tao1776

There was a point in my life that I could readily agree with Will Rogers when he said, " I bet you if I had met him and had a chat with him, I would have found him a very interesting and human fellow, for I never yet met a man that I didn't like." I seemed blessed from an early age in that I had an innate ability to emphasize with others and this ability gave me the nickname "psych" as a young teen among several of my friends. They thought of me as the psychiatrist of the bunch. I could listen, give advice and guidance, offer a proverbial shoulder to cry on. This ability allowed me understand several things about people. I understood that most everybody, with few exceptions, tried to do their best. In whatever they were doing. People often do not do what they are "supposed" to do for many reasons. But malice is often not one of them. I found that if I could listen, really listen to what was being said behind the words, I could assist someone in unwrapp

It usually begins at about the same time each year. A few weeks after the first harvest, (Llamas) there are a few cool nights that creep in to remind you of the impending end of summer. Sure, there are many great days and nights to come but you are gently reminded that there is an end in sight. And it is at this time of the year that I sense that the veil between the seen and the unseen is also beginning to thin. The approach of Samhein signals the final harvest and the realization that summer has come to an end, that autumn is almost over and that the solstice will soon mark both the end and a new beginning. Year after year, season after season, generation after generation, this has been the way. Now, in my fifty fourth year, my life most represents that time between the first and second harvest; many great days and nights to come but I am reminded that there is an end in sight. That there is an end in sight and perhaps, a new beginning. I have in ThisBeingHuman.... (http://tao1776.b

Spring arrived and she couldn't wait to plant grape tomatoes in my hanging garden. We excitedly checked the plants daily until the small green tomatoes formed from the tiny yellow flowers. Green Beans that were planted at the base came early. We ate them raw. We steamed them. This was great! So the day finally arrived where the very first grape tomato was ready and Brielle had the honors. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite what she expected. Her face and mouth screnched up in horror at the taste. "I don't like grape tomatoes", she said. And promptly, in a very unlady like gesture, spit it out. But she still loves to pick them. And the early girls too.

How beautiful, when a whole tree is like one great scarlet fruit full of ripe juices, every leaf from lowest limb to topmost spire, all aglow, especially if you look toward the sun! What more remarkable object can there be in the landscape? Thoreau New England has seen its fair share of uncharacteristic weather in 2008. Spring strolled in, returning as it has not done in several years. It behaved in traditional fashion; you know, March - in like a lion out like a lamb. April showers bring may flowers. May and June ushered in warmer than normal days. Many of them. But then again, the word normal is seldom used when describing New England weather. As they say, if you don't like the weather, just wait ten minutes. There have been more days of rain in July and August than there have been beach and concerts days. The tourist economy has taken a big hit. I sat out on the porch last night for a smoke with my new "wizard's pipe" and had to wear a heavy sweatshirt. I live

The word "Hero" is thrown about quite indiscriminately these days. Every time I turn around, somebody is being hailed a hero. Before you know it, there's going to be so many saints to pray to, Jesus will have to abdicate his seat as the mediator between man and God. But on a lighter note, I saw the Fantastic Four movie (or part of it) on cable the other day. The movie was crap. I enjoyed the comic book as a kid. Comic books were a staple for me as I was growing up. Spiderman was my favorite. I remember reading Fantastic Four and thinking that out of the three guys (being the invisible girl was NOT an option) I most wanted to be "The Thing". As I watched the movie, it focused a great deal on his angst and torment of finding himself at the mercy being changed into this lumbering and scaled type creature. I never saw it that way. Now, as an adult, I can understand. (hard to get laid looking like that!) But I always thought that I could aid all of the people aroun