Tuesday, February 24, 2015

2/24/15-Just As I Am


Forgive me my bluntness, please.  And, as my awareness expands and I awaken further into Oneness, I reserve the right to change my mind later, or at the very least, modify it.  But, for now, I’m fairly certain that most of us would not walk up to someone with severe Down’s Syndrome or someone that has been assessed in the spectrum of severe autistic disorder and tell them they need only deny their disability and study for the MCAT to become a physician.  Nor do I believe we would be right in doing so.  For I believe that every individual, regardless of their perceived challenges, is sacredly divine, whole and complete, just as they are in every given moment.

I am referencing our Higher Self that is timeless, infinite and One with all that has ever been, all that will ever be, and all that is present, always.  Do we shine forth as that bright light always?  No, of course not.  Is it always there, available to each of us, regardless of our physical ability, without conditions or limits?  Yes, it always has been, always will be.  It is not just for some of us or within some of us or even as us.  It is us – you, me, and even the most base of society that are often harshly judged as criminals, or degenerates, and yes, for some, that separatist judgment sometimes includes even the disabled.

Why then, do so many seem to think that I am not whole and perfect, just as I am, regardless of my mental capabilities?  To me, by telling me that I need to deny my seemingly dwindling earthly capabilities and claim perfect health, at times seems like I am being told that I am not okay in this present form.  I am learning that it is a fine line between acceptance of what is and claiming perfect health.  In knowing that I am One in energy with divine Spirit, I have no need to deny any state of my human body.  Love me as my Higher self, just as I am.  Love yourself and one another the same.  Hmmmm, I think I've heard that somewhere before.

Today, in this moment, I can honestly claim that I care not what is happening in my brain. I am at peace regardless of my “health label” because it does not matter.  What matters is my connection to Allness, my awareness of being an open and expanding conduit for Spirit and infinite energy, and my ability to actualize, to the best of my ability, the awe-mazing peace that comes from that knowing.

I’m human and glaringly the more aware of Spirit I become, the more I realize how flawed my humanity can be.  But if I deny that humanness as my source and live from my higher, true nature, all is well always and in that is my perfect health.  In that is my perfect state of being.  I refuse to give in to fear from anything less.

As a child, being homeless from time-to-time was a reality.  Although my mother would probably deny it, I can tell you about at least 3 vehicles we lived in.  I can describe them and my domicile days within them in great detail.  I actually enjoyed those times.  Each one followed a period of wretchedness within the walls of a “normal” home.  When it was just Mother and I living in a car, I felt far safer there than in the environment we had just left behind, and Mother was a master at making it an adventure instead of a disastrous reality.  Similarly, I look upon my current situation as an exciting journey, not an arduous decline.

Granted, if I allow it, fear creeps in and I can literally feel my light dimming.  The questions begin: “What if I can’t keep up with my duties and I lose my job?”  “How will I eat?” “How will I feed my dogs?”  “How will I pay my lot rent and keep a roof over my head?”  “How, what, when, where, who, and why?”

It doesn’t matter.  Underneath all of that, the truth never changes.  We are here to live from love, grow in awareness to be a conduit in Oneness with infinite spiritual energy, and expand connection with Allness in this realm.  And in that flow, all else is taken care of.  Just as I am, is a perfect state of being, for each of us.

At the same time, we are stewards of this human form and have a responsibility to take the action necessary that allows that flow to continue.  I am not advocating rotting on the vine and sitting back in stubborn will declaring that "It's just the way it is" or "Some outside source will cure me if it seems fit." That is not the same as "just as I am."

For those of you traveling this journey with me, you know that it has taken awhile but I was able to see a doctor last Tuesday. It took all the earthly courage I could muster to do so.  I have a lot of earth angels that were co-manifesting with me the perfect doctor that would see me as a beautiful spirit having a human experience, and be willing to incorporate non-traditional treatments such as holistic and homeopathic healing, as well as have the compassion and empathy to listen and respect my wishes.  For some, that may seem like a tall order in our current healthcare system, but I knew it only as truth.

She walked in the door and I was not surprised. Her name is Kimberly Stump, MD, and if you live anywhere near Georgetown, TX, I cannot recommend her highly enough.

At the end of my visit, the business office announced that they had made a mistake and unfortunately my insurance did not cover my appointment, lab work or pending referrals.  They wanted cash for my visit.  After listening to the clerk for awhile, I took a deep breath and prayed.  In the internal silence, I blocked out all else and connected with Spirit.  The only thing that came to me was to ask if Dr. Stump knew that my insurance was being denied.  The answer was no, and in a voice that was not mine I gently asked the clerk if she would please let Dr. Stump know.  I also promised that once she had done so, I would then abide by whatever decision was made.  She left the room and came back quite awhile later with the announcement that Dr. Stump took it on herself to waive ALL of my fees for that day.  I love her.  I love Spirit.  We are all One.

I was also told by the clerk that I would get no subsequent care with Dr. Stump and that I should be aware all specialists on my plan are considered out of network.  I was disheartened.  I left there that day not knowing anything other than I refused to give in to fear, and that if I remained faithful to what I know to be true (all of the above), only great things could happen.

This new information about my insurance meant I had to start over from ground zero and that I would have to put hours in once again researching doctors and insurance and potential treatment plans, but instead of gnashing and waling as I might have in times past, I treated myself with loving care and empathy the rest of the day and allowed all emotions to come up that needed to.  I released them back to Spirit as lovingly as I could.  By bedtime I was weary, but steadfast in my connection with Oneness.

Early the next morning, Dr. Stump called me and stated that she was referring me to an advocacy center.  She also said that she had verified should I get SS disability, Medicare, I would be eligible to come back to their clinic and be treated by her.  She closed the call by wishing me well and said she looks forward to seeing me again one day.  I hung up, gave thanks and cried buckets of grateful tears.

Then I called the advocacy center as instructed.  They sent a social worker out to see me the very next day.  She spent over an hour with me, in my home, and on the spot accepted me into their program.  The next day, Friday, their Benefits Coordinator called me and my assessment appointment is this Wednesday.  I was told that I will see several people, including a doctor, and to expect to be there from 1-5:30ish.  They were apologetic for how long it will take.  Seriously?  I would gladly spend the night, standing on my head, if they needed me to.

Reciting repeatedly my medical history stirs up old emotions for me, some of them going all the way back to the injury itself.  I see it as an opportunity for further expansion and greater release for things I didn’t even realize I was holding on to.  For example, I recently woke up in the middle of the night screaming at the top of my lungs, reliving the attack that happened almost 18 years ago.  I may or may not receive “healing” from any damage that may or may not currently exist from that night, but I can let go of being invested in the outcome.  My expansion, my connection, my ability to live from love is not tethered to any states of my human condition.

I am healthy, happy and whole – just as I am.


Some Pics for Grins


For now, I don’t have the monthly income to cover a car payment plus lot rent so I will soon be giving up my car.  I don’t need to be driving anyway – especially in the city.  Yes, Leslie, Georgetown IS a city, especially compared to Goliad.  LOL!  I recently dared to drive in an effort to get groceries without hounding all of my friends and relatives for a ride.  It did not go well.  I got there and back, safe and sound, but it took me 4 hours.  It was less than a 10 mile round trip and I had a short grocery list.  Don’t ask.  I have no answers other than the traffic, the noise, and the crowds were more than I could handle.  Progress felt like I was maneuvering with my hands tied and my feet encased in cement.  But I sure was proud when I pulled into the parking lot – which is the photo at the top of the blog.

In preparation for the cold front, I recently hung curtains in the bedroom.  It’s tricky “hanging” things in an RV.  I got the how-to DIY ideas from Pinterest.  I used shower curtain clamps on a tension rod on the long wall and for the small window I used a cafĂ© rod that was hung using 3M removable hooks.  Sweet!  And easy, which is the best part.




Space is premium in an RV so before leaving Goliad I created, with the help of my friend Kylie, what I call the "wall of warmth".  You can see some of my coats in the pic.  The wall of warmth also includes my scarves and wraps.  Behind them, out of site, is a special hangar that holds my flip-flops.  All with 3M removable hooks.  Eventually I will figure out some sort of lacy drape or swag to cover and coordinate it all.  I love modern technology!

Now that the cold front has arrived, I can’t show you a pic of Nonni because she is under a pile of blankets (love!), but here is Bentley snuggling with a few of his beloved toys.  He somehow managed this feat on his own.  We, all of us, are awe-mazing.


Stay warm y’all.  Namaste.

Saturday, February 14, 2015

2/14/15-Love Is All There Is


Courtesy of FB Paramount Home Entertainment
Love is in the air, so to speak.  I love(d) Goliad and I love Georgetown.  I was happy in Goliad and I am happy here.  I was surrounded by wonderful earth angels in Goliad, and I am as equally blessed here, as I have always been everywhere.  Life is good, always, no matter what, where, how or who you’re with. It took me a long time to learn that; to really know it. I believe it, and now I get to practice living it.

The photo above is from my all time fav movie. The quote shown was actually a rhetorical question asked by William Holden’s character, David, while dancing with the lovely Sabrina, played by Audrey Hepburn.  To his question, “Oh, Sabrina, where have you been all my life?”  She whispers her answer perfectly, "Right over the garage."

Courtesy of filmsite dotorg
His response, “Right over my car.  Right up in that tree.  What a fool I was.”

That is the point of this post.
Love is all around.
Love is everywhere.
Love is everything.
Love is all there is.

We only need be aware, accept and allow that which already is.  A friend of mine recently wrote an article that describes this concept from a spiritual perspective - far better than I can try to emulate.  Think Agape instead of Love.  You can discover it (here).  Congratulations on your new website, by the way, David. Awesome!  Buy his book and CD peeps.  Your heart will smile.

Right now, in this moment, I am sitting outside writing this and I have tears of gratitude in my eyes and immense joy and peace in my heart.  At the risk of plagiarizing Karen Drucker’s song, I declare this, “I am so blessed and I am so grateful for all that I have.”  Here is a one-minute video of what I get to wake up to most days: http://youtu.be/T0EYuJhI52M

There was very little I longed for in Goliad, but one of the things I missed was being able to see water.  In Arlington, every park my furbabies and I frequented had a lake or a water feature, and in Dallas, my office had a magnificent view of water.  Here, we walk less than a football field to enjoy many splendid views with water as a backdrop.

Here’s the path we take to get to one of our favorite views.



And here’s a 2-minute video of what we see and hear when we get there: http://youtu.be/d8wkyMzg5lw

Last night there were deer across the way.  Can you see them?


One of Bentley’s favorite things to do in this world is to swim.  He gets to do just that in his senior years, anytime we want, right here in the mighty San Gabriel at a swimming hole carved out just for the Park.  Sweet!


We have a concrete patio on which to sit while I work or write outside.  Nonni and Bentley enjoy it as much as I do!


What does all of this have to do with love being all around and accessible no matter what?

Well, it’s pretty easy to “see” the things I love, but it would be just as easy for me to miss all of this beauty if I got caught up in “the dark side.”  Spiritual connection and expansion, friends and family, nature, my furbabies, writing and working are the priorities in my life.  As is my health.

Tuesday night I had a major seizure.  Prior to that, I enjoyed all of the above and had one of my best days ever.  I was seeing, hearing, smelling, thinking and feeling so many blessings far too infinite to count.  Days like that are priceless.  That evening, as I walked the dogs, I contemplated a quiet evening of writing once we got back home.  Then something began to change. The sensations were new for me but I knew something wasn’t right and I made a beeline for home.

It was all I could do to feed the dogs and secure the trailer before falling into bed.  I honestly believe that if I had not made it home, I would have crashed somewhere in the Park.  I was going to go to sleep no matter where I was or what I was doing.  Fortunately, blessedly, I made it safely home and I slept from 6:30P until 9:30A without a waking moment and seemingly without even stirring.  The only reason I woke up at 9:30A was because someone knocked on my door to do some maintenance outside my trailer.

I was grateful to realize that whatever “that” was, lifted with only the usual ‘after-seizure’ symptoms to deal with.  Wednesday and Thursday were like walking in mud but the point is, I was walking.  Wednesday night my friend Judy saw to it that I was able to get some groceries and my friend Leslie came by Thursday to help with a few other things.  Friday, yesterday, I had a conference with my life coach and Tuesday I see a doctor. I will also get to see two other friends next week and hopefully my cousin.  I am so grateful for the support of so many.

Friendship - My blessings multiply through true kinship and love. #DailyWord http://www.dailyword.com/dailyword/friendship-friday-february-13-2015

Is it comfortable knowing that this seizure came with brutal force and without any warning?  Of course not.  Nor does it meet my need for autonomy or independence to know that it evidently takes a village to keep me going.  Might there come a day I don’t wake up or a day that I’m not able to work or write?  Of course.  Isn’t that the same for everyone?

I can look at all of that and get bogged down in the muck and the mud of it, but I choose to stay in the flow of love.  I choose Agape.  In that, all is well, always.  In that, there is no fear.  In that, love is all there is.

Happy Valentine’s Day!





What do you mean this isn't my good side?


We'll sit in a moment Mom.  Maybe.


I think I'm going to run away if she takes one more picture.
Well, okay.  We'll stay.
We love you too mom.
Thank you for the treats Momma Leslie.
Happy Valentine's Day everybody.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

2/10/15-A Billion to One

courtesy of jplnasadotgov
For a couple of hours earlier tonight (2/9), I sat outside under an expansive sky, looking at a billion stars, listening to nature, marveling at the universe.  I don’t think I’ve done that since Fiona’s meltdown (August 2014).

A week ago, if anyone had asked me what the odds were of me being able to do that in Georgetown, I would have probably said a billion to one.  I would never have equated stargazing with the city, but there I sat, moonstruck, and it was awe-mazing.

I heard cows in the distance, a train yet even more distant, some highway traffic (but none more so than what I would hear on 59 in Goliad), the river, and a critter rustling in the leaves that managed to stay just beyond the yard lights so that I couldn’t see it.  What I didn’t hear, which is amazing because this RV Park has 100 sites, is another person, a TV, or even a stereo.  God, what bliss.

Stargazing waxes the writer in me and soothes my soul.  I’m not sure why.  I can have a billion things on my mind and possibly even a heavy heart, and if you plop me somewhere where I can see the stars without light pollution, I’m in heaven.  I am still a bit bewildered that I experienced it tonight.

The cool, crisp night air and perhaps the dozen or so Harleys in the park have had me reflecting on the nights in years past that I camped out in remote areas en route to and from the annual Sturgis rally.  Many times since my Harley days I take late night walks and reminisce to those nights, but here I was experiencing it, not just reflecting on it – in my own back yard, in an RV park, in the city.  Wow, what are the odds?  I would have guessed, a billion to one.

Also, less than a ¼ mile from my site, I can reach a clearing in the woods near the river that is just beyond the park and pitch black at night.  In that space there are a billion more stars visible.  I long to sleep overnight there, but I’m not that brave.  Sleeping outside on my lawn chair on private land at Miss Bettie’s in Goliad was one thing.  Sleeping outside in unknown parts of a city, another.  I’ll have to wait to get that outdoor fix until I get well and can do some serious camping again.


I mourned leaving Goliad and the countryside, but I love this RV Park.  It is so quiet and nature is all around me. I am thrilled with my expansive backyard view of a field that is full of pecan trees.


Plus, this property runs along the San Gabriel River and from the high banks it is thrilling to be able to see the bottom of the river.  It is so clear!  I loved the wild, murky San Antonio River in Goliad and it was a wonderful kayak adventure with my friend Joanne.  Then my friend Leslie found this park for me that, at odds probably close to a billion to one, has all the natural aspects I loved so dearly in Goliad.  Just today in her neighborhood alone I saw 10 deer!  There are even donkeys near the park that I hear braying from time to time.  They’re not Jenny and Jill that I got to feed each night for awhile in Goliad, but even just hearing donkeys I may never meet is uplifting.  It was silly of me to ever doubt Spirit and to worry.

Jill and Jenny and Nonni

I am forever grateful for my time in Goliad, for the friends I made there, and for the many, many blessings I experienced on a daily basis.  And I am as equally grateful for my new surroundings.  Here I have nature, peace and quiet, a beautiful setting, privacy that includes people, and the conveniences that come with living in the city – one of the most important being healthcare specialists.  Now that I’m getting settled in, the search for my new doctors will begin.

Along with these conveniences also comes a LOT more traffic however.  Goliad has two main roads, 183 and 59, and two stop lights.  There’s a bit more than that in Georgetown and the Austin area.  Ya think?  LOL.  I will not drive here.  It is not safe for me to do so, nor, to be honest, am I capable.  At least for now.  Another blessing that comes from this move is that I have many friends in the area and a wonderful cousin that has offered to get me where I need to go.  I suspect as I begin to do my research that there may also be public transit opportunities in the city that Goliad didn’t offer.  All in all, all is well, as is always true.

After realizing I could no longer live and work in North Dallas, I moved to Goliad to try and sustain independence in a quieter environment.  Mayberry (Goliad) was perfect for that and I fell in love with the town and the people.  But just since losing Fiona, it seems my symptoms have increased rapidly.  The Palace Purchasers graciously allowed me to bring the trailer to Georgetown until we determine the next phase for me. I hold that the outcome will be perfect healing. I certainly have landed in a perfect place with my familiar home in tact and that allows for all my needs to be met. I am beyond grateful for that.

Thank you to ALL who have contributed to my well-being and who continue to support me through this awe-mazing journey.  Tears well up every time I think of each of you.  I also want to offer a special shout-out to the earth angels that helped me get from Goliad to Georgetown.  To the Todds, the Whitfields, Leslie, and Kylie … a billion “thank yous” hardly seem ample so I’ll just offer one very large and heartfelt, “I love you.”