Part of the Plan...and a 13th

 January 2025. It marks the thirteenth anniversary of this blog. Some of the posts I've shared over the years are nothing but silly drivel; some are creative in content and nature (sharing my books of fiction, sad attempts at poetry, my photography and paintings, plus everything related to all of it); some posts are thoughts of the moment, memories, nostalgia, Youtube videos; while some dive deeper into what might be going on outside of my own life. I don't write about the latter much anymore because of the divisive nature and ugliness shown, but I wish that I could. Maybe someday.

So this anniversary post contains some New Year's resolutions of sorts. I hold myself accountable for all of them and plan to do better, but there are so many people that I personally know (and of course those I don't!) who should be accountable, as well. We can all do better.

♥︎ Be Accountable. If you make a mistake, own it. 

♥︎ Remember. Remember those in your life because someday they won't be in your life anymore; someday your own memory could diminish, too, where it's impossible to recall those memories that are so very important. Everyone gets old...if we're lucky. 

♥︎ Show kindness. Showing anything but is only a poor reflection on you. 

♥︎ Respond to communication. I'm slow at responding to emails but I always eventually respond, and phone calls aren't always convenient. Text messages were supposed to make communicating easier and quicker...but it seems it's gotten easier to just ignore those.  It really seems rude and thoughtless. 

♥︎ Show patience. With life, goals, and with people. 

♥︎ Hold yourself to the same standards you set for others; and set the standards equally for everyone if you set them. 

♥︎ Don't engage in suppressing or repressing others' thoughts and their need to express them. Listen with respect, whether you agree with them or not. 

♥︎ Think. Stop following like sheep especially if it goes against logic, knowledge and common sense. 

The remainder of this post contain the lyrics and video of Part of the Plan, a great song written and performed by the late Dan Fogelberg. He sings 'One Day We'll All Understand'...I'm still waiting to understand life, but it is less foggy than it used to be.

As always, thanks to all who continue to read what I share here. 

Part of the Plan

Music and Lyrics by Dan Fogelberg

I have these moments all steady and strong
I'm feeling so holy and humble
The next thing I know, I'm all worried and weak
And I feel myself starting to crumble

The meanings get lost, and the teachings get tossed
And you don't know what you're gonna do next
You wait for the sun but it never quite comes

Some kind of message comes through to you
Some kind of message comes through
And it says to you

Love when you can
Cry when you have to
Be who you must
That's a part of the plan
Await your arrival
With simple survival and

One day, we'll all understand
One day, we'll all understand
One day, we'll all understand

I had a woman who gave me her soul
But I wasn't ready to take it
Her heart was so fragile and heavy to hold
And I was afraid I might break it

Your conscience awakes and you see your mistakes
And you wish someone would buy your confessions
The days miss their mark, and the night gets so dark

And some kind of message comes through to you
Some kind of message shoots through
And it says to you

Love when you can
Cry when you have to
Be who you must
That's a part of the plan
Await your arrival
With simple survival and

One day, we'll all understand
One day, we'll all understand
One day, we'll all understand

There is no Eden or heavenly gates
That you're gonna make it to one day
But all of the answers you seek can be found
In the dreams that you dream on the way

Merry, Peace, Light, and Kindness

 

Thumbing through a catalog recently triggered a memory. With this particular retailer, it happens often as it sells everything from my childhood and beyond. From Christmas candy to shampoo, it’s nostalgic recalling those soft butter mints my grandmother had in a crystal dish during the holidays, and products I used when washing my hair in the late 1970s. 

But the particular item I’m referring to now brings a wave of feelings even deeper. It’s what simple kindness does and how it stays with you the rest of your life.

I’ve shared here how I have always loved hats, and can recall having (and wanting) them from childhood. When looking through some old photos recently, proof of it was in some of the images. Bucket hats resting on the corner post of my bed when I was younger than seven, berets of various colors and content (worn or casually tossed onto a chair), winter hats, the funkier the better, even though southern winters didn’t quite provide the need for them. I didn’t care and wore them until adolescence dictated in my brain that I do what others were doing. And others weren’t wearing those hats. So for awhile, the hats went into the closet. 

However, that catalog. I never thought I’d see a photograph of a hat for sale that was so similar to something I wore to school when I was in the first grade. A white faux fur. I recall loving it so much, I’m certain I wore it every day to school. So at the end of the school day prior to Christmas break, I remember running out of school with my little friends, excited to have two weeks of “freedom”, and of course, Santa was coming. Just as I reached the front sidewalk, I panicked. My hat! I forgot to grab it with my coat. So I ran back to the door of my classroom but it was already locked. I was unable to get back into the school. My precious hat was still in my desk drawer, and I wouldn’t have it for two weeks. I’m certain the devastation of a little six year old witnessed by the few left, because everyone had pretty much scattered to the wind by that point, was seen as hysteria. But there I was standing on the sidewalk, a tiny little girl who was sobbing…crying as if the world was ending. 

Then the kindness of an older student named Steve happened. It has stayed with me ever since. He walked up to me and asked what was wrong. Calmed and soothed me, took my hand and walked back to the school with me and he tried getting inside, too, simply to retrieve my hat. When he had no more success than I did, his gentle explanation that it would be alright made it less upsetting; he showed empathy and care. This from a child himself who was probably no older than fifth or sixth grade. He was one of the ‘big kids’ and he showed care as if he were an adult. 

While I had only one more year at that school (we moved to another district), and I never saw Steve again, all of it has stayed with me. Decades later, I recall the caring young boy who showed basic kindness. I can even somewhat recall him visually. I certainly remember his name. Isn’t kindness something? While harsh words and cruelty scar a person, creating limiting emotional distress, kindness and compassion lift you up and remain, as well, and for the better. It builds. Basic kindness and decency cost nothing. 

I’ve shared a photo of that hat, with the identity of the model’s face hidden. I must add that I’m not a fur wearing person and the faux fur was as close as I’ll ever get to wearing it; and I’m also grateful to have outgrown the silliness of adolescence and have happily embraced wearing hats once again for a long while now. 

Some other photos shared here: time with my lovely granddaughter, volunteering for ‘Wreaths Across America’, and my annual infusion to alleviate osteoporosis (ladies, know your bone health history). 

Finally, my blog will be thirteen next month. It’s hard to believe I’ve kept it up so long; it’s really a miracle. 

Merry Christmas. Peace and light to all. Be kind. Always.

Beautiful South West England

 In October, I vacationed in an area of England I'd never seen...the south west portion. It covered the counties of Wiltshire, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, and Gloucestershire. 

I visited Stonehenge, Salisbury, Lyme Regis (on the Jurassic Coast), Exeter, Dartmoor and Dartmoor National Park, Widecombe in the Moor, Plymouth (and the Mayflower Steps), Polperro, Charlestown (filming location for Poldark), Falmouth, Jamaica Inn, St. Michael's Mount, Penzance, the Minack Theatre, Land's End, St. Ives, Port Isaac (filming location for Doc Martin), Altarnun, Tintagel, Bath (Roman Baths), the Cotswolds, and Castle Combe. 

Insert deep breath. Simply mentioning the areas doesn't do the tour justice. It was filled with beautiful scenery, incredible history, pleasant surprises, agreeable weather (for the most part), good food, and an excellent tour guide. Hopefully I will be able to focus future blog posts on some of the stops, etc. I'm very grateful for the experience and it was wonderful. For now, I'm sharing some screen shots of photos that can be found on my Pixels and Fine Art America sites. To view higher resolution images, please visit veronica-batterson.pixels.com. Any and all purchases, shares, shout-outs are always greatly appreciated.

Hoping everyone in the US has a safe and happy Thanksgiving Day in a couple of weeks. 

The Great Elephant Migration

 I recently visited a wonderful temporary sculpture exhibit in New York City. "The Great Elephant Migration" is one of the largest outdoor art installations comprised of one hundred (98 Asian and 2 African) life-sized elephants displayed along the city streets of the Meatpacking District in NYC. 

The aim of the art is to raise awareness for conservation and coexistence. All elephants can be purchased, with proceeds raised to benefit groups such as the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and INDIGENOUS LED.

The installation will be in NY until October 20, 2024. Please visit The Great Elephant Migration website for more information, and to see where the elephants are off to next. 

JD Souther

 I once briefly met John David (JD) Souther. He was very gracious and kind. May he rest in peace.

J.D. Souther, American Singer/Songwriter

November 2, 1945 - September 17, 2024

Sea of Love

 Robert Plant's The Honeydrippers...Sea of Love

Another good one to share and reminisce over. 

19th Amendment - Votes For Women

 Tomorrow is the 104th anniversary. On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified, giving all women who were US citizens the right to vote. Only 104 years! If you're a feminist, remember this anniversary...share it...shout it...be proud...and go to the polls and vote as if this right is going to be taken from you! 

Ask the older generations of women you know what it was like to live and survive before you were born. Know women's history (your history) and pass it on. 

I remember what it was like when I was younger...the things I had to endure just to get a job, keep a job, to be considered, etc. Oh, the things I could tell and share. It was worse for my mother's generation and even worse for my grandmother. 

My grandmother was born before women had the right to vote. Yet, she spent her entire adult life never believing she had the right when she actually did; she never believed her voice was relevant. I can't remember her ever voting, and to this day it is something that breaks my heart. 

We stand on the shoulders of women who came before us. Remember. Fight. Stand up for yourself! Vote!

Vote...Votes for women!