Our friends Scooter and Lisa made a fun video of the ceremony -- Take a look!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX454sJKtMk
What special folks they are!!
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Back to Work
Second week back at work -- I have only cried once...I've been a slightly neurotic worry-wart...everyone in the family has a cold...alas, motherhood in the 21st century.
To assuage my guilt for being so far away from Henry today, I will post a few choice shots taken with our new, fabulous Rebel camera, which our dear friends bought us for our ceremony.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Convenient Considerations
Taking a slight turn today, as I resolve to right a bit of recent complacency...
Yes, now that I am for all intents and purposes "married" (though owe it to the queer community to write a long treatise on the impossibility of such a reality -- and would I want this anyway? -- thanks to our heterosexist, "there is no separation between church and state" society...) and a mom (or co-mom, despite Idahoian laws which cannot even imagine this possible), I feel responsible to linger no longer in mere domestic bliss, but consider things at a slightly deeper level. While colorful photos of our celebration of love and of Henry in all his glory are probably more fun to see (Verdad, Victoria?), there are some "inconvenient truths" that warrant a moment of my attention.
This weekend I had the opportunity to see two noteworthy films which raised my ire and gave me the proverbial kick in the pants needed to "wake up!" The first, An Inconvenient Truth, is a marvelous documentary about Al Gore's commitment to and actions taken toward educating people around the world about global warming and its devastating impact. The film grounds itself in scientific research and fait de compli conclusions about the rise of CO2 gases and their "without a doubt" destruction of our environment as we know it today. Glacial melt, life-threatening drought, Katrina-like hurricanes...all caused by the greenhouse effect causing the earth's atmospheric temperatures to rise. The message is clear: If we all as a global community do not take action TODAY to decrease the amount of emissions and waste that are clogging the atmosphere, there may not be a clean, sustainable planet in the future for our children.
Action -- Al challenges each one of us not to relinquish responsibility because the problem is TOO BIG! On the contrary, he asks each person to act locally, to do his/her part in changing the sweeping tide of destruction. Ten things we all can do to assist in this cause:
1. Change lights to compact flourescent light bulbs
2. Drive less
3. Recycle more
4. Make sure your tire pressure is adequate
5. Use less hot water
6. Avoid buying items with a lot of packaging
7. Adjust your thermostat
8. Plant trees
9. Turn off electronics
10. Spread the word
How about it folks? We can all make a difference! Commit to at least 3 of these actions and feel good about creating a better place for everyone to live.
Wanna learn more about this movie and what you can do to make a difference? Go to www.climatecrisis.net
Film number two: Iraq for Sale - the most recent MoveOn.org film. This is a damning look at the profiteering taking place in the US war on Iraq. Haliburton takes the brunt of the criticism (and why shouldn't they?), but other US corporations are also indicted. The waste and dishonesty -- the pilfering of our tax dollars...I was soooo infuriated watching this film! There are horrific scenes about the Abu Ghraib prison tortures executed by civilian contractors; unbeliveable stories about Haliburton's civilian truck drivers leaving their families to "better themselves" by going overseas to work only to be ambushed (without any protection) and then dragged, mutilated and killed (Haliburton officials could only "offer their deepest condolences" to the families of these men, all the while continuing to earn millions of dollars in salary in their comfy chairs back home); disarming tales of soldiers being given contaminated water that was sold to the military as "treated," yet turned out not be... Yes, this film exposes the underbelly of war and corporate greed, Bush and his complicity and Cheney and Rumsfield as we know them best -- immoral, unethical liars and profiteers. More on this film, go to www.iraqforsale.org
The upside of the weekend was the few hours spent volunteering for MoveOn.org making calls to voters in Pennsylvania trying to persuade them to vote against Rick Santorum for Senate...hard to believe this guy has such a strong following -- just goes to show you that Government is not for the brightest bulbs in the box nor is Democracy really about "equality and justice for all," but you all knew that...
My two cents for tonight:
1. Get out and vote.
2. Get clear about your commitments to stop the destruction of the environment.
3. LOVE a lot, 'cuz we need a "force more powerful" to counteract the absolutely vulgar hatred and violence that exist in our world today.
Yes, now that I am for all intents and purposes "married" (though owe it to the queer community to write a long treatise on the impossibility of such a reality -- and would I want this anyway? -- thanks to our heterosexist, "there is no separation between church and state" society...) and a mom (or co-mom, despite Idahoian laws which cannot even imagine this possible), I feel responsible to linger no longer in mere domestic bliss, but consider things at a slightly deeper level. While colorful photos of our celebration of love and of Henry in all his glory are probably more fun to see (Verdad, Victoria?), there are some "inconvenient truths" that warrant a moment of my attention.
This weekend I had the opportunity to see two noteworthy films which raised my ire and gave me the proverbial kick in the pants needed to "wake up!" The first, An Inconvenient Truth, is a marvelous documentary about Al Gore's commitment to and actions taken toward educating people around the world about global warming and its devastating impact. The film grounds itself in scientific research and fait de compli conclusions about the rise of CO2 gases and their "without a doubt" destruction of our environment as we know it today. Glacial melt, life-threatening drought, Katrina-like hurricanes...all caused by the greenhouse effect causing the earth's atmospheric temperatures to rise. The message is clear: If we all as a global community do not take action TODAY to decrease the amount of emissions and waste that are clogging the atmosphere, there may not be a clean, sustainable planet in the future for our children.
Action -- Al challenges each one of us not to relinquish responsibility because the problem is TOO BIG! On the contrary, he asks each person to act locally, to do his/her part in changing the sweeping tide of destruction. Ten things we all can do to assist in this cause:
1. Change lights to compact flourescent light bulbs
2. Drive less
3. Recycle more
4. Make sure your tire pressure is adequate
5. Use less hot water
6. Avoid buying items with a lot of packaging
7. Adjust your thermostat
8. Plant trees
9. Turn off electronics
10. Spread the word
How about it folks? We can all make a difference! Commit to at least 3 of these actions and feel good about creating a better place for everyone to live.
Wanna learn more about this movie and what you can do to make a difference? Go to www.climatecrisis.net
Film number two: Iraq for Sale - the most recent MoveOn.org film. This is a damning look at the profiteering taking place in the US war on Iraq. Haliburton takes the brunt of the criticism (and why shouldn't they?), but other US corporations are also indicted. The waste and dishonesty -- the pilfering of our tax dollars...I was soooo infuriated watching this film! There are horrific scenes about the Abu Ghraib prison tortures executed by civilian contractors; unbeliveable stories about Haliburton's civilian truck drivers leaving their families to "better themselves" by going overseas to work only to be ambushed (without any protection) and then dragged, mutilated and killed (Haliburton officials could only "offer their deepest condolences" to the families of these men, all the while continuing to earn millions of dollars in salary in their comfy chairs back home); disarming tales of soldiers being given contaminated water that was sold to the military as "treated," yet turned out not be... Yes, this film exposes the underbelly of war and corporate greed, Bush and his complicity and Cheney and Rumsfield as we know them best -- immoral, unethical liars and profiteers. More on this film, go to www.iraqforsale.org
The upside of the weekend was the few hours spent volunteering for MoveOn.org making calls to voters in Pennsylvania trying to persuade them to vote against Rick Santorum for Senate...hard to believe this guy has such a strong following -- just goes to show you that Government is not for the brightest bulbs in the box nor is Democracy really about "equality and justice for all," but you all knew that...
My two cents for tonight:
1. Get out and vote.
2. Get clear about your commitments to stop the destruction of the environment.
3. LOVE a lot, 'cuz we need a "force more powerful" to counteract the absolutely vulgar hatred and violence that exist in our world today.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
A Ceremony in Stages
What can you say about 3 days of festivities with friends and family but...
WOW!
We enjoyed every moment, from the evening at the CWC Wine Bar, to our ceremony at the house, to a wild reception at Oden Hall! So much positive energy, color and delight.
We are so grateful everyone could come and enjoy!
Here are some photos from Friday night at the Wine Bar:
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Ceremonial Considerations
What a most wonderful weekend! Shannon and I celebrated our life commitment to each other with over 125 of our dear friends and family. The energy and magic of every moment was, simply put, perfect! We feel so honored to have been surrounded by such magnitude of love and generosity of spirit.
Several people have asked me to post the readings which were selected to be included in the ceremony; here they are:
From Blossoms by Li-Young Lee
From blossoms
comesthis brown paper bag of peaches
we bought from the boy
at the bend in the road where we turned towardsigns painted Peaches.
From laden boughs, from hands
from sweet fellowship in the bins,
comes nectar at the roadside, succulent
peaches we devour, dusty skin and all,
comes the familiar dust of summer, dust we eat.
O, to take what we love inside,
to carry within us an orchard, to eat
not only the skin, but the shade,
not only the sugar, but the days, to hold
the fruit in our hands, adore it, then bite into
the round jubilance of peach.
There are days we live
as if death were nowhere
in the background; from joy
to joy to joy, from wing to wing,
from blossom to blossom to
impossible blossom, to sweet impossible blossom.
Soneto XVII -- Pablo Neruda
No te amo como si fueras rosa de sal, topacio o flecha de claveles que propagan el fuego: te amo como se aman ciertas cosas oscuras, secretamente, entre la sombra y el alma. Te amo como la planta que no florece y lleva dentro de sí, escondida, la luz de aquellas flores, y gracias a tu amor vive oscuro en mi cuerpo el apretado aroma que ascendió de la tierra. Te amo sin saber cómo, ni cuándo, ni de dónde, te amo directamente sin problemas ni orgullo: así te amo porque no sé amar de otra manera, sino así de este modo en que no soy ni eres, tan cerca que tu mano sobre mi pecho es mía, tan cerca que se cierran tus ojos con mi sueño.
On Marriage – Khalil Gibran
Then Almitra spoke again and said, "And what of Marriage, master?"
And he answered saying:
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.
MARRIAGE BLESSING – Jalil al-Din Rumi
May these vows and this marriage be blessed.
May this marriage be delicious milk,
like wine and halvah.
May it offer fruit and shade,
like the date palm.
May this marriage be full of laughter,
making every day a day in Paradise.
May this marriage be a token of compassion,
a seal of joy now and for every more.
May this marriage have a gracious face and a good name,
an omen as welcome
as the moon in a clear daylight sky.
I have run out of words to describe
how spirit mingles in this marriage.
Several people have asked me to post the readings which were selected to be included in the ceremony; here they are:
From Blossoms by Li-Young Lee
From blossoms
comesthis brown paper bag of peaches
we bought from the boy
at the bend in the road where we turned towardsigns painted Peaches.
From laden boughs, from hands
from sweet fellowship in the bins,
comes nectar at the roadside, succulent
peaches we devour, dusty skin and all,
comes the familiar dust of summer, dust we eat.
O, to take what we love inside,
to carry within us an orchard, to eat
not only the skin, but the shade,
not only the sugar, but the days, to hold
the fruit in our hands, adore it, then bite into
the round jubilance of peach.
There are days we live
as if death were nowhere
in the background; from joy
to joy to joy, from wing to wing,
from blossom to blossom to
impossible blossom, to sweet impossible blossom.
Soneto XVII -- Pablo Neruda
No te amo como si fueras rosa de sal, topacio o flecha de claveles que propagan el fuego: te amo como se aman ciertas cosas oscuras, secretamente, entre la sombra y el alma. Te amo como la planta que no florece y lleva dentro de sí, escondida, la luz de aquellas flores, y gracias a tu amor vive oscuro en mi cuerpo el apretado aroma que ascendió de la tierra. Te amo sin saber cómo, ni cuándo, ni de dónde, te amo directamente sin problemas ni orgullo: así te amo porque no sé amar de otra manera, sino así de este modo en que no soy ni eres, tan cerca que tu mano sobre mi pecho es mía, tan cerca que se cierran tus ojos con mi sueño.
On Marriage – Khalil Gibran
Then Almitra spoke again and said, "And what of Marriage, master?"
And he answered saying:
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.
MARRIAGE BLESSING – Jalil al-Din Rumi
May these vows and this marriage be blessed.
May this marriage be delicious milk,
like wine and halvah.
May it offer fruit and shade,
like the date palm.
May this marriage be full of laughter,
making every day a day in Paradise.
May this marriage be a token of compassion,
a seal of joy now and for every more.
May this marriage have a gracious face and a good name,
an omen as welcome
as the moon in a clear daylight sky.
I have run out of words to describe
how spirit mingles in this marriage.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Yom Kippur Considerations
Yom Kippur Blog Consierations...my 21st century means of Repentance and Atonement here in Northern Idaho, where one cannot find a good bagel, to say nothing of a rabbi or a synangogue. So, it is me and Henry this morning, awaking to a cooler than usual Fall day -- a nice filtered light coming through the trees and a quiet throughout the house. Hen is resting peacefully after our bath together and I have space to consider this day, the holiest of the Jewish year.
It is said that repentence is a prerequisite to atonement; so I find myself in reflection today on ways I desire to live a better life. It was just this time last year that Henry was conceived. During the drama at the start of his life, I turned toward prayer for the first time since lying in a hospital bed in Nicaragua and bekoned that "all would be resolved; " and so it was. Since Henry has arrived, in all his perfection, I have neglected to adequately take time to express gratitude...instead, I have quickly moved on to motherhood, maternity leave, house chores, etc.
So, this morning, I settle into the temple of Henry's skin and breath. I take time to honor the miracle of his arrival and the deep, deep gratitude I feel having him in our lives. They say if one is to pray at all, prayers should not only be requests of the Universe...indeed. Today I atone for my transgression of forgetting and say to the energies which surround us -- Thank you ~ You have brought joy to my life beyond what I could have ever imagined.
It is said that repentence is a prerequisite to atonement; so I find myself in reflection today on ways I desire to live a better life. It was just this time last year that Henry was conceived. During the drama at the start of his life, I turned toward prayer for the first time since lying in a hospital bed in Nicaragua and bekoned that "all would be resolved; " and so it was. Since Henry has arrived, in all his perfection, I have neglected to adequately take time to express gratitude...instead, I have quickly moved on to motherhood, maternity leave, house chores, etc.
So, this morning, I settle into the temple of Henry's skin and breath. I take time to honor the miracle of his arrival and the deep, deep gratitude I feel having him in our lives. They say if one is to pray at all, prayers should not only be requests of the Universe...indeed. Today I atone for my transgression of forgetting and say to the energies which surround us -- Thank you ~ You have brought joy to my life beyond what I could have ever imagined.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
