Meme from To Taste a Peach

What were you doing 10 years ago?
In 1998 –
We were preparing our move from Madrid to Malaga with great joy and anticipation, looking forward to leaving the big city and all of its disadvantages…and advantages, and embrace life by the sea, among family and in a house instead of an apartment.

I had recently realized I wanted to leave business and management consulting behind, and had begun creative writing again and other creative activities.

I had met and become friends with someone who was a help in that arena, then disappeared, and who has come back into my life as a catalyst in my new reading promotion activities now, 10 years later.

My mother was still alive, so important in the changes I have undergone from then to now.

My girls were 5 and 8, full of promise, excitement, wonder, fun… all in that innocent loving manner that changes in the teenage years we are experiencing today.

To do list for today-

Pick up house after 4 days away.
Go to grocery store
Lat day of Padel Class and group breakfast after
Fix a good healthy lunch for the family
Polish my writing pieces from my trip to send to friends and post on blog.
Meet with local bookstore owner to discuss summer and other future activities
Catch up on e-mails
Accompany my daughter to her favourite store to see the dress she wants
Get spoiling time for my husband who is going through difficult days at work.

What would you do if you were a billionaire?

To improve my own life I would change houses to one that had a separate guest house so that it would be easier for friends and family to spend time with us. It would not be a huge mansion but bigger than I have now with a bit more land. I would have a 2nd residence in the US. I would have daily help to do the cleaning washing house keeping and some some cooking, to leave me time to dedicate to creativity and developing other projects.
I would finance the volleyball team and youth sports project my husband would establish and run.

To improve the world I would set up a foundation, or become an influencing voice in an established one (money brings power and facilitates this) in order to help form businesses that work towards: reducing our dependency on oil; resolving water needs and related issues in third world countries; supporting and developing local entrepreneurs in those countries to be able to create jobs for their own people and develop their own country.

To improve the life of our family members I would offer a set amount for each sibling to allow them to own a home and/or start a business endeavour, and for each parent and/or aunt and uncle to allowi them to live comfortably and without financial worry in retirement.

4. What are three of your bad habits?
1. Procrastination
2. Leaving things out of place allowing clutter to collect and make the room messy.
3. Allowing the negative thoughts and chatter to spend time in my mind, slowing down my progress and growth.

5. What are some snacks you enjoy?
· Popcorn
· Chips and dip
· Nuts
· Cheese
· A cookie now and then and a square of chocolate or one Hershey Kiss

6. What were the last five books you read?
You must keep in mind that I earn my living (or a salary that one day will be enough to consider a living) through reading programs and creative writing workshops so I must read a lot. These books I read in May and June.
· The Zahir by Paolo Coehlo
· The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier
· Maridos (Husbands) by Angeles Mastretta (Mexican author)
· Elogio a una Madrastra (Ode to a Stepmother) by Vargas Llosa (Peruvian author)
· The Purple Hibuscus – A novel from Africa by a young African woman whose name I cannot recall.
· Three young adult short novels for the youth reading group I facilitate, including The Boy in the Striped Pajamas in both Spanish and English.

7. What are five jobs you have had?
1. Current – Story teller, reading promoter, creative writing coach.
2. Fundraiser then Fundraising and Communications Manager for local Cancer Hospice
3. Management Consultant focusing on systems improvement, then on Customer Service and Leadership.
4. Travel Agent
5. Airline ground agent

8. What are five places where you have lived?
1. Spain – Madrid, Barcelona, Granada, Malaga
2. USA – Washinton DC suburbs in Virginia (where I grew up)
3. San Diego (As a single adult)
4. Dallas Texas (As a single adult)
5. Phoenix Arizona (as a child)

9. What five people do you want to tag?
Vale of Evening Fog
Bonnie at Wordsmith
Frankelscence
Marginal Views

Food for Thought 1

This is from the article The Bus vs. the Bear from the Washington Post, written by Tom Howarth. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/23/AR2008052302610.html

" The former head of the Jesuit order, Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, once said that there are not enough resources in the world for all peoples to be brought up to middle-class American standards of living. Something has to give. We have to learn to slow down and live simpler lives so that others can simply live. "

What a quote, I love it! It reminds me of:

"Don't live within your means, but rather within your needs."
I think we all need to reconsider what we really "need" to live well and happy. Not Huge SUV's, $1000 designer handbags, 4000 sq feet of living space....
An insulated place to live that protects from the weather's worst faces, enough food and water to survive and keep healthy, a few outfits (vs. closets full of them) , decent health care, to name the important few.
Of course with what's happening with the prices of these, our means may soon only cover our basic "needs".
Why didn't we think of this sooner? Don't get me going on that one..or just read the previous post.

The Superclass - Definition, Comments and Reflections

They're Global Citizens. They're Hugely Rich. And They Pull the Strings.
By David RothkopfSunday, The Washington Post - May 4, 2008; B01

We didn't elect them. We can't throw them out. And they're getting more powerful every day.
Call them the superclass.
At the moment, Americans are fixated on the political campaign. In the meantime, many are missing a reality of the global era that may matter much more than their presidential choice: On an ever-growing list of issues, the big decisions are being made or profoundly influenced by a little-understood international network of business, financial, government, cultural and military leaders who are beyond the reach of American voters.
In addition to top officials, these people include corporate executives, leading investors, top bankers, media moguls, heads of state, generals, religious leaders, heads of terrorist and criminal organizations and a handful of important cultural and scientific figures. Each of these roughly 6,000 individuals is set apart by their power and ability to regularly influence millions of lives across international borders. The group is not monolithic, but none is more globalized or has more influence over the direction in which the global era is heading.

The above paragraphs were the opening of an interesting article from the Washington Post, that I sent to many of my firends and family. What it argues I have heard in conferences here in Spain and have been observing for a few years now. Scarey, truly scarey.

Below is just my own quick refelction and prediction on what will happen that I sent in an on-going e-mail conversation with my conservative uncle. It seems we are in agreement on the problem and plight. We just disagree tremendously on how to address it. (See earlier article on Proud to be a Liberal)

" The superclass exists in all of the developed parts of the world. Question is whether they really want to see wealth redistributed in a more equitable manner."

" It’s so true in the First World in general, although the social safety nets here in Europe , (health care, unemployment, training, housing help) help keep the middle class from falling into poverty levels when difficult times, like now, come. I think this difficult period is the beginning of major changes, and getting through them is gonna’ be tough, with or without the safety nets. I truly believe a major shift is coming, and the US will perhaps be a big loser. Things are so out of balance globally– the environment, our values…consume, consume, consume, to keep an economy going when other people’s food chain and supplies are declining or non-existant,, the declining value of human life for so many, the pace we try and keep up with to keep earning to keep spending, which keeps worsening the environment, which hurts the have nots more than the haves….like I said out of balance. "
Well, how did I get there? I just have been observing it from that perspective for a long time.

Mother's Day

My Daughter's and I in Paris in Feb.

I celebrate Mother's Day twice. The first celebration is for me as a mother, I celebrated it last Sunday on Spain’s Mother’s Day. I gave myself a lovely day, decided to stay home and not go out among the noisy Spanish throng of extended families, but rather, enjoy the peace and tranquility of our own garden that my husband has been working on for days. It looks so impressive, the pool is clean, the fountain’s running. So our comida, just the fours of us, on our patio was prettier than any restaurant could offer. I did a leg of lamb on our gas BBQ and served it with the new potatoes steamed with butter and parsley, green beans, baby broccoli and beets from the garden of my new organic supplier, even made a gravy with the lamb juices, MMMmmmm. I made a pear crumble for dessert and served it with ice cream. A Rioja Reserva, and a quiet afternoon. Couldn’t have asked for more! Did lots of reading in the sun in the morning and then again after lunch while my husband watched tennis and the girls, who had late nights the night before, had naps. It felt good not to have any obligation of any kind at any time. Can’t remember the last time I had a day like that…Well today is sort of like that.

Today, the second Mother's Day celebration, on America's Mother's Day I celebrate for my mother. It was the Cudeca Cancer Hospice (where I used to work) Walkathon this morning, the 6th edition. This is the first year I was NOT involved in the organization of it, so I walked as a participant. I thought it was the appropriate way of remembering my Mom who died of cancer 7 years ago. Afterwards, I sat for awhile and enjoyed the entertainment with a girlfriend, who lost her mother a few months ago to cancer, a patient of the hospice, and we talked about how the parts of the walk we did alone were important to us.

She called me later at home and told me she'd done some writing when she got home and had written something for me. Then she read me a poem in English (she's Argentinian) about how we were not alone, but how our Mom's were there, carrying us along, folding us in their silk and cotton, from both sides of the ocean. Of course tears came, and I could barely speak, but I was so touched by how insightful it was and how special a gift she gave me on Mother's Day.

I like having two days, one for me and one for her, never shining one over the other, each celebrated for all they mean independantly.

A long way to my heart

It is a long way to my heart, that phrase has been in my mind when I've thought of my journal writing lately. Why is it a long way to my heart? It seems to me that it is just under the surface, close, always open and reaching out. How can it be a long way to my heart? Is it buried? Buried under what? Under my husband and kids, under my work? Or has it run off to a distant place? Is that place my homeland, my family my roots? That must be it, since as I write these lines emotions rise up in my chest, tears well and would fall if I let them. My homeland; I often criticise it from afar, but secretly I long to know how I might feel, back in its bosom. My roots, my family; I long to see my brother -rekindle our comraderie, to enjoy his wife's optimisim. I miss his children and dream of being a more active presence in their lives. His oldest, 11, so much like him physically, is he personality wise? I don't know, but I think so. His second, 8, so determined in his quests, whatever they have been, may be and may become at each stage of his growing up. And his little girl, 5, so cute, so like my mother in her looks, has she got my mother's soul?

That must be where my heart is, in that faraway place of my homeland, my family, my roots. I soon will go after it and that other part of me, in the United States.

The Story Lady

I am the Story Lady, El Hada de los Cuentos. Last Spring while lying in bed, thinking of my creative writing workshop endeavors, a vision came to me of myself reading stories to children in the beautiful park we enjoy in the heart of our town. So I found an image that I liked, made up the name, and decided to go to the park two evenings a week to do this reading. I mentioned it to the Library Director, a friend of mine, who put in touch with proper authorities to get "permission" to do this. Of course a free, cultural, beneficial activity, received full support from the Town Hall.

I chose different children's books each week from the library, and agreed to "borrow" and return undamaged newer titles from the local book store, and set off to do my reading.

I chose peak playground days and time: Tuesdays and Fridays at 8pm (Spanish hours you know) and brought with me a beach chair for me to sit on, a blanket for the kids to sit on, a homemade easle and poster to present the endeavor. I made flyers anouncing the activity, the days and times of my reading, and the books read that week, and handed them out to all the parents with their kids at the playground.

The first day I had 6 - 8 kids.

As July progressed the crowd grew, and a following developed: kids and their parents came specifically to hear the Story Lady. I don't know who enjoyed it more: me, the kids or the parents?

This has lead to paid reading activities for both adults and kids, in both Spanish and English through the Library. Regular paid readings at local book stores, and now I'm being approached by local publisher's sales teams to work for them in their promotional activities.

With the arrival of good weather and daylight until 9pm I am back at the park one Saturday a moth and will be there once a week in the summer, this time paid by the library. This vision has become my new path, that brings me and so many others such pleasure. I love sharing with others how ENJOYABLE reading is - for all ages and of all types of books. I am the Story Lady and my following is growing.

Take Me Back - Weekend Wordsmith

Take me back to swings and mountain breeze
Take me back to grandma's pancakes and biscuits
Take me back to the comfort and security of that crackling fire

Take me back to days of long awaited homecomings
Take me back to my favourite meals and flowers on the dresser
Take me back to being cherished and spoiled

Take me back to Redskins games on cold fall days
Take me back to the warmth of your laughter and strength of your wisdom
Take me back to story time cuddled against your side

Take me back to slow summer days filled with imagination and laziness
Take me back to playing in the creek, catching fireflies, grandpapa's piano
Take me back to garden vegetables picked that day for supper, and homemade pies for dessert

Take me back to those care free childhood times
When I was loved, protected, cherished, free to be
Take me back to those warm, wonderful embraces
when time stood still and I just was.....