Our "immediate" family and us. In-law house guests and happiness.
The writer is an odd duck. Youngest of six in the US is a dying breed.
Growing up this writers' opinion or input meant less than a drop of rain in a flood. Nobody ever cared about the drop. Now he is an accomplished man of sorts with 4 children of his own. He somewhere along the line became a head of household type. And then somehow he became and philosopher/preacher/paramedic/paralegal type that folks could come to ask his opinion.
Strangest thing of all folks seem to like this large bear of a man, seek out his counsel and enjoy his words.
Of course do not get me wrong -- there is no respect in his family of origin or much of his hometown. Heard tell, that is kinda normal for a youngest of 6.
A hermit lived here but opened up for tourism in about 1859 in the middle of the Grand Canyon.
We are not so sure how much nature versus nurture go in to making what we are today.
Well here is a funny thing about the writer. A few weeks ago his household doubled with folks that are in-laws and generally do not speak much English. They camp in the kitchen and activate on vacation schedules rather than the writers. The writer half works from home. So home environment is critical to him.
So the writer sat down with himself and his fully spirit adviser and asked how to cope. Of course the spirit tapped him on the knee and said --" Who must cope? You have love, what else do you need? Gaul darnit, the spirit was right. How hard it must be for his darling /youngest of six/ wife to deal and be happy in the situation. Of course it is more fun to share a kitchen and a car and a yard and my children with family.
The touch of another brings irritation or???
Can you really love the one your with, when they are in the dang way?!
So the writer settled and smiled big and had fun.
Love is a tool that we can use for our own happiness. That is good. But when we get that others happiness is what brings us the most happiness we are free to love and be loved.
Then one night the wife of the writer began to burst out about worries and problems to the writer. And then told the writer that he had been weird the last few weeks. She yelled and screamed and cast out nasty ugly hateful vibes. The writer did not budge and did not shake or retaliate. It was late on Sunday and the man had spent the day preaching love.
Not the time to hug, not the time to argue, not the time to even show love. A time to remain silent and wash the wife's car with the young boy, so there be peace, and joy.
Those who are youngest of six no not to rock the boat. Unless it is a good time to rock the boat.
I got family, and by God, I love 'em!
So do we decide when it is convenient to love? Hmm.
Life is not about need or greed it is about the seed of happiness
It is true that most are not happy.
It is true that most should be.
It is true that it is your choice.
The writer took some time today by a fountain.
And he prayed thanks to the cosmos and universe and mother earth and moon and stars and Buddha and most of all to his Spirit Guide who is and shall ever be a trinity of what he cannot see, what he cannot touch and what he cannot fathom.
And that praise went into the night sky but was pushed back down on all his family.
For the writer had learned to step aside, as he did as a child, and be one drop in a raging torrent, but to be the best damn drop he could be.
So back to you nice folks who came along for this ride.
I do hope maybe by this story, you realize: people are more important than routines, love is more important than extremes and that whenever we fee like it is tough--- it is tougher on our spouse.
Have a happy and let me leave you with this; I am a no good for nothing horrible hell dog, low belly sidewinder snake that would soon bite you as look at you. But with the right work, even I can be loved.
Can I get an Amen? brothers and sister!!