Thought to Ponder

Quality First - Quantity Second

Sincere Relationships - Village of Support

Spend Wisely - Give Freely - Financial Freedom (?) - Spend Wisely - Give Freely - Free Your Soul

A Collection of Precious Gems

As a child I had collections. Nothing was more purposeful than hunting for that next gem that you would add to your collection. Once acquired you could stare at the new found marvel for hours, examining every detail. We gazed, dreamt and traveled to places.

Bells, autographs, matchbooks, horses....

I loved horses. I was fascinated with their glistening power. Graceful and powerful all in one package. On a few rare occasions I had the opportunity to ride, but never fully feeling the power of a full on run. I collected horse figures. I gazed and dreamt of a rhythmic escape, keeping in sync with each gallop, melting becoming one with the horse.

As I became an adult my collecting continued....... Girlfriends, Fiesta ware, memories, Cupid Awake, old office equipment, Cupid Asleep and just OLD things in general. Some of my favorite OLD things in my collection are a rocking chair handcrafted by my great grandfather, a picture of Jesus the Shepard which hung in my grandparents bedroom and a mobile of artfully assembled re purposed glass and beads, which are hung from a piece of driftwood.

Collections could be considered a clutter of our addictions to things. A good friend provided me with a different perspective. Could collecting be a exercise in connecting, gathering and coping? As I pulled out items from my collections tonight I reflected upon their meanings. Clutter? My heart felt good when I look upon them. I specifically chose each item for a reason. Perhaps they chose me and drew me towards them. It was love at first sight for me and these gems. I still love these things. They bring me joy.

When I surround myself with old things, I am surrounding myself with the spirits of those who shared their space. I imagine absorbing their wisdom.

My fascination with OLD office equipment/tools speaks to my awe of our evolution and creation of better tools.

A while back I shared some of my collection with some great artists (newly acquired gems to my friend collection). I always intended on making something with my old vintage matchbooks. Well you know how things go. I was thrilled that somebody could preserve the travels of these items by making them into something others would gaze upon and wonder.

I realized that I had traded my OLD collection for a new one when I opened my mailbox the other day. When is a box in the mail more than a box?

When it is lavender.
When it is speckled.
When the address labels look like they came from days gone by.
When the blue purple tissue inside makes that certain sound that tissue paper makes when you pull it open to reveal the surprise inside.
When there is a eclectic little bag, securing the treasure inside.
When the jewel inside previously gave clarity to another through their very own lenses.

WHEN IT CAME FROM A LADY I MET ON THE INTERNET WHO GOES BY ROWDY GRANDMA.

I have a newly acquired GEM that can be pinned on my shirt and my heart. My heart will carry the gift of the thoughtful attention to detail.

MY MOST PRECIOUS COLLECTION is the energy of perseverance, love, hopes, dreams, creativity and wonder that is in everything, living and not. I will continue to collect.

I love my girlfriends known and unknown

It's been a whole week since my last post. I have been writing, just not on my blog.

I am going to make this one short and sweet because I have been neglecting my sleep a bit lately and my friend Karla reminds me to take care of myself. She is smart and wise, so I am listening to her words of wisdom tonight.

I LOVE MY GIRLFRIENDS KNOWN AND UNKNOWN. To the ones known.....you amaze me every day and it is such an honor to be in your presence. Thank you for accepting me, giving me honest feedback and sharing your wisdom. To the ones unknown......I imagine meeting some day. Smiling at each other. Maybe we will speak. Maybe not. No matter. I see you on the street, in your car, on my computer screen and in my imigination. Let's help each other in any way possible.

I always have an after thought about men and children when i speak of helping women. I know it comes full circle. Because helping each other be the best women we can be ultimately helps the men and children as well.

My daughter added a little something to a photo I took the other day. Enjoy!!! I'm smiling at you right now!

Row Row Row Your Boat

Can't say I get out on the water much. Which is a shame because being around water stirs up my creativity and sooths my soul. I kind of keep it safe. Hot baths and showers seem to do the trick (no life jackets required). But anyway......

I haven't literally been on a lake, river or ocean of late, but I have been on a boat. And..... I know what floats my boat these days. So......here we go.....

Row row row my boat gently down the stream. Merrily Merrily Merrily Merrily, life is but a dream. Sounds like I am in this boat all by myself. Let's try this one again.....

Row row row our boat (all together now) gently down the sometimes turbulent stream. Faithfully, surrendering, together we row towards each other's dreams. Sail Sail Sails appear, seemingly out of thin air. The power of many toward the common purpose of good is what we all share. NOW THAT COULD FLOAT THE BOATS OF MANY!!!

Let me share a favorite quote that seems very fitting to this post.

"The goal to be sought is a world where well being extends to all in the fullest way possible.... brought about by a mode of creative ethical living that includes all of us at moral equals, inspiring and uplifting us all, nourished by the creative energy we experience as spirituality" - Martin Prozesky

Find a boat, get afloat, welcome your rowing team. ROW FORREST ROW!!!

If My Vagina Could Talk.....

I had the distinct pleasure of attending a local performance of "The Vagina Monologues" in Red Wing last night. Red Wing, having a population of only 15,000 I feel rather lucky to have The Sheldon Theatre, which brings performing arts to our community.

In the 1990's, playwright, Eve Ensler interviewed over 200 women about their sexuality and their vaginas in particular. From those interviews she wrote "The Vagina Monologues" and performed the show across the country. Ensler was deeply moved by the number painful stories of physical and sexual violence women shared with her after her performances. In response she created, V-Day. V as in Victory, Valentine and Vagina. In February, March and April she permits organizations to produce a Vagina Monologues as a fundraiser. Since 1998, V-Day events have raised over $60 million for local beneficiaries working to end violence against women and girls. Last night's performance benefited our local Goodhue Wabash Sexual Assault Services.

Here's a peek at some of the titles, "The Little Coochie Snorcher That Could", "My Angry Vagina" and "The Flood". The monologues were real, touching, funny and sobering. It fueled my desire to express my true self even more in my work and in my writing. I was so impressed with the women's performances and proud to be a woman......a women with A VAGINA!!!

The performance profoundly echoed my thoughts of "We are real. We are not yes ladies. We are Oh Yes Ladies and it feels really good." It reaffirmed the misconception that all of your private thoughts are to stay private. Headline...... Kim Lampe Loves Her Vagina. Um no, that's not what I meant. It all goes back to being the Traveling Sanctuary. The safe place for others. There will be a day when somebody needs to share some private thoughts. Will you be the safe, secure landing place?

If my vagina could talk it would say, "I hold much power. I will take great care with this power." I am pleasure. I am pain. I'm a *itch. I'm a lover. I give birth, hence my space shifting ability. I have something very important to say. Get down here and listen would you?"

In some weird way I left the performance feeling like all my womanly power was centered in my vagina, which means I must have two hearts and two brains. Watch out world here we come.

Special Cyber Ladies

When I go to the mail box each day I transform into a little girl. I guess its the optomist in me. I am 10 again expecting the birthday card or special something from grandma.

Today? Jackpot!!! Deni over at Denimnotes sent me two wonderful necklaces in exchange for vintage matchbooks I sent her way. I knew she could create something fabulous with them. My parents used to trade their skills with friends and neighbors when I was growing up. I always thought it was a good way to go. (Upcoming post on Rowdy Grandma. She got some matchbooks too.)

Double Jackpot. When I checked my techno mail box I had another surprise. Marie had started on the scarves for my daughter and I. I couldn't see buying a scarf when I could commission the talented Marie. I will also wear this with pride, knowing a special cyber friend crafted it.

Having a diverse group of friends has certainly broadened my horizons. Technology is grand when used for good. Cyberspace... the new friend frontier.