I had something completely different ready for today but yesterday I looked at the number and thought I'd make a change. My life is all about that right now. And it's so very difficult. But I know it will be worth it.
I've never been a person who has had things fall into place easily. I've always had to work hard for what I've wanted in life.
I've always understood that aspect of the universe---that out of pain and effort can come indescribable beauty and joy.
Miss Kyra has unwittingly helped me along here with her letter to her son Owen on his fifth birthday. She touchingly relates the dichotomy of the suffering she endured for him to be born with the sheer delight of being his mom and the special bond they have.
And while I hate it that anyone has to suffer I'm eternally grateful that despite --or maybe because of--- his troubles ---Van Gogh left us this....

I've prattled on several times over the 400 posts I've put up here about how I have this freely associative mind (geez it's sure on display here!) and a soundtrack running in my head all the time.
And when I use the word joy or hear it----the 'Ode to Joy' is what plays in my head. After I saw the movie Immortal Beloved I was given a visual for that exhilarating and beautiful piece of music.
I marvel at how someone suffering so greatly could create such an uplifting and exuberantly positive work. By the time Beethoven completed The Ninth Symphony (Chorale) in 1823 he was completely deaf.
After reaching a level of acceptance about his deafness Beethoven wrote:
"Free me of only half this affliction and I shall be a complete,
mature man. You must think of me as being as happy as it is
possible to be on this earth - not unhappy. No! I cannot endure
it. I will seize Fate by the throat. It will not wholly conquer
me!
Oh, how beautiful it is to live - and live a thousand times over!"
I don't know if I'm making sense here and I'm not really worried about that. I just wanted to post this. It brings me joy.
Smooches and some joyous gropes!!
















