hmm well the Blue Jay sega still continues. I set out whole peanuts yesterday and within a few hours he proceeded to give me supreme heck…
hmm well the Blue Jay sega still continues. I set out whole peanuts yesterday and within a few hours he proceeded to give me supreme heck for sitting on my deck in the evening. He wanted the peanuts but wouldn’t come down while i was there. Then this morning he stayed away until i left my post long enough to get ready for the day. While i was preoccupied he swooped in and stole two peanuts. I may set up the tripod and use the remote to get the shot lol. The sega continues…. will post when i get the shot.. I hope
The title is a bit tongue in cheek, and to the best of my knowledge no one named Reverend Hartbaum was hurt, maimed, folded, spindled, or…
The title is a bit tongue in cheek, and to the best of my knowledge no one named Reverend Hartbaum was hurt, maimed, folded, spindled, or even exixted for the purposes of the telling of this “story. It’s not really a story, more of a rambling in regards to a memory. In fact, it is an excerpt from an email to someone whom shares similar experiences, in a way, but not outlook (religiously speaking), with other ramblings added. I grew up in much the sort of environment that was harsh, weather-wise and otherwise. More men than women, so more of a man’s culture anyway. Drugs, alcohol, guns, strip joints, bars all over the place, pot smoking wasn’t .. oh, it was more or less a religion unto itself where I grew up. I remember describing this experience I had gong to a religious meeting up around Copper Center somewhere, that was me, one of my sisters, my brother, the preacher (or whatever he was called) and about 20 white-man hating Native Alaskans. The meeting itself wasn’t the really big shock, though it was a bit funny and very few people at school believed me, as most of them grew up in a town somewhere in America proper but some of them did believe me as they were Natives or had been out away from the cities. The big shock was in trying to describe it to someone who grew up down-states and/or in Anchorage all his life. lol He just absolutely thought I was full of crap and kept going on about the noble red man and .. stupid, stupid things. He obviously knew nothing real about anyone. See, a lady who had been our neighbor for most of my life, up to that point, showed up where my Dad was staying when he was working on the pipeline (guarding) – he had to rent a place because he was 2 or 4 weeks on and 2 weeks off and it was way too far to drive everyday. We were up there visiting, she shows up, and invites us to church. Mom agreed, then she backed out of it. This was not something any of us has ever truly forgiven her for, either, I can tell you. None of our experiences with churches and church people were at all good. But, she forces us to dress nice, shoves us off on the neighbor lady (a native woman married to a black man) who takes us to the church, which bore a great resemblance to a tiny shed on stilts with icy, dangerous steps leading up to a locked door,, and dumps us out in the howling wind and snow, declaring “I ain’t going in there with a bunch of white kids. They’d kill me!” Off she goes. We went in, partly because she circled around a few times and yelled at us, and partly because there was nowhere else to go. We would have frozen to death, trying to get home and weren’t quite sure of the direction. Copper Center is more flat than we are used to, everything was covered in snow, and if there were any discernable landmarks, we were not familiar with them as of yet. So, in we go. Took a bit to get the door open, because, you see, there was a fire going in there, which wasn’t enough to send up smoke yet but it did manage to slightly thaw out the snow and ice nearer the door, which then ran and froze, so that the door was sealed shut. We got it open, walked in, and there were all the Natives sitting on little benches, spread out like people do in jailhouse movies when they expect you to fight for a seat. Oh yes, and I think I forgot to tell you that the neighbor lady had promised other kids will be there. Well, she didn’t bring her kids and either did anyone else. So, since Mom had promised us both kids and the neighbor lady, that meant we felt more alone than if we had been promised 20 or so drunk natives and a preacher who would frown at us mightily and speak of things we knew not. At least, then, we’d have known what to expect. Drunk natives – yes! This is not being politically incorrect, it is being truthful. No wait: drunk, stoned, unwashed, uncouth, impolitie, quasi-horny natives. There! But, friendly enough. They did move so we could sit together. They were all crowded behind us, and some to the sides. At first things went badly, the preacher was trying to give a sermon of some sort, after he got the fire going (all by himself) and they were giggling, interrupting, asking each other “What the f .. does that mean?” when he’d mention something. I got tired of it, so I turned around during a part where one lady kept asking and asking, and I told her what I think it means. After that, she started tapping me on the shoulder and asking about other things he said. Then, one of them says to me, because I sort of waved her away and told her to listen and ask him later, that’s what he was there for “You are really listening to this aren’t you?” in a tone of amazement. Which sort of amazed me too. They asked me if I believed what he was saying. I told them I don’t know, some of it, but mostly I don’t know as I hadn’t heard it before. Then, I had the bight idea of using a complaint they had against him , but turning it back on them. I mean, not consciously, just, that’s the way it happened. See, they complained because he was a stupid white man who drove 200 miles or more to get there, had to chop wood, start a fire, just to get them to come and listen to him. So, when they asked why I was listening to him, if I didn’t even know if I believed it, I told thme “Well, I figure if the man drove a couple of hundred miles, built this place, then keeps coming back with refreshments and wood, builds us a fire, and all he asks is that we listen to him .. well, it’s what we’d do at anyone else’s home, isn’t it? So, I’m going to listen.” And they asked again about belief and I told them I’d listen and see if I believed and if I didn’t, then I wouldn’t take up the space, but let someone else get warm who wanted to listen. That impressed them, so they gave us a beer to share, then they gave my brother a beer of his own. Then they pased the pot pipe around, and we all took a wee toke, just to be polite, except for my brother who smoked it right up. The preacher kept right on preaching, but he was giving us some looks of disbelief and something akin to outrage, only .. well. .. we reallly couldn’t tell what he was feeling. But, we figured, him being a preacher, and white, and from town, and obviously some sort of missonary, and etc. that we were about to be in for it and he’d tell Mom and Dad we were raising hell, even though he’d never admit the natives did it first and etc. Usual stuff, you know? So, everyone leaves after the meeting and he says “Just a minute, I want to talk to you.” to us and we all stop, ready to jump out of our skins at the approaching wrath of Respectable White Fortitude, you see; because this was something we had very little truck with, so far. Oh teachers, sure, but at that point in our lives none of us had come across the sort of teacher one must be disrespectful to or of, and this man had done us no wrong, and how could we explain our actions .. and .. and .. “Thank God you were here!” he said to us “They have never behaved nicer, listened better .. why, they even smoked less pot and drank less than ever! ANd that they would share with you! This is amazing!” Then he went out and told the same thing to the neighbor lady, who had kindly gone and gotten Mom and pretended she was sorry she couldn’t stay for the meeting – and Mom, who kept looking at him with a sort of glum, dumb disbelief – as if she knew he couldn’t be praising her children for being polite and helpful, and already experiencing the let down of returning to sanity wherein she’d find out what horrors we really had committed. So, yes, drunk, stoned, unwashed, uncouth, impolite, quasi-horny, sharing, listening Natives, who remembered, some of them, to say thank you to the man for his fire. I wonder if that counts as “bearing fruit” for me? Hmmm…. Now, here’s the funny thing. My daughter and my son in law would ask me if I had ever smoked pot, which I firmly told them was none of their business, because I knew why they were doing it. They wanted to justify their lighting up to waste the day, to go and have fun, to waste their money, waste my time, waste their brain. This is not funny haha, but funny as in weird. See, because if I said to them “Yes, I smoked pot and I did it in a church building.” they would assume all sorts of things about my character and feel justified in not reading the Bible, and like I couldnt’ say anything to them ever again – but- I really don’t think they’ve ever smoked pot, unwillingly, as a way to keep the peace and help themselves and others learn about God. Nor, in most instances, would I recommend they, or anyone, ever try. It’s generally not right, not good, not legal, not safe, and not smart. But, as you can see, there are times and places and circumstances where, by change of reasons, there is change of what is right. If you say you have never heard of it, I shall call you a liar, because I know of no one who believes murder is wrong who doesn’t believe that self defense is right, and no one who believes that making lvoe is right who doesn’t believe that rape is wrong. Aside from which, I would say to said lovely children, if I could, another circumstance that changes is viewpoint by age and experience. There are plenty of people who partied all through their youth, who grew out of it and realized it was not a good thing they had done. So … If you feel you have to tear down someone else, just to feel justified in your actions, you really need to learn to do other actions.
Aloha, mahalo nui loa, thank you so much to the anonymous buyer / who purchased one of my matted prints this morning! I very much app…
Aloha, mahalo nui loa, thank you so much to the anonymous buyer / who purchased one of my matted prints this morning! I very much appreciate your kindness, thank you so much! / I sincerely hope you enjoy my image of the beautiful Moose displayed in your home. Please let me know how it looks when you receive it. I would love to know who purchased this matted print to thank you personally, but if you prefer to remain anonymous I certainly understand. Thank you so much for your gift of Aloha!!_ Mahalo nui loa!! E pili mau na pomaika`i ia `oe! Aloha e Malama pono Sharon Mau Copyright © Sharon Mau 2009 SOLD / 1x Matted Print A beautiful cow Moose and her yearling Calf browsing near North Pole Alaska ~ Winter Scenics
_*Aloha to the wonderful hosts of the following groups who have featured my work and thank you everyone for your kind notes and wonderful…
Aloha to the wonderful hosts of the following groups who have featured my work and thank you everyone for your kind notes and wonderful encouragement Mahalo for your gifts of Aloha! The images below are live links. Please click on them to view the image full size in my portfolio. / Mahalo! :)) Featured Art 24 October 2009 / Aloha smallfox Mahalo for featuring my work in your wonderful group Gateways / The Spirit of Solitude / / Featured Art 24 October 2009 / Aloha Ken / Mahalo for featuring my work this morning in Sensational Sun / Thank you so much! / Silence of Devotion / / and / Aloha ‘oe / Featured Art 24 October 2009 / Aloha kalaryder and skyhorse Mahalo for featuring my work in your lovely group Blooming Trees / He Pua Laha ‘Ole Ke’anae Melia Aloha Ke’anae Tropical Plumeria Maui Hawai’i / Featured Writing 24 October 2009 / Life is a Dream / Mahalo to the wonderful hosts of First Things / Janis Wendy Angel Isa Ghelly Vicky and Waleska / Thank you so much for featuring my literary work, it means more to me than you could ever possibly imagine. Mahalo :)) Featured Art 22 October 2009 / Aloha Patty E.R. and Linda / Thank you so much for featuring my work in your wonderful new group / Beautiful / You honour me with your kindness. Mahalo :))) / The Absolute ~ Aloha Ke Akua Na Kahu ~ Ke Ahi La’a ~ Sacred Fire This is by far the most popular image in my portfolio currently with 6089 views, 215 favouritings, 408 comments (including my replies) and 2 sales. Thank you so much for your kindness and continuous support. It means so much to me and I am grateful. Aloha ‘oe / Featured Art 22 October 2009 / Aloha artisandelimage and CLiPiCs / Thank you so much for featuring my work in your wonderful group Inspired Art / It is wonderful to have The Absolute featured in two groups on the same day. You honour me with your kindness. Mahalo :))) / The Absolute ~ Aloha Ke Akua Na Kahu ~ Ke Ahi La’a ~ Sacred Fire This is by far the most popular image in my portfolio currently with 6089 views, 215 favouritings, 408 comments (including my replies) and 2 sales. Thank you so much for your kindness and continuous support. It means so much to me and I am grateful. Aloha ‘oe / Featured Art 21 October 2009 / Aloha Kathy and Gina / I am delighted you enjoy this image. Kanaha is such a beautiful stretch of coastline on the North Shore and it was a very warm sunny day when I took this image. I stood beneath the trees to try and reduce the light from the brilliant sunshine as I composed this shot and I am happy you like it. Mahalo for featuring it in your lovely group The Beauty of Nature / Kanaha e ho’omaika’i ke akua ‘ia Maui / Featured Art 18 October 2009 / Earth Keepers / Aloha Jen and Maureen / Mahalo nui loa, / thank you so much for featuring my image in your lovely group :)) / Fragrant Gardenia lamingtonia / Featured Art 17 October 2009 / Aloha Tarns and photoclimber / Mahalo for featuring my work in your wonderful earth friendly group At the Edge / Kanaha Beach Park Maui North Shore Hawai’i / Featured Art 10 – 22 October 2009 / Aloha Judy Pop’s and Sylvia / Mahalo nui loa, thank you so much for featuring me and my work. I very much appreciate your generous support and kind encouragement. Here are a few of the ones you have featured in your lovely group during the past couple of weeks / The World As We See It Ho’okipa Rain Dancer / Silence of Devotion / Fragrant Gardenia lamingtonia / Glisten in the Morning Light / Featured Art 16 October 2009 / Aia ‘ike lihi o ka ‘aina ~ Glimpses of the Land / Featured Art 16 October 2009 / E ala mai ‘o loko i ke kuhohonu o ke aloha Kama’ole / Featured Member and Writing 16 October 2009 / The World As We See It / Sharon Mau Featured Member / Sharon Mau ~ Ourjrny ~ The Heart Within the Art Featured Art 16 October 2009 / Aloha D R Moore Pete and ilva / Mahalo for featuring my work in your dynamic group Silhouette / Dare to Live Your Dream is one of my personal favourites and I am delighted you enjoy it. Thank you :)) / There are more but I’ve run out of time. / Thank you so much :)) My literary works and images do not belong to the public domain and may not be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without my express written authorization. Copyright © Sharon Mau 2009 / All Rights Reserved / 16 October 2009 / Ourjrny / The Heart Within the Art / Journey with Spirit
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