Cruising the Stratosphere

Late at night
Take a bite
Of the darkness and the respite
Getting recharged for the morning Light
Right here.....Late at Night.
It used to Be that anytime...was the time for me
Now, the seasons change and so has my life
But this is still here......this....Late night.
Late at night I don't have to multi-task, I can just focus on one thing........at long last.
I cherish the days, but I love the night
For it is the time of my own respite.
Breathing in, breathing out: the day is 'out', the night is 'in' 'till it all comes full circle again.
I love all of it, this cycle of my life, but the night?
The Night is just Right. Aaahhh.

Who knows the Heart of a man or woman, but God and perhaps that man or woman?
Many things that look one way from the outside are anything but that on the inside.
Grief is the silent companion and something we all share at one point or another, like death and taxes.
What is most important is on the inside near to the Heart and many times, like it or not this does not always translate properly to the casual onlooker or with the briefest of glances.
Why say these things? Because one must be satisfied with the knowing in one's own Heart, and not always look to others for intrinsic support. It is nice when this happens, but like weather, it cannot be relied upon.

"Nothing unreal exists, and nothing Real can ever be threatened" -A Course in Miracles

We must be ready in times of 'testing' to hold to that which is "true and of good report". LET GOd help you. So often, when times are smooth, it is easy to forget that nothing is lost on God. Nothing is not known to God. Our shortcommings and our intentions and the yearnings of our Hearts  all laid out on that muliti-dimensional tapestry for the Weaver of weavers. It is something to take solace in.

       You are Known.

      Your Sweetness is Known.

      Your good intentions are Known.

      Your humanity is Known....and is something we all share.

Take refuge in the ONE.

You are Shared of the One of the All That Is.

There are so many unknowns when one enters this 'brave new world' of parenting that it is overwhelming at times. Who would've thought that you would have to redefine practically every aspect of human relationships in order to pull it off? Your concepts of life and living are not open for debate or 'under review' when you are a single adult, but alas that is anything but the case when you have a family and are raising kids. It seems as if 'compromise' is the 'word of the day' from here on out.
A big one is on how to raise a child, not on the basic morals that you wish to instill in them, but on HOW to go about that. It has to be consistent. Both parents need to use the same methodology because these little creatures will capitalize on that if there is a discrepancy. Getting on the same page can sometimes become a bigger task for parents than you would've thought.
If you are childless it's easy to miss this requirement of the parenting adult. Conflict resolution must be faced, reworked and ironed out. Any relational area of need is highlighted in such a way that you're sure not to miss it. 'High school' venting and immature problem solving skills will not fly this kite, guaranteed.
Parents start your engines for a self initiated ride of discovery and revolution.

My father (retired) works as an installer for my sister Vickie's Custom Blind Company. Every now and again for the past 3 months or so I will occassionally help him out on a few jobs here and there. Working with him is a very pleasurable, eyeopening insight into where (or from whom) I came from.
Working with my dad is a real joy for me. It's that special kind of Special that money could never come close to touching: PRICELESS. Like many, I didn't have him around growing up, but that's okay. I have never held that against him, even though it was really hard for me because as I have grown into an adult I figured that it must have been that way for a reason. That 'reason' I have never really tried to put a face to, but I have always known that Love was the Answer to that riddle no matter what the technicalities or legistics were 40 years ago.
When I was 29 I decided to go for it. The reality doesn't change if no one makes a move--so I did, and I am So Deeply Happy and at Peace that I did. It is fathoms beyond the written word. .... So I wrote my dad and asked if he would like to get to know one another. I also set out from the start that I didn't want anything from him save to get to know him and perhaps his friendship if it was two way. He agreed....That was 13 years ago. We have been getting to know one another since that time. Yeah, it was slightly awkward at first, but only slightly. That quickly gave way to a friendship that has been fun, honest, and more than anything Familiar and Real.
Spending time with him more and more has been like being with a twin aspect of myself. A part of yourself that you hadn't seen for a long time, but that you knew really well. That's how it feels, and it just continues to go deeper and broader. Astounding..... Sometimes you don't know what you've been without until you have it. The hole and the void that was there.....You just had no........idea.
This is someone that gets your humor --no explanation needed. This is someone that your inner processes and ways came from. There is a native understanding of you--priceless--because of this. You intuit each other's responses like 'nobody's business'.
Astounding. Incredible. Beautiful.
Once you love your parents, you see a higher intelligence at work in these things. ...When you love for love's sake, not a barter. No business arrangement. Love for Free. Isn't that what it IS....?
Getting to know my father is a Living Blessing
A Bloom that has no age
The more you look the further it goes
From dusk to twilight to dusk again
Timeless
Thank You God
Looking into your Eyes I See You Looking
Into Me Looking Into You

It's also quitessential Austin! It's such a good representation of the diversity of people that live and work here. Unlike other locales it's active all day long because of the location and mix of businesses in the area. There are young and old. Seniors are hanging out reading the paper. College students are surfing the web or studying. Business folk are taking a coffee break. All of us are sitting around here at Joe's Coffee listening to classic Joni Mitchell being wirelessly piped out to the patio mounted speakers. It's a cool, breezy afternoon in between the rainy sprinkle sessions of the day.
The sun peeks out to say hello and splash the theatre of the street in it's colorfilled glory as the wind tossels my hair playfully and delivers it's message of peace and hope for the people and generations to come. All is well. blessings. blessings. blessings.

Fear is the non-acceptance of What Is.