Creativity - a supernatural power?

Is it dangerous NOT to daydream?

(Some of these ideas were expressed on a radio talk show recently as I bounced them off the hosts - and now I'm sending them on to you.) Maybe all that daydreaming isn’t so bad. Maybe it’s even dangerous NOT to do it. But do people even know HOW to daydream nowadays? With all the text messaging and videos to keep us busy, do we even have time to be bored... or to spend time just thinking or “daydreaming”? Ever feel sorry for kids in the old days who didn’t have these techie games?Could it be that maybe they didn’t have it so bad... at least as far as nourishing their inner soul. Because they could still “create”. They could create baseball champions or castles and princesses... or maybe dragons or creepy creatures that would scare them for awhile. Do we lose some of this “fun” as we grow up? Just how important is it to “create”? Could there be a problem in playing some of these video games - and my favorite - Spider Solitaire? While these can help you decompress (I kept thinking “decompose” as I wrote this - meaning: “to cause something to decay or rot.” Hmmm... that might be applicable!) Is the real danger the fact that you aren’t creating something? We are taught that the human body works better if given the correct nutrition. Athletes are aware of this. It makes sense because even a car runs better when it’s taken care of. But what about that invisible attribute called creativity? And is the work of “creating” actually the defining significance of a human being? Creating is something God does. He created man in his image. Maybe that’s the essence of God in us. Even a child creates. “Look at me... look what I’ve made!” he enthusiastically begs. And you smile and acknowledge his efforts. (And some of us wish that as adults we could share our projects with such joy!) But adults also create... as we plan a garden... or change a recipe or paint a bathroom wall. Maybe we also are creating the world around us with our thoughts... our talk... our life. And if we don’t like what we are now, maybe we can keep the picture of who we would like to be in our minds. Just to take a quick glance at once in awhile... because we tell ourselves that we really aren’t that good. But inside us still comes the thought that we really were created to be that image! Maybe it’s more important to daydream about who or what we could be... and about ideas... or songs... or gardens. And be ready to move on them as we see even a hint of their coming to pass.

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Lessons learned

at Holiday Parties!

Some of life’s most important lessons I learned from going to holiday parties. (Some I wanted to go to and some I thought I had to.)

Consider also that it’s not only the hosts of the party who have to do a lot of work. Just think of what a guest has to go through!

1) You have to decide what you’re going to wear. This is a guessing game that can haunt you for years after you’ve goofed. But early on I decided I would wear what I would be comfortable in... then I could concentrate on the other people. I thought this was a worthy goal and I have had to remind myself of it when I felt I had dressed pretty dumb.

2) Driving to the party in the cold winter night. I haven’t become comfortable with this one yet...but it’s nice to warm up at the party.

3) Should you bring a gift? Or not. But then you have to wrap it!

OK... you finally get to the party and here is what I've learned:

1) The first thing is to separate from my husband, Paul. The reason is that Paul knows all my stories and their punchlines!

2) The second lesson I learned came after I read a book about making friends. It advised you to listen and ask questions. So I went to a fancy party where the host wore a tuxedo and the hostess, an evening gown. I hadn’t known that was the theme so I was wearing a little black skirt with a simple white blouse. (Just like the school teacher I was.) I looked around and saw how out of place I was - but my clothes were comfortable (rule #1) and I could concentrate on other people (rule #2).

The first person I remember meeting was a businessman. As we talked I tried my experiment - just asking him questions. And although there were many people at the party... as everyone was leaving, he nodded to me said how much he enjoyed our conversation! And really, I had too. (Oh yes, someone called me a few days later to tell me how nice my simple outfit had looked!)

This year I learned a new lesson. Keep in mind that I enjoy just “watching” at a party. This means I am content to sit on a chair and nibble on treats.
The main trick for me is to avoid the vigilant eyes of the hostess. The kind that wants to make sure her guests are “mingling”.

One time I sat next to a man who also seemed willing to blend into the wallpaper. We sat quietly, nibbling on snacks. But then I started to panic as I saw the hostess headed our way! I said to him, “I’m perfectly happy sitting here but I see the hostess is coming to make sure we’re OK - so would you pretend to be talking to me until she goes by?” He agreed... and did... and after the present danger had passed, he went back to his original quiet pose.

But at one party this year, after a while of mixing with folks, I found a comfortable chair to relax in while others told their stories. All were entertaining but I didn’t have the energy to join in. Keep in mind that this was getting late at night and I had probably been outside feeding horses early in the morning while these folks were still tucked in bed.

So I listened. And I got a taste of what can happen to quiet people. When folks started getting up to leave, they said good-by to the others... but walked right by me as if I wasn’t there. After this happened a few times I got to wondering... does this mean that if you don’t talk, people think you don’t exist?

So from now on I will be more aware about how I react to others who are naturally quiet.
And so I’ll give a toast to the holiday parties... and what we can learn from them - “life lessons”.

A wish of peace... joy... love

in the greeting of

"Merry Christmas!'

from the staff

at the

Cannon Falls Beacon

Sculptured Waves

caught

like a frozen meringue

in a moment of time.

A reflection

of a red shovel

hides...

yes, we shoveled

through this

awesome

flowing

creation

of

nature's art.

.

Where's the party?

An acrobatic flying mouse defying gravity?

He was the cutest little critter. But in the wrong place... meaning he was in my house.

He had left messages, or droppings, for me.

When living in the country you get used to the Fall exodus of mice from the fields into the house. They weren’t invited and usually the mice get the hint to leave after a few traps are set. ( I used to use the ones that don’t kill, but after emptying one trap about the tenth time I figured it might have been the same mouse!)

And I really didn’t mind them in the basement so much. Everything there was either canned or safe from their chewing.

But when this mouse decided to party in my kitchen, it was too much.

One morning I opened the lower cabinet to get a pan for the eggs. I noticed a shadow move. Or did I?

I opened the cabinet again and there was this cute little critter looking up at me. I shut the door fast.

Then I noticed sawdust on the floor and figured that the mouse had gotten shut up inside there all night. Perhaps he had gone inside when the cabinet door was slightly ajar. But when someone walked by and closed it... he was caught!

I opened the door again and sure enough, he was scurrying around to hide.

I kept on with this routine of opening and shutting the door as I quickly removed bowls and pans to give me some room to catch him. I got a clear plastic container and waited to plop it over him. I almost got him - but I missed.

And then he escaped into the room.

I heard a trap go off next to the fireplace but he escaped that too.

The rest of the day I spent pulling open drawers and cabinets and washing everything in a soapy bleach combination.

But this isn’t how I want to spend the winter.

The next morning I got up and checked out the kitchen. The drawers were still clean. I could put the utensils back in them.

I cooked up an egg and as I paused by the sink I saw the high stemmed wine glass I had used the night before. It’s a delicate one, so I wash it by hand rather than putting it in the dishwasher.

To my dismay, I saw some little black seeds in the glass! Obviously not seeds but mouse droppings.

So now this little critter is not only stealing snacks but having a party with my wine!

And then as I stared at the tall goblet I wondered how the mouse ever climbed up the tall stem and over the wide bowl to get into the glass without tipping it over? Or was it a team of mice... maybe even taking turns holding up the stem of the goblet while one of them climbed up into the bowl for a party? Or could it be a very big mouse?

Another thought - it’s pretty crummy to think that there was a party going on in my house... but I wasn’t invited!

.