Love: G is for…

      is for gallimaufry

gal· li·  mau· fry  – noun:  a confused jumble or medley of things; hodgepodge

Dear Gallimaufry –

I remember how delighted I was when I found you, having had to look you up because I didn’t know your definition.  And there you were, like an old friend, giving name to exactly how I think of myself and my life.   A kind of eclectic jumble of mismatched bits, mostly treasures, a good handful of sparkles, and a few bits of dross here and there. I think there was a time, long, long ago when I wished I were more straightforward, more easily understood, a bit tidier collection of focus.  But the only way it seemed I could achieve that would be to disown the very parts of myself that I love best; to make myself smaller instead of bigger; to becomes surface-y and shallow instead of complex and deep.  I’m glad I got that one figured out pretty quickly!  Which has given me all the more time and opportunity to embrace you gallimaufry.  It’s funny how sometimes when we find the right word it’s like a permission slip is given – it helps one unpack what one knows to be true but has to that point been unnamed.  You did that for me gallimaufry.  Thank you!

Love, Deborah

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And I’m thinking what better way to celebrate my love of gallimaufry than to play in this week’s The Scattered Life Collective – the weekly invitation by Cynthia Lee to share of what’s up in our lives in whatever way we want.  Now that’s a hodgepodge of wonderfulness I can get behind.

current time: Friday noon

on the menu:   I’ve got kale and mushroom pot pie on the menu for tonight.  But there will also be hot chocolate some time as well.  With a week filled with too much snow and far too frigid temps my body and soul start sending out little distress signals that frankly only chocolate can appease. 

out the window:  Mountains of snow.  And the very tip of my curbside rose tree poking its branches out of the 4 foot snow pile.  I’m pretty sure it’s dreaming about Spring too.  And I also see one of the hanging ornaments on my front porch blowing a little in the breeze.  It’s a long dangle of spiraled wire with glass marbles woven in at points, and one of the marbles keeps catching the light and throwing a beautiful glint of sparkle at me.  A little light blessing!

listening:  Winter Song by Sara Bareilles

watching:  Meinrad Craighead is one of my favorite artists.  Her work speaks directly to my soul.  And I’ve been watching the documentary of her life and work Praying with Images.  Playing it so much that I jokingly say I wore out our DVD player.  But thankfully a new DVD player has been welcomed into my home and the frequent viewing can continue.  Amen!

good things:

• Throwing snowballs and creating frozen soap bubbles.   Unfortunately not a single photograph I snapped turned out, but with no end to the snow or cold in sight, I’m sure I’ll have lots more opportunities at documenting the fun.

• My husband making me laugh by breaking out in song about the laws of thermodynamics.

• Receiving a package wrapped in brown paper and tied up in string, with a peacock feather tucked in.  Perfect!

• This has been a week of being gentle with myself and taking things off the to-do list, not adding more on.  Extra sleep.   And a sustained focus of loving-kindness, most especially aimed at myself.  And I’m drinking it in like a sponge. 

Around and About:

• I have a great love for Hermes/Mercury – I dance very closing with the archetypal energy of messenger, psychopomp, and heaven knows I would love winged sandals and winged hat!  But in any case my affinity also stretches to curiosity about the planet Mercury.   I happen to like Mercury retrograde periods because I’m such a reflective person – I like periodically revisiting things, re-working them, all the re- words associated with Mercury retrogrades.  But I know so many people actually freak out when Mercury is retrograde – either blaming it for any challenge that may come up or feeling unwilling to take any action until it’s over.  So I was happy to see Sarah Varcas’ urging to keep calm and carry on.

• Is there anything better than mitten pies? I didn’t think so.

• And what a delight to find this brief little clip about Alexander Calder and seeing some of his mobiles.  And when he says it’s “like having your own private sky” I knew with the most perfect clarity why I love his work so.

So there you have it – the gallimaufry of my week.  What’s been happening for you?  Sort through the treasures of your week and share.  Or maybe tell me your favorite artist, or pie, or planet.  I welcome all glimpses into your hodgepodge – you know I love to hear.