Up at 6a this morning - and these days, most mornings. I quit "sleeping in" a few years ago when I noticed I was still getting old - don't want to miss anything.

It was dark of course, but not black. The sunrise was only about an hour away and no moon out on our half of the sky.

The weather has been a bit warmer in spurts now and I have a few open windows thru the night.

My morning meditation began in silence until, coming in one of those open windows, I heard bird #1 (a titmouse) wake up and sing. This apparently woke her neighbor (a cardinal) who also began her song so now we have a 2 part polyphony going.

Not for long. As I tried to listen without thinking, another songster joined in, then another. Ad finitum (there’s only so many of them right?).

In about 5 minutes we went from dark silence to a full tilt traffic jam of morning flappers singing in the sunrise.

Now strangely, they became relatively quiet after about 20 minutes. Down to a few random chirps & whistles - like normal day activity. Finished their mass greeting, morning prayers, neighborly griping or whatever they do do. I wonder what morning sounded like when they were dinosaurs.








I took the hint and hustled the sunflower seed & deer nuggets out into the yard for the morning meal. Then went in and made my own. There are still some Dogwood blossoms out my kitchen window like a Japanese woodcut.

We're solid in the Spring groove now. Last time I wrote, the first early ground bloomers were hard at it. Now everybody is busy - it's like a racetrack announcer, "It's Bluet & Grape Hyacinth neck & neck with Forsythia close behind, Yellow Dandelion is coming on strrrrrong & Holly bloom is keeping right up. Oxalis is looking to break out and....at the back of the pack its Mush-roooooom." Big Fun.

On the way back from work, I saw a whole field of white Dandelions before the wind hits. What fantastic geometric constructions they are with that mysterious protected center space - fascinating.

The bloomin trees have bloomed and begun to green up. I noticed the other day while driving that about 40 shades of green were out in that same candy jar configuration as the brilliant fall colors. Exact same routine only subtler and in multiple shades.

At Winter’s End trees are just sticks with flowers. A nifty sight. Then as the blooms fade the tiny leaves come in and the "sticks" begin to shape up into light green ghosty round tree shapes with both leaves & flowers. It is neat to watch the far mountains go from gray to pink to green.

Well, they're all still gorgeous after almost a month of flowering and that activity has brought out the 6-leggers in force. I love them bees, etc.

There's one particular Holly bush very near where I park my car at work that is blooming riotously and there are about 50 6-leggers working the tiny flowers all day. I spot honey bees.

So glad to see them - we've had a few previous years I didn't see many and that got me a little worried. I like to eat.



There's also a larger model "honey bee" (same shape & color as the smaller ones) and a flock of bumpy bumblebees. They all go about their busi-ness in total focus & concentration.

The honey types don't even see each other but the bumbles try to avoid the smaller flyers. I hear that little zzzzzztt and the bumble I was watching backs off from a tiny honey bee until she's done, then moves back in to work. Fascinating.

I used to be scared silly of anything with a stinger. Still very respectful of the more aggressive/protective hornets but the working class gals are no threat.

My baby sister (just turned 60) had a serious bee phobia (no allergies) and I remember when a honey bee got in the house once, she flipped out running down the driveway yelling "He’s got me! He’s got me!" That was age 13. I’m sure she’s better now.

Back home I have 4 hummingbird feeders on a string across the side of my deck. The ants haven't found em yet but I have seen 2 different hummers feeding. What Winter? I've forgotten already!

This has been going on for a few days now that it is relatively warm. So good to see. Good change.

We've all heard that change is the only guarantee. Sure looks that way. I like to make the best of it or leave it alone and maybe see it is good.

Sometimes that is not so easy.
I lost my preacher a few weeks ago.

Now, to be a little less colorful, I didn't lose him - he retired and he wasn't so much a preacher as the guy who talks at the chapel I attend.

I fell into this lovely place about 4 years ago. The acapella group I'm with sang a service there way back then and the vibe was so fine and the location so beautiful I just had to stick around.

After a few Sundays listening to this man speak, I realized a very good "fit" to what I was already doing spiritually.

I had been looking for that fit since 1985 when I moved to NC.

During the last few years I gradually became a bit more involved with the chapel and the other regulars. The message was always essentially the same - drop the personal BS & wake up to your Divinity (Namaste').

One accomplishes this by doing (not so much talking, reading, wishing etc.). The main "do" is meditation practice which segues into the practical real power of prayer. The "Fillmores" (Unity founders) became acutely aware of that energy which is the basis of their teachings.

Many times our speaker would finish his talk with the words "You can do this."

On his last presentation (Easter Sunday) he re-read one of his previous talks and at the end, reminded us we each have a cellphone with a timer. I took the hint and set mine for every two hours.

During the day, every two hours, my pocket rings and reminds me to be - myself, grateful, to try & remember & re-feel the absolute truth of our mysterious divinity. I think it is accumulating. Life feels generally better.

There’s a strange side to this. I’ve been doing it for a few weeks and come to look backwards at my life in 2 hour chunks. There ain’t that many of them. This is developing into something.

That old depression may be lurking behind the fence as a timely balance but I don't think it has the staying power it used to. This may be real progress.

And my beloved speaker leaving, could have been the act that put me in motion. Gotta bless it since we don't know.



I had a wonder-full time this weekend playing Rock & Roll. I can't believe I'm still doing this but I do it because I am able to (and I'm finally getting the hang of it).

We had some kids on the floor every dance last Friday night. They were a family bunch - the oldest was a girl @ 10, two younger boys and a just-post toddler in a white print shoulder strap dress.

She was fantastic. Too young for her knees to work, she did a stiff legged stubby run to the dance floor and she danced by jumping up & down. What Spirit this girl has - her wide eyed face showed total immersion in the music. She danced until her chubby little arms & face were flushed red.

We took a short rest and when we came back, she was the first one to break from the family table and stubby-run to the dance floor.

Alas, the tiny body can hold only so much energy. Her spirit was way more than willing to dance forever. Second song, second set, mid dance - one of her ups came down and so did she.

Crumpled slo-mo to the floor, she landed with her head on her arm and not quite snoring.

Her sibs carried my hero back. I bet she slept well that night and maybe dreamed of spinning notes.

An old fan sent in an old photo.

The Band is RockFish Railroad, the place is The Market Place in Vero Beach Fl.
I'm guessing @ 1977.




On the far left, I'm still playing that same Fender guitar and the new Peavy Amp in the foreground is now an old Peavy amp but still running my monitors.





It is lotsa fun. More later.
Keep Springing Happy!
Big Love to All