Honey, I'm home!

I know what you're thinking. What IS that, and why on earth is that my photo today? Well, okay, I was in Arizona, true. However, besides my early morning walks I only got out of the house once or twice, and only then to gently stroll to a little park down the road with Linda where she insisted I'd see wildlife. Once, we saw swans sleeping far across the little lake but not close enough or interesting enough with which to bother, and any other reported wildlife was elsewhere. Therefore, we sat on a pier watching the water and I shot whatever floated by, which in this case is a beat up orange. Strangely, I like this photo. Maybe it's just the colors.

My sister-in-law is doing great and I thank each and every one of you for your nice comments and caring e-mails. Being with her through the initial stages of healing following her mastectomy meant a great deal to me and to her. As with such things she had some very low moments, but her optimistic nature has kicked in and she's just doing fantastic.

I arrived home just in time for the inauguration of our 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, and the Vice President, Joe Biden. Our joy was shared with a handful of good friends in our home, complete with champagne to toast the President and First Lady.

Today finds me filled with joy and optimism as our country begins its own healing. It's a Brand New Day.

Saying and Singing What It Knew: I Can

“A certain day became a presence to me;

there it was, confronting me —

a sky, air, light: a being.

And before it started to descend

from the height of noon,

it leaned over and struck my shoulder

as if with the flat of a sword,

granting me honor and a task.

The day’s blow rang out, metallic —

or it was I, a bell awakened,

and what I heard was my whole self

saying and singing what it knew: I can.”

Denise Levertov, Variation on a Theme by Rilke

(The Book of Hours, Book I, Poem 1, Stanza 1)