Saturday, November 21, 2015

THE INEVITABLE EDIBLES

Mmm, Thanksgiving's coming!
I'm off for a week 
Going to San Antonio, Texas…
Visiting my daughter and grandson.
YAY!
AND…
My other daughter is flying in from Ohio…
With two more grandkids in tow.
YAY!
Lots to be thankful for this year.
So tell me…
Anything in your life now…
That you are particularly thankful for? 
Did you get published?
Land an agent?
Finish a manuscript?
Start a new manuscript?
Fall in love?
Got rid of baggage in your life?
And about over-eating on turkey day
Go ahead…
Eat that second piece of pie!
Life is too short 
To deny yourself a little bit of pleasure. 
Love, blessings 
And good digestion to all!

Always,

Em-Musing

Thursday, November 19, 2015

DEAR JOHN!

I am writing to inform you…
Our relationship lately has been strained…
I don’t trust…
That you care about my needs…
Therefore…
I am taking matters into my own hands…
And seeking out any government….
Organization, profit or non…
Or any entity in the universe…
Who wants to “take over” something…
Please! “Take over” BATHROOMS!
Standardize them!
Having traveled through parts of…
Europe, Asia and Mexico…
And used countless bathrooms, toilettes…
Śaucālaya, banos, H̄̂xngn̂ả, and W.C.’s
Let me state for the record…
UGH! EEEWW! and PEEUUU!!!
(of course not all, especially Mexico'sthey’re clean but tiny)
Each time I have to use a public bathroom
It feels like I'm entering an altered state of 
Bodily function consciousness
My reality shifts and my senses cry outWHY? 
So I've made a list of 
MUST-DO’s for the LOO:
1) There will always be a toilet…
   With a seat…
   No hole in the ground!
   Toilets must flush!
2) Toilet paper in every stall
   That comes off without clawing
   And can be reached without gyrations or acrobatics!
3) Stalls that an adult from all countries can fit into!
4) Doors! That shut! Preferably with a lock!
5) Soap! lots and lots of soap!
6) Running water!
7) A way to dry hands besides room air! 
8) Industrial strength room deodorizers! 
9  And no unknown substances on the floor!
But until that time…
I will take matters in my own hands…
And always have handy…
A stash tissues…
A scarf to cover my nose, if need be…
And at the very least…
I will always 
LOOK before I sit…
Because my butt, senses, and sanity…
Deserve it.
So? Anyone else out there share my angst?
Have anything to add to my list?
And guys? 
You probably have no idea what I'm talking about. 

Always,
Em-Musing

P.S. I love my family’s sense of humor.  My
cousin, Susan Kott, a photographer in Philly
actually has a book on bathrooms called, IN THE CAN.
It's a photographic journey of the good, the bad, and the ugly.












You can check it out here: 




Tuesday, November 17, 2015

TOLD STORY - UNTOLD

On my road trip across Mexico…
I couldn’t wait to visit ruins of the Toltec.  
My first stop was Tula in the state of Hidalgo.









































I was fortunate to get a guide named Agustin...
Who not only is Toltec but spoke English.
Being a writer and curious...
I asked lots of questions...
He said he liked that I was interested…
Saying hardly any tourists are that curious…
And so I believe he trusted me…
And that's why he shared aToltec story…
One that has been passed down orally
For centuries.
He asked me not to share it
Because the Toltecs don’t want outsiders to know.
I was honored that he shared…
Unfortunately…
I am compelled to honor his request…
And not share it with you here.
I know, AWWWW!
BUT!
I can share another story.
Agustin and I were in an area of the ruins…
Where there were depictions…  
Of naguals, or spiritual companions.
(although there are darker meanings)

Just then, an incident popped up in my head.
"Augustin? Would you me to tell you a story?" 
He smiled and nodded.
“One night, soon after my fiancé passed away…
I prayed for protection, as I live alone in the jungle
And there had been robberies in the area.
I wasn’t sure though…
What protection would be or how it would look.
Around 3 am, I woke up…
Hearing something walking outside.
I got up, and stealthy looked out windows.
Nada.
When I went back into my bedroom…
There, on the patio…
Were a dog and a kitten sitting and staring in at me.
I was startled to say the least.
After a while, the dog and cat touched noses…
And the dog took off as if to say…
“You’ll be OK now.”
Well, the cat stayed all night…
And in the morning…
Figured out how to open my screen patio door…
To get inside to my home.  

Indie has been with me ever since.
A few months later…
I told this incident to a neighbor.
“What color was the cat?” she asked me.
“Black,” I said.
“Oh, WOW!
You received the Maya Cross for protection.
The dog is guardian of home and property…
And the black cat (usually a jaguar)…
Is protector of the underworld.”

Agustin smiled at me and said…
“Your cat is your nagual, your protector.
"Although the Mayas and Toltecs…
Traveled hundreds of miles to trade…
They also shared stories…
I never heard of the Maya Cross.
Thank you for sharing your story." 
So, dear blog reader…
Do you believe in naguals?
Do you have any nagual stories to share?
Or an animal that is your protector?

Always,

Em-Musing