The Gift

I’ve been given many wonderful and thoughtful gifts throughout my life. From lovers, best friends, co-workers, family, even strangers. The gifts have come in boxes with bows but some of the best have come with no box at all – movie tickets, dinners at an expensive restaurant, a zipline adventure, personal art, carte blanche shopping at the mall, a day at the spa – the gifts have been as different and unique as the givers. And i’ve treasured them all. But there is another kind of gift. It comes without warning. Without asking. With no expectations. They are the Gifts of Living. Waking to a beautiful morning. The laughter of a friend. Birds eating out of your hand. Being alive. Being healthy. Being loved. What a joy!

Just the other day i received a gift. A very special gift. I was giving a tour to a large group of 3rd grade children. I was about half-way through the tour when something magical happened. We were sitting outside on a wonderful Fall day when one of the children asked a question about the place we were sitting. Instead of answering, i asked a question in return. There was the briefest moment of silence. Then the questions started tumbling one over another. First a trickle, then faster and faster, like the first thaw in Spring, gathering momentum and speed. And i sat transfixed. Rooted to the moment. They were connecting the dots. The information morphed from fact to a knowing in their minds. The questions became paths of understanding. As one child questioned, another would voice an answer. That thought would be picked up by yet another child, who carried the flow of logic to another level. Soon the whole class was building a story, a reasoning, and they were doing this together – as one.

Beautiful. Magical. Like watching a new-born fawn struggle to make its first steps; they wobbled and fumbled their way until, with amazing speed, their minds built a solid foundation of reason they could stand on. I said very little, only nodded encouragement now and again. I was witnessing the best of what it is to be human – the birth of thought. What a precious gift. I have been blessed.

The Unsung Lime

(Check out the recipes at bottom!)



I have a real affection for limes. Maybe because i’m from Florida and dreaming of tasty slices of key lime pie has skewered my emotional bias. I’m talking real key limes – the tiny, tangy, extra-pucker-power variety that are actually from the Florida Keys. Florida is a citrus lover’s heaven. Driving down the state in spring, you’re engulfed in the blissful aroma of sweet orange blossoms. From which, of course, they make orange blossom honey. Sigh… But i digress…


The Lime. When i was really little, i used to think limes were just lemons that hadn’t grown up yet. I was a tad dubious about eating a fruit that was green. Everything i had experienced in my small world convinced me that all fruit started green and then grew up to another color. Red. Orange. Or yellow. Green was unripe and nasty tasting. I hadn’t met the Granny Smith apple yet either. Gosh – the naivety.

It wasn’t until i was in my early teens that i discovered the joys of Lime. That’s when my parents took me to the Florida Keys and i tasted my first real, key lime pie. Oh heaven! I thought i had discovered a new world! From that moment on, the lime has wriggled its way into the “limelight” (lol – i just crack myself up) of many, many meals. I’m always dreaming of new ways to include it in a recipe or add it as a topping. The lemon may be better known and more frequently used, but the lime has its quirky following too. I mean, come on. Lemon Tree by Peter, Paul, and Mary is a snooze next to The Lime in the Coconut by Harry Nilsson. “Put the lime in the coconut and drink them both together, put the lime in the coconut and then you feel better…Whoo, whoo…”

A NOTE ON MY RECIPES: I tend to cook by the “Old Grandma Method,” a bit of this and a pinch of that. I never actually measure anything out and cook by taste and an adventurous spirit!

Lime Corn-On-The-Cob
This simply delicious recipe was given to me by a good friend. Try it!

What You Need:
As many ears of fresh-picked white or yellow corn as you can eat!
Several limes
Sprinkling of cayenne pepper (optional)


This is easy – instead of slathering on a heavy blob of butter, squeeze a fresh cut lime all over the cooked corn making sure to drizzle the juice all around. Sprinkle a tiny bit of cayenne pepper all over. Voila!

Asparagus and Lime
I came up with this several years ago and it’s one of my all-time favs when i’m craving something green and tasty. It’s a rather strange combination, but it works.


What You Need:
One bunch fresh asparagus cleaned and trimmed
1 – 2 Tbsp olive oil
1 large clove minced garlic
¼ tsp dill weed
2 large limes
1 – 2 Tbsp soy sauce

Another easy and tasty dish. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil, garlic, dill, and asparagus. Stir frequently until garlic and asparagus begin to get tender. Squeeze lime juice over asparagus as it cooks. I like my asparagus to be a bit crunchy and not completely tender. Cook it as you like, but 1 minute before it’s done, sprinkle on the soy sauce. Be careful not to let it stick or burn. Remove and eat immediately.


NOTE: Use the lime and soy to your own taste. I use quite a bit of lime and not so much soy. Don’t be afraid to experiment!

The Strength of Women

I am always awe-struck and heart-warmingly pleased when i see a woman – of any age – reach down inside herself and find that she is strong. And it’s not just physical strength that i speak, but that courage you find when everything is laying on the line. That moment comes and you know there’s no one but you to make it happen. All your family, all your friends, and all those who have helped you along your path fade into the background. And the Woman steps forward, into the limelight, all on her own, no ones strength but hers, no ones fears but the shadows in her heart, no ones doubts but those monsters which she alone must overcome.

When i see women put everything they have – their minds, bodies, emotions – into lifting themselves off the floor, meeting every obstacle head-on, and rising into the heavens, i weep. Because i am proud, right down to the core, to be one of them – a Woman.

This is not about winning or losing. It’s never about that. The only thing that matters, is that you tried. Despite your doubts and fears, you gave more than you knew you had and then some.

There are no weak women, only women who have not yet discovered their strengths…

This piece was inspired by and written for one of my best friends – Julie Diss. You will always soar in my heart.

Why The #$*! Is Hugging So Difficult?

Seriously. Why do hugs fall into one of two camps – “get-your-freebie-cop-a-feel” or “paranoid-i-got-issues-touch-a-phobia?” The modern world sometimes takes all the fun out of living. I think we are backsliding into a Victorian passive/aggressive state based on the sole relationship of fear. Yuck. Personally, it would be great if people could be a bit more like hobbits. Innocent, fun-loving, happy folk who share a hug just as easily as a pint of beer – and who also happen to be fictitious. Nice.


So why are hugs so darn difficult? What’s to fear about showing that you like someone by giving them a hug? Other than your kids, how many different people have you hugged today? Not that i’m discounting a kid’s hug. They’re great! But kids have no concept of weird society rules; they have open hearts and no fear. (See – there’s that hobbit thing again.) If the world were peopled with kids there would be lots of hugs going on. Did you hug your parents? A loved one? A friend? How many people did you come in contact with today? Count them up. Now – how many of those would you consider “huggable?” And of those, how many did you actually hug? The ones you claim aren’t huggable, why aren’t they? How many could you have hugged?

According to some psychologists, we need 5 – 12 hugs a day. Crap. If that’s so – i’m way off count. I might not get 12 hugs a month, much less that many in a day. And i like hugs. Crap again. What’s a hugger to do? Go out and hug the next stranger walking down the fruit aisle at the grocery store? Ooooo – maybe i’ll start a new trend – “grocery hugging.” I can picture it now, stock clerk to customer, “nuts and chocolates on aisle three, hugs aisle five.” Or maybe i’ll start a hug-a-thon at a local Starbucks. Hmmm…

Hugging is good for you and the person hugged. So why are we so reluctant? Why are we so afraid? Because that’s what it boils down to – fear. Yet hugging is one of the best healers, the best peace-makers, and the best feel-good medicines around. And it’s free! Try this – the next time you get into an argument, instead of raising your voice, the silent treatment, walking away, or placing blame – stop and try a hug. It’s very hard to be mad at someone when they’re hugging you. Try it. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. I mean really, how long can someone stay your mortal enemy if you’re hugging them? And heck, even if you haven’t had an argument – surprise yourself. Get out of your box. Take a chance and hug someone – just because. Learn how to be a good hugger and become a Hugger now! ;-)


Life Positive – a holistic living site with a nice side article, “How To Hug.”

http://www.lifepositive.com/Mind/personal-growth/hug/hug-therapy.asp

Personal Life Media – podcast and blogs. This interesting article and interview is on “Sex, Love and Intimacy.”
http://personallifemedia.com/podcasts/222-sex-love-and-intimacy/episodes/2883-ulrich-anke-cuddle-parties-hug-days-art

Psychology Today – blog post on “The Moral Molecule”
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-moral-molecule/200810/handshake-or-hug-why-we-touch

Yep – and here it is – the site for National Hugging Day – or January 21st – put it on your calendar!
http://www.nationalhuggingday.com/

Acorn Popping

They’re everywhere. Bright green and yellow. Shiny and smooth as silk. Acorns. If robins are harbingers of Spring, then acorns are the messengers of Fall. How lovely! I’ve never met a person who didn’t like Fall. The scent of the Earth bearing up Her last harvest for the year. Hot days followed by chilly nights and crisp mornings. And the mighty oak, adorned in fat little acorns. I sat below the shade of a massive tree the other day. A gentle breeze blew across the fields and i fell into an idyllic trance. You know what i’m talking about? Like when we were kids. Sitting there with not a care in the world. Just absorbing the wonderfulness of the moment. Though we never thought of it like that. We were just killing time, twisting long pieces of grass in our hands and making braids. Or drawing doodles in the sand with a twig.


The afternoon was like that, a soft, sweet and lazy daydream. I was lost in my trance when a sudden burst of wind shook the tree. And then Fall happened. Acorns were popping. Pop, pop, popping. Little Buddha bellies poked out from their pods, then – POP! Off they went! Jumping to the ground and bouncing in the leaves. I smiled and laughter. They danced all around – like children showing off. “Look how high i can bounce!” It was a magical afternoon. Tender and sweet. Like children. Like Fall.

Zipping Across The World

Want to try something fun and totally different? Something exciting but not too dangerous? Ziplines. You’ve heard of them. Maybe read about them. But you gotta try them. What a blast! And what’s great – there are all sorts out there for every thrill-seeking level imaginable – from the most basic glide over trees and creeks to heart-thumping, stomach-in-your-mouth, 200 ft drop at speeds up to 100 mph across some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.


My introduction to ziplines – or canopy tours as they are sometimes known – was when i went home to visit my parents this past June. I always look forward to going home; it’s such complete relaxation. (And nobody ever cooks as good as Mom, eh?) This year they had a surprise for me – tickets for a zipline tour with Adventures Unlimited. My parents understand my addiction to adventure – i get it naturally from my Dad. So we headed out one cloudy morning to “get our glide on.” The weather in Florida is always top priority. Only place i know where the Weather Channel is the first thing on in the morning and talk about the weather is serious business and not just idle chatter. As we drove out, we kept a close eye on the clouds and calculated (the very scientific – one, one thousand, two, one thousand,…) how far the rumbles of thunder were. Recently meteorologists counted 8,000 lightning strikes in one afternoon alone. And here we were going to be above the trees. Yup. Having an adventurous spirit means taking calculated risks and rolling with the outcome. (See Note)

The ziplines at Adventures Unlimited are new, just completed this past spring, and are impressive in their overall details to safety. I worked in construction safety for a number of years and i was very happy to see the rig they used for their lines. Everything is brand new and rated. Our guides were knowledgeable and clear in their demonstration in how to zipline safely. Adventures Unlimited puts safety first with fun a very close second. That’s how it should be.

The sprinkling of rain had stopped as did the thunder, so after a short trial zip to make sure we understood how to brake and land, my Dad and i climbed the next platform, hit the lines, and flew across NW Florida like low flying gliders. Whoo-hoo! There’s something about zipping over trees that makes you giddy – a human bird. I laughed. Crazy fun with just the right amount of scary. Dad – ever the perfectionist – worked on getting the braking and timing down so he could land effortlessly on the platform. After a little good-natured teasing, he was doing scissor kicks and “running” as he flew through the air. Good times with my Dad. No amount of money could compare with that.

Our guides were not only great zippers but knew the local history and wildlife as well. We were challenged as we crossed one of the many creeks to see how many turtles we could spot. Spotting a turtle was considered good luck in their book. We had a “one turtle day.” In other words – a great day indeed! It took approximately 2 hours to do 8 lines; we were breathlessly happy by the time we finished. It’s sharing experiences like this with my Dad that make every moment memorable.

Recently i had a thought – wouldn’t it be cool if we could zipline across America? From the Atlantic to the Pacific – zipping through spacious skies and amber waves of grain, purple mountain majesties, and above the fruited planes – zipping across America the Beautiful without ever touching the ground! That makes me super excited just thinking about it! What a rush!

Seriously, zipline tours are easy to do, very popular, and popping up just about everywhere. So no excuse. Try it out with friends or family and share the adventure. You won’t regret it!

Links to Zipline Adventures and Info

Another Blog with good info on ziplines and their history
http://www.arbortrek.com/blog/index.html


Heavenly Resort ziplines, Lake Tahoe, CA – reportedly the longest zipline in the lower 48
http://www.skiheavenly.com/activitiesdetail/Heav+-+Heavenly+Flyer.axd




Adventures Unlimited, FL
http://www.adventuresunlimited.com/canopy-zip-line.php


Alaska Zip
http://www.alaskazip.com/


Tahiti, Fiji, and New Zealand
http://www.wildernessventures.com/international-adventure/tahiti-fuji-new-zealand/

Ziplines across the World
http://www.ziplinerider.com/Zipline_Locations.html


Note – Florida has the highest rate of lightning strikes in the US, which also corresponds to the highest death rate by lightning. If you are going to be outside, err on the side of caution.

Update

I came across this the other day on MSN News – the author really hit it on the head and made me think hard about whether or not what i say is what i do. It's the old adage, “walk your talk.” I could expound upon the article, but i think he said it so succinctly there is little more to say.  So read it for yourself. The bottom line is, support our troops. It doesn’t matter if you believe our government is doing the right thing by being there, or if you believe it’s the wrong thing and our soldiers should come home. Either way, those soldiers are still our brothers and sisters; they are our neighbors, our friends, our loved ones. They need us. Please take a moment to care. And if you are already helping our troops – bless you.


Article from MSN


http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/07/29/4771105-soldier-you-support-the-troops-really


Military.com has great links for organizations that help you help our troops

http://www.military.com/benefits/resources/support-our-troops#1


USO website for all things military

https://www.uso.org/howtohelp/makeadonation/sendagift/

And last but not least – check this out. Gene Simmons, yes from KISS, sings a tribute to all US Armed Forces.