tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90548056201780087312024-02-20T15:31:39.989-08:00....eldermuse.net....A Woman's Voice For Love and Reason.eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.comBlogger162125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-53260619574957172332022-02-28T11:29:00.000-08:002022-02-28T11:29:27.981-08:00<p> </p><header class="entry-header" style="background-color: #e5cbf4; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><h2 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #1a328a; font-size: 28px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px 0px 8px; overflow-wrap: normal; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://eldermuse.net/2022/02/may-all-insane-leaders-go-down/" rel="bookmark" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a328a; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: normal; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">May All Insane Leaders Go Down</a></h2><div class="entry-meta" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.95em; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="posted-on" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.2px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Posted to eldermuse.net Blog Page as well as this Blogger page.</span></div></header><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: #e5cbf4; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.5em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">No doubt that the malignant narcissism of certain leaders has caused and continues to cause tremendous harm to our Dear World. Most people just want peace, to live their lives as best they can, without undue interference and without harm. Throughout history, young men, actually boys, have been killed in the service of the narcissist’s ego.<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />All of these boys have mothers, families, who hurt, grieve mightly for their sons. In trying to put an end to Putin’s insanity, the world is attempting to use monetary sanctions. These sanctions will only work if once and for all the “safe havens” for the ill gotten billions are destroyed. Americans must realize that the U.S. has become a safe haven for the mega rich’s money. The Panama Papers and the latest Pandora Papers tell the horrible truth about how the mega rich hide their money. And U.S. real estate is a primary method.<br /><br />Read:<br /><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/interactive/2021/booming-us-tax-haven-industry/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5a4881; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/interactive/2021/booming-us-tax-haven-industry/</a><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />And:<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/24/opinion/russia-ukraine-sanctions-offshore-accounts.html?searchResultPosition=1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5a4881; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/24/opinion/russia-ukraine-sanctions-offshore-accounts.html?searchResultPosition=1</a></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My hope and prayer is that in exposing and hopefully stopping Putin and his henchmen, we also stop the hiding and hoarding of mega wealth.</p></div>eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-9069232479375088872021-11-05T18:04:00.001-07:002021-11-05T18:04:59.542-07:00My Wife, Marsha Epstein - My TRUE Beshert and my TRUE Love.<p> <span style="font-family: arial;">I met my wife Marsha, online, in January 2013 and I wrote three pieces to her, which I add to this November, 2021 post. We married (legally) in 2014 and since then, my life has been a complete flurry of my wife's cancer (thankfully in total remission!), my oldest sister's death (who I miss each day), the ins and outs of living with the one (Marsha) who I love, new pets, and a general state of too busy to express my thoughts here, as I once did faithfully. Not to mention....Covid!<br /><br />With this post, I wish to let the world know that Marsha is my Rock and my Joy. She is my life's TRUE <i>Beshert</i>. My life's TRUE Love. I thank God, and her, each day for our love, and for our ability to be married. We share Wedded Bliss and Daily Fun and Joy.<br /><br />I previously did not show you how BEAUTIFUL she is, so I'm showing you now. And add 2 photos from our wedding. We were wed at Beth Chayim Chadashim by our Lesbian Rabbi,<br />Lisa Edwards.<br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xGmhOUzLV-HD2-4gLcph-RLEN8sS5fr5IAvkVzBQut2Gf2pUCkR7y8IvfcNwMsSLkjBbtFxys5X-1cXjRkmsSzeljqQa0JlnvxZqQzS60JghYJ_0cFCq7g3MwEBCMO0J58NvOeJr84s/s500/10351519_811136288898209_8178137290066678231_n_811136288898209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xGmhOUzLV-HD2-4gLcph-RLEN8sS5fr5IAvkVzBQut2Gf2pUCkR7y8IvfcNwMsSLkjBbtFxys5X-1cXjRkmsSzeljqQa0JlnvxZqQzS60JghYJ_0cFCq7g3MwEBCMO0J58NvOeJr84s/s320/10351519_811136288898209_8178137290066678231_n_811136288898209.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UTYcFN3x1BkdCBFoT_rt7HC11tHiWzv55VQWZrenFtW4lR3xrVrEQb-n9kffeb7S2x9l9WMovaZdXl8UoTmW_Sw5Ir9ES0GeC4tSlzFi-klmjajpk5n8jVWL-e1UliVIAZjLS3-ysJA/s500/2014+Wedding+Marsha+%2526+Aviyah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="500" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UTYcFN3x1BkdCBFoT_rt7HC11tHiWzv55VQWZrenFtW4lR3xrVrEQb-n9kffeb7S2x9l9WMovaZdXl8UoTmW_Sw5Ir9ES0GeC4tSlzFi-klmjajpk5n8jVWL-e1UliVIAZjLS3-ysJA/s320/2014+Wedding+Marsha+%2526+Aviyah.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpbNHf-5WTm8nzTObv8KwKyxp7dq93ORHEuhW8GmjaC_24AS4HX4t_rL8uDUW-nrKplplXTnZQmS7H0UnVXMZD9EBpYakdBBXrwZmzmdeXilCF-JthYn6S3XIVfw16sh4efB0KL5HImQ/s398/2019-9-19+Marsha+compressed+PAINT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="336" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpbNHf-5WTm8nzTObv8KwKyxp7dq93ORHEuhW8GmjaC_24AS4HX4t_rL8uDUW-nrKplplXTnZQmS7H0UnVXMZD9EBpYakdBBXrwZmzmdeXilCF-JthYn6S3XIVfw16sh4efB0KL5HImQ/w270-h357/2019-9-19+Marsha+compressed+PAINT.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #ffffbb; color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 1.5em 0px 0.5em; text-transform: uppercase;">JUNE 06, 2013</h2><div class="date-posts" style="background-color: #ffffbb; color: #62340d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0.5em 0px 1.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;"><a name="6379084224301454394"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="color: #e1771e; font-size: 18.018px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><a href="http://eldermuse.blogspot.com/2013/06/waking-confusion.html" style="color: #e1771e; display: block; text-decoration-line: none;">Waking Confusion</a></h3><div class="post-header"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6379084224301454394" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;">I awake in my bed this morning, not yours.<br />My legs search for the luxury of your warmth in vain.<br />Back and forth your house mine.<br />Were it not for precise schedules long discussed<br />written down<br />schedules not remembered<br />without a book<br />we could not track whose bed we sleep in.<br /><br />One, two nights at the most we sleep alone<br />else the hunger for your touch<br />slay me.</div></div></div></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #ffffbb; color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 1.5em 0px 0.5em; text-transform: uppercase;">MARCH 28, 2013</h2><div class="date-posts" style="background-color: #ffffbb; color: #62340d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0.5em 0px 1.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;"><a name="4900027095482334266"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="color: #e1771e; font-size: 18.018px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><a href="http://eldermuse.blogspot.com/2013/03/profound-and-sacred.html" style="color: #e1771e; display: block; text-decoration-line: none;">Profound and Sacred</a></h3><div class="post-header"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4900027095482334266" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">May our intimacies always be</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> profound and sacred.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Profound and sacred sharing of our</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Past</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Pain</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Joy</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Fear</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Present<br />Concerns<br />Hurts<br />Neglect<br /><br />Present </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Touch Touch Touch</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Lips</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Skin</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Fingers</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Hands</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Present </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Laughter</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">More Laughter</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Joy</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Tears</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Awe</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Sacred Calling In The Divine</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">as witness to what we share</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">what we Create.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Sacred Sharing</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Touching</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Lips</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Skin</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Fingers</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Hands</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Sacred Praise and Blessing for</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> This Gift of You.</span></div></div></div></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #ffffbb; color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 1.5em 0px 0.5em; text-transform: uppercase;">APRIL 19, 2013</h2><div class="date-posts" style="background-color: #ffffbb; color: #62340d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0.5em 0px 1.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;"><a name="953198730545602229"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="color: #e1771e; font-size: 18.018px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><a href="http://eldermuse.blogspot.com/2013/04/i-used-to-wallow-in-time.html" style="color: #e1771e; display: block; text-decoration-line: none;">I used to wallow in time</a></h3><div class="post-header"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-953198730545602229" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;">Time.....a commodity <br />a cognitive construct <br />a shaping of reality<br />a shaping of sanctity<br />a figment of our imagination<br />relative<br /><br />too little<br />too late<br />right on<br />not enough<br />too much <br />does anyone ever have too much<br />what to do with it all<br />waiting<br />rushing<br />too busy<br />just enough<br /><br />When I am with you<br />there is never enough<br />When I am with you<br />it is suspended<br />in the exquisite <br />present<br /><br />When I am not with you<br />I wait<br />I long for....breathless<br />I hunger for....breathless<br />time with you<br /><br />I used to wallow in time<br />some days it felt oppressive<br />the l-o-n-g s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-s<br />of sorrow<br /><br />The sorrow is long past<br />its intensity will not enable<br />forgetting<br /><br />But it now enables <br />relishing<br />sweetness<br />sweetness<br />glory in Gratitude<br />for my Time with you<br /><br /></div></div></div></div>eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-91928388641935734282021-11-05T17:23:00.001-07:002021-11-05T17:23:51.194-07:00Overcoming Deepest Grief, A Woman's Journey - My New Book<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Dear Ones,<br /><br />I have taken pieces from this blog, A Woman's Voice For Love and Reason, polished them, added to them, and published a book: <u>Overcoming Deepest Grief, A Woman's Journey</u>.<br /><br />The book is available on Amazon: </span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> <br /></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KDZXFZK?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KDZXFZK?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">My hope and prayer is that you will buy a copy, read it, and please give me feedback. <br />Please also give the world feedback by writing an Amazon review.<br /><br />Thank you!<br />Mary Aviyah Farkas<br /><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxuGh3XkNoMuksn-WMXLjlABZqbG0MPZtWACM7F0TZAE8kDOGljD4pTNcnxA6d6tpeXg9oNY5OP59CEWndRhNHhtj70RuMINzV2zYuo01ikHTu3U6-VMHVGtT6YDS7luq9heJPWFecNc/s648/FRONT+ODG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxuGh3XkNoMuksn-WMXLjlABZqbG0MPZtWACM7F0TZAE8kDOGljD4pTNcnxA6d6tpeXg9oNY5OP59CEWndRhNHhtj70RuMINzV2zYuo01ikHTu3U6-VMHVGtT6YDS7luq9heJPWFecNc/s320/FRONT+ODG.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p></p>eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-66100366264616520792021-04-23T11:35:00.001-07:002021-04-23T11:35:59.041-07:00We are 3 Days Past the Conviction of More Evil in Minneapolis<p>Will things truly change? Will police become less trigger happy? Will Black Lives Stop Being Killed?<br />Nope. The very same day that Evil was convicted, another young Black Life was murdered by police:<br />Ma'khia Bryant. <br />And sadly, there will be more. Police are not trained to de-escalate situations. Sadly. And they are trained to intimidate and use unnecessary force. Sadly.<br />Why do they receive Army surplus weapons, tanks, killing machines? The American public is NOT the enemy. <br /><br />AND the repugs continue to believe that the rapist won the election. And they continue to refuse the vaccine.</p><p>I can see now why the world entered into the "Dark Ages" in the 200 - 1400 CE time. It's easy to let stupidity take over.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-11744662804900670092020-12-14T12:07:00.000-08:002020-12-14T12:07:18.737-08:00Why Are We Not Calling The Man Who Inhabits The People's House Evil?<p><span style="font-family: arial;">The Electoral College is voting today, December 14, 2020 and the Evil which still inhabits the People's House has still not quelled the anger of his supporters.....all 70 something million of them; nearly half of all U.S. voters. <br />Someone will surely die, and this past weekend, several have been gravely maimed. <br />Why is the new media not calling out this man for who he is? He is mentally deranged and he supports a lie....that the election was "stolen" from him.<br />The sooner this lie is put to rest, the better. We do NOT need more people in large groups on the streets, yelling, threatening, and goading each other. <br />This is a time of great pain for many. Let us honor their losses, of friends, family, loved ones as well as their loss of career and jobs, monetary security, and loss of integrity. This is a time to mourn. This is a time to acknowledge Covid's grip on our world, to do what is right: social distance, and wear masks. And by all means, when the vaccine is available to you, by all means, take it.</span></p>eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-90533818457570446742015-09-29T17:34:00.001-07:002015-09-29T17:38:24.153-07:00<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Black Lives Matter, Black Bodies,
Women’s Bodies<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Lately, I’ve been reading and admiring the young Black voice and profound
insights of Ta-Nehisi Coates and the Black Lives Matter Movement. Just yesterday it was announced that he won a
MacArthur Genius Award ($500,000 given over 5 years).<br />
Ta-Nehisi writes about the embodiment of racism. How racism was and is FELT very primally in one's body, in his body. Ta-Nehisi’s book: <i>Between the World and Me</i>, written as a
letter to his 15 year old son, talks about his abject fear growing up as a
Black young man in Baltimore. A fear
which he felt viscerally, deep in his body. <br />He writes:<br />
“Racism dislodges brains, blocks airways, extracts organs, cracks bones, breaks
teeth. You must NEVER look away from
this.” And: “Here is what I would like
for you to know: In America, it is traditional to destroy the black body – it
is heritage.” <br />
<br />
Mr. Coates also rightly notes that whites “presume” their “whiteness”. How easily white society forgets that we are
ALL AFRICAN. We ALL originated from one
Black people.<br />
We are ALL multi-colored skin. “Whiteness” is a myth, as is the concept of
“race.” But it has, and repeatedly continues
to use the “just-ice” system to destroy lives with skin which happens to be
darker. Racism IS America’s heritage.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />The Black Lives Movement’s
representatives Daunasia Yancy and Julius Jones tussled with Hillary Clinton
this summer, asking her to account for her role in the mass incarceration of
young Black men.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">She and Bill advocated harsh
penalties for non-violent crimes.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hillary
pushed back, asking the Black Lives Matter spokespeople what specific
legislative changes are they asking for.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Legislation is an engine to change minds
and entrenched attitudes, but I believe Black Lives Matter is asking globally
for whites to change their hearts, to change their centuries of stereotypes
about Blacks. To stop seeing Blacks as “the
other.” They are asking not to be murdered willy-nilly by the State’s Police Authority
which operates in a near terrorist mode against Blacks.<br />
<br />
Of course, I could not read Ta-Nehisi’s work, nor could I hear interviews with
the Black Lives Matter representatives without thinking: “Yes. Of course.
Everything that they are saying is exactly how it feels to inhabit a
woman’s body.” And Black women experience BOTH racism and sexism. Thank you to my dear friend Demita Frazier, and
to Barbara and Beverly Smith and the other pioneering Black women of the Combahee
River Collective. You can google their
Collective’s manifesto which clearly identified the multi-layered forces of
oppression they experience as Black women: race, class, gender, and sexual
orientation. Today, the term for this
multi-layered consciousness of oppression is: “intersections” which I don’t
think truly conveys the intensity, sometimes horror, of what it means to live
in a Black and “non-white” female body. <br />
<br />
Society would not consider me Black, despite my being of African origin (as we
ALL are), but I am female and have experienced firsthand how Sexism primally,
viscerally is felt in my body. How often
did I experience abject fear, cold visceral fear while walking home as a young
girl, young woman on the streets of New York City. My near rape in the hallway of our Manhattan
apartment building when I was 8 years old created a firm knowledge that I was
not safe. After this near rape, I
carried a small pocket knife for “protection”.
Of course it wouldn’t have protected me from another assault, but my
body <i>felt </i>safer. The men sitting opposite me in the subway
jerking off (yes, in public). The cat
calls and lewd remarks made while minding my own business just walking on the
street. The calculations I made when
entering my apartment building: if I
enter via the basement and quickly run up the stairs to wait for the elevator
on the first floor, I’ll be able to hear if someone is following me. Always afraid, always looking over my
shoulder, my young being, ready to avert
the next attacker. <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We are well into the TWENTY-FIRST
century and society’s attitudes towards women have not budged since my youth. The assaults and rapes (on our streets, in
our schools, workplaces, and our military) to our bodies, our dignity, our
right to exist that we still experience must stop. Even worse, the lack of consciousness
amongst young women seems to also not have budged. This summer, the 15 year old young woman
raped at New Hampshire’s St. Paul, elite prep school kept repeating that SHE
was sorry, that SHE didn’t want her rapist to “feel bad”, that SHE didn’t want
him to “think less of her.” Sandra Bland
was threatened, pulled from her car, handcuffed, head banged to the ground by
police agents of the State. The unequal
pay; no reproductive rights; menstrual protection deemed not “essential” thus
taxed; the daily double standards we encounter doing simple chores and
work. Hell, the U.S. Congress didn’t
have a women’s bathroom until 2011.<br />
<br />
Yes, fear, bone crushing fear inhabits women’s bodies and minds, just as it
does the bodies and minds of Black and multi-colored people. This is America’s heritage. Sadly, the WORLD’s heritage. My 67 year old mind and body are tired of BOTH
the racist and sexist stereotypes, the violence against Blacks, against women, the
sexist and racist HERITAGE which destroys us. Enough already.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">eldermuse.net </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">September 29, 2015</span></div>
eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-45624280389771525262015-05-22T15:46:00.001-07:002015-05-22T15:46:38.161-07:00May Palmyra Syria NOT Be Destroyed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizM2OVVOjcqFlB6Ujhp8rcyHoB7OwBJfTeWdrTWgZYGEiisjFgnkut1jdWUtK7vVzKmuafsC6nZQbSPMIJCje_bA3D-9GwS-wR2Md5GpZyVbTtdMYl8HgzZha_iPxDhDBSyXF_sw_1O-A/s1600/Palmyra+Syria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizM2OVVOjcqFlB6Ujhp8rcyHoB7OwBJfTeWdrTWgZYGEiisjFgnkut1jdWUtK7vVzKmuafsC6nZQbSPMIJCje_bA3D-9GwS-wR2Md5GpZyVbTtdMYl8HgzZha_iPxDhDBSyXF_sw_1O-A/s1600/Palmyra+Syria.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
The world is raging with war, killings, destroyed lives....still. We've barely left the most horrible century for human murder, the twentieth, and there is no sign that it will let up. <br />It is end of May 2015 and there are more refugees and displaced persons now than at the end of World War II.<br />
Boat loads of people escaping turmoil, failed states, chaos, murder, hunger, running to find a better life. As Thomas Friedman of the N.Y. Times put it, they're escaping <i>dis</i>-order, seeking order. Most likely it will only get worse, as climate change and income inequality become more prevalent. In California and large swaths of the western U.S., drought is taking its toll on the lives of the poorest. Large industrial orchards suck groundwater deeply leaving poorer more shallow wells to run dry. Towns in central California have had no running water for months now.<br />
<br />
But I continue to Trust. Continue to Accept that the arc of human destiny can only improve. Continue to Understand that this movement for the better is a slow, almost imperceptible process. I am hopeful...still.<br />
<br />
So I share a long quote from Amos Oz, the Israeli author, taken from an interview in the Jewish Journal (http://www.jewishjournal.com/) May 15 - 21, 2015. Oz is interviewed by Rob Eshman, Editor-in-Chief for the Jewish Journal and they're discussing the prospect of peace in the middle east and the necessity for wearing the uniform of armies:<br />
<br />
Oz states: "Look, you have to live in this complicated world. You have to be clearing the sewage from time to time, clean a blockage in the sewage. And you do that, and you do that as well as you can do. But there is not much pride in coming out of the sewage, stinking all over - you take a quick shower, you don't walk in the street claiming, "I just cleaned the sewage." No, I don't feel any pride in wearing uniforms. I find necessity. I don't find...any beauty in bars on the windows and locks on the doors. But they are a necessity."<br />
<br />
I don't have a solution for this tangled, complicated, messy <i>dis</i>-ordered world we live in.<br />I don't know how to stop ISIS and other fanatics from killing, destroying, leaving terror and horror. <br /><br />But I wanted to share Amos Oz' words because they echo how I feel.<br />
<br />
May there be Peace, Shalom in this Dear World .......soon.<br />
<br />eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-78802099628982480352014-12-24T17:25:00.000-08:002014-12-24T17:25:38.525-08:00Hanukkah 2014<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yOWUvgHavh8/VJtkGrG7J4I/AAAAAAAAEJc/ekP6CFW_Pas/s1600/7th%2Bnight%2BHanukkah%2B2014-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yOWUvgHavh8/VJtkGrG7J4I/AAAAAAAAEJc/ekP6CFW_Pas/s1600/7th%2Bnight%2BHanukkah%2B2014-001.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a><br />
Seventh night of flaming light in our home.<br />
<br />
Watching the women dance in the flame,<br />
playing their instruments, background to the light.<br />
Gratitude, always Gratitude.<br />
<br />
Marsha and I have been through a mighty test.<br />
She diagnosed with cancer, survived the brute<br />
chemo radiation hell.<br />
"If one survives this burning, cell killing poison<br />
they must be meant to live,"<br />
I commented to one of her doctors.<br />
He just smiled.<br />
<br />
Me losing my oldest and last sister.<br />
We used to be three.<br />
Issue of same mother and father.<br />
Womb blood, blood of childhood fights, blood<br />
of Mine.<br />
<br />
There at her death. Holding squeezing her hand<br />
to let her know my presence.<br />
She did.<br />
She squeezed back even as she gasped for air<br />
in her last days. <br />
Every last bit of her strength was given up to breathe.<br />
Every last bit of her strength squeezed out of her<br />
each hour each minute<br />
she fought<br />
for air.<br />
She fought for hours<br />
till finally<br />
the rattle<br />
the tell tale sounds of the end.<br />
I held onto her hand to the end.<br />
Until it was over.<br />
<br />
I've been Blessed with<br />
Being Present at the death of<br />
both of my sisters. <br />
Blessed with holding them<br />
long after their last<br />
breath.<br />
<br />
What a year we've had.<br />
I am grateful that we can give light to Women Playing<br />
silent tunes<br />
with these miracle flames.<br />
<br />
<br />eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-29841707869112760742014-05-02T18:28:00.001-07:002014-05-02T18:28:48.985-07:00Prayer Written for my B'Nai Mitzvah ClassMarsha & I are taking a B'Nai Mitzvah class, with our Bat Mitzvahs scheduled to take place Saturday, July 26th (2014).<br />
Our Temple, Beth Chayim Chadashim (<i>http://www.bcc-la.org</i>) happens to be the very first, yes folks, the world's FIRST gay and lesbian (and bi and transgender) Temple in the world. <br />Rabbi Heather Miller who is leading our class has asked us to create a prayer. Easy for me because I pray to G-d daily, several times a day. <br />If you've read some or all of this blog, you'll find several prayers which I've written over the years. <b>Here is a new one:</b><br />
<br />
My Dearest G-d<br />
Barauch Ha'Shem<br />
My Dearest G-d<br />
Yod Hai Vov Hai<br />
Adonai<br />
Shekhinah<br />
El Shadai<br />
Ha Shem<br />
Help me to love You with all my heart and soul.<br />
Help me to realize that loving You is the MOST important thing in my life.<br />
Thank You for my life, for my wife - the woman who completes me -<br />
for my health, home, family, and friends.<br />
Thank You for the Creation of this Dear World.<br />
Thank You for making me a Jew, for creating me in Your image, and for sustaining me in all that I do.<br />
Amen<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-86958227460147662422014-04-18T16:16:00.001-07:002014-04-18T16:16:32.066-07:00Flying to the End of the Earth One DayI am still moving in with Marsha.<br />Post wedding, I have time to go through old files and...<br />lo and behold, came across a ditty from years and years ago.<br />
A quarter page of Frances Stern Nutrition Center letterhead cut neatly to make scrap paper. <br />(more about Frances Stern<br />Nutrition Center in a future post)<br />On the back of the scrap letterhead, I'd written the following:<br />
<br />
<b>Flying to the end of the earth one day<br /> I beheld Golden Irises...<br />Diving to the floor of the deepest sea<br /> somersault seahorses dance with me...<br />Listening to the stars as they fade away<br /> I can hear angels laughing.</b><br /><br />I'm sure that I did NOT write this.....but for the life of me, I can't recall where these lines came from.<br />
<br />
Does anyone know?<br />I think it's beautiful.eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-20924228665572869942014-04-12T16:27:00.003-07:002022-02-22T11:43:35.842-08:00Our Wedding Cake created by Joanie & Leigh's Cakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDrVXyLXdO3kHVo33J1VULNojDE34lF1Ykt2OLAW0OeDgr7fbnrkoKFPWkxCpnvjl0VjBTjJM0ofw-kiwoteluyrHeLM1hKCvV01JwdmGKOL4Qp0Cm_4uAMqjttKW1z11DwSU0hIcX20/s1600/Wedding+Cake+taken+by+Kis+Lexi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDrVXyLXdO3kHVo33J1VULNojDE34lF1Ykt2OLAW0OeDgr7fbnrkoKFPWkxCpnvjl0VjBTjJM0ofw-kiwoteluyrHeLM1hKCvV01JwdmGKOL4Qp0Cm_4uAMqjttKW1z11DwSU0hIcX20/s1600/Wedding+Cake+taken+by+Kis+Lexi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
<b><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;"> Our Wedding Cake</span></b></h2>
<div>
<b><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Needless to say, I have been quite occupied in the past year!<br />I met Marsha Epstein on J-Date (Jewish Dating) back in January, 2013. We met face to face on February 22, 2013 and my life hasn't been the same. <br />We wed just one month ago on March 16, 2014.</span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I can honestly say, that I have never been happier in my entire life.</span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Now that the wedding planning is over, I will have time to write and continue to share my heart and thoughts with whomever happens upon this blog.</span></b></div>
eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-77077163246658776392013-06-22T21:17:00.000-07:002013-06-22T21:17:18.777-07:00Poem written by Lucille Clifton<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"i am accused of tending to the past"<br /> by Lucille Clifton</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i am accused of tending to the past</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">as if i made it,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">as if i sculpted it</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">with my own hands. i did not.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">this past was waiting for me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">when i came,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a monstrous unnamed baby,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and i with my mother's itch took it to breast</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and named it</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">History.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">she is more human now,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">learning languages everyday,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">remembering faces, names an dates.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">when she is strong enough to travel</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">on her own, beware, she will.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">[Lucille Clifton b. 1936 d. 2010, was a phenomenal poet who wrote about feminist and African American themes.]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-63790842243014543942013-06-06T22:14:00.000-07:002013-06-06T22:14:55.468-07:00Waking Confusion<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I awake in my bed this morning, not yours.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My legs search for the luxury of your warmth in vain.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back and forth your house mine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Were it not for precise schedules long discussed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">written down</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">schedules not remembered</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">without a book</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">we could not track whose bed we sleep in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One, two nights at the most we sleep alone</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">else the hunger for your touch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">slay me.</span><br />
<br />eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-9531987305456022292013-04-19T10:39:00.000-07:002013-04-19T10:39:25.427-07:00I used to wallow in time<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time.....a commodity </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a cognitive construct </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a shaping of </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">reality</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a shaping of sanctity</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a figment of our imagination</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">relative</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">too little</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">too late</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">right on</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">not enough</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">too much </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">does anyone ever have too much</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">what to do with it all</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">waiting</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">rushing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">too busy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">just enough</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I am with you</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">there is never enough</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I am with you</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">it is suspended</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in the exquisite </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">present</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I am not with you</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wait</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I long for....breathless</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hunger for....breathless</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">time with you</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I used to wallow in time</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">some days it felt oppressive</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the l-o-n-g s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-s</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of sorrow</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sorrow is long past</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">its intensity will not enable</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">forgetting</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But it now enables </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">relishing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sweetness</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sweetness</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">glory in Gratitude</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">for my Time with you</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-26384211912724568312013-04-07T12:32:00.001-07:002013-04-07T12:32:43.392-07:00Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel......Siddur Extracts<br />
Below are two beautiful pieces I encountered in my Siddur at yesterday's Saturday Morning Service;<br />
written <span style="font-size: large;">by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel</span>.<br />
<br />
We are a people in whom the past endures,<br />
in whom the present is inconceivable without<br />
moments gone by.<br />
The Exodus lasted a moment, a moment enduring forever.<br />
What happened once upon a time happens all the time.<br />
<br />
<br />
A thought has blown the market place away.<br />
There is a song on the wind and joy in the trees.<br />
Shabbat arrives in the world, scattering<br />
a song in the silence of the night:<br />
Eternity utters a day.<br />
<br />
<br />eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-49000270954823342662013-03-28T20:57:00.000-07:002013-03-28T21:20:37.083-07:00Profound and Sacred<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">May our intimacies always be</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> profound and sacred.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Profound and sacred sharing of our</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Past</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pain</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Joy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fear</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Present<br />Concerns<br />Hurts<br />Neglect<br /><br />Present </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Touch Touch Touch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lips</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Skin</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fingers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hands</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Present </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Laughter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">More Laughter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Joy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tears</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Awe</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sacred Calling In The Divine</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">as witness to what we share</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">what we Create.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sacred Sharing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Touching</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lips</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Skin</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fingers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hands</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sacred Praise and Blessing for</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> This Gift of You.</span>eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-34060395959138639672013-02-15T00:01:00.000-08:002013-03-28T21:16:16.017-07:00The Rotten State of USA Spending to Prevent Disease<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll be talking to 60 women tomorrow about my favorite topic: nutrition. Was asked to speak by one of the women who has previously attended my class, Your Body's Grace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In preparation, I decided to include statistics regarding number of fatal deaths caused by chronic disease (the exact type of deaths directly affected by nutrition, or lack of). <br />Next I looked up number of automobile fatalities. And lastly, I compared the budgets of the two government agencies responsible for disease prevention, and prevention of auto deaths. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are my very disturbing results (and please note that my data comes directly from government information available on the web):</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Traffic Deaths (most current numbers available are from 2011) =</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">32,300 persons.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration proposed budget for 2013 = </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">$981 million ($981,000,000).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thus we spend approximately $30,370 for each traffic death in USA.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chronic Disease Deaths (most current numbers available are from 2010) =</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1,513,000 persons. I've detailed this number below:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">598,000 persons died from cardiac disease </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">575,000 persons died from cancer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">138,000 persons died from chronic respiratory disease <br /> (e.g. COPD)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">130,000 persons died from stroke</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 83,000 persons died from Alzheimer's Disease</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 69,000 persons died from diabetes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u> 50,000 persons died from renal disease</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">total: 1,513,000 deaths from chronic (preventable) disease</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention proposed budget for 2013 =<br />$11.2 billion ($11,200,000,000).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thus we spend approximately $7,400 for each chronic disease death.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We're spending 4.1 x more for each traffic death compared to each preventable death.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For chronic disease prevention, we spend less than a quarter of what we spend for traffic fatalities.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Traffic deaths equal only 2% of our chronic disease deaths, yet we spend over 4 times as much money for traffic death prevention.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Something is very very rotten in Denmark (the U.S.A.).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-63840138813566068762013-02-12T12:00:00.001-08:002013-03-28T21:02:19.810-07:00Gratitude<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Take nothing for granted</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">and your heart will always</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">be grateful.</span>eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-85765829367963222862013-01-29T11:11:00.001-08:002013-03-28T21:21:01.174-07:00Pockets<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Does anyone notice that women's pockets are shrinking, almost disappearing?<br />Used to be that the expression: "put your hands in your pockets" had meaning for both genders. Both boys and girls could find soft comfort, refuge, in that extra layer of cloth nestled between skin and outer fabric. <br /><br />I did when I was young. Putting my hands in my pockets and suddenly everything was better. The depth and warmth of the pocket provided security; a place to snuggle cold hands on a frosty day. A place to put shy hands, hands that could not express inner feelings, because my mouth could not express inner feelings.<br />I had no tools for cogent expression. So hands were able to hide, become invisible, because I was invisible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Later it became a place to put my hands while striding the world in confidence. A part of my learned toughness. I could walk down Manhattan streets humming or singing, hands in pockets, happy to feel the cement under my feet, see the sky and feel the rush of air as I hurried along, sure of my mission. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And they held things. The found bottle cap just right for putting black top sidewalk tar into for that later game of Skeelzies. The piece of string which for sure will come in handy...sometime. The coins to buy penny pretzels and Italian lemon ices. My pink Spalding ball for our game of stick ball. And, after a near rape, my rabbit's foot and small pocket knife. That little knife gave me strength. I knew I'd be able to fend off the blue suited man white penis outside who came at me and were it not for my eight year old legs warp speed climbing six flights of stairs would have had his way. <br /><br />Today pockets are either non-existent or have shrunk to such size that barely fingers can explore their contents. A full hand, even to above the wrist, no longer fully fits. It is women's pockets which have suddenly become too dainty for use. For comfort. For practicality. Men's pockets are deep and many.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I keep a half score of the "old fashioned" pants, those without stretch fabric, with narrow waist, pleats below the belt loops, full hips and narrow bottoms. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And with deep, wrist high, pockets. I keep these out of fashion wonders to wear while kicking around my house. Can't be caught dead in the "real" world in a pair. <br /><br />In truth, I keep them to remind me of REAL pockets. And how wonderful it feels to thrust my hand into that layer of fabric between my skin and the world.</span>eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-89639978939342561192013-01-18T12:07:00.000-08:002013-03-28T21:21:20.613-07:00Progress<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our aunt Veronica fed strays,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">cats, dogs, she loved them all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But did not claim them for neutering.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is how it was done in Bucsa, Hungary</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">where she spent her formative years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When the cats bred, she took the large</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">metal basin, filled it with water and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">drowned the hours old souls.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not from cruelty, just from unconscious habit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My brother Rudy recently found four stray</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">kittens on his acre in Nevada.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Abandoned by their mother.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One I took home. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kahtohm, the orange tabby, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">is now my </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">pride and joy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One went missing, presumed eaten by the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">coyotes </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">who must also eat and breed,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">who may have eaten their mother.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The two remaining have been kept,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">grudgingly, by my brother and his wife.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In an unheated back room</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">which is warmer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">than the dry, frigid Nevada nights.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday was the day to take these two</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">remaining kittens to the shelter --</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">for their care or killing --</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">it would not be on my brother's soul.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A county shelter refused them, they were born</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in the city.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The city shelter wanted twenty precious dollars</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">each, for transfer of responsibility, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">being sure </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to note that they'd soon be put to death </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">if no </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">one adopted them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My brother, also raised in Bucsa and well used to</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the routine slaughter of creatures said,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Well for forty dollars, I can wring their necks myself!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But he wouldn't; and didn't.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These two strays remain his, and are now part of our family.</span>eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-78729017785742846472012-12-26T14:21:00.000-08:002013-03-28T21:17:09.707-07:00JOY Available, Despite Tragedy<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I turn to Martin Buber when I want inspiration, a kick in my brain which causes deep reflection. Such is today, a day requiring inspiration. My flaming sore throat of two days ago finally settled into my upper chest with a cough and a soggy nose leaking thin mucous. The saving grace is that nothing coming out is green, or even the faintest yellow, thus whatever this "cold", upper respiratory event is, it is not and hopefully will not become severe.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But cause enough for a disruption of the end of year gaiety and plans. Not to mention, dare I mention, the horror, the tragedy of the pre-holiday killing of 26 in Newtown, Connecticut, and the latest news of the ambush set to kill two firefighters in Webster, New York. The destruction wrought by two crazed men.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I turn to Martin Buber, who always lifts my spirit, causes me to reflect deeply, stirs my soul to tears, and affords me simple joy and peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His essays on Hasidim, especially touch me. In these essays, attempting to explain the transcendent joy that faith can produce, Buber seems to be channeling the Baal Shem Tov.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are a few short quotes of Buber's which brought me JOY on this three very wet handkerchief morning:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> "Hasidism sets the simple truth that the wretchedness of our world is grounded in its resistance to the entrance of the holy into lived life." <br /> "...our relations to things and beings form the marrow of our existence...." <br /> "The Hasidic teaching of the holy engagement with all existing beings opposes this corrosion [this wretchedness]...."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Clearly, the madmen in our world do not seek to engage with the Holy, the Divine. Their lack of engagement causes pain for the rest of us.<br /><br />I continue to seek the Holy in everyday, simple, repetitive acts, even this non-stop blowing my nose.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <br /><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span>eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-35937674598610557682012-10-17T19:41:00.002-07:002013-03-28T21:18:15.375-07:00Question Posed to Editor of New York Times<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The following is my question to Jill Abramson, Executive Editor of the New York Times (sent today, October 17, 2012):</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello Ms. Abramson,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you for providing this forum for NY Times readers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My question has to do with the epidemic of "lifestyle" diseases: diabetes, gastro-intestinal disorders, heart disease, hypertension, gout, etc., whose etiology stems from Metabolic Syndrome, which stems from obesity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am asking if the Times is willing to commit to a concerted effort to have reporters investigate what specific and practical/real things we as a society can do to begin to lessen the incidence of these related diseases. Can we begin a real dialogue with the food industry (all aspects of the food industry from farming to manufacture to distribution to fast food/leisure dining), with Congress, with big pharma, with large and small corporations being willing to change the vending and food available to workers, being willing to have paid exercise breaks, etc.; to see what can be done to reverse these deadly and very costly diseases.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Would fast food be willing to begin to serve all of their bread products with 30% whole wheat flour, increasing over a 10 year period to 80% whole wheat flour? Will Congress be willing to investigate the rise in obesity with the increase of sugared drinks (including the juice provided by the WIC program)? Would Big Pharma be willing to devote half of their advertising time to prevention of the GI, erectile dysfunction, high cholesterol, diabetes for which they tout their medicines?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I hear the Presidential and VP debates mention the rising cost of Medicare.....no one, not a one mentions the need to control and reverse our obesity/Metabolic Syndrome problem.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Medicare costs will not begin to be checked unless and until we do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you again for your willingness to read and respond to our questions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gratefully,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mary Farkas</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(I hold an M.S., and M.A. and am a retired Registered Dietitian)</span>eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-35579163242641766242012-07-06T11:42:00.000-07:002013-03-28T21:18:38.004-07:00Another Gem found in my SiddurMy Siddur (Jewish prayer book) is filled with gems of poetry. Not only the beautiful Shabbat prayers which we recite as a group, extolling the wonders of Creation, blessing and praising the Creator; but also poems which capture the mood of the Shabbat service.<br />
<br />
Such is a poem, <i><b>When I Die</b></i>, by <b>Merrit Malloy</b>. It is one of several meditative poems to be read prior to the recitation of the <b>Mourner's Kaddish</b>. Poems which ask us to reflect on the frailty of our human condition, our too human body. Counterpoised to the actual <b>Kaddish </b>prayer which clearly proclaims the perfection of creation, and God's plan for creation which of course contains the living and the dead:<br />
<i><b>Exalted and hallowed be God's great name</b></i><br />
<i><b>in the world which God created, according to plan.</b></i><br />
<br />
I'd like to quote the last stanza of Ms. Malloy's poem, <b>When I Die</b>. It is one of the poems I'll ask to be read at the service held in honor of my departure from life. Yes, I have begun to collect such poems because I am fully aware of how fleeting is our stay here. <br />
<br />
Last stanza of <i><b>When I Die</b></i> by <b>Merrit Malloy</b>:<br />
<br />
You can love me best by letting hands touch hands,<br />
and by letting go of children that need to be free.<br />
Love doesn't die, people do.<br />
So, when all that's left of me is love,<br />
give me away.eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-28622807637493983222012-06-18T16:23:00.001-07:002013-03-28T21:18:56.572-07:00DoveThe chirp and whistle of the morning birds<br />
accompany me as we give praise to our Maker.<br />
Their happy sounds hide the low roar and rumble<br />
of the morning commute.<br />
<br />
The doves' distinct cooing punctuates above the rest.<br />
The grandeur of the soloist, the accomplished<br />
tenor who commands special attention,<br />
calling the world to Hope.eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054805620178008731.post-25641972946846879402012-06-06T20:08:00.006-07:002013-03-28T21:19:19.742-07:00I Am Again InvincibleI am well enough, better than well enough, to return to this forum for my thoughts. <br /><br />When I could not walk, needing crutches or a God sent scooter to get around [my good left leg pushed while I rested my right knee on the scooter's seat]; when I suffered such severe pain that I could only play music through headphones to comfort me, or sleep; then I had no desire to write. I barely had desire to live. <br /><br />Now the pain is not constant, just a nagging reminder when I walk. I yearn to walk again without pain; and am hopeful that one day I will. Now my mind is clear and filled with things to write, things which I believe are worth reading.<br /><br />Let me begin with this:<br /><br />I too once seemed invincible,<br />nothing could touch me. I was innocent.<br />I worked, loved my work of teaching <br />helping people change their lives;<br />I gardened everyday, after work;<br />I was strong in all the ways <br />that humans need strength - body, mind, soul.<br /><br />I was greatly loved and I mightily returned<br />her love. <br />I thought we would process our cares and thoughts, <br />process our way to bliss, forever.<br />My life seemed set and secure.<br /><br />She died unexpectedly <br />and I was left heartbroken and mute<br />my breath knocked out of my being.<br /><br />Now, pain and years later, I am again invincible.<br />Not in the ways of the innocent, <br />those who haven't yet lost their hearts, their souls;<br />those who haven't faced death.<br /><br />No, now in the way of the wise am I invincible.<br />In the way of ones who have felt the deepest pain<br />the deepest hurt the deepest loss...<br />and decide to laugh and sing and give Praise<br />despite, in spite of it all.<br /><br />I am again strong and secure and know<br />that I can bear and accept with grace<br />what comes in my life unknown.<br />And joyously sing: Thank You for another day<br />another opportunity to love your Creation.eldermuse.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525997321132633902noreply@blogger.com0