the windchimes clink against the window as wind rushes into my apartment, billowing the curtains out, and then in. *clink. chime. jingle. whoosh.* rain pouring outside. car horns blowing on the street below. gutters overflowing onto the cement...

inside my little box, warm candles glow. the scent of freshly baked molasses spice cookies hangs in the air. the eucalyptus bath bubbles that were overflowing the tub an hour ago have left a lingering calm. the necklace of white christmas lights hangs over my windows, reassuring, inspiring, reminding.

a wonderful day today. after three weeks of being sick, i finally called in sick. and i really did rest. baked some cookies, made some gifts, looked up graduate programs, did some yoga, took a bath, ate ice cream.  a mini retreat. here in oakland.

 

i also talked with my dear friend; a friend who i chanced to meet years ago...a friend whom i 'd like to think i have a bright future of fun adventures ahead with. she shares my birthday and thus my aquarian impossibility, and i always so enjoy talking with her. feeling her fire and sensing her defiant striving for truth and goodness and creativity inspires me to keep the same in me alive. needless to say, someday i sure do hope to be working in a kitchen with her in a small mountain town that supports real food...and that has a few eligible scruffy bachelors with kind hearts.

tonight i feel better. i feel hope flickering more strongly than it has been...eager to grow into a strong and warm fire. i just need to keep feeding it affirming whispers, passages from rumi poems, genuine laughter of true friends, visions borne from great attentiveness...and time. it will grow...