The heft of it in my hand was surprising.  I had heard about The Werewolf Tooth for several weeks leading up to this moment of it resting in my hand.  When the discovery of it  had first been described to me, I envisioned a large and aged canine tooth. But the reality of it was more jagged molar. The business part of the thing looking like a topographical map of a distant alien world  in the far reaches of space or at the bottom of Earth's oceans. The part imagined to be the incisor- actually the root of the tooth.  The color was a storm gray basalt.  The surface smooth like a wind formed ice pond.
     The tribe of four year olds all knew the myth of the tooth. It had been excavated in the back yard of the school one late fall afternoon and was immediately recognized for the treasure that it was.  As luck would have it right after Thanksgiving, my wife and I had visited the surprisingly bustling International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, so I too, was savvy to the value of this great discovery.  Forty five years separate me from my daughter and her classmates, but the wonder and excitement, vision and creativity of the unknown knows no age limits-if we are lucky.

By No Means an Exhaustive List of Things that Make 2013 Hopeful

A lot of people make lists of "The Best of..." at the turn of the year.  I've decided to try to take a  more optimistic look ahead and name some things that presently lead me to feel hopeful for 2013.

• The Apocalypse didn't happen (OK, I guess that one is a little bit retrospective)
• Politically- Obama, Hillary, and Jimmy Carter and the Council of Elders
• My discovery, thanks to an election day purchase by my loved one,  of Crown Royal Black
• Early detection
• Senior Basketball (aka geezer ball)
• Old dogs getting second winds
• People's professional generosity and willingness to share what they know and have experienced
• Finding Bigfoot (Animal Planet)
• fireplace inserts
• Marriage Equality

... to be continued...

The Truth?

In response to The Truthers who assert the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax staged by our government in order to emotionally rile up the American public against gun violence- which in and of itself is shameful and deplorable and does not inspire me to encourage these people to have any weapon, let alone a gun of any kind-I suggest the NRA and gun industry has gained the most from this tragedy to date.  Consider the political ramifications for a Democratic president who is gaining popularity.  More importantly, witness the increase in gun sales in the days and weeks following the shootings (also shameful and deplorable).  The only truth that seems evident to me is a lot of people are more concerned with putting their self-interests and greed ahead of common sense, the welfare of their communities and ultimately their own families.

Why I Love the Unitarians

On Sunday, I took Maisie to see the Pageant of the Nativity at The First Parish Unitarian Universalist church in Portland.

Here is some of what the back of the program states: (I have highlighted the parts that spoke the deepest to me)

UU is a liberal religion with Jewish-Christian roots.  It has no creed.  It affirms the worth of all human beings and advocates freedom of belief and the search for advancing truth.

UU thought eagerly embraces the positive truths expressed by the great religions of the world.  Tonight's Pageant celebrates this inclusiveness not only by honoring the birth of Jesus, but also by underscoring the meeting of East and West in the presence of the symbolic Spirit of Goodwill.  It is our hope you will find in the presentation not only a celebration of the birth of one of history's great prophets, but also an expression of the true spirit of goodwill among all peoples. May you also sense the importance of the birth of yourself.  Just as candles lit the way for the apostles and disciples of old, when you light a candle at home, may you be reminded that the Light of the World exists not only in Jesus and the other prophets of old, but also in each of us.


The mission of the church is to nurture the spirit, serve the community, and help to heal the world.

Gun Control Begins at Home

There has been a great deal written and spoken lately regarding the need and battle for tighter gun control.  It appears (hopefully and blessedly so) that this latest and most inhumane mass murder/shooting has tipped the general populace into action.  People like myself, who had no (apparent) stake in the argument are now awakening to the reality of firepower available to the average Joe citizen. This latest atrocity has even managed to shake some long-time gun proponents who are now  vocal advocates of tightening things up. I was pretty laizez-faire regarding gun ownership. I don't own one (except a Daisy BB gun given to me as a gift) and don't desire to possess one.  I have shot rifles and hand guns but am far from an enthusiast.  I have never killed another living, sentient being with gun power. However, I am sickened by pro-firearm folk who trivialize and minimize and blame the victim with their blanket Neanderthal-like responses to the outrage and yes, reactionary (I would rather be reactionary to something of this magnitude, than numb or indifferent) voices. The pro gun agenda retorts: guns don't kill people, people kill people; if they had had a gun they could have defended themselves; the media sensationalizes the ammunition, the gun, etc.; I have a /an [ insert type of gun] and I don't go around killing people, it's my constitutional right...I challenge anyone who thinks these arguments are still legit and moral to look into the eyes of the parents of the children murdered and the spouses and children of the adults killed and voice this drivel.

It has been asked WHY would anyone need these types of weapons? Yet, a day after this latest killing spree gun retailers are reporting their strongest sales ever for the type of weapons that were used to kill women and children in a public school in a New England town during the Christmas season.

The question begs to be asked again...why?  Why do Americans feel they need the biggest, the best, the most powerful, the fastest, nastiest? Ego and self-worth? Because we are afraid?  Because we can? It is all a house of cards.

These things don't come cheap either.  Imagine all the good that could be done with that money...food for your community, heat for your neighbors, support for the environment, health care. If you want to keep the money in your own pocket take a trip, a class...anything but perpetuate a lifestyle of violence and selfish indignation.

  I used to sell cars a decade ago. A common stipulation from customers often would be "I don't want automatic windows". I would ask why and the response always came back "In case I end up in the water I want to be able to get out."  Really?  How often has that happened to you? Maybe you should take a driving class or a different route...which leads me to my point. Next time you feel yourself wanting to thump your chest and proclaim your right to possess that which is the biggest and the best and can deliver a can of whoop ass to whomever, ask yourself why?.

There's an old familiar feel to the air tonight-actually all day it has been there.  The sky is different, the leaves or lack thereof is shifted...the air, everything screams late November.  When I suggest it is an old feeling, I mean old.  Ancient, in the bones memory that is pre-verbal and primordial.  It has always been this way for me.  Winter, cold, chill, ice, Earth standing hard as iron and water like a stone-these are the things that simultaneously ground me and fill me with elation.

I have been subsurface giddy all day looking at my weather icon on my iphone showing snow for two days next week. On the flip side of that coin is my less subdued anxiety and agitation when we do get some of the white stuff and it is pummeled by rain or mixes with freezing rain before the blanketing is completed.

For someone like me, the effects of global warming robs us of our innate nature. I identify with the polar bear, among other Artic dreamers who find themselves cut off from their spiritual succor. (Although I am aware for Polar Bear it is a matter of physical life and death-and ultimately ours as well, no matter what the nay-sayers may state.)

Ullr hear our prayers.

News

Two new things added to PAGES: INSPIRATIONS and a new group offering in TALK.

Inspirations will catalog place, groups, events, writing people who inspire me.

TALK is taking shape with my commitment to offering sustainable personal development consultation.  What does this mean? It means coaching people to make changes they desire in their lives and relationships that are in line with their economic, social, and environmental values so that change and growth can be attained and maintained.  This coaching will be priced sustainably i.e. affordable. Hopefully, making it available to more people.

Individual and telephone sessions: $50 /hour; $75/ hour and one-half

Groups: $200/4 sessions/ 6 people limit




Please check these out  and share with your friends, families and colleagues.