On occasion

On occasion we meet someone who cares enough to listen and pay attention.

*L* is one of these people that I was fortunate enough to meet.  An old soul and she's been chosen by my cousin to join him in life.  I've respected my little cousin (they're all littler than me in age) and looked forward to the moment that he'd marry and bring a wife into our nutso family. He didn't disappoint.  Funny thing is, because of geography and circumstance, I'm here in this obscure suburban city at the same point in life as they are.

It's rare, isn't it?  To spark a friendship so instantly? We've sparked a friendship and influenced each other more than we know.  Not in that silly old school girl way.  In a mature, eye-opening way.  I've just finished a portion of my life that I'd like to sweep under a carpet in some ways.  I made mistakes.  Big ones.  Mistakes I regret making.  Mistakes I am also thankful to have experienced.  I grew.  Grew in so many large leaps.  I gained some really great friends on that journey. Friends I long for and miss. Friendships have always presented themselves to me, but I refused to let myself get attached in the event that I would get attached and I'd get hurt.  Human nature goes here.  The unique friendships I gained in Muskoka were brief, but deep.

They affected me in a way that I had never expected.  There were women and some men that genuinely wanted to see my life's purpose work out.  What I didn't know then was, that was not my life's purpose.  It was the adversity I needed to face in order to pick myself up and dust myself off to discover my life's purpose.  Do I know what my purpose is?  Hmmm.  Maybe not perfectly clear on that yet.  I do now know that I feel better about myself.  

So, where is this all leading and where does it tie in back to *L*?  Well, what happened to me when I left that portion of  life behind and my friends situated on the map 3 hours north was I found a new friend.  Immediately. The first day we arrived back into our southern nest, she was an immediate and natural relief.  Opened her arms and hugged us.  She must have followed us from Muskoka where I had tearfully left so many great huggers behind.  She allowed me to be myself.  She's my instant friend and we've discovered so many great similarities and lessons to learn from each other.  We've learned to drag ourselves out to meet up with other new friends too.  And that's the best part.  We can teach each other how to be a friend.

Most importantly, I learned the other day that *L* clearly paid attention and cared.  She recognized that I'm celebrating a birthday this month and while it's not until later this month, her thoughtfulness reigned over the day and she brought me a special surprise.  One I did not expect.  One I certainly shall express my gratefulness here.  Grateful for listening and being a true friend.


A "K" mug.  So stylish and reminds me of 'Steven and Chris' but with edge and way more class.

A bag of coffee I've always wanted to try.  Named for a famous Canadian author (Guess who?) and also the name of my grandmother.  So very special.

A bag to hold it all with a motto that I live by.

And then there's this book.  One that I've been eyeballing online and dreaming that I'd go buy it when I was willing to part with my ...*ahem*... money.  Okay, okay:  my husband's money.  I dove right into that book and had trouble putting it down.  *L* really gets me.


I'm sure you feel the same about someone you've met.  Share.  And if you can't share it with me, share your story about a great friend with someone.  Shout it from the mountaintops.  Just don't hold it in like I did for so many years with so many really true friends, who still stand by my side.  You know who you are.

signed, the willow

Song of the Spindle

The whale that I painted during the G8 - guarding the oceans and waters of the world.  Steward of the waters.

Which makes me love the connection here with this whale video.  The odd thing is, today *Mila* and I walked home talking about the brain size relative to body size of an animal.  I used a whale as an example of a large brain, then we got hung up on the pea brain variety of birds (and humans).  Fast forward 2 hours and I run across this video.  It starts off talking about brain size of animals.  The singing connection between human and the whale is so unusual.  It haunts me.  I love whales and I remember why. It was that flippy, floppy paper-like record, that arrived in the National Geographic magazine in the early 1980s, proving that whales too made music.  My grandparents went to Hawaii and more whale songs soon arrived on vinyl.  We all pretended to enjoy their deep dark songs from the ocean realm.  Honestly, their songs were sad, morose and told a story.

This is their story.  Enjoy the film.





Song Of the Spindle from Drew Christie on Vimeo.



signed, the willow

Save the Whales & Dolphins AGAIN

Please help save the dolphins in Japan and while you're at it, save a whale too!

SaveJapanDolphins

Would you eat a dolphin?  How would you feel if you had already consumed one and didn't know? 


signed, the willow

As Shallow as a Wading Pool

Tonight as I opened up my mail I began my usual "feeling sorry for myself" hour of the night.  Until I opened up my birthday card from my mother. 

So, yes Mom, I received your great card and your wonderful gift.

Now to describe my hour of self-wallowing.  I sat there and began to day dream about the countertop, sink and tap that I would "need" in my bathroom to fit into my status symbol world.  I opened another bill and changed the address over the phone for this biller with a fellow in a third world country, where English was obviously rehearsed and not even a secondary language for him.  I was frustrated and not feeling the least bit sorry for someone who obviously worked in a boiler room.  There were voices in the background, they weren't happy voices.  And then I opened up my mother's card.  Inside she gave me the gift of giving to those less fortunate.  A health check up for 5 children and vitamins for a year for 5 children.  You too can help the hungry.....Food For the Hungry.  I promise to not feel sorry for myself because my sink and tap are not in vogue.  I promise to feel more for those who actually do need a sink with clean water flowing from it.  After all, avocado green isn't as bad as an infectious disease is it?

signed, the willow

Boy, Oh Boy

Take a lake.
Get some women on Birth Control pills.
Get them to pee in the lake.
Get some Fathead minnows.
Put them in the lake with the pee.
Guess what?
Bye Bye Boy minnows.
Hello Lady Boy Minnows!

For more information, please refer to the Endocrine Disrupter Study conducted at the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) in Northwestern Ontario.

signed, the willow

My Water Friends

In case you were wondering if your summer could get any more depressing, I'm here to tell you that "YES IT CAN~!"

Here is the reason why. It's a documentary called "The Cove" and the dolphins need your help. Please sign this petition endorsed by 'Heroes' Hayden Panettiere. She certainly proves to be a role model, if not a hero. A part of me doesn't want to witness this film. While the other part of me says that this is my passion: saving marine life. I don't know why I didn't study marine biology. I suppose attending a University on the Canadian Prairies played a major role in that decision. Anyhow, so what the filmmakers want you to know is that there is hunt on dolphins. These mammals are slaughtered in a cruel manner and sent to grocery markets in Japan and labeled as whale meat (like that's any better). What can you do? I don't know what we can do, but I can guarantee, we will do something.







If you need a reason to be a vegetarian, this just might be yours. *Steve* sent me this link and I sent him this in return. We reciprocate a lot in our marriage. "Sharkwater" is another film with a similar message. It involves the human 'need' for shark finning. Much the same as removing the tusks of an elephant. Senseless and inhumane.

With a box of tissues near by I can't bear the anger and frustration that this damage causes to our fellow living members of our planet. Please, please, please sign a petition. Write a letter. Do something. One action to save one living thing. The power of the e-signature can be mightier than the spear.

signed, the willow

Housepaint Deux

I'm sorry that I saved this for you until it closed, but hey "I'm having a vacation". My vacation is far from Toronto's ROM (that would be the Royal Ontario Museum) and the exhibit I'm exhibiting is "Housepaint 2". Tent City existed in Toronto until 2002 when it's inhabitants were evicted (with no warning). So five talented artists got together and created "houses" constructed of their canvasses which they painted in memory of the Tent City residents.

housepaint

What does this have to do with my blog? Pretty much nothing as I write about my material wants and needs. But I have a soft spot for someone who has no choice in home. I value the statement that these artists have made and the contribution that the ROM has made to make it possible.

signed, the willow

A little outdoor adventure

Bronte Creek - Half Moon Valley Trail

Identify the wildflowers

Skip down the trail

See your entire life before your eyes (this is what *Mila* told me at this moment)

One of my most favourite places to be in Ontario, the creek at Bronte Creek



Strut your stuff Mr. Peacock

So many trees to climb

Bessie the cow wanted my affection

*Steve* we snapped a few of Mr. Rooster and his hens for you xoxoxoxo



signed, the willow

Bags, Balls, Brains and X

I know what you are thinking. Now my poor mother is really worried about the ads that will appear on my blog.

So, tell me if you can figure this out. It is a form of Balance, Activity and vision. Oh, and exercise. Meant to improve brain organization and cognitive learning. Sounds like I could use some.

Bal A Vis X
Bags, Balls & Brains

signed, the willow

You may say I'm a Dreamer

While I am thinking about taking the train into Toronto this Saturday night for Nuit Blanche, I stumbled across this. The Imagine Peace Tower which is located in Reykjavik, Iceland and a partnership between the City of Reykjavik, Reykjavik Art Museum, Yoko Ono, and Reykjavik Energy. I encourage you to send a wish. John Lennon had a soul that connected with so many people on this planet. While Ms. Yoko Ono has received a lot of criticism over the years, I give her the highest credit for allowing his spirit to live on. After all, isn't that what life is about? Leaving a mark on your world in a positive way?

signed, the willow

He met the Walrus

Last night I fell asleep before the end of the Academy Awards. I was able to record the Bravo!FACT presentation of "I Met The Walrus" on CTV. This short animated film was interesting as it was animation set to the interview with John Lennon that Jerry Levitan, a 14 year old boy at the time, had recorded in 1969. It was timeless, creative and just amazing. Jerry was Canadian and 14 when he snuck into the Toronto hotel where John & Yoko were staying and recorded an interview with John on a reel-to-reel tape. Can you imagine? Reel to Reel? If I even mentioned that to my 4 year old, she'd say "Huh? Can I have a chocolate now?". He lugged that thing in there with ease I bet. Eager to interview John Lennon, who would speak of peace and in a very contemporary manner that we, the people, are responsible for creating peace. Not the government. We elected them after all. You could have taken that conversation and related it to 2008. Setting this interview to animation was genius. It made perfect sense and 20 years from now, or 30, when *Mila* is interested in it, it will be timeless then again. But, she won't know who John Lennon is. I remember when he died and I thought he was a politician spelled Lenin, not a Beatle spelled Lennon. Then again, I was pretty sure that Casey and Finnegan did live in that treehouse out behind Mr. Dressup's house.

signed, the willow