Ivan at Dartmouth

Last night I shared with my Wednesday night group how wonderful it was for Ivan to be in Dartmouth where my father had gone to school, because Ivan is enjoying the experience so much, and because he went out of his way to search out information about his grandfather at Dartmouth. Those facts have touched me.
Then quite a coincidence - it turns out that one of the people in the group was part of a group of 9 women selected to be the first "co-ed" experiment at Dartmouth. Her experiences were very similar to mine as part of the first class of undergrad women at Yale! We all felt that we were under a microscope while we were there, although my group had a leg up on hers - we were 50 and they were only 9.
The most amazing part, however, is that the 9 were not allowed to continue and be part of that Dartmouth class, yet recently somebody advocated for them and now they have officially been made part of that class. Good for them!
What are the odds? In a group of 11 people meeting in a church basement in Tucson, two women pioneers at Ivy League institutions come together. And they discover that part of their past practically by accident.
Anyway, thanks to Ivan for sharing his enjoyment in the cold reaches of New Hampshire.

Advent - the season of waiting for Christmas

I wish I had gotten an advent calendar this year. There is something to the idea of intentionally marking the progress toward Christmas every day by opening a window on a calendar of some sort. I need to plan better next year and get myself one to accompany my advent candles in the window of Ivan's room.
In recent years Christmas hasn't been all that exciting to me. After all, if you move beyond the stories of the virgin birth and the star in the sky leading the Magi to the baby Jesus, then there is little excitement left. But this year I have found myself able to delve deeper into the symbolism and recognize that in this season, the darkest part of the year, there is joy in celebrating the fact that God is in us all. That all creation shares and experiences the divine. So it isn't about the Jesus story per se, but rather about preparing for and living the presence of God in the world.
That's enough to get my attention! So I am listening in my car to XM Christmas music every day.

The other city in the desert - Phoenix and surroundings

In the company of die hard USC fans

Waiting for the bus to go to the game.

At the game - notice big smile on Richard's face: USC is killing ASU 44 to 17.Another attraction - in the company of exotic animals at the Phoenix zoo.

Turtles on a log

The snacking giraffe

Baby giraffe and company

It appears that both tortoises and owls are possessive about their space!


And the ever entertaining prairie dogs peer out at us.

Chronicles of our Latest Travels

On our way to Catalina Island

A view of the ocean from the Island's main street

A view of the casino/dance hall (we didn't go dancing...)

The island is known for it's buffaloes. This is the rare pizza on the ass buffalo.

And on to cheesy Orlando. Here is a lake at the resort where I had my conference.

Today is our 17th Wedding Anniversary

Time flows by, sometimes like a rushing river and sometimes drop by drop as in a leaking faucet. I think water is a great metaphor for time - at each moment water can be perceived in a myriad of ways. It can be lifesaving and refreshing, or it can be catastrophic and devastating. It can be balmy and soothing or cold and shocking. One person's pleasant water temperature will be grating for another. Too hot... Too cold...
Anyway, to the point. Time is even more subjective and elastic. So it is hard to fathom for Richard and me that we have been married for 17 years now. Wonderful, and something to be grateful for.

Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!

It's uncanny how a holiday like Thanksgiving can bring out the best in people. Richard and I spent Thanksgiving with a group of USC fans in Scottsdale and Tempe, eating a Thanksgiving meal and then attending the USC vs. ASU football game. I have always found USC alumni and friends to be a friendly bunch, but it seemed that everyone at the gathering was particularly open. We met a family from Alexandria, Virginia and then ate with a grandparent/granchildren foursome from California. Although I am usually reserved and have a hard time hearing in places with lots of people, I thoroughly enjoyed meeting them. Then we sat next to another California couple at the football game - I couldn't believe the gentleman who sat next to me - he was a running commentary on EVERY play. He made the game quite entertaining, not at all tedious or obnoxious.
Even the usual antagonism that comes out in sporting events, especially football, did not dampen the occasion. I can't say that our little USC foursome surrounded by avid ASU Sun Devil fans was really welcomed, but all in all the encounter was more or less friendly.
It certainly was a different way to spend Thanksgiving for me!

A Tribute to Magic Scott

Magic was the inspiration for getting Coco. Magic was born the year of the original Olympic Basketball Dream Team, 1992. He was named after Magic Johnson. Although Magic was the runt of the litter, he probably made the biggest impression. Everyone who knew Magic loved him. Magic's favorite pasttime was chasing rocks down the steep walls of the canyon where he lived in Sonoita. Sadly, Magic died in February of this year. He left a big void in the hearts of all who knew him. Coco still misses him and perks up at the sound of his name. She still turns in at the entrance to the condo where Magic lived on 3rd Street while Cary was recuperating from her horse accident. Here is a picture of Magic and his favorite hangout, the canyon.

More on Stories

Tom Ehrich recently wrote, "Faith happens in the particular. One person has an experience of the divine presence. It feels a certain way. That becomes his or her story about God. Another person has an entirely different experience and reaches a different conclusion.
If we were wise and humble, we would share our particulars and marvel at a God who can be so much to so many."
Then yesterday I was listening to an NPR interview of an Indian author. The interviewer asked her about mystery in her life and pressed her to give a personal example. She reluctantly told a story about when she went on a retreat to the Himalayas and was left stranded, separated from her traveling companions. Night was near and she was afraid that she would freeze to death, but she was too exhausted to continue on. An elderly man suddenly appeared and assisted her to cross the glacier stream and arrive to her camp, then disappearing before she could express her gratitude. Providence, coincidence, synchronicity? It doesn't matter because that is her story.
May I honor everyone's stories today!

The importance of stories

Every Wednesday evening I meet with a group of people to talk about the important things in life. Every year we start out with each person in the group giving a "spiritual autobiography", and last night was my turn. As you might imagine, it is quite powerful to hear the other stories of the people in the group, but perhaps the most amazing is that it is also powerful to share my own story. I think human beings are wired to connect with each other most deeply through stories. Just think - when somebody shares an idea with you, it often comes home most deeply when they cite a story to illustrate their point.
To all those beings whose stories have intersected with me in the past 55 years - family, friends, not so friends, co-workers, strangers, animals - I am deeply grateful. Thank you! I'm not always ready to hear what I need to hear but my wish for today is that I recognize the goodness in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me today.

Tucson on a bright September day

For those of my readers who have never been to this lovely city, here is a look at downtown and the Catalina mountains (with a little smog).

More faces

The Twins - Kind of spooky...

Richard got a new camera!

And he's sooooooooooooo excited! (I'm glad.) Here's a sample of a picture he took. And no, that's not me. That's a beautiful Korean mask that my sister brought us.

Wisdom from a stranger

Once again, Tom Ehrich taught me a lesson today in his daily email from On A Journey. He is in Helsinki and he shares his impressions of the people he sees while he wanders around the city. He says, "That's a first impression, and I could be dead wrong. That likelihood of error, in turn, suggests a larger point, namely, the simple fact - which we constantly deny - that we don't know as much as we think we know. We can process a lot of information quickly, but it takes longer to discern meaning. It takes an open mind to know anything deeply. Whenever we reach a conclusion, we need to keep checking it out. Wisdom isn't conferred by firm and fixed opinions, but by listening and learning." I ask myself how often I rush to a conclusion and then.... what surprises come my way later because I didn't stop to check it out.

My Wandering Sister

My sister called today. Woo hoo! She always has so much to share - no matter where life has taken her, which is of course right now on the Blackfoot reservation in Montana!
That is indeed a talent - I guess that's why I don't post as many things to this blog as I might - I tend to think I need to say something earth shattering every time. What a mistake.

Coco is a senior

Coco has cataracts and she's 56 years old (in human years)! I took Coco to the vet on Saturday and found that she is now considered a "senior" dog. So we did some diagnostic wellness exams. Haven't got all the results back yet, but so far she seems healthy.
We both hope she lives a long, long time - after all, she's one of the "Three of Us". It's rather uncanny how dogs have evolved to be such compatible companions to humans. They really steal the hearts of their human guardians, and Coco is no exception!

Podcasts are a great invention!

Every week I look forward to the Speaking of Faith podcast (see the link under My Favorite Spiritual Sites). This week I can't wait to listen - it's about play, something I do precious little of. Go to this link and you'll see why I'm so excited about this particular one. The link is a 2 minute video which is absolutely amazing. http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/play/audiogallery/soundseen.shtml
Have fun!

Brief Glimpses of Wisdom

When I was visiting in Arlington last week, my son said to me something like "God does not exist". It was in the context of something else, not religion, so we did not follow the conversation anywhere, but it stuck with me, probably because I agreed with him - in the context we were speaking about, I don't believe that an all powerful judging God to be found somewhere up there, exists either.
But - there is always a but to everything, isn't there? But, sometimes I am privileged to read or hear brief glimpses of wisdom about the nature of God, the common experience of a group of worshipers, etc., that make me want to continue on a spiritual path, whatever the answers to the questions seem to be.
This morning I read a passage by Tom Ehrich that spoke powerfully to me. He says, "The Church doesn't "own" the truth, either, despite its historic claims to be the sole custodian of God's desires. The Church occasionally glimpses the truth, as do countless musicians, artists, writers, parents raising children, farmers watching for rain, couples falling in love, people facing death, and dreamers eating new foods in new places". Those are concepts of the divine that speak to me.

Oh the Simpsons

Me too! This is much more like me than Richard's is....

Richard is a cartoon!

Richard has been Simpsonized (as close as we could get) !!!

Filling his mug at the Quick-e-Mart.

Springs that don't go dry?

When you live in the desert, water becomes supremely important. Even with my air conditioned, motorized life style, I have deeply appreciated the plentiful downpours that we have experienced in the last couple of weeks of the Tucson “monsoon” season. I understand the Old Testament writers who described the divine as a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. The rains have offered not only thirst-quenching rain, but a relief from 100+ heat. Cloudy mornings were a welcome change, while they lasted. The weather people say the monsoons aren’t over yet. I’m hoping they’re right.

I guess I was tagged by Isabel

I think everyone already knows all these things about me...
Five Things I was Doing 10 Years Ago:
1. Getting used to the idea of being an "empty nester".
2. Working as a court interpreter.
3. Starting my Mexican soap opera habit (to keep up my language skills).
4. Together with Coco, failing in obedience school.
5. ? I can't remember any more...
Five Songs I Know the Lyrics to:
1. Waterloo (ABBA)
2. This Shirt (Mary Chapin Carpenter)
3. All Because of You (U2)
4. Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own (U2)
5. Fernando (ABBA)
Five Things I Would Buy If I Were a Millionaire:
1. My favorite house in Tucson, on 4th Street, and I would convert it to totally green with a big kitchen
2. A log cabin
3. I would hire a maid
4. Gifts for family and favorite charities
5. I would make sure that the convent on Country Club would not have to close.
Five Things I Would Never Wear Again
1. Uncomfortable shoes
2. Tight clothes
3. Mini skirt
4. Panty hose every day to work
5. Make up
Five Things I Would Like To Do
1. Join a convent as an associate (not to live in)
2. Learn to play the violin
3. Travel to lots of places
4. Put in new flooring at home
5. Have more time to read
Five Favorite Toys
1. Ipod
2. Neat software
3. Majong
4. GPS
5.
Five People Plus 1 More I Tag
1. Richard
Got me.... I don't know anyone else who would actually do this for me...

Coco relaxes

Coco watching TV in Richard's chair (see remote).

The Birthday Party was a success!

Greg mesmerized by Richard's IPhone. We had to check his pockets before he left the house.

I just love to use the silver and the black dishes!

Alicia teaching me how to make Arroz a la Rivera

Smoke getting in my eyes

The birthday honoree - Richard, USC and the masks. What more could we ask for in life?

Lots of meat. This dinner was not for the fainthearted.

The feast begins with Greg, Peggy, Jesus, Alicia, Elsa and Marta

Dessert downed and half the table retired to the couch. Jesus, Alicia, Elsa and Marta stay to chat.

Test Post with Photo

Yes, the captions seem to work!

It's a birthday!

We're having a birthday party! Richard's birthday is coming up, so we're having family over for BBQ on Saturday. The menu is (Ivan will be jealous) barbequed steak, rice, beans, peach pie, lemon meringue pie, and whatever else we dream up between then and now. I'm looking forward to it. I don't think Marta and Alicia have ever eaten at our house before!

Coco and my walk this morning

Prayer is such a difficult concept for me. Since my idea of God doesn’t include a being up in the sky who influences our lives and chooses to act or not to act, what is the purpose of prayer anyway? So most of the time I don’t admit, even to myself, that I am praying – I think of it as meditating. Or I don’t name it at all.
But then, every once in a while, there comes a moment of insight. Prayer as an activity putting me in a mindset which enables me to connect to something beyond myself, leaving myself behind. Then the light comes on, ever so briefly. This morning, walking with Coco, was that kind of moment. So I prayed – Christ over me, Christ under me, Christ beside me, on my left and on my right. Christ within me and without. Christ in heart, Christ in mouth. Christ beside me, on my left and my right. Christ as light.
May the deep desire expressed over and over in those words be realized today in my relationship with others. Wish me luck.

Friends and Samaritans

It’s funny how sometimes the one thing you’re thinking about comes back to you in several ways all at once. Yesterday I posted a comment about wealth and consumption. Then last night on the news I was amazed by a story about a millionaire who gives away almost all he earns. This person has a very successful business which earns him millions, but he lives very simply and gives away the rest. He gave away his last car in the 70’s, and now goes everywhere by bicycle. He owns one pair of shoes. Ever since his children were young, his wife and he would live on as little as they could, and each month they would give the rest of their earnings away. This person has helped thousands of people by giving to causes that help poor people.
Then this morning, the gospel reading in church was the Good Samaritan story. The message this time was not so much about giving away all you have, but rather encountering other human beings in the guise of friendship. Hebrews considered Samaritans to be the bad guys. Samaritans probably didn’t even like Hebrews. Yet, the story shows that strangers should be treated like friends. Hum…..

Wealth and consumption

I just bought a new pair of pants from LLBean. Those of you who know me know that I don't often buy clothes; it's not my most favorite thing to do. But I do like to be comfortable. Then I began looking at blogs and I got to a link called the Global Rich List http://www.globalrichlist.com/, and I put in just my income, not even counting Richard's. I'm in the top 0.85% richest people in the world. And I'm asking myself, what does that mean to me? I buy fair trade coffee, I give to charities, etc. But it all seems like just a drop in the bucket.
Was it just luck that I ended up in a place and time that put me in such a privileged position?
That must be, because I don't hold much faith in the view of life that depends on an all controlling God who has a plan for each of us and can intervene at will in the messy details of life.

Encountering God

Today's Celtic reading (see my earlier post for the reference) pointed out that in the story of the Magi, they came, they saw Christ and they gave him gifts. Important to note, however, was the problem that their encounter caused. They went away troubled, not happy, because Herod wanted to use them and they had to go back a different way. That made me think about why I seek encounters with the divine - not to feel good, not in a vain hope that God will do something for me. Encounters with God are meant to challenge, to inspire change in life, so that I can let God be known through me. Boy, is that difficult! Wish me well on this journey.

Richard is officially retired!

It has been a roller coaster of emotions, but Richard is finally officially retired from the U of A. I have come to realize that this is a major milestone in life, and I guess I haven't fully absorbed the impact since I've still got 10 years to go! Congratulations are in order... Happy retirement to my dear husband!

Acoma Pueblo

What a treat to visit the Acoma Pueblo! It was interesting to hear about the Acoma people and their traditions and to visit the site of their homes on top of a 365 ft. sandstone mesa near Albuquerque. For more info, read the Wikipedia article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoma_Pueblo. See pictures.
The most interesting part was that in their culture women own property and men govern. They have a clan system with over 12 clans, one of which is almost extinct because membership in a clan is passed from mother to children and one of the clans had all boys born into it, so when the last living member dies, that clan will cease to exist because that member is a male. It reminds me of my own family because my brother has no children, so he is the last Scott.
Names are so important to our identity, aren't they?

Hospitality and welcoming

The idea of hospitality and welcoming are ingrained in many spiritual traditions, and I can see why. It is through relationships and human interaction that one grows. I could meditate all day long but if that action did not affect the living beings with whom I interact, what good would come of it? I love visiting my brother's house. It is full of books in every room! Here are some pictures from the trip.

Winged Migration. This is a wonderful film. The photography is amazing. Jim, Heidi, Kathy and I were mesmerized throughout the movie. The film showed all kinds of fowl as they migrated thousands of miles. The scenery was spectacular, and of course there were moments of anguish as well as elation. There isn't much of a plot, but it isn't needed. Some beautiful images of flying geese, ducks and swans will continue in my mind for a while. They aren't the most graceful of flyers, but the incredible effort they devote to migration, and those little webbed feet sticking out behind them, are imprinted in my brain for now. Glorious nature! Enjoy...

Back to a place full of memories

Summer is for many a time of pilgrimage and visiting other places. Today’s reading, from Celtic Daily Prayer, Prayers and Readings from the Northumbria Community (which I am finding a wonderful source of inspiration for my humble attempts at a daily spiritual practice) provided an interesting twist on that idea – going back to a place full of memories can be a kind of pilgrimage. That fits in well with my longing to incorporate reverence for people and place into my daily interactions, because it is easy to experience a kind of awe when one visits those places where one lived a long time. I remember particularly the time when Isa and Ivan took my Mom and me on a surprise visit to the house I grew up in. I wish now that I had concentrated more on reverence for the place during that visit, and not focused so much on the dilapidated condition of the house, or the people then living there. Perhaps when we scattered Mom’s ashes on that mountain place in Colorado where she played as a child, that is a more meaningful example of how reverence and memories can intertwine. Anyway, these are thoughts for a hot, hot summer day in the Old Pueblo.

BHAG Big Hairy Audacious Goal

BHAG – Big HairyAudacious Goal. This was a new acronym to me when I heard it this morning. In case like me you’re unfamiliar with the term, Wikipedia tells the history of the phrase at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BHAG_(Goal) and gives some examples of well known corporations’ BHAGs. In short, a BHAG is a long term goal (10-30 years out) which represents a vision of the future. What is my BHAG? Pursue a monastic life. I’m still not sure what my rule of life will be like, and how long this will take, but I’m glad that I finally put it down on paper. Both the desire and the intention have been in my heart a long time.

About the other members of my household

Coco, the Jack Russell terrier, carries the burden of the headline in this blog because on many occasions over the past ten years that we have been graced with her presence, she has been the glue which united our household. Source of endless amusement and at times frustration and embarrassment, we have grown to love her, warts and all. You see, by day Coco is generally a team player, mostly laying around being alert to whatever’s happening in her little world of our home. Some evenings, however, that alpha urge comes to the forefront, and Coco is intent upon establishing her status by attacking and biting any moving feet, and even some feet which have not been so audacious as to change position! All of this has generated a spending spree of thousands of dollars in obedience and agility classes, which have helped to keep the dominance outbursts somewhat at bay. But all in all, Coco is a living, breathing creature who depends on us for everything, and as such we take the best care of her that we know how, with a lot of love thrown in.
Our household is usually a three living being affair, and occasionally other family members join us as they come and go. Richard has wonderfully consented to join with Coco and me to form a family. He’s the second element in our triangle and the best of friends. What would life be without Richard's big heart, hearty laughter, and running commentary on the evils of the other political party? He brings a totally different outlook on life to our daily living, and we’re so lucky to have him here. I hope the three of us are together for a long, long time.