The following are the writings of my mother, Evelyn Maples - and a scant few of her work that actually met publication.  She was a meticulous craftswoman until alzheimers took it from her.  She is now distilled into the essence of the amazing, loving person she has steadfastly been for eighty-seven years of a life well lived.  These four are seasonal and from one of her books, That Ye Love, 1971.  There is everso much more - and better - that I plan to share over time.

SYMBOLS

The symbols of Christmas are signets of love:
    The green of the tree, life.
    The leaf of the holly, a crown;
    Its berry the sign of His sorrow.

Take now, dear ones, the bright wreath of my love;
    Circled devotion,
    Unending respect,
    The red bow our binding together.

The symbols of Christmas are signets of love:
    Heartreach to heart,
    Godreach to man,
    God and man bound to eternity.


CATALYST

All Christendom is cradled in the longing of His love.
God's evidence, a Child of humble birth.
We scorn the gift, nor turn from deaths' desire
Till all is sanctified in love's own fire.


CHRISTMAS CARD TO GOD

Heart sings to heart at Christmas
And love bears love.
Glitter and sparkle and splendor
Speak lightly of a manger, and a Child.
Birth is beauty, and life a saucy moonbeam.

My thanks to You at Christmas -
For life and love, and splendor that endures -
The splendor of a life in Christ the Man.


FROM OUR HOUSE

We wish you, friend,
The awesome night encounter -
Stark meeting with the wholly holy Gift,
And you alive
To glory in the uncommon common things.

We wish you, friend,
The sharply glad acceptance
Of Gift and Giver joined in One on earth,
And you aware
God holds you in the syllabus of love.

"I have found the secret to Happiness:  Try not to become too personally involved with your own problems!"

Peace, Love and Blessed Be, Friends!

Times of trouble for the one(s) I love.  Having the fortitude to stand apart and yet remain available as they sort it out and parking my needs as they work through.  Avoiding easy answers and knowing that I don't know.

Years ago (dare I report forty-four), I returned from my freshman year at Olivet College in Michigan.  I was very tired, having appeared in every show as a drama major and carried eighteen hours per semester, along with working at the grill.  Further, I was ashamed of myself for failing to pull a 4 GPA.  My family could not afford to continue my education and so it was reliant on my getting scholarships.  Having failed to do so and tail between my legs, I returned home.

The first thing Mom asked, as Moms do, was, "What do you want for dinner?"  Well, now, she was surprised at my reply.  After all, I had continued to act in Detroit and Chicago, etc., eating in some very fine restaurants.  "Mom, I want your pinto beans and cornbread."  All I wanted was to smell home - the home I knew when we had little else, yet in which I felt safe.

It coming on a blustery day yesterday, I went to the store and remembered.  I asked the butcher for neck-bone to put in the beans.  He had no clue.  I did find a nice shank bone and it now simmers with the pinto beans.  The wind is whistling outside and the snow is whirling frantically.  But, in this humble abode, there are aromas of homemade wheat bread in the oven and a piece o' beef nicely herbed.  No better room deodorizer in the world!

Today, life is a bit difficult to get through for many of us.  It may be that we'd like to present a lavish feast for our loved ones and we haven't the means.  But, I suggest this:  If your babies loved Spaghetti-Os, if the hubby liked your monkey-bread, if all you have is what's scantily adorning your pantry - cook it up.  Love will do the rest.

Blessed be!

You actually think that was a worthy thrust?  A run in my hose right before work, causing me to be afraid that people might stare at evidence of poverty?  Try again!  I just turned them wrong-side and now the run doesn't show.  Ha!

A report about the faling Stock Exchange that you intruded into my morning email?  Oh, pish-tosh!  Lame, Silly-Slithery Thing!  Did you actually forget that I have no weakness there?  I was ahead of the game in the loss.  You amuse me and I question your intelligence in the onslaught.

My children?  Suggest you not go there, Creepy Creature.  I love them, but you will not invade me with your presence in that sphere.  They are people I enjoy knowing and who know themselves well.  They will live as long and as well as Creator allows.  Another miss, Foe.

The state of affiars in the World?  Now, that one pricks me.  But, I do what I can as I can and live in hope that many others do the same.  Regular folk do what is necessary.  Who the heck do you think was watering the flora in the Garden of Eden while the main characters were frolicking and making history?!

Getting old?  Hmm.  Well, 'Ya just got it ta do," as my father said.  So what's new about that, except the style in which one does it?  Fear, as compared to me, you are naked when it comes to style.

Where else do ya wanna go, Guy?  WWII?  Wasn't there quite yet, but got the leftovers - good and bad.  Hiding under the desk in third grade, thinking that an atom bomb might fall at any moment?  Learning that the rain forests supply all our air and gasping in my small bedtime, thinking it might be my last?  Oh, and then there were those "Commies!"  How on earth did we ever get past that?!  But, we did.

You did some pretty effective work, tho, through my lifetime.  There was Nixon.  There was the Death of Camelot in Dallas.  There was - well, no words - in New York.

Okay Fear, you're still alive, despite my attempt to slay you.  However, I reserve the right and the might to annul your after-effect in my life and those about.  I will play and laugh and eat and sleep and care and pray and work very hard to invite hope - Hope that erases all Fear.  Someday, I generously wish that you will RIP, Fear.

Well, fer cryin' out loud!  About to sign off with you, Fear, and you send in your minion, Whatif!  Whatif asks about being homeless, hungry, mugged, ill, dying, betrayed, shunned, laughed at, etc.  What a sniveling, considering that's all a possibility but not the now of now.  Mercy Fear, how you do go on! 

Well, not today/this moment.  This moment, it's time to do the dishes, heat the leftovers, take my few dollars to the store, enjoy the snow, feed the cats, say hello to and laugh with  friends you will never know.  Fear, I wish you complete aloneness.  May you rot in solitary confinement!

Dear Friends - Gaia and otherwise - that last is my New Year Wish for all!

The most difficult promises I've ever made are those to myself.  My inner voice, which a friend of mine once dubbed Little Hitler, is a taskmaster and often unforgiving when I don't live up to those personal promises.  I have learned that I must be very careful to assess my commitment and will to fulfill any promise, for in those resolutions lie either character erosion or trustworthy integrity.

The kids are playing flag football out there on the green.  Each have kerchiefs in back pockets.  I'm not sure I understand the game, but it seems that one must tackle the other without dislodging the hanky.

Ah - watch  the street across the way and cringe.  Innocent boy testing his first "grown-up" bike.  Wobbly front wheel, legs reaching and pumping laboriously.  He'll get the hang of it soon.  Just pleased that there are no trees about such as I had.

Oh my!  What's that fuss over there?  See?  OOOH.  How nice.  Presents assembled next to the RV, ready for loading.  Gee.  Gonna be a good giving where they are going..

The gentleman down the way isn't carrying oxygen.  See him tootin' about on his motorized and seeing to his puppy?  How nice.  (He's a decorated Korean war veteran, ya know.)

Blesed Be, All

(In the Best of Times 'Cause This Is the Now of It)

"You look great today, BUT...."

"The movie was enjoyable, BUT..."

"Loved your chocolate pie creation, BUT..."

Okay, so you get it.  In this election year, I'm on a campaign to eliminate "but" from our use and even our dictionary.  I bring this crucial issue to your attention.

As part of the pre-vote poll, I ask the following:

Have you ever heard the word "but"?

If your answer is yes, please explain the circumstance.

On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the most odious), how would you rank your experience?

I nominate "but" for total extermination based upon the clear fact that there has   never been a "but" that didn't annihilate the assertion that preceded it.  "But" has: offended the innocent; hurt folk - often with aforethought and malice; dashed hopes; belittled accomplishment; abased the worthy.  On the other hand, when "but" attempts to mitigate a previous phrase of negative tenor, it is lame at best.  "But" does not deserve to live further in human communication.

Madam Chairperson, I call the question.

(NOTE:  The phrase "and yet" is still under consideration in committee and yet is to be brought to the floor for full vote.)

Please consider this - sometimes happiness resides in the stuff that DIDN'T happen.  I am grateful today that:

I DIDN'T have a flat tire.

I DON'T have a tooth-ache.

I've NEVER lost a child or grandchild to the jealous Creator.

My baked salmon DIDN'T burn.

I DIDN'T run out of gas.

Pain DIDN'T plague me.

I am NOT young - classified as "elderly," don't feel it, but yet have the discounts.

NO ONE yelled at me.

NO bill collectors called.

There are NO fires, sewage back-ups, gas leaks, nor such, in my cubby-hole.

NO ONE is shooting off guns outside.

I DIDN'T get a ticket for my expired tags.

I'm NOT hungry.

My contentious cats AREN'T fighting (for a change).

NO ONE called and asked for help that I can't give.

Utility companies DIDN'T threaten to cut me off.

I DIDN'T break anything - bones or otherwise.  (The day is still not over tho :) )

I DIDN'T lose my sense of laughter.

I DIDN'T ponder deep thoughts such that I must work too hard tonight.

I DIDN'T resume some anger or resentment that is "rightfully" due me.

The kid upstairs DIDN'T ride his horsey right over my head tonight.

I have NO investments left such that I must worry about the stock market.

Equally, I have NO health insurance such that doctors and pharmacists are tempted to "discover and prescribe."

NO pet died or got sick.

I DIDN'T have to attend some meeting I didn't want to.

I DIDN'T have to go to a job that compromised my taste nor my ethics.

I DIDN'T have to be near anyone I didn't want to be with.

Blessings show up in strange ways sometimes.  We just gotta tip our heads sorta sideways so as to get a different view.

Please don't mop up my grief
as if it were dried milk on the bottom of the fridge. 
It's loaded with feelings I've forgotten. 
Don't completely eradicate those senses. 

Some day I will reconstitute the sere spill
and in knowing the pain,
I will set the table for joy. 
I will be alive again.