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Cannot wait!

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Daily writing prompt
What is your favorite type of weather?
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Being a Midwestern brat pretty much my entire existence, I like having access to all four seasons.

They may not come in any particular order. We had some shorts and shorts optional weather a few weeks back, followed by subzero blizzards and closures all about. Went to sixties this past Saturday, but in upper twenties today. Bird bath is out and set up. But I will wait to fill it. My buddies like to sip and splash, not skate and crash.

Being able to have all four though is really the cat’s meow. I love the sound of a good steady snow storm, just falling. The smell of the ground and emerging flowers in spring. Those hotter than blazes summer days. And when hoodies become my favorite goodies come fall.

But of the four, I want hot and humid. 90’s and 90%. To keep things at a G rating, swamp derriere weather.

You walk out and your skin is glistening. T’s and polos for work, and dark shorts a must. But go in the yard? All bets are off. Sweat thtough everything, shoes included. Daily wash cycle for the clothes or else mildew finds a home in the pile. A lukewarm shower that leaves you till sweaty after being outside.

I recall my football days in that kind of weather. One coach used to say, “if you feel just a little thirsty, then you already waited too long to drink water.”

Only had one heat episode during a game in college. Felt fine all first half. Drank water through out. Came inside for half time, took off my top and laid on the gym floor to cool off more. Coaches said their spiel, went to get back up, and couldn’t. Had stopped sweating and body temp elevated. Done. I was put in a chair, slid into the showers as is, and sat there under running water for the second half. Only time heat and humidity ever got me.

I have been to New Orleans and Florida and they have that 90/90 going. Same with Texas. But then you lose spring, fall and a beautiful snow shower. So I will bide my time for the first day of swamp derriere weather here in Wisconsin.

Baby powder on standby.

Cannot wait!

And the first two don’t count.

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Daily writing prompt
Who was your most influential teacher? Why?
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I don’t think I had a one.

There were many that came and went over the span of my life as it goes today. Some arriving just in the nick of time bringing with them some element of saving grace. Others, there in background, being that steady, ongoing and inspiring font of wisdom and love.

Some teachers may tend to inhabit the workplace, a gym, football programs, home, the store, gas station or church. That is just to name a few. Teachers can choose to occupy a great many spaces. I just don’t think they are confined to one place or moment because of a noun. The only restriction that has any bearing on their presence is solely determined by the student.

Do you think you already know everything, so why be open to listening?

Or, are you always willing to learn because it can be so fulfilling?

Though there are lingering and painful aspects of me to be found in the former, I tend to be wooed more to the latter.

I desperately need engagement. So I do listen to all with an intent to learn, feel and experience what they offer and share. An opportunity for intention, connection, empathy, life. Perhaps that is why I follow my grandpa’s MO of “he knew no strangers.” Grandpa talked to everyone and anyone he happended upon like he knew them his whole life. He was on to something. This he taught me well.

But as I reflect deeper on this topic, while it may appear that moments such as these just happen, they do not. For there is no such thing as coincidence.

Like the person you meet and work with for a career. The friends you still have from playing ball in highschool and college. The pastor you meet at a local community organization. The young men you coached and still know. The fellowship you fell into where can open your heart and the folks that share “peace be with you” at morning mass. The ones at the store, gas station or down the block that simply smile and say “hello.”

Everything happens for a reason. And everyone was where they were meant to be, when they needed to be there. As much for me, as it was for them.

Now think about that.

As such, chance moments are referenced or labeled as coincidence, simply because we aren’t aware of the lesson plan. We don’t know what is about to be shared, why it is being shared, or how it will become learning. Just because this is how we might be taught, doesn’t mean it is lost on us or wasted time. We just have to attend to our studies. Put things together. And trust in these opportunities to grow.

If you can be fully present in each of these moments, there is so much to be learned. From the outside – in as well as from the inside – out. Nothing is ever wasted. It is an entity beholden to the same laws as matter. Things may just take on a different form. Perhaps it doesn’t match our current configuration or what think we know. But yet, it remains all the same. Patiently abiding its time to be summoned when we need it.

This is quite a lesson plan.

Built solely on unconditional love. We only need trust in the teacher.

And in my estimation, there is but one best suited for this level curriculum.

Give you three guesses.

And the first two don’t count.

My wish.

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Daily writing prompt
What do you wish you could do more every day?
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I cannot honestly list anything that may fall into this category.

I am looking for volunteer opportunities to fill in gaps each week. One is already under way. Another will get closer next week. And still one more requires some on line and in person training. So that will be the last in the quiver for now.

This part of my life is truly a source of great joy and I look for ways to fit more of it into each twenty four hours. I love being able to share with all of you. A connection I never thought would be found and embraced. We are just getting to know one another, but there is no rush in that.

More involvement with my kids and grandkids is also an ongoing venture. Lunch with #2 this afternoon. Have a cute spring outfit to drop off for #3’s new daughter. She is growing like a weed. So I hope it will still fit.

It is somewhat ironic that today’s was “what do you wish you could do more every day.”

Ironic in the sense that I have been been engaging in some ongoing reflection about life in general. An integral aspect of my personal reclamation project. Combine it with the genuine discernment that accompanies the Lenten season, and this Jurassic vintage gray matter is firing away nonstop. Well, somewhat.

Reflection of late is not so much dwelling on or in things, as was common practice before, nor does it have anything to do with looking out over the skis for what is to come. It is more about finding the serenity in true honesty with oneself. Dispensing with the camo provided by the joint forces of ego and pride to see for once, and oddly enough, appreciate things for what they were. Let me tell you; truly an f’d up existence masquerading as some facade. Not sure pun to create for that yet. But when I do, you will be the first to know that pun.

Weird thing is, in no way do I wish to change any of it. Because somehow, it miraculously brought be to where I am today. I know how that happened and how it will remain and continue as such ad infinitum. The past had to happen the way it did so I could experience the present the way it is.

So to answer the prompt in a nut shell; live just like this.

For as long as I can.

My wish.

My new tattoo.

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Daily writing prompt
What tattoo do you want and where would you put it?
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The vocabularic duo of Merriam and Webster call it “a mark, figure, design, or word intentionally fixed or placed on the skin.” I think that one is the PG version. Farther down the list, you get “one that is composed of scar tissue intentionally created by cutting, abrading, or burning the skin.” Yikes. Not sure how you rate “burning the skin.”

Either way it seems that they make a statement about the wearer. That being said, I cannot say for sure what I would choose to broadcast something about myself whether through ink, a knife, abrasion or fire.

It does however bring to mind some of the tattoos I might have consented to apply to myself internally over the course of my life. Through poor choices, bad habits and unhealthy behaviors. Like ones of regret and remorse. Self-deceit, – resentment, – destruction and – hatred. Those big bright ones like EGO, PRIDE and some WRATH for good measure. SLOTH from a spiritual side too.

I am not suggesting that any of them are permanant by any means. Or that this is how I go about broadcasting some self pity for the world to partake. I just want to vent some, share alot of myself and promote a healing process. Not just mine, but for anyone else out there that is emblazoned with their own internal tattoos the same way.

I haven’t felt this confident in a very long time. Mostly because many of the things brought to light in the prior paragraphs are slowly – but surely – being defeated. I think that is why God invented prompts.

Ultimately, what it comes down to is that I chose to mark myself in a variety of ways and depths on the inside that have since become worn out. Both in their need and their welcome. It’s not like I can open up and apply a couple new layers of self forgiveness with a paint roller and attend to the deepest scars inside with a shot of Botox or three.

It is just part of a self healing process.

One that brings me great joy to undertake and understand. Through out the course of trying to figure it out, I kept a lot to myself. You can tell it is piled pretty deep inside. The stoic smile on my mug never lies. And pursing the lips like that helps keep it all within. Hidden from a potential, inadvertant broadcast.

So what was this one about?

Oh, yes, tattoos.

It would be fitting to find the one that captures the sense of self-forgiveness, -understanding, -confidence and -love that I am finally starting to feel. The ones I etched and drew on the inside long ago are all but faded out. Something truly different is starting to happen. There is a new artist in town. Soon, this stoic’s lips will no longer need to adhere to a strict pursing regimen.

That cramp is leaving the building.

I know you will never believe it.

But this may happen.

My new tattoo.