“Getting old is not for sissies”, said my aunt Maude.

Why then, sissy that I am, do I mark today another turn around the sun?

Enough already.

Time to pause, consider what’s important.  Well, another turn would be beaut.

Walked out early into the wild, wild wind of this morning.  Branches all over from the night’s storm.

As I gathered up some branches to bring home for a fire, thinking about journeys around the sun, two people come to mind.

Nelson Mandela and his grace for his oppressors and jailors.  Forgiveness, charity, strength.

John Lennon: “In the end the love you get is equal to the love you give.”  I do miss John.  And I treasure having Mandela’s grace still with us in this otherwise mostly barren political, social moment.

Forgiveness.  Gentleness.  Love.

Let’s all take those for our next turn around the sun, even the sissies can have some.

May the lovely day be with you, you lot, windy, whatever,

M