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forgive

The reason I’m thinking of forgiveness is that I spent a lovely afternoon with a new friend. She easily moved from one topic of conversation to the next. Conversation was light and fun until the beginning of early evening. Then she began talking about her sister. The unhappy marriage she’s in has caused a rift in the sisters’ relationship. It was once close, now it’s pretty much non-existent . Her sister can’t seem to get out of her own way, she said. Bitterness over a bad marriage is ruining her life.

After listening to the story I asked the question I feel anyone would have asked, “Why doesn’t she leave?” she answered, “She can’t. She’s afraid of losing everything.” Well, what can be said about that kind of response? Some people would have walked away at the first whisperings of unfaithfulness, others would have given it their all until their all was depleted. Living with bitterness year after year, and probably lots of other stuff arising from this lifestyle, is not living. But it’s a choice she made. Although she probably doesn’t see it that way. And the other sister is hurting too watching her sister’s pain. Those involved are no longer alive. So, maybe now it’s time for a change of attitude.

Of course, we couldn’t leave the subject alone after discussing it to this extent. My new friend thought her sister could at least try for a happy life since she’s made a decision to stay. However, she said there’s no way she could ever forgive him. Well, I can’t imagine how life is for those two living together under those circumstances. But, “To each his own.”

So, I got to thinking about the power of forgiveness. It’s a hard thing to do. But when you get to a place where you’re hemmed in and life is so painful, what else is there to do? I once heard a wise lecturer tell his audience, “If you can’t find a good enough reason to forgive, do it for yourself.”

It seems to come down to this for us:
“He who cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.” -Corrie Ten Boom

and this:
“I will not permit any man to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him”-Booker T. Washington

and this:
“If you are suffering from a bad man’s injustice, forgive him, lest there be two bad men.” – Augustine

and this:
“When you forgive, you in no way change the past – but you sure do change the future.” -Bernard Meltzer

and this:
“Forgiveness is impossible in human consciousness, but very possible and manageable in spiritual consciousness.” – Eric Butterworth

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it’s the people

People from all over the world visit NYC and think they’re seeing the real USA. How can that be? People from all over the world are living in NYC, it belongs to the world, or so it seems.

Yes, there are the museums, the top-notch restaurants, the ethnic markets, the shopping, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, the clubs, the opportunities, the money, the fashion, the many forms of entertainment, the businesses, the galleries, the beautiful skyline, the colorful neighborhoods, the bagels, the East River, the Hudson River, etc. etc., but the energy of the people from all over the world is what makes it what it is.

If you’ve been living in NYC, and you decide to move away, there’s a chance you’ll be lost, for awhile. For one thing, you’ll be wandering the streets searching for a New York style restaurant, bistro, coffee shop, that feel good place that stays open 24 hours. And you’ll miss the daytime walking, and you’ll miss the absence of people walking at 3am.

If you’re getting a little bored wherever you are, find the nearest mode of transportation that will get you lickety split to NYC. When you arrive, walk the busiest street, disappear into the crowd and feel the energy. All sense of boredom will be banished.

Stay for awhile until you hear the call for quiet time.

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about the word “thing”

What would we do if we didn’t have the word “thing”? It’s a really convenient word, with many, many different ways of using it. It’s an every day word. When I began pondering the word, I realized just what a good word it is. It’s the kind of word that easily replaces many other words that don’t necessarily come to mind at the moment.

Are you going to the thing uptown tonight?

What a useful word it is.
The thing I like best about him is his compassion.

It’s a elusive word – unclear, but manages to zero in on something.
Can you remember the one thing that inspired you?

The more I think about it, the stranger the word gets.
How would you describe that thing in the water?

I could stay up all night thinking about all the ways to use “thing,” but that wouldn’t be a smart thing to do. Instead I’ll see what dictionary.com has to say about the whole thing.

I have respect for this peculiar, rather mysterious, never quite specific, delightful and funny little word.

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mashed potatoes

Fasting produces a feeling of well-being in the body and mind, whether it’s a long term, one day, or skipping-a-dinner fast. It can forever change the way we think about food in our life. We’re blessed; we have the freedom to eat on a whim whether hungry or not. However, when we misuse that freedom, fasting is a wonderful way to get back on track.

I skipped a meal last week, and got to thinking about the delicious mashed potatoes I prepare. (everyone thinks the same about their mashed potatoes) Fasting also produces food cravings. Food cravings are not really about hunger, and fasting is easier when we understand this. The craving for mashed potatoes was neat. I was able to think about them without wanting to eat them because I knew it was only a craving. Simply knowing that something as tasty as mashed potatoes can be prepared easily, when the fast was over, was satisfying enough.

I thought about the many cookbooks and articles written about the best way to get the right consistency when mashing them. The right consistency-the perfect texture-is like many other things, an individual feeling.

Then I went on thinking about those cookbooks and articles written about mashed potatoes- what’s the best way to get that texture-potato masher, food processor, electric mixer? That seems to be the question. Then, do we leave the skin on or peel it? That’s another question. I thought about the way I prepare them using a potato masher. And unless someone has qualms about leaving the skin on, I leave it on.

I started dreaming about preparing them. I cut them in quarters, as many as the pot can accommodate, add water to cover them, and bring to a boil. I lower the flame when it comes to a boil. I add whole cloves of unpeeled garlic to the potatoes. How much garlic? As much as taste buds can handle.

When the potatoes are cooked through, I save the water, and remove them with a slotted spoon, along with the garlic cloves, and place potatoes and peeled garlic in a large bowl. Now comes the fun of mashing the potatoes and garlic, and s-l-o-w-l-y adding the water the potatoes were cooked in, and then adding a little Celtic salt and freshly ground pepper. Keep mashing; keep tasting, while adding the potato water. Keep mashing; keep tasting. More salt and pepper needed? Is it the right texture yet? What about adding a little olive oil? Does the last tasting say they’re just right?

Craving is satisfied and gone.

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baba ganoush

It was only a few months ago that I tasted Baba Ganoush for the first time. Now I’m addicted to it. I like thinking about its beautiful color, and preparing it and blending it. But, of course, most of all I like eating it. I use more garlic and parsley than the recipes I’ve seen suggest. After preparing it a few times, you’ll probably want to experiment, using more or less of this and that ingredient. It’s fun to personalize a recipe.

The ingredients for Baba Ganoush are 1 large eggplant, 3 tablespoons or more tahini, 3 tablespoons water, 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon fresh chopped garlic, 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, 1/2-1 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon olive oil.

Pierce eggplant all over, put on baking pan and roast in oven for 1 hour, or broil eggplant in oven, turning until skin is dark. When soft, remove from oven and cool for a few minutes. Drain in strainer, then peel and chop. Put all ingredients in a blender or food processor.

Don’t hesitate to buy organic. I think the creamy & raw, no salt added sesame tahini is a good choice. Find the taste that’s perfect for you. The taste of Baba Ganoush differs among restaurants, too. Perhaps one day we’ll go to the Middle East and explore the taste there. Oh, yes. Serve it with toasted pita bread. It’s also good with crackers, like Wasa Multi Grain Crispbread, Ryvita Light Rye, Nairn’s Rough Oat Cake Crackers.

So creamy, so satisfying, so delectable. Right?

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moore brothers wine company

As much as I like a good glass of red wine I don’t have an understanding of exactly what makes a good glass of red wine. Last week I went to a wine tasting event in the Hudson River Valley. The wines for the evening were neatly placed on a table – waiting. I knew what would happen. There would be those words people use when wine is discussed. The words mean nothing to me in terms of wine; medium tannins, berry fruited, chocolate, spicy, oak, region of grapes, temperature control, delicate, crisp, “notes of melon,” fresh acidity, subtle, complimenting, and on it goes.

We were a small, group at the beginning of the evening. I tried to concentrate on what was said about each bottle of wine. I didn’t open my mouth except to taste the wine. Do I remember one thing about any of the wines? Nothing! I am resigned to being a happy taster. More than that is stretching it for me. I know when I’ve tasted a good glass of wine, the inclination to know more is just not there. However, this I know, if you’re serious about wine, moore brothers wine company at 33 East 20th Street, New York, NY 10003 (phone: 866-986-6673) is a good place.
www.moorebrothers.com

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a movie

Has a movie ever left you with a dismal feeling? That’s never happened to me in the way it did last week. The main actor and actress have “good reputations.” The movie came out in 2006, and no one I know had seen it, so I took a chance. From the onset the movie depressed me. I couldn’t detect any chemistry among any of the characters. It seems that the two main ones were unhappy with their spouses, and didn’t seem particularly happy with each other. No sparks flying anywhere, just one dreary situation after another. One big blah of a movie. Thinking it would somehow redeem itself, I waited and watched for it to get better. It didn’t happen. To sum it up briefly, the acting was listless, the lighting dreary, the story line weak, and it sneakily dissipated my energy. Turning off that movie was such a relief. I think the purpose of it was to make a profit and not to entertain. If that’s so, it succeeded. I won’t mention the name of the movie; why spoil it for someone who thinks it’s good, but just be on the lookout. Watching this kind of a movie is similar to watching a comedian whose timing is off -painful-and, when we see a good one we’re better able to appreciate all that goes into making it so.

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two books

If the timing is right for you, there are two books worth taking wherever you go. Honest! They are THE ART OF PILGRIMAGE, by Phil Cousineau, and THE ROAD WITHIN, Edited by Sean O”Reilly James O’Reilly Tim O’Reilly. As you read, let the words hang all around you, and inside you, it’s impossible to not feel the magic of what’s being conveyed. Well, impossible is a strong word, but I want to say impossible. These two books, seemingly about travel, are much more than that. They take us to fascinating places, ancient and modern, and they also take us to places within ourselves.
www.philcousineau.net
www.travelerstales.com

While reading these books,there’s a chance you’ll want to start searching for the best flights to whereever the urge takes you. After you’ve let it all sink in, and have highlighted places and words that sing to your heart, who knows where we’ll find you in this amazing world.

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slow down, you move too fast. . .

In bookstores are book after book, new and old, suggesting ways for us to move more slowly throughout the day. Books, such as the following, take us away from the hustle and bustle and bring us closer to a more balanced day: Byron Katie with Stephen Mitchell, A THOUSAND NAMES FOR JOY A GUIDE TO LIVING IN HARMONY WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE; Geri Larkin’s, The CHOCOLATE CAKE SUTRA INGREDIENTS FOR A SWEET LIFE; Cecile Andrews’s, SLOW IS BEAUTIFUL; and Eckhart Tolle’s, THE POWER OF NOW and A NEW EARTH tell us how and why.
www.thework.com
www.eckhardttolle.com

the other side of the coin tells us to cram as much as possible into the day because, the other side of the coin says, we have only one life to live. But, when our days are full with tight schedules, how much can we see, understand, feel, listen to, and appreciate in the course of a day? Stepping off the roller coaster we’ve made for ourselves gives us a chance to clear our mind. When all is said and done, will we be concerned with our schedule, or will be wondering about something more important? Maybe it’s wise to have a reality check sooner than later. It’s good to keep life in balance.

“Make the universe your companion, always bearing in mind the true nature of all creation-mountains and rivers, trees and grasses, and humankind.” -Matsuo Basho, poet-pilgrim

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the lemonade diet, stanley burroughs

What’s with the lemonade diet? Is the internet the reason that the number of people doing it keeps increasing? Word travels fast! Are you one of those who have done it, are doing it, or are in the process of thinking about doing it? Note to remember: those who’ve been on the lemonade diet say good things about it. Not only that, they want to incorporate it into their lifestyle once or twice a year. People I would never have imagined doing it, are doing it.

It’s really simple. You don’t have to register at an expensive spa. It can be a private affair in your own comfortable home-one on one with yourself. Stanley Burroughs’s thin yellow book is your support for the ten days, or so. Once you do the lemonade diet (The Master Cleanser) you’ll understand the reasons people who have experienced it, want to do it at least once a year. I know I do.