In my chosen avocado green mug.

“Good morning,” he called

His familiar smile crinkly from sleep.

“Not really,” I grunted, and

Retreated into myself.Seeking solace, I slithered into the garden.

“Good morning,” she mouthed

Her icy blue petals delicate and tall.

“Not really,” I sighed, and

Stepped further.

“Smile,” she breathed

 Her cheerful words bright and welcoming.

“Not yet,” I hissed, and

Kept going.

“Come closer,” she mouthed

Her vivid scent intoxicating and deep.

I paused

Closed my eyes

Breathed deeply

Relented

And murmured,

“Good morning.”

Having never before visited the nation’s capitol, I was determined to do the tourist things.  I’m not shy about asking for help, advice, directions, or anything else that will keep me from doing what I want and seeing all the city has to offer.

Last night was one such experience.  After dinner I headed to the metro, and introduced myself to Calvin, the friendly older gentleman in charge of the L’Enfant Metro Station at night. He couldn’t have been happier to help this California girl navigate herself around the city.

After assuring me there were ‘lots of police’ out at night, he directed me onto the ‘blue line’ towards the capitol.  Upon exiting the underground stop I was astonished to be the only person within sight-and it was  8:30 p.m. on a Friday night!

Heading towards the Capitol Building I was struck by the majestic glow coming through the barren trees.  The strength, beauty and majesty of our country shone brightly, and I began circling the grounds to see it from every angle.  Turning, I caught a glimpse of the Washington Memorial towering high in the sky, lit up like a beacon.  I began walking, sure that there would be more undiscovered beauty waiting for me along the way.

Walking the city alone, in the dark, may not be for everyone.  But for me the calm and solitude of the chilly night was the perfect backdrop for the brillance I encountered.  And I didn’t have to share it with anyone else-it was all for me tonight.

Are you letting something get in your way?

For the last decade, Iran has been down on Barbie.  Toy stores were banned from selling her, and Iranian children were discouraged from playing with or purchasing our genuine American girl for fears of the ‘westernization’ of Iranian culture.

This week, Barbie was banned.

Iranian police have swept into toy stores throughout the country and taken Barbie into custody, closing down the shops that were harboring the criminal.

Since Barbie was born in 1959, she has been an American symbol.  Her empire evolved over the years, and became an icon for American children.  However, American Barbie hasn’t been without her own controversy, and I kind of understand why the Iranians might be so interested in putting Barbie in the closet.  I know I was.

Many women feel that she is an incorrect and unrealistic image of females – of any age.  Personally, her curvaceous plastic body and painted on beauty queen smile always rubbed me the wrong way.  A child of the 70s, I didn’t grow up owning any Barbies-thank you, mom.  Naturally, when I had my own daughter I declared our house a ‘Barbie-free zone’. 

That lasted until about kindergarten, when it seemed as if every child invited to our birthday parties had visited ‘the pink zone.’  Barbie became the most popular gift choice of the elementary school set, so I instructed my daughter to thank them politely, and they went into the under-bed ‘Barbie box’.

I didn’t ban her from playing with them. If Barbie loving friend came over and wanted to drag them out, so be it.  The allure didn’t last, and shortly after the play date ended Barbie was boxed and returned to her proper place.  There were no tears or temper tantrums, and eventually Barbie was…donated.

I wanted my daughter to have her own images of what a real woman looked like, dressed like, and acted like.  My 5’2 body is more akin to Barbie’s little sister than any beauty queen’s.  My husband isn’t a beach-babe-surfer-type, although I do live in California.   I’m not the type to wear skin-tight clothing and heels to my middle school teaching job, nor do I drive a pink Corvette or live in a plastic palace.  And neither do my friends.

http://www.islamfortoday.com/iran02.htm

http://www.islamfortoday.com/iran02.htm

So the Iranian solution of ‘Dara and Sara’ as replacement to Ken and Barbie actually makes some sense to me.  I belive children and adults should have realistic role models.  The part that doesn’t make sense to me, though, is the militant banning and forcible removal by the Iranian police.  Haven’t they learned that which is unattainable often becomes more desirable? 

Maybe the police should take a lesson from this American girl.  Give the children role models that you believe in.  Banishment creates backlash.  Find a place for Barbie that keeps her within reach, but not too far away to touch. 

She’s only made of plastic, after all.

At this time last year, I was drowning in snow.  Every weekend I slogged, dragged, shoveled, pushed and slipped my way around the Sierras during a record setting snowfall season.  Snow was the center of every conversation and the focus of every day.  I grumbled, complained and wished it would just go away.  

This winter, however, is a completely different story.  Dirt lines the path to our cabin, and rocks and trees jut out of the mountainside.  Lack of snow is the topic of every conversation now, and the gloom and doom its absence brings to our local ski resort and mountain communities.  Everyone whines and gripes and wishes it would come back.

As I spent another afternoon in the lodge, preferring a table and chair to skiing in snow that sticks like butter, I decided I needed to reframe my outlook and headed outside.  The lack of snow makes taking a walk much easier than ever, and as I headed away from the lodge and out of the parking lodge, I found myself breathing more deeply and seeing things I had never noticed before.

Snow does a good job of covering things up.  It hides imperfections, blankets trash, and mulches out the summer debris.  Everything small disappears, covered by something so soft, pure, and beautiful that most people don’t even notice what is missing.

Everything has changed this year.  Nothing is hidden.  The baby conifers don’t have to struggle to stay upright.  The mule ear leaves, brown and withered, line the sledding hillside.  The rocky peaks stand majestic and sharp, and the creeks and riverbeds glow green and mossy.

Wandering down a path I had never seen before, I suddenly realized the new beauty that surrounded me.  What last year was shrouded in white, today gleams rich with earthy greens, browns and greys.  I began to think about all that I had missed last year, and how much there was to see with this reframed perspective.  Leaving the path to go deeper into the forest I stopped, inhaled, and looked back at the mountain.  It began to snow.  

Instinctively I turned towards the warmth of the lodge, then paused, and continued down the road.  Once uncovered, I wasn’t going to miss this chance for beauty.  

It’s all in how you look at it.