mermaidcamp
Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
You can scroll the shelf using ← and → keys
You can scroll the shelf using ← and → keys
If waves disrupt your peaceful rest
Remember that transformation requires
Destruction and abandonment
Of all your outmoded styles of perception


No certain amount of praise or honor
Can quench the never ending uncertainty
Brought by the desire to be admired.
It’s entirely enough to be present in full
No need to vex oneself chasing approval


Darkness takes the lead in this race
To the coldest place in the imagination
Stretch your thinking to catch a glimpse
Of all the overlooked aspects of shadow
Cast your gaze on the dark spaces
That reside behind the projections


Some teach you that you have enemies
That people who don’t know you
Are working to sabotage all your dreams.
Isn’t it much more likely that
You are the source of all your conflicts?


The phrase gilded age came from the title of a humorous novel written by America’s undisputed king of wit. It was written with fellow author Charles Dudley Warner to satirize the state of affairs after the Civil War.
We are listening to the audio book, produced as a radio play, using different voices for the characters. The book comes alive as the actors portray well defined parts in a well told tale of high comedy in a historic setting. The descriptions of daily lives are vivid enough to make the listener part of the action. The dialog defines each player to the T.
I’m writing this before finishing the book (Twain and Warner wrote in the forward that they expected to have the book reviewed without being read). It is a perfect book for our times. The writing reminds us that history repeats itself with regularly. I highly recommend reading it now, for insight and lots of laughs.

Choppy seas and deep tremors disrupt
Our calm steady outlook
Internally boiling
Rising to the surface
Tsunami warning


Tides turn every day, following the moon
The forces that surge ahead
Eventually, predictably reverse course
Every wave is different
Many not suitable for riders

The sidewalk chalk art festivals that take place across the country are an example of inclusion and community engagement that appeals to all ages. Kids love to express themselves in public leaving their own statements for everyone to enjoy. Some people have developed their talents in this genre to epic proportions. The art we took in at the Forrest Grove, Oregon chalk art festival reflected the creativity of this small town. Live music completed the scene. This is the kind of cultural expression we enjoy and seek out. You can see all the creative offerings for a few more days as they fade into history. These artists understand the temporal nature of art.
People and dogs enjoy the kite festival in Long Beach, Washington each year. The event is well organized and highly creative. Worth a visit.

Timeless truth survives collective madness
Refined good taste abandons consumption
Stripping away the needless layers of greed
Leaving behind vain glories of excess
To reveal graceful details once overlooked
