue card. Now that I'm past-the-age-of-knowing-better I feel free to know better.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Does that make sense?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I didn't think so.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wp3nd-4Gq9ldMhUquxb9uT-PGvGpHuO9l12tSZ6PAtdSaQDC0NIlf4dugF8ak6dC9TEFArjzEIgtUrUe1T4xGiD7wj19Z5MN-jiPDzuklKShB7U6z3L8xbCNNXs9EXvTsjf88Tz1LxeKbxW6qIbQIFpdA9ev4jnIcdrA6mr7upIMQcVDCw/s447/woman%20doctor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="376" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wp3nd-4Gq9ldMhUquxb9uT-PGvGpHuO9l12tSZ6PAtdSaQDC0NIlf4dugF8ak6dC9TEFArjzEIgtUrUe1T4xGiD7wj19Z5MN-jiPDzuklKShB7U6z3L8xbCNNXs9EXvTsjf88Tz1LxeKbxW6qIbQIFpdA9ev4jnIcdrA6mr7upIMQcVDCw/s320/woman%20doctor.JPG" width="269" /></a></div><br />Well. Thanks for stopping by. I'm going to make a virtual appointment with my doctor about those nails. Last visit she said she didn't want to discuss my makeup, eyeliner, pedicures OR my Internet dog and his health problems.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>The nerve!</b></div><br /><center><br /></center><center>Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></center>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">BlogBlast For Peace November 4 ~ Join us!
http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-89407965583033534842022-11-23T14:08:00.001-05:002022-11-23T14:08:30.973-05:00Pumpkin Pie and The Man at the Window<center>Holidays can be the best of times for families where lifelong happy memories are made...or they can be excruciatingly stressful times full of unhappy memories to unpack through the years. I hope your clan experiences the former. If so, you are truly blessed. But let's be real. Holidays are tough for a lot of people. We're not all The Waltons! </center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTekgHJ5rvWR1JZtDOR_RZuYwaa-vAuzZlXwMnlWHA8-NlGDH97N4JKbKQzcJInROeXRfdN9CyOZwteNnoZgfWseNTP-l1ODCtx1k8u7zLgJuCXE0IHn_lYRscyAptzV3EHwlFQGhrt5eZ6b2Gijp6tJOZJq8TiL7cokJer-b2ngp9vxs_Cg/s400/soup%20kitchen%20blogging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="400" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTekgHJ5rvWR1JZtDOR_RZuYwaa-vAuzZlXwMnlWHA8-NlGDH97N4JKbKQzcJInROeXRfdN9CyOZwteNnoZgfWseNTP-l1ODCtx1k8u7zLgJuCXE0IHn_lYRscyAptzV3EHwlFQGhrt5eZ6b2Gijp6tJOZJq8TiL7cokJer-b2ngp9vxs_Cg/s320/soup%20kitchen%20blogging.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><center><br /></center>Today I want to re-post a story I wrote in 2007. It seems highly appropriate for the societal climate we find ourselves in some fifteen years later. And to be honest, I need to revisit for personal reflection. <br /></center><center><br /></center><center>The years in between give me much to be grateful for. Sometimes it's good to be reminded of beginnings.</center><center><br /></center><center><span style="color: #01ffff;"><b><i><a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/2007/11/mamas-jail-thanksgiving-story.html" target="_blank">Mama's Jail</a></i></b> ~ <b><a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/2007/11/mamas-jail-thanksgiving-story.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO READ</a></b>.</span></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Have a wonderful holiday with those you love!</i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUBnM6mp39naqJCJb7Al1dU35X9kVLnnrug5l8bWMqa0g1g3mpaVewmRIJAdVaDjW_ivEuOy8akZ86qlEiz6JREMukw_dk87TLK6tE6XpjfEjAfv4KDShcvZtXTtBTeWKJzOP08wt8i_NM9ab71c_RaN21DgXryOZlpcwMUi9L-SFtntQbFw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="400" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUBnM6mp39naqJCJb7Al1dU35X9kVLnnrug5l8bWMqa0g1g3mpaVewmRIJAdVaDjW_ivEuOy8akZ86qlEiz6JREMukw_dk87TLK6tE6XpjfEjAfv4KDShcvZtXTtBTeWKJzOP08wt8i_NM9ab71c_RaN21DgXryOZlpcwMUi9L-SFtntQbFw" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgr0myJPpL5VKUmCnsbJ8kjinSDwCnGZUdyIc7RoMSH-6Zli55ZQk4HVyrrcRhxZxQjfNLaqBRUS8RVVqdN46ZVFVB1b9ODp9q3gAURPidmcHZyzgNG2feR9o_tK5vdPsXmW_dIMk0W2ZWp3nGwy6mUzgL9A24vTI68ELn6qwT6HJtRhku0bA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="304" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgr0myJPpL5VKUmCnsbJ8kjinSDwCnGZUdyIc7RoMSH-6Zli55ZQk4HVyrrcRhxZxQjfNLaqBRUS8RVVqdN46ZVFVB1b9ODp9q3gAURPidmcHZyzgNG2feR9o_tK5vdPsXmW_dIMk0W2ZWp3nGwy6mUzgL9A24vTI68ELn6qwT6HJtRhku0bA" width="240" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Have an extra slice....</b></div></b><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><center><br /></center><center>Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></center>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">BlogBlast For Peace November 4 ~ Join us!
http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-71811461049628868632022-11-06T23:29:00.001-05:002022-11-07T10:39:02.262-05:00Monday Mimisms ~ The World Has Changed<center><b>The whole world is in a foxhole.</b></center><center><b>And then there's this....</b></center><center><b><br /></b></center><center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQfzMNMabdl935VKcGE5rLYshbSbhvLaupQF8TZHfKjDd2RZ9DRVWt1nh4ph8QQv0r_h0s5X1bYQ1Uhoo6fgupId8BnSPE0Q_6nisjU_4aeiEfPDyYIBpd8WDY-GbLtL5dXtGrMcEO_5IimcsiOMioJyy3bqt3q7o4H2gB-5nGTrOIaHVcQ/s534/Brian's%20Home%20Brian%20Terry%20Frum%20%20South%20Carolina%20NOV%202022%20a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="534" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQfzMNMabdl935VKcGE5rLYshbSbhvLaupQF8TZHfKjDd2RZ9DRVWt1nh4ph8QQv0r_h0s5X1bYQ1Uhoo6fgupId8BnSPE0Q_6nisjU_4aeiEfPDyYIBpd8WDY-GbLtL5dXtGrMcEO_5IimcsiOMioJyy3bqt3q7o4H2gB-5nGTrOIaHVcQ/w400-h375/Brian's%20Home%20Brian%20Terry%20Frum%20%20South%20Carolina%20NOV%202022%20a.JPG" width="400" /></a></center><center><b><br /></b></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK99-Iz1HPuP1reE6_0qxuH_68NrUZBJx4ZL16R_kfDyvIwHK6V7xPnlTYu47tENo8PhhNfbXwXajbxWtQlCgABz-CTlL2p7XacMyNgA-wdpgTgLCKJDuZ1VDmvid7ldhCTknBs9bJqloboCJniwc_zOlBIy7bg-fRYDPMewZcYCHeqF1nhA/s500/AngelsWhisper2011%20Granny%20and%20Binky%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="500" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK99-Iz1HPuP1reE6_0qxuH_68NrUZBJx4ZL16R_kfDyvIwHK6V7xPnlTYu47tENo8PhhNfbXwXajbxWtQlCgABz-CTlL2p7XacMyNgA-wdpgTgLCKJDuZ1VDmvid7ldhCTknBs9bJqloboCJniwc_zOlBIy7bg-fRYDPMewZcYCHeqF1nhA/w400-h284/AngelsWhisper2011%20Granny%20and%20Binky%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div> <b>Thanks to all who participated in <a href="http://blog4peace.com" target="_blank">BlogBlast For Peace</a> over the weekend</b><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBB-s9fXC3W9dtNRWvaAOYR-lQRASjVD81PDxHPxf8cw3ZFWQ-bBbtNBICmELW3KGPjMdoq6EEMzwafQzsr4JDy20fELZvKo2nZ8lyn0RRQmqyDuBhPUWmm-qcZ-ZJ-1Ftj1vlr44hCwM18k34sq4RODA_v8DavkLPpFyY2L2CseZ76yOqA/s640/Thumper%20Thinks%20Out%20Loud%20K%20A%20Thompson%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="640" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBB-s9fXC3W9dtNRWvaAOYR-lQRASjVD81PDxHPxf8cw3ZFWQ-bBbtNBICmELW3KGPjMdoq6EEMzwafQzsr4JDy20fELZvKo2nZ8lyn0RRQmqyDuBhPUWmm-qcZ-ZJ-1Ftj1vlr44hCwM18k34sq4RODA_v8DavkLPpFyY2L2CseZ76yOqA/w640-h384/Thumper%20Thinks%20Out%20Loud%20K%20A%20Thompson%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>also known as <a href="http://blog4peace.com" target="_blank">Dona Nobis Pacem in the Blogosphere</a></b></div></b><div><i> although most of you could be loudly seen and heard on social media </i></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCWQk6MMH68CyqO8ByGXiGJBJQuhgPUg2meObAjlgGWnsXfm2F-d7CDxtXghGnBRIXBoA45-IrxDxhhAP8TfK57B0i372M2zdqftTbCMvcgGy4TKbGBce1aRrnZKCPhpWSVt6YfOMBpem8_5kh90KwT-wartaIka3G9BC1wKZqyZPN3UvDQ/s400/Stunning%20Keisha%20Cathy%20Keisha%20Nov%202022%20%233.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="400" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCWQk6MMH68CyqO8ByGXiGJBJQuhgPUg2meObAjlgGWnsXfm2F-d7CDxtXghGnBRIXBoA45-IrxDxhhAP8TfK57B0i372M2zdqftTbCMvcgGy4TKbGBce1aRrnZKCPhpWSVt6YfOMBpem8_5kh90KwT-wartaIka3G9BC1wKZqyZPN3UvDQ/s320/Stunning%20Keisha%20Cathy%20Keisha%20Nov%202022%20%233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I'm still gathering from the blog sky.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> It's a labor of love and an unending task</b></div></b></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjio7LxGarDyHKKFdkefcslKg19NlbsPlH0voggi2BUyOl5LCdUwgQ0wsy2Qk111EBG_BMAoPqT4tiq0yaoTIaXKd9V2HXa7gh4YipfBl0FcEfNsJdtUdVPgC9gmmPMJdKIZOmmZMBZnZq1LPUt3SmE9Sgovj62rwE45OjnXVALDfYTERTw/s800/Cat%20Chat%20with%20Cory%20and%20Cody%20Caren%20Gittleman%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="800" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjio7LxGarDyHKKFdkefcslKg19NlbsPlH0voggi2BUyOl5LCdUwgQ0wsy2Qk111EBG_BMAoPqT4tiq0yaoTIaXKd9V2HXa7gh4YipfBl0FcEfNsJdtUdVPgC9gmmPMJdKIZOmmZMBZnZq1LPUt3SmE9Sgovj62rwE45OjnXVALDfYTERTw/w400-h245/Cat%20Chat%20with%20Cory%20and%20Cody%20Caren%20Gittleman%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We began in 2006</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfEXgjywsmpw3ozlMih8DkcIN8ITvJhfpvBS2-NtcsArto1FNb1a-9qru7r2BfNRnYy0DqE-nP8RwBfUr0Ig0_77xy82t8sHP3LCsaY9lv6-qbN4FPYYmU-QyCiHuqK1PGJbxP0mu45K1uNNe6mR0oqB5P7FtBCOfwJQYTuq5_r3mWoQSxQ/s526/Chrysalis%20Angel%20Correna%20Grogan%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfEXgjywsmpw3ozlMih8DkcIN8ITvJhfpvBS2-NtcsArto1FNb1a-9qru7r2BfNRnYy0DqE-nP8RwBfUr0Ig0_77xy82t8sHP3LCsaY9lv6-qbN4FPYYmU-QyCiHuqK1PGJbxP0mu45K1uNNe6mR0oqB5P7FtBCOfwJQYTuq5_r3mWoQSxQ/s320/Chrysalis%20Angel%20Correna%20Grogan%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>many blog moons ago</b></div></b></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYw3vQ-LJMGnkkde6zBa24UmVevSIGB14nAkYqCyv_vsXMJH-EmfvRbRYUpxUW14AR9h36zcJ-Vw1SfClbROXEO-wLr_qIK-9gXfD_8yUDGAAtzZPRrVf5_L8z6_gWyEaEXjDNobmFDDbr8-av_GPZ2aadCjUdgBz2vaar6eoQqVy3j2lDhQ/s940/Claudia%20Christian%20Denver%20Colorado%20Nov%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYw3vQ-LJMGnkkde6zBa24UmVevSIGB14nAkYqCyv_vsXMJH-EmfvRbRYUpxUW14AR9h36zcJ-Vw1SfClbROXEO-wLr_qIK-9gXfD_8yUDGAAtzZPRrVf5_L8z6_gWyEaEXjDNobmFDDbr8-av_GPZ2aadCjUdgBz2vaar6eoQqVy3j2lDhQ/w400-h335/Claudia%20Christian%20Denver%20Colorado%20Nov%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>and have continued each year until we....</b></div></b><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7owDY0G73bIy1MVrZuGMq5j2cBYBGJFmKlbRr47r4wpkCxE1QlhyDxC3OhAgz9JbyqbDZlpB9e32uUrNPRQolIdXMalyqp5l10f99-xNQPq5JegN8XIh3ymWb8bJW1mulKft5FGuEp-fHWq2LS4gHQjqAgfJBBq8yx7fgBY27L4oqWXD8rw/s1080/Cora%20van%20Leeuwen%20Tinkerbell%20The%20Netherlands%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7owDY0G73bIy1MVrZuGMq5j2cBYBGJFmKlbRr47r4wpkCxE1QlhyDxC3OhAgz9JbyqbDZlpB9e32uUrNPRQolIdXMalyqp5l10f99-xNQPq5JegN8XIh3ymWb8bJW1mulKft5FGuEp-fHWq2LS4gHQjqAgfJBBq8yx7fgBY27L4oqWXD8rw/w400-h400/Cora%20van%20Leeuwen%20Tinkerbell%20The%20Netherlands%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>knew that words really <i>are</i> powerful</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUm_gRJ-uoFdZaUpFsJlu5T-zfDIbaijSvA7hdWlXvV_tAoueQgB8Ijhb_FQ4-bVqXuA9df5LuvlUwsTazKYZw_UQBq5wGeJMFGzw2tFQ5D4a1k7gi1PKC4-HCPG88bt-TMa1iufCH7O2cnSd7wv1gUrqhKdfz8lfJYRzNeIkIG6xX-4lYw/s476/Deb%20Foster%20Resnick%20FB%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="476" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUm_gRJ-uoFdZaUpFsJlu5T-zfDIbaijSvA7hdWlXvV_tAoueQgB8Ijhb_FQ4-bVqXuA9df5LuvlUwsTazKYZw_UQBq5wGeJMFGzw2tFQ5D4a1k7gi1PKC4-HCPG88bt-TMa1iufCH7O2cnSd7wv1gUrqhKdfz8lfJYRzNeIkIG6xX-4lYw/w400-h180/Deb%20Foster%20Resnick%20FB%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>met friends and peace lovers from every continent</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHmtTj2VTkPPAoRit0HBUXiGogQY70TldOSfZq8rE-CDldPglL4E7f2kBuYXx5_PEOLXaTVw9svhezG3hmoHptgzR2p8GMoeWAXqHxoIfwHbXrIHigVFQn4Vasrsq5Cpt71Ij5sI4j5nr2cK6lkBuHnocWVmggTnmuNlfrusNtCT36-ifgw/s314/Devotions%20of%20a%20Wallflower%20David%20Holdsworth%20NOV%202022.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHmtTj2VTkPPAoRit0HBUXiGogQY70TldOSfZq8rE-CDldPglL4E7f2kBuYXx5_PEOLXaTVw9svhezG3hmoHptgzR2p8GMoeWAXqHxoIfwHbXrIHigVFQn4Vasrsq5Cpt71Ij5sI4j5nr2cK6lkBuHnocWVmggTnmuNlfrusNtCT36-ifgw/s16000/Devotions%20of%20a%20Wallflower%20David%20Holdsworth%20NOV%202022.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>and 214 countries and territories...</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZD72VOEOn4YfQcCKUx9WmnO2DlUoXNVXR785FppmSXmD9i8Bu7utuiyRHpNhEzNfV04jzFL8UGuGjyonV8eKM0RqxSRUERnS-w79FWxJYGtdULdrpLjOoyMKTm4YwB4BF_R4xpPJBrtbswa2KaHAtcWQfy-XsZh9MRvjQ7nfbkYZLHC36Rw/s485/Endangered%20Spaces%20Eileen%20Trainor%20Texas%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="485" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZD72VOEOn4YfQcCKUx9WmnO2DlUoXNVXR785FppmSXmD9i8Bu7utuiyRHpNhEzNfV04jzFL8UGuGjyonV8eKM0RqxSRUERnS-w79FWxJYGtdULdrpLjOoyMKTm4YwB4BF_R4xpPJBrtbswa2KaHAtcWQfy-XsZh9MRvjQ7nfbkYZLHC36Rw/w400-h400/Endangered%20Spaces%20Eileen%20Trainor%20Texas%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>entered the land of Facebook and Twitter</b></div></b></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBJMj42Q3_92S-ydxUxy6p_QSTX6clFCM13Fjd6nd9-L5GZ1eiIrFHI_Pxz4vlqXYQCMUZMzCDkY7SWN8nt1MoRxP48QKFm_N7lBsgFWyeWRp5xCi7rtx8QBNAbRgpnntjWDSC0j5LnMxhlJd-otk_2grLZsnCfeT0S9yOaj7KJnRkxNbgA/s400/Friends%20Furever%20Sharon%20Florida%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="400" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBJMj42Q3_92S-ydxUxy6p_QSTX6clFCM13Fjd6nd9-L5GZ1eiIrFHI_Pxz4vlqXYQCMUZMzCDkY7SWN8nt1MoRxP48QKFm_N7lBsgFWyeWRp5xCi7rtx8QBNAbRgpnntjWDSC0j5LnMxhlJd-otk_2grLZsnCfeT0S9yOaj7KJnRkxNbgA/w400-h305/Friends%20Furever%20Sharon%20Florida%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>becoming one blog and one voice for one day....</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxN5HJ7C2poXQh9qHUcqu6r-jxFVJTlvwbNReQFRmZQGO6taX_5CPQa_Emt3jSszYU0l9raT78vUFFSJgECeyKi2aAapqFCB5sifTMK1eOt_mGl79OSjcIGX8Y97NEJHZMZM8xnTAs-aDFbHS9PhPrBBXhE6dqmx7m-TVPxaLW1_1vA7mFQ/s1080/Jackie%20D%20Rockwell%20Dallas%20Texas%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxN5HJ7C2poXQh9qHUcqu6r-jxFVJTlvwbNReQFRmZQGO6taX_5CPQa_Emt3jSszYU0l9raT78vUFFSJgECeyKi2aAapqFCB5sifTMK1eOt_mGl79OSjcIGX8Y97NEJHZMZM8xnTAs-aDFbHS9PhPrBBXhE6dqmx7m-TVPxaLW1_1vA7mFQ/w400-h400/Jackie%20D%20Rockwell%20Dallas%20Texas%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We talked about people fighting people </b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqNYGdpVrkuMsz7wDvAi1yDzLDKv6IX1ayyo7cKQbYyVBQM6t_2xvdgw4OK465mhykgc9Z1bkKqRKxw61wyPshzBWMQ3FSVNYpVLcKivGjEn06wwrqTf1X-AT2vUyXxNGC1XPIc9ceKbpBSrjoGuMUyDaoytlSO5JtpisDiEr7mXVdYvuwA/s640/Just%20Ducky%20Janet%20Dake%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqNYGdpVrkuMsz7wDvAi1yDzLDKv6IX1ayyo7cKQbYyVBQM6t_2xvdgw4OK465mhykgc9Z1bkKqRKxw61wyPshzBWMQ3FSVNYpVLcKivGjEn06wwrqTf1X-AT2vUyXxNGC1XPIc9ceKbpBSrjoGuMUyDaoytlSO5JtpisDiEr7mXVdYvuwA/w400-h300/Just%20Ducky%20Janet%20Dake%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>countries fighting countries..</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfPeUVRHZ956fuCGA6CVxxXuw0JwSstNZw8ENDPou6AGDV4fDGkKbDrzZcNFJpPpfKVO0su2LnxFH8XnRmrGbdnct6bRU6TWjy5yEERYravieuK4K4ATiFOEmX8ItIJTLm7VLYdd75z2j5NnJYX96isAGh8YzgDjZaofyTXPs2GXfs9NeZQ/s640/Little%20Miss%20Titch%20and%20The%20Adventures%20formerly%20Speedy%20Devon%20United%20Kingdom%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfPeUVRHZ956fuCGA6CVxxXuw0JwSstNZw8ENDPou6AGDV4fDGkKbDrzZcNFJpPpfKVO0su2LnxFH8XnRmrGbdnct6bRU6TWjy5yEERYravieuK4K4ATiFOEmX8ItIJTLm7VLYdd75z2j5NnJYX96isAGh8YzgDjZaofyTXPs2GXfs9NeZQ/w400-h300/Little%20Miss%20Titch%20and%20The%20Adventures%20formerly%20Speedy%20Devon%20United%20Kingdom%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Climate change...and changing our personal climates</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1ICfwywWX2yARUf8dHIQp3a7H__Yj49pVgECz5uhEzlIPacjaLHDr1_g4QZXM5Q8jZ2-P1e989-JGq84iCDxaDmgP8vldnQwipL0rCuABAm8IkeouQd21UQv3moEmRw8z0gJuzLwOoX7_XujovwtX818OIAI0A7RZOFhatwzYDbvKQFSUw/s576/Stunning%20Keisha%20Change%20Your%20Climate%202019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="576" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1ICfwywWX2yARUf8dHIQp3a7H__Yj49pVgECz5uhEzlIPacjaLHDr1_g4QZXM5Q8jZ2-P1e989-JGq84iCDxaDmgP8vldnQwipL0rCuABAm8IkeouQd21UQv3moEmRw8z0gJuzLwOoX7_XujovwtX818OIAI0A7RZOFhatwzYDbvKQFSUw/w400-h326/Stunning%20Keisha%20Change%20Your%20Climate%202019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>and how intricately we are connected....</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrr_UDuSuBtIBx4r9mCnvy_MWZsaOTM6tpLVoq1H49Fr4ummhElL8ybflViYp1EB7Pqu8YNtmwPOlbchwI-niZMT-hCPI6Zlew7dZ8zQqW3QPqikJKbEi1YxULJgHLqsLKduMDRpiqZ_by5FfE25N_9ayLsV4wLdJzgEmuLUbOoiMic4RyQ/s640/Mark's%20Mews%20Maryland%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrr_UDuSuBtIBx4r9mCnvy_MWZsaOTM6tpLVoq1H49Fr4ummhElL8ybflViYp1EB7Pqu8YNtmwPOlbchwI-niZMT-hCPI6Zlew7dZ8zQqW3QPqikJKbEi1YxULJgHLqsLKduMDRpiqZ_by5FfE25N_9ayLsV4wLdJzgEmuLUbOoiMic4RyQ/w640-h360/Mark's%20Mews%20Maryland%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Inner peace</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjw_fISuuwcmopFnbGTT4kZwN3v21s6ibiu8PskvEAyG9_Lj9TmS19geF5O1ygUgsSn6NQHmsD7N3_PswqlrA7pH1-Jt2yC4Zn9giXwMYbT20yx5CdPsxilBf9ucjPClk3aJBF9S2lUzpyWs-geKknyIaXgz1jAkdX2V9_shPZWs-mcoQh0Bg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjw_fISuuwcmopFnbGTT4kZwN3v21s6ibiu8PskvEAyG9_Lj9TmS19geF5O1ygUgsSn6NQHmsD7N3_PswqlrA7pH1-Jt2yC4Zn9giXwMYbT20yx5CdPsxilBf9ucjPClk3aJBF9S2lUzpyWs-geKknyIaXgz1jAkdX2V9_shPZWs-mcoQh0Bg=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /></b><b> and outer chaos</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMuzWM7Jl-kuONYWdrIcGFjp6B7JzIjYzeMtjsBGVnVDHAvj5gO25RUSKUyAP1zac85FihJ6CsTH2JzJU7A6sGdYS1CZpLhh8mvnFoVbRcwb1VEHiYnR4u8RKaer7Qb120lKnxP2-rH9dfkT43T-ZSbbmtoQXa7M0NBMcpFmSFMGfNzxYfQ/s640/Meezer's%20Mew%20and%20Terrieristical%20Woofs%20Michigan%20NOV%202022%20%232.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMuzWM7Jl-kuONYWdrIcGFjp6B7JzIjYzeMtjsBGVnVDHAvj5gO25RUSKUyAP1zac85FihJ6CsTH2JzJU7A6sGdYS1CZpLhh8mvnFoVbRcwb1VEHiYnR4u8RKaer7Qb120lKnxP2-rH9dfkT43T-ZSbbmtoQXa7M0NBMcpFmSFMGfNzxYfQ/w400-h400/Meezer's%20Mew%20and%20Terrieristical%20Woofs%20Michigan%20NOV%202022%20%232.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Voting rights, elections, politics, economic shifts....</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0za26brrDWZXfyRzLHusqlzAnnFdijoG9_RHBb_QanCyxkhz9K36c7KsL4NoyBDL8NjkfAA0JP3Blrq9eEFfY6lKwBGcwyhzDjO_9FnAXyW7NBk82oAkSdKEIHX48wA3xyop08IhSJjeEfNnpHONrk1a9F4X6YOPzjUoSE2EK2AjmvVWb9w/s640/Meezer's%20Mews%20and%20Terrieristical%20Woofs%20Michigan%20NOV%202022.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="640" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0za26brrDWZXfyRzLHusqlzAnnFdijoG9_RHBb_QanCyxkhz9K36c7KsL4NoyBDL8NjkfAA0JP3Blrq9eEFfY6lKwBGcwyhzDjO_9FnAXyW7NBk82oAkSdKEIHX48wA3xyop08IhSJjeEfNnpHONrk1a9F4X6YOPzjUoSE2EK2AjmvVWb9w/s320/Meezer's%20Mews%20and%20Terrieristical%20Woofs%20Michigan%20NOV%202022.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>shifting and sinking democracies...</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>religion</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3njFGMNFoK-GouReXpl9P9TcA3H_ps5IehjdIG4IjIE1EHOhEf3wxez9ZU3Le_GplX5aSArQdAN08JrhEFhnS8SO5DR93fGfQe-lCsBjdF9ZCuHCKecqjDYVkwJPV_ZtNzl_4c06m1S7D2k8ZuwqVqpdFwqud9RuPHxVpXtPv9UdiHg7j8g/s400/Merceda%20Winter%20Texas%20FB%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="400" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3njFGMNFoK-GouReXpl9P9TcA3H_ps5IehjdIG4IjIE1EHOhEf3wxez9ZU3Le_GplX5aSArQdAN08JrhEFhnS8SO5DR93fGfQe-lCsBjdF9ZCuHCKecqjDYVkwJPV_ZtNzl_4c06m1S7D2k8ZuwqVqpdFwqud9RuPHxVpXtPv9UdiHg7j8g/w400-h266/Merceda%20Winter%20Texas%20FB%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>polluting the oceans and how to save the bees</b></div></b></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVMweaXEaQGq5Rz7h1wW48CJSrwV2nAHXrSeUvnpX1WWzDTTlbvFI0TJXmcM_v2JCiOvn1QFNnG-Mk_drco9nk9R_d3Z9ZLcKJdVIdHZYpKxel8swYyQQAsqC2jtg-9bPgFjojxix9aIe8BcpGltMrpbbqyaPMK10whYCT9cVBS-dQN44EVA/s400/Michelle%20Frost%20Scotland%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="400" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVMweaXEaQGq5Rz7h1wW48CJSrwV2nAHXrSeUvnpX1WWzDTTlbvFI0TJXmcM_v2JCiOvn1QFNnG-Mk_drco9nk9R_d3Z9ZLcKJdVIdHZYpKxel8swYyQQAsqC2jtg-9bPgFjojxix9aIe8BcpGltMrpbbqyaPMK10whYCT9cVBS-dQN44EVA/w400-h268/Michelle%20Frost%20Scotland%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>and Love</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>we talked a lot about Love</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDvLzY8CeWhvONc5_u_CN-FYQp5AM571Dip6VelBPAa-rPmZMyURiAxSVV-ODwNcEUQbiKgyknpzehKbbYl_Fj7MazbbJCDwX0GJbuS3MtdcJeVY7tq35SGLiNbRJ6MUhApEb6iBvBVdGfYvHf9oZcnrlMicIy45jNaudB2ZL9njTKDGFug/s320/Mickey's%20Musings%20Nova%20Scotia%20Canada%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="320" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDvLzY8CeWhvONc5_u_CN-FYQp5AM571Dip6VelBPAa-rPmZMyURiAxSVV-ODwNcEUQbiKgyknpzehKbbYl_Fj7MazbbJCDwX0GJbuS3MtdcJeVY7tq35SGLiNbRJ6MUhApEb6iBvBVdGfYvHf9oZcnrlMicIy45jNaudB2ZL9njTKDGFug/s1600/Mickey's%20Musings%20Nova%20Scotia%20Canada%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Spiritual remedies</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxPLgf5HC_gLC9B6uCYxMhI-kLq73M9eQIVWa42e4exek_NyzCjXHBC9OlO7BKvsM8Ms-CVTUzjkorhczio2b_Rd1Wfcvg4wOEehXzeS1ErcpqjogIdE6PNvob_ekRzrxCTTinUxTm7V_9GBuUeUGOCY8ergwWY9gsBxME29NHrOy7wKtYg/s720/Susan%20Chast%20Upper%20Darby%20PA%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxPLgf5HC_gLC9B6uCYxMhI-kLq73M9eQIVWa42e4exek_NyzCjXHBC9OlO7BKvsM8Ms-CVTUzjkorhczio2b_Rd1Wfcvg4wOEehXzeS1ErcpqjogIdE6PNvob_ekRzrxCTTinUxTm7V_9GBuUeUGOCY8ergwWY9gsBxME29NHrOy7wKtYg/w640-h480/Susan%20Chast%20Upper%20Darby%20PA%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>practical remedies</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEc5ScHNLNagfge4AwzDuKDkUCPkaF39veC5N41rOYo6El_SI9JCGZJ2SU9L0MYkmHznCglh7Ayk7GSLyt8qoS5uAyoBs5r2uihOVCzd3kB7BsnUs0vDHGrGpBNHzsMiJgiN8qfiXX-xu4YMBT8D5PxHNTJ1sgEsr905oOiH_kA32Xf3HF0w/s1080/Julie%20Schultz%20Ohio%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEc5ScHNLNagfge4AwzDuKDkUCPkaF39veC5N41rOYo6El_SI9JCGZJ2SU9L0MYkmHznCglh7Ayk7GSLyt8qoS5uAyoBs5r2uihOVCzd3kB7BsnUs0vDHGrGpBNHzsMiJgiN8qfiXX-xu4YMBT8D5PxHNTJ1sgEsr905oOiH_kA32Xf3HF0w/w400-h320/Julie%20Schultz%20Ohio%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>unorthodox remedies</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3A8RYSHFq9cLGd09OsIm05zVPIUeAUsbGECVMfer4c-702H4WiGDe3wfVRIVMFjqQqSaofSOYy7LhFU0khmT-Ff8jwNUjflGTagkHRUMjr7i3MdfCbjRUQfqPdnk9tT7TmIIUmmb1d80QDCpdbGt_ZdnIbF1RkJrOoZviz15UR1Ahhft0A/s526/Of%20Living%20and%20Loving%20and%20Coping%20Bing%20Yap%20NOV%202022%20%232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3A8RYSHFq9cLGd09OsIm05zVPIUeAUsbGECVMfer4c-702H4WiGDe3wfVRIVMFjqQqSaofSOYy7LhFU0khmT-Ff8jwNUjflGTagkHRUMjr7i3MdfCbjRUQfqPdnk9tT7TmIIUmmb1d80QDCpdbGt_ZdnIbF1RkJrOoZviz15UR1Ahhft0A/w400-h400/Of%20Living%20and%20Loving%20and%20Coping%20Bing%20Yap%20NOV%202022%20%232.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: center;"> We took a <a href="http://peaceglobegallery.blogspot.com/p/30-days-of-love.html" target="_blank">30 Day LOVE challenge</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: center;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaTrQDWdf_iKZaMRLy_BoguB9ddjCz7xoxtgj8YuQHwL4J-a5-cs95pANAx3b1_HADj3Fk2opxe_yvEKNKqoQrZ5uUIQFp_qWN1JQurcLI_bcf2PG5e82vcvFMSgZRGlJWPWTaP4_f_Tkg26amARIQd8dt0j6fux8O-tQd4nJB_vIxxDBRQ/s2048/Of%20Living%20and%20Loving%20and%20Coping%20Bing%20Yap%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaTrQDWdf_iKZaMRLy_BoguB9ddjCz7xoxtgj8YuQHwL4J-a5-cs95pANAx3b1_HADj3Fk2opxe_yvEKNKqoQrZ5uUIQFp_qWN1JQurcLI_bcf2PG5e82vcvFMSgZRGlJWPWTaP4_f_Tkg26amARIQd8dt0j6fux8O-tQd4nJB_vIxxDBRQ/s320/Of%20Living%20and%20Loving%20and%20Coping%20Bing%20Yap%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://peaceglobegallery.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_20.html" target="_blank">and blogged 100 Reasons to Blog4Peace</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://peaceglobegallery.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_20.html" target="_blank">like badass bloggers who knew how to cure the world</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSQvqdDfmBkReZOPJUs5lLL6LMuOOCD43qeYrMvZlpPmSiat43hgZ5ajuWUWo5Ck6jwsax3djoaNOc2Grf13oDfHAyxAtCFwhpHX-IJjJXlqVr5SDHXz90vULsHRDaO52A6clUsFVrxfF7gZbASf38-FtDzk2U0er7FRMrTifCJy1EOXOEQ/s793/Sanni%20Jansen%20Germany%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="793" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSQvqdDfmBkReZOPJUs5lLL6LMuOOCD43qeYrMvZlpPmSiat43hgZ5ajuWUWo5Ck6jwsax3djoaNOc2Grf13oDfHAyxAtCFwhpHX-IJjJXlqVr5SDHXz90vULsHRDaO52A6clUsFVrxfF7gZbASf38-FtDzk2U0er7FRMrTifCJy1EOXOEQ/s320/Sanni%20Jansen%20Germany%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Documented <a href="https://peaceglobegallery.blogspot.com/2014/09/take-60-ways-2-peace-challenge.html" target="_blank">60 Ways to Peace</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Xnk5hiqC3vVoipraUPURjSx4gugKbQWXqNPXOUkI-vMfRPXaqTwkarQh0Ry1FH2uGNmy8o-fp7lSw_DEWhq_GSSMSiD79-PVdTRyMBHEKHAqKZQ6xnhPIbrsjrbpr3ntA9v-xmeSHHAtzLXlwX6efQF9Ez43ydkvlJi0lKbSxYRoIZOmDA/s320/Blue%20Country%20Magic%20CountryDew%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Xnk5hiqC3vVoipraUPURjSx4gugKbQWXqNPXOUkI-vMfRPXaqTwkarQh0Ry1FH2uGNmy8o-fp7lSw_DEWhq_GSSMSiD79-PVdTRyMBHEKHAqKZQ6xnhPIbrsjrbpr3ntA9v-xmeSHHAtzLXlwX6efQF9Ez43ydkvlJi0lKbSxYRoIZOmDA/w400-h400/Blue%20Country%20Magic%20CountryDew%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Through earthquakes and tsunamis</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Hurricanes and hailstorms</b></div><center><b>Hatred-filled elections</b></center><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfmxlDG2_-qRMtWtXIautTAZ5PhXGrqZYmubnUFha-jnUVGZ4ncAK6rE398Bi5gZW0VM2faU6ubP9zoY7WAf_lg0Tf2yoNCBnMBAZqqCj04fpTqiJSFt4_A12O3Nj35w2FPecqZY5JWCnWyT1x_emcs7MTtZtCnLGqeGIUzndxCkp3f0wUQ/s320/Shannon%20Wamsley%20%20Moments%20of%20Introspection%20NOV%202022%20%232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="320" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfmxlDG2_-qRMtWtXIautTAZ5PhXGrqZYmubnUFha-jnUVGZ4ncAK6rE398Bi5gZW0VM2faU6ubP9zoY7WAf_lg0Tf2yoNCBnMBAZqqCj04fpTqiJSFt4_A12O3Nj35w2FPecqZY5JWCnWyT1x_emcs7MTtZtCnLGqeGIUzndxCkp3f0wUQ/s1600/Shannon%20Wamsley%20%20Moments%20of%20Introspection%20NOV%202022%20%232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We discussed nuclear war and hissed like true activists</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPxtm0_QxYcaOlsCSSY4UiHyXoeJDBhpzPK6q0-eyFJcPZJoSd5dKY0tLlQfo3GzK0fOxk8HQesm8r5LGEQQ-Ds7NoURJmAN6ZfZDzdEHD2Dn1odZvjkDLL8HszuEFF0dGuLY5DPIFd_OBDqjLiIVxE_vBhWGstohupGGf7X-SOBT7OF8IA/s320/Shannon%20Wamsley%20Moments%20of%20Introspection%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="320" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPxtm0_QxYcaOlsCSSY4UiHyXoeJDBhpzPK6q0-eyFJcPZJoSd5dKY0tLlQfo3GzK0fOxk8HQesm8r5LGEQQ-Ds7NoURJmAN6ZfZDzdEHD2Dn1odZvjkDLL8HszuEFF0dGuLY5DPIFd_OBDqjLiIVxE_vBhWGstohupGGf7X-SOBT7OF8IA/s1600/Shannon%20Wamsley%20Moments%20of%20Introspection%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>while flying blue globes across the night sky</b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>and even though we leaned to the left <i>and</i> to the right</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We're still speaking to each other (mostly...)</b></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtPDXamOKVMF0o54Rp9gMXwXSY0TihOx_JsT5clpi2KAGoS3lAwy-Np9hvpNHtR08kFLKuktywn2BdvLpYWmgSl3U5R5Y3UHTuwX9HLlw_MQnEn7nzV5BgpdM6-giFIoh8aez-y9RieDruIn-bO_P9e1B9vWh2nOnA_wDYH7l60VIT67BJg/s390/Skeezix%20the%20Cat%20Karen%20Nichols.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="390" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtPDXamOKVMF0o54Rp9gMXwXSY0TihOx_JsT5clpi2KAGoS3lAwy-Np9hvpNHtR08kFLKuktywn2BdvLpYWmgSl3U5R5Y3UHTuwX9HLlw_MQnEn7nzV5BgpdM6-giFIoh8aez-y9RieDruIn-bO_P9e1B9vWh2nOnA_wDYH7l60VIT67BJg/w400-h300/Skeezix%20the%20Cat%20Karen%20Nichols.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Wars came along...</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Afghanistan, Africa, Israel, Syria, Darfur, Iraq, Libya, Boko Haram, Yemen, the Middle East</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDG0PVgFAJRLCzP9sSUjmSx6it2Ck-ThNdvc46z__qhJA-nWpyj4pFBYGjmfcKHoo2zPnRA-JX5rQVSTMjjti_EUTsyNPMtaUzvQhrRRP0PZvr7EfftJeo4eMMuIXrTjxDvcHXyQLE_ItvZl-n3s4weqyI2HPOGuSd5CnoUt9uaNE0GmHyA/s172/One%20Gals%20Musings%20Chicago%20Illinois%20NOV%202022.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="170" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDG0PVgFAJRLCzP9sSUjmSx6it2Ck-ThNdvc46z__qhJA-nWpyj4pFBYGjmfcKHoo2zPnRA-JX5rQVSTMjjti_EUTsyNPMtaUzvQhrRRP0PZvr7EfftJeo4eMMuIXrTjxDvcHXyQLE_ItvZl-n3s4weqyI2HPOGuSd5CnoUt9uaNE0GmHyA/s1600/One%20Gals%20Musings%20Chicago%20Illinois%20NOV%202022.png" width="170" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaB2STYbv-jq31Ju3XQvt0wVJJ6qwKXzgXR-wPq4uzSw1joKiaRIxK2ZqKqwlnAEMjfypI-44DtQZWSLxMLuMCKFrefNwHyXm2Iv-6RXftU6vn7OmQg2FvGU219qCoNS8MZzh842B0oK6ljs2x1P9a3rXhXjKFhta1x_dLyLgQBb3eKc09Q/s320/StarDreaming%20with%20Sherry%20Blue%20Sky%20British%20Columbia%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaB2STYbv-jq31Ju3XQvt0wVJJ6qwKXzgXR-wPq4uzSw1joKiaRIxK2ZqKqwlnAEMjfypI-44DtQZWSLxMLuMCKFrefNwHyXm2Iv-6RXftU6vn7OmQg2FvGU219qCoNS8MZzh842B0oK6ljs2x1P9a3rXhXjKFhta1x_dLyLgQBb3eKc09Q/w400-h300/StarDreaming%20with%20Sherry%20Blue%20Sky%20British%20Columbia%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Conflicts arose</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>around and around the world</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWiQGrx-K7WyyWKVtQjV-mvATbWYF0IWw8FXqsrNtQJNgx_zuFesPqmxw4spKsmgzOBrOmNyQBuLgC6RjYZqv4jg1EI3vh-nqSmJTqI7e6YxaN2tTK7F79mhnhP8Aw5naKy1e8hDLdEofkOFdu-3duJah8Ji9ExRKL55gN3OgmtsgSJEx7g/s400/Stunning%20Keisha%20Cathy%20Keisha%20Art%20of%20War%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="400" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWiQGrx-K7WyyWKVtQjV-mvATbWYF0IWw8FXqsrNtQJNgx_zuFesPqmxw4spKsmgzOBrOmNyQBuLgC6RjYZqv4jg1EI3vh-nqSmJTqI7e6YxaN2tTK7F79mhnhP8Aw5naKy1e8hDLdEofkOFdu-3duJah8Ji9ExRKL55gN3OgmtsgSJEx7g/w400-h335/Stunning%20Keisha%20Cathy%20Keisha%20Art%20of%20War%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We wrote</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FGEE3HIktqs1-fTNbtR3oFNO51OPmeuDlcULi9Xcpj-HF2UcdZLwL5IB9Op8b6-8_HlC_I9-OaXAzyvFZBvSNNYAT_DxE1WhEC7dOKmF79DR8jtU-KYMN9ZpDFb5l_Uiy-tNvmc9JLpSl3aOUiYn5LZyRL00vRfo6wkEc7VKqMW2_D4KCg/s792/Stunning%20Keisha%20Cathy%20Keisha%20Nov%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="446" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FGEE3HIktqs1-fTNbtR3oFNO51OPmeuDlcULi9Xcpj-HF2UcdZLwL5IB9Op8b6-8_HlC_I9-OaXAzyvFZBvSNNYAT_DxE1WhEC7dOKmF79DR8jtU-KYMN9ZpDFb5l_Uiy-tNvmc9JLpSl3aOUiYn5LZyRL00vRfo6wkEc7VKqMW2_D4KCg/w225-h400/Stunning%20Keisha%20Cathy%20Keisha%20Nov%202022.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>and wrote</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FxcwWCJv6VCiOQ_9iYzUEH02mdYOGlLpjtqtfus6V2kWqnwoKNjShl7RypLgQV15EN56QNpKtAHMfobTXmZXtKEBB5E4A6z4vdRXuCBBxwAeKREer8zRmZs_HSRWbFws8iCapD803M6PHfMGmEDJS-OJGSOqaO7pmqPKt1vT44IxveGO7g/s1472/Bertrams%20Blog%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1455" data-original-width="1472" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FxcwWCJv6VCiOQ_9iYzUEH02mdYOGlLpjtqtfus6V2kWqnwoKNjShl7RypLgQV15EN56QNpKtAHMfobTXmZXtKEBB5E4A6z4vdRXuCBBxwAeKREer8zRmZs_HSRWbFws8iCapD803M6PHfMGmEDJS-OJGSOqaO7pmqPKt1vT44IxveGO7g/w320-h317/Bertrams%20Blog%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>and wrote</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp68Ilns3_ZKIoEUkZEgdorCnagT6Njdaxfmmsv2Q3eZI9w84DYEjnNJ3IG6QwUbNtd-trK-3dsJAGg5I4EX3YDEG-4v6n8D81H-M8c_8Bv4w6FciJxAK0Xpk6ZiHiG-aluIB-YR4NDKtiWptBH1EqU_o3SxRS-I4t47cfiG3poQdyskzJhw/s400/Wrtiers%20Cramps%20Gattina%20Waterloo%20Belgium%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="400" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp68Ilns3_ZKIoEUkZEgdorCnagT6Njdaxfmmsv2Q3eZI9w84DYEjnNJ3IG6QwUbNtd-trK-3dsJAGg5I4EX3YDEG-4v6n8D81H-M8c_8Bv4w6FciJxAK0Xpk6ZiHiG-aluIB-YR4NDKtiWptBH1EqU_o3SxRS-I4t47cfiG3poQdyskzJhw/s320/Wrtiers%20Cramps%20Gattina%20Waterloo%20Belgium%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> from everywhere we wrote! </b></div></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbKCWYX29maukarxVQ7dYl0HlgLjbtujtAxDUVOXSFQaplA2ShLL6EzfdKIPNG563md1ucl7vQFdiONQebElB5tUn56__LIWj0_UstXW6CxZjiFVyIuByK80B7TID9mabDF304Ae0REZEcGPA5Ih10IaVGFz7Y-46ywp_VxFSfTydw3UqlQ/s768/The%20Cat%20on%20My%20Head%20Kitties%20Blue%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="768" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbKCWYX29maukarxVQ7dYl0HlgLjbtujtAxDUVOXSFQaplA2ShLL6EzfdKIPNG563md1ucl7vQFdiONQebElB5tUn56__LIWj0_UstXW6CxZjiFVyIuByK80B7TID9mabDF304Ae0REZEcGPA5Ih10IaVGFz7Y-46ywp_VxFSfTydw3UqlQ/w640-h347/The%20Cat%20on%20My%20Head%20Kitties%20Blue%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Voted</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJMTy5iSQkTsqQlXXBCqjln5UvuduUjulTiL9FzEfCRRylNLmY_VEJU5K6l63hqc7ZQf25n7C7l7NAK761e4v6lkvQYuaTZONWodBzIRawtaGCd3Q2EWFE1XHFYBxMqwLic5vxii6kmqb6ERSjLtsysMlZ6yAdeolOAa4mxkyrRQ6_6Sa-A/s596/The%20Island%20Cats%20Grosse%20Isle%20Michigan%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="596" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJMTy5iSQkTsqQlXXBCqjln5UvuduUjulTiL9FzEfCRRylNLmY_VEJU5K6l63hqc7ZQf25n7C7l7NAK761e4v6lkvQYuaTZONWodBzIRawtaGCd3Q2EWFE1XHFYBxMqwLic5vxii6kmqb6ERSjLtsysMlZ6yAdeolOAa4mxkyrRQ6_6Sa-A/w400-h340/The%20Island%20Cats%20Grosse%20Isle%20Michigan%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>and roared</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KVa4Cau_rRxgC9PZiaP3Z8Tpm5MVLA0eXn4OHJhfzsFmOHvBpuU1k1Nz29vetDHe05NdG3nPRKgxlk_xYp_M3baiUEtAYM7x3ubhJsd8jKwl17UBGeLJLeUhnrc25KvUaTktjxiyVf2CBf5khcyduBKVd2Q6IBVk89eZeyjYKJO7y93SDA/s239/Diane%20Hasz%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="239" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KVa4Cau_rRxgC9PZiaP3Z8Tpm5MVLA0eXn4OHJhfzsFmOHvBpuU1k1Nz29vetDHe05NdG3nPRKgxlk_xYp_M3baiUEtAYM7x3ubhJsd8jKwl17UBGeLJLeUhnrc25KvUaTktjxiyVf2CBf5khcyduBKVd2Q6IBVk89eZeyjYKJO7y93SDA/w400-h400/Diane%20Hasz%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b>sang a perfect song</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AKhvq-pq8Ltz9GuJYWVxB3Repf-KZo1YHYubz9u2urzCY01lVv-aWUCBMuvQqkEWJLjfpQR2PLmka54GDGN02d44N4A2JVM3p2uj4vjIFmaB_9Yn2zZarOwwDpNR3pgaWf459qe147921a7FIY5Z_x_KBun9RmVMZF2ZUg2TIAC_qmXIJA/s503/Nanna%20Aldrich%20Murakami%20Honolulu%20Hawaii%20NOV%202022.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="503" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AKhvq-pq8Ltz9GuJYWVxB3Repf-KZo1YHYubz9u2urzCY01lVv-aWUCBMuvQqkEWJLjfpQR2PLmka54GDGN02d44N4A2JVM3p2uj4vjIFmaB_9Yn2zZarOwwDpNR3pgaWf459qe147921a7FIY5Z_x_KBun9RmVMZF2ZUg2TIAC_qmXIJA/s320/Nanna%20Aldrich%20Murakami%20Honolulu%20Hawaii%20NOV%202022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b>spoke a perfect word</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfAuIODChBtf9mBWQaEkyOSgwwG0x3Lf99E2mQlCzXak1fwQsgvTAav3-92CLhIkUiYQv-q0FNosHvO9xYc5dDVuEZx2NiRlawl7caT88P-YYWkXoUn0FmaIX8aWUzQIJ_IOjSwoPpt56oVupeJA9L2pBMioU4sQDBYP6aq9sPuOXNCy7KQ/s526/Ned%20Hamson%20Ohio%20NOV%202022%20a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfAuIODChBtf9mBWQaEkyOSgwwG0x3Lf99E2mQlCzXak1fwQsgvTAav3-92CLhIkUiYQv-q0FNosHvO9xYc5dDVuEZx2NiRlawl7caT88P-YYWkXoUn0FmaIX8aWUzQIJ_IOjSwoPpt56oVupeJA9L2pBMioU4sQDBYP6aq9sPuOXNCy7KQ/s320/Ned%20Hamson%20Ohio%20NOV%202022%20a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>then during the next year of challenges on earth</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>we did it all over again</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgad3n9G-jBYu4w3PUG0VsyZzgu49UHiPtRjEEQcARadnA26B6Z-nzmYsFIXq_BCYqoo508mYFvtd2LPvYHih6pNCOqwl1GabpH2NM-FQEEZSjy0VfhFM4GusjKcOVjz3982vjekOqK94zZ6WkvbOS6ywrKmPR2KrW8c_AUctMAJNoNmttfFw/s320/Shannon%20Wamsley%20Moments%20of%20Introspection%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="320" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgad3n9G-jBYu4w3PUG0VsyZzgu49UHiPtRjEEQcARadnA26B6Z-nzmYsFIXq_BCYqoo508mYFvtd2LPvYHih6pNCOqwl1GabpH2NM-FQEEZSjy0VfhFM4GusjKcOVjz3982vjekOqK94zZ6WkvbOS6ywrKmPR2KrW8c_AUctMAJNoNmttfFw/s1600/Shannon%20Wamsley%20Moments%20of%20Introspection%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I wish we could throw magic dust</b></div></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>across the face of the world</b></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLPr7znAZnzkf8_2A3sJPZSNg9mjZgvAZDA57aBQu5Zg-zVIbSp9aMXZXfmd1QcylHK0CDN6dj1cfVedZY0XMa9vhIig__ves14CfOCAgehdnsY80dxcx6oqQyL8H0iPI3pNwCHY38H_haOu14D1Tctvn9X2sj1cNLuK-kju_-iYQFYTX_g/s643/Two%20Spoiled%20Cats%20NOV%202022%20a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="643" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLPr7znAZnzkf8_2A3sJPZSNg9mjZgvAZDA57aBQu5Zg-zVIbSp9aMXZXfmd1QcylHK0CDN6dj1cfVedZY0XMa9vhIig__ves14CfOCAgehdnsY80dxcx6oqQyL8H0iPI3pNwCHY38H_haOu14D1Tctvn9X2sj1cNLuK-kju_-iYQFYTX_g/w400-h391/Two%20Spoiled%20Cats%20NOV%202022%20a.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>and make it all go away...</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe45jI4Jnb0PDiRL5UHO6mqCGgeMcKMcRdFKNeLtGCfiTZKcnXjOCprremPm9245MVSQNmJMKacJapUm4Vo5p8RQTEsXtG7SDGfBSPMxOnupI2LIT_E1Mt48-YTqIb6Ll6YrI6oO7_G4IHpzEvcrNMpbduxP7p4vhwIx0KMpZR_sKbevnPQA/s320/Waiting%20For%20the%20Muse%20Maine%20Ann%20Tracy%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="320" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe45jI4Jnb0PDiRL5UHO6mqCGgeMcKMcRdFKNeLtGCfiTZKcnXjOCprremPm9245MVSQNmJMKacJapUm4Vo5p8RQTEsXtG7SDGfBSPMxOnupI2LIT_E1Mt48-YTqIb6Ll6YrI6oO7_G4IHpzEvcrNMpbduxP7p4vhwIx0KMpZR_sKbevnPQA/w400-h299/Waiting%20For%20the%20Muse%20Maine%20Ann%20Tracy%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Pick up the pen instead of the sword</b></div></b></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3Z6NTa8LPHrFC9Ny80ykui1dKTASP48wXLIQUvoaRmAyI8wIoZQ39Sl1g7Kysj1A5JT89wyriV6h_lJzPovpwqqrKXduV4wj7smsIeOUsb3XBqY7nPErcxipE_WGZv98Vtnsl9wCOGYO70BUNPx7JS8_FRu8kE0ueM6HXW5CU_cNjPmTvQ/s620/Wanda%20Dawn%20Gilbert%20Orangeville%20Ontario%20Canada%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="620" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3Z6NTa8LPHrFC9Ny80ykui1dKTASP48wXLIQUvoaRmAyI8wIoZQ39Sl1g7Kysj1A5JT89wyriV6h_lJzPovpwqqrKXduV4wj7smsIeOUsb3XBqY7nPErcxipE_WGZv98Vtnsl9wCOGYO70BUNPx7JS8_FRu8kE0ueM6HXW5CU_cNjPmTvQ/w400-h400/Wanda%20Dawn%20Gilbert%20Orangeville%20Ontario%20Canada%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Because our children and our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfn37MZOv-g1vO1kPHvI7i-ERxX794OORFJGyvOQ0ygEzmUNZvN32xdtlOimPf4wZLb3O67Hor3Mwo1HqcgX0NbcruyynrWBlRWsWi5eOCJ18PtqNQkJ1C_gtRtWQaHzDpdOPhDjA7Af2XupWY-jCXdIdMMXz1aq8cKDKRoWqsdUsqWlhTw/s400/What%20If%20This%20Is%20As%20Good%20As%20It%20Gets%20Kwizgiver%20NOV%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="399" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfn37MZOv-g1vO1kPHvI7i-ERxX794OORFJGyvOQ0ygEzmUNZvN32xdtlOimPf4wZLb3O67Hor3Mwo1HqcgX0NbcruyynrWBlRWsWi5eOCJ18PtqNQkJ1C_gtRtWQaHzDpdOPhDjA7Af2XupWY-jCXdIdMMXz1aq8cKDKRoWqsdUsqWlhTw/s320/What%20If%20This%20Is%20As%20Good%20As%20It%20Gets%20Kwizgiver%20NOV%202022.jpg" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />deserve a world still standing in one peace</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>instead of in pieces</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSuuvlDdPDnS5YHf9KGexYX48vYkJWi5u3a8Bj6DIos8yi_3OZ5m4phYfl-p32Jp7QvZh-DqJ8C7bboFsxiVGNNJgyYkCQL6rQGj3kuhgdPrL-8pMB3bn-2NRC30n3fSQWaibZlBQW0ToWidF888HKOJFv6TezRroj7El5spnJewfUSN5xQ/s937/Of%20Living%20and%20Loving%20and%20Coping%20Bing%20Yap%20NO%202022%20%233.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSuuvlDdPDnS5YHf9KGexYX48vYkJWi5u3a8Bj6DIos8yi_3OZ5m4phYfl-p32Jp7QvZh-DqJ8C7bboFsxiVGNNJgyYkCQL6rQGj3kuhgdPrL-8pMB3bn-2NRC30n3fSQWaibZlBQW0ToWidF888HKOJFv6TezRroj7El5spnJewfUSN5xQ/s320/Of%20Living%20and%20Loving%20and%20Coping%20Bing%20Yap%20NO%202022%20%233.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><center><b>The world has changed...</b></center><center><b>but we have not.</b></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><center><br /></center><center>visit these folks at the following links</center><center>and place your own link if you wish!</center><center>My peace post is <b><a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/2022/11/dona-nobis-pacem-unbounded.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b></center>
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http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-53114386154827130742022-11-04T02:40:00.009-04:002022-11-04T04:57:04.494-04:00Dona Nobis Pacem ~ Unbounded<div class="separator"><br /></div><div class="separator"><br /></div>Welcome to the 17th launch of <a href="http://blog4peace.com" target="_blank">BlogBlast For Peace aka Blog4Peace</a>. Please sign the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this page so that we may read your beautiful peace posts and visit each other. You can even enter your social media post url.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nM8L23L20O-czBd2A3K7z_-vehWJo7yno9nXseKl1x7rzSPZxzF_PYB7U286-RgeOjr4KeiaUB1USE3zlf4K763cA6l_kr3sX3Dhp-vhmRkGImyWonMf_ZUWEuVoR_K0iDncrebzmWNvb86nPrxv7zocgnDGvbkhuV5PuOoHpacuwP4jYQ/s160/Mimi%20Lenox%20first%20peace%20globe%202006.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="160" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nM8L23L20O-czBd2A3K7z_-vehWJo7yno9nXseKl1x7rzSPZxzF_PYB7U286-RgeOjr4KeiaUB1USE3zlf4K763cA6l_kr3sX3Dhp-vhmRkGImyWonMf_ZUWEuVoR_K0iDncrebzmWNvb86nPrxv7zocgnDGvbkhuV5PuOoHpacuwP4jYQ/s1600/Mimi%20Lenox%20first%20peace%20globe%202006.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>Most peace posts/globes stream on social media platforms instead of blogs. Doing a hashtag search will get you to many more postings in the coming days. Thank you so much for continuing to speak peace in the world. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy the view and be inspired! </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> Dona Nobis Pacem in the Blogosphere began in 2006 and is held annually on November 4th. Our theme for 2022 is <b>"No Freedom. No Peace"</b> and my peace post is called.... </span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">UNBOUNDED</span></b></div><div><br /><center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3IA4dpB5b2MJ1CzljaZK2NDqYQ1KCcF9ndH8RL4tEzp4Bc9b_gDbJjESTJJrUgx1LMNPfuKE139n5ATrDGpBJT7MySqq11hXO5aNxAVslnX1vaSl7VntGbES8MO4C0tOtjVn8XFCQDDQzoTSKci0qNclm7x8W8tYr4KC5Rg3N3bbgGUZIQ/s4032/water%20jug%20pitcher%20mimi%20lenox.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3IA4dpB5b2MJ1CzljaZK2NDqYQ1KCcF9ndH8RL4tEzp4Bc9b_gDbJjESTJJrUgx1LMNPfuKE139n5ATrDGpBJT7MySqq11hXO5aNxAVslnX1vaSl7VntGbES8MO4C0tOtjVn8XFCQDDQzoTSKci0qNclm7x8W8tYr4KC5Rg3N3bbgGUZIQ/s320/water%20jug%20pitcher%20mimi%20lenox.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /></center><center>I woke up smelling rain....</center><center>and thinking of dahlias.</center><center><span style="text-align: left;">Seeing a girl so newly married and in love that if you told her the sky was purple she would have believed it if it came from his eyes.</span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"> I was that girl.</span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></center><center>Standing beside the carport of our first modest house, I was planting petunias and dahlias, covered in straw mulch, stardust and dreams. Perched beneath the eave of a green house under a peculiar blue sky, <span style="text-align: left;">I remember the smell of that rain. Wondering if I'd get my flowers in the ground before the clouds broke free.</span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"> Soon the house would have new siding, brick window casings and a new front porch. And because the roof was flat and tarred, men from our church descended upon us early one Saturday morning, raising pitched rafters and putting on a new roof. It was like an old-fashioned barn raising in the suburbs! They wore blue overalls with pockets of tools and handkerchiefs. One carried Bible tracts in his back pocket and just before the work began, I heard a whole bunch of deacons high on my little green house say a hearty prayer and a big hallelujah amen (kind of like a Baptist football huddle but not...) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_J_yIY_jzF4aLhxDgBDmM4r1IfiecMjltKv5IXYn5IsdbFrXFIQTRbEDkpWVADNtWRSwm2UnW0XliwuISecD-Qam2j9Uy52lsLMaaRCQVfRJzQ5flT7cQ_d4tINETivambRu6452bQfjS1534qWKjP9oeYDXai8juTShyBFV257pB7IaFA/s960/roofers%20Nov%203%202022%20mimi%20lenox%20pixabay.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_J_yIY_jzF4aLhxDgBDmM4r1IfiecMjltKv5IXYn5IsdbFrXFIQTRbEDkpWVADNtWRSwm2UnW0XliwuISecD-Qam2j9Uy52lsLMaaRCQVfRJzQ5flT7cQ_d4tINETivambRu6452bQfjS1534qWKjP9oeYDXai8juTShyBFV257pB7IaFA/s320/roofers%20Nov%203%202022%20mimi%20lenox%20pixabay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />We suddenly had an attic and beautiful wood stained siding in the course of one day. I can still see my Dad up on the ladder, hammering and laughing with the motley crew, along with my father-in-law who covered his balding un-churched truck-driving head with a neck gator so that he could dodge impromptu Scripture-throwing and splinters at the same time. </span><span style="text-align: left;"> I </span><span style="text-align: left;">needed to spruce up the outside with bulbs and patches of prayed-in dirt. </span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">The year was 1979. I was expecting a baby and the move had been difficult. My mother-in-law moved boxes for me and put my house together. </span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">I just wanted to plant things in the ground.</span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">The chorus in the shingled sky continued. They hammered. And sang. And prayed. </span><span style="text-align: left;">I ran as fast as I could from flying nails - as fast as a pregnant woman could run - and served iced tea, carefully and slowly walking barefoot through the grass filled with tape measures and lumber, wondering how we would ever repay them for such kindness </span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></center><center style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">And then it started to rain</span></i></center><center style="text-align: center;"><br /></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutXBRAL5hm2twjKQCjnHiIl9NCGoQc-Gcc8TcguQzVKFB2Y6lyhJzZOdiMUEGe2YSKqDLRF7QU18Hdmml0INtK1ubuflyUC6Msq0E_7Oqvtq8kmXCgrMrkXp_F4Q6Jj_yI-ToWJJgOg_RREtgYTkyCena5lZrc9PQtnI2VOpcCMQGjxoaFg/s3261/Mimi%20Lenox%20Papas%20hammer%20Blog4Peace%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3003" data-original-width="3261" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutXBRAL5hm2twjKQCjnHiIl9NCGoQc-Gcc8TcguQzVKFB2Y6lyhJzZOdiMUEGe2YSKqDLRF7QU18Hdmml0INtK1ubuflyUC6Msq0E_7Oqvtq8kmXCgrMrkXp_F4Q6Jj_yI-ToWJJgOg_RREtgYTkyCena5lZrc9PQtnI2VOpcCMQGjxoaFg/s320/Mimi%20Lenox%20Papas%20hammer%20Blog4Peace%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i><span style="font-size: medium;">They kept hammering. But faster.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Everything in the universe is composed of five elements: wood, fire, earth, water and metal. I had all five elements on top of my house at the same time. It was like watching spiritual improv on my own personal <i>green</i> Mount of Transfiguration! Jesus told a crowd of people that His Father sends rain to the just and the unjust. During my green house days, I saw Him send rain on the churched and the un-churched. </span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">My neighborhood had never heard such.</span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">My house was transfigured in a day.</span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">My heart was changed forever.</span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></center><center><br /></center><center><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrTPrwjtWiB4rB2jTHFEuQTfyh-KnrUj8kU92TFoSRi2_qKL1OPTA-KBVBAf27NZ6djkz6VAnIiIw1-SqgqfdXNmvJMMNsCck_8ZJXfApCllVEK_xc-Lw7d387ZrzvnmLLf-wjWj5qLXXMRZ4wQ2C-57rtfWEpmt24CEy0c2WKt6Cz6D71w/s4032/jug%20mimi%20lenox%20Nov%202022.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrTPrwjtWiB4rB2jTHFEuQTfyh-KnrUj8kU92TFoSRi2_qKL1OPTA-KBVBAf27NZ6djkz6VAnIiIw1-SqgqfdXNmvJMMNsCck_8ZJXfApCllVEK_xc-Lw7d387ZrzvnmLLf-wjWj5qLXXMRZ4wQ2C-57rtfWEpmt24CEy0c2WKt6Cz6D71w/s320/jug%20mimi%20lenox%20Nov%202022.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">My African water jug</span></i><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></center><center>Which brings me to why I think I know what my heart was trying to tell me this morning some forty-three years later when God as my Witness, I sat straight up in bed and smelled earthy rain clear as day. Not a cloud in the sky outside. But I'm sure I heard a thunderclap in my bedroom. It came from way back in the suburban days of newborns and baptisms, deacons and dahlias...</center><center><br /></center><center>Two simple words have been floating around in my consciousness for about three years now and they won't let me go. </center><center><br /></center><center><b><i>Remove judgment.</i></b></center><center><b><i><br /></i></b></center><center>The year of 2019 was a banner year of bodacious struggle, you see...literally raining down on my pencil head with a force so ungodly I didn't think I'd survive it and that was <i>before</i> the pandemic began. I had a right to hate. I had a right to seek revenge. I had a right to....to.....</center><center>undo myself.</center><center><br /></center><center><b>Remove judgment.</b></center><center><i>That's what Spirit said.</i></center><center><br /></center><center> I've been trying for three years to fine-tune that command. "But they did this..." <b><i>Remove judgment</i></b>. "And then they did that!!..." <b><i>Remove judgment</i></b>. </center><center>"But they deserve to pay for what they did. They are the unjust. Right?"</center><center><b><i>Remove judgment. </i></b></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-AZPW5xBlJ6k0XdP3PdL3vUqXX2WO4UXbmkGoONsLoBv5MNU8G7PXGAnkFXkvGA1xOfktj_AXcWzcq_7M_9zRW9UC6NpZDGzBbnTpzxyYC7pL_xFx0k8RPbMvm417uNg2GkMBkASFwOx0okQHErt2ca7_HiLDgiVEUiiylGRnaB5qTnEBA/s960/dahlias%20pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="960" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-AZPW5xBlJ6k0XdP3PdL3vUqXX2WO4UXbmkGoONsLoBv5MNU8G7PXGAnkFXkvGA1xOfktj_AXcWzcq_7M_9zRW9UC6NpZDGzBbnTpzxyYC7pL_xFx0k8RPbMvm417uNg2GkMBkASFwOx0okQHErt2ca7_HiLDgiVEUiiylGRnaB5qTnEBA/s320/dahlias%20pixabay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finally one day I asked why. And the answer I got was like unbounded water falling off a roof.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Because <span style="font-family: helvetica;">your</span> <i>freedom</i> is at stake. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The cloud that filled my room this morning</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">was the same cloud that kept those heavenly roofers hammering in the pouring rain</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and is the same cloud that continues to transform <i>me</i> when life sends thunder and lightning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Whenever I feel justified in judging no matter how justified it is</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hear those two words and stop myself lest it be my undoing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjEMuqMM0oU2MM14ELVnjvrqERBBVEpRlRKU0c_m1ntMbdlZu9PD_CLsWcwGYlSHpHFVMApZ1eTT-6utHjS7XVqL9SX9g8tt5sDGH8qE7APmNa9lfX6oLx6KD9lmcXAKzvwHOouMBgK1Jy-6VA7XxpsMlKhuw4n1YnODEe6BC1vcYYy-ggw/s3728/marble%20stone%20beans%20nov%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2741" data-original-width="3728" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjEMuqMM0oU2MM14ELVnjvrqERBBVEpRlRKU0c_m1ntMbdlZu9PD_CLsWcwGYlSHpHFVMApZ1eTT-6utHjS7XVqL9SX9g8tt5sDGH8qE7APmNa9lfX6oLx6KD9lmcXAKzvwHOouMBgK1Jy-6VA7XxpsMlKhuw4n1YnODEe6BC1vcYYy-ggw/s320/marble%20stone%20beans%20nov%202022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This morning my own sweet grandson gathered a pile of rocks, sticks and leaves (those <i>elements</i>...) and took them to the cemetery. He made an arrangement on top of Papa's marble headstone with great care and deliberation and I felt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the power of marble on marble, peace on peace, granite and wood and fire and earth</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Z7tthUImnbErKoakyhcD8mI_tZJ4xAUq70kV-w-QxFobJ6zlSvtXK8x2Nq3TWSGuaSEo8WrPGvSfa1B7lfzYAReYjtdG-m_XsaFbDfyRgLLJCbYGIhlosvxPCUXarhcFtfLva0EP--tNugT8-AeQ7rEUchUAturkhrhBDPuXa69NroKBZQ/s3752/mimi%20beans%20nov%202022%20marble.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2672" data-original-width="3752" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Z7tthUImnbErKoakyhcD8mI_tZJ4xAUq70kV-w-QxFobJ6zlSvtXK8x2Nq3TWSGuaSEo8WrPGvSfa1B7lfzYAReYjtdG-m_XsaFbDfyRgLLJCbYGIhlosvxPCUXarhcFtfLva0EP--tNugT8-AeQ7rEUchUAturkhrhBDPuXa69NroKBZQ/s320/mimi%20beans%20nov%202022%20marble.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and maybe the sound of hammers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RLeEwhQOKe7Cv1_No6awNUNpht8og4Dxi8VOBzZ7v0aRXh87WIVzp-CKzxT0-tiCQ5BDM606Wi9D6B83E68Qkm9rrqGuk9BOIK1U_QbVAmEfykw8Oc2Dh93IGWBz8oaFZsg8-Zz-BMP8hIdZOHWlEp91EQYcad11LHipCbr7iBSSS-oQFQ/s3752/mimi%20beans%20nov%202022%20marble.jpg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjmQPO5EpiGuT6ZaPimPbUzfn_aEQICQ0lmd1qvX61DLOsscMUqmMp3T25HsaCCuAquNyXV6EgTrFx3VicWFvXd7qpRdBgDeM8MsJaIwugmwr2Se6niNN6UmM7DT9XgUQvMb-BblrgqEc6y_ZMOH2xbcom2cWjJHGbsl42F8VrrtEKxa2Kg/s519/flowers%20mimi%20lenox%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="519" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjmQPO5EpiGuT6ZaPimPbUzfn_aEQICQ0lmd1qvX61DLOsscMUqmMp3T25HsaCCuAquNyXV6EgTrFx3VicWFvXd7qpRdBgDeM8MsJaIwugmwr2Se6niNN6UmM7DT9XgUQvMb-BblrgqEc6y_ZMOH2xbcom2cWjJHGbsl42F8VrrtEKxa2Kg/s320/flowers%20mimi%20lenox%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></center><div style="text-align: center;">My flower garden 1979</div><div style="text-align: center;">Watered with sawdust</div><div style="text-align: center;">no judgment</div><br />
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http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-90810595006809456042022-11-03T11:53:00.001-04:002022-11-03T11:53:21.798-04:00The Eve of Dona Nobis Pacem in The Blogosphere ~ The Silence of Peace<center>It is the eve of Dona Nobis Pacem in the Blogosphere. Soon we'll see little blue peace globes flying all over the world. In some parts of the globe peace is already flying and sadly, war is waging. Nonetheless, peace is waging too. </center><center>We do it every year. </center><center>As is tradition, we will recall and repost the very first day we blogged peace in 2006 and the story that came forth. It's called <b><a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/2006/11/dona-nobis-pacem-silence-of-peace.html" target="_blank">The Silence of Peace</a></b> ~ and well....let's let Papa speak. He's been waiting all year.</center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rxsOb5R8Eq8q59J6BG_8iyFYqfoy4nUDfBLiD7lFLuLsg3Hwt0B0tESct2PdTxEd8rhuSTIRFaRsvcPfYYgfwhRxslUKVyBCg5kWlHckUusySlrtOlrURMpg_5JCYpmdnMr3-nKm-gO1ye6vQNshUtX1Mdy4UKaJFTNrMCiWsb3BAWti7A/s320/marble%20bowl%20mimi%20lenox%20blog4peace%20a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rxsOb5R8Eq8q59J6BG_8iyFYqfoy4nUDfBLiD7lFLuLsg3Hwt0B0tESct2PdTxEd8rhuSTIRFaRsvcPfYYgfwhRxslUKVyBCg5kWlHckUusySlrtOlrURMpg_5JCYpmdnMr3-nKm-gO1ye6vQNshUtX1Mdy4UKaJFTNrMCiWsb3BAWti7A/s1600/marble%20bowl%20mimi%20lenox%20blog4peace%20a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><center><a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/2006/11/dona-nobis-pacem-silence-of-peace.html" target="_blank">The Silence of Peace </a></center><center><a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/2006/11/dona-nobis-pacem-silence-of-peace.html" target="_blank">Papa's Marbles</a> (2006)</center><center><br /></center><center>They've been sitting on my piano for more years than I care to count, on the corner of the Kohler and Campbell my grandfather gave me when I was fourteen years old. After he died, I found them in a tattered and dirty bag at the bottom of a box full of his personal things. He wanted me to have them. His marbles.</center><center><br /></center><center>Handmade rough-hewn marbles crafted from rock by my grandfather and his brothers. The year was 1920 and there was no money for toys.</center><center><br /></center><center>I often wondered why he didn't leave them for a male member of the family. Honestly folks, it wasn't just until tonight - the Eve of <b>Dona Nobis Pacem</b> in the Blogosphere - that I discovered the answer. </center><center><br /></center><center>I know stranger things have happened.</center><center>I just can't recall when.</center><center><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuuPvz4XfQwdaf779y1u_eVxHhyfI-vocJKYcVSCQRVSxFW_4PGAmx5hzKxD36AeHIIkTZR_SWJoY6O9XkiGk2sZS5OQJ0ai2xi8I_-O_FJKSeQPcV2gooz7owqbNl00qXL6P_vclcKqb6R2tR_xKFWNvFx6VS01gq4mAjsdHtdP47a5Frg/s320/mimi%20writing%20Blog4Peace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="320" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuuPvz4XfQwdaf779y1u_eVxHhyfI-vocJKYcVSCQRVSxFW_4PGAmx5hzKxD36AeHIIkTZR_SWJoY6O9XkiGk2sZS5OQJ0ai2xi8I_-O_FJKSeQPcV2gooz7owqbNl00qXL6P_vclcKqb6R2tR_xKFWNvFx6VS01gq4mAjsdHtdP47a5Frg/s1600/mimi%20writing%20Blog4Peace.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><center>I knew this post would not be written until the last moment. I made lots of notes but I just couldn't quite make it happen. It is still a little while before midnight in my part of the United States and I'm supposed to be spinning out a masterpiece of goodwill and peace prose - maybe a stunning poem like those we've already seen. A song, a lyric, a new tune.</center><center><br /></center><center>Instead, Mimi Pencil Skirt wants to talk about rocks.</center><center><br /></center><center>So I went into my study and I began to polish them. One by one.</center><center> The bowl. The piano. The granite. </center><center>How many times have I sat at that very bench and casually glanced into that bowl?</center><center>Thousands. Song after song. Tune after tune. Lesson after lesson. Tear after tear.</center><center>Papa - he heard it all.</center><center><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gbUTWOMtLFvwaX1TCxiqecPMxkJKpWyjvSvk7TK0-g8cToOQHfOcoDwwmR8c3O6XkQZ-On8_oYUyNm2RZOCArh04XOLi40SkTIkL2KhCaPefYDkTZk67zUC9nBYjYzP1bmaWkO9AQeNYpu6TMmT-NasSthQd84bRTOcdx_qKZvu0xHxpHw/s320/mimi%20lenox%20piano%20Blog4Peace%20a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="320" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gbUTWOMtLFvwaX1TCxiqecPMxkJKpWyjvSvk7TK0-g8cToOQHfOcoDwwmR8c3O6XkQZ-On8_oYUyNm2RZOCArh04XOLi40SkTIkL2KhCaPefYDkTZk67zUC9nBYjYzP1bmaWkO9AQeNYpu6TMmT-NasSthQd84bRTOcdx_qKZvu0xHxpHw/s1600/mimi%20lenox%20piano%20Blog4Peace%20a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><center>He didn't have a lot of money it seems to me now, my grandfather. At the time though, he was the richest man I knew. And he has been on my mind this week more often than not. Well over six-feet tall and always impeccably dressed, my Papa was the most humble I've ever met. When he passed away I met scores of people who told me what he'd meant to them. "He helped me when I needed money......He gave me his shoes...." and on and on.</center><center><br /></center><center>His kindness was not news to me. The fact that a large portion of the town showed up at his wake was, however, a stunning surprise. They were lined up outside for hours. They just kept coming from every part of our very southern, very segregated town. People from "across the tracks" in the poorest part of town met folks from "across the tracks" at Papa's funeral. Economic separation didn't matter this night. </center><center>And I...oh, I was stunned. I didn't know I'd been sharing him all those years. </center><center>He made me feel as if I were the only one in the world.</center><center><br /></center><center><i>Strange, those marbles, all different sizes and shapes. Colors, too. Yet they've co-existed all these year right there atop the long-lovingly-played strings inside my piano - the one Papa used his savings account to buy for me - while he worked two jobs at the factory and made his time up on Saturdays when he missed work hours to drive me to my lessons in the afternoon. </i></center><center><br /></center><center>I was a bit different. Content with solitude. Always writing in endless journals and playing broody piano music. Papa didn't pamper me - although that's a disputed fact to this day in my family - what he did was more earth-shattering.</center><center><br /></center><center><i>The one on top. <b>That</b> one. </i></center><center><i>Different. That one. I know that's the very one he made. I'm sure of it.</i></center><center><br /></center><center>When I think about peace and what it means to me, I always wander back to a time when I first felt it. Because I knew even on an unconscious level that world peace cannot - will not - be achieved without inner peace. Adversaries on both sides of the conflict have to have it. You can't weave magical tranquility out of thin air and conferences. Peace is a state of being.</center><center><br /></center><center><i>It has a life and an energy of its own.</i></center><center><br /></center><center>Real lasting peace is borne out of creative jumble and hard work. Victories are never really won by the one who holds the most power, wars are won, but lasting peace is not the result. Nothing good can ever come from power-at-play for the sake of power. It never lasts. There's always a hideous price.</center><center><br /></center><center>Papa's marbles. Not a pretty one in the bunch.</center><center>Every one brown or taupe. </center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvkJHAn55ATloR6Sok2eWzzXKYeeUtLwOYPd4MRGMUz6XUd5dvWixyCxF_SyCDO0VxTyRX1LklC4HBJluOooDWCPbHTXDY6dXCKL1ON0371BmL7p7nA6XZOCAibHAU_MvYGOMMSjLdwjA4pNJqfkpK6htXt25ju16tVJ6qNzULsK4WHb2xQ/s320/papas%20marbles%20blog4peace%20mimi%20lenox%20a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="320" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvkJHAn55ATloR6Sok2eWzzXKYeeUtLwOYPd4MRGMUz6XUd5dvWixyCxF_SyCDO0VxTyRX1LklC4HBJluOooDWCPbHTXDY6dXCKL1ON0371BmL7p7nA6XZOCAibHAU_MvYGOMMSjLdwjA4pNJqfkpK6htXt25ju16tVJ6qNzULsK4WHb2xQ/s1600/papas%20marbles%20blog4peace%20mimi%20lenox%20a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><center><i>Almost every one</i></center><center><br /></center><center>I started thinking this week about the times in my life when I first felt real peace. </center><center>For me, it came in the presence of God at a very young age. Not because I am privileged or special. But simply because I was loved. Unconditionally.</center><center><br /></center><center>Sometimes it takes just one person</center><center>to unlock magic in someone else. </center><center>I watched that kind of magic flow through my grandfather's life. He was in tune with who he was. He knew the simple meaning of love. He knew how to pray. </center><center>I often wondered how other people sensed that about him, without the benefit of those life-giving hugs he saved just for me. </center><center><br /></center><center><i>He chose the color himself....Papa. He must have spent hours honing that rock.</i></center><center><br /></center><center>I often went with him to backwoods church services. Informal revivals. Formal services. Anywhere there was special music and a spirit of God, he was there. Anywhere he was, I wanted to be. I can't explain it really. We would visit churches we'd never been to before and the minister would ask him to lead the invocation or say the benediction - even though they'd never met. How did they know he could pray? I knew he could pray....but how did <i>they </i>know?</center><center><br /></center><center>Taking his hat off and bowing his head, he would very quietly hold audience with his Maker. It didn't matter how many people were listening. His prayers always began the same ways, "...Dear Gracious Heavenly Father....."</center><center>No matter where. Or with whom. Or in front of whom.</center><center><br /></center><center>Hat in hand. Head bowed. He knew how to reach God.</center><center>And people sensed that when they met him. If peace can be worn like a garment then he was always finely clothed, my Papa.</center><center><br /></center><center>One night he took me by the hand and led me to the altar with him. He knelt down on one knee, elbow resting on the other, and silently voiced his heart. I was right there with my arm tucked in the crook of his. I heard the whole thing and he never said a word.</center><center><br /></center><center><i>He made them with his own hands. <span style="text-align: left;">He molded them into shape.</span></i></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><i>Created them and lovingly took care of them. He chose the color. </i></span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><i>Not a sonata or a novel. Certainly nothing brilliant or fancy.</i></span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><i>Just ordinary marbles. Ordinary rocks.</i></span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">Tonight I'm sitting at a table writing stories on an electronic device that sends messages to a man in Canada about globe graphics and insomnia, making pots of endless coffee to stay awake, answering emails from Germany, London, China, New York, Oman and beyond. Could Papa have ever imagined such a thing?</span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;"><i>Did he?</i></span></center><center><br /></center><center style="text-align: center;"><i>What was he praying about all that time anyway?</i></center><center style="text-align: center;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Papa's marbles...there's something odd about them.</i></b></center><center style="text-align: center;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: center;">Oh, forget about it. They're just a bunch of rocks. You've got a story to write.</center><center style="text-align: center;">Can't you think of something brilliant? It's past midnight and everyone has their peace globe up but <i>you.</i></center><center style="text-align: center;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: center;">I struggled. There's something missing here, I thought. </center><center style="text-align: center;">It's about Papa. I can't stop thinking about him. </center><center style="text-align: center;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: center;">What would he say to me tonight?</center><center style="text-align: center;">How would he pray?</center><center style="text-align: center;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">The marbles.</span></i></b></center><center style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Look closer.</span></i></b></center><center style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></center><center style="text-align: center;">When it hit me I was way past the point of arguing with myself about miracles and such. I've seen too many come through my mailbox today to argue with God about that.</center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQi8EBl2fJKeI2ypRcF-YgD3NvvpkoU76gHBby4C6Mlh4Bym0hS5min8cUalDyHbLvYLrwuvzEWt-Bm1g21BR61JFz1TM0pNqcA5gx4l3f5QWhFe6HjIoYZK_4WUfF1G6VRkRpt50LjwtTfk7ikAoclGQfBfwy2fidLHQaLsjdmxo0dKY6lA/s320/marbles%20mimi%20lenox%20blog4peace%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="320" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQi8EBl2fJKeI2ypRcF-YgD3NvvpkoU76gHBby4C6Mlh4Bym0hS5min8cUalDyHbLvYLrwuvzEWt-Bm1g21BR61JFz1TM0pNqcA5gx4l3f5QWhFe6HjIoYZK_4WUfF1G6VRkRpt50LjwtTfk7ikAoclGQfBfwy2fidLHQaLsjdmxo0dKY6lA/s1600/marbles%20mimi%20lenox%20blog4peace%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><center style="text-align: center;">Do you see it?</center><center style="text-align: center;">The blue one on top.</center><center style="text-align: center;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: center;"><i>It looks like a globe.</i></center><center style="text-align: center;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: center;">Dona nobis pacem did not start with Mimi. </center><center style="text-align: center;">It started in 1920 when a little boy in the rural southeastern United States decided to shape a small blue marble - for his granddaughter. </center><center style="text-align: center;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: center;">************************</center><center style="text-align: center;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: center;">And that is the story of how peace globes began.</center><center style="text-align: center;">We hope to see you this weekend for the <b><a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/2022/10/announcing-blog4peace-nov-4-6-2022-join.html" target="_blank">17th BlogBlast For Peace (Blog4Peace)</a></b>.</center><center style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/p/how-to-get-your-peace-globe.html" target="_blank">Here's how to get your own peace globe.</a></b></center><center style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/p/peace-globe-templates.html" target="_blank">Peace Globe Templates</a></center><center style="text-align: center;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: center;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center>Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></center>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">BlogBlast For Peace November 4 ~ Join us!
http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-43426785340383487112022-11-02T14:00:00.000-04:002022-11-02T19:06:47.903-04:00Announcing Blog4Peace ~ Nov 4 - 6, 2022 ~ Join us!<center><br /></center><center><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://peaceglobegallery.blogspot.com/p/get-your-own-peace-globe.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="212" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmUu6m1oLg_n3sqzRaJEPCew2jwqD4Ybhhk6wecM5stI4KEcXjc5mhHE_hHuxIzDuRf1Zwr4vXSMBTLpiG_48DTKoM_JoPLJJX_tSOB2Yp8wCiQIoP8Dxksc_J12Ms7LFK3mEhP2ohz2zS7OBGcbR_W4GKvhFMbCgjpfq-SPd9UPsHQz_YXGZen8B/w212-h185/papa's%20marbles%20of%20peace.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><a href="https://peaceglobegallery.blogspot.com/p/get-your-own-peace-globe.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="225" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FBSLmwS6AFYxYnBvj-xj7XUZF_YbG6_s_Qa4e1dn66KGN81wBLb_bbixYImcDuz440bTHz6_i4TyiYBdrESvztAzXqJgTmWSdyj6mfYFu6lsTjqjV0YPiHtZ3br0PxWKYP2_DB11fOmMmVv0ypVCO0262hULZmd5QXkRYDYC41sAp1ptHVkYbQU6/s1600/free%20template%20blue.JPG" width="225" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://peaceglobegallery.blogspot.com/p/get-your-own-peace-globe.html" target="_blank">Free template</a>s</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">Announcing Blog4Peace 2022 (aka BlogBlast for Peace) </div></div><div style="text-align: left;">Welcome to the 17th year of peace blogging in the Blogosphere! Welcome peace bloggers! Welcome social media participants who also Post4Peace on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and beyond.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><b>November 4 - 6, 2022 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) </b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tngnjtFL8PFzvDLen-IBa7jA-LrIeW0ngjn6QLeFTYQPFONkL_x6TmjONJtXNjFa-y5LSpHi7gAg_C7MWsWa07vK5XiF8mZGOBd8KvCIIOgcWQ9AYEgCgOpzDxh5L-F9nFpcGO1PaLZWSp0UfOH_kGRdoa4hQhcXewaheFf5D_I_zoK38HxrbnCH/s359/blog4peace%20banner%20lighter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="94" data-original-width="359" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tngnjtFL8PFzvDLen-IBa7jA-LrIeW0ngjn6QLeFTYQPFONkL_x6TmjONJtXNjFa-y5LSpHi7gAg_C7MWsWa07vK5XiF8mZGOBd8KvCIIOgcWQ9AYEgCgOpzDxh5L-F9nFpcGO1PaLZWSp0UfOH_kGRdoa4hQhcXewaheFf5D_I_zoK38HxrbnCH/w400-h105/blog4peace%20banner%20lighter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://peaceglobegallery.blogspot.com/p/get-your-own-peace-globe.html" target="_blank">How To Blog For Peace</a></b></div><div>Bloggers and social media posters from all across the globe </div><div>will blog and post for peace. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> NOV 4 - 6th</span></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold;"><b><br /></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i>Our 2022 Theme is</i></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><i>No Freedom, No Peace</i></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't have to tell you what's going on in the world. From tanks in Ukraine to ongoing conflicts in many parts of the globe to headscarves flying off in Iran, we're in a battle for universal and personal peace. We're in a storm calling for independence in a world saturated with oppression. We need freedom. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>The whole world is in a foxhole. </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCTsnymhgZkDgTV-zF0BKnPtgjKpKyWI6whpilkX_sfiuUGYoYGpqKJfqIHsIhAWycXo_-rwllWn4Cw75n3PObbScBsXnKgBuBOHd2unNI2ygEl2U4XD2ES00Ps4rUNfefbg9PsYkNb6TP0x67lR0HF6mD-31BMLPN32ZZCAdBYI_nbho8rB95GMK/s320/dona%20nobis%20pacem%20created%20by%20michelle%20frost%20scotland.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="320" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCTsnymhgZkDgTV-zF0BKnPtgjKpKyWI6whpilkX_sfiuUGYoYGpqKJfqIHsIhAWycXo_-rwllWn4Cw75n3PObbScBsXnKgBuBOHd2unNI2ygEl2U4XD2ES00Ps4rUNfefbg9PsYkNb6TP0x67lR0HF6mD-31BMLPN32ZZCAdBYI_nbho8rB95GMK/s1600/dona%20nobis%20pacem%20created%20by%20michelle%20frost%20scotland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Latin for "Grant us Peace"</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br style="text-align: left;" /><div><span style="text-align: left;"> Why do we need freedom? We need freedom to speak. Freedom to love. Freedom to lie down peacefully at night without bombs falling outside our windows. Freedom to worship. Freedom to abstain from worship. FREEDOM. Economic and social.</span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;">Freedom from guns on the street. Freedom from racism, sexism, ageism, xenophobia, classism, discrimination and prejudice. Freedom from oppression. Freedom from corruption. Freedom from the worry of nuclear war. </span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;">And most importantly, freedom from the worries in our heads that keep us unhealthy and enslaved. </span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><i>Deepak Chopra said, </i></div><div><i>"When you feel unbounded and free, you will begin to heal yourself." </i></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIj3KOwvllXpDnhUNj3vITZas6boW1-hwdHSGHmg0X7dJI4NGlMUwo1gyvZgL56lSQ377gLNgDESG_whVwGt1M088RA2XtFliRb9DsjUUonDjzTA7q173KLjIwsRvj34v_Qh9aRrVRsh_IUMqbMJXtEJvdUYn1rJfKZBl-OpxzVIZKig0N1pIqjo3/s960/freedom%20girl%20pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIj3KOwvllXpDnhUNj3vITZas6boW1-hwdHSGHmg0X7dJI4NGlMUwo1gyvZgL56lSQ377gLNgDESG_whVwGt1M088RA2XtFliRb9DsjUUonDjzTA7q173KLjIwsRvj34v_Qh9aRrVRsh_IUMqbMJXtEJvdUYn1rJfKZBl-OpxzVIZKig0N1pIqjo3/w400-h266/freedom%20girl%20pixabay.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br />It's hard to remain unbound </div><div>when the world wants to keep you in chains. </div><div><br /></div><div>Are you free? And if you're not, what is holding you back? </div><div>I am convinced that no amount of peace can spring from even a sliver of bondage. </div><div><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Figure it out</span></b>. What is keeping you bound? </div><div><br /></div><div><span style="text-align: left;">Where is YOUR freedom? </span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;">How precious is it to you?</span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;">What does your liberation look like?</span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;">What <i>makes</i> you free? </span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;">What will you do to get it?</span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;">What makes a country free?</span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;">What makes our planet free?</span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;">What will we do to protect it?</span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"> </span>When you fight for your freedom you are fighting for your peace.</div><div>When we fight for OUR freedom, we are fighting for our peace.</div><div> That's <i>everything</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://peaceglobegallery.blogspot.com/p/get-your-own-peace-globe.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="960" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4SVRrRgictW2-AD9gBtXD0zDrLktaUVcpmMZ4rq_hmV13dfhgOOBiicgU4mHoBqVGU71LcPquzSlIqPek4EVsq7sSNjlwbcYK_wbix4WgL7Jq_oSkXZfbpC7kuMKI_8AteLJeVo7ui8FxNuP16KYyYuuprg2p4D7e9-UxVsV5A05izXQwB1p0pIhy/s320/peace%20dove%20in%20blue%20pixabay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div> But what if your freedom infringes upon my freedom? </div><div>Are we free? </div><div>No. </div><div> We are even more estranged. We are at war.</div><div>Make sure your "freedoms" cause no harm to others.</div><div><b>No Freedom, No <i>Peace</i></b></div><div>See how that works?</div><div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://peaceglobegallery.blogspot.com/p/get-your-own-peace-globe.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="280" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBiQlLvX4brrDK7N0wP6qBRjUlLMjNg_jfioAci-feLivyYBWzj482NICOabWLjewrlALNBMmFO01EnYIUiQ-TBy-vMTfrkTyNzHxv9nlDTD43Ru4q8I1QGbFFaxuaG-iVljcj_6PfOnkKKU2pqtZzQ1OvlVxS62BtJ4Rg5wXME833hSmyeaUew3N/s1600/i%20am%20a%20peace%20blogger%20Michelle%20Frost%202.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div><span style="text-align: left;">We <i>are</i> peace bloggers. It's what we do. </span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;">This isn't a rallying cry for more war. That wouldn't be in our wheelhouse. </span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;">It is not an <i>if-then</i> statement. It is not a threat against power. Under the conditions of a peace movement such as this, we are acknowledging that one cannot exist without the other. </span>It is clear we are talking about<i> mutual</i> <i>evolution</i>, not revolution....UNLESS...your revolution is quiet and peaceful, productive and compassionate. Then I'm all in. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">This is my challenge to you this year.</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://peaceglobegallery.blogspot.com/p/get-your-own-peace-globe.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="687" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNub8TXzaF3InWR5THHgSF13AbtTWJtCBGKNiLNla8efX5ldtLlnSdbbFrFs8YXZ9EZWbSBwZXAOpTh7QDUbkPMKZiFadA1zSetOt-ibFsJE5GntiG8x7s0tXCA7yj7sGQTJzWezoEnOEgEvEBpnWGcuU8WqyTYruKnMfLTmFAhpPxFkZfSwIGXKe1/s320/peace%20dove%20mosaid%20pixabayb.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When you find yourself in the middle of an invasion or unwanted change, surrounded and bound, reclaim your freedom. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's get FREE! </div></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Note: You can make it personal or you can write about the national and global issues facing us. Your choice. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: center;"><br /></b></div><div><b>Get your own peace globe <span style="color: #01ffff;"><a href="https://peaceglobegallery.blogspot.com/p/get-your-own-peace-globe.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span> </b></div><div><b>Peace Globe Templates <span style="color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/p/peace-globe-templates.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></b></div><div><b>Special <span style="color: #fcff01;">Ukraine</span> templates <a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/p/ukraine-peace-globe-templates.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div>Thank you for continuing to inspire me. Thank you for being a community of life-changers, givers, and lovers of peace. Thank you continuing to share your powerful images and words with all of us. </div><div><br /></div><div>See the thousands of peace globes flying <b><a href="https://blog4peace.com" target="_blank">in the official gallery</a></b> from 214+ countries and territories since 2006 when we started. </div><div>Let's go! It's a launch!</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">How To Links:</span></b></div><div><a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/p/how-to-get-your-peace-globe.html" target="_blank">How to Get Your Peace Globe</a> F<a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/p/peace-globe-templates.html" target="_blank">REE Peace Globe Templates</a> <a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/p/how-to-put-your-peace-globe-on-facebook.html" target="_blank">How To Put Your Peace Globe on Facebook</a> <a href="https://peaceglobegallery.blogspot.com/FREE%20Peace%20Globe%20Templates" target="_blank">Get Your Own Peace Globe</a> <b><a href="https://facebook.com/groups/peacebloggers" target="_blank">Peace Bloggers GROUP</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/2006/11/dona-nobis-pacem_07.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="178" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfrSDdLarvqccSBzkPb28BzKbhbnNU9O6boZYxP7YFCQTs3bQWAv_rTzbptNndZ_2NJ6NXBlgYeZ2hZ2TtI5Prz_OAl4cbFxQozfgWF-SYETq3ANuApZsvWxCOTpFOTjNxfJfKUFkK9lwoUcMWX1_nnLsjyhljL-6vRLLOYf6h_qf1Muh9AHLtfax/s1600/mimi%20globe%202006.JPG" width="178" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/2006/11/dona-nobis-pacem_07.html" target="_blank">Peace globe #1</a></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/p/peace-globe-templates.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="343" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbyTuYJ_N5vj-lJN6eEuJZfOOfvLemP2vRAjXDTz6Owajqe8DOhG4KdcqLY6KAOLxXr4cb77ooI6k-ybtQZqYNQqUerheoS91ImCInTYpnubUJo7HvU60xnLT10i6S3WQMfa0QssaHFGg6X7HlTC3w2zXXcE15QU4-5--n1GxzmqydcR2_PC9I7R-/s320/peace%20globe%20%20blue%20template.JPG" width="312" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/p/peace-globe-templates.html" target="_blank">Use this blank template to make your own peace globe</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Contact me at blog4peace @ yahoo.com if you have questions.</div>Images: Mimi Lenox, Pixabay<br /><span style="text-align: left;">Join us for </span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> ©Mimi Lenox All Rights Reserved Blog4Peace™ BlogBlast4Peace™ Blog For Peace™ Post4Peace™ BlogBlast for Peace™ Peace Bloggers</span></div></center><center><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog4peace.com" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="891" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzsYkzsoxMsQaV3NsuNNVBs1SX44mHSJm2MFNUc-6apEoLvoMvuxdwkvqH7BZqRuv0--dUQ3n7ccDcz2TRY2Kodkw93j-Oo71WqKoifFlweypDs6e2YIVX3_Y5XSw-ScroOuLisiFHqq3OzvRwll0QZkTvRx8afbEmjGZgTZKJZaoA1UheA/s320/Blog4peace%20FB%20ad%20Oct%202022%20bb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><b>Use this graphic on your websites and pages. 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<div class="blogger-post-footer">BlogBlast For Peace November 4 ~ Join us!
http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-52589987097220437612022-11-01T22:32:00.001-04:002022-11-01T22:32:29.811-04:00It's Peace Week! Listen to the Story of the Dolls<center><center><center><div style="text-align: left;">It is tradition to re-post <b><a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/2007/11/dona-nobis-pacem.html" target="_blank">The Doll Box</a></b> during peace week. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Some kind of magic comes over Bloggingham this time of year. </div><div style="text-align: left;">We need to remember...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">The Doll Box</span></b></div></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u_WDl8nvgDM/X6CqM8PZ6sI/AAAAAAABfbk/W94I9NTthactCzLKBXNiF0t2N-EkgI1TwCLcBGAsYHQ/s962/pansies%2Bthe%2Bdoll%2Bbox%2Bmimi%2Blenox%2Bblog4peace%2Bpixabay.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="962" height="270" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u_WDl8nvgDM/X6CqM8PZ6sI/AAAAAAABfbk/W94I9NTthactCzLKBXNiF0t2N-EkgI1TwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h270/pansies%2Bthe%2Bdoll%2Bbox%2Bmimi%2Blenox%2Bblog4peace%2Bpixabay.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><center><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Put them in the pot, Mimi, just that way.”</span></span></center><center><br /></center><center>I planted the last black-eyed Susan in the clay pot on the deck, richly purple and staring at me with an eye in the center of royalty's colored fall beauty.</center><center>I dug and rearranged and poured in fertilizer. Watered. Played in the dirt.</center><center>"Plant one more in the pot, Mimi. She'd like it that way."</center><center><i>"They remind me of her,"</i> I said out loud. <i>"The dark ones she loved best. The black-eyed ones I don't care for, but I plant them anyway because she loved them so. I think they look disheveled and untidy - if a flower can be that way - and as she could be in the morning times. Her hair a mess and a cigarette over coffee, frying bacon at 5am so you'd have a great start to your day, wrinkled robe and a smelly kitchen. One bright spot of colorful charm – like my black eyed susan - was you, Papa."</i></center><center>I stopped planting.</center><center>I looked up.</center><center><br /></center><center>My Papa stood looming over me with that jovial smile of his, a burst of sunlight behind his balding head and a brightly gleaming twinkle in the midst of the smile I adored. I was still unbalanced with a trowel in one hand and a pile of dirt in the other which prevented me from jumping immediately into his arms, but it didn't seem to matter; a warm wind blew straight through the curl hanging down the front of my right shoulder and moved it behind me to rest on the back of my sweater. I was sure of it. My Papa was always telling me to get my hair out of my face. No surprise to me now.</center><center><br /></center><center><i>“I've been watching you, Mimi."</i></center><center>I laughed.</center><center><br /></center><center>"Well you know she had to have things just right. Two purple here, one pink there, large petaled, small-petaled and a very straight row or you had to start all over."</center><center>He laughed.</center><center><i>"I remember."</i></center><center><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3rM7nriDy30/X6CqWm7wROI/AAAAAAABfbo/eZnZJic5BUcY2JKkhrn5aWh9cTbLwTN9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s961/pansies%2Bthe%2Bdoll%2Bbox%2Bmimi%2Blenox%2Bblog4peace%2Bpixabay%2B3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="961" height="221" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3rM7nriDy30/X6CqWm7wROI/AAAAAAABfbo/eZnZJic5BUcY2JKkhrn5aWh9cTbLwTN9ACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h221/pansies%2Bthe%2Bdoll%2Bbox%2Bmimi%2Blenox%2Bblog4peace%2Bpixabay%2B3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><center><br /></center><center>I fixed my eyes upon the face of the man who held the key to my heart ever since the day I took my first breath. I put the trowel down, the dirt fell from my fingers and I found myself sitting in the fall sunlight, listening to leaves drop playfully from the trees that surrounded me. I watched them fall almost on command at his huge overgrown feet that were firmly planted in front of me. Steel-toed shoes, huge shoes, painful shoes, important shoes.</center><center><br /></center><center>It would take him forty-five minutes in the mornings before work to lace them up. Rheumatoid arthritis claimed his quality of life, pain a constant companion, everyday tasks a monumental chore - and yet he rarely missed work (thirty-three years in a furniture plant) and most days he tilled the garden out back in the evenings. For today, I was content to sit at his feet and plant flowers. He was there to give me a warm breezy hug. Of course, I knew he wasn't really there.</center><center><br /></center><center>Was he?</center><center><br /></center><center>Resigned to never again help him unlace the knotted shoestrings that strangled too tightly across his tender feet, I turned away to wipe a tear.</center><center>I miss him still.</center><center><i>"I've been watching you - you and the peace globes,"</i> he said.</center><center>I smiled and stood up. He was right.</center><center>Pansies could wait.</center><center><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xMhFrTRqjrI/X6CqfJ5h5GI/AAAAAAABfbw/zHqtu0r7260omj24Pg7QX2L4NZNQJ8UwACLcBGAsYHQ/s959/Pansies%2Bthe%2Bdoll%2Bbox%2Bmimi%2Blenox%2Bblog4peace%2Bpixabay%2B2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="959" height="261" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xMhFrTRqjrI/X6CqfJ5h5GI/AAAAAAABfbw/zHqtu0r7260omj24Pg7QX2L4NZNQJ8UwACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h261/Pansies%2Bthe%2Bdoll%2Bbox%2Bmimi%2Blenox%2Bblog4peace%2Bpixabay%2B2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><center><br /></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">"I know, Papa. I've known for some time. You always give me courage when I need it, inspiration when I've lost it, and the biggest laughs....I get the most joy from your far-flung sense of humor. It is with me still." He roared a belly laugh I thought I'd never hear again this side of Heaven. It nearly rocked me off balance, causing me to drop the flat of pansies on the deck, so deep it was, so rich. So Papa.</span></center><center><br /></center><center>"I need to ask you! Papa! I have so much to ask you. I don't know what to do about.....</center><center>Will you stay?"</center><center><br /></center><center>"Mimi," he said with that tsk tsk expression, "I need to ask you a question."</center><center><br /></center><center>I sat back down, wondering somehow if I'd done something wrong. Had I gotten it all wrong? Does he want to talk about the marbles? Yes, that must be it. The marbles. He wants to tell me how he made them. He'll tell me and I'll tell my readers and they'll tell people and he'll explain it all.</center><center><br /></center><center>I waited.</center><center>His eyes to me looked young, as young as he must have been the day he married my pansy-stricken grandmother. They were in the prime of their lives and so in love, both prepared to begin a new life. And now, they were both gone. I had her pansy pots and her azalea bush and her quirkiness. He had memories not to be shared with a granddaughter but memories I saw playing behind the youthful grin. I did not let on. But I knew there were stories he must - he surely must - somewhere - somehow - still share with her.</center><center>"Ask, Papa. I'll tell you anything you want to know,” digging a new opening in the dirt for one more yellow pansy.</center><center><br /></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>"Why? Why, Mimi?..........why do you need so many?"</b></span></center><center><br /></center><center>"Because she said if you planted enough of them really close together it would make the bouquet brighter and....."</center><center><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VwOWTP8GkJk/X6Cqu4weVoI/AAAAAAABfb4/cbPZx2h1198iLiSLo9SQ3aOJBM5bnZ76QCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Pansies%2Bthe%2Bdoll%2Bbox%2Bmimi%2Blenox%2Bblog4peace%2Byellow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VwOWTP8GkJk/X6Cqu4weVoI/AAAAAAABfb4/cbPZx2h1198iLiSLo9SQ3aOJBM5bnZ76QCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/Pansies%2Bthe%2Bdoll%2Bbox%2Bmimi%2Blenox%2Bblog4peace%2Byellow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><center><br /></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>"No, Mimi. Why do you need so many peace globes?"</b></span></center><center><br /></center><center>I stopped digging, puzzled.</center><center><br /></center><center>"I don't need them, Papa, they just keep coming. Through my mail and in the back way. In the middle of the night. In the morning. In the evenings. All colors, all creeds, all walks of life. All species, all reasons, some frivolously made, some seriously woven and others with a single signature. Those I like, too."</center><center>He sighed.</center><center><br /></center><center>Had I disappointed him? Was that the wrong answer? What does he want me to say?</center><center><br /></center><center>If there's one thing about my Papa that was always the best thing, it was his deliberate ability to cut through my facade and get to the truth -usually without a word, never with a scold, and any "serious conversation" he made with me always came on the palpable presence of one who loved me so unconditionally I could never have doubted his intent for my good or his wish for my clear understanding. Laden with well-worn common sense wisdom, I soaked it up often, playing carefully at his painfully laced shoes which criss-crossed in front on me in the living room floor at the bottom of the old leather recliner he loved.</center><center>And today, I felt much like that seven-year-old.</center><center><br /></center><center>Papa had one more story to tell.</center><center><br /></center><center><b>"Do you remember the dolls, Mimi? The 100 Dolls?"</b></center><center><br /></center><center>"Oh yes, Papa. I still have them. I keep them in the box for safekeeping. They are in perfect condition though the box is yellowed now and torn on the edge. I still see your address, your name, the paid postage stamp and the tape."</center><center><br /></center><center>He suddenly got a serious look. "I remember the day you asked me for them. We were thumbing through a catalog and you squealed with delight. "One hundred dolls!! How could 100 dolls come in one box?" you asked.</center><center><br /></center><center>“I remember,” I said. "They costs one dollar and we had to send away for them all the way to New Jersey and add our postage fee. I was so excited and couldn't wait to get them in the mail. I think I was seven? Yes, just about that age."</center><center><br /></center><center><i><b>"Open them, Mimi. They hold a secret. Open the box."</b></i></center><center><br /></center><center>I'm writing this story at my usual perch at the table but of course, in my mind's eye I am there, on the porch with my Papa and we are planting pansies and the sun is hot and the leaves are falling and I don't want to leave. We are having such a lovely day. All is right and he has chosen to visit me now. I don't want to break the spell. I don't want to open the box.....but it is there. It is there in front of me, on the table.</center><center>I picked it up, put my reading glasses on, trying to make out the fine print. I reach for a magnifying glass to help but for some reason, I put it down. I couldn't. I couldn't look. I just couldn't.</center><center><br /></center><center>And when have you ever been able to disobey him? Never. And when have you ever disappointed him? Sometimes. And will you do that today? No.</center><center>I picked it up again.</center><center><br /></center><center>Bulk Rate. US Postage Paid. Newark, N.J. Permit No.4396.</center><center>100 Dolls Dept R</center><center>285 Market Street</center><center>Newark, N.J</center><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hWS97ePk1v4/X6Cq-1A9WrI/AAAAAAABfcE/Q85wAuqMgYAbObhm3QDaX6s8B2M-Syh0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/the%2Bdoll%2Bbox%2Bmimi%2Blenox%2Bblog4peace.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hWS97ePk1v4/X6Cq-1A9WrI/AAAAAAABfcE/Q85wAuqMgYAbObhm3QDaX6s8B2M-Syh0ACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/the%2Bdoll%2Bbox%2Bmimi%2Blenox%2Bblog4peace.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><center><br /></center><center>What's so special about this old box of dolls? They're plastic and probably a few are missing. Pink. Flimsy. Tiny little things. Not at all like I.....</center><center><br /></center><center>"Right," said Papa, " you were disappointed. You were disappointed when they arrived a few weeks later. I could see it in your face. I never forgot how cute it was when you said, 'NOW I know how they got so many dolls in one box. They don't look like the picture in the magazine at all. They are very small and I think I might even break them.' "So you sat at the kitchen table night after night and lined them up. Trying to figure out which was a cook and which was a nurse and which was a girl and which was a boy. I told you that they all have a face and they all have a voice, even if they are on the small side. You made up stories to go with them and then, once you'd brought them to life, there was a sadness about the way you stored them away. Back in the box. Back in the box. Always back in the box."</center><center>He shook his head.</center><center><br /></center><center>This was not going to be easy. What does he want me to see? There won't be an obvious blue world globe-like marble sitting there this time, we're talking about prissy dolls for a prissy girl who turned into a prissy woman who has no idea why she's crying at her keyboard in the middle of this unfinished story.</center><center>Until......</center><center><br /></center><center>I decided to open the box.</center><center><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gkmu5Mi6i_I/X6CrKZsvUFI/AAAAAAABfcI/oGL4aZJMdXMPSN2mB8zXwdLcgl9PiunEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/the%2Bdoll%2Bbox%2Bdolls%2Bmimi%2Blenox%2Bblog4peace%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gkmu5Mi6i_I/X6CrKZsvUFI/AAAAAAABfcI/oGL4aZJMdXMPSN2mB8zXwdLcgl9PiunEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/the%2Bdoll%2Bbox%2Bdolls%2Bmimi%2Blenox%2Bblog4peace%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><center><span style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">And there it was. </span></b></span></center><center><span style="text-align: left;">Something I'd forgotten about. On top of my dolls in the lower right corner was a matchbox size toy. He'd sent away for that too. It came with my dolls. "Tricky Dogs" They were magnets. One white dog. One black dog. When you start to play with them, they always gravitate toward each other. After forty years the magnet is still strong. I turned them over in my hands I read the back of the box.</span></center><center><br /></center><center>Directions: Place one Tricky Dog on a surface (polished wood or glass) Push the other Tricky Dog up to it from behind, or sweep the second Tricky Dog in a half circle around the first one. Watch them twirl!</center><center><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2fmKwedon5U/X6CrTVps0wI/AAAAAAABfcQ/gTZXMPPuuzYNIKFvxJmdVZq8t-5q7HXegCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/the%2Bdoll%2Bbox%2Bdolls%2Bmimi%2Blenox%2Bblog4peace%2B74.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="400" height="297" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2fmKwedon5U/X6CrTVps0wI/AAAAAAABfcQ/gTZXMPPuuzYNIKFvxJmdVZq8t-5q7HXegCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h297/the%2Bdoll%2Bbox%2Bdolls%2Bmimi%2Blenox%2Bblog4peace%2B74.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><center><br /></center><center>My tabletop is made of glass. I took the black one and put him up front, made a sneak attack by the white one and voila! the black dog began to spin in a circle - in an energetic frenzy - and aligned itself with the other one smashing into him, wagging their magnetic tails and gravitating together: smooching, the way only magnets can. Most of the time I played with the dolls, but Papa......he would rather I lay aside the Barbie doll brain and chase my dream around the glass top. He was like that. Always dropping life lessons in my lap, at inopportune times like today, when I'd rather be planting pansies.</center><center><br /></center><center>I laughed. I'd forgotten the hours of entertainment we'd had trying to make the dogs do something else. I tried to separate them so many times - so like me to want to even argue with electrons and atoms - but they always ended up smacking into each other no matter what I did and the twirling little dance always ended with a dog collision. Inevitable. Worked every time. Without fail.</center><center>The globes, Papa. They all spin their own way and yet they eventually make their way towards one another spinning together and with one purpose. Is that right?</center><center><br /></center><center>Now my grownup mind understands such things. I know there really is no "trick" - I know they're just heavily plastered metal toys with magnet skates on the bottom - but I'm not a grownup today. I'm a seven year old on the floor with my Papa and we are playing from the box he mail ordered for me in the 1960's. And I am laughing. The dogs still make me laugh.</center><center><br /></center><center>I sighed. This observation is just too obvious. Magnets. Globes. Spinning earth balls. Earth Science. I get it. I get it. I turned to him and said, “I know all about this little analogy. I went to college and got a degree since you've been gone ya know. And anyway, I need to finish planting these pansies and get them all in a straight line the way she would....the way she would.....<b><i>Papa</i></b>?”</center><center><br /></center><center><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Papa?</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-size: medium;">He was gone.</span></b></center><center><br /></center><center>And I was left with a tabletop full of little pink dolls piled on top of each other, delighted to be free of the box, crisscrossing on top of one another and laid crosswise in the jumbled life of another doll, too many for a seven year old to count, too tiny for a middle aged woman to see in great detail and yet.....somehow I knew they'd been waiting for just this hour to make their second debut into my life. Pink. Plastic. Fragile. Soft spoken. And yet....when I put them all together they make an enormous pile.</center><center><br /></center><center>Like my globes.</center><center><br /></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>“Why? Mimi why? Why do you need so many?”</b></span></center><center><br /></center><center>I never answered his question. That must be why he left. I suppose he is angry with me. I'll have to tell him another time about the blogger from Hong Kong and the man from Singapore and Idaho met Japan and tomorrow Italy promised to email Turkey....Israel and Poland and Tennessee and Michigan is helping Ireland make a globe and it doesn't matter how small their blogs may be, they all have a face and all have a voice and they just want to speak their ....oh never mind.</center><center>Hmmm.....It's been forty years and I still haven't played with all those dolls. No time like the present.</center><center><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--_lNVP8JBdg/X6CrmzzmuvI/AAAAAAABfcc/fozJ_GSSET8cu9qfFLm4qI_utiMBAH4uACLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/the%2Bdoll%2Bbox%2Bdolls%2Bmimi%2Blenox%2Bblog4peace%2B72.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--_lNVP8JBdg/X6CrmzzmuvI/AAAAAAABfcc/fozJ_GSSET8cu9qfFLm4qI_utiMBAH4uACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/the%2Bdoll%2Bbox%2Bdolls%2Bmimi%2Blenox%2Bblog4peace%2B72.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><center><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, I took them out of the box.</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> One by one. </span></b></center><center><br /></center><center>A nurse, a dancer, an Indian man, two clowns, Spanish people, a ballerina, a little girl, a man speaking, a roping cowboy, a smiling cowgirl, a Buddhist monk, a Chinese man, a Mexican hat dancer, a Gypsy girl playing a tambourine, Bolero dancers, Little Bo Peep, all nationalities, all creeds, all expressions, all costumes of origin and a world of imagination at my fingertips that now played alone without the fumbling arthritic hand of the man who gave them to me so long ago.......a Peruvian girl, a small child playing ball, a colonial doll with a full skirt taking a bow (My favorite. She bowed a lot in those pre-pencil skirt days). I remembered how his hands were so large and gnarled, fumbling with the small creatures as they fell in his lap. I would laugh and we would start the dance again. The Buddha man would twirl with the Peruvian woman while the little boy with the ball - perhaps it was a jack-in-the-box - sat quietly in the middle of it all. They all got along in my peaceful box universe. The dolls in my box lived in one world, dancing and spinning around. "I'll get that for you, Papa,” I said, “ the lady from Spain would like to dance with the Russian ballerina now if you don't mind........Papa!?”</center><center><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UTTRK54fJis/X6CsH2OfQGI/AAAAAAABfck/o4XvJMQLjaQNVOFJHpzz3mX2-zql1U3kACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UTTRK54fJis/X6CsH2OfQGI/AAAAAAABfck/o4XvJMQLjaQNVOFJHpzz3mX2-zql1U3kACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t3-NapGIe_8/X6CsJV_bRxI/AAAAAAABfco/96maRs8IVssyEii_P3ht17I1PMPgoeN8ACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t3-NapGIe_8/X6CsJV_bRxI/AAAAAAABfco/96maRs8IVssyEii_P3ht17I1PMPgoeN8ACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h200/1a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><center><br /></center><center>I looked up from the land of pink twirling peace and saw a tear roll down his cheek and land on his steel-toed shoe. I could tell he longed for our pink doll world of friendly global dancers and I so wanted to never see him sad again. “My life went sailing by," he said, "like a thin silk pansy leaf falling on the wisp of a breeze. I blinked and it was gone. Not much older than you are today. So much left to do. So much left to say. Many more flowers to plant. Many more stars to catch. More dances to dance. My work was not done...... But you knew that, didn't you, Mimi?</center><center><br /></center><center>I did?</center><center><br /></center><center>“All I know, Papa, is that I wasn't there that day. I canceled our outing and you left without me. You and grandmother went to the doctor and after that day, I never saw you again. Not ever again. I was angry because you did not say goodbye. I was angry that I did not say goodbye. And I longed to tell you all my tales and all my stories. I've waited for you to tell me what to do. “</center><center><br /></center><center>I put down the dolls and looked at his wisdom worn face, anxious for the answers that I needed. But he had a way of making me figure it out for myself. This day was no different.</center><center><br /></center><center>“You do not need me to tell you what to do. I am proud of you and you are doing just fine. Just remember one thing: It takes all the dolls in the box to make the world a beautiful place, Mimi. . They can't hear what the other one has to say unless you introduce them to one another and set their feet to dancing. Take them out of the box.”</center><center><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-guNB7-Dwp4U/X6CsYQZZZvI/AAAAAAABfcw/WbVuzi-P364fLDCRrNncUB_tWMT6C_G7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/the%2Bdoll%2Bbox%2Bdolls%2Bmimi%2Blenox%2Bblog4peace.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-guNB7-Dwp4U/X6CsYQZZZvI/AAAAAAABfcw/WbVuzi-P364fLDCRrNncUB_tWMT6C_G7ACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/the%2Bdoll%2Bbox%2Bdolls%2Bmimi%2Blenox%2Bblog4peace.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><center><br /></center><center>Just take them out of the box.</center><center>That's it? That's the secret? Take them out of the box? But what about the globes? And the marbles? I jumped up to give him a hug the way I always did but he was gone.</center><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OHQRkejGuts/X6CshpvFphI/AAAAAAABfc4/rSKTLLo4n7EPu7S6lyBNtWZ6p8dKX6OHACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/the%2Bdoll%2Bbox%2Bdolls%2Bmimi%2Blenox%2Bblog4peace%2B833.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="400" height="163" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OHQRkejGuts/X6CshpvFphI/AAAAAAABfc4/rSKTLLo4n7EPu7S6lyBNtWZ6p8dKX6OHACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h163/the%2Bdoll%2Bbox%2Bdolls%2Bmimi%2Blenox%2Bblog4peace%2B833.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><center><br /></center><center>In the bottom of the box I found a piece of yellow paper. It had my name on it, folded, in my grandmother's handwriting. I opened it. It was a speech I'd made in church for a Christmas program when I was 3 years old. He'd tucked it away in the bottom of my doll box. I smiled as I remembered that the best part of that day had been running down the church aisle and jumping into his white-sleeved arms for a hug and a kiss. If I ever doubted what my grandfather gave to me, and continues to instill in me even now, it is the simple power of love and a respect for all creatures large and small - pink and Peruvian.</center><center><br /></center><center><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>And that, my friends, is all we need.</b></span></center><div><br /></div></center><center><div style="background-color: black; color: #cce0f8; font-family: "Coming Soon"; font-size: 13.78px; font-weight: 700;"><i>Join us Friday-Sunday ~ November 4-6, 2022 for the 17th year of BlogBlast For Peace.</i></div><div style="background-color: black; color: #cce0f8; font-family: "Coming Soon"; font-size: 13.78px; font-weight: 700;"><i>Our theme is "No Freedom No Peace"</i></div></center><center><b><a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/p/how-to-get-your-peace-globe.html" target="_blank">How To Blog4Peace</a></b></center><center><b><a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/2022/10/announcing-blog4peace-nov-4-6-2022-join.html" target="_blank">ALL INFO on Blog4Peace 2022 HERE</a></b></center><center><br /></center><center>Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></center><div><span style="font-size: normal;"><b>Join us for <a href="http://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/p/how-to-get-your-peace-globe.html">Blog4Peace Nov 4</a></b></span></div><center><span style="font-size: normal;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlogBlastForPeace">Like Our Facebook Page</a></b></span></center><div><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/BlogBlast4Peace*">Peace St</a></span></div></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">BlogBlast For Peace November 4 ~ Join us!
http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25698471.post-38786771597518114972022-10-29T01:26:00.000-04:002022-10-29T01:26:22.011-04:0010 Groovy Reasons To Blog and Post For Peace NEXT WEEKEND!!!<center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This article now <i>(hopefully)</i> trending on <b><a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/mimil3/10-reasons-to-blog-4-peace-and-post-4-peace-99wlbn23d7" target="_blank"><span style="color: #fce5cd;">BuzzFeed</span></a> <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/mimil3/10-reasons-to-blog-4-peace-and-post-4-peace-99wlbn23d7" target="_blank">Check it out</a>.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>#1 You've always secretly wanted to join a revolution.</b></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEyBFdnP7UGgGsK5o--CjXx_JfAy7R8Pw11AERHEzSWcwySPdUV8vayGkNWoiJuwX-BD5wjh2hcyzNg_FSEslUqe8210U9Lwc7MHrsvgCqmee4wNfDBsephV6J9dmbB1tlsK1184Sk2sTvLsaBbVZELayC_QjshYyPZOOa7tNDA2QjBKQNew" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img alt="" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="474" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEyBFdnP7UGgGsK5o--CjXx_JfAy7R8Pw11AERHEzSWcwySPdUV8vayGkNWoiJuwX-BD5wjh2hcyzNg_FSEslUqe8210U9Lwc7MHrsvgCqmee4wNfDBsephV6J9dmbB1tlsK1184Sk2sTvLsaBbVZELayC_QjshYyPZOOa7tNDA2QjBKQNew=w400-h225" width="400" /></b></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Created by Eileen Trainor </b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></center><center> <b><span style="font-size: large;">#2 It's time to create something funky and retro.</span></b></center><center><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguJ2LWKjP1oHyXcE5FGEwExyOARFUw1GgQ6byLSEfpUeRKMZ75IA-CBpISuv6ItUYKTHywOa1CZYk-zh7pCc5mYwFsANCbKNExP5ygvqDmV4i4fNpL80HO6eqrq0UlGv0_4IgUlXZUXtSMwwUzcIPxy8j65z2dQ0NpUMReBlCppTogTLRkGQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguJ2LWKjP1oHyXcE5FGEwExyOARFUw1GgQ6byLSEfpUeRKMZ75IA-CBpISuv6ItUYKTHywOa1CZYk-zh7pCc5mYwFsANCbKNExP5ygvqDmV4i4fNpL80HO6eqrq0UlGv0_4IgUlXZUXtSMwwUzcIPxy8j65z2dQ0NpUMReBlCppTogTLRkGQ=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Created by Rose @ Walk In The Wood (Connecticut)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">#3</span></b> <b><span style="font-size: large;">Because nobody really believes you're groovy and you need to prove them wrong.</span></b></center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6khdkkh3tuAqIWnt_cE9Zv66CWzcCpH8vLTYvtSYYNsf4zVeCsQcjjwrdsOWZoV9tPvkD0ECR3iaD8MZcBVGS-H3OM11JB_TmBuEyw1fb04GmSaUQxBHvwKRoYoLHgmH07jStXLjQFYX_HIrCv-_ojoAjHxT8XmT7E2OJmF6WA9XkO13k5w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6khdkkh3tuAqIWnt_cE9Zv66CWzcCpH8vLTYvtSYYNsf4zVeCsQcjjwrdsOWZoV9tPvkD0ECR3iaD8MZcBVGS-H3OM11JB_TmBuEyw1fb04GmSaUQxBHvwKRoYoLHgmH07jStXLjQFYX_HIrCv-_ojoAjHxT8XmT7E2OJmF6WA9XkO13k5w=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><i>Created by Thumper Thinks Out Loud (K A Thompson)<br /></i><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><b><span style="font-size: large;">#4 All the radical internet kids are doing it.</span></b></center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibwKFNuPJZbH9IVvbC_TQVSQV-5zj47P2usrzd55pUnFK1nGAMJVd_giCWHYibun5bfbmqwDOdvlZZSMuCv5lG_moIK2ysf5A1NV5KT2K1k91F2OWi1rVdu8cyU5Uh3oEYcm5Q6ErhaSynXtF1XvpNUfBhYLGnbvVL8rnnhDalhxkxW9x-bw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="527" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibwKFNuPJZbH9IVvbC_TQVSQV-5zj47P2usrzd55pUnFK1nGAMJVd_giCWHYibun5bfbmqwDOdvlZZSMuCv5lG_moIK2ysf5A1NV5KT2K1k91F2OWi1rVdu8cyU5Uh3oEYcm5Q6ErhaSynXtF1XvpNUfBhYLGnbvVL8rnnhDalhxkxW9x-bw=w400-h364" width="400" /></a></div><i>Created by Jobi Harris in Florida</i></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><b><span style="font-size: large;">#5 You're too old or too late for Woodstock</span></b></center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg63j_WPIYuwKcSri6Ki_Zu7t89IKaWRHwBId5M8_zYqi8YidFc1G7Qb6tH-v6dE_By2BA0pNo1P2RHJkTp7i1t9QYhZnSJ6rY-MNa8zqBCWVnDCy3cCz_0j64MH0lFuKb_th_DNbYZLyav_9N7XiAw6OeJbu_CjpJ7KsH3nIXm1JmNPfqujg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg63j_WPIYuwKcSri6Ki_Zu7t89IKaWRHwBId5M8_zYqi8YidFc1G7Qb6tH-v6dE_By2BA0pNo1P2RHJkTp7i1t9QYhZnSJ6rY-MNa8zqBCWVnDCy3cCz_0j64MH0lFuKb_th_DNbYZLyav_9N7XiAw6OeJbu_CjpJ7KsH3nIXm1JmNPfqujg=w358-h400" width="358" /></a></div><a href="https://psychokitty.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Psychokitty's Blog</a></center><center><br /></center><center><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">#6 You can make a statement without getting a tattoo!!</span></b></center><center><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlZqiEIGv_qItKerxckRnYO9GFMuhgNo3o7OY_oCsnLO5z8phlAPp_MnBxciW3TjtI7HOrfm-r--qi_4V0yEMvKXPM1NgNc3Edhimyah_3BTcddYx63hmqrlBCNiodi2NjWHPyIRFrH8WvZnKfQayIOzVzIiAbyvGHtkbLd6MJPIEzVMthyA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="600" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlZqiEIGv_qItKerxckRnYO9GFMuhgNo3o7OY_oCsnLO5z8phlAPp_MnBxciW3TjtI7HOrfm-r--qi_4V0yEMvKXPM1NgNc3Edhimyah_3BTcddYx63hmqrlBCNiodi2NjWHPyIRFrH8WvZnKfQayIOzVzIiAbyvGHtkbLd6MJPIEzVMthyA=w400-h299" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><i>Created by Silvia Hoefnagels in Ireland</i></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><b><span style="font-size: large;">#7 We're blowing each other up.</span></b></center><center><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwUomSH8w2DyCl5V7KmQx2zbDxUEWpcMNoFHvk_3FTrpEPsRJmsiL4yyCGadnrhAbguwpq3xz_0CIkKrVDXNztThQwdXEjYWAcQW4W-SHIGVVxyHoULm5Uw64FCswk8p1mdgnEuABtFeOAg_qcF4-rLg20b2a9j0_ipvooHFaLxRY0-9QxaA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="593" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwUomSH8w2DyCl5V7KmQx2zbDxUEWpcMNoFHvk_3FTrpEPsRJmsiL4yyCGadnrhAbguwpq3xz_0CIkKrVDXNztThQwdXEjYWAcQW4W-SHIGVVxyHoULm5Uw64FCswk8p1mdgnEuABtFeOAg_qcF4-rLg20b2a9j0_ipvooHFaLxRY0-9QxaA=w400-h299" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">#8 Seriously, you should be sick of #7 by now.</span></b></center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCQkjvq5w6vz41xQ3EjG0D4_jdECOGey7kuFk03KaqFkpGIX-IH_O38lAEQSNKw83BZ88Y-cegocoVACS0Jbrv6S4ID6Je-gzenQH1fCIxEIotwZ1DKgy2T2r0m8tCd8P0N7zyAZfzRPrI6_oLWLIC1lH3YrN2PL5zxR2yQIgmFpJ6zJGjrQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCQkjvq5w6vz41xQ3EjG0D4_jdECOGey7kuFk03KaqFkpGIX-IH_O38lAEQSNKw83BZ88Y-cegocoVACS0Jbrv6S4ID6Je-gzenQH1fCIxEIotwZ1DKgy2T2r0m8tCd8P0N7zyAZfzRPrI6_oLWLIC1lH3YrN2PL5zxR2yQIgmFpJ6zJGjrQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">#9 Words are Powerful...this matters</span></b></center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDLoquvMwvDuSCmsj_TFsigVpdTb7DODMEDFgVARupNbiCGAFxfioOQI88do9FAEr8N-5yvszzim_bfaDlLejtlJ8Uuhs3KUgAfN0h-5nq-0w-cMvZahorEJ4i-J4nNLqRWkm0n7iELJEeYfESJboaTUR-oZRXhVBiiZG3cEOF3TZvCAa3jg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="406" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDLoquvMwvDuSCmsj_TFsigVpdTb7DODMEDFgVARupNbiCGAFxfioOQI88do9FAEr8N-5yvszzim_bfaDlLejtlJ8Uuhs3KUgAfN0h-5nq-0w-cMvZahorEJ4i-J4nNLqRWkm0n7iELJEeYfESJboaTUR-oZRXhVBiiZG3cEOF3TZvCAa3jg=w400-h358" width="400" /></a></div><i>Created by Ann Adamus at Zoolatry.blogspot.com</i></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><b><span style="font-size: large;">#10 Blogging for Peace brings people together from all over the world. </span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-size: large;">And it's free.</span></b></center><center><br /></center><center><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCr_csxVE4Notmbft2SeHyN1Wv3hYpi-RD6gxbdg7hryuiDRLTB2xc3pKxbOxk4LahbB8T5czgwNKlYAlibrgArYt9qrMUEwCQY1N-FuQ_DMP76ZAE29D5GcDxFp_v31YrOMGaUUW-uYhkzTPh8MYtqldiQ_764TkCl1mpKCpOpHTCj2v_zw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="597" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCr_csxVE4Notmbft2SeHyN1Wv3hYpi-RD6gxbdg7hryuiDRLTB2xc3pKxbOxk4LahbB8T5czgwNKlYAlibrgArYt9qrMUEwCQY1N-FuQ_DMP76ZAE29D5GcDxFp_v31YrOMGaUUW-uYhkzTPh8MYtqldiQ_764TkCl1mpKCpOpHTCj2v_zw=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Proxima Nova", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #fce5cd; font-size: 22.5px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></center><center><span face=""Proxima Nova", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #fce5cd; font-size: 22.5px; text-align: start;">Here's a blank background. Grab it and use it. Decorate at will. Sign it. Post it. Wherever you are online. Nov 4-6, 2022 You're a peace blogger. Welcome to the movement. </span></center><center><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="color: #fce5cd; font-size: 22.5px;">See how easy that was?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="color: #fce5cd; font-size: 22.5px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span><span style="color: #fce5cd; font-size: 22.5px;">There are many more template choices @blog4peace.com ~ <i>Dona nobis pacem</i> means <i>Grant us peace</i> in Latin. Go to blog4peace.com for more info. Can't wait to see you there. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span><span style="color: #fce5cd; font-size: 22.5px;">Be groovy, K?</span></span></div><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: var(--sb-description-line-height-list); margin: 0.5rem 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Proxima Nova, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.5px;"><a href="https://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/p/how-to-get-your-peace-globe.html" target="_blank">How to Blog 4 Peace</a></span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: var(--sb-description-line-height-list); margin: 0.5rem 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><br /><br /></center><center><br /></center><center>Follow Me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MimiLenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ovCShx-OJg/Ud5XnXrR4KI/AAAAAAABVdM/TmI4mutLsrE/s1600/iconfacebooksmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TldYeYSTdI/Ud5YJECQJCI/AAAAAAABVd8/sGCpf_ebej8/s1600/icontwittersmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8nwKPM7J7c/Ud5X39sQdqI/AAAAAAABVdk/fIxn8F56tns/s1600/iconpinterestsmall.png" width="41" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/mimilenox" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="41" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3xSVwSi4Xk/Ud5YMg_N1WI/AAAAAAABVeE/K3O6ZOdA-2Q/s1600/iconyoutubesmall.png" width="41" /></a></center>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">BlogBlast For Peace November 4 ~ Join us!
http://mimilenox.com</div>Mimi Lenoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.com2