She wanted something else, something different, something more.

She wanted something else, something different, something more. Passion and romance perhaps, or maybe quiet conversations in candlelit rooms, or perhaps something as simple as not being second.

Nicholas Sparks

Don't be a parrot in life, be an eagle.

Don't be a parrot in life, be an eagle. A parrot talks too much and can't fly high but an eagle is silent and has the will power to touch the sky.

If you have time to whine and complain about something...

If you have time to whine and complain about something then you have the time to do something about it.

Anthony J. D'Angelo

If you have time to worry about something...

If you have time to worry about something, then you definitely have time to pray for it.

Dr.Bilal Philips

If you are unhappy, change something.

If you are unhappy, change something. Quit your job. Move. Leave your miserable relationship. Stop making excuses. You are in control.




If you're unhappy with something, change it. Life is too short and too beautiful to stay stuck somewhere you don't belong.




If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. ~Maya Angelou


Oftentimes, we settle for

Nothing is nicer than having someone who appreciates you in the smallest things.

Nothing is nicer than having someone who appreciates you in the smallest things. Accepts you in times of hardships, comforts you when you are troubled, loves you no matter what and is simply happy for having you in their life.

The biggest lesson I�ve learned...

The biggest lesson I�ve learned this year is that no one is really your friend, or truly loves you until they�ve seen every dark shadow inside you, and stayed.

Maybe some things don�t get better, but we do.

Maybe some things don�t get better, but we do. We get stronger. We learn to live with our situations as messy and ugly as they are. We fix what we can and we adapt to what we can�t. Maybe some of us will never be fully okay, but at least we�re here. We�re still trying. We�re doing the best we can. That�s worth celebrating too. If you�re reading this, congratulations, you made it to today. You

I am a strong woman.

I am a strong woman, and I have been through a whole heck of a lot more emotional stuff than this. If I don't succeed at things in my life, it won't be the end of my world, I will persevere and pick myself up again; like I always do and keep moving forward. Because that's what I do...I fall back and then fly forward. If I have to start over to make things better, I will with my dignity intact

I don't do fakeness.

I don't do fakeness. You may not like what I say but you'll always know where you stand with me. If my actions tell you that I like you then I'm not acting. I'm a genuine person. It hasn�t always been that way but people learn and they grow. I don't understand being nice to someone's face and then shit talking them behind their back. I don't understand not being upfront and forthcoming about

Life is all about balance.

Life is all about balance. You don�t always need to be getting stuff done. Sometimes it�s perfectly okay, and absolutely necessary, to shut down, kick back, and do nothing.
Lori Deschene

When someone is mean, don�t listen.

When someone is mean, don�t listen. When someone is rude, walk away. When someone tries to put you down, stay firm. Don�t let someone else�s bad behavior destroy your inner peace.

A heartbreak isn�t always as loud as a bomb exploding.

A heartbreak isn�t always as loud as a bomb exploding. Sometimes, it could be as quiet as a feather falling and the most painful thing is, nobody hears it but you.

Sometimes you just have to turn the page

Sometimes you just have to turn the page to realize there is more to your book of life than the page you are stuck on. Stop being afraid to move on. Close this chapter of hurt, and never re-read it again. It is time to get what your life deserves, and move on from the things that do not deserve you. Do not spend your days trying to correct your past, instead let go and let God create

Years from now, our past will be a story. | Long distance relationship quotes

Years from now, our past will be a story. A story of long days and lonely nights, hard work and lack of sleep. We'll live each day having intimately known the pain of being apart, we'll appreciate and embrace our time together, knowing how lucky to have made it through, and we'll find solace in the promise of a future together.




I exist in two places, here and where you are - Margaret

The Scents of Fall

I switch my light summer fragrances to those with warmer accords when the air turns cool in September. More often than not, the perfume I reach for on chilly mornings is Chanel No. 5.  When I drive over the misty bridge that spans the cove in my town, I often shiver into my scarf or turtleneck and catch a whiff of the blanketed dusty rose that makes up part of the composition of the world's most famous perfume.

Searching for vintage Chanel No. 5 ads is so much fun that I may do a series of them here.  The copy on the ads is very sweet too.  But this one, speaks to my schoolgirl days when I too, walked to school on leaf-strewn streets.  The scents of those days are so embedded into my psyche that as soon as the calendar turns to September, I go into overdrive with nostalgia and memories, helped along by No. 5.

Also underneath the crunching sidewalks that led to school, were acorns and tiny decomposing apples that mixed with the wafting smoke from rusty barrels of burning leaves and branches.  These marvelous things blended together to create an olfactory soundtrack to fall.

Too, there were high school football games held in the old cement stadium known as Kelliher Field.  The seats were gravestone-cold but the cocoa, in perilously thin paper cups, was so searing hot that we could barely sip it for fear we would scorch our tongues.  But it smelled wonderful and deeply chocolate-y.  And somehow it went better with the fragrant buttery popcorn that assaulted us from the moment we stepped though the field's gates which compelled us to buy small red and white cardboard boxes of it.  Oh and didn't our mothers pull out the meatloaf recipes torn from Ladies Home Journal's and stuffed pork chops with sage again that filled our homes with such rich savory smells?  And cinnamon apple pie, anyone?  Back to perfume...

One golden fall, a friend's mother began to sell Avon.  That was the year I wore Sweet Honesty, Avon's answer to the 70's back-to-nature mania.  I fell for the all-natural look of the packaging which appealed to my personal style at the time:   bell-bottomed jeans and long straight hair shampooed with Herbal Essence.  Sweet Honesty came with me to school in a little roller bottle which I'm sure replaced my summer Strawberry Fields scent that year.  I liked Sweet Honesty for its peppery note that was perfect with fall's burnished colors of smokey gold and magenta.  Like autumn, it was both strong and gentle.

The following year I was away at college.  Still in New England, but housed with young women from all over the country.   And since I wanted to fit in, I wore their uniform fragrance - Revlon's Charlie.  Who can forget Shelley Hack's leggy strut across our Seventeen's centerfold in a chic plaid pantsuit?  Charlie was known as the sexy-young fragrance and "sexy" was not an adjective that graced Seventeen much before then.  It was so new and wearing it, we all felt new - and free and young and sexy...

I began wearing Chanel No. 5 when I was gifted a bottle from a woman who knew my father.  She thought as a young working woman, I might like a sophisticated perfume.  But I wasn't quite ready - it smelled cloyingly sweet to me.  I preferred to find my own fragrances and so for many years, I experimented with Cinnabar, Fracas, and that harlot of a perfume - Opium.  But I never did find one to settle on until I tried No. 5 again.  By then, I had read about Chanel and the origins of her iconic perfume.  Suddenly, it was if I were ready for it.  And it has stayed that way for over 20 years.  I always want a small bottle of  Chanel No. 5 on my dresser top come fall.  It's comforting and oddly reassuring.  Like walking in fallen leaves...

~

What are your favorite fall scents? Please share in comments...

And in keeping with back-to-school style, please read my essay on Rebecca Tuite's marvelous book, Seven Sisters Style:  
http://www.fashionstudiesjournal.org/4-reviews-3b/2017/7/28/seven-sisters-style

Words, I think, are such unpredictable creatures.

Words, I think, are such unpredictable creatures. No gun, no sword, no army or king will ever be more powerful than a sentence. Swords may cut and kill, but words will stab and stay, burying themselves in our bones to become corpses we carry into the future, all the time digging and failing to rip their skeletons from our flesh.

Tahereh Mafi

If you close your mind in judgements and traffic with desires, your heart will be troubled.

If you close your mind in judgements and traffic with desires, your heart will be troubled. If you keep your mind from judging and aren�t led by the senses, your heart will find peace. Seeing into darkness is clarity. Knowing how to yield is strength. Use your own light and return to the source of light. This is called practicing eternity.

Lao Tzu

One day, you will find that pairing soul. It will be a feeling beyond your imagination.

One day, you will find that pairing soul. It will be a feeling beyond your imagination. You just can�t help it but to adore them. You will feel your whole heart melt for this person. This beautiful soul will bring joy, laughter, calmness and so much inspiration, that you will finally see hope in front of you. For once, you can actually say, I�m in love. I can see a future with this person. I

You were an unpleasant memory; now you�re my reminder.

You were an unpleasant memory; now you�re my reminder. You�re my reminder to be more cautious of the people I invest my time in. You�re my reminder to see people for who they are and not for who I want them to be. You�re my reminder to fall in love with how people treat me, not what they tell me. But if by chance I do fall for the wrong person again, you are my reminder that I can survive

In your lifetime you will find and meet one person who will love you...

In your lifetime you will find and meet one person who will love you more than anybody you have ever known and will know. They will love you with every bit of energy and soul. They will sacrifice, surrender and give so much that it scares you. Someday you�ll know who that is. Sometimes people realize who it was.

Life doesn't always introduce you to the people you want to meet.

Life doesn't always introduce you to the people you want to meet. Sometimes, life puts you in touch with the people you need to meet to help you, to hurt you, to love you, and to gradually strengthen you into the person you were meant to become.

Stop mentally abusing yourself.

Pause and remember� Stop mentally abusing yourself. Stop agonizing over your past mistakes and worrying about the future. Life is hard enough without the added fear, panic and anxiety. Your soul is crying out for love and encouragement. Take a moment to breathe deep, get present and find some compassion for yourself. Then, go out and treat yourself right; pamper yourself and take care of your

Bitter people... God loves them & so should we.

Bitter people... God loves them & so should we. Pray for them. They'll find something negative to say about anything positive. They can't be happy for you because they're disgusted with themselves. Don't become bitter with them, become better & pray for their growth & maturity.

TonyGaskins

It�s just too late. She doesn�t need you anymore

It�s just too late.

She doesn�t need you anymore and she no longer misses you. And it�s all because you never made her a priority. You took for granted that she would always be there, waiting for you to serve her the scraps of your time. It�s funny, because as she waited for you to realize what you had�she finally realized she didn�t need what you were offering.

20 Super Romantic Inspirational Love Quotes

�Love is a combination of care, commitment, knowledge, responsibility, respect and trust.� ~ Bell hooks

�To be your friend was all I ever wanted; to be your lover was all I ever dreamed.� � Valerie Lombardo

�Your love shines in my heart as sun that shines upon the earth.� � Eleanor Di Guillo

�In your smile I see something more beautiful than the stars.� � Beth

If you love someone, set them free.

If you love someone, set them free. If they come back they're yours; if they don't they never were.

There are times in your life when you realize...

There are times in your life when you realize that no matter what you do for some people, it will never be good enough. The question is, is that your problem or theirs?

You And I Were Not Meant To Be

We just keep missing each other, Maybe we're just not meant to be.
I will never forget the way it felt to be the one to break your heart� but sadly I was left with no other option. There was a battle going on between my heart and my mind for so long before the decision was made. We were best friends and we grew together as people� Together we have seen many beautiful phases of our lives

Be strong and know when enough is enough...

Seriously, be strong and know when enough is enough. Take your stand, speak up and refuse to let others hurt you. Throughout your lifetime some people will discredit you, disrespect you and treat you poorly for no apparent reason at all. Don�t consume yourself with trying to change them or win their approval. And don�t make any space in your heart to hate them. You don�t have control over

When you stopped paying attention to someone...

When you stopped paying attention to someone, that's when they start noticing you. It's sad, but true!

Someone asked me if I knew you....

Someone asked me if I knew you, a million memories flashed through my mind and I whispered... not anymore.

When people act shady, allow them.

When people act shady, allow them. When people betray your trust, allow them. But never, ever sink to their level. Their choices are a direct reflection of who they are, not who you are. No matter how angry, hurt, or disappointed you may be - do not allow them to make you bitter. Be better. React with love. Sometimes that means retaliating with understanding and compassion, other times it

True friends are always there for you.

True friends are always there for you. Fake friends only appear when they need something from you. Time passes and you begin to see people for who they really are and not who they pretend to be. Respect people who find time for you in their busy schedule. But love people who never look at their schedule when you need them. Life is much too short to waste time on people who don�t really care

There is no use looking back at yesterday.

There is no use looking back at yesterday. I am no longer the person I was back then. Every morning when the sun rises, I am a changed person. Changed by the experiences I�ve had, the lessons I have learned, and the love I have received. It�s time to move forward and embrace the life that I�ve been given, be grateful for the many blessings that have been bestowed upon me, and start living a

It�s cute when someone expresses their feelings.

It�s cute when someone expresses their feelings. When they worry about you. When they miss you. When they show they care. It�s cute and it�s attractive. We don�t want to be the only ones that show how they feel. Actions will always speak louder than words. Sensitivity to others not only shows maturity, but it also appeals to us because we want others to tell us when they�re worried, when they

Appreciate those who love you.

Appreciate those who love you, help those who need you, forgive those who hurt you and forget those who left you.

Don't force them to love you.

Don't force them to love you. Force them to leave you and whoever insists to stay is the one who truly loves you.

No one is busy in this world. It's all about priorities.

No one is busy in this world. It's all about priorities.

Someone worth keeping..

I need someone who will go to hell and back with me. Someone who won�t fold under the pressure. Someone who won�t quit when it gets a little tough. That�s when I know I�ve found something special. Something real. Something worth keeping. Anybody can love anybody when things are good. REAL LOVE stands the test of time, the test of faith, and the test of loyalty. There are people who will take

That�s when I realized what a true friend was.

That�s when I realized what a true friend was. Someone who would always love you - the imperfect you, the confused you, the wrong you - because that is what people are supposed to do.

If I tell you I need you, do not take it lightly.

If I tell you I need you, do not take it lightly. I do everything I can to never have to depend on anyone, to never show weakness. and if I say I that I need you it means I am trusting you to catch me if I fall.

Being strong is to love someone in silence...

Being strong is to love someone in silence, to radiate happiness when we are unhappy, to forgive someone who does not deserve forgiveness, to stay calm in moments of despair, to show joy when we do not feel it, to smile when we want to cry, to make someone happy when our own heart is broken, to be silent when we feel like screaming our anguish, to comfort when we need to be comforted, and to

Sometimes being strong is not about being brave and smiling all the time.

Sometimes being strong is not about being brave and smiling all the time. Sometimes it's not about acting as if you're the happiest person in the world. Sometimes it's not about holding everything together when everything around you seems to be falling apart. Sometimes you have to humble yourself, swallow your pride, put your brave face away and break down. Hug someone who loves you as much

Summer's Final Bow

My town has the most charming ice cream shop.  It's painted in sherbet colors and has a rick-rack of gingerbread trim.  I don't indulge every day but enough to know the owners who winter in Florida each year.  But our conversations are all too brief during the height of summer when a line snakes out past their picnic tables into a grove of trees.  Still, the ice cream is rich and wonderful and worth the wait.

Have you noticed how some things are most beautiful just before they disappear?  Falling stars, brides who depart for exciting new lives, flowers, and of course, tender seasons that cannot last.  Right now I am enjoying summer's swan song - the air is warm and balmy and the sun is throwing stirring shadows and light;  total eclipses notwithstanding. 

Knowing that summer must soon end, I find myself holding on to it for dear life.  I love the plump native tomatoes in overflowing bins at the market.  As my mother taught me, I eat them like apples as I sit on the front stoop watching juices flow down my arm.  It's ok because the garden hose is still unraveled in the side yard just as it always is until September - I'm a lazy hose-mistress to be sure.  Every Friday, I buy a farm-style bouquet filled with sunflowers and violet asters along with spikes of golden rod and dried beach fronds.  My rustic bouquets don't last as long as the prim blush roses I bought in early summer, but the colors are as warm and bright as October sunshine.

As well, I am getting the most from my liberating wardrobe.  Making sure each morning I select knee-skimming skirts with sleeveless tops or pretty dresses with billowing potential should I still find myself still wearing it when I fetch the recycling bin at the bottom of the driveway every Wednesday night.

As for perfume, I can't stop spritzing my eau fraiche blend that I keep cool in the refrigerator.  It's light and airy and not yet too weak for summer's final bow.  My coral lipsticks, a watercolor silk scarf, and other accouterments still call out to me.  I won't rush the goodbye because the hello takes so long.  

I'm sure I will surrender when summer turns back just long enough to take a final bow.  By then, I'll be longing to light some candles against a dark sky and chilly wind.  And it will seem odd to see the dried leaves flitting and falling on my garden hose.  I'll put that to bed along with the rattan furniture and the clay pots that are holding my spectacular geraniums and begonias which have never looked more gorgeous as they do right now in their vivid hues of reds and pink.  They seem to bloom over and over and over, like the last dazzling firework on July 4th.  

I'll miss the crickets and frogs which lull me to sleep and the dove that coos from a distance late in the morning.  I'll miss the cold gazpacho I finally mastered and the watermelon and corn.  But summer will really be over when the little pastel ice cream shop finally shutters its windows and closes its doors.  They'll put out the scratchy homemade sign that reminds us they will be back next summer.  And each year...I try to believe them.

(Top image by Trent Gudmundsen)

The sexiest woman is not the one with a curvaceous figure or a voluptuous personality.

The sexiest woman is not the one with a curvaceous figure or a voluptuous personality. A woman is not sexy because she can do a beautiful catwalk on the ramp. A woman is sexy because she stands tall despite the mess in her life. The sexiest woman is the one who has a broken heart, a wounded soul and a sad past but still carries herself with grace and dignity. The sexiness of a woman lies in

My favourite kind of friendship

My favourite kind of friendship is one where there�s a mutual understanding of the fact that we both have our own lives so we won�t be able to talk or hang out all the time but when we do talk or hang out it�s like picking up right where we left off.

I hope you find someone who smiles at you every time you walk in the door.

I hope you find someone who smiles at you every time you walk in the door. Who finds beauty in your scars. I hope you find someone who never leaves you guessing. Someone who lets you know for certain how they always feel about you. I hope you find someone who never hesitates to love you. Who doesn�t just give you pieces of their time but it�s entirety. I hope you find someone who knows just

Love someone who is honest.

Love someone who is honest. Honest with you, with others, and with themselves. You cannot love someone you do not trust. Find someone who willingly shares responsibility. You will be a team in every single sense. Find someone you cherish togetherness with. And someone who understands the importance of alone time. Someone who values your opinion. Someone with a willingness to learn. A person

Find someone who is honest.

Find someone who is honest. Honest with you, with others, and with themselves. You cannot love someone you do not trust. Find someone who willingly shares responsibility. You will be a team in every single sense. Find someone you cherish togetherness with. And someone who understands the importance of alone time. Someone who values your opinion. And remember the person you love is just as

Life is like a boxing match.

Life is like a boxing match. Defeat is declared not when you fall but when you refuse to stand again.

Past is a waste paper

Past is a "Waste Paper". Present is a "Newspaper". Future is a "Question paper". So, read and write carefully otherwise, life will be a "Tissue Paper".

Thanks for the life lesson

You were my first love and I was so madly in love with you that I would have gone to the ends of the earth for you� You gave me feelings I had never felt before� but then you broke my heart and crushed it. You left me with scars that will never leave me. In the beginning, I believed I would never be able to make it through this heartbreak� it was the worst pain I had ever gone through. It

Never apologize for how you feel.

Never apologize for how you feel. No one can control how they feel. The sun doesn�t apologize for being the sun. The rain doesn�t say sorry for falling. Feelings just are.

HERE�S THE THING ABOUT PEOPLE WITH GOOD HEARTS.

HERE�S THE THING ABOUT PEOPLE WITH GOOD HEARTS.
They give you excuses when you don�t explain yourself. They accept apologies you don�t give. They see the best in you when you don�t need them to. At your worst, they lift you up, even if it means putting their priorities aside. The word �busy� does not exist in their dictionary. They make time, even when you don�t. And you wonder why they�re

Have fun and live your life the way you want to live it.

I guess the real fact of the matter is, we don�t know what tomorrow is going to bring and the only thing we really have is right now. So, don�t stay angry for too long and learn to forgive. Love your friends and family with all your heart. Have fun and live your life the way you want to live it. Most of all, don�t worry about people that don�t like you and enjoy the ones who do.

If you find it necessary to judge me by my past..

If you find it necessary to judge me by my past, don't be surprised when I find it necessary to put you there.

When you start to know someone, all their physical characteristics start to disappear.

When you start to know someone, all their physical characteristics start to disappear. You begin to dwell in their energy, recognize the scent of their skin. You see only the essence of the person, not the shell. That�s why you can�t fall in love with beauty. You can lust after it, be infatuated by it, want to own it. You can love it with your eyes and your body but not your heart. And that�s

Sometimes I lie awake at night and I ask...

Sometimes I lie awake at night and I ask, �Is life a multiple choice test or is it a true or false test?� �Then a voice comes to me out of the dark and says, �We hate to tell you this but life is a thousand word essay.

Charles M. Schulz

At some point you just have to let go

At some point you just have to let go of what you thought should happen and live in what is happening. � Heather Hepler

Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is to never look back.

Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is to never look back.

There are two reasons why people don�t talk about things

There are two reasons why people don�t talk about things; either it doesn�t mean anything to them, or it means everything.

My love for you.

In this crazy world, full of change and chaos, there is one thing of which I am certain, one thing which does not change: my love for you.

There are a few things in life so beautiful they hurt

There are a few things in life so beautiful they hurt: swimming in the ocean while it rains, reading alone in empty libraries, the sea of stars that appear when you�re miles away from the neon lights of the city, bars after 2am, walking in the wilderness, all the phases of the moon, the things we do not know about the universe, and you.

Beau Taplin

Accepting people just the way they are

When you go out into the woods and you look at trees, you see all these different trees. And some of them are bent, and some of them are straight, and some of them are evergreens, and some of them are whatever. And you look at the tree and you allow it. You appreciate it. You see why it is the way it is. You sort of understand that it didn�t get enough light, and so it turned that way. And

I want you. I want your flaws. All of them.

I want you. I want your sleepy confused look when you wake up. I want to be the warmth that fills the space in your bed. I want to be the sheets your fingers crave at night; the blanket that wraps around you all night. I want to drink tea with you, share some records we find. I want to talk about everything in the world newspapers. I want to discuss with you, to be stubborn and quick-witted

You are my favorite everything.

I am very indecisive and always have trouble picking my favorite anything. But, without a doubt, you are my favorite everything.

Love is not about how many days, weeks or months you�ve been together

Love is not about how many days, weeks or months you�ve been together, it�s all about how much you love each other every day.

I don�t need paradise because I found you.

I don�t need paradise because I found you. I don�t need dreams because I already have you.

I want you

I want you. I want your sleepy confused look when you wake up, and the smile that follows. I want to be the warmth that fills the space in your bed. I don�t want to share you.

We are often let down by the most trusted people and loved by the most unexpected ones.

We are often let down by the most trusted people and loved by the most unexpected ones. Some make us cry for things that we haven�t done, while others ignore our faults and just see our smile. Some leave us when we need them the most, while some stay with us even when ask them to leave. The world is a mixture of people. We just need to know which hand to shake and which hand to hold! After

It�s terrifying how quickly we can find homes in the hearts of others.

It�s terrifying how quickly we can find homes in the hearts of others. And equally as terrifying how quickly we become homeless when their hearts no longer have room for us.

Michael Greywood Poetry

Sometimes you don�t feel the weight of something you�ve been carrying

Sometimes you don�t feel the weight of something you�ve been carrying until you feel the weight of its release.

15 Best Love and Friendship Hug Quotes

The reason that God gave us arms is for us to be able to hug one another.
If a hug represented how much I loved you, I would hold you in my arms forever.

Your hugs make everything better.


My favorite place is inside your hug.
I don't need therapy. I need a hug.

I want a hug. But not just a normal hug. No. I want one of those pick me up off my feet � squeeze

Sometimes you just have to accept

Sometimes you just have to accept the cold hard truth that not everything was meant to last, that some people only entered your life as a form of temporary happiness. In the end, you just have to be grateful for what happened.

You Don't Need to Tell People You're Good.

You Don't Need to Tell People You're Good. People will see & sense the good. Confidence is silent. Insecurities are loud.

Just tell me the truth even if it hurts.

Just tell me the truth even if it hurts. I'll appreciate your honesty instead of making me happy by lying to me.

You are not a back-up plan.

You are not a back-up plan.
You are not a back-up plan. You are worth more than someone�s second choice. You can�t force yourself to stop caring for someone, but you can tell yourself that you deserve better. Never settle to be someone�s second best. Raise your standards and choose to be with someone who will treat you with the same respect and consideration you would treat them. You can�t

Never forget 3 types of people in your life.

Never forget 3 types of people in your life.
1. Who helped you in your difficult times.
2. Who left you in your difficult times
3. Who put you in difficult times

Never forget who ignored you when you needed them

Never forget who ignored you when you needed them and who helped you before you even had to ask.

Never forget who helped you out while everyone else was making excuses.

Never forget who helped you out while everyone else was making excuses.

A real gentleman will never raise his voice so loud or hit you

A real gentleman will never raise his voice so loud or hit you in any way whenever he's mad. Guys who are violent have self-control issues and you don't want to get stuck with a man who's abusive and doesn't respect your womanhood.

If a person wants to be a part of your life

If a person wants to be a part of your life, they will make an obvious effort to do so. Think twice before reserving a space in your heart for people who do not make an effort to stay.

If he�s not calling you, it�s because you are not on his mind.

If he�s not calling you, it�s because you are not on his mind. If he creates expectations for you, and then doesn�t follow through on little things, he will do same for big things. Be aware of this and realize that he�s okay with disappointing you. Don�t be with someone who doesn�t do what they say they�re going to do. If he�s choosing not to make a simple effort that would put you at ease

WHEN A GIRL GIVES UP ON YOU, GOOD LUCK.

WHEN A GIRL GIVES UP ON YOU, GOOD LUCK.
When she gives up on you, it's obvious.
1. She will not try to catch your attention.
2. She will not fight for you anymore.
3. She won't reply your message as quickly anymore.
4. She won't try to keep the conversation going anymore.
5. She will not care anymore.
6. She no longer get jealous.
7. She no longer care if you care or not anymore.
8. She no

Never argue with stupid people.

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience. --Mark Twain

I'm a simple person

I'm a simple person who hides a thousand feelings behind the happiest smile.

I think I need glasses

I think I need glasses because I keep seeing a lot of people with two faces.

Maturity is when you have the power to destroy someone who did you wrong

Maturity is when you have the power to destroy someone who did you wrong but you just breathe, walk away and let life take care of them.

If we don't vibe, we don't vibe.

I don't like forced conversations, forced friendships, forced interactions, I simply do not force things. If we don't vibe, we don't vibe.

Don't be fooled by liars and toxic people.

Don't be fooled by liars and toxic people. They may say they care but they don't. They only care about themselves.

Sometimes it's easy to forgive the mistakes of others.

Sometimes it's easy to forgive the mistakes of others. But it's hard to rebuild the trust that has been destroyed.

The broken will always be able to love harder than most.

The broken will always be able to love harder than most. Once you have been in the dark, you are going to appreciate everything that shines. � Zachry K. Douglas

Free yourself from negative people.

Free yourself from negative people. Spend time with nice people who are smart, driven and like-minded. Relationships should help you, not hurt you. Surround yourself with people who reflect the person you want to be. Choose friends who you are proud to know, people you admire, who love and respect you � people who make your day a little brighter simply by being in it. Life is too short to

10 Powerful Messages and Quotes by Keanu Reeves

It's always wonderful to get to know women, with the mystery and the joy and the depth. If you can make a woman laugh, you're seeing the most beautiful thing on God's Earth.





The recognition of the law of the cause and effect, also known as karma, is a fundamental key to understand how you've created your world, with actions of your body, speech and mind. When you truly understand karma,

Keep smiling because life�s a beautiful thing...

This life is what you make it. No matter what, you�re going to mess up sometimes, it�s a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you�re going to mess it up. But just remember, some people come, some people go. The ones that stay with you through everything, they�re your true best friends. Don�t let go of them. People are going to break your heart but you can�t give up

If you�re going to fall in love with me...

If you are going to fall in love with me, it�s only fair that you know what you are falling in love with. You are falling in love with my insecurities, and my obsession with trying to figure out what everyone thinks of me. You are falling in love with my immaturity, my constant need to feel loved and appreciated, my overactive tear ducts, my internet obsession, and my tendency to jump to

Treat your girl right

Treat your girl right, or sit back and watch someone else do it for you.

She doesn�t trust easily

She doesn�t trust easily- you can see that in the distance she creates between herself and everyone around her, but she has much love to offer, and you can see it in the kindness that�s in the smiles she gives out to everyone around her. She has millions of chaotic galaxies of thoughts, thousands of tangled up worlds of words and places in her mind, and you can see it in the way her eyes

Life is hard enough as it is..

Life is hard enough as it is without choosing someone difficult to share it with.

If the guy you�re dating doesn�t seem to be completely into you, or you feel the need to start �figuring him out,� please consider the glorious thought that he might just not be that into you. And then free yourself to go find someone that is.

? Greg Behrendt

One of the best feelings is finally losing feelings

One of the best feelings is finally losing feelings and your attachment to somebody that isn't good for you.

I have loved. I have lost and I have changed.

I have loved. I have lost and I have changed. It has been difficult but I have learned so much from it. I have learned that people can hurt you so deeply and not even worry about you. I learned that good people can change in a minute when their hearts have been broken. I�ve met great people, but mean people as well. But the most important thing I have learned is that every person in this

Any man can treat a lady right for one night

Any man can treat a lady right for one night, but it takes a great man to treat her right for the rest of her life.

No one is going to love you exactly like you imagine.

No one is going to love you exactly like you imagine. No one is ever going to read your mind and take every star from the sky at the perfect time and hand it to you. No one is going to show up at your door on a horse, with a shoe you lost. Do you understand? That�s why you have to love yourself enough, so that any other love just adds more candles to the cake you�ve already iced.

~ Stephanie

I�ve learned by Maya Angelou

I�ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I�ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I�ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you�ll miss them when they�re gone from your

A man that truly loves a woman is more concerned with spending time than spending money.

A man that truly loves a woman is more concerned with spending time than spending money. Is her leader, not dictator. Does not cheat because he knows he'd be cheating himself. Gives her freedom, not captivity. Encourages her dreams while chasing his. Shows her off to the world because her light in his life is so bright he can't hide it. I think a lot of us have a misunderstanding about what a

You can't force loyalty or love

It's nothing wrong with wishing the best for somebody, but you have to realize when keeping them close isn't best for you. Unrealistic expectations attract disappointment. Realize that what you want from certain people may be more that they're able to give. Don't be naive. You can't force loyalty or love; and you'll only let yourself down trying to. Everybody won't always be who you want

7 When you truly love someone love quotes

When you truly care for someone, you don't look for faults. You don't look for answers. You don't look for mistakes. Instead, you fight for the mistakes. You accept the faults and you overlook excuses. The measure of love is when you love without measure. There are rare chances that you'll meet the person you love and who loves you in return. So once you have it, don't ever let it go. The

SHe's single because...

She�s single because her ex never valued communication and her feelings were neglected. Trust became an issue because she was lied to and disrespected. Getting jealous became a habit because another girl was receiving his attention, time, effort, and care. She�s not single because something is wrong with her. She�s single because she loved and cared too much for a boy who didn�t love her and

Before you date me....

Before you date me....
You need to understand that I�m damaged. I get triggered easily. I have struggled with things. There are nights when I�m curled up on a ball on the floor and I won�t talk to anyone. I�ll shut you out. I�m not going to be able to trust you for a while, because everyone has always left, cheated, or chosen someone else. I will need reassurance. I will need you. I will need

It's just too late. She doesn't need you anymore.

It's just TOO LATE. She doesn't need you anymore, she doesn't miss you now and it's all because you weren't there when she needed you the MOST! It's funny how time can help a woman That loved you more than anything become the greatest stranger you ever met.

All the problems are stuck between mind and matter.

All the problems are stuck between mind and matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. Have a nice day!

Wait for the one who simply adores you.

Wait for the one who simply adores you. The kind of person who brings out the best in you and makes you want to be a better person; the only person who will drop everything to be with you at any time no matter what the circumstances, for the person who makes you smile like no one else ever has. Wait for the person who wants to show you off to the world because they are so proud of you. And

Paradise

"I can't stop thinking about Hawaii", I told my son-in-law a month ago.  "Oh you'll be thinking about it a lot more when you come back", he warned...

I've been missing a special place that I recently visited.  For more than two weeks I have been in Hawaii.  I never thought I would have the chance to visit this part of the world and yet, I never thought I would love it so much either.  Hawaii is very beautiful with a lovely aesthetic that is partially ancient lore and partially post-war beauty.  And unlike New England's crisp nautical sun, Hawaii's light is far-reaching and golden.

The picture above is one that I took on the Ke'anae Peninsula on the Road to Hana.  I almost wept at the breathtaking beauty and felt a deep connection to the inlet which I later read was the site of a devastating tsunami in 1946.  I sensed it was hallowed and snapped quite a number of pictures like this one with my cell phone.  There was an old church left standing and like all churches in Hawaii, the doors were wide open to anybody that happened to pass by.

In addition to the famous Road to Hana, we visited the Black Sand Beach where black-as-night lava rocks cover the shore.  We toured the volcanoes on The Big Island, careful not to take anything that wasn't ours so as not to anger Pele, the mythical Goddess of Volcanoes.  We ate fish and passion fruit, wore flowers in our hair, and shopped in small boutiques in Maui's Up Country.  And every afternoon, we raced to the shore to sit huddled in matching weathered chairs to let the Trade Winds wash over us and blow our cares out to sea.

My companions were my daughter and my son-in-law and the only mar on our adventure were the three days my daughter was ill.  On the plane to The Big Island, my only child became sick with a high fever and chills.  She also had an extreme headache that frightened me.  Upon landing, we took her to the hospital were she was admitted.  For three days, we sat by her side as fluids and antibiotics were drained into her.  And although the environs surrounding the hospital were gorgeous, the landscape lost its sparkle.  Thankfully, before too long, we were back to our vacation and all the gifts the islands had to offer.

Now I am home with a volcanic suitcase on the living room floor exploding with clothes to be washed, presents to distribute, and plenty of keepsakes, including the journal I kept on our trip.  I am missing paradise and reliving all the wonderful things we experienced and as my son-in-law predicted, I am thinking about Hawaii alot.   Of course, as I reminisce, my thoughts also race back to those three days I was frantic with worry for my daughter - those recollections are woven into the tapestry of my journey too.  When the memories come, I lean in and let them wash over me just as the winds did on the edge of Hawaii's magnificent shores.  And it is then that I realize...True Paradise is when loved ones are healthy...

~

PS:  If you have ever visited the magical isles of Hawaii, I would love to hear about it.

She's not perfect�you aren't either

You may not be her first, her last, or her only. She loved before she may love again. But if she loves you now, what else matters? She's not perfect�you aren't either, and the two of you may never be perfect together but if she can make you laugh, cause you to think twice, and admit to being human and making mistakes, hold onto her and give her the most you can. She may not be thinking about

He�s not perfect. You aren�t either..

He�s not perfect. You aren�t either, and the two of you will never be perfect. But if he can make you laugh at least once, causes you to think twice, and if he admits to being human and making mistakes, hold onto him and give him the most you can. He isn�t going to quote poetry, he�s not thinking about you every moment, but he will give you a part of him that he knows you could break. Don�t

One of the best feelings in the world

One of the best feelings in the world is when you hug someone you love, and they hug you back even tighter.

One of the best feelings is knowing that you�re wanted.

One of the best feelings is knowing that you�re wanted. Knowing that someone wants to talk to you, wants to know how you�re doing, or wants to see you. Whether they pick up the phone to send you a quick text or stop by your house to catch up, someone or something reminded them of you specifically. It just feels really nice to know that you�ve been on someone�s mind and that they care

No relationship is perfect.

There's no perfect relationship. It's how you accept the imperfections that makes it perfect.

No relationship is perfect.

No relationship is perfect. As much as you would want it to be perfect, it will never be perfect. It's always good before it gets bad, it's always easy before it gets hard, and it always feels perfect before it gets real. You'll always see the best in each other before

You are the only one who touched my heart beautifully and healed my soul.

I Love You.

You are the only one who touched my heart beautifully and healed my soul. I feel at home in the embrace of your arms. Your delicate touches, your tender caresses and your passionate kisses take my breath away and leave my soul in a beautiful never-ending trance. My love, now I have nowhere to go� I am lost in your quintessential existence. You are my soul mate and my eternal

If you're looking for perfection then I�m not the one for you.

If you're looking for perfection then I�m not the one for you. If you�re looking for honesty, loyalty and a whole bunch of crazy then that�s all me.

Always be yourself. Never try to hide who you are.

Always be yourself. Never try to hide who you are. The only shame is to have shame. Always stand up for what you believe in. Always question what other people tell you. Never regret the past, it�s a waste of time. There�s a reason for everything. Every mistake, every moment of weakness, every terrible thing that has happened to you. Grow from it. The only way you can ever get the respect of

Love leaves a memory that no one can steal..

Love leaves a memory that no one can steal, but sometimes it leaves a heartache that no one can heal.

Pain can change you.

Pain can change you, but that doesn't mean it has to be a bad change. Take that pain and turn it into wisdom.

When someone loves you..

When someone loves you, they don't have to say it. You can tell by the way they treat you.

We cannot beg someone to stay with us forever..

We cannot beg someone to stay with us forever, we have to accept that, love does not give us the license to own a person.

This is what�s important.

And every day, the world will drag you by the hand, yelling, �This is important! And this is important! And this is important! You need to worry about this! And this! And this!� And each day, it�s up to you to yank your hand back, put it on your heart and say, �No. This is what�s important.�


Iain Thomas ? I Wrote This For You

You can always tell who the strong women are.

You can always tell who the strong women are. They are the ones you see building each other up, instead of tearing each other down.

Real friends

As we go through life, we start to understand that it's not important to have a lot of friends. What truly matters is that we have real friends.

Be with someone who makes the sun shine a little brighter.

Be with someone who will watch your favorite movies with you.

Be with someone who makes you laugh until your stomach hurts.

Be with someone who makes you tea when you�re sick or feeling down.

Be with someone who makes the sun shine a little brighter.

Be with someone who makes you want to be a better person.

Be with someone who enhances your life.

Love Message | I want to kiss you all day everyday.

I want to kiss you all day everyday. I want to hold your hand when we go walking. I love looking into your eyes as you look into mine. I smile every time I see you smile. My god I�m so in love with you. Each moment spent with you means everything to me. I hate when I�m away from you. I love the feeling I get when you wrap your arms around me and I like how you smile when I pull you closer.

You know you really miss someone when..

You know you really miss someone when you crave something so simple such as the sound of their voice.

I will never crawl to you.

I will never crawl to you. I will never buckle my knees for you or for anyone else. I will never give you more than the roll of my eyes, the hard turn of my back, like a door being slammed, a book being closed after the last disappointing chapter.


I've said it a million times and my voice will never waiver as I say it a million more. I have given you all that I have. You're not getting the

Tell me

Tell me, How many times have you lost your voice to someone who isn't even listening?~Kat Savage

Don�t get stuck. Move, travel, take a class, take a risk.

Don�t get stuck. Move, travel, take a class, take a risk. There is a season for wildness and a season for settledness, and this is neither. This season is about becoming. Don�t lose yourself at happy hour, but don�t lose yourself on the corporate ladder either. Stop every once in a while and go out to coffee or climb in bed with your journal. Now is your time. Walk closely with people you

I have always liked my people a bit damaged.

I have always liked my people a bit damaged. A bit rough around the edges. A bit difficult to stereotype. A bit stranger than the normal crowd. I like people whose eyes tell stories and whose smiles have fought through wars. If you�re perfect, chances are, we aren�t going to get on. If you�re one of the cool kids, chances are, you won�t like me. You see, what I want is authentic. What I want

Women Who Hurt Other Women

There are women who make other women feel awful because of their own insecurities. They practice cliquishness and alienation. They choose to belittle and slut shame and gossip and practice passive aggressions when they should be looking at their own pettiness and understanding where it stems from. To these women, I say, ladies, isn�t it bad enough that there are men out there that are a very

Sometimes we're so focused on finding our happy ending

But sometimes we're so focused on finding our happy ending we don't learn how to read the signs. How to tell from the ones who want us and the ones who don't, the ones who will stay and the ones who will leave. And maybe a happy ending doesn't include a guy, maybe... it's you, on your own, picking up the pieces and starting over, freeing yourself up for something better in the future. Maybe

The Three Type Of People That You'll Fall In Love With In Your Life.

We Only Fall in Love with 3 People in Our Lifetime�Each One for a Specific Reason.

1. Often our first is when we are young, in high school even. It's the idealistic love�the one that seems like the fairytales we read as children.

This is the love that appeals to what we should be doing for society's sake�and probably our families. We enter into it with the belief that this will be our

If I ever decide to give up on you...

If I ever decide to give up on you, understand how much that took out of me. I�m the type to give endless chances, always have your back even when you are wrong, and truly accept you for who you are. When the rest of the world doesn�t want you, I will. So if I gave up on you, understand it took everything I had left inside of me to leave you�because if I love you, and care about you, there

I feel so complete

I wish I could explain your eyes, and how the sound of your voice gives me butterflies. How your smile makes my heart skip a beat and how every time I�m with you, I feel so complete.

He�s like nobody else in the world.

He�s like nobody else in the world. When I�m with him, it�s like I�m split in half. Part of me is on fire, going crazy if I�m not touching him.The other half is calm and peaceful just perfectly content, knowing he is the one for me.

Fairytales Aren�t Perfect Either

What if Cinderella had an attitude problem and Snow White liked cider too much? What if Ariel enjoyed human company more than her own kind�s and Aurora just liked her solitude more than the human touch? What if the only rabbit hole Alice ever fell down involved a pipe and a substance not discussed as such? What if they locked Wendy up for hallucinating about Neverland and a boy who never

She�s a keeper,

If a girl understands your bullshit, sticks around through all your mistakes, and smiles even though you�ve done nothing for her, then it�s obvious she�s a keeper, but it�s also obvious you don�t deserve her.

I�m going to love you.

I�m going to love you.

I�m going to love you in your weakest moments to your strongest ones. I�m going to love you when you�re happy and I�m going to still love you the most when you�re sad. Don�t you understand? I�m here, and I�m not going anywhere. I want to love you, each and every piece of you. I want you with your imperfections as much as I want you for you. And I�m always going to

12 quotes you need to read when you feel like giving up on your dream.

12 "Never Give Up Quotes" to read when you feel like giving up







Successful men and women keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don�t quit.� Conrad Hilton







Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.




When you feel like quitting: think about why you started.

When you truly love someone..

When you love someone, when you truly love someone, that person becomes part of you, they become your life, your everything. They change you and they inspire you in so many different ways that are indescribable. How do you let go of someone who has made such an impact on your life? How do you let go of the only thing that keeps you going, keeps you smiling? Loving someone with all you have is

It takes someone special to love a person who�s broken

It takes someone special to love a person who�s broken; someone who�s willing to look past all the cracks and fault lines to see the person the fragments form in their entirety� It takes someone with patience and a gentle spirit� someone who realizes that broken people may appear sharp and hostile, but are in fact fragile and need to be treated with care�


But most of all, it takes someone

I have no problem with those who don't like me

I have no problem with those who don't like me, but I have a problem with those who pretend to.

So, do it. Decide.

So, do it. Decide. Is this the life you want to live? Is this the person you want to love? Is this the best you can be? Can you be stronger? Kinder? More Compassionate? Decide. Breathe in. Breathe out and decide. - Meredith Grey

I�m not into halfway effort, part-time love, or unavailable people.

I�m not into halfway effort, part-time love, or unavailable people. If you�re not ready, work on yourself. The type of love and passion I have cannot be wasted on a person who does not see the value in me.

You must love her on her bad days..

You must love her on her bad days when she is moody and irritated, just as much as you love her when everything is going well.

I can't stand the thought of losing you.

I like you because I can never stay mad at you, I can't stand not talking to you and I can't stand the thought of losing you.

Find One Hundred Ways

I have always loved Quincy Jones' song (sung by James Ingram), One Hundred Ways.  The lyrics stole my heart years ago because, by God, they are true.  If it's violins she loves...well, let them play. Send her roses...just because.  And even better:  in your arms, she will reflect...she owes you the sweetest of debts...yes, let her repay.  Find one hundred ways!

But the lyrics go far beyond romance and reciprocity.  What about living a One Hundred Ways kind of life?

Recently, on a night I had a party to attend, the weather suddenly turned.  By late afternoon,  a sparkling summer day had become dark and chilly.  Rain was not in the forecast but I no longer felt like partying.  So I downplayed it by wearing a boring but comfortable dress, minimal makeup and I regrettably ate too much lunch, even though I knew it would spoil my appetite at the party.  "I'll just put in a appearance and head back home to my bed and watch Netflix", I said to myself.  And then wouldn't you know it -  the party was wonderful and festive and fun.  Our hosts moved the enchanting dinner table from the lawn to the covered porch which was decorated with pots of trailing ivy and bright begonias.  They pulled out all the stops - they found one hundred ways.

Some people naturally live this way.  One sees it in the nurse at the doctor's office who has complete pride in her job.  Her efficiency and manner offer a sense of order and reassurance.  It's the friend who makes your visits special by serving you a delectable warm treat from the oven to go with your mug of tea.  Even when she's dead tired from being sandwiched between needy children and elderly parents.  It's the co-worker with a serious illness, who shows up at the office every day with another new fetching scarf wrapped around her head.  It's the comforting lunch you pack for a loved one that's filled with nourishing food, all attractively wrapped.  It's the elderly woman who still wears lipstick and dresses with care as she sets out on her daily round.

So if flowers are what you love, buy that bouquet for heaven's sake.  If you crave tomatoes, fill the kitchen. Simmer sauce, make tomato tarts, sandwiches, salads.  Ditto watermelon, lemons - whatever it is you're passionate about.  Immerse yourself.  Roll around in it.  Let's stop saving our perfumes, the "good" dishes, and anything tucked away for "best".   "Best" is now.  Use your things. Show them off.  Share them.  Multiply them.

Quincy Jones reminds us that if it's one more star we want, go all the way.  Life is short - shorter than we sometimes realize while in the midst of it.  So, show up.  Be present.  Dress the part.  Go big. Begin today.  Begin again tomorrow.  Do it as long as you possibly can.  Find one hundred ways.

~

Find One Hundred Ways

Compliment what she does

Send her roses just because

If it's violins she loves let them play

Dedicate her fav'right song and hold

Her closer all night long

Love her today

Find one hundred ways

Don't forget there could be

An old lover in her memory

If you need her so much more

Why don't you say

Maybe she has it in her mind

That she's just wasting her time

Ask her to stay

Find one hundred ways

Bein' cool won't help you keep a love warm

You'll just blow your chance

Take the time to open up your heart

That's the secret of romance

Sacrifice if you care

Buy her some moonlight to wear

If there's one more star she wants

Go all the way

In your arms tonight

She'll reflect that she owes you

The sweetest of debts if she wants to pay

Find one hundred ways

In your arms tonight

She'll reflect that she owes you

The sweetest of debts if she wants to pay

Find one hundred ways

Ya gotta believe it whoa

Love her today

Find one hundred ways

Note:  I will be on a special vacation - a journey - for a few weeks.  I'll be finding one hundred ways and I'll share when I return.

Valentine has shut it's doors. 

We had a good run. Now it is studio time.

Thank you to all of the artists and visitors that have filled the space with so much positive human spirit. 

Cheers,

Fred Valentine

My Yellow House

I've dreamt in my life dreams that have stayed with me ever after...they've gone through and through me, like wine through water and altered the color of my mind." ~ Emily Bront�, Wuthering Heights

Given my blog-documented love of my hometown, would it surprise you to know that I created alerts on my computer when a house in my old neighborhood goes on the market?  I love to take "tours" into these homes, but alas, they are few and far between because my old hood is not a very transient place.  So I was delighted to find for sale, the petite yellow house that sat kitty-corner to my childhood home.

A variation of Pennsylvania Dutch style, the yellow house is one of three "brides" that were built together in the early years of the 20th century.  They all have small rooms and beautiful wood-paneled walls and lots of charming details, such as inset cabinets and hardwood floors.  While growing up, the little yellow house was occupied by an unmarried and kindly woman named Flora Innes, who walked up our hill every night and past our house, after having been dropped off at the bottom of the street from her wearying factory job.  Flora knew all our names by heart and greeted each of us.  She was a sweet, lovely woman who had suffered childhood polio and walked with a marked limp.

After I took an online spin around the inside of Flora's old house, my daydreams began to ignite.  You see, I am in love with a boy I went to high school who lived not too far away from Flora and from me.  Since I "re-met" this boy many years after first laying eyes on him in 7th grade and long after Flora had been gone, I began to imagine all the what-if's that surprisingly bubbled to the surface since spying Flora's yellow house in my in-box.

What if my love and I had found our relationship back in high school?  What if we had actually married all those years ago?  What if we had bought the yellow house from Flora's relatives when it first hit the market 40 years ago and what if we had a family of our own in the yellow house and what if we had had a long life together?  I even went so far as to imagine myself taking family china out of one of those delightful built-ins and setting the dining room table for Tuesday night dinner with his now diseased parents!  In our house...our little yellow house???

I always believed that the dream of what might have been is the most painful dream to let go.  We watch our fervent wishes slip from outstretched hands like rocks dropped from a bridge that disappear into dark water.  But that is only a tragedy when one has to do an abrupt about face of no choice of their own.  I don't feel the dreams of what-if have a similar power over us.  After all, who's to say that the girl I was 40 years ago was ready for that boy I now love?  Who's to say I would have felt the spell of the little yellow house in the town I was so sure I wanted put in my rear view mirror as quickly as humanly possible?  Time changes us...it grinds us and then polishes us if we are open to its lessons.  Only then can we become whole or at least more of who we were meant to be in the first place.  And then there is love - what of love?  Well...love carries its own timepiece, doesn' it?

My fantasies about the little yellow house resulted in some magically entertaining reveries for driving to work last month but I have since discovered "my" house has been sold to a pair of young newlyweds.  I was told that they have already erected a matching shed in the postage stamp of a backyard, replete with matching shutters and window boxes.  I would have done that first too.  And their parents often come to help.  I just know they are enjoying that marvelous wood dining room with the built-ins, which no doubt are storing some family treasures.  I'm so happy for them and I believe that somewhere, dear Flora Innes is happy too.

As for me, I am now wearing the diamond ring that once belonged to the beloved mother and guest at my imaginary Tuesday night dinners.  And I've learned that any color home can be my yellow one - our view and our reflections are ever-changing.  Like wine poured through water...

On Towels...

The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers...~William Wordsworth

A friend came to visit last weekend and loved my blue beach towels.  They are now downstairs, washed and boxed and ready to mail to her doorstep.  I wish it had occurred to me to send them off with her on the day we said goodbye.  Still, I am pleased she will have them soon to cheer her as she wraps herself in one after her morning shower - she loved them so much.

My grandmother thought towels were a big deal.  She talked of Turkish towels and the January White Sales often and I think it was a source of pride for her to have a modest stack of quality towels on hand for loved ones.  My mother also waxed poetic about them but sadly, in our house, towels were often used and abused and left as wet tattered rags on the bathroom floor.  I'm pretty sure she gave up her dream of a neat and tidy linen closet with four active children.  Stacks of colorful fluffy towels would only have served to regularly break her heart.

Nice towels in a good price range are hard to find these days.  There are plenty in rich and famous linen boutiques for those who can manage the price tags that are as lofty as the towels themselves. For me, I scour Home Goods for occasional bounty.  I also suggest department stores when they have their seasonal bedding sales.  A plush affordable towel is a very fine thing.

When I philosophize about them, towels are often overlooked but are one of life's little luxuries.  Thick thirsty towels that are soft and at the ready makes one feel that life is abundant, normal - they are oddly reassuring.  An entire blog post about them does seems a bit silly but the latest world events have hit me hard and I, like many others are groping for the little things that seem unimportant but really do matter.  Like towels, favorite books, iced tea in a clinking tumbler with fresh lemon.  And boxing up a bit of comfort for a good friend.

How Muslims Celebrate Eid

A standout amongst the most glad days in the Islamic logbook, Eid al-Fitr, otherwise called Eid ul-Fitr or Eid, is a festival that denote the finish of Ramadan (a sacred month of fasting seen by Muslims).

This year Eid al-Fitr is relied upon to start on Wednesday, July 6. It is commended on the principal day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic lunar schedule. Customarily, the recognition starts with the locating of the new moon. While many will hold up to see the moon or a declaration from Mecca, the Fiqh Council of North America has discovered that Eid al-Fitr 2016 will fall on July 6 in light of galactic figurings.

As indicated by a hadith credited to Anas ibn Malik, a friend of the Prophet Muhammad, the two celebrations of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha were established by the Prophet after his excursion from Mecca to Medinah.

"At the point when the Prophet landed in Medinah, he discovered individuals commended two particular days in which they used to engage themselves with diversion and cheer. He got some information about the way of these celebrations to which they answered that nowadays were events of fun and diversion. At this, the Prophet commented that the Almighty has settled two days [of festivity] rather than these for you which are superior to these: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

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The main Eid al-Fitr was commended in 624 CE by the Prophet Muhammad and his associates after the triumph of the skirmish of Jang-e-Badar.

To stamp the start of Eid and as per the Sunnah, or practices of the Prophet Muhammad, numerous Muslims wake up at a young hour in the morning and supplicate Salat ul-Fajr, or the pre-sunrise petition. In the wake of brushing their teeth, cleaning up and wearing scent, they eat before taking off to perform exceptional congregational supplications known as Salaat al-Eid. Numerous Muslims present the takbir, an announcement of confidence, while in transit to the petition ground and give unique altruistic commitments known as Zakat al-Fitr.

Eid al-Fitr is a day of awesome happiness and thanksgiving. Muslims celebrate by social affair with loved ones, planning sweet delights, wearing new garments, giving each different endowments and setting up lights and different adornments in their homes. A typical welcome amid this occasion is Eid Mubarak Poetry 2017, which signifies, "Have a favored Eid!"

It is safe to say that you are observing Eid al-Fitr this year? Assuming this is the case, let us know how in the remarks segment.

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Soda Fountain Stories

He is clearly smitten with her as she sips from his soda glass.  I love her tartan dress which I imagine to be blue and I'll bet the bow wrapped around her ponytail is black velvet. The moody glow from the lanterns, the tile floor, the leather seat covers make this a charming photo of a 1950's couple on what looks like an innocent first date.  Mom and Pop are most certainly at home in front of the picture window, waiting for their young miss to return by 11 o'clock.  I'm sure she will...

In spring, I like to revisit some of my favorite teenage novels - nearly all set in the 1950's.  I call them Soda Fountain Stories because soda fountains figure so prominently in them.  I can't say it's a trip down Memory Lane because I only know the 50's from pictures, my mother's anecdotes, and novels.  But the heroines' travails seem universal and somehow familiar to the struggles of every decade:  there's the fast crowd who refuses to welcome newcomers, the benevolent and understanding teacher, and of course, a shy bookish late bloomer who doesn't know someone in the wings thinks she's fine.

My books are a comforting trip back in time when good manners were valued and expectations for behavior were cut like glass.  Most important to me though, were the stories' emphasis on home and family.  Nearly every novel has a loving mother who volunteers at church and school, sees that her children and husband eat a good breakfast, and still bakes brownies from scratch...or gingerbread, as one of my favorites tells.  Dad works at the office in the city and comes home tired and put-out but shakes it all down with the help of Mother and her pineapple upside-down cake.  The family dog and kid brother help too.  Oh, if only...

Still, as far removed as 2017 is from the Atomic Age (and all those bomb shelters that were never used), we have it pretty good now too.  Medical care is at nearly science fiction-level, we have the internet and cell phones, movies and books on-demand, and many other magnificent things.  I'm not completely idealizing the purity of the 1950's - I'm just saying that it's some kind of wonderful to escape to a simpler time every now and then when the biggest problem in life is whether the prom dress you made will be as pretty as the illustration on the pattern cover.

Come with me to the suburban 1950's.  Your reboot is ensured.

~

Some favorites:

Wait for Marcy by Rosamund du Jardin -  (Marcy is known as "Squirt", a nickname she detests.)

Sister of the Bride by Beverly Clearly - (Oh how you'll cry!)

Almost April by Zoa Sherburne - (A sudden tragedy which surprisingly aligns with the 21st century too.)

~

And, there is one elusive novel that I have never been able to locate after reading it once in the 8th grade.  It must have been dear to me as the story line has never left me.  A girl's mother is institutionalized and while she is gone from home a beneficent housekeeper takes her place.  But when Mother is well enough to return, our heroine is torn between the warm replacement and the mother she all but forgot.  Does this outline ring a bell with anyone?

Finally, do you have a tender 1950's teenage novel that has remained steadfast in your heart?

True North

�But afterwards, is there nothing more for me in life - no true home - nothing to be dearer to me than myself?� 

~ Charlotte Bront�, Villette

Thanks to a good friend, I found out this week that the North Star, Polaris, has not always been our North Star.  In fact, for a very, very long time, that distinction was held by another star that positioned itself high above the North Pole, called Thuban.  And because of the earth�s gyrations as it twirls around the sun, Thuban will once again be our North Star someday far in the future.  This new-to-me-information had my head twirling with thoughts of my own personal North Stars and how they too, have changed seats throughout my life.

As children, I suppose our North Stars are our mothers � after all, they are our first loves and upon whom our very existence depends.   Thus, I recall how my infant daughter�s eyes followed me whenever I moved about in her room, even before she could sit up by herself or speak.  I was not only the person responsible for her very life; I was her North Star, the beacon she sought for guidance and safety in her brave new world.

I thought about other North Stars I�ve aligned myself with �those that helped me try out different roles when I was younger and those that gave me parameters for living as I experimented with new ways of being me.  Sometimes our North Star is our beliefs and concepts and sometimes our North Star represents just one person.  I think it is rare to have only one North Star for all of life because we change so often and adopt so many roles, especially as women.

For a while, my friends at school were the star I wished to follow. There were years, my guiding principles came from organizations I embraced such as the Girl Scouts or my church.  Other times, I found a mentor or a friend who had already traversed the road I was on and I looked to them to ground me and keep me on course. But lately, my North Star is harder to spot.  I wondered if it's because I have finally grown into the woman I was meant to be.  Mostly, I prefer to take my own counsel, set my own path�listen to my own heart...

That kind of trust comes only from years of living and experiencing.  It comes from an innate knowledge that �Yes, I have seen this before�.   And my reactions stay true to those core beliefs I didn�t know I was honing  -  through childhood when my mother and grandmothers guided me, through motherhood  when I looked to seasoned mothers to show me how, and now to beyond, when my skills for soothing and advising myself seem sharper than ever.  And happily, I find in myself the ability to be North Star to others.  Or at least that�s what I hope.

So the bottom line is that the pinnacle of growing older is that we may get to be, not only the cosmic light for others, but also the beam of sparkle that we once sought outside ourselves.  Looking back, I realize that my constellation has changed many times over.  Perhaps now...and at last...I am my own North Star.

Beauty Parlor Night

In my twenties, when I was young and carefree, I rented a house with four other women.  We all worked, dated, and fret about the number of pizza slices we ate in front of the blinking black and white TV on Friday nights.  We were obsessed with clothes, the number on the scale, and finding Mr. Right.  Maybe not so carefree...

Our lone bathroom quickly became overflowing with lotions and potions, hair "painting" kits, pink shaving foams, and bottles of nail polish.  Although we each had our own personal needs, we gradually came to see how much fun it could be to unite and conquer our challenges collectively. Thus, Beauty Parlor Night was born.

We had lots of giggles and laughs running in and out of each others' rooms trying on lipsticks and giving each other manicures.  We shared dating horror stories as well as gave advice to the poor roommate who happened to be lovelorn that week.  We spent a lot of time cross-legged on each others' beds with Mint Julep Mask on our faces and towels wrapped around our heads.

For me, Beauty Parlor Night is still sacrosanct even though my routine has become much simpler. - I'm less concerned with trying new makeup colors and much more passionate about good skincare and smooth and lovely feet.  And it's imperative that my beauty regime eases me into a good nights sleep which is by far the best beauty aid of all for someone my age.

Like penguins tossing themselves to the sea, my roommates and I disbanded and plunged one-by-one into marriages.  I miss the young women I lived and "played" with long ago and was thrilled to chat with one recently.  "What are you doing at home tonight?", she asked.  "I just stepped out of a lavender honey bath. You"?  "I stole my daughter's blue nail polish and it's drying on my toes", she replied.


Note:  Next post up, "What I Did For Love Infatuation".  Soon, I hope.