The world is a book, and those who do not travel
read only one page. … St. Augustine

• 

If you are more fortunate than others, build a longer table
… not a taller fence.

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!

This chili con queso dip was a staple at every party my parent’s had when we were growing up. It was always a crowd favorite. I haven’t made it in years, but decided it would be the perfect pandemic super bowl snack (no big party, just my sisters and I outside socially distanced)

2-3 TBS canola or vegetable oil
2 medium onions, chopped
2 TBS flour
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup sour cream
two-4 ounce jars diced pimientos
one-7 ounce can diced green chiles
6 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated

I use a large cast iron pan to make mine because it has deep sides. Heat the oil and add the onions. Cook, stirring until soft. Blend in the flour. Gradually add the broth and then the sour cream. Heat until bubbling and slightly thickened. Stir in the chiles and pimientos. Gradually add the cheese until melted.

I like to transfer it to an electric fondue pot and heat on low the day of the party. Back in the day, before “double dipping” became a no-no, people would just stand around the bowl and dip in together (which probably was not a good idea!) … but being covid safe, and let’s face it, more hygienic, I’ll have small bowls for everyone.

That’s it! Serve with some nice salty tortilla chips and voilà you have a party favorite!

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!

“We are responsible for our own ignorance or, with time and open-hearted enlightenment, our own wisdom.” … from the book Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
(It should be required reading in every high school! You should read it too! So Powerful!)

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!

2021 shout out!… you’re not starting out as hopeful as we’d envisioned!

… but we make the choice to move on and adjust our sails …

“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for
an extraordinary destiny” … C.S. Lewis

ps … today would have been my mom’s 91st birthday & she was awesome

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!

“If you can’t fly, then run,
if you can’t run, then walk,
if you can’t walk, then crawl,
but whatever you do,
you have to keep moving forward.” … MLK Jr

“Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that” … MLK Jr

(hoping this week’s events are peaceful … and an example to the world that there is only one ‘race’ – the human race)

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!

I get this weekly “Sunday Paper” from Maria Shriver in my inbox, that I’d highly recommend you subscribe to (thanks, Sharon, for the rec). A week ago we were hopeful for 2021, with the vaccine on the horizon, and just putting 2020 behind us. ….Then the attack on the Capitol happened and it shook our country.

Here’s an excerpt from today’s Sunday Paper that made me hopeful again … Thank you Maria …

“Many years ago, a friend gave me advice that I’ve never forgotten. He said to me, Maria, don’t let your story be about the sad, heartbreaking things that have happened in your life. Make that a chapter, as it is part of your story, but don’t think of it as your whole story. The whole story—the one that will make you proud—will be about how you kept growing and kept trying. It will be about how you found your way to what you call ‘the open field.‘

Don’t ever allow your life story to end up in the tragedy section, he continued. Keep it going and growing. Make sure it ends up in the heroine’s section!

Good advice, right?

And so, my friends, in this new year I say to you what my friend said to me: Make sure your story is one of triumph.”

BOOM! Mic drop … Happy Monday!

So let’s remain HOPEFUL, in spite of this past week’s tragedy. At the end of the day, all you need is hope and strength … hope that it will get better and strength until it does.

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!

Let’s face it, 2020 has been quite the cluster-F$%#K!! For some, 2020 has been a seemingly never-ending stream of heartache (acknowledging and sympathizing with the extreme loss of life and livelihoods that has been tragic for our country and the world), not to mention the unbelievable political climate we have weathered. … but what if we took a moment to recognize some positive things that might come out of it (ever the glass-half-full optimist).

I hope the world has, collectively, learned to slow down, to remember what’s truly important, to appreciate simpler things, to live with gratitude, and to cherish the gift of family and friends.

Here, is my glass-half-full scenario … some positive things I’ve contemplated this past year

• we learned how to make bread, pasta and cook … further nourishing the idea of the family and friends gathered around the table
• reading, puzzles, and knitting are really relaxing, fulfilling activities
• working from home started out as a WHAT???, awkward, thing and became an “I can do this … at least part time”
• TEACHERS NEED TO BE PAID MORE!
• kids are happy that they get to spend more time with their parents … even if parents are less than enthusiastic about that extra time
• zoom was so weird in March … and then it became a way to connect with friends & family … and learn new skills
• we did not give up! we persevered, we reinvented ourselves, we realized our resilience
• it made us recognize “Black Lives Matter” and “White Privilege,” which may not have been the case in another “normal” year. This was big for humanity.
• wedding and birthday “CELEBRATIONS” were postponed, but people still got married, babies were born, we had birthdays and marked milestones with drive-byes, snail mail, and other smaller, but more meaningful, commemorations of life events. If nothing else, we were creative.

I’m actually fascinated to see what the sociological repercussions of this year will show in, say, ten years. What will this time teach us?

A final note … I found this about a month ago on the internet and listen to it every few days or so, along with my daily meditation practice. What an energizing way to start your day!! (okay, I sound a little wooo-wooo, but it really helps … try it!)

2021, WE WELCOME YOU WITH HOPE AND POSSIBILITES!

PS…on a personal note, I’m happy & grateful to be 60 today! …
and celebrate my birthday with Jude, age 3!

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!

The vaccine is coming, there’s a new resident coming to the White House …
a few hopeful thoughts

When everything feels like an uphill struggle,
just think of the view from the top!

We didn’t come this far to only come this far!

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!

“So often in life things that you regard as an impediment
turn out to be great good fortune”… Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Here’s an interesting article from the NYTimes about habits & expectations during this pandemic time.

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!