Quote of the day...er...week...umm...hey, look, a quote!!

"...besides love, independence of thought is the greatest gift an adult can give a child." - Bryce Courtenay, The Power of One

For old quotes, look here.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

A reprint...because I spent the morning ferrying Sprout to various doctors.  More about that another day.
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While little (and not so little) people are out extorting candy from strangers (on the one night a year Mum and Dad aren't telling them NOT to take candy from strangers, and isn't that a mixed message?)(and if you don't think that's extortion, think about about it "Give me a trat or I'll play a prank on you" is exactly that - extortion), more than a few pagans are spending the evening in an entirely different fashion.

Samhain (pronounced "sawin") is sometimes called the Witches' New Year. It's thought to be the time of year when the veil between the worlds is thinnest, and so best suited for speaking with our dead, with those who passed on in the previous year.

On Samhain, our living God dies, and until he is born again on Yule the Goddess and all the world mourns him. Poor Goddess, carrying her child alone for the next two months - throughout eternity she must suffer this loss before she can know her joy once more. Don't worry if you don't get it - it's a cyclic thing, a nature thing, and a deeply, weirdly Pagan thing.
Some will have large meetings, solemnly chant and circle the fire, call upon the gods of old. Some will dance wildly around bonfires, drumming, singing, shrieking, leaping the flames, looking for all the world like the imps and devils we were once purported to be. Some will just hand out candy and let the night pass, and some will put out the lights, draw the blinds, and pretend not to be home. A few (Pagan and non) will look for and find trouble. Many will feast, drink, and hold the dumb supper - the meal placed out for the those who've gone through the veil - whether alone or in numbers. These days, none who are truly Pagan will sacrifice anything more than a glass of wine and/or a plate of food to the fire, the earth, the old gods.
This year it's us Casa de Crazians and our friend Mizz Monster.  We're each carving a pumpkin - normally they'd be carved by now, but I am running way behind.

Of course we'll roast the pumpkin seeds because I adore them.

At dusk, we'll light the jack-o-lanterns and take the kids out for their bit of begging. If the night is fine, we may fire up the outdoor fireplace and sit out on the drive reminiscing about the past, about family and friends long gone but not forgotten. I may or may not mull some cider and have some cups to ladle out portions for the adults trailing the kids who will start coming around soon. Heh - come and drink my Witch's Brew - you won't fly or turn into a newt, but it'll take the chill off. I may or may not have a bit of whisky or rum to add medicinal value to the drink.

I will make a special dinner for Samhain night. I don't have anything traditional - this year it's chicke and veggie pasta. I try to make something that my ancestors or anyone I've lost in the previous year would like to eat. The first portion of each item is carefully plated and placed at the head of the table or on the altar. A bit of whatever's to drink will be placed with the laden plate).

Later tonight, after we've eaten, handed out candy, taken the kids out for some socially sanctioned begging, we'll take food and drink down to the woods and leave the contents for our ancestors. We may or may not name them. We may or may not sing a song for them. We will honor them, wish them well, and remember. We will ask their blessing in the coming year. It will be short, but heartfelt - we don't need a lot of ritual, these days, just a few quiet minutes with our Gods.

It's an odd hodgepodge of a night - some modern traditions that were founded in the old, and some straight from the days (and nights) when our people could be openly themselves, could worship the gods of field and wood, river and rock, without fear of censure or death.
Blessed be those who have gone before; blessed be those who live now; blessed be those who will follow after. The wheel turns once more, and blessed are we who turn with it. Blessed be.
This year, I celebrate: three years year ago, Someone made his first visit to Casa de Crazy, began the process of coming Home.

This year I honor: Crunch Malone, Dixon, Gordie, Harry Morgan, Ben in Texas, Andy Griffith, Anna Hill, Jude, Neil Armstrong, and Cap'n Bob.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

A Letter

Dear Golden Pantry,

I thought you'd like to know about the lady working the early hours at your store on the corner of 53 and Tanner's Mill Road here in Redneck Central.

I had occasion to stumble in for coffee this morning.  She was alone in the shop, probably because finding ONE person to work at that hour is miraculous, let alone TWO.  As soon as I made my squinch-eyed way into the shop, she greeted me.  When she noticed I was shambling towards the coffee, she asked what kind I wanted.  When I plaintively requested, half joking, "extra caffeinated", she told me which pot had the most kick.

The cash register in that store talks.  Do you know how annoying that is?  Compounding matters, it doesn't speak clearly, so what SHOULD sound like "Swipe your pass" ACTUALLY sound like "Wipe your..." umm...portion of anatomy that rhymes with "pass".  I beg your pardon?  Impertinent!

Said machine also says "Uh-oh!" in a high-pitched voice with distressing frequency.  The nice lady is developing a twitch over this.  I suggested making a drinking game of it - every time the machine says "Uh-oh!", she does a shot.  I apologize for that...but I DO think she's going to be MUCH happier now.

At any rate, the nice lady behind the counter made me laugh this morning, and given my rough night, scant sleep, and general level of grump, that was a difficult and much valued feat.  She deserves a reward, just sayin'.

Sincerely,
The Early Morning Zombie

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Done is Done

Just a quick thought to share here in the void that was once my blog:  when there is no more clean air, when there is no more clean water, when there is no more clean food or any food at all, when the earth is gasping, dehydrated, and starving...it won't matter how wealthy, powerful, privileged, or famous you are - done is done, gone is gone.  Perhaps it would behoove us all to remember that as we mindlessly consume.