“Eighty percent of everything that is true and beautiful can be experienced on a 10-minute walk.”—Anne Lamott
I need to take a walk.
Lamott said she got that quote from her husband.
I read her Substack post this morning and found that it’s Valentine’s Day.
Happy Valentines Day!*
She spoke of love, the magnificence and sloppiness of it, and she said she almost sent her husband a card that said, “I love you to the bottom of my butt.”
That girl is a joy!
And I was reminded once again that Lamott called God GUS, “Great Universal Spirit.”
I think I will call a book “Dear GUS,”
Lamott’s book Bird by Bird, Some Instructions on Writing and Life, was the first book I read on writing (and life). Published in 1995!!!! My gosh, 30 years ago!
In Bird by Bird, she was a single mom struggling with a newborn. Now she is a grandmother, and so am I.
I still have the book with its original cover, but I see it has been reissued with other covers, and it is a bestseller.
Way to go, girl!
And oh my God GUS, my Real Estate re-licensing goes on and on! I thought it was over. And I don’t sell houses.
What is this, my ego—wanting to keep my license? I worked hard for it a year ago, and I didn’t want to lose it, so last month I took their required 30-hour continuing education course, dreaded it, but actually enjoyed it. (It was the best RE course to date.) I had to wait until my birthday month to file it with the state, so two days ago I attempted to do that, and found this: “You must take the State and Federal Fair Housing Course.” (Another 2 hours)
Ok, I did it, reluctantly paid their $300 to get my license, and then, this morning, I got an email: “Your license isn’t complete until your Principal Broker files it with the State. You must pay $150.”
Augggggh!
The end of the month is coming up, and if I miss it, they will charge me again.
At least I get 2 years before another renewal, and being a licensed Broker may give me some clout, for I have a few things to say about Housing history and how it is instrumental in advancing Civil Liberties.
Would you believe, according to that continuing ed class, Real Estate Agents rank in repetition behind Politicians and Used Car Salespeople? I’m sorry, used car people. And consider this: when we sold our house in California, our Real Estate Agent told us he was giving $10,000 from his commission to a former girlfriend because she was the one who got him into Real Estate.
You will find good people everywhere.
I’m of the ilk that if people behaved themselves, we wouldn’t have to pass so many laws, also, I realize that when people are working on commission only, it is rife for skullduggery.
Life consists of contrasts. While you are out walking and noticing little flowers that are poking their heads out of what were bare sticks all winter, (Winter? It’s February) your heart also aches because shootings, bombings, and general unrest or malaise still exists in our country. I need to go back to my idea of, “It depends upon which window you look out of.” Rather like the photographer’s lens, it depends on what they focus on. Prettiness can be framed right in the middle of a disaster.
This week, after walking in spirit with the Buddhist Monk’s Peace Walk, I felt an after-Christmas drop when it ended, and found on my computer that Political business as usual still abounds.
Dear GUS, don’t let the people who were moved by the peace movement forget how thrilled they were with it.
And dear ones, “Do not be sad it’s over. Be glad it happened.”
I believe an awakening is happening. The propaganda machine will try to persuade you that it isn’t, but don’t believe them. Look over here: There is peace in people. There is joy in people. We are awakening after a long sleep.
And you know about awakening a sleeping giant.
They are formidable.
A Valentine card for you: click on picture:
