What a year 2023 has been by KimB

[Editor's Post}

2023 has been an eventful year for the family and our global family.

The passing of MrsB and the loss felt by all who knew her in life, or knew her from her writings and art works, brings us sorrow. Our sorrow is a reminder of all of the wonderful things she gave us during her lifetime. We mourn for those things that will never come again, but we can rejoice in all that she gave us.

Joy, Happiness and Wonder

A never ending curiosity about the world.

The important things that we keep in our hearts

The global family is also suffering. There are calamities both natural and man made, circling the planet. Some will abate in time, yet worse is to come. The man made suffering is a long term, self-inflicted catastrophe that repeats and repeats and repeats. We seem to be addicted to unnecessary suffering. When we are not miserable enough ourselves, we drag the rest of the global population into our depression, as if having company will mitigate the actions that created it.

There is a capacity for humans to experience hope even in the worst of conditions.

We hope for ...

Whatever we hope for...

Sometimes our hope is for small things that do not really matter within the scope of our lives. Sometimes we hope for big things that will make significant changes in our living situation. We have hopes for others, that their lives will be full of wonder and contentment.

It is our hope that severs us from suffering.

Hope, Suffering and Sorrow are temporary fluctuations in our lives. We know that suffering and sorrow will happen and we build bulwarks against the worst effects with hope. Blocks of hope appear, even when we cannot see or feel them. Hope surrounds us until enough of its aura envelops us, and we can see that hope is everywhere.

Despair cannot exist in the presence of Hope

Hope is not the same thing as Luck. Luck is some external force, sometimes called Randomness, that we invoke as an explanation for things we cannot otherwise account for. It's a factor outside of our control. It's unpredicatable and lacks a defined pattern. It can be either good or bad. It depends on the point of view.

Good Luck occurs when something pleasant happens. Something unexpected but once present is considered a happy event. Since Luck is unpredictable, we imagine that Hope can somehow influence this unpredictable event and we Hope For Good Luck. But Luck does not respond to Hope.

Bad Luck happens when some random, unpredictable event occurs and the outcome is not a happy one. We do many things to avoid Bad Luck but events happen whether we want them or not. But Luck does not respond to Sorrow, Sadness or Despair either.

Hope is not external, it is inside us. We do not have to search the Cosmos for it. It is inside all of us, all the time. It can get buried by sorrow, despair and unhappy events but it is still inside each of us, just waiting for a chance to bubble up again.

Hope is not unrealistic in scope, we know there are limits to the extent of our Hope. The fundamental quality of Hope is internal. It resides in our mind and our feelings. We have control over Hope, and that is not just Luck.

As each of our years pass, we build new hopes. We cherish joy. We celebrate all the happiness of our lives. We marvel at the wonders surrounding us, from the smallest droplet of dew, to the tallest of snow strewn mountains, and to the scampering of scooters as they wait for the walls to warm from the sun's rays.

Is it any Wonder that we have Hope?

Holiday Cheer by KimB

Holiday Cheer

When cheer abounds,
We make the rounds,
And sing the songs of yore.

We drink our fill,
of yule tide swill,
And happily ask for more.

We sing like bears,
that have no cares,
As the bellowed music swells.

A rousing chorus,
made with lots of noise,
Is sure to ring the bell.

KimB 12 2023

Happy Holidays to Everyone!

A Holiday Story: The Three Friends by KimB

The Three Friends

There were once three worms that lived in a pot. Well, they were not really worms because worms live in the ground like Pity the Poor Patat. These were caterpillars and they lived in a sky of green. Their names were Tom, Dick and Hairy.

Their parents had left them in a sea of green and when they woke, they were surrounded by green everywhere. Sometimes a golden ray pierced the green and the warmth was soothing. Soon they got hungry and found that the green all around them was good to eat. So they ate.

They found that they could move around in the sea of green and if they moved into the golden light, it was not only warm but where the gold fell on the green it had a different taste. It was delicious. So they ate.

When the warm got too uncomfortable, they shifted to a different part of the green sea where the golden light did not reach. It was cool and calming and the green here tasted different. It was delicious. So they ate.

Soon they were joined by The Four Friends: Ernest, Leonard, George and James. Together they explored the world of green, although only George seemed interested in tasting the delicious green. The others stayed away from the golden light as it fell on the green sea, preferring the cool green shelter from the uncomfortable heat.

Well, actually, no one really knows what James was doing, because he moved so slowly he was always last. Still, he made his way, at best speed, to followed his friends.

Tom, Dick and Hairy all continued to eat and eat. There was sooo much tender green to nibble on. There were stiffer al-dente darker greens and a gnawable green spike that appeared with all the tender and al-dente greens had been eaten. It was very satisfying.

They enjoyed the company of the Four Friends and especially the company of James, who had finally made his way into the sea of green. They had fun times visiting and comparing which green was tastier, spicier, sweeter, more savory, juicier and more filling. There was unanimous verdict that nothing was actually filling, so they didn't have to stop tasting everything on the buffet in the green sea.

Then something changed.

No one really knows why or how, but there was a definite change.

Tom, Dick and Hairy felt full. James looked at them and suggested they take a Pepto.

It was the first time Tom, Dick and Hairy had ever not wanted to taste the green sea. They looked around at all the green and felt a bit woozy. Ernest, George and Leonard assured the three that they often felt full and that this feeling passes after a while and then they can eat - well, whatever each of them wanted to eat. They suggested that patience and lots of fluids would set things right soon enough.

But something had changed. Pepto didn't solve the problem and the taste was YUCK! They had no interest in fluids and the longer they waited the worse the symptoms got. They felt fuller and fuller with each passing moment.

The three friends held a family conference. They shared their feelings, big and small. They shared how uncomfortable they were. How the sea of green was no longer interesting, and the mere thought of eating any more green would make them explode.

They took notes and shared ideas and consulted about the different types of green, all of it was Not Interesting. Only James seemed to have an idea, although no one is really sure what James was thinking, as he waved his eye stalks with a convincing twirl.

Tom, Dick and Hairy agreed, and as soon as they did, they no longer felt full and they were no longer hungry. They were content and their worries disappeared.

They waved their many foot-pods goodbye to each other and to the Four Friends and would have hugged James, except James had started another journey. Then Tom, Dick and Hairy each headed for a different part of the green sea.

Tom found a lovely green pool, it was quiet and cool. He folded over an edge of the green and curled up inside and fell into a deep sleep.

Dick traveled along the gnawable green spikes until he found where several of the spikes merged together to make a perfect bed. He curled up on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

Hairy was more adventurous. Instead of going farther up into the green sea, he turned around and made his way down. He traveled a long way, passing tender greens, and stiffer al-dente greens and gnawable green spikes until he came to something he had never encountered before. There was nothing green where he was. Yet he felt at home and knew this was the right spot. He found a hidden spot in the not-green and curled up and went to sleep.

It was the first time the three had ever gone to sleep. They slept and slept and slept. It was a long time and still they slept.

The Four Friends had completely forgotten about the Three Friends. Ernest, Leonard, George and James continued to doing what they had been doing all along. Although, James had became a good navigator using the Goat's New Compass.

Then, after a very long time, longer than you might think, the Three Friends began to wake up.

Each began to stretch and shift and found that they were somehow different. They were not sure what happened but it felt right. They pushed and pulled and stretched and twisted. They did not have the same shape they'd had when they had gone to sleep! They were eager to discover all about their new shapes. In some places they were smaller and other parts were bigger. Some parts were delicate and others tough as gnawable greens. After much stretching they could not stretch anymore. They were tired and exhausted, so they rested.

They sensed that something wonderful had happened to them. Slowly, they began to test their new forms and then the most wonderful thing of all happened. It took only a moment for each of them to discover what was so very different. They flexed a few times and then ...

They flew into the air.

Their wings now bright and full carried them into a sea of blue.

They left the sea of green behind them, 'though they would never forget that place and would return to it at the end of their journeys. But for now, they flexed up and down and the wind carried them higher and higher. They found many new friends and fluttered around The Four Friends: Ernest, Leonard, George and James, to say goodbye. James twirled his eye stalks as he wished them all a safe journey.

There was just one other thing that they discovered.

They were not Tom, Dick and Hairy they were:

Tomasa, Ricarda and Hermione

So the three friends: Tomasa, Ricarda and Hermione, fluttered Into the sea of blue.


The Three Friends by KimB December 2023

MrsB Butterfly ~1985

Joy by KimB

Dedicated to my friends A&J

JOY

My dog is named Joy,

And she gives me her heart.

She shows me her love,

Whenever she barks.



She runs around and races,

to show me her spark.

Her warm cuddles beside me,

are sure when it's dark.

KimB 12 2023

Why Old Ladies Wear Slippers by KimB

I know why old ladies wear slippers...

Shoes are expensive

And slippers are cheap.

The first is too tight,

The next fits their feet.


They are easy to get on

And come off with a flick,

While shoes require

a bendover to kick.


Slippers are comfy

And and come in all forms,

Some are plain while

some are adorned.


Some have a lining

And others have none.

You can pick from faux-fleece

Or leather to roam.


They come in all sizes

And styles to chose.

You can have half a dozen,

With little to lose.


They keep your feet warm

When the weather gets cold,

Amd during the heat waves,

Your toes can go bold.


So here is to slippers

Soft, fuzzy or firm,

They have been around ages,

And wear them in turns.


One size fits all,

Which cannot be beat,

And we wear them however

They fit on our feet.


KimB 12 2023