End of June 2026

 "A Sky Full of Stars" by Coldplay

 trip plans

"Conversation With My Son" by Mumford & Sons

 

Giving this ^ to Brandy a day late because I forgot and I'm Going to miss her, and Geoff, and Deb, and Jenn, and the Laurens... :)

 to me!!!

"Important with a capital I" p.7 Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg 

Jacquelyn 

"Knowing when to let something go..." p.12 Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg

Lazy Fish Dodge Street 

 source

New start New Job lined up already

"Quiet,  personal moments" p. 183 Dear Friend June 24

  

 source

source

"Ugh!" Was the most commonly used "U" this month

Valerie Lorimer Art and Ram Dass quote are perfect together!!

eXciting new adventure awaits!

"Zoom out and reflect on various threads of your life... witness how gar you've come." p. 188 Dear Friend June 29

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

"Abysmal communication skills" p. 47 

"Amorphous, immune to ordinary laws of the world, like a huge octopus reshaping its body to slip through a tiny crack." p. 345

"Baby Vipes Are Especially Deadly" is one of the chapter titles.

"Congratulations on Your Retirement" p. 326

Davenport: series of sofas made by the Massachusetts furniture manufacturer A. H. Davenport and Company, now Defunct. Wikipedia

Erik. Her only child

"Flounce after a humiliating Failure is, itself, a humiliating Failure." p. 324

Giant Pacific Octopus: Marcellus

"His strange eye glints playfully, like a naughty child's." p. 9 

"Humans. For the mist part, you are dull and blundering. But occasionally,  you can be remarkably bright creatures." ~ Marcellus p. 350

"I do not like the hole in her heart. She only has one, not three, like me. Tova's heart. I will do everything I can to help her fill it." p. 233

"Jigsaw piece who found her way into the wrong puzzle." p. 19

Knit-Wits p. 14

"Luminescent Lure that attracts prey right into its maw" p. 197

Marcellus

Natter: to have a casual, friendly conversation about unimportant or trivial things. p. 40

"On a summer afternoon,  it will teem with beachcombers and adventurous picnicker, tjose looking for the most picturesque spot to sit and lick ice cream cones." p. 332

Pinniped: a diverse group of carnivorous, fin-footed, semiaquatic marine mammals. p. 218 "Peck at the perimeter of Tova's consciousness " p. 224

"Quirky macrame wall hangings" p. 281

"Slurry of Superfluous words." p. 3

"Tova closes her eyes, imagining him underneath the surface, holding the candles for her." p. 11

"Unmitigated grief" p. 331

"...Ventures up to the attic, to what is left of the piles and linens and photographs..." p. 287

"Why can humans not use their millions of words to simply tell one another what they desire?" p. 47

"eXtraordinarily nice, in spite of the stoic shell she puts on at first." p. 276

"You're quite a woman, Tova. Did you know that?" p. 286

Zillionaire p. 303 

My Next Breath by Jeremy Renner

"A one-way road. There would be no distractions. One direction.  One purpose." p. 167

 "Behind the scenes with Jeremy Renner" click here to watch 

"Conscious breath will save me... conundrum of how to breathe." p. 38 crucial clarity of intention p. 70

"Damaging white noise" p. 77 ["White Noise is also Chater 11]

Energy, a constantly connected, beautiful and fantastic energy" p. 74

Epochal p. 10 Eviscerating p. 32 "Each time the darkness intrudes, I go back to focusing on my breathing..."

"Feel everything, consider everything,  read, think, ponder,  cogitate... but do something commit to action whenever you can." p. 1

"Hope keep intruding" p. 51 "Her silence more heart-shatteringly eloquent than any words she could have said." p. 114

"I officially unsubscribe to your issues." p. Z 165

"Inexorable behest of gravity and kinetic energy p. 30 "Instinctual problem solving." Ignominous "kind of a blind hope" p. 55

Inanity: the quality of being extremely silly,  pointless,  or lacking in substance 

"Just keep breathing... Just breathe. Keep your eyes open" p. 73

"Knowing my body so intimately gives me a jolt of confiendce as lifesaving as any morphine drip." p. 38

"Love slowly, quietly and patienlty waits for hate to simply burn out... Love has all the time in the world." p. 76

"Motion is lotion" p. 164

Nightline with Diane Sawyer 

One job to do - I'm going to do my darndest to be excellent at it." p. 62

"Please cancel my subscription to your issues" p. 124

"Quest to find the most funamental thing to life: my next breath" p. 34

"Reboot the ending! p. 61 5/23/26

"Srvive" by Jeremy Renner listen here "Stress is an earthly ego experience, fear-fueled and useless." p. 38

"Tenacity Tempered by lots of realism" p. 56

"Uncompromising power of the absolute" p. 31

Video short that caught my ❤️ and attention on May 8, 2026 on YouTube

"We are all eternally connected, bound by love and the purest parts of our being, bound by shared history and our innate, unyeilding, unchanging energy." p. 39

"eXhilerating peace where enerygy flowed together and everything made sense. And the sense was this: bottom of p. 125

Yosemite p. 168 [note to self: add to bucket list]

"Zoom out and assess the expectations you have in your life... Today, actively encourage a feeling of peace and acceptance for life's happenings,  regardless of the outcome." p. 180 Dear Friend by Michelle Maros 

Ahhh... June... a big, deep breath and a huge leap of faith!

"Brave act of showing up for yourself, even when it's hard; give yourself grace." ~ Michelle Maros Dear Friend June 14 p. 173

"Choose nourishing habits and call back your peace." ~ Michelle Maros Dear Friend June 15 p. 174

Datura seeds started, planted, and thriving. Drift Away by Dobie Gray

Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny) by Elton John listen here

Faith let's me... Follow The Sun [official music video] by Xavier Rudd

Home for the day on the 13th "Healing at [my] Own Pace" ~ Dear Friend by Michelle Maros

source

Ken's birthday week and Katie Daisy's fabulous art!!

 source

"Library Magic" was the first song I heard when I started my car this morning :) It's a sign ;)

Noah's for breakfast with Ken, Mom, Kristen,  Maddie, and Bodie

One of Us by Joan Osborne

Peach Tree Rascals - Mariposa (Acoustic) listen here

Quizzical manner that Tova interprets as: "What on earth are you doing, Lady?"

Swim at Wayland's what a fitting Song! "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding

 

 thank you, Amberlibrary ;)

Videos of trees and birds from the hammock

Xavier Rudd - Come Let Go (It is time!!) from this album

listen here

"Your timeline won't betray you... plant seeds of trust and confidence... Your timing is Your own. Hold on to the excitement of infinite possibility in each new day." p. 169 Jube 10th Dear Friend by Michelle Maros

Ziggy Marley Three Little Birds 

Invisible Things by Andy J. Pizza & Sophie Miller

  

Chaos, Coziness, and Chills

Dreams

Gratitude, Giggles

Hope

Kindness

Love

Melancholy, Magic taste of a lollipop

Now and Nostalgia

Odors

Pizzazz

Question: "If you could put on a pair of glasses and see all the feelings, ideas, and other invisible Things that populate our world, what would they look like?"

Rest

Smells

Understanding

Vibes

Wishes and Whispers

"eXplore the way a sad song can sometimes make you happy, and discover how laughs-even fake ones- can multiply faster than you'd imagine." ~ Front cover end flap

Yucky smells

Zest for life!

Songs I've been "collecting"

"Angels come down / From the heavens / Just to help us on our way / Come to teach us / Then they leave us / And they find some other soul to save" ~ Chris Stapleton's " Broken Halos

 listen here

Colours of the Wind (From "Pocahontas") by Benny Martin listen here

"Don't spend your life chasing gold / For you only buy what you get sold / And you only have what you can hold / Don't live your years with a worried mind / Over what you'll lose or leave behind / For you only keep what you can find / Don't you live your years with a worried mind / Don't spend your days with a troubled soul / Filling voids and plugging holes / Let go of what you can't control / Don't you spend your days with a troubled soul / For there's no sense, there's no rhyme and no reason... Don't walk your road with a heavy heart / Or lose your light out in the dark/ For every day's a brand new start." ~ "Chasing Gold" by Passenger 

"...Every day of every month of every season /And every moment like your last" ~ "Chasing Gold" by Passenger 

"Feels like Freedom" [my new car] and my up coming retirement plans. ~ JBL 6.3.26

Gordon Lightfoot "Care Free Highway" listen here

"Here Comes the Sun" by Jacob Collier/dodie as the sun rose while we drove to Bradley for Logan's trip to NC.

"I've got no one left to blame" :) Gordon Lightfoot "Care Free Highway"

Journey "Open Arms" and Jackson Browne "These Days" listen here

Kacey Musgraves' "Angels" listen here and "Three Little Birds" ❤️❤️❤️

"Leaving on a Jet Plane" first song on radio as we headed to the airport 🛫 

Mumford & Sons/Chris Stapleton's "Here"  listen HERE 

Noah Kahan - The Great Divide (Official Lyric Video)

"Oh Very Young" by Cat Stevens listen here

Passenger's  "Chasing Gold" listen here

Quincy Jones' "Just Once" listen here 

"Reminds Me"  by Sarah McLachlan (feat. Katie Gavin) [Official Music Video]

"Some Days I’m Strong | 2026 Official Lyrics Video by Calum Scott

Lyrics from "Landslide" which I've been hearing often lately. 

Unapologetically love the Unique timeline of my life. p. 169 Jube 10th Dear Friend by Michelle Maros

Vance Joy's "Saturday Sun" listen here

"Wake Me Up" by Aloe Blacc listen here

"Younger You" by Miley Cyrus listen here

Zach Bryan's "Heading South" while we drove to Bradley for Logan's trip to NC. listen with lyrics here

Reading Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue

"Art of belonging in, with, snd to self (p. 74) ... Ascetical rhythm (p. 77) refers to the intentional, balanced discipline of a spiritual lifestyle.

"Belonging presumes warmth and intimacy." p. 71 Balanced expression p. 78

Celebration is an attentive and gracious joy of presence. " p. 74

"Dignity allows an immense pliability and Diversuty of presence. Do not give [your Dignity] away! p. 69 Do NOT let "Days fall away like empty shells and miss all the treasure. p. 77

Especially in compromising and demanding Experiences, you can still hold your sense of dignity." p. 69

"Fall away like empty shells and miss all the treasure." p. 77

"Grace of Spirit: Do NOT give it away" p.69

Hold the sense of worthiness your sense of worthiness and honour the larger horizon of grace and graciousness. p. 69

"In order to be, we need to Belong. " p. 71

Joy of presence!

Ken, thank you for gifting me this book!

Larger horizon of grace and graciousness

Must not "Miss the treasure" p. 77

NOW. "Be Here Now" ~ Ram Dass

"Our longing always stretches towards a further frontier. It is in our nature to seek the infinite. "

"Patient with the natural unevenness and unpredictability of living." p. 75

Quiet miracles and gifts that seek no attention. Quality of presence.

"St. Augustine said, "Thou hast created us for Thyself, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in Thee." qtd. P. 80 

"Trust enables belonging" p.71 "TTo be here is so much." Translation of Rilke p. 74

"Unpredictability of living" p. 75

"View yourself with affection, understanding, and respect." p. 68

"When your heart is content, your life can always find the path inwards to this deep stillness in you." p. 74

"All belong is an eXtension of the first and closest belonging of living in your own body." p. 72

"Your heart Yearns for the light and luminosity that are now absent." p. 73

"Zen painting suggestive of great presence and shelter. Over the painting was the caption 'All the holy man needs is s shelter over his head.'" p. 71 🙏Amen 🙏

Letting May Drift Away

Amanda's 30th Birthday and AAA

7am Tuesday, May 19, 2026

"Be where your feet are." Noah Kahan Busy Head Project

"Crucial Clarity of intention" and...

"Don't forget to breathe" p. 70 My Next Breath by Jeremy Renner

"Energy, a constantly connected, beautiful and fantastic Energy." p. 74 My Next Breath by Jeremy Renner

Feathering... the gas pedal of the Bolt, the opening of the screen of Mahjong game, and many on the ground when I walked to lunch and post office on Friday, May 22, 2026

"Grounded, confident manner that says you know difficulty is a natural part of life; it isn't personal." p. 152 Dear Friend 🧡 by Michelle Maros 

"Her silence more Heart-shatteringly eloquent than any words she could have said." p. 114 My Next Breath by Jeremy Renner 

 Inanity: the quality of being extremely silky, pointless, or lacking in real substance." 

"Just keep breathing... Just breathe..."

"Keep your eyes open." p. 73 My Next Breath by Jeremy Renner

"Lucky Man" listen and view lyrics here

Noah Kahan's "The Great Divide" listen 🎶 here

 source 

"Please cancel my subscription to your issues." p. 124 My Next Breath by Jeremy Renner

Quote by Emily Dickinson that John Kincheloe share with me 10 years ago: “The career of flowers differs from ours only in inaudibleness. I feel more reverence as I grow for these mute creatures whose suspense or transport may surpass our own.” MORE poignant as my career takes yet another direction -> Retirement beings in 34 days - 

"Recognize what's simple about the simple things...allow the rest to fall into ego, meaningless things" p. 78 My Next Breath by Jeremy Renner

"...Shouldn't wait for the edge of the cliff before enjoying the mountainside that brought us there." p. 125 My Next Breath by Jeremy Renner 

"Thankful Spirit in all areas of my life." P. 150 Dear Friend

Ultimate truth. The continuance of the Spirit is what is true, and things that are truthful are love. The only thing that matters in life is love. Love, here on earth,  is our only currency; it is our energy and our existence,  and we take that energy with us into perpetuity." p. 78

"Victory of Loveland perseverance and survival against the odds." p. 134

Xavier Rudd "Follow the Sun" listen here @sarahaddisonallen

"Yearnings of Your soul." p. 153 Dear Friend 🧡 by Michelle Maros

Life and Death and My Next Breath

 Ajuga

Amanda's 30th is today, May 19, 2026

Behind The Scenes with Jeremy Renner on the Making Of Love and Titanium (Full) here

Casting Crowns' "Praise You In This Storm" listen here and Chicago's "Wishing You Were Here" listen here

Demons by Kenny Chesney listen here 🎶 

"Every choice you make has power. You are moving towards your values, desires, and goals." p. 147 Dear Friend I really needed to read those words this morning 🙏21 May 2026

"Feels Like" by Gracie Abrams listen here

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~ Melody Beattie 

"Hold On To The Light" by Jack Johnson & Hermanos Gutiérrez listen here

"I place on the altar of dawn / The quiet loyalty of breath / The tent of thought where I shelter / Waves of desire I am shore to / And all beauty drawn to the eye. / May my mind come alive today / To the invisible geography / That invites me to new frontiers / To break the dead shell of yesterdays / To risk being disturbed and changed. / May I have the courage today /  To live the life that I would love / To postpone my dream no longer / But do at last what I came here for / And waste my heart on fear no more." ~ Excerpt from 'A Morning Offering' from To Bless the Space Between Us by John O'Donohue

 Dawn, 9 May 2026

Josie, our love  

"Knowledge defeated anxiety every time." p. 42 My Next Breath by Jeremy Renner 

Lilac and bright blue skies

 18 May 2026

My Next Breath: A Memoir by Jeremy Renner

Noah Kahan, Hozier - Northern Attitude, Stick Season, and Homesick :)

"Our lives are frittered away by lack of focus." ~ Sarah BanBreathnach Simply Abundance May 18 essay

Prince of Tides movie revisited 33 years later. Even more Powerful in different ways with new eyes and Perspective.

"Quest to find tge most fundamental thing to life: my next breath." p. 34 My Next Breath by Jeremy Renner 

"Redemption Song" by Bob Marley & The Wailers listen here

"Stick Season" by Noah Kahan  listen here

"Tell Your Heart To Beat Again (Live)" by Danny Gokey LISTEN here

Urgency to get everything "done" at work is already dissipating

Vital tasks without which who knows what would have happened... Vast waves of pain... an unruly ocean." p. 49

"Wait" by Jeremy Renner listen here 

an eXtra "Y"

"You are the ocean and I am the earth..." ~ "Wait" by Jeremy Renner listen 🎶 here