"Remembering" Moments

People are taking their flags down. People are not proud of this country. Women in this country have lost their rights. EVERY time I pick up my phone there is some new and horrific news item.

I have to balance the fight with the gratitude. Gratitude for what? For how far we've come? For the freedoms we have? For the foundations we were built on? NO TO ALL OF THAT. I am grateful for the idea though. There's a concept worth fighting for. 

PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR DAMN MINDS and I have a young child. I want him to understand and know the beauty of something worth fighting for. He has to know something besides the fight. Members of the next generation have to believe in the dream of a better country, a better world. They have to know what it is we must fight for. 

I remember happier times. I remember little moments. Many parents try to "make memories" with little pockets of happiness, adventure and tradition. We have to. Maybe it's a family outing, a consistent routine, a special event. "Remember that time we went to the beach?" (or toasted marshmallows, saw fireworks, went camping, etc.).

No, I am not proud of our country right now. I will be, though, when we all vote and make change. In the meantime, I will still wash down the patio furniture and toast marshmallows. I will barbecue and light sparklers. It's not giving up or giving in. It's making memories. It's taking time to recharge and strengthen. It's remembering what it is that we are going to fight FOR. 

With Love,

 T

xo

Vacation Blog?

Here's the thing...

I remembered the blog this Tuesday morning and there was nothing I could do about it. Russ was going to post FOR me, but then he could not either.

You KNOW things must be REALLY hectic and crazy around here when neither one of us can manage to make it to a computer to get the blog done.

Sigh...

Can we just call this a vacation week? (If you can call over 1700 miles of driving a vacation - and RUSS... who knows how many miles he's traveled by air this week)

Alright. I have to sleep now. I've got 400 miles to go tomorrow.

Love you all! Have a beautiful and safe Fourth of July!

xoxo,
T

The Happy Way

That's it. I'm on vacation.

S'mores time

A friend of mine recently quoted Thich Nhat Hanh:

"There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way."

I'm down with that. So when I'm wondering which way to go and teetering on the edge of chaos...

I'm choosing happiness, peace, and serenity.

My view from the winery this afternoon

Ahhh...

Have a great holiday everyone! Happy Fourth! Next stop: the beach!

xoxo

Namaste,

T

#Goodtimes

Last Monday and Tuesday, Russ sent me a few pictures from Istanbul...

I sent him back a few in response...

On Tuesday, I was on a long drive and unaware of the attacks at the airport in Istanbul when I received the text from Russ saying, "We're all fine here." 

They were on stage in the middle of their set when the shots started firing at Istanbul Ataturk Airport. They (Nile Rodgers and his band "Chic") weren't scheduled to fly out of that airport until 7am the next morning.

click here for "Istanbul airport attack..." on CNN.com

Since I knew they were alright before I even knew what had happened, I was not panicked. I could only tune in to static-filled radio reports from time to time, and was shielded from the graphic images I might have seen on TV if I hadn't been on a nine hour long drive.

When I spoke to Russ, he told me there was some hesitation about continuing their show - and especially playing the last song, "Good Times." He said it felt counterintuitive to play such a song at that moment. The decision was made to continue the show though, including "Good Times." Even though it felt completely inappropriate to some of the band members at the time, they found that after the show people were thanking them for playing it, saying that they needed the uplift it provided.

Heartfelt condolences and prayers for peace and comfort for the families of victims 

- and to all those affected by acts of terror around the world.

Russ had another point, which was echoed by another band member in online posts. He reminded me that it wasn't that long ago that I was getting word from a college student I know that they were alright, after a shooter entered their school library and injured three people before being shot by police. It was just a couple of weeks ago that a friend in Orlando checked in as "safe" after the attack at a nightclub there. This time, it was Russ in Istanbul. His point was that anything can happen - anywhere, anytime. We can not be afraid to live. I agreed.

This Fourth of July, I celebrate freedom with the rest of the country. We have so many freedoms... freedom to travel, to follow our dreams, to choose happiness under even the most challenging circumstances...

A happy and safe holiday to all, and to all those we love...

Namaste,
T