gratitude – BlissFullU

We Had a Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue Christmas…As Well as a Grinch, A Christmas Carol, and A Chrismas Story Christmas

December 31, 2022

Having just watched the movie Elvis, this song kept running through my head this Christmas because it was true–we definitely had a blue Christmas this year. Not blue in an unhappy way, but in a physical way..like the color your skin turns when you are cold. Our power went out shortly after lunch on Christmas … More We Had a Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue Christmas…As Well as a Grinch, A Christmas Carol, and A Chrismas Story Christmas

Labor Day Reflection: A Holiday of Letting Go

September 5, 2022

It was another quiet walk this morning. I was anxious to visit the dayflower I had seen yesterday to see if it was true that the bloom only lasted one day. But as you can tell by comparing this morning’s photo (above) with the one I took yesterday (below) … It was true! The tiny … More Labor Day Reflection: A Holiday of Letting Go

Easy Like a July 4th Sunday Morning

July 4, 2022

I’m not someone who usually sleeps in on the weekends. Most Saturdays I’m up and out of the house in time to get to the Cary Downtown Farmers Market by the time it opens at 8:00 AM (insiders know the best stuff sells out quickly). I’ll often be there for a couple of hours, shopping … More Easy Like a July 4th Sunday Morning

July 23, 2022: It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times

June 24, 2022

As I read the news this morning about yesterday’s events at the US Capitol, the literature teacher in me could not help but recall the famous opening passage to Charles Dicken’s classic novel, A Tale of Two Cities: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of … More July 23, 2022: It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times

A Fresh Start to 2022

January 3, 2022

We had an unusual start to the first work day in 2022––some rare North Carolina snow! It doesn’t often snow in the Triangle area, so it always seems clean and fresh and magical when it does. And this was a very convenient snow, because it didn’t start until around 11 AM (that is, not interfering … More A Fresh Start to 2022

Gratitude on a Rosh Hashanah Labor Day

September 6, 2021

Here in the United States, today is a rare occurrence of the first day of the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah falling on the same day as the US holiday of Labor Day. Labor Day is always the first Monday in September, which falls relatively late this year since September started on a Wednesday. The Jewish … More Gratitude on a Rosh Hashanah Labor Day

What I Am Particularly Grateful for This Morning (or Lessons of the Inch Worm)

June 18, 2021

You know, besides the fact that I’m alive and well and my beloved family and friends and students and spiritual community are alive and well…. On Thursday mornings, I arise early to do my weekly grocery shopping and then do an online yoga class starting at 9:30. The yoga class is now sponsored by the … More What I Am Particularly Grateful for This Morning (or Lessons of the Inch Worm)

The Blessing of Pollen

April 12, 2021

North Carolina is known as the Tar Heel State because from the earliest times of our country, it produced a lot of the country’s tar from the numerous pine trees in its forests. So it is no surprise that we are now in what North Carolinians call “The Yellow Season”––the two weeks in the spring … More The Blessing of Pollen

The 12-ish Days of Christmas: Poetic Inauguration Countdown––Two Weeks

January 7, 2021

This was supposed to be the post for yesterday, which is the two week countdown to the inauguration of Joe Biden as President and Kamal Harris as Vice President. However, it did not seem appropriate as misguided Americans were assaulting the Capitol, which is pictured above as the traditional location for the Inauguration. Now that … More The 12-ish Days of Christmas: Poetic Inauguration Countdown––Two Weeks

Poem, Prose, and Puns for Thanksgiving

November 25, 2020

‘Twas the day before T-dayand all through downtown,masked people were leisurely milling around.An autumnal day when the weather was mild––just perfect for posing for pics with your child.Happy young couples walking arm in armwith bags full of treats from Blue Moon and Le Farm.The wine store had people looking for adviceon what wine would make … More Poem, Prose, and Puns for Thanksgiving