Showing posts with label Legacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Legacy. Show all posts

Sunday, February 13, 2022

LEGACY

 

These, my daughters, are my legacy. If I leave no other, they are more than enough.


At different times in my life there were dark times that haunted me. 

One year, a beautifully happy Christmas with all of my daughters, while we were filled with laughter and love, I swear I *saw* a lonely wistful little waif of a girl, standing off in a corner, watching us with yearning tears in her eyes. 

Something in my heart broke right then. I recognized those eyes. I see them in the mirror every day. I blinked and she was gone, but I knew where to find her (inside of me, she was) and in my mind I gathered her to me, told her it's all right now, this belongs to you. And there came peace as well as joy to my celebration with my daughters. 

After that, not being altogether stupid, I went back inside of myself again and again, finding the younger me at other dark times, doing the same thing. 

A whimsical folly, an exercise of imagination, some would maybe call it, but doing it gave me a rare gift - myself - the acknowledgement that it was *ME* who had gotten through all those dark times, the same *ME* who could now reach out to my earlier self with the reassurance that YES it was worth it to fight my way through the dark because, on the other side of the battles, stand peace and joy.

My younger self was strong enough all along, even when it didn't feel like it, to get to the peace and the joy.

Others may judge and condemn me and my younger self, but I will do so no longer. I, my own self, made it through the dark times. There's something empowering about that. Because, come what may, I already know my own strength.

The daughters I give to the world, they have that same strength, multiplied a thousand times over by their own.


Thursday, May 24, 2018

They've Already Told This RICIMER Tale

The histories have already SPOKEN, the story-tellers have already HAD their say, the documentaries have already been DONE, and the movie-makers have ALREADY addressed the issue. The verdict is in.

All I'm doing is presenting a different point of view (and a fictional one at that), not arguing with the experts.

Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, in their right mind, in any of those industries is going to want to touch this story's point of view with a ten foot pole, not in the world in which we live in today.

At the very beginning of writing the books of SONG I thought I might make the Catholics and the Baptists mad but so far they've not been critical of the 'truth' as it seems to me: by definition you CANNOT have a Father and a Son without a Mother - so how can that third Person of the Holy Trinity be anyone except the Mother? It's pretty obvious who a person's mother is at birth. There have been cases where fathers' identities haven't been all too clear, though. Female lineages are a lot more clear and easier to track, if you ask me. That's a scientific fact: mDNA is way easier to work with. It's consistent and accurate, relatively speaking. Point being that women are at least as important as men. If you find that threatening in some way, oh well.

Be that as it may be, I take the Mother's place in the Trinity as a given, something patriarchal ideologies could take exception to so I guess I'm lucky to be ignored.

And the women of Celt ancestry still bow to no-one. Ever.

So there's that to not worry about.

Not being overly fond of ideologies that go around trying to shove their beliefs down people's throats, and separating said throats from bodies and heads if opposed, yes I've taken a dim view of Rome's usurpation of the Faith they could not manage to eradicate in 300 years of trying. That they then weaponized it while denying half of the human population equal representation doesn't set too well with me, either. Being a descendant of the ones who held out, never gave up, never gave in, and won in the end, maybe it's something in my DNA that refutes the right of any to dictate to any other, let alone all.

Maybe it's because the church came to its senses in the end, after too long a time and too much brutality, that my condemnation of the early practices of the Roman church isn't being lashed out about.

Maybe it's because the peoples of Europe did, in the end, form themselves into strong independent nations once Rome's boot was off their throats - again, not quickly and not easily and with too much brutality - but they did it. And the very peoples who had held Europe for millennia before Rome came calling were back in control of their Continent. Fussin' and fuedin' an't nothin' new, folks. The factions of the Celts had been perfecting it for thousands of years already. That they'd HAD thousands of years TO perfect it says something about the stability of their culture, appearances to the contrary be damned. They were fussin' and fuedin', not trying to own everybody else body and soul.

So there are two more things to not worry about since who's gonna argue with what's already done and over with, right?

Right.

So far, so good.

The kicker here is that while I'm writing all this stuff about the past, there are a few things going on in our present that are liable to become obviously connected to said past. That's what's gonna keep me safe from media, from politics, from religion, and from invasive ideologies. Ain't nobody gonna want to go out on THAT limb I tell you true.

Writing fiction about ancient times is one thing. Connecting it incontrovertibly to current events is not gonna fly. So it's a good thing I just want to tell the Story and am not ambitious.

Because what motivates Ullin of Iona, RICIMER, and all the rest of our Characters is what lies at the heart of our current situations.

These Circles mean something:


That center Circle is FAITH
The rest of them represent
FAMILY
FRIENDS
FREEDOM
FUTURE
They're our Legacy.


This symbol, which you haven't seen as much of, means something too:


It's a pretty design, this is true.
It's also a warning.
This is the way it is NOT supposed to be.
It will not work.

Here is a representation of the underlying design by which our world is governed:

I call it the Father Phi Spiral.
That's for a couple of reasons.
One is that the line through the middle makes the Spiral look more like the symbol we recognize as PHI.
Phi is the blueprint of our world.
You can look it up if you doubt me.
The second reason is that it's one of the oldest of all symbols preserved by humankind. 
It means something.
It has always meant something.
It has always meant the same thing.
CREATION
GOD
1.618
BALANCE
And you know what the building blocks of the Spiral consist of?
TRIANGLES

What I'm about to suggest might make every religion except for maybe Buddhism and Hindu mad as hornets but I don't particularly care.

[WARNING: SIDETRACK]
Because it's not 'just' that the Holy Trinity has to have a female function if creation is to continue to procreate, which it most assuredly will, with or without humankind.

It's not 'just' that I find it personally offensive, what has been done in the name of 'religion' for all this time.

As a matter of fact it doesn't have much of anything to do with 'religion' at all, because people get to choose what (if anything) they want to believe.

What it has to do with is that attempts to twist the Spiral out of balance have caused, are causing, and will cause literal harm to innocent folk.

Half of us can't be heading in one direction and the other half heading in the opposite direction, and any of us expect balance to be maintained. It hasn't worked yet and it ain't gonna EVER WORK. Our universal - literally - governing principles will not allow it. [sidetrack inside sidetrack: speaking of governing principles, the Constitutional Republic government of the United States of America is fundamentally based on PHI.]

Look again at this warning symbol:


Say you're on one side of this 'twisted spiral' thing and I'm on the other, just walking along.
Where are we going to end up?
We'll either hit a dead end
or collide in the middle.
Either way we lose.
Plus, that spiral ain't gonna stay twisted like that because by design it CAN'T stay that way.
One side or the other is gonna flip back around so it's all in balance again.
So what in the heck do we think we're DOING?
May as well stick with the PHI thing and not lose our balance in the first place, if you ask me.
Which I realize you didn't.
[END SIDETRACK]

I think that maybe, just maybe, the significance of triangles and spirals and such clear back as far as we can track humankind has to do with something we ALL instinctively KNOW somehow.

There's no conflict between Science and Faith. They're the same thing.

Which is another thing to not worry about because Science is zipping right along to prove it and Faith is plodding reluctantly to accept it.

So what's the worry?

Me, I'm not worried because I'm just a little old lady with no real stake in much of anything - nothing to lose that I haven't already lost or don't care if I do lose.

But there are folks in our world who would likely not appreciate having people's attention drawn to parallels between historic fact and current events.

The divisions caused by 'identity politics', for example, mean that twisted Spiral is already out of balance. And I don't have to tell you who's been pushing that for a while now. I doubt they know what they're doing, but maybe they're hoping that when the time comes it will be the other side of the twist that will swing around and the Spiral will balance itself in their favor.

On the other end of the spectrum, but on that same side of the twisted Spiral, are the folks trying to shove the EU down the throats of the peoples of Europe. They don't want anyone reminded of how that ended when Rome tried to do it - twice - once via military and once via ideology. Neither ended well for Rome although Europe, once recovered from the ravages inflicted by the attempts, came out of it with those strong independent nations that Ullin and RICIMER and the others were betting on. Rome struck out twice trying what they're trying now.

Yet another loser in this equation is an ideology that can't seem to wrap its head around either the Holy Trinity OR that a Mother is required if there are to even BE a Father and a Son - OR that what they're trying to do has already failed more than once.

None of those people want to be challenged to explain how on earth they think they're going to take two failures and turn out a success by trying the exact same things. It's not like math where two negatives can produce a positive.

Honestly.

What did they do, look at history and say, 'Hey, check this out! This thing here FAILED spectacularly, and that thing over there FAILED just as spectacularly! Let's put them together and they'll be GREAT! We'll rule the world!'

Considering that the goal of both examples had been to 'rule the world', and both FAILED spectacularly, success by combining the two doesn't exactly seem very promising.

My point here, and in the books, is that our fictional folk (some not quite all the way fictional) SUCCEEDED in what they set out to do, not because they themselves were masters at what they did (although they were) but because their goal was WHAT THE COLLECTIVE, INSTINCTIVE, WILL OF THE PEOPLES AFFECTED WANTED.

So the moral of the Story is: the EU is doomed, and so is that invasive ideology. One is trying what Rome tried first; the other is trying what Rome tried second. Against the exact same populations of people. For that matter, some folks in the States are trying to do do what Rome also tried: pitting folks against each other. That, if you recall, resulted in something called the Barbarian Conspiracy, which didn't work out so well for Rome in the end did it?

Mamm of Dunnottar, fictionally speaking, asked Attila, "How stupid are you?!?"

Me, I would never think of asking anyone any such thing.

Out loud.

I might wonder it to myself, though.

If you're going to try stuff, you might want to first do a little homework so you know a little something about the people you're up against.

Not to be a spoil sport or anything, but at least three quarters of the citizens of the United States of America are probably descendants of the peoples Rome FAILED against - twice. The percentage in Europe is likely higher yet.

Fussin' and fuedin' is one thing Rome thought was more than it was.

Leave off the crap and leave our Legacy alone. 

Our instincts are still intact.

Believe me.


Go play in the rest of the world, and quit tryin' to mess with our Circles.

RICIMER MIGHT COME BACK.

And see how you like them apples.



Friday, July 15, 2016

Special Room, Special Memories


The doors mentioned below all have the same brass hinges, knobs, plates, skeleton key locks (except the bathroom door). The interior doors are all five-panel.

Height: 83/84 inches

Depth: they're all about an inch and a half deep except for the entry doors which are closer to two inches

Width: 

four 36” – entry  doors w/beveled glass windows
300 each for the three painted ones; 400 for the varnished one

three 32”
200 each

four 30” 
150 each

two 27” – they’re the double doors
300 for both as they go together

And trim:
Trim is about 1" x 4" for all of them – both sides (of doorway) except for the exterior doors/windows; the 'toppers' are all the same design

Trim for interior doors
100 each (seven sets); 150 for double door set

Trim (interior only) for six windows, 65” x 28” 'inside frame' measure
100 each

Trim for two front windows, 65” x 48”
200 each

Trim for double kitchen windows, 53” tall X 67” wide 
200

Also:

Cold cupboard (was a kitchen window at one time) doors and trim
100

Two leaded glass windows, 48” x 19” (or so)
400 each

Clawfoot bathtub (sorry, sold)
100

Retro (1940s maybe?) kitchen sink with cabinet (IF I can get it out)
300

Small bathroom sink (wall mount)
50

Large double wash-sink from basement (IF I can get it out)
200

Assorted window screens
25 each

Two hanging light fixtures for living room/dining room (four bulbs each)
150 each

Two single hanging light fixtures 
50 each

One double hand-painted hanging light fixture
150

Light fixture, gas to electric converted (so I've been told)
200

* There are also a couple of brass push-button light switches, the brass doorbell set (button by door and 'ringer' in kitchen), a few kitchen/bathroom 'accessories', some oil lamps of different ages, several very sturdy counter tops that came out of an old chemistry lab (2'x5'), a wardrobe trunk and camel-back trunk in not so good shape, a screen door, a pair of weights and pulleys from a window that was into a door, and a few vintage theater reels in varying values and conditions from poor to excellent together with two non-functional vintage theater projectors (very heavy) and some accessories.








More photos available on request to vignettes.house@gmail.com

Thanks for taking a peek - please feel free to share if you know someone who might be interested in creating a special room in their home for memories made with love and laughter!

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

The Constitution re Supreme Court Appointments



Guess what, folks.

Even if we don't particularly like or appreciate any given part of our Constitution at a particular time or in a particular circumstance, it is still the Law of our Land and abide by it we must.

If I've been derelict in my duty as a citizen of this nation, so have a lot of us.

In the past couple of hours I've learned a lot about a man I honestly knew nothing about until he died.

Probably the most important thing I learned about this man is that he was as true to our Constitution and as savvy about its intent and purpose as anyone could be who wasn't there at the time it was written. What I've gotten out of my 'education' here is that no we do not have to personally agree with every last word of it but we are by golly required to abide by it anyway.

Whether or not you and/or I happen to think it would be in the best interest of our nation for our current President to nominate/appoint a Judge of the Supreme Court is irrelevant. Whether or not ANYBODY, including any currently seated Senator, agrees is moot. 

The President of the United States is the one who nominates the Judges of the Supreme Court and, with the consent of the Senate, appoints said Judges.

That being an unequivocal given, why in the world anyone would even bother to dispute the point is beyond me. It's right there, in the Constitution, if you care to look.

If a Senator, or whoever, has a problem with it, too bad. Lots of us might have a problem with it. That doesn't change the fact of the matter. The President nominates, the Senate consents (or not), and onward we go.

I don't know about you, but I find it distasteful, disrespectful, and downright tacky that 1) said current President would so immediately jump on the replacement issue, and 2) our politicians of the opposing party would react so immediately and emphatically. That, to me, is being flat out bad-mannered.

For someone like me, who didn't know or appreciate that this man, the one who died so suddenly, had been devoting his life to protecting and preserving my rights under the Constitution for all that time, it feels distinctly wrong somehow. Here I am, barely getting to know this guy, when it's too late to get to shake his hand and say thank you, and they're already fighting. 

It smacks of a bunch of nuts starting a fist-fight at a funeral. Tacky. Nasty. Totally disrespectful.

The kicker of it is that each and all of said fighting nuts is sworn to protect and uphold the very Constitution this man fought for - ALL the time, not just when it happens to suit their fancy.

Much as it hurts my soul and embarrasses me to say it, not a one of them is acting worthy of the oath they've given. 

Not a one of them ought to be allowed to attend the funeral of this man.

Me, I couldn't go to said funeral even if I was entitled to. 

But I can show a little respect. 
I can respect the man and what he stood for. 
I can grieve. 
I can be grateful. 
And I can pray that there are more like him, out there somewhere.

I never met Antonin Scalia and now it's too late. 

I'll never get to tell him thank you for protecting ME.

Yes, me.

And you.

I'm kind of ashamed at the behavior of the 'leaders' of our nation right about now.

If I could, I would apologize to the family of this man. If I feel such an unexpected sense of loss, what must they be feeling? His job must have cost him so much time with them ... what he was doing on behalf of me, and of you, that was a cost to his family. For that we owe them big time. It hurts me to think that they might think we're all as disrespectful as some.

Anyway, the Constitution he loved and respected is also loved and respected by a lot more of us than a person might expect, given the ones who are pretty blatant in their disrespect. The fact that he has played a part in keeping that legacy intact for us does matter. It matters to me and it had better matter to you. 

Monday, December 7, 2015

There's a Quietness in the Air




And here is the rest of it:

We have no need to be told by anyone else
To not give in to fear
Because He
Already
Told
Us
We
Have
Nothing
To be afraid of
And so we do as we are bid by Him
We are not afraid
Because
We are
His

We are His Own
We are the Father’s Own
We are the Mother’s Own
We are the People of the Sacred Trinity
And bide in Their hands
Always
Always
And
Always

So who is this other that tells us
Not to give in to our fear?
What fear are they talking about?
We have none.

Truthfully, I find it a bit on the offensive side that anyone, least of all our own POTUS, would presume to attempt to instill fear where there is none, by trying to imply that it is here.

Really?

I'm feeling a true quiet, folks, and it is not in any way a fearful kind of quiet. 

Once in a while there comes a surge of repressed rage but for the most part this is a sensation of simple quiet, the kind that comes in answer to the words, 'Be still and know that I am God.'

Yes, the tears rise, they course, they fall. In the falling they carry hurt, anger, pain of loss ... but no fear.

The fear is just flat out not there, people.

Again and again the rage is stilled.

One day, perhaps sooner than we would wish it, yes bloodshed will raise the rage - but never the fear and never hatred.

I tell  you now, what must be done will be done but it will not be done in hatred or fear. 

It will be done though, simply because Peace must come. 

To all, not just to those of us who already have it.

By and large ours is a peaceful nation. The exceptions get the attention, not the vast majority who are getting along just fine thank you very much. 

Because the focus does go to the exceptions, it's all too easy to think that is the norm. 

It is not.

Nor will it become the norm.

It will not.

When the necessary time comes, and it will, it will not be with hatred or fear that we will do what must be done. It will be, simply, necessary.

Necessary in order to protect and to preserve what is ours to protect and to preserve, as those who have gone before us did, the Legacy for which they lived, fought, and died so that it would become ours.