Mama's Musings

[Slow News] Going slow at the New York Public Library http://bit.ly/3QeBbo

The story of a necklace, the making of a dream

Today is the official release date for new book The Power of Slow. It has been an amazing day (B&N had four copies on its shelves, which I promptly and, yes, proudly, signed!).

I must share a quick story with you as it is once again the type of miracle that is my life.

The necklace you made for me so many years ago mysteriously disappeared one day after I had taken it off while doing a soap opera. I searched high and love for it ~to no avail. I often wore the necklace with its bobble-like pendulum adorned with two enormous hands reaching for the stars. It had always served me well. Then one day, it must have gotten tired and went to rest somewhere quiet.

While at an ice cream parlor today, I found it in my pocket. Only the thing is I had just used that pocket several times to store my cell phone for unexpected media calls and the like. And I had never felt it. Then, when my friend went to use the restroom, I dug into the pocket looking for my cell phone and found the necklace instead.

The resurfacing of my beloved necklace on a day like today tells me there is a plan in store for each of us. It wasn't until I released the necklace to the Universe (with much pain and sadness) that it came back to me. Holding onto our dreams does not mean we clutch. It means we surrender to the very beauty that those dreams can bring. In the knowingness of dreams that foster our creativity, we blossom in its riches and rejoice when reunited after a time of respite and renewal.

[Slow News] The American Dream Come True http://bit.ly/LhCiJ

[Slow News] Sunshine Days http://bit.ly/47Mb5

[Slow News] Rocking the House in Slow Style http://bit.ly/AVS44

[Slow News] Slow Thought of the Day http://bit.ly/1Pd2yo

You gonna change the world, Mama

We have officially entered the tween years, those bittersweet days of little girl turned fire-breathing something or other turned little girl again. Just as you think you are about to hang her by her toes, my daughter does or says something that leads to redemption every time. And when I catch her at the right moment, there's downright love in her eyes.

This morning I awoke to the furious rantings of a ten-year-old whose father wasn't listening. In our adult way, we like to admonish, instruct and guide our young-uns towards, well, what we want them to do. Never mind we don't always do it ourselves.

No, you can't watch TV. Honey, where' the remote?

Because I said so. Now don't do what I'm about to do cuz, uh, it's not allowed.

I want you to come down here. Right. This. Minute. (Then we wonder when they use the same tone right back at us).

Sigh. So in my melodramatic half-sleep state (waving goodbye to the little REM I had acquired in a virtually sleepless night), I stomped down the stairs and into the corner where my daughter cowered with a blend of defiance and fright.

We battled in a weirdish Mom-not-awake way, then said goodbye in softer tones. By the time she had gotten home from school again, I knew she had taken a detour (again. And not allowed) via her old schoolhouse where her fourth grade teacher always listens to my daughter's concerns about getting a bad grade on her test.

She came home dragging her feet and announcing she had gotten a C- in biology. I ignored her for a moment, allowing her to hear herself before jumping in. Then I calmly asked her if she wanted salad. She appeared relieved that I wasn't addressing what she just had. I helped her print out a few pictures of cells for her science poster, then let her type up her text on her computer, something she loves to do.

"You know what, Mama," my daughter said in a wise-like (and not at all wise-a$$) tone. "Your new book** is gonna change the world. All those people are gonna step back and take a moment to actually think before they destroy the planet and themselves. I mean it. It's cool." Then she trounced off the hang up the wash without a single vitriolic huff, leaving me with my mouth agape at the transformation, and the trust, my daughter just displayed.

**Book events calendar here.

[Slow News] Hands-on the issues of cell phone use while driving http://bit.ly/4ePV44

[Slow News] The melding of public and private ~ tweeting after sex http://bit.ly/6IFh0

[Slow News] Information Overload or Filter Failure http://bit.ly/fOQdX