Dear Reader:

Every spring at the end of another school year…I would read my eighth grade students “Oh, the Places You’ll Go“…Dr. Seuss’s last published book. When I reflect back on this book…it is probably the best “self-help guide to life” one can read.

It dawned on me a couple of days ago…that I am letting myself get stuck in the “Waiting Place” while pausing throughout the day to glance at the clock or my Iphone for the umpteenth time.

I wonder what kind of night Mollie had…did I accidentally hit “mute” on the Iphone or is it on vibrate…will I hear Mollie or Walsh when they call?

It is so easy to fall into the “Waiting Place” isn’t it when life’s benchmarks loom, largely, in front of us? Dr. Seuss nailed the problem and solution with these few lines from his book…

You can get so confused
that you’ll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles cross weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place…

…for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or the waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for the wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

NO! That’s not for you!

Somehow you’ll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You’ll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.

………………………

So I decided that I am escaping the “Waiting Place” today and I am going to find where the “Boom Bands are playing.”  After all…bright days are pretty rare lately, we must take advantage of them when they come!

As I read one of my daily devotionals it talked about the thoughts (in steps) to living in the moment called “Just for Today“- Abby, in her column “Dear Abby” used to change the words, slightly, to this prose every year on January 1. (Dear Abby revised the thoughts from the original Al-Anon poem.)

So here are 10 thoughts I have for what I would do if I could change things….”Just For Today.“

1. Just for today… I would go to my garden and plant more flowers because flowers are a child’s first language.

2. Just for today…I would write my worries down in a letter which I would address to “God”-Location: Everywhere and then smile at the postman’s face as he studies the address, duly noting the extra stamps added, and finally smiles as he drops the letter in his bag.

3. Just for today…I would finally get eight glasses of water in me before the sun goes down…no more excuses…just keep drinking…for both my physical and spiritual “living waters” health.

4. Just for today…I would remember that “I am the story of myself” and each day offers the possibility of a great adventure in it. We just need to get out in the world to add the next page.

5. Just for today I would remember to write all my grandchildren because nothing is more special to a child than getting mail. I would even write a note for our baby-to-be welcoming him/her to the world…after all babies are the link between man and angels.

6. Just for today…I would acknowledge that babies are bits of stardust blown from the Hand of God. (Barretto) We are all ready to see the stardust form beside Mollie!

7. Just for today…I would remember the little child living within me and take her out to play.

8. Just for today…I would sit in the sun and lick an ice cream cone while it drips on my bare feet… tickling them and making me laugh

9. Just for today...I would pray to God to remind me that to love and be loved is the essence of living and prayer is an act of love

10. Just for today…I would remember that tonight the moon is full and also my heart…filled with gratitude for life!

So until tomorrow…Help us Father not lose a moment of living for waiting for things to happen…Push us out into the world as needed! (* We need you Baby Dingle!)

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

***A Big Shout-out today for Honey…it is her birthday and typical Honey…she and Mike left today for the MS Walk! She will spend her birthday weekend walking for others who can’t walk….and wear layers Burrells….for BURR! Friday!

If anyone is interested in making a donation for the MS Walk…it is never too late to give. Make a comment on the blog and Honey will get back with you with the info for doing so! Or contact me (comment/email) and I will get you all the information needed for a donation!

* Gin-g has had several God Winks from her spunky little mom the last few days since her death….remembering the last line in the Sir Walter Raleigh eulogy about…”If it is allowed…you will hear my laughter in the cloud?”

The last three days (beautiful, blue, and warm) Gin-g has sensed her mother playing peek-a-boo from behind the clouds and heard her laughter!

*** The “chocolate” bunny arrived early at Mollie and Walsh’s house…now if the stork would do the same…we’d all be very happy. * I told Mollie that between the full moon tonight and an almost 50 degree barometric drop….mother nature is pulling out all the stops for the entrance of Baby Dingle.