22 Dec 2018
by Joyce
in breathing, freedom, mother
Tags: Angels Among Us, life
Mom passed today…years ago.
It has taken me years to process.
Because, lets face it, I sucked as a daughter. I was arrogant, unbending, non loving.
I responded to the lacks in my life with anger, and failed to understand that she was, during our falling outs, responding to the lacks, and traumas, in her own life.
I know she tried with everything she had. I know mostly because I followed her patterns, and made many of her own choices, and many of my own not so positive additions.
Mom was blessed with daughters and sons who treated her with the honor she deserved, and for them I am greatful.
I was blessed with daughters who did not follow my path, and have remained steadfast to me. I am grateful
So..today, my mother, I am telling you I love you, and for you I am greatful. Live well out there in the universe, be love.
05 Sep 2016
by Joyce
in family, little girl, mother, Uncategorized
Tags: birthday, child, family, mother, sisters, women
sandi,steve, mom and ed
Well, I missed your birthday my sister, I was away from my computer for a few days, and frankly, the date blindsided me until I saw it on Facebook. How the heck did it get this late into the summer?
Sandi you are kind, smart, honest, beautiful, innovative, funny. A great woman, a wonderful mother, and a fantastic Grandma.
You love with all of your heart, and for years I have watched you shower others with so much care, concern, and eagerness. I have worried that you do not shower yourself with such bounty, but I have noticed in recent years you taking the time to think more of yourself, and I am so happy about that.
Your life has not been an easy one, you have lived through massive obstacles, pain, and you have always come out kicking, cept for that one time when your knee was smashed in a car accident, you were not kicking so hard after that. You did keep moving forward though, through everything.
sank, amanda, sam, mandy at the farm
You have learned to enjoy your moments of joy, to savor them, to imclude them in your memory banks, to create them. I love that.
And sigh, I must apologize for locking you out of the house when I was babysitting you back on the farm, well, you say I did that anyway, I am not sure I acknowledge it, but…#notthebestbigsisterever.
I love you sista, I honor you, I respect you, I admire you. Happiest New Life Year!
01 May 2016
by Joyce
in angels, Beginnings, family, little girl, mother, spring, spring reflective, Uncategorized
Tags: child, events, family, Macaroons, May Day, mother, sisters, spiritual, spring, Wild Violets, women
I have memories of spring, of May Day, whether they be true or not I have no idea. Perhaps my sisters can tell me.
I have memories of May Day Macaroons, the only time our mother made them. I loved those macaroons, soft, warm and chewy from the oven. I loved their pure coconut sweetness.
I have memories of small paper baskets, cone shaped, with a 
tiny paper handle, filled with flowers and cookies, and hung on a friends door.
I love these memories of our mother.
I always will love macaroons and little wild violets
11 Oct 2014
by Joyce
in angels, breathing, change, clouds, daydreams, family, gypsies, little girl, mother, passing, random thoughts, Uncategorized, words
Tags: dreaming, family, inspiration, mother, sisters, spiritual
Our Mother, Dorothy, was born this day.
Happy Birthday Mom. So many miss and love you.
Mom’s 80th, still young.
I know our niece Shelly thinks of you every day, I believe she misses you the most. 
Cheri starts grieving about this time of year. but I know you are with her holding her hand. Sandi Kaye has a broken heart. Sandy B I think has trouble believing you are gone, Dee is lonely for you, Richard just plain misses you and Steve grieves in his quiet fashion. I think our Linda is overjoyed that you are in Heaven with her, causing mayhem and hilarity. Me, I am still befuddled, finally getting to know you now that you are gone.
Y
our daughters and sons, your grandchildren, your greats and your great greats, all miss you.
If you had been allowed, you might have been a hell raiser, in a good way. You always had a hidden talent for mischief, and a glint in your eye. I’m amazed the glint didn’t vanish after the life you lead as a youth, farmed out to an older husband at 16, lonely and isolated in the middle of nowhere Iowa, no amenities, just hard work and babies. Your resilience was something else again, candling eggs, working in a nursing home, a bar, learning to make money and support your children when Dad passed. I remember your learning to drive a car, you were determined as you headed into the ditch, but stopped in time. Your red-headed Irish temper flared just a bit right then.
To this day I feel a surge of delight when I see make up samples, your days as an Avon rep have stayed with me always, with your blue case of wonders.
You sure knew how to love your man, and you deserved more love than you might have received. But you had moments of glory and happiness.
I imagine you, with Linda, our sister, your daughter. You have both reconciled, you are fantastic evolved beings. I imagine you in a rocker, with a fluffy white kitten on your lap, or laying in the sun, turning a lovely copper.
I love and live for the sunshine. You taught your children that. Some cold days I turn my face to the sun and feel your warmth in my soul. I imagine you are always in the warmth of glory these days. You deserve to be, you deserve to rest.
04 Jul 2014
by Joyce
in Beginnings, breathing, change, daydreams, family, freedom, gypsies, history, mother, old west, planning, random thoughts, stories, witness, world
Tags: breathing, change, clouds, Coming to America, dreaming, family, freedom, inspiration, people, sisters, world
children of the poor
Yesterday I watched a news story. Women and children are coming to our boarders, believing that they will find freedom. Believing in the American Dream; met at the border by rich US citizens, turned away, screamed at, disregarded as people. We furiously protect what we have, forgetting where we got it!
Trail of Tears
We forget that our ancestors came from other countries; pushing out the native people who lived here. In many cases with genocide.
We forget that our ancestors came, and lived in hovels, worked, scraped, struggled. So that they could have the American Dream. We forget that they were scorned and terrorized, yet kept coming. 
We forget where we came from.
This is not a treatise on immigration policy, I am not smart enough for that. This is a call for understanding and love, for a return to our basic values of liberty and justice for all. What are the words?
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
This is how most of us arrived here. My great grandparents from Prussia and England with little, working their way here to the Midwest, coming to dream.
Today, everyday, remember and honor.
19 May 2014
by Joyce
in angels, breathing, change, clouds, daydreams, Fairy Tales, gypsies, mosaic, mother, rain, random thoughts, spring, spring reflective, stories, witness
Tags: breathing, dreaming, fairies, inspiration, spiritual, spring
On this rainy spring morning I can imagine little fairies cozened up in their homes with feet up on pin cushions, settled in, covered with downy quilts. Tea steaming in little cups, staying dry, and dreaming of the sun.
01 May 2014
by Joyce
in angels, Beginnings, breathing, change, clouds, daydreams, Fairy Tales, freedom, gypsies, mother, rain, random thoughts, spring, summer
Tags: Beltane, breathing, dreaming, events, freedom, friends, inspiration, spiritual, spring, summer, women
As a child, our Mother helped us to craft small construction paper baskets, to fill with wild violets. We would take these, early in the morning, and hang them on the door knobs of our friends houses. She also baked coconut macaroons, just then, for that day.
I loved these traditions, and now, understand the offerings, the macaroons for blessings, the flowers to represent spring moving into summer.
We sort of have forgotten this day, as we have many things that I remember from child hood.
Well, here is my basket of flowers for you! Happy Beltane, one and all! Blessings on you!
20 Mar 2014
by Joyce
in angels, breathing, change, clouds, daydreams, Fairy Tales, freedom, gypsies, melting snow, mosaic, mother, palm reading, People I Know, planning, Second Saturday, spring, spring snow, stories, words
Tags: 225 water street, change, dreaming, events, freedom, friends, gardens, jordan, palm reading, people, sisters, special events, spiritual, spring, women
It has been a while since I could say Happy Spring. Yes, I know, Beginning Saturday it will be cold again, but Hey! It is Spring!
I will be celebrating Spring with Ms. Mara this Saturday at 225 Water Street! Hope to see you there! Many items to browse and maybe you can have your palm read!!!
17 Mar 2014
by Joyce
in Beginnings, breathing, clouds, daydreams, Fairy Tales, freedom, gypsies, little girl, melting snow, mother, random thoughts, stories
Tags: 225 water street, breathing, dreaming, events, freedom, gardens, inspiration, jordan, mother, palm reading, special events, spiritual, spring, women
Happiest Day to you all! It is not yet calendar Spring, and yes, tomorrow it will snow. I however always believe that today. St Patty’s Day is my start to Spring. Whatever comes, snow or sleet, I can feel Springtime in my soul!
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