Letting Go

While it's often tempting to dwell upon what might have been, what's usually overlooked is that really and truly, it couldn't have. Because, invariably, any romanticized versions of how things "might have been," are based upon fictionalized versions of the past…they are illusions…which in reality are nothing.

MERMAID

Sometimes I like to slip
just beneath the water’s lip

to an embryonic place
where flesh suspends in liquid embrace

swirls of hair defiant of gravity
Try to swim free of rooted captivity

fingers of the water's hands brush my face
with a long lost lover’s gentle snake like pace.

voices incoherent from down under
Where sound distorts like a distant clap of thunder

light seeping from above in intermittentness
bending and refracting into perfect brokenness

The passing of time neither slow nor fast
I savor each breath as if it were my last.

Enjoy the Moment

On one particularly hot, sultry, summer day on Florida’s east coast, La Le Lu and crew ventured out Port Canaveral in search of adventure. Once out in the tranquil blue water of the Atlantic, she bobbed like a cork under barely a whisper of wind. The wind Gods took pity and gradually, almost imperceptibly at first, a nice breeze began filling her sails. It built to 10 knots and La Le Lu acknowledged the gesture by skipping along on a nice beam reach.

Enjoying absolutely everything and doing absolutely nothing, I rested my head on the cushion of the port settee and hung my legs over the cockpit coaming. I listened with one ear to the rush of water against the hull, and to Jimmy Buffet with the other. I picked up on some lyrics, heard many times before, but to which I never previously paid much attention. It seems Jimmy bought a watch that had no numbers and no hands. This watch just said "now." Some might think perhaps the watch was broken, but not Jimmy – he thought it worked just fine. At that moment I clearly understood what he was telling me: live every moment. He went on to say that in times when things are going wrong "breathe in, breathe out, and then move on."

I pondered his advice - how paradoxical it was to master the keeping of time, only to become its slaves. The call of a departing cruise ship jolted me back to reality... "Brrmmppp, Brrrmmmppppppppp." I knew that sound meant it was 4:00 pm. Regretfully, I acknowledged that time is my master and it was telling me to go home. Like an obedient school child, La Le Lu headed back...through the locks, down the barge canal and into her slip. I was resolved – and only just a bit sad, as we secured her dock lines, knowing that the next adventure was just around the corner. Life is good. Drink it up.

BEAUTIFUL WORDS

Tell me beautiful words;
whisper them into my ear like a secret.

Touch me softly,
as if I were a cherished and fragile work of art.

Dance close to me,
`til our bodies find a rhythm that is neither mine nor yours alone.

Kiss me passionately,
so that I can taste your desire upon my lips.

Look deeply into my blue eyes,
I want to show you my unguarded soul.

Go Turtles!

Why is it that people are so surprised that the turtle beat the rabbit over the long run?

Consistent effort, no matter how small, sparks magic, fills sails, butters bread, turns tides, instills faith, summons friends, improves health, burns calories, creates abundance, yields clarity, builds courage, spins planets, and rewrites destinies.

No matter how small.

Dapple-Gray Ponies

Where once flowed wild desire,
now pain, spreads like fire.

Pulsing fervently through vessels eroded by deceit,
collecting in the vacancy of my heart’s empty cavity.

Like water-ripples that obediently emanate from the center of a tossed stone,
numbness starts in my soul and reverberates outward through flesh, blood, and bone.

Searching my imagination for pure and simple diversions,
distraction comes in visions of dapple-gray ponies...

with long, flowing, lavender-colored manes, tails and forelocks -
hooves pounding against earth covered in velvety green moss.

Moist snorts of freedom escaping from each nose,
and lavender turning to liquid as they shake their heads to and fro.

Say the wise, you cannot know rapture
without ever feeling love’s torture.

Nor can you find completeness
never having known loneliness.

Fancy words that now are of little use or comfort to me
as I untie bonds of pain and break these chains of complacency

Letting go of Illusions

A quick thesaurus search reveals that ‘Illusion’ is synonymous with delusion, and by its very definition it is not real. Illusions are merely garbage wrapped in pretty paper. Reality is where it’s at!

Metamorphosis

Calling all grounded butterflies...

do you not see those beautiful wings?

It is that inability to know your own magnificence,

that keeps you in the company of caterpillars.

Where you lead...

My eagle friend appeared again, and we began flying together, as we usually do. She began flying very high, and expected me to follow, as I always do, but this time I wanted to fly low, to enjoy the beauty of the countryside, so I changed direction, and flew off alone, down toward earth. Suddenly I heard the words, “You lead. I will follow. From the greatest heights, to the deepest depths, I am with you.”

I smiled, then soared straight up, did a ‘loopty loop’, then came down again. My eagle friend stayed with me, following my every move, effortlessly. I felt such joy, and such love for her. Then the eagle looked back at me, and I heard the words, “Do you trust Me enough to follow wherever I go?” I answered “Yes”, although I was thinking “maybe”.

She flew toward a very dark, ominous cloud, high in the sky, looked back at me, and I heard the word Trust. She flew up, into the cloud and disappeared. I was fearful of following, not knowing what might be in the cloud, and I had a moment of hesitation, but I trusted my eagle friend, so I followed her in. I could vaguely see her in the dark mist, but kept my eyes on her, and anxiously ascended through the cloud. We finally broke through the top, to a beautiful sunlit blue sky, with birds flying around, chirping happily. It was such a relief!

I saw a smile in her eyes. She seemed pleased with me. I heard, “Sometimes we must travel through darkness, and the unknown, in order to find the light, and safety. Trying to avoid darkness does not make it go away. It prolongs suffering. You are safe in my hands, no matter what obstacles and fears lay before you. I will lead you to the light. I am always with you, waiting for you to call on me for help and guidance. We are partners.”

Growing Towards the Light

To be whole, let yourself break.
To be straight, let yourself bend.
To be full, let yourself be empty.
To be new, let yourself wear out.
To have everything, give everything up.

Knowing others is a kind of knowledge;
knowing yourself is wisdom.
Conquering others requires strength;
conquering yourself is true power.
To realize that you have enough is true wealth.
Pushing ahead may succeed,
but staying put brings endurance.
Die without perishing, and find the eternal.

To know that you do not know is strength.
Not knowing that you do not know is a sickness.
The cure begins with the recognition of the sickness.

Knowing what is permanent: enlightenment.
Not knowing what is permanent: disaster.
Knowing what is permanent opens the mind.
Open mind, open heart.
Open heart, magnanimity.

From the Tao

Dream a Little Dream

Thoughts become real - Your life is written by you...in your mind. You will see this first hand if you spend more time asking yourself "why not?" and less time asking "why?" Miracles are not really miracles at all - just the result of beleiving that you truly are the master of your destiny.

Hump-D, Sea Glass and Pigs

Friday July 8, 2011. Today we are supposed to be anchoring over at Manjack, getting into position to make our crossing from Great Sail. Our Plan A was to pull up anchor Saturday night at midnight, head out over the bank and hit the gulfstream by day break. However, the wind was testing our conviction to the "best laid plans..." by blowing twenty knots out of the south. The anchorage at Manjack is completely exposed to the south. Opting out of the bucking bronco ride and corresponding night without sleep, we tucked into the protection of White Sound Green Turtle with our buddy boat, Imagine. We each picked up one of Brindles' moorings and got busy with working up a plan B. The Parker report and XM Weather were in agreement that crossing on Saturday was a bad idea. There was a tropical wave making its way up the Florida Straits and seas were predicted to be unpleasantly big, not to mention the call for numerous thunder storms. Reports concurred on a good crossing for Sunday, so we all called home and offices to get clearance for an extra day. Our buddy boat had already hoisted their dingy on deck, but La Le Lu still had her transportation module attached to the davits. We all piled in the dinghy and headed for shore to find something to do.

White Sound is fairly remote - there isn't a lot of action on that end of the island, so we rented a golf cart in order to to venture out. All five of us crammed onto the cart (that we named the Hump-D). With two passengers facing forward and three facing rear, we roared up and down the remote dirt roads that criss crossed the tiny island. We went snorkeling at a beautiful white sand beach, then rode across the top of White Sound to the Bluff House Yacht Club for lunch. After lunch we did a crazy goose chase for boat parts - flying up a steep hill and down the other side (butt cheeks gripping the vinyl for dear life) - to the Black Sound Marina. We didn't find the parts we needed but nobody cared at that point b/c we were all so exhilarated from the ride there. Driving down a little further we saw a sign pointing down a side road betraying the location of a tiki bar. We beckoned the call, and headed down for a spot on a bar stool and the drink of the day appropriately named the TGIF. After chatting with the ladies that ran the bar and the few other patrons, time was calling us back. We stopped to admire a pristine beach along the way. However, Pam and I never really even got to admire the beach because on the way down the trial to the beach I looked down and noticed a piece of sea glass. Dropping to my knees I found that we had stumbled on the mother-load of sea glass. For twenty minutes we moved sand to reveal treasure - we must have looked like dogs digging holes. Pam and I could have stayed there all day collecting sea glass, but seeing as how the rental time had nearly expired on the Hump D, the men were about to drag us out cave man style. In such short time, we each were able to collect about 3" of glass in the bottom of our large zip locks. We committed the location of sea glass beach to memory, promised to return, and regretfully hopped back on the Hump D.
On the mad dash back to return our ride, we ran into a herd? pack? gaggle? of baby pigs. They ran out into the road to greet us with their snorty, wet noses. We got the Hump D back before it turned into a pumpkin, loaded up the dingy with a last ice run, and headed back to our boats to prep for the early morning last trip out the channel of White Sound. What a day! What a great day!

Magic...

It happens every day. Why not just accept it and resist the urge to challenge it?

Weather Watch 2011

It's that time again - Bahamas trip so close I can taste it on my tongue. Only 5 days before gulf stream crossing and weather is my main pre-occupation. Let the weather roulette begin.

http://barometerbob.com/

http://aviationweather.gov/

http://www.wunderground.com/

http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AM/650.html

http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/buoy/LKWF1.html

http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/buoy/SPGF1.html

http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/

http://www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/

Rejoice in your Acheivements

Rejoice with the placement of each new brick you add to your monument, for joy and accomplishment is the sweetness of life that is meant to be savored by you, and shared with all those in your life circles. When you succeed at something that is true, beautiful, and positive, all of humanity benefits at the collective level of consciousness -- as we are all connected, we are all one in purpose. As each of us progresses, we reflect a little more light from the Creator, which brings us one step closer to unity as all the parts move closer to infinity and finality. Accepting and acknowledging your accomplishments is like marking a trail through the jungle -- not only can you find your way back from a long journey, but you leave guidance for others to follow after that they may also benefit from your efforts.

Life is a Cat Walk

As I was nearing my office en route to work this morning, I saw a couple walking down the street together while carrying a cat. This was no small kitten – it was a large, orange tabby, who I am assuming must have been heavy for he was traded back and forth between the couple. His favorite position seemed to be forward facing, with paws over his master’s clasped arms, bent at his mid section, and back legs dangling. He did not claw, he did not try to get away, in fact, he just looked around and appeared not the least bit unhappy about the situation. This certainly could not have been their first outing together. I watched the trio walk down the street until they were at the adjacent stop light from me – all of us waiting for the light to turn green so we could carry on with our respective journeys. For a minute the cogs in my mind spun and I tried to connect the dots. Who carries a full-grown cat down the street? What was their story? What could they possibly be up to? The scene defied explanation so I just smiled and considered myself fortunate to have been a witness. I continued north -- the cat-walkers continued south -- and for a brief moment in time, our paths crossed.

Universal Truth

Just as darkness cannot exist where there is light, Hate cannot exist where there is love.

LOVE

Somewhere along the way of life’s journey I stopped believing in "soul mates" or that two people were "meant to be together." Tell me that you understand one another like no one else can. Tell me that you are comfortably in sync with one another. Tell me that you know each another better then anyone else in the world. What I hear is that you were dedicated students. True understanding comes from reconciling misunderstandings, comfort comes from overcoming discomfort, and knowledge comes from experience. I am convinced that time, patience, and perseverance builds love – and that it is not an instant connection of those lucky enough to stumble upon it.

Balance

And while it is said that the peace maker be blessed, so too is he who stands his ground for what is right. Humility does not mean passiveness...It is not to just turn the other cheek. Service is not being servile to everybody, especially to your own inertia. Love is not giving everything to be accepted. Brotherhood does not mean silence when we see wrongs. Mercy is not solving other people’s problems and taking away their right to learn and grow. Balance can be a difficult path to find, but you will not get lost if you let love be your compass.

Live in the Moment

Have you ever noticed how often children laugh and play? They, for the most part, live in the moment and are not concerned about all the seriousness and problems of the world. They are enjoying life, because they feel safe and secure under the watch-care of their parents. All their needs are taken care of, and so nothing enters into their consciousness but what comes natural to them. They want to explore, enjoy friends, laugh, and use their imagination - exercise their creativity.

We all should learn to feel safe and secure in our creator and have faith that all our needs will be taken care of. “Is it any wonder the Master said that to enter into the kingdom of heaven, you must become as a little child? (Ah-ha!)

Just a Cool Photo

This picture was taken in Titusville FL, after the last launch of Discovery. The mass exidous of vehicles is almost as amazing of a specticle as the launch itself - that is, unless you are among those drivers exiting. In that case, it is not the least bit fun or interesting.

Below is another photo of the exit taken at another launch - this one a night launch. I took it w/o flash, hence the blur of tail lights effect.

Recogning

All will one day be asked the same question, which must be answered in all honesty and in full. How did you conduct yourself during your sojourn in the flesh? .... and Did you make a difference by bringing in Light, or did you add to the dark and confusion?

No Limits

Your achievements in life are only limited by your ability to believe that your dreams can, will and do come true. Dream big, Baby!