Monday, August 20, 2012

Entry 46: Zinnias Popping Sunset Yellow, Military Dogs and Accepting Apologies Without Forgiveness

Dear All:

Thank heaven for late summer. The season's sunlight continued and and so did the rainfall cocktails! Everyone is happy! We were so lucky to have cruised to Block Island, RI (The Hopeful Universe), Edgarstown, MA (A US Wildlife Preserve) and Montauk, NY (The Surf Party) this year. The garden is delighted by the zinnias' popping sunset yellow, blue velvet purple and stunning ruby red. August's golden spectacular and illumination have given us the summer of a lifetime!

The migration is lighting up the backyard. The variety of birds' whistling at dawn and ringing at sunset, brings the clatter to its purest calling. As the nests beep with newborns and the Blue Jays cry to their own songs, I bow to their promise, just outside the window. 

Tweet(s)
  1.  Thank heaven for late summer (8/21/12).
  2. Where the bird's songs illuminate us, there is light (8/21/12). 
As the late summer gets its "sunset" on, I am confused by the lack of resolution with the US-Afghanistan war. I follow Kevin Hanrahan's blog on military dogs and their cooperation, which seems to be providing a ray of hope in some desperate chaos, fighting the --fucking Taliban.

"Kevin Hanrahan is the author of the novel in manuscript, Paws on the Ground. Paws on the Ground is a novel about US Soldiers and the dogs that protect them in the treacherous and alien terrain of of Afghanistan. The novel is based on Hanrahan's twenty years of Army service, his experience as a company commander in Iraq, his experiences as a company commander in Iraq and as the Deputy Provost Marshal (what?) for US forces in Afghanistan. While in Afghanistan, Hanrahan was instrumental in spearheading the surge of dogs in Afghanistan and lobbies the Army to adopt an innovating and life saving explosive detecting dog program."--Kevin @Hanrahan.com. God save the soldiers and their "best friends" during this savagely difficult time.

As the Zinnias cocktail in the garden, I am surprised how we accept apologies, but without forgiveness. It is such a nutty ego thing! If we are without forgiveness, and we can not let go, what does it say about us? Do we like to be in a state of continual resentment? Is that how we get our rocks off? If I am open to forgiving everybody for everything (in particular wrong doings towards me), 1) I am letting go  2) I am free of my ego (yahoo) 3) I am genuine 4) I am focused on loving others 5) I am losing my self importance (oh god, that again) 6) I have transcended to a higher level 7) I am not attaching to others unfavorable actions 8) I am focused on myself) 9) I am not being passive aggressive and 10) I am sincere. A forgiving path is a bright path, that way we are "for real", right?

Tweet(s)
  1. Forgiveness set me free today!
  2. How did forgiveness save you from yourself today?
If we can celebrate to the golden flowers today, and awaken to all soldiers, their beloved dogs and their questionable reality at this time, while examining the destructive ways of our infantile ego, then nothing can go that wrong right? 

Let's pray for the soldiers, children and animals who need our determined and fierce protection at all times.

Sincerely,
Kristen


8 comments:

  1. Krissy! I love your descriptions of the flowers and the birds and the feelings you get from experiencing them. It is what keeps us going and makes our days a little brighter and more hopeful, right?

    I love the military dogs and the soldiers who partner with them and love them with all their might. What better companion is there for these brave knights who fight for our freedom while they are away from their own families and country? These dogs are special creatures on this earth and they serve with courage and fierce loyalty.

    Forgiveness is freeing and I have some forgiving to work on myself. I still struggle with it sometimes and I see how forgiving our animals are - how easy it comes to them - and hope that some of their pure spirit will seep into my soul.

    Thank you, as always, for the reminders of the things I need to work on to get over myself.

    Love to you.
    xo Lizzie

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Liz
    Thank you for your very thoughtful comments on this posting. I so appreciate it.

    Yup gotta love the backyard while keeping our planet on target for peace and no poverty.

    And the apologies without forgiveness? I am still shaking my head how this happens at all, I mean where is our sincerity? Where does insincerity take us - really? No where, perhaps?
    Oh boy I am just going to get over myself and fire my ego every step of the way and then I can tolerate myself better.
    Love ya honey and thanks so much. You are a delight to see each time.

    Love
    Kristen
    PS Keep the positive energy coming.

    ReplyDelete
  3. . Wed, Aug 22, 2012 at 9:34 AM
    To: bradyshaw@gmail.com
    Reply | Reply to all | Forward | Print | Delete | Show original
    Another good job. Your Zinnia's are absolutely stupendous this year!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Ab
    Thanks for hopping into the party.

    And at the zinnias thank you for the compliment as they toast to a summer fantastic time!

    Love ya
    Kristen

    PS Keep the positive energy coming.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Kris,
    How did I get so behind on your blog? What a whirlwind this summer has been. To think I sat on your couch with you and Ab just before you set sail on your dreamy trip. The story of the soldier and the military dogs, it breaks my heart just thinking about it. You're brave to follow it. The birds and the flowers give me hope. Happy September. xo

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  6. Hey, Kristen,

    I'm so glad to see that you've found Kevin Hanrahan and his great website about the military working dogs. He's also written a great novel about these dogs and their handlers--it's a really exciting and uplifting story and recognizes the heroism of both the soldiers and their great dogs.

    I love that you paired them with zinnias--tough, beautiful, glorious flowers.

    Ginger

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  7. Hi Sue:

    Oh girl it is always an honor to see you here. Oh this blog is amazing. He is a hell of a good writer with a distinct mission in life and in his heart.

    I suppose I am a little bit brave to follow him, but if that is the least I can do for this fucking war - then I am going to have at it.

    I put your lovely poetry on the last post and on twitter (I hope you do not mind dear beautiful writer of a friend), The birds and flower give me hope. I love that.

    It was a moment in time to sit on the couch with you and Ab that late July afternoon and evening. Thanks for making the time I know it is not easy to come back east some times.

    Love you til the cows come home. You are always in my heart.

    Kris

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dear Ginger:

    Thank you for introducing me to Military Dogs. To follow this writers words and live it with him is the very least that I can do to support this brutally devestating war.

    Let's pray for the soldiers and animals who need our fierce and determined protection at all times.

    How about that party in the garden too! Those Zinnias and their attitude! Ha Ha.

    Kristen

    ReplyDelete