Dear Folks,
Monday and Tuesday flew past, and Tuesday is my post day, but family matters took precedence—as they should. So, I'm late.
Yesterday morning, I found my oracle of the day at the Peace Health Hospital in Springfield, Oregon:
"You never drive out hatred with hatred. Only love can do that."
--Martin Luther King Jr.
I needed that.
Last night, as my daughter and I were driving from Interstate 84 to I-5 across Burnside Bridge, we descended into the sparkling City of Portland, Oregon, where everything had been cleansed by spring rain. The lights glistened from the skyscrapers and shone on the water of the Willamette River as though a Fairy Godmother's wand had sprinkled diamonds instead of fairy dust.
It was hard to keep my eyes on the road, for everything was sparkling around me and I wanted to take it all in, the lighted bridges, the tram over the freeway…
I giggled as I drove, thinking that Portlanders have a sense of humor. Hey, when people can protest while riding their bikes naked, they have my applause. A naked bike rider doesn't seem to be much of a threat.
One day, I was driving in Portland near Washington Park when a man ran out of the forest wearing a pink tutu. I did a double-take until I saw that an entire stream of pink tutus covering the behinds of running males and females. They were joining a Gay Parade.
Now, some folks might be offended or shocked by such a display, but think of it, how innocuous is a pink tutu, and the people were having fun and peacefully expressing themselves.
Now that is cool
On the weekend, I began editing a story I had written some time ago, changed the beginning three or four times, put in an entire chapter on Saturday, took it out on Sunday—well, what can I say, that's part of the process.
Last week I focused on another website, titled Jo's Newsletter. Can you believe I got Jo's Newsletter as a domain? I was sure that name would be taken, but it's mine. On that site, I offer up a ridiculously absurd idea…" Let's get happy." josnewsletter.com/
I wanted to complete the website so I could offer it to you as a challenge to live your best life, for much is accomplished with a glad heart. It's tricky, like licking honey off a thorn, but we can do it.
You know from reading this blog that I haven't been glad most of the time. I've been angry, afraid, and despondent. But then chuckles came from some kind soul via an email.
She had gotten it from someone I don't know, but the message was, "You bought the wrong plane ticket. You thought you bought a ticket to the Bahamas, or to Nivana, and instead you landed in a place where there are bullies, wars, and unrest.
We are here to clean up the mess and to get a renewed mindset. Know that you have a beautiful life, that you have the spark of the divine in you, and that your job is to make yourself happy.
In Jos Newsletter, I give Joseph McClendon III's definition of happiness, and some of his reasons why it is essential.
Give josnewsletter.com a look-see. Then spread the word.
I love you guys,
P. S. Another mess just splattered upon my screen. Now my computer screen looks like the circular window we had when we lived in Eugene, Oregon. A little bird could see his reflection in the glass, and he was attacked that strange bird in the window, each time he hit it he would poop a little, thus our window became a mess.
The Present administration is going after our endangered animals! Laugh that man in the White House out of office! This is ridiculous!! Is nothing sacred? And it's gone on too long.
My solution is for every American to sue T for mental cruelty. We would be richer, he would be poorer, and he would be forced to leave the Presidency. Maybe that way we could have some peace.