We are a nation of many religions, beliefs, atheists & agnostics. Freedom means the freedom to believe in any or no religions. One is free to choose what and if they believe. Our constitution protects these freedoms.
In remembering those who have served and those we have lost we here at Fearsome Beard believe it is important to respect all beliefs and or lack thereof.
Religions, beliefs and lack thereof are a choice we live, enjoy and practice.
There is ultimately a deeper level to what we are to each other. The level of relationship which transcends these belief practices.
Remember with love, respect and compassion.
Happy Memorial Day to all the Yanks out there. May all our dear readers, no matter where they are, remember someone they loved and lost today and feel the gratitude for the gift.
Stumbled upon this after I had finished all my Christmas posts. Brought tears to my eyes. I had this record as a child. No longer remember what happened to it. Now I have it here.
This year we mark the first evening of Chanukah by not only lighting the first candle of Fearsome’s menorah at sundown, but also but posting Adam Sandler’s original classic from 1994 Here Comes Hanukkah.
Happy Hannukah! May peace, love, light and laughter be yours.
In order to help you along into the frenzy of last minute shopping, Fearsome continues his seasonal traditions by presenting Barbra Streisand’s Jingle Bells as lip-synced by Babs Levine…
A friend and reader text me earlier to check on mom. He nudged me since I hadn’t written. Mom is doing ok. I say ok because while her drive, outlook and spirit are very much all going for her, her body is becoming frail. As long as her blood pressure can be controlled she shouldn’t have any more small strokes. She will recover in a couple months from the small ones she had. Her health checks out good otherwise but she is dizzy, unsteady and tires easily right now.
Her 85th birthday is in late January and I have already booked the trip out to be there. We are installing a chair lift for her staircase, getting her an “I’ve fallen and can’t get up” button and changing a few things to make life alone in the house she purchased in 1957 a bit safer. She wants to work, she wants to live alone in her house, she wants to drive and she is determined.
I realize her days are limited, as does she. However she has enough means to bring in some help if she needs it. As her son it’s my job to keep an eye out, advise her strongly if necessary and help her achieve her goals for enjoying what time she does have. I’ve asked her if she would move here as I have a first floor bedroom suite she can move into, she says maybe one day.
Happy Solstice to All Y’all! …(pleural for y’all)
On this the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, I am reminded that tomorrow really will be a new day. Tomorrow starts the new cycle. The sun will begin its return. The world will turn yet again. I am given hope. I realize that all of life is a cycle. It is simply the pattern to which we are born. The earth revolves, seasons revolve, our solar system revolves, all life including all plants and animals cycle and all have a time and a place. The universe is one big revolving circle and I am blessed to be a part of it.
The fulfillment of my life has to simply be to do my best to leave here having left something good behind. Nothing is too big or too small, it just has to be good. Just do good, give good, share good and leave good.
My grove of traditional trees from my childhood.
This years Xmas dinner of chosen family at our home is themed “Coming Home”. Last year we weren’t here for our chosen family’s traditional Christmas dinner gathering as we went to be with my mom due to my father’s passing. This year we are back to our home in San Diego. Therefore given the theme all gifts for the white elephant gift exchange are to be from small neighborhood businesses. I chose two natural open growth Nobel Fir trees from our neighborhood nursery to decorate in a style that we fifty somethings remember from the 1960s. They are complete with tinsel icicles and not a single LED light. Yup the 1960s weren’t exactly environmentally friendly. No worries though as I will recycle the trees after properly disposing of the tinsel and the incandescent lights are powered by my solar power system.
One other seasonal tradition of ours I will leave you with on this winter solstice day is Author Feidler and The Boston Pops rendition of Sleigh Ride.
The best way to support the community you live in is to get out in it and spend your hard earned money right there where you live. Those small store fronts which are the livelihood of many of your community’s members are what makes yor community unique. They make it the place you call home.
I know you are now thinking “What the “F” are you saying Fearsome? You just posted a pic of yourself in front of Home Depot on Black Friday.”
Around here we do get out early on Black Friday as a tradition and hit Home Depot. I give poinsettias to many of my immediate neighbors each year. The poinsettias are always big beautiful 6″ ones that are locally grown right here in San Diego at 99 cents each. We usually will pick up a few other tools or seasonal items as well.
We are kicking off the season the way we always do by getting out in it, spending a buck or two and sharing some smiles.
The Christmas tree is already in the living room and will be decorated this weekend. It is a natural Noble Fir from the local nursery just a few blocks away. Our chosen family Christmas theme this year is “Coming Home” and all gifts are to come from local community small businesses.
We live in a global community made up of small communities. Some of life’s conveniences and necessities will come from big worldly distributors. Many others can and will come from small store fronts of our community. Today is the day to get into our communities and discover just how much we have right here where we live.
