Day 2457: Temporary

Yesterday morning, before I drove to the farewell event of my 45th college reunion, I took a photo of this temporary parking permit in my car.

I have a temporary smile, here and now, thinking that The President and Fellows of Harvard College assumed no responsibility for damages to my little yellow car.

I took a photo of that temporary parking permit because of my “deep sense of mortality” (described in my speech at my reunion the day before), which makes me realize that everything is temporary.

On my way to the reunion brunch, I noticed a temporary phenomenon that I had never seen before, so I temporarily parked my car so I could capture it on my phone.

I loved that temporary gathering of more snowy egrets than I had ever seen together before.

Then, I got back in my car, which I had temporarily parked at the Kennedy Center.

I wonder if you had a temporary assumption about what Kennedy Center that was.

Then, my classmates and I met for some temporary conversation at a beautiful home in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

I spent most of that temporary time there hanging out with people I love, because there’s no telling when we’ll see each other again.

On my ride home, I received news that another beloved friend of mine had died in the month of September. I wrote about my dear and long-time friend  Tony in this post from May, 2016 — Day 1219: Tone.

As I said in my temporary speech at my college reunion, “Life is too precious to spend on things I don’t love.”  I’m glad that when I heard that Tony had the same cancer that killed Senator John McCain and my friend Michelle last year,  I bought one of his books and sent him a card telling him I was reading it and how much I loved him.

Last night, when Michael and I were doing our temporary Sunday shopping routine at our local supermarket, I deliberately took photos of sympathy cards to comfort myself.

I now get comfort from sharing all these contemporary photos with you:

Even though life on this earth is temporary, certain things linger, like the distinct laughs of my late friends Hillel and Tony, who both passed away this September. I can easily imagine both of their wonderful laughs, here and now.

In honor of Tony, who played guitar and loved music, I’m posting a tune I associate with him, at the end of this post.

I’m hoping I can get temporary coverage today at work so I can attend one of the memorial events for my late, great friend Tony today.

Thanks to all those who helped me temporarily forget my grief by creating this post and — of course! — thanks to you.

 

 

Day 2260: They say …

They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

They say turning the clocks forward (as we did last night) is not good for our health, but it didn’t kill us. Would they say that made us stronger, along with every other thing we’ve done, not done, felt, thought, sensed, and encountered in our lives?   I say we all must be very strong.

They say it’s impossible to be sure of anything except death and taxes. I started working on my 2018 taxes yesterday, so I’m  a little closer to both, here and now.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  If what they say is true, get ready for at least fourteen thousand words.

They say that falling in love is wonderful.

Kent Hewitt says “They Say It’s Wonderful” by Irving Berlin is perfect in every way.

They say this and they say that.  What do you say?

They say always say please and thank you, so please accept my thanks to all the theys who helped me create this “They say …” post and, of course, to YOU.

 

Day 2184: What’s going on

Yesterday, when I was going on with my son to buy last-minute Christmas presents and cat food,  this sign was going on inside the Fresh Pond PetSmart in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA:

What’s going on with you, dear readers?

Could it be the holidays?

What’s going on in my other photos from yesterday?

What’s going on as I end up this Christmas Eve post, with happiness about my almost six years of blogging about what’s going on?

Animals singing “The Twelve Days of Christmas” ….

… and lots of gratitude to all who help me capture what’s going on in these daily posts and — of course! — YOU.

 

Day 2030: Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Yesterday, I saw “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” — the documentary about Fred Rogers.

As I messaged my sister beforehand, “I think it’s going to help me feel better about humankind.”

And it did.

Immediately after I saw the movie, I noticed this sign:

Here’s Fred Rogers testifying in 1969 to a Senate Subcommittee that was on the verge of removing the funding for public television, which would have prevented lots of neighbors from seeing  his show, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.

I agree with what Fred Rogers says there — including “We’ve got to have more of this neighborhood of care” —  and I’m glad that Senator Pastore was swayed by his testimony.

I think the world needs more neighbors like Fred Rogers and fewer ones who send out hostile tweets to and about all sorts of neighbors.

What’s a neighbor, anyway?

neigh·bor
ˈnābər
noun
1. a person living near or next door to the speaker or person referred to.
“our garden was the envy of the neighbors”
verb
1. (of a place or thing) be situated next to or very near (another).
“the square neighbors the old quarter of the town”

We all live near to each other on this small planet, so we’re all neighbors.

Won’t you be my neighbor as you look at these other photos from yesterday?

I’m glad that the new trees in Cambridge won’t be leaving.

I want to share one of the many songs Fred Rogers wrote, which he sings here to Jeff Erlanger.

It’s you I like, neighbor.

Thanks to all my neighbors who helped me create today’s post and who are reading it–  including YOU, my neighbor.

Day 1812: Not a fan

I am not a fan of

• traffic,
• filling out forms,
• loud noises,
• the cold,
• the dark,
• cages,
• cubicles,
• the new U.S. tax bill,
• people who abuse power,
• worry,
• loneliness,
• illness,
• poverty,
• war, and
• harsh judgments.

I am a fan of

• family,
• friends,
• cats,
• chocolate,
• cheese,
• peace,
• kindness,
• comedy,
• colors,
• warmth,
• light,
• windows,
• freedom,
• walking,
• blogging,
• visiting old familiar places, and
• sharing photos.

Are you not a fan of any of those photos?  Are you not a fan of this song by Ben Folds?

I am a fan of

• comments (whether you are or are not a fan) and
• expressing my thanks to all who help me create these posts and — of course! — to you.

Day 1568: Oasis

Oasis is

1. a small fertile or green area in a desert region, usually having a spring or well.
2. something serving as a refuge, relief, or pleasant change from what is usual, annoying, difficult, etc.:
   The library was an oasis of calm in the hectic city.

Every day, I look for and find a refuge, relief or pleasant change from what is usual, annoying, difficult, etc. Did you know that’s key for great happiness and renewal?

Here are some oases I found yesterday.

 

I do believe that sharing music together is an oasis which keeps our planet humming , so here‘s Wonderwall by Oasis:

Sharing my thoughts, feelings, photos, and music every day is an oasis for me. So is getting in touch with my gratitude to all, including you!

Day 1559: Good Advice

Just now, when I searched my own posts for “Good Advice,” I got this message:

NOTHING FOUND

So, if you were looking for good advice between January 1, 2013 and April 7, 2017, it might have been advisable to look elsewhere.

Let’s see if we can find any good advice here, today.

Thanks for that good advice, Ocean!

Here’s more good advice:

• Assume that you will survive everything that comes your way.
• Enjoy the journey as best you can.
• Throw away things you don’t need.
• Do more of what helps.
• Do less of what doesn’t help.
• Spend time with people you like.
• Avoid those who hurt you.
• Take a deep breath.
• Make noise.
• Accept all your feelings.
• Show up.
• Be gentle.
• Tell the truth.
• Be in the moment.
• Use all your senses.
• Access your wisdom.
• Let go of worry, fear, and shame.
• Trust yourself.
• Love freely.
• Care less about what other people think.
• Communicate clearly and directly.
• Move.
• Stop and smell the roses.
• If there aren’t any roses around, stop and see my latest photos.

If you have any good advice, I advise you to leave a comment.

More good advice from me:

• Listen to music that makes you happy.

• Express gratitude.

Day 1485: Ask

Ask for what you want.

Ask for what you need.

Ask for help.

Ask questions.

Ask without fear.

Ask and ye shall receive.

I ask myself these questions, here and now:

• Where do I want to live?
• What will make me happy?
• How can I achieve peace?
• What can I do to make the world better?
• How much time do I have?
• What lyrics should I write to this song?

• What do you want?   A YouTube video that shows a complete performance?

• Do my readers recognize guitarist Pat Metheny and saxophonist Michael Brecker, the two musicians my surgeon played during my open heart surgery on September 21?
• When will I recover from my open heart surgery?
• How do I stay sane in today’s political environment?
• Is somebody trying to sell me something?
• How can people feel safe enough?
• How can I be welcoming to others and also feel welcomed myself?
• Where did I get the inspiration for today’s post?

This person who loves asks that you ask or answer questions in a comment below.

Finally, I ask that you accept my gratitude for all who helped me create this post and for YOU, no matter what you’re asking today.

Day 896: I Spy (Part 2)

I’m not going to Spy all Posts I’ve Presented Previously, in the Present, but I’m Pretty Positive I’ve Presented You with  a Previous (and Perhaps Precious) Post “I Spy.”

After I Publish this Second “I Spy” Post, I’ll Spy the Previous Post, and You’ll Spy a link to it, here.

Ready for today’s game of “I Spy”?

I Spy with my little eye Some things that Start with the letters “S,” “P,” or “Y” (Spied Yesterday by YourS trulY):

                          
      

As You Spied those Spying Photos, did You agree that that I was Showing Pictures of “S”  “P” or “Y” things? Y did You think that? Could you name any “S” “P” or “Y”  things in a comment, if I gave You a Special Prompt?

Here’s a Special Prompt, You,  to name other Special Parts You might See in more Spying Pictures from Yesterday:

        

I Spy with my little I that it’s

… Seven, So I’ll Swiftly Pick You Some “I Spy” Sounds.

I’m Pretty Sure I Picked the “I Spy” theme for the Previous Post, So I’ll Pick You

… “Spy in the House of Love” Performed by Steve Winwood and …

… “Spy in the House of Love,” by waS (not waS).

Shall I SPY anY commentS from You?

“I Spy” thankS to all PeoPle, PondS, SwanS, PoSSum dog toyS, SignS, and StateS (SPecificallY, MaSSachuSettS),  helPing me Produce thiS PoSt. And thankS to You, eSPeciallY!

Day 833: We’re all just trying to figure it out.

Yesterday was like any other day for me. Like the rest of all of us,  I was just trying to figure it out.

After I woke up,  I figured it out that it was the second day of a beautifully sunny, warm weekend in Boston.

To help you figure out how I spent my Sunday,  I’ve figured out which of yesterday’s photos to show you. I believe you’ll all figure out enough about my day, even though I am presenting the figures in these photos in  REVERSE chronological order. Go figure.

   

  

          

          Edit        

                   

  

Did you all figure out all those figures in those figuring-backwards-in-time photos?

I figure I should introduce you to Bette and Lulu-bel — the two figures in that last photo (whom I saw at the beginning of my walk). I wouldn’t have figured out that either of them spelled their names that way, if Bette hadn’t helped me figure it out. Bette  figured I’d want to know she was “the matriarch”  of that neighborhood. She also tried to figure out my Heart Walk hat and told me about her brother who had recently died from heart problems. When she told me  he was “the sweetest guy” and that he was in his 90’s, I figured it out that Bette’s sweet brother had lived a long and full life.

We’ve all figured it out that some people need to go back to work on Mondays, so here’s my last (I figure) figuring-it-out photo:

Books are wonderful, in helping us all to figure it out.

Have you figured it out that I’ll be sharing some music now?

I figured it out that “Figure It Out” by Royal Blood is on YouTube. Also, because it took me so long to try to figure it out how to include a video created by my son Aaron and his friend Cameron in yesterday’s post, I am going to do my best to try to figure it out how to include that video again here, immediately after I publish this post.

What are you trying to figure out? After years of trying, I’ve figured it out that it’s very useful for me to let go of

• fear,
• worry,
• regret, and
• anything that interferes with my living in the present moment.

I’ve also figured it out that most things marked “easy” on a package are not easy for me:

I figure I’ll end this post by thanking all the figures I saw yesterday, including Bette, Lulu-bel, Irvin Yalom, Hilary Custance Green, swans, robots, race spectators, walkers, runners, bikers, bunnies, matriarchs, patriarchs, Royal Blood, Aaron, Cameron, my boyfriend Michael, and many more too numerous to mention. And special thanks to you — of course! — for joining me here as we’re all just trying to figure it out, today.