Rambling Mind Travels

I really have to fill up this page with plenty of words. I know I have lately been so critical of words on a page, prose writing, even poetry! I’ve been lamenting the fact that I’ve spent so many years writing and not enough artwork. Well, I am making up for it now that I am so inspired by other artists, those who do nature journaling or botanical illustrations for books or tour guide brochures. Christine Elder is so highly skilled as a Nature Educator and biological illustrator that I can’t help but be envious of her and the fact that she is able to travel all over the world, sketching wild animals, flora and fauna which she documents and brings back to her students.

John Muir Laws is also someone to admire (but I know I don’t need to envy, as that is not a desirable trait!). He likes being known as simply “Jack Laws” and he really is a hoot! I find him so funny whenever he speaks of bird feathers and readily identifies them. After all, he is a scientist as well as nature enthusiast and educator. Though I can hardly believe it when Jack Laws gets so pumped up about where each kind of feather is, on the bird. He is very specific as he draws, usually with his non-photo blue pencil, but recently switched to the lavender one which shows up better on the video screen, as he’s teaching his online courses. Who gets so excited about scapular bird feathers? Jack Laws does, and he practically leaps out of his seat whenever he talks about those scapular feathers, which are simply the ones that are at the shoulder. But oh boy, does Jack make his classes FUN! It’s almost a stand-up comedy routine. His rampant enthusiasm for the natural world and for being a good “steward of the earth” really inspires me! Jack Laws wears a goofy hat with a wide brim. It makes sense, though, because when you’re sketching outdoors, you need protection from the sun. 🙂

There are the other feathers as well, like primary and secondary coverts, as well as the tercels, the end part of the feathers. I really enjoy the different angles of the bird’s head, and showing one body with three different ways the bird is looking… We just had such a spectacular “Global Big Day’ which coincided with “World Migratory Bird Day” on May 14th, and I’m so glad that Christine Elder was able to connect with all of her students while at the Naturalista Lodge in Costa Rica, though the live streaming didn’t work for the day, only at the beginning with an introduction at our usual Crowdcast meeting site. No matter, she did tell us at the start that they may not be able to continue LIVE throughout the day, but would have pre-recorded videos available…

My friend and artist/ writer colleague, Beverly Kune also attended online for the World Migratory Bird Day. She is an avid bird photographer, so that’s why she was so keenly interested in this event. Another event going on the same day was Doak in his “Reach the Beach”, so I was multi-tasking back and forth with these important events that I had committed to and was determined to follow and stay on top of all that was going on. With Doak, that was quite simple as he checked in with me via images and texts during his 100-mile journey. I am looking forward to seeing more of the images along the way, from my Cuz Doak, knowing this was dedicated to Alan Kimball, on behalf of the American Lung Association.

The very next day was my dear Cuz Alan’s birthday, May 15th, and I was thinking of him all that day, and toasted him at lunch with David. We were at California Pizza Kitchen in Sunnyvale and before we got served (my favorite soup, “Smashed Dakota Pea and Barley”) I got Oskar on the phone, intending to call Doak — Ooops! But that was okay because we had a really nice chat, and I was telling Oskar about following his dad during the race. I did send a copy of those texts to him, Molly and Neville too. I’m glad that Oskar spoke with Doak after the successful ride. The weather in Portland is very changeable, apparently, and Oskar said there had been clouds, rain but that it was passing, and he’d be able to go for a little hike around his place. He commented on how lucky we were that we had “sunny weather” in Sunnyvale. I reminded Oskar that I really love seeing his 3D art images, and would he please send some more? And I would be happy to share more of my fine art, some artwork created with mixed media.

I plan to stay really close and connected with Neville, Oskar and Molly and made an excellent start with those $50 gift cards. I’m joking as I refer to them as a “bribe”, but it was such a delight to schmooze with them during the “Celebration of Life” for Alan. I know that he would have approved and said something like “Go for it, Jacqueline!” or some such exclamation, pronouncing my name the French way deliberately… Well, I did “go for it” and was pretty bold that day, with meeting friends of Alan’s and getting up to say my own tribute to a sweet soul who left this earth all too soon. My dear departed cousin was indeed “dialed into God’s grace” and now he’s riding high on his Pigasus!

157th Anniversary of the ASPCA!

Today is April 10th and in the Year of Our Lord (Circa) 1886 on this date, a wealthy philanthropist who resided in New York, saw how carriage horses were being cruelty treated in the city streets, and not even given water when they needed it. Some collapsed due to dehydration or simply being worked too hard… These magnificent horses were forced to work in any condition, with no regard to their health, safety or well-being. This was an outrage to Mr. Bergh, so much so that he founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, known as the ASPCA. We can marvel at the longevity of this organization, being the oldest animal rights group in the United States. But before we pat ourselves on the back, let’s realize that even after 157 years, this problem of horse exploitation has not gone away!

Our fellow equine beings are still being used for carriage rides, brazenly doped and raced to death on racetracks, forced to perform in circuses or carnival side shows, and even sold at auction for slaughter in the meat trade! These are horrible, despicable actions that have no place in civilized society. As a Roman Catholic and a Vegan animal rights activist, I am committed to serving the “least among us” as Jesus extolled his disciples to do during his ministry on earth. Why should that only pertain to people? If we really take His words to heart, our corporal and spiritual works of mercy need to apply to ALL sentient beings, not just humans. We know that in the Bible’s Old Testament, one of the Ten Commandments is “Thou Shalt Not Kill” and that must be applied to our fellow beings on earth. St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of Animals, Ecology, and all species that God created on earth (including the Earth Herself!) lived his life in service to all creatures and considered them his brothers and sisters. For my part, I love and respect all animals, plants, Mother Earth and feel it is completely in keeping with my Catholic faith. 🙂

In this world we live in currently, it is necessary to raise our voices in support OR protest in as big a way as possible through social media. Jesus conducted His ministry by gathering large groups of people and addressing them, such as the “Sermon on the Mount”, however in our modern times the method of reaching people is considerably different! Now we have face time with our cellphones and Zoom meetings. Nothing wrong with that, it’s just for us “older generation”, we are somewhat reluctant to give in to the mass media and technology, remembering those “good old days” of getting together in person and talking on a regular phone (landline) or even actually writing letters to family and friends. Gosh darn it, sometimes I wish we could go back to those days!

What we can easily do is volunteer or donate to worthy causes that promote animal welfare. Not only is this day an auspicious occasion for the ASPCA, but it is also “National Farm Animals Day” which brings awareness to the plight of farmed animals raised for food. There is a beautiful place called “Sweet Farm”, a sanctuary for rescued factory farmed animals. Here’s the email I just received about how compassionate people can immediately help them:

“Today, we are celebrating the incredible and sweet individuals who have been rescued and brought to Sweet Farm, while also raising awareness about the detrimental effects of factory farming on ecosystems, climate, human health, and animal welfare.

As part of our mission, Sweet Farm is committed to creating a brighter future for these amazing creatures and our planet, and we need your support to continue nurturing compassionate living and sustainable agriculture.

We are getting ready to put all of our crops in the ground for the season so that we can educate about the food system and feed our community fresh fruits and vegetables! We’re committed to disrupting harmful agriculture and food production with our education, planet-based agriculture, farm animal rescue, and sustainable technology programs. 

We can’t do this important work without you. Thank you for supporting our non-profit and our rescued farm animals on National Farm Animals Day!”

With gratitude,

The Sweet Farm Team

CALL TO ACTION: Contact this animal rescue group to donate at https://sweetfarm-bloom.kindful.com/?campaign=1175797&blm_aid=8224769

Grand Slam 2022 Highlights

I was supposed to post this blog weeks ago. Obviously, I forgot and allowed other things to occupy my time and attention… My distractions are usually pleasant ones. I followed both the French Open and Wimbledon, but the latter got me interested much earlier, and I saw more of the tennis matches. I cannot believe I didn’t write this blog sooner about Rafael Nadal winning the Men’s Championship for the 14th time at Roland Garros! Now I’m backtracking and renaming my blog post to cover both events. I had a feeling that would happen! But no matter, since my posts are written as I am so inclined — not very consistently done, which for me is par for the course… I cannot put writing aside completely, even for the sake of my artwork, which I dearly love. Too many projects left incomplete. I didn’t have that problem in school. I know that academics has always had a great lure for me. Ii should have become a teacher or scholar. I even wondered what it would be like to be a biblical scholar or pastoral minister. More to the point for this fractured world, it’s missionary work which is sorely needed!

But I digress, let’s get back to the phenomenal Rafael Nadal and his winning streak. I really admire him for his work ethic but concerned about his foot issues and the fact that he numbs his left foot before every match. I’d rather not think about that now. He is the “King of Clay” and has a statue in front of Roland Garros which is much deserved. John McEnroe commented on how unusual it is to have a statue dedicated to an athlete during his/her lifetime, especially while the player is still on tour! I was watching the crowd’s reaction to Nadal and his opponent, Casper Ruud whom I had never seen before. This player is training at the Rafa Nadal Academy and apparently several other top players are there as well.

I’m glad that Rafa dedicated the Academy Museum to more than just himself, and I’m glad I caught the tour on TV of this place in Mallorca which is an island off the coast of Spain. His uncle, Toni Nadal is one of the trainers there, was Rafa’s own coach, but “retired” from coaching his nephew and is currently coaching Felix Auger-Alliassime whom he played at the French Open. I love hearing about all the members of Rafa’s family, including his sister, Maria Isabel Nadal (what a beautiful name!) I’ve seen her on TV as they mention her every once in a while…

During the French Open, while Nadal was playing against Alexander Zverev, we were all shocked at the terrible accident when Sascha slipped and fell, twisting his ankle and tearing three ligaments. Immediately he was rendered assistance and escorted off the court with his doctor and physical therapist. Obviously, Sasha had to retire and default the match. Not exactly the best way to win, and Rafa was very concerned about what had happened. He showed a lot of empathy as he accompanied his friend backstage and helped Sascha with his things and anything else that could be done. I know now that not only are Rafa and Sascha competitors, but also good friends too. So many players have slipped and fallen, but this time it was more serious. Since at first it wasn’t clear how bad it was, Rafael did ask about the timing of his shirt change. But I’d rather remember how supportive he was during this rough time and his comments during the post-game interview on trials and tribulations of athletic injury for all tennis players!

Lamentations During Holy Week

Here we are, halfway through April already, and I’m still at a loss to know why I cannot seem to get back on the prosperous writing streak I had last year. I know I can do it, so why am I so hesitant? It doesn’t make any sense, but so much of what I do is not logical or predictable. I’m doing this now for my timed writing exercise for Unchained Writers, with online hosts Joseph, Mary and Natalie and the whole supportive group, so I really have no excuse. Now I’m reminded of that book by Wayne Dyer, “Excuses Begone!” — Oh yeah, I’m sure that reading this book would have some impact upon my procrastination. I’ve prayed for God’s guidance, for help in difficult situations. However, I’ve just learned that perhaps I’m not praying the “right way” in terms of giving proper adoration to the Lord, and not simply thinking of Him as a counselor and therapist… I’m certain I can do better than that, in worship and service to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, especially during Easter Season!

What I’ve learned recently from the current Good Catholic lecture series is that God is not just a problem solver, or a cosmic counselor or any number of other things we humans rely upon. It isn’t enough just to acknowledge God’s presence in our lives. We must also give Him praise and our undying love and devotion. Isn’t that what these devotional books are about? I have two of them still in the boxes they were shipped in. I haven’t yet opened the box with my new Insight Journal by Jeff Cavins that is to be used with the “Bible in a Year” podcast. I’m supposed to be using the New Adventure Bible as I go through each episode of Father Mike’s podcast with daily scripture. I’m so far behind, it’s embarrassing…

I’ve decided that I will have to skip at least a week of the Lenten series in order to become synced up with the rest of the pilgrims on this sacred journey. It wouldn’t do any good to “rush through” the lessons in order to catch up. That would only defeat the purpose of my learning. Maybe just take the most important of the lessons, the key elements, to focus on during my studies. That would probably be the Baptismal Promises, which are reviewed every Wednesday. Each day of the week features an area to concentrate on and put extra attention to, such as Fridays for fasting and repentance. But like I said to Father Christian during my confession, I’m relatively new to Catholicism having been confirmed in the faith just 3 years ago. It has proven to be quite a major adjustment in my lifestyle!

Change is never easy. I recall a scene in the TV show “Monk” where someone commented that Adrian Monk didn’t seem to take “change” well. He responded by saying, “I don’t mind change. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” That’s comes pretty close to how I perceive change in my own life. Now I’m up against a puzzling situation with my friend Marlene who has refused to communicate with me, and I really don’t know why. If she could just tell me what the problem is, I could do something to correct it, or we could at least discuss the situation. This is causing me a lot of aggravation, and I don’t think it’s fair for her to treat me that way! I would never do that to her, and we were doing so well working together on that La Piccola Villa newsletter. So, it doesn’t make any sense, at least not on the surface. However, I’ve worked for years as an investigative reporter, and I’m not daunted by puzzles or mysteries. I will dig deep to find the truth! Once I latch onto a problem, I won’t let go until I find the solution.

I realize though that when dealing with a broken relationship, it takes both people to work it out. I can’t do that all by myself. I need Marlene to be willing to talk about whatever is bothering her. What’s with the cold shoulder treatment? It must have something to do with my revising of her newsletter. But all along she was practically singing my praises. She loved the way I express myself through writing! If she was not entirely satisfied with my work, all she had to do was tell me. I explained why I needed a specific date by which she wanted to “launch” the announcement to her clients. I was waiting to hear back from her. The newsletter was mostly completed, just a few items remained to be included (which she easily added herself), but since she went ahead and emailed it out to all her clients, I figured the edited content had her approval. She never told me otherwise, so I naturally assumed the final copy, with all the work I’d already put into it, was sufficient.

I thought I had made it clear to Marlene that it was very important for her own voice to come through. Too much of my input would have detracted from that. It isn’t rocket science, so it shouldn’t have been that difficult for her to grasp this fact. Because I’m more thoughtful than most editors, I take that into consideration. I know myself and my tendency to put ego into my writing, and “dress it up” to look pretty and appealing. But because I respect my friend and told her that she has fine writing ability herself, I chose to have her put most of the finishing touches on her own newsletter. It turned out to be a beautiful piece of work, with the images of spa treatments and detailed descriptions of her sanctuary garden with attention to preserving Native horticulture. I have the utmost confidence that her clients were delighted with the announcement of the opening of La Piccola Villa at Vibrant-Glow Spa’s new location!

I’ve always admired Marlene for what she has accomplished as a holistic esthetician and before that, with her home juicing company in Decatur, Georgia. And we have been friends ever since childhood. We’ve had a lifelong relationship born of love and trust over the years, losing touch for a while as is common with friends, but always resuming connection by phone or email. This loving support means the world to me, and I will do whatever it takes to heal the rift! I hope and pray that it means something special to her too. When all’s said and done, isn’t such a long-term loyal friendship worth saving? Jesus would say so, and His death and resurrection proves that God’s saving grace is always at work in our lives!

We bid a Fond Farewell to Roger Alan Kimball

It’s time I got rolling along with the new season, like my good Cuz Alan Kimball, who recently passed on. He was Rockin’ and Rollin’ along in his electric wheelchair, just as social as ever. David and I enjoyed many visits to Alan in Santa Cruz, and now’s the time for remembering fondly all the pleasant times we spent together. It’s hard to believe that he’s gone, but Doak made sure my cousin got a proper send off, with family and good friends attending his “Celebration of Life” on Sunday February 27th at the Homestead Clubhouse, just steps away from his humble abode. What a nice lounge area that is, with a fully equipped kitchen and cozy fireplace area. It felt like being in someone’s home. Worked out better than everyone trying to fit into Alan’s place, that’s for sure!

I know a memorial service is supposed to a sad and serious occasion, but this was more of a family gathering, or better yet, a family reunion. Probably the closest we can get to that, for which I was very grateful. I’ve been wanting to have a “reunion” of my own family for some time now. I’d only been to David’s family reunions over the years. It’s a shame that it took Alan’s passing to bring about this wonderful coming together of friends and family. Overall, I felt such a surging of joy and gratitude, not simply for myself and my own experience, but for Alan’s final liberation and attaining that elusive “independence” which he so longed for, and was robbed of due to his condition… I feel somehow privileged that he confided in both myself and David during our time together. Obviously, I enjoyed our visits the most when my Kimball cousin was still living on Alice Street. But we knew that when Alan was planning to move, he would stay in the Cruz Zone. My Cuz was such a steadfast curmudgeon, he didn’t want to budge from the beach or be too far from the ocean…

Our gathering was a resounding success, and the reason for that is mostly due to the efforts of Doak Kimball. We all appreciated his hard work to get this whole event set up and sending out Evites to everyone, and Doak contacted a wealth load of people, such as John and Carol Naumann, George and Mary Hansen, his golfing buddies and those I didn’t quite get around to meeting. However, true to form, I got up in front of everyone quickly, before I had a chance to change my mind, and did my personal tribute to Cuz Alan. For me as a “Nature lover”, I wanted to emphasize his care and nurturing the flower beds and his beloved pets over the years. Actually, I surprised myself by not being particularly nervous. Like I said later, I was just “flying by the seat of my pants”, with nothing at all prepared, simply saying what was in my heart. 🙂

It was amazing the coincidence of what I was saying and the continuing slideshow that was happening behind me. It was Neville who pointed out that when I was talking about being out on Alan’s patio, taking a snooze while he and David were visiting, and my cousin would loudly inquire “Where’s Jacqueline”? (pronouncing my name with a French accent), then realizing I was just having my siesta on the patio, said “Eh well whatever…” and wasn’t in the least way bothered by my absence, that the presentation slides showed Alan making a funny face the second I said that… And when I spoke of Alan’s beautiful pots of flowers, there appeared an image of one of his potted plants in the slideshow. Neville said other people reacted too, and saw the coincidences there. What unexpected, spontaneous fun for all of us!

Well, I was like a little social butterfly flitting about and schmoozing with various people. However, the MOST important thing was giving those belated gifts to Oskar, Molly and Neville. We had the perfect opportunity outside in that beautiful gazebo in the garden. They really appreciated my thoughtfulness and generosity with the $50 gift cards. None of them expected anything like that. It was a total surprise and that’s really the fun of it — the spontaneous giving of gifts, not necessarily for any particular occasion. It just so happens they were originally meant for Christmas, and I was going to give them to Doak to give to the kids, but it worked out so much better this way! I was able to present a gift card to each of them myself, and experience seeing their reactions. Oh boy, I really enjoyed that! And we did get into some deep conversation and touched upon our core beliefs about life and activities we love, as well as a little joking and “rib tickling”. So, I felt it was time really well spent. Molly, Neville and Oskar are mature and sensitive young adults, with well thought-out plans for the future and high ideals. I’m proud to be in the same family with them!

I was even able to give away the calendars to some people, and one of the guests even said she really needed a calendar. I think that was Mary Hanson, but I was flitting around and chatting with so many people, that I’m not entirely sure! With the pandemic, I’d been starved of socializing and it’s almost like I was “gorging” on making connections… Anyway, I gave her an extra “The Mara Project” calendar about saving elephants, with the enclosed letter and envelope for sending donations. I was so pleased that she asked about making a donation to this animal charity. So that worked out super well. 🙂

I loved meeting and visiting with Bjorn Hanson, son of George and Mary, and he was so open minded about the expose article on Cosco and being more aware of the impact of our food choices on the environment. I was going to give that “Clean Living” magazine to my cousin Phil, to inform him about “Seaspiracy” and not eating fish, but Bjorn was so easy to talk to and welcoming of the information, that I chose to give the issue to him instead. We had a nice chat about the benefits of eating quinoa and couscous too. He and several other people really liked my “Vegetable Couscous with Savory Tofu” and appreciated all the vegan food I brought – YAY!!

For some reason, although we mourn the loss of Alan Kimball whom everyone loved so much, it felt like a real celebration of his wonderful life. That is what he would have wanted, I’m sure! And even in the midst of turmoil and fear mongering in the media, Alan would smile and shout out, “C’est la vie; life goes on!”. And so it does, my dear Cuz, in our memories of you!

Stellar Victories at Aussie Open!

I’m too long gone from my blogging and tardy with this post. Sorry guys, don’t have my slip either…

Well, here we are. A new year and a new start to our lives. What could be better than thinking along the lines of better days ahead? I know I am an optimist, but it’s better than being jaded and cynical. I don’t want to ever be that way! I am feeling so good about the outcome of the Australian Open, with both Men’s and Women’s finals. Oh boy, isn’t it about time that an Aussie woman won the Championship on her home turf? Popular Ashleigh Barty made history and thrilled the crowd with her brilliant play. The last time an Australian women won the Championship was 1978 — Christine O’Neil. They call it the Open Era, and that was just 10 years after it began… I seem to recall that legendary Chris Evert was one of the first professional players to be part of the Women’s Tennis Association (also new at the time), which was founded by Billie Jean King. So much tennis history to remember, it’s hard to keep track of it all…

Despite the fiasco with Novak Djokovich, this grand slam event was a huge success, and well worth watching. I would have loved to see my favorite player perform out there on the courts, but I guess it just wasn’t in the cards for Novak. I sure hope that the problems work themselves out, and he’s back in action for the French Open! In the meantime, we have a spectacular champion in Rafael Nadel, who I much admire and love to watch whatever match he’s playing. I was routing for him to win, though the odds were stacked against Rafa. Having missed the last two majors because of injury and necessary surgery, also battling COVID recently, it’s a “bloomin’ miracle”, as the British would say, that Nadal was able to even enter the Australian Open, much less make it to the finals! Nobody expected that, and Nadal himself was surprised that he had the stamina and endurance to continue playing at his best.

What a roller coaster match it was, after the first two sets favored Daniill Medvedev, then Rafa came roaring back, determined to win a set so that he at least wouldn’t lose in straight sets. Well, he managed to do much better than that! Most of the crowd was behind Nadal, wanting him to win his 21st major tournament, and I was shouting and cheering him on, along with everyone else. Some booing happened too, whenever Medvedev scored a point, and especially when he had that altercation with the umpire, which happened during the semi-finals and the men’s finals as well… But I don’t want to dwell on that. Much better to celebrate each and every winner coming from Rafa’s racket, and even to speculate on his apparent obsessiveness with arranging his towel every time after using it to dry off. I’m guessing he has a mild form of OCD. Either than or Rafa’s simply superstitious in all his mannerisms. No matter, I just love to watch Nadal play his awesome game. 🙂

Rafael Nadal’s winning this tournament by coming back from two sets down is such an incredible feat, given that he’s 35 yrs. old and returning from both surgery and illness. I was hanging on every word from the sports broadcasters, before, during and after the finals match. Brad Gilbert, John and Patrick McEnroe, Chris McKendry, and that Aussie guy down on the court. They were all amazed as the miraculous event was unfolding. Nothing was for certain, everything was up for grabs, and Medvedev almost become another “spoiler”, looking like he was going to win in straight sets. Thank God that didn’t happen! What an amazing turnaround for Rafa Nadal, sweating and straining out there on the court, hitting winners and totally frustrating his opponent. And it didn’t help Medvedev (aka “The Skinny Villain”) that the crowd was totally cheering for Nadal. After all, they knew this was a history-making event for the Spaniard — going for that elusive 21st Majors Title!

I loved seeing that last point and Rafa’s expression of sheer joy and relief! It’s great to see that big smile on his face, after such a hard won victory against the formidable player, Daniil Medvedev, who had to settle for just earning the title of Skinny Villian. He would have preferred the illustrious one of Australian Open Champion 2022, but that eluded him (much to the delight of most tennis fans!) Daniil would have also accomplished winning his first two majors back to back — the U.S. Open, where he defeated Novak Djokovich, and then this championship. But we all know that reaching the 21st majors, and breaking the tie with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovich is so much more exciting and certainly what all, or most of us, wanted to see happen, along with hometown girl, Ash Barty winning in straight sets. Stuff of dreams!

So we celebrate both victorious history-making events — Men’s and Women’s 2022 Australian Open Championships — and we’re grateful that the improbable DID happen, after all the excitement and anticipation. Whew! Well earned and deserved, Ashleigh and Rafael!!

St. Francis Blessing of the Animals

October 4th was the “Feast of Saint Francis” and here’s my belated personal tribute:

There’s too many days that slip by me, and I find that I have not done my daily writing, as I did before. It was so easy and I got into a regular routine and even had a streak going for while. But as luck would have it, that streak faltered and faded away… But the good news is I’m “back in the saddle again” and determined to continue with this every day, whether it’s morning pages or something else I’m working on, such as that course on healing poetry which I should have gotten up and running months ago!

However, right now I am doing the “Blessing of the Animals” for all our kitty cats on the property, and naturally for our own Pierre and Isabella, who get first dibs on blessings. Even so, I consider our feline garden family important, and they derive the very same benefit from being blessed as they do. The only thing is that Pierre and Isabella have Holy water imported from Lourdes, France sprinkled on them, which I don’t do with the outdoor semi-ferals. Although I do recall having done that with Percy last year, and whenever I do sprinkle water on any cat, they instinctively run and shake themselves. As a general rule, cats don’t like to get wet, and that’s why bathing them is so problematic. We had to take Sabrina to the Vet for her baths, which she didn’t much care for, even when I spoke to her lovingly, and referred to the vet visit as “Kitty Day Spa”. But I’d have to say that Sabrina wasn’t fooled for a minute — she knew what was really going on!

Now I’m reminded of T.S. Eliot and his famous poetry collection — Old Possum Book of Practical Cats — which was the basis for the popular musical, CATS. Some people don’t know this, although I thought it was practically common knowledge… The main thing is that every day I take care of our “feral colony”, but I prefer to speak about it as our “feline garden family”, since that is so much more appropriate and accurate, given my love of each kitty cat, and treating them much as our own indoor feline children…

So who have I managed to bless so far? Well, beginning on the Feast of St. Francis, I started off by blessing our neighbor across the street and their sweet little dog, Theodore, since I can’t count on seeing him that often, and he happened to be\ outside, romping in their front yard. Travis and his wife Tiffany have just finished putting up a lovely white picket fence, to protect their lawn. Just when I think their front yard couldn’t get any more beautiful, with all the potted plants and creative decor, it does get to look even nicer, and is the most attractive house in our neighborhood… After blessing their little dog, I also blessed a grey/white kitty cat who is wearing a color (so not a feral) and whose name I don’t know. But this precious creature gets blessed anyway! I can name several others — obviously Pierre and Isabella, which was last night. Also, I saw Tufty, and blessed him, along with Mama Cloette, and today the following were given the pet blessing, in this order: Percy, Mama Pipsqueak, Minuet (my classical kitty cat!) and Sweetie Pie… I will go out there again, to bless the other “Cloette” and Teaser too!

I’m pretty good at keeping track of all my kitty cats and their comings and goings. They do roam about freely, but most of them have been spayed or neutered, so that’s okay. The main thing is that our place is their sanctuary, and they feel safe and loved here. When I bless them, it’s even better and I can tell that they appreciate my caring for them, as they rub up against my leg and sometime purr their appreciation, which I love to hear. I never get tired of a cat’s purring, or their rubbing me as they all naturally do, even though it tends to leave hairs behind on my pants. You get used to their behavior, and enjoy having them around even when they’re naughty… I’ve grown up with cats in the family, and I’ve always loved them!

For those of you who aren’t familiar with this patron saint of ecology, animals and all of Mother Nature, here’s a little primer:

https://ministryearth.com/2021/06/17/st-francis-and-the-blessing-of-animals/

Also, many people say they’re “horse lovers”, and that’s great. However, some attention is needed for donkeys too, who are often overlooked and even ridiculed. Please click the link you’ll see on that page “Help A Donkey In India” or perhaps click on picture of a needy dog to sponsor. Donate if you can, or at least spread the word about these exploited and abused animals… Thank you!

I’m proud of the fact that every year without fail I observe the Feast of St. Francis. Though I would prefer to attend a ceremony in person at a local Catholic Church, that isn’t always possible. But having my own pet blessing ceremony at home has worked out quite well. The only problem is it takes me the better part of the month of October to get around to all the kitties who reside here in our “Homestead Sanctuary”, hence the tardiness of this blog post!

Changing of the Guard at US Open

We cling to memories of great moments in sports, like our lives depend on it. And in a way, that’s true. How many times have we watched as “coach potatoes” the extraordinary events of the US Open and other tennis tournaments (as I follow them all!) and fantasize about being out there, playing on those prestigious courts, and hearing the cheers of the crowds. Ah, it’s a heady experience! But not all the time, because you never know when things will turn against you, and it really is grueling to keep up the pace!

Sooner or later, with the younger generation coming up in the ranks, the veterans have to see that their time has come to relinquish the mantel of victory and give it over to the new players. it’s hard for them, to know that their glory days are behind, and can never be recaptured…. I don’t want to see Rafael Nadal, Federerr or Murray “go gentle into that good night”, These guys are the dominant tennis professionals, and have given their all to the sport. Seeing them fade away from the scene reminds us of our own mortality, and that is as harsh a lesson as losing a grand slam match to a younger player. These talented new tennis pros are called phenoms, and there seem to be more and more of them emerging from the juniors — eager to play and hungry to win. We have teenagers now, in men’s and women’s tennis. and they come out on the courts looking as confident and professional as their older counterparts. Yes, we sports couch potatoes have our favorite players, as my favorite is Novak Djokovich, and we don’t want to let them go! At the same time, though, we can’t help but cheer on these “phenoms” because they bring a freshness and excitement to the sport of tennis that we all love!

It would seem we have a trade off — the veteran players who have proven themselves time and time again, and the newbies who challenge them, and have yet to prove themselves worthy of our respect. But any tennis fan will tell you it’s fun to have both, and we really don’t want to give up either one! What a great mix of youth and experience, which can’t help but entertain and excite us, whether we’re at Flushing Meadow, New York, or watching from the comfort and convenience of our living rooms… It’s really amazing how quickly respect can be earned, though, as with just-turned 19 year old Leylah Fernandez winning not one, not two, but three matches against the top five seeds! Tennis fans were wondering if this firecracker would fizzle out, but she just kept right on going, and earned her place in the US Open semifinals. I can hardly wait to see what happens next for Leylah!

I already admire Carlos Alcarez, who’s only 18 and is a gritty player, scrambling all over the court and hitting incredibly well against the toughest players. What a disappointment that he had to retire due to injury. That is a rare thing to happen in tennis, and what a surprise with such a young competitor! But that just goes to show how vulnerable athletes can be, and how you never know what may happen at any time. It’s the drama of life, and we are all watching to see it unfold, in all its unexpected ways!

Sabrina Faire in Memoriam

This is a day of remembrance for another of our beloved pets who passed away. Last week, I posted on my Facebook page, the dedication to Chance, our beautiful dog who sadly left us on July 27th (our wedding anniversary) in 2016. That day became a bittersweet memory each year since. I have his urn on my sacred altar now, with another that just joined his in a special place on my altar, with pictures of them both…

Our sweet Sabrina Faire, gorgeous feline creature, passed away on this day nine years ago, August 6, 2012. Sabrina was half Siamese, half Burmese – a real beauty.. I thank God she was still alive to be a loving mother to Midnight, one of her first litter of kittens, who died of lymphoma two years before. He was always a “Mama’s boy” and Sabrina allowed him to continue nursing long after he was weaned. He would tuck himself into the kitty bed, in between the other babies in Mama Sabrina’s 2nd litter. (She was spayed after that!) She spoiled Midnight and groomed him more than her other kittens. He was too young to die. We all know how devastating it is to lose a pet, for they are our “furry children” and give us so much love and devotion (especially dogs!) that it breaks our hearts to let them go. However, there are ways to ease some of the pain and anguish, and that is where my faith and spirituality work together to comfort me, giving solace to both myself and my husband.

I wrote this letter and sent it to everyone in our family, to share our mourning the loss of our beloved Sabrina. They were all very sympathetic and supportive, helping us get through this traumatic time:

“David and I would like to share with you a recent loss in the family. Mama Sabrina passed away from cancer on Monday, August 6th. The disease only manifested as “critical” in the last week. Tests showed nothing abnormal except elevated liver enzymes. she had x-rays done but nothing conclusive until the last one on that day. We didn’t want to put her through any aggressive treatment that would just buy time — not even an ultrasound with biopsy. We had been down that road before, with Midnight’s lymphoma, and waited too long, but it’s hard to know and take action at “the right time”, as any pet parent knows who’s been through this kind of nightmare…

I was scared and in a panic that morning, as we rushed her first to Animal Medical Clinic. Dr. Saini wouldn’t be in until 10 am. so David and I went to another vet clinic in Milpitas. Sabrina was barely breathing. We’d been treating respirator distress, when the root cause was far more serious. Thank God the veterinarian make time for us at this new place! She was very calming and genuinely sympathetic. it was quiet at the time, not too busy which made things a little easier. the doctor merely confirmed what David and I suspected. It was time to put Sabrina to sleep. Time to say “goodbye”.

You know in a strange way, when you’re in crisis you can relax because you don’t have to think. You can’t think your way out of a moment, you are IN IT and it seems the more painful it feels, the more fully you are experiencing life. And I felt so privileged to share that delicate moment with our furry child. As her life ebbed away and she found peace, I felt that pain of loss very deeply. Yet somehow, there was a feeling of relief too… I stayed as long as I could in that room, and performed a blessing ritual with Holy Water from Lourdes, France. The doctor turned off the lights, except for one above her body, like a spotlight. I believe Sabrina had moved “into the light”, and I had a vision of Saint Francis (my patron saint) gently holding Mama Sabrina in his arms, and Jesus facing the, holding hands over her body, as He gave this precious pet His Blessing. It was beautiful and so peaceful. I will never forget that sacred moment when time seemed to stand still, as Sabrina entered into the Heavenly Realm….

There is a time for hanging in there, and there is a time for releasing our hold on life. We had to let her go… Our sweet Sabrina Faire is contentedly purring in God’s lap now.”

Love & blessings ~ David & Jacqueline

P.S. This Memoriam wouldn’t be complete without a video of “Rainbow Bridge”, a serene and peaceful place where our beloved pets go in the afterlife:

Please enjoy this sweet tribute, and make sure you have a tissue handy!

Virtue or Vice – Which do you choose?

Humility, modesty, obedience… Where are these virtues in today’s world? Are they simply an anachronism, or have they become irrelevant or worse — obsolete?? I don’t know. I don’t have all the answers, but I do know that leaving it in God’s hands is the best we can do, and alleviates a lot of unnecessary pain and suffering. Human beings manage to create most of their own suffering, and tend to blame it on circumstances, or bad luck. What is the most alarming is that they blame their unfortunate situation on God, and don’t recognize the miracles that the Good Lord has wrought in their lives…

Miracles abound, and are happening every day. In fact, there is a song in the musical, “The King and I”, about this… I believe the lyrics are “miracles are happening every day!”, and when you think about that, if you really concentrate on the goodness in the world, you’re able to see and appreciate these miracles, be they large and obvious, or small and unobtrusive. Either way, they are there for us. Whenever the sun comes from behind a cloud, I know that God is listening to me and thereby shows me His Love and His infinite kindness. It isn’t just a matter of loving God, but of acknowledging that we belong to Him. In our bedroom, I have a calendar from Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, which is from last year. It still shows December 2020, and each month is a different theme. For the month of December, their theme is “Belonging”,and the picture is of two beautiful cardinals in a lovely Winter scene. I haven’t changed yet to a new calendar because I adore this scene and want to continue admiring it… Also, I don’t recall if I actually received a calendar from them for 2021, however they did send some beautiful Easter cards. I certainly have more than enough of those, just as with Christmas cards from various religious institutions we support.

It is a shame that Priests of the Sacred Heart are not to be trusted, due to their various scandals, and the same holds true for Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. It is in particular disappointing to me that MOMI is also stricken with a church scandal. I can hardly believe it, as we have been supporting Missionary Oblates in Belleville, Illinois for almost 25 years! I first heard of them while David and I were living in Milpitas, and I think the year was 1997… In September of that year (or maybe 1996), I followed the direction of a girl in our singing group at the time — “The Something Else Ensemble”, with Greg Farbezio as our choir director. She was Christian, and taught me the saying to Jesus, really the appeal to Him, to “enter my heart and become an integral part of my life”. which I did, and I spoke these words in all sincerity, from my heart. So I became “born-again”, and that was a critically important turning point in my life…

Well, I have to look at this all philosophically, and reason that there’s plenty of other religious organizations that are truly legitimate, and not tainted by scandal. I don’t understand how a priest – a man of the cloth – who is in the ultimate position of trust and divine authority can abuse a child?! What is going on here? What about the vows they take in seminary school? How is it that there’s so many who have committed such grievous sins, when you’d think it would be an aberration, something strange and rare to find in the priesthood. And what of the innocent victims? What is their recourse to effect justice in these horrendous circumstances?

So many questions, and one might ask the very same about abuse and exploitation of innocent animals. There is quite obviously a connection between these vices and the criminal activity that seemingly runs rampant among those in positions of power and authority. When you occupy such a position, in the public trust, whether you are a politician or a priest, or a psychotherapist, there is a mandate for decent behavior… Actually we all have that same cal to behave morally and hold others in a high regard, no matter how much power and prestige we have. In fact, you could say the more power one has, the greater the responsibility to wield that power justly, and with the utmost care and attention to “the least among us” — children and animals, who are the vulnerable in our society, and deserving of our love and protection. Much more on this crucial issue coming up, in future blog posts!

So again we have to ask, where are the virtues in humanity, and how might they be revealed in different situations? In my training through RCIA, I learned that scripture says we are called to be “priestly people”. The shocking, immoral behavior of certain priests who’ve violated their vows by sexually abusing children, flies in the face of this sacred Christian mandate. Slapping them on the wrist, and simply moving the offenders to another church is not the solution! And even worse, the tendency to “cover up” these crimes is insidious and inexcusable. How can this be allowed to happen in the Catholic Church? While there is the ultimate judgment day, when these sexual predators will be dealt with by Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we have secular systems now in place for their prosecution and conviction. For God’s sake – and our own – let’s use them right away, without delay!