Share Your World ~~ 2015 WEEK #31

On August 3, 2015 By dancingpalmtreesIn African American Queen, African Goddess, beach, Coney Island, Detour, Fuji Film Camera, Jones Beach, New York City, Ocean, seaside, Share Your World ~~ 2015 WEEK #31, Staycations, Woolworths6 Comments

http://ceenphotography.com/2015/08/03/share-your-world-2015-week-31/

SHARE YOUR WORLD – 2015 WEEK #31

Would you rather take pictures or be in pictures?

I would rather take pictures than be in them. As I get older I have begun to lose fascination with my own image that I see in the Selfie obsessed Millennials. When I was a teenager back in the 70s my girlfriend and I would spend hours taking funny face photos in the Woolworth’s photo booths. If I remember correctly one could get four pictures for a quarter. Or was it a dollar? Now I avoid mirrors and cameras unless I’m at a special event of some sort.

Where do you like to vacation?

I prefer the seaside, the beach anywhere near the ocean if I get the chance. However I usually wind up taking Staycations within New York City but maybe in my next scheduled September and October vacations I can get out to Coney Island or Jones Beach.

If you had to describe your day as a traffic sign, what would it be?

List at least five favorite first names.

DeBorah

Stephen

Edward

Mable

Helen

Thelma

Gladys

Hattie

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful that I was able to attend two farewell functions for two young co-workers who are moving onto bigger and better things. Looking forward this week to continuing with my health diet and improving my over all well-being.

Share Your World

On March 2, 2015 By dancingpalmtreesIn 50+, African American Queen, African Goddess, Cat Woman, Eartha Kitt, Share Your World, Sylvester, Weezer25 Comments

http://ceenphotography.com/2015/03/02/share-your-world-2015-week-9/

How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?

Hard to say. Since I just turned 56 a few days ago it is difficult to imagine a different age. I’ve been told I look like I’m in my 40s so I receive that!

Are you left or right handed?

Right-handed

If you HAD to change your name, what would you change it to?

Cat Woman! I Love Eartha Kitt! She was the best Cat Woman ever!! Plus I Love kitty cats. My two fur children are Sylvester and Weezer.

Where do you hide junk when people come over?

I don’t hide the junk, I throw it away! Or if it is just my brother I might temporarily put it in the closet but I usually throw away junk because I live in a very small space.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful that God allowed me to see another year of life! Praise God I turned 56! I also Thank the Lord for my good health and strength despite a few health challenges. Looking forward to new income and writing opportunities because God opens doors that No man can close!! Amen!!

Spun Golden Woven Fibers of Fate

On December 29, 2014 By dancingpalmtreesIn Absolution, Atoms, Borg Queen, Butternut Pancakes, Coastlines, Dreams, Dungeons, Genetic Memory, Harlots, Jigsaw, Madame Sultan, Molecules, Panorama, Perpetuity, Recollections, Reminiscences, Sand Castles, Scalawags, Scamps, Silt, Squash2 Comments

Spun Golden Woven Fibers of Fate

Mother was held in a panorama spun by coveted lovers, who were harlots through celibacy. Invasion of the Body Snatchers whilst the Queen Borg keys jangling at her side hovers and wanders abandoned cells. Caught up in super glue strong web awaiting sacrifice to whatever gods may brought forth. Brain septic by glowering imps sowing discord and muddle.

Reminiscences dance in the fog of false recollections. New realities dawn upon hazy cloudy dew kissed shores. Sand castles washed away by strong willed breakers. Molecules and atoms dripping essence along rosy silt coastlines. Scamps and scalawags populating geographical dungeons.

With this confession my Mother’s Soul residing within me is at rest. She rages no more, her anguish has been extinguished.

My mother and I share broken lives, shattered in similar places we cut ourselves on shards of pain, our fractured lives seeking to mend.

Madame Sultan with no edit button or filters to gauge this new animation wondering where to fit in. Butternut pancakes with a side order of Squash.

Now I attempt to retrieve the scattered pieces, seeking to restore the scattered jigsaw puzzle of Isis, long in disarray, bent and twisted from misuse, abuse and false accusations. Fraying the edges making impossible even imperfect fits.

Sitting across from her flesh & blood ghost, linking hands we grant each other absolution long sought from others outside our circle but only possible for us, from us. I am she and she is me into perpetuity.

Approaching My 3rd Act

On December 26, 2014 By dancingpalmtreesIn 50+, African American Queen, African Goddess, Black Unicorn, Broken Angels, Broken Hearts, cacophony, Catharsis, Craving, Creativity, DeBorah, deception, Deliverance, Delusions, Dissonance, Dreams, Erotic, Ethiopian Goddess, Expectations, Fallen Angels, Female Divinity, Feminine Divine, Free Agent, Freedom, Goddess, Jane Fonda, Menopause, Photography, Ted Talk, Truth, Understanding, Wisdom, Writing4 Comments

3^rd Act

Wisdom. Understanding. My Truth. Freedom. Moving towards my 3rd Act ~ Age 60 but not yet there. What aging was for my mother’s and grandmother’s generations is a whole new ballgame for me and I’m a Free Agent enjoying the ride.

I’ve been thinking about how I see myself as opposed to how other see me. Slowly I’m freeing myself from the constraints of youth. Actually I’m happier and more pleased with myself that I ever was 30 or even 20 years ago. I’m not running behind or chasing some man. Nor am I desperate to be in a relationship. Even in the face of emotional pain and heartbreak I have the courage to step away from a relationship that I know will never work and is not meant to be. I ignore the preconceived notions of what a woman should be. Of course like every other human being on this earth I deal with insecurities, fears, obstacles, all human faults and fragilities. After all you gotta break some eggs to make an omelet.

Each decade brings its own crises and a new set of questions and self-knowledge at least for those who are honest. In my 20s was my wild and crazy time. My 30s a decade of challenge where life’s tables were turned as I lost both my parents within the space of three years. My 40s I became more self-aware as my intellectual and academic lives merged and soared higher than a spaceship reaching for an unknown planet. As the economy crashed and burned after 2006 my life also took an unexpected detour actually several unexpected and in some cases unpleasant detours. Turning 50 in 2009 brought new possibilities but new queries. Health challenges via high blood pressure and a mini-stroke, retina surgery, vision loss. Changing lifestyle in my quest towards well-being and dealing with my new menopausal body. My new friend Mr. Arthur Itis who decided to make his presence known in a powerful way earlier this year. Stilling fighting Arthur with exercise but to be honest sometimes Arthur wins!! Yet in my mind I’m dancing. In my dreams I’m still that idealistic eighteen year old young woman who was always ready for the next adventure in life! Nowadays my body does not always obey my minds commands but I’m excited about my Third Act. After listening to Jane Fonda’s Ted Talk on new ways to view aging I’m looking forward to turning Sixty!!

Comfort levels also change as one gets older. In some areas of life one gets not only older but bolder. In other areas there is some hesitation born out of experience and caution. I find it is never good to make split second decisions especially if I’m angry or upset. Sleeping on it and allowing myself a good cry enables me to cleanse my system of sadness and worry. Letting my emotions out vents my soul then I can put things into perspective instead of committing self-sabotage. Also it’s okay to just stop. Stop. Put it to the side until I’m in my right mind. Screw all the people who tell me to keep going. Everyone needs a break. Sometimes I just need to sit for a few hours, day’s maybe even weeks and veg out.

Why be overwhelmed just to satisfy all the folks who want me to be strong, to be some fake, phony Super Woman who does not exist. Even I’m guilty of looking at a girlfriend’s life and asking, “Why does she stay in that situation? Why not just pick up and leave?” But in their life as in mine there are always extenuating circumstances that I will neither know nor understand. Hidden motivations that keep them in place because it is not yet time for them to move on.

There are thousands if not millions of voices out there disguised as “Life Coaches” and “Motivational Speakers” who demand you take control of your life on their terms but only you can make that decision. Only you know when is the right time to move onto the next phase, stage or level. As the Bible says you cannot put new wine into old wineskins. The most important voice you need to listen to is your own.

Despite the fact that financially I’m struggling that struggle does not define me. I still pursue my writing and photography dreams though I may never “get paid.” Writing and photography are my heart and soul passions that are beyond material gain. There is no need to sacrifice who I am to meet the outlooks of society. Art is Life! Back in Feb. 2014 when I turned 55 my Theme Song was I’m Still Here. Next year I’m Bringing back Sexy because it never left. By Age 56 Feb. 2015, I’m Taking it to the Next Phase! Third Act ~ I’m on my way!!

Ted Talk

http://www.ted.com/talks/jane_fonda_life_s_third_act

Seed

On September 3, 2014December 13, 2014 By dancingpalmtreesIn Africa, African American Queen, African Goddess, Ancestor, Ancestry, Angel, Black Unicorn, Bridge, Buddha, Catharsis, Deliverance, Ethiopian Goddess, Female Divinity, Feminine Divine, Genetic Memory, Goddess, Images, Kinetic Energy, Kinetictra, Law of Attraction, Love, Menopause, Mid-Life, Mother over Israel, Mystical Creatures, Night Bird, Paradise, Poems, Poetry, Redemption, Refuge, Sacred, Sanctuary, soul, Spirituality, Stigmata, Tattoos, Vision, Vision Quest, Visions, Wisdom, Woman6 Comments

Seed

She put her hand to the Stone……………………

She put her hand to the Stone and a million millennia of memories coursed through her soul and out from her pores.

She put her hand to every boulder and heard the rocks cry out their praise to Our Creator.

She put her hand to the magnificent Oak Tree and received the voices of streams, rivers, oceans, lakes and streams.

She put her hand inside Gaia Mother Earth and heard the calls of sacrifices, bog dwellers, cave peoples, the cries of those murdered all crying out for justice.

She extended her hands within the forest absorbed the singings of creatures past and present reverberating within her spirit. Her fingers touched the voices of cave dwellers imbuing their drawings with Life. And in the fullness of time vibrations echoed through the eons.

She put her hand upon the Rock of Ages and they extended their hands inside her inner being enveloping her with knowledge, wisdom and understanding.