Wandering With Spirit

WEATHER

I woke early Friday morning to a COLD start to the day. The forecast was for sunshine and warmer weather with storms in the evening.

As the day progressed the sun came out, the wind shifted to the south and the temperature climbed. So much that I took my phone, something to drink, called our dog and spent an hour on the back porch. I did not need a coat. Robin gets nervous when it rains. I wanted her to have some quiet time before the storms came.

The sky was clouding when I came inside. When I talked to our middle daughter during the day, she mentioned that my voice sounded tense. I didn’t know why. Approaching storm, body parts protesting?

After supper I turned my phone off and went upstairs. I don’t get a lot of phone calls and my family is aware that I turn my phone off early. If it something important they call the house phone.

By 7PM my plans changed. I changed the channel on the tv to ignore another commercial for the coming election. Instead of another program I found a weather broadcast. It had a full screen devoted to colors showing the approaching storm. Not much time passed before I was going back downstairs for my phone. I had planned to watch a PBS special but that changed. I decided to tape it.

I was happy I made that decision. I’m not concerned with storms at our home but I worry about our children and our camper. In June of 2015, the area where we camp was hit by FOUR tornados. We lost our motor home and nine trees. A few recent storms have taken down more trees because of ice and snow. We had a shady lot many years ago, time has passed and it is VERY SUNNY now.

I hadn’t been upstairs long before I learned that tornado sirens were sounding at the campground. We don’t close down for the winter and the campground is available to all the owners. Many people were there taking advantage of the warm weather. Strong winds came through — reports of 65-90 MPH wind. Thankfully no one was hurt. Many trees are down and some trailers and sheds have been destroyed. I was happy to learn that my area was safe. When the storms passed the areas that my family and friends live in, I was able to relax.

This morning friends confirmed that I didn’t get any damage. It has been determined that the campground was hit by a tornado. I watched the program I recorded. The woman honored is a multi media artist –painter and musician. I realized that I am a multi media artist — photographer, writer and artist.

Sadly more storms are in the forecast for next week. I’ll make sure I have my phone, turned on and upstairs.

EDITOR

I received a new phone call from a promoter wanting to republish TO PAP WITH LOVE. When I told the story of my hot hand with the previous promoter, he asked if my hand had been hot the morning he phoned. It hadn’t been. My youngest daughter asked what list I was on. I replied “SUCKER.”

I’m typing this on a Saturday morning but it was written a couple of Sundays ago. I DID NOT WANT TO BE UP! My left hand woke me at 5:00 AM. I planned to go back to sleep. Robin heard me and my plans changed.

My hands have not been waking me up. My question — what is going on? What am I supposed to do? Yesterday I committed to writing the blog. I changed from Free to Premium. It will take a while to learn the benefits. I don’t think the nudge was writing. Rain and snow are in the forecast for today. Is it the weather?

Today I wrote the first paragraph and it disappeared before I could save it. My “helpers” are busy. Evidently the thought ramble I planned needs to be updated. With their “help”, I have published more than 444 rambles. That is an impressive number. Although it is tempting to discard this original thought, I like the ending paragraph. Possibly the reason I’m pestered to write.

Sunday morning both the focus of the Lutheran service and the Catholic mass was on Lazarus — raised from the dead. The Catholic homily focused on repairing relationships that have been damaged and bringing Christ’s light to the world.

I’ll admit that I have been blessed. I know that my family, friends and pets on the other side — are active, helping others. Evidently that is why I’m supposed to write. Share the stories that happen in my life with others. Was that why my hand woke me?

CRITIC

It was very cold outside on Saturday. I had to boost the temperature in our house up a degree during the day. Sadly aging is not my friend. I get COLD, wear many layers.

The wind on Saturday was blowing from the East. Even though we had new windows installed a few years ago, our house is over 100 years old. The wind finds a way in.

I wanted to post NUDGED AGAIN. I don’t type fast but I managed to get the whole thought ramble onto the page. And just that fast I watched the WHOLE thing disappear. I have to acknowledge that this has happened to me before. Not on WordPress but when I was writing TO PAP WITH LOVE.

I typed a sentence and watched it slowly disappear like in the game PACK MAN. I typed it again, it happened again. I soon learned to RESPECT my CRITICS. Sometimes it was the thought. Sometimes the writing was fine but I wasn’t understanding the message. I knew every time I printed chapter four, the printer would jam. I rewrote and rewrote the scene. Nothing worked. Finally I understood and the problem stopped. It was not in the details of the day. The story was about my granddaughter’s first communion. The party was planned for outside. Rain was predicted. The sky had was getting dark. But before the party started the sun came out and it was a beautiful day. It was the GIFT WE RECEIVED.

Somethings are ingrained in my memory. New questions surfaced. Am I supposed to write? What was wrong with the thought ramble? On Sunday, St. Joseph’s day, I retyped NUDGED AGAIN, leaving the last paragraph out. The thought ramble stuck. My CRITICS are STILL INVOLVED

DECISIONS

I have to acknowledge that I don’t lead a normal life. I have a team in “high places” who are involved in my daily life. Sometimes my day is VERY NORMAL — nothing unusual occurs. Then there is the rest of the time.

I’m writing this on St. Patrick’s day — early morning. It won’t be published until a later date. Before I came downstairs 3 questions were on my mind. What should I make for supper? Should I order new clothes? I was not happy with the choice in the store. What should I write about?

First question was easy. It was Friday — fish. My son does not like corned beef. Second question was easy also. A new catalogue on the table showed a v neck shirt in many colors at a lovely price.

Third question — also easy but more involved. Every morning I open a book “Queen of Heaven” randomly to a reading for the day, then proceed with daily prayers. This morning I pulled my bible off the shelf. I used to read it daily but stopped some time ago. As is my habit, (I open books randomly,) I opened to Tobit 12, “Raphael reveals his identity.” I have a painting of the archangel Raphael hanging over my husband’s side of the bed. He is the angel of healing.

I’m familiar with the story in Tobit. I read it again and received the answer to my third question. “Write down all the things that have happened to you and share them with others.” I’m extremely lucky. I don’t see my family on the other side or hear them but I know they are “well”. So many people have lost someone close because of COVID or accidents. Sharing my experience might help them. I GUESS I’VE BEEN TOLD.

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