Shut-up and Take My Money!

An all-time favorite commercial we loved to watch around Christmas time in the mid 60s, was the Norelco razor commercial. Jolly St Nick went dashing through the snow rolling happily up and down the hills as a Burl Ives type voice encouraged viewers to buy a shaver. The best closest shave of all that beckoned joy, jingle bells also a sporty, sleek clean shave and happy times

It was a showstopper no matter what we were doing. If the television was on and the Norelco Santa sliding down the snowy hill on a fun razor appeared, things came to a screeching halt, and we were transported to the playful snowy scene. It was magic and may have well prompted the Christmas shopper to consider it, if not say out loud; "Shut-up and take my money!" No doubt someone got a razor for Christmas weather they needed it or not. Meanwhile, we were aware that baby Jesus was really the reason for all the fuss and gift giving, good cheer and glide tidings! Cue the bells!! 🔔🔔

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December 12th Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Wikipedia say's: Our Lady of Guadalupe, also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe, is a Catholic title of Mary, mother of Jesus associated with a series of five Marian apparitions in December 1531, and a venerated image on a cloak enshrined within the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. The basilica is the most-visited Catholic shrine in the world, and the world's third most-visited sacred site.

When we were in the 6th grade at QofH Elementary Catholic School, a few of us were chosen to more or less act out a pageant play in the church, depicting apparitions of Our Lady. It took place in honor of The Feast of Our Lady, It was special and it is a sweet memory.  Mark was a bishop, and I played a guard for the bishop. My mother treated us to a wonderful spaghetti dinner afterwards at Caruso's, a nearby Italian restaurant. 🌹

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GIVING THANKS

Thankful for so much. Thankful for the love, joy, a peaceful existence, resources and people who care. Grateful for the mornings, afternoons and nights that occur like clockwork all these years, the sun that rises and shines then drops out of sight to make room for the moon to rise and shine and fade once again, into the heavens. 

The biology, theology, psychology involved with our presence alone is spectacular and complex as the environment, the atmosphere, gravity, all the physic's, forensics, symmetry, geometry, balance, rhythm, the cycles of life and death. The impermanence of everything should keep us in check rather than simply carry-on like there is endless time, energy, health and opportunities to live life to the fullest and to the best of our ability. 

Yes, Thankful for bountiful, beautiful blessings, for things I am not even aware of but should appreciate with the gusto of a hungry bear awaking from a peaceful winter slumber.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

September 23, 1957 Mark Allen Joseph is joined by twin sister, 

Mary Ellen into a new world. Hold on mother and twins, it's gonna be one hell of a ride!!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Mark and Mary, 

Happy Birthday to you.

May the Dear Lord Bless you, May the Dear Lord Bless Mark and Mary,

Happy Birthday to you.   So it is.    Yes ~  

Once a twin always a twin!! It is not a singular but two-times, twice, double the fun, also shared heartache, happiness, sadness and sweetness. To double down on the special unique experience of twindom, beautiful stuff! it remains quite something x2! 

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Twins Forever

No doubt I will always be a twin, my twin brother is in heaven as far as we can tell. He keeps in touch through fluttering butterflies that fly close enough to notice and get a glimpse of a celestial frontier we can only imagine. You are missed, Mark, your absence has settled in my bones but your special cameo appearances reassure me something is happening, quietly, beyond words beyond reason and meant for me to see, these moments are always welcome, you and the sweet signs that hint of your presence.

The connection remains strong intact, apparent and recognized with love, peace and gratitude. Thank you for the partnership, I do not forget my twin brother and womb-mate. We showed-up only a few minutes apart one after the other. I do not wonder where you are, if you are OK, I believe you are excellent and here, near mama and me and other precious loved ones who miss you quite terribly still. For me, I take a great deal of satisfaction knowing I am your twin sister blessed with a beautiful twin brother, angel and we are twins forever.

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Moonstruck

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Brother Butterfly ><

Did that white butterfly make a sound or is it my imagination? It did not sound like one would imagine a butterfly sounds. It was a clacking in two or three beats not a delicate melodic sound. It happened lightening fast in harmony with the surrounding natural sounds. The chirping birds broadcast their news of the moment as the rustling trees sway in the breeze reminding me of the sound of ocean waves.

The bouncing butterfly flutters toward the marigolds, near the sprawling, stirring dog, Jax, who is stretching on his back and rolling across a rug. The wind chimes gently and the daily spiritual meditation encourages me to "orbit around the sun" a beautiful metaphor for staying in the light and keeping The Holy Spirit on my radar.

I give thanks for countless blessings, angels among us, the presence of divine intercessors and whispers from heaven. Thank you for strength and peace, comfort, joy and the people, pets, places and things appointed to be part of my life.

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It All Adds-Up

Days of our lives add up to months and years. The people once on forefront and now no longer here and life goes on. The shared experiences, the love, memories, laughs, tears, disagreements, misunderstandings, shared challenges, trials and tribulations are still in place, still points of reference and you come alive in the reflection. 

How could I not acknowledge your presence, the impression you made resounds and reflects the best of you and your love, the laughter, lessons we learned. What a very special time in my life. I believe I appreciated how special, precious and powerful your presence in my life. I want to say; I miss you very much yet I know every bit of your goodness and great spirit is going strong and is alive and well in those who love you still.

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The Bell Tolls For Us

🕭 Illusions, grandiose delusions or simply holding on to and imparting the comfort found in hope no matter how hard life feels, looks, is. From our miniscule place in the universe as we know it, it appears suffering and happiness vibrate out and into the world in ways that beautify or bruise other souls. Hearts swell with love or breaks for the same reason somewhere, a place before or perhaps beyond into a different realm.  Life so full of surprises, left curves and turns, tumbling, twisting, what was once normal, predictable shifts due to the health and safety of everyone everywhere. 

How could that be in this part of the world in this day and age when everything is more or less moving along in accordance with every other day. What unfolds right before our collective and individual eyes are the worst and best of people in a time of uncertainty as fear mongers instill more fear, doubt and despair. Good health and happiness are not money makers for machines that manipulate what and how we think and conduct our lives. 

The preciousness of our existence, here today gone by the end of it. The very air and water we depend on in peril, politics and government gone wild, people desperate to find comfort in uncomfortable times and insecurity and fear lead to irrational behavior. Somehow, respect, common sense equitability and equality took a backseat as the acute need for peace has been diluted by too many. The good news is corrective measures are simple and render peaceful results that strengthen  rather than destruct and cause so much damage. Yes, the salve for such raw, bloody open wounds include kindness and a spirit of peace. With the under current and backdrop of mystery, in surround sound, we would do well to consider and appreciate that my heart skips a beat with joy and cries hot tears of sorrow with yours.  "For whom the bell tolls" indeed. The bell tolls for you and me. 

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Change

Change after a year that felt like a blur, goes by, like you unplugged from life the way you knew it until things changed beyond recognition. And here we are after looking around at others wondering which one of us may not make it through. A tidal wave of death came over the world plucking people out of our midst near and far, loved ones gone without a goodbye. Life today feels tired and sore yet hopeful about the horizon. Changes occurring right before our eyes. 

To cease the day and reinvent new ways to live together respectfully, peacefully, lovingly, happily, means to evolve into better people. It is possible in our immediate worlds, the probability on larger scale depends on factors that are within and behond our control. Cultivating peace of mind, voting, contributing in some positive manner, lifting someone up, making something better for someone. We shed skin, plant new seeds in our lives, grow into goodness as we recalibrate and cultivate the beautiful, do simple acts of kindness and repeat. Peace, Love, Blessings to you ~

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With Love

Mark, 

Just want to say; Thank you! Thank you for the love, for giving me what I hope you felt and received  from me. Thank you for the friendship, for all the wildly wonderful and not so wonderful everyday stuff, growing pains, the loyalty, all of it. Thank you for sharing the twindom with me it was distinctive and special. I am still your twin sister, blessings resound still in connection to you, your growing family and vivid memories so strong, you seem present even in your absence. I am on the look-out and tuned-in to you your place in all things known and unknown. We were at our best when we laughed, learned and leaned on each other.              

I want to thank you for enriching my life with yours.  Keep in touch. 

Love you,

mair

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Another Year

Another time to restart the months weeks and days ahead until it is 2022. Another year to continue, discontinue, start fresh or restart the next twelve months all over again. If only it were that easy and sometimes it is except when things happen that are out of our control like deadly disease or people behaving badly.  The land mark days and seasons of our lives, the experiences that took place at particular times of the year evoke memories that shaped who we are today.                  We do not always get the opportunity to redo what was done or do what should have been done as another new year beckons us, staring us down, daring us to take-on 2021 with guts, courage, strength and resolve to do good by thinking, being, saying, praying about things hear and now that make us better and a blessing, focusing on the moment at hand, here and now. 

Another year we have been given to live life in peace as we work on making life more doable for ourselves and others who cross our paths as well as those in other parts of the world.

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