Ursula, Marilyn's grandmother, faces a kind of war of her own.
The soft spot and the fierceness
Hold fear lightly, and touch the soft spot behind it. There lives kindness. Hold kindness lightly, and touch the strength behind it. There lives fierceness. On any day, at any moment, even if we can do nothing else...we can be kind.
We are here
In the face of overwhelming loss Loss of life and livelihood, of routine, of expectation We find it so hard to turn inward, and remember: We are here. We are one. We are here. **** The little poem above came to me this morning, after a(nother) night of "pandemic dreaming." I share it today, along … Continue reading We are here
Pine Street Episode 197
Allison is at her parents' house for the duration, which gives her time to dig deeper into the history of her house on Pine Street.
Unite
A global pandemic teaches us, over and over again, that the myth of the single heroic individual is a limiting story. We can't be "left alone" to overcome a virus. True heroism involves cooperation and collaboration, coming together to help, protect, and heal one another. This is not "my land" on which to make a … Continue reading Unite
Pine Street Episode 196
Vulnerable seniors. Douglas struggled with the knowledge that this phrase applied to him. Except when he looked in the mirror, he thought of himself as a man in his thirties, or occasionally, a teenager of eighteen or nineteen, with a whole life to look forward to. But no, here he was, turning seventy, married for … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 196
Together
Every time there is a flood, wildfire, hurricane - afterward, some folks decide to express their perspective that the victims are somehow to blame. Why do they live close to the ocean? Why did they rebuild there after the last flood? Fires come every summer, what were they thinking? Leaving aside, for now, how little … Continue reading Together
Service
A few thoughts on leadership: As we look to leaders on all levels - in our towns and counties, our state, our nation, our world - what we crave is the visible demonstration of commitment to service. There is so much uncertainty, every leader and decision-maker will err. No one will call every shot perfectly. … Continue reading Service
Pine Street Episode 195
Leo’s cell phone interrupted his meditation on loss. He shifted Precious to the porch so he could dig it out of his pocket. “Hello?” “Leo, it’s David.” Leo’s heart lurched. Douglas, David’s father, was in the hospital. “David, is everything okay? Is it your dad?” “No. I mean, yes. Dad’s okay, for now. No change. … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 195
Earth day
Honoring Mother Earth means caring for the human, animal, and plant family she sustains. Our beautiful blue planet is not a source to exploit; it is a source to nourish, and celebrate. Today, sharing the Dalai Lama's Earth Day message: "Our mother earth is teaching us a lesson in universal responsibility. This blue planet is … Continue reading Earth day
Elizabeth Fountain, Author 