What Really Matters, According to Me

by my sister Melinda Marie Antuna retold humbly and with gratitude by me: Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived a king who was young and powerful. Though he was a peace loving man, he had no choice but to war with those who would threaten his kingdom, and when war came to his land, he vanquished every foe, so that, in time, there were none who dared to threaten the peace of his people. He was strong and noble; kind and fair. He was wealthy beyond description, and he was very handsome to behold. “King Thunderbolt” he was called, because whenever he approached to survey a given village or hamlet, the clamber and tumult created by the young women of the place was thunderous. You see, the young king was the most desirable bachelor in all the land; in all the world, to hear the young women speak of it. Every young maiden in the kingdom desired to be his chosen wife. And it came to pass that King Thunderbolt determined the time had come he should choose a wife. He rode upon his...

Last night I held a keepsake in my hands; I looked at it, opened it, considered what it meant to me... Until this morning, I owned a little box with a hinged, locking lid. Inside the box are many small, colorful, polished stones...and one translucent, red marble. I've had it for years. I purchased two somewhat similar 'trunks' along with stones and marbles, along with some other pretty little things, when I bought my first and only house in 2003...which house I no longer own. I wanted to make the house look pretty. I wanted it to feel happy and good when people entered therein. Though I lost the house, I kept some of the little pretty things to remind me of what I once had, and how it was beautiful, and how I used to think it was mine... It really wasn't mine. I was passing through. None of this belongs to any of us. We are only temporary stewards of the things we think we own. Even if only parted by death, we will be parted from our things in time. The things I've ...

Pine trees in a forest are beautiful; tall and strong, reaching ever upward, standing close together, casting shade together, insomuch that the whole of the forest floor is cool and close. On the other hand, consider the lone oak standing on a hill; appearing gnarled and crooked against the sky, hot beneath the blazing sun. The roots of the mighty pines are intertwined, you know...if any one of those majestics were separated, and transplanted, it would fall. The roots are shallow in comparison to the height of the tree. The first big wind would topple it. The oak, on the other hand, has been growing in that singularly lonely place atop the hill from the moment the acorn was deposited in the soil. It has grown crooked, without support against the winds that blow, against the burning sun, the beating of rains...it has sunk its roots deep into the soil and has taken hold of the earth to support it. It has not attached to the roots of another tree for strength. It has sunk its own roots de...

What is the measure of success? Is it money? I don't have any of that. Is it fame? I don't have that either. If it is that I can claim to have stayed, then that's me. I've stayed where I was told to stay. Here I am. I've tried to be kind and loving. I've tried to be a good person; a good woman; a good friend. I've tried to love as I've wanted to be loved. I've loved with no strings attached. You see, if you have no heart strings, no one can pull on them. If you love freely, without expectation of reciprocity, you are the giver of love only. Receiving love is a bonus, not an expectation. I always believed that I give to others, and then God gives back to me. Yesterday was my 29th wedding anniversary. I guess that means to many people that Daniel has been a successful husband and I've been a successful wife. We're still married after all these years. Funny how people measure things. Sit. Stay. Good dog. Have you ever thought about a dog wh...

Something interesting happened after I changed the name of my blog: I searched it and the old name came up...and when I selected the link, I got a message saying the blog no longer existed. Well, obviously, it does still exist, it's just called by another name! So, here I am, telling you, my readers, that I haven't disappeared! I'm just known by a different name :) I haven't changed anything else. What's in a name anyway? I shan't quote Shakespeare for you. You know the next lines. I hope a blog by any other title will be just as thought provoking and possibly inspiring. I hope... Such it is with us. I may be a toddler or a grandmother, but am still the same blooming rose. I hope I'm as sweet now as when I was budding. I hope I may be more beautiful as my petals are unfurled and my true colors have become evident by my works and by those people in whom my efforts have been made manifest, as a testimony to my motherhood. I will be closer to 50 rather than ...

Little Darlin', it's been a long, long, lonely winter... Do you remember that Beatles song? I used to sing it to my daughter Charity when she was about two years old. She's sixteen now...it's been a long, long time since then. We used to sit together on the porch swing, both of us wet from having been in the back yard pool. I'd cuddle her little cold body in a towel and swing with her, telling her she'd be warm in just a few minutes, and 'Look! The sun is shining! It's going to warm you up in no time!' Then, I'd begin to sing our favorite dripping wet swinging on the porch song: 'Here Comes the Sun' Charity would sing along in beautiful two year old fashion and we both were so happy in those moments together. I'm so grateful for that time and for so many I've enjoyed over the years loving and being loved by my children. Interestingly enough, the Beatles had it right. No matter how dark and lonely the winter may seem; no matter...

In consideration of the words of a famed psychologist (Dr. David Burns), there is no real 'healthy or normal depression.' Have you ever considered that notion? True, we feel sorrow from time to time, throughout the course of our lives on this earth, but sorrow and depression are not the same thing...says he. Funny thing; I've seen so many blog posts and cover pictures posted by my friends far and near, portraying my own thoughts, recently, that I have to wonder if something is in the air, or if something is common to this phase of life...or if something is happening in the world, at large. Even as I was getting ready to sign into my blog this morning, after months of having been away, I saw a cover graphic heading for the blog of one of my very dear friends that read: "Life is too short to spend it with people who suck the happiness out of you." I had to stop and think about that one. If I had a nickle for every time I've heard someone say, "life...