2005 Gratitude

Here's a Top 20 list of things I am grateful for in 2005:

1. Hard choices
2. Chance to correct mistakes
3. Reconciling w/ Paul (see 1 &2 )
4. Reconnecting w/ the following friends: Ellen, Charlotte, Elise, and Manu.
5. Making new friends- Nicola, Sarah, Andrea, Carol, Fran, Lauren, Lorelei
6. The boys- Amos & Baby
7. Ocean Lotus
8. PSC and everyone I have met through it.
9. Al-Anon
10. Trips to the beach
11. Walks in Woodlands Cemetary
12. Meditation
13. The pool club
14. Walking to work
15. Princeton Record Exchange
16. Donovan
17. Live shows- Dungen, Gary Higgens
18. Flying Kites
19. Little Fish restaurant
20. Rediscovered style and femininity

My Friend, the Hawk

I've had three, pretty significant encounters with Red-tailed hawks this year. The first was in August. At my office one morning, I looked out my window to stare directly into the face of a perched hawk. He sat there for over an hour, just looking in.

In November, I got off at the Tioga el station to go to Jo Mar. As I was walking down the stairs a hawk flew past my face. He was trapped in the exit and was confused. I spent a good 40 minutes on the phone trying to find an animal rescue group that would help him to find his way out. Note- If you live in Philly, don't call the Animal Control Center. They are worthless!

Today was my third encounter. While I was walking during lunch, a hawk swooped out of the sky to grab a pigeon. He landed about a foot in front of me.

At this point, I am beginning to think there might be something more behind this beyond just coincidence. I looked up hawk symbolism when I got back and supposedly hawks represent wisdom, awareness and the ability to see the world in a larger context.

Unfinished Project JuJu

I have a habit of buying second-hand embroidery pieces from thrift stores and yard sales. These are vintage pieces and I love the designs. A couple of weeks ago I found a needlework Christmas stocking with a great early 70's design of a fairy on a mushroom with a bunny at her feet. The colors are shades of green and pink. And best of all, it was almost 80% done! It said "Christy" on the top but I had already planned to cover that up with a ribbon.

That night I figured out the stitches and started working on it. Immediately, my husband and our cats became creeped out. My husband started shooting me looks and the cats would not leave it alone. I had to kick them both off the bed (the cats, not Paul) to keep them from shredding it.

That got me thinking. Is it wrong to take someone else's project and finish it? Anyone who does any kind of craft or hobby has several unfinished pieces that will go with them to the grave. I have an embroidery piece that I have sat on for over 10 years!

I'm taking a poll to see if this is appropriate or not. Why is working on the "Christy" stocking gross but finishing my grandmothers quilt blocks and giving the quilt to my mother was the highlight of Christmas 2003?

Right now the responses have been even. Those that say it's not ok give bad juju as the reason and to an extent I can support that. I would like to know where and when that line is drawn.