OUT OF STEP

Good morning from Saturday morning here in Adelaide where the weather continues to be blissful and cool.   They sky is grey this morning and holds the promise of rain, but I doubt that we are going to get more than a light shower if anything at all.

Saturday mornings are lovely and generally quiet where I live and as I didn't have to shop today I have had the whole morning at home.   My neighbour is mowing his lawns and the comforting sounds of normality surround me.

I may have shared the image above before, but it is one of my favourites and takes me right back instantly to my early childhood days when my Mother cherished the thought that her daughter may become a ballerina - but the daughter had very different ideas.    

All the lovely little girls in pink would front up to the barre and go through their steps while I would be doing somersaults and hanging upside down.   I can still hear the teacher calling my name and see my Mother's distressed face.   I didn't want to do Ballet classes and I would hide and have to be dragged kicking and screaming to class on the bus, and we would arrive late because of that.   Yet she persisted and we would go through this regime every week and still I would swing on the barre.  (A distant cousin however in later years did audition for Sadler's Wells Ballet in London) but that wasn't me !

I wanted (and did eventually get) a pony and I wanted to walk through mud and ride with the wind in my hair - I certainly didn't want to wear a pink tutu and leotard.    The thought of jodphurs with chamois leather knee pads and soft leather boots and a dark blue hacking jacket and dark blue velvet riding cap brought squeals of delight from the upside down little girl.  That little girl would sleep with her cap on her pillow and her boots alongside her bed.

I knew then what I wanted and what was right for me and in many ways I have been "out of step" all my life and have held strong opinions on many many things and have always made those opinions known.

I have taken a stand many times for what I believe in - days of Vietnam Moratorium Marches in Adelaide would see me every Friday  lunchtime protesting against the war. I have written letters to Newspapers, Parliamentarians, and Governments all over the world and today is no different.

I am vocal and loud in my support of Marriage Equality and rejoice that many countries have changed their laws so that people of the same gender who love each other can be married.   Well done to those Countries and to the States in America that have changed their laws. 37 of the 50 States of America have changed their statutes.    I have cherished friends who have now been able to marry with all the security and acceptance it brings and I rejoice for them.  It is not Gay Rights it is Human Rights.

I stand proud and tall in my rejection of the death penalty anywhere in the world and am vocal in my stance against the putting to death of the two Australian men on death row at the moment - I stand against the death pentalty for the men from Brazil, the Phillipines, France and anywhere else.

I am a mother and my heart is sore for the Mothers of these two young men - I cannot imagine the pain they feel.

There are many other causes I stand tall and proud to support - I am against Female Genital Mutilation and most definitely stand beside those of us who need a little more help along the way because of a disability.

The world is a sadder place because Stella Young left us in December and is no longer here to shed her light and humour for her cause.   Vale Stella. 

Be proud of who you are and what you believe in and stand up for it.  Do it with dignity and pride and let your voice be heard - These are some of the lyrics of a song by an Australian Folk Singer Judy Small. 

" And I'm just one voice anyway, just one brick in the wall

One brick in the wall you may be, one voice in the crowd

But without you we are weaker and our song may not be heard

One drop in the ocean, but each drop will swell the tide

So be your one brick in the wall, be one voice in the crowd  "

Be that drop in the ocean, be that brick in the wall and let your voice be heard.

Thank you for visiting the Musings of My Heart - an active and proactive heart with very strong beliefs and very great care for my brothers and sisters in this world.

Love and hugs,

RUBY TUESDAY - DIAMONDS ON THE SOLES OF MY SHOES

To quote my daughter when very young "but they are the only feet I have."

(Maybe I am walking out of step because I have "Diamonds on the soles of my  Shoes"
Paul Simon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olE7gKuRjQ4

Hello and welcome to my little corner of the world - it is Tuesday Afternoon and a day on which I feel totally out of step with the world. I feel as though I have my shoes on the wrong feet. I had a rough night - none of the usual trouble staying asleep - my trouble last night was getting to sleep.  I tried all the usual things, get up, read, warm drink, back to bed, read and settle for the night.  Didn't work this time and I think the last time I looked at the clock was 3.40 a.m.

This of course mean when I finally did get out of bed it was 7.30a.m. and I have been out of step with the world ever since.   I had two visitors before 10.00.a.m. which was lovely, but I just seem to be not able to catch up and now my computer is running slow so I think that too may be feeling a little out of step.

Today has been a day of winter sunshine and gentle winds and a pleasant day all round.  I have given up trying to catch up - content now to let this day happen as it will and start afresh tomorrow. I am in a fog and almost walking as though I have my shoes on the wrong feet.  Totally out of routine and step.  A strange and different feeling but not all bad.

Shared home made soup and bread rolls with a friend for lunch and we did crossword puzzles which I really enjoy.  It is part of my "keep the brain sharp" regime as is the "Prompting Me to Write blog"  The link for this blog is down the right hand side of this page under Blogs.

Poor Chloe's nose is a little out of joint today because we had another cat visit our garden and she is not impressed - and I think she may have heard me talking with Alexis and Naomi about getting a dog - I hope she stuck around long enough to hear me say that it isn't going to happen.

Pet's are lovely and provide such loyalty and company but there are problems when we have to go away.  Chloe hasn't forgiven me for being away in hospital yet, although she was well cared for.

I have just looked at the time and instead of wishing you a good morning - it is late afternoon for me and I should be wishing you a pleasant evening and a good night.  And for those for whom morning is on its way I wish you a lovely Ruby Tuesday.  Even though I am feeling a little out of step - I am fine - the moon is in the sky, the sun is going down to rest, God's in His Heaven and all is well in my little corner of the world.

I wish you diamonds on the soles of your shoes. diamonds in your sky and diamond dewdrops in your gardens,   I wish you a sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you and a sheltering angel so nothing can harm you.

I wish you love and laughter and thank you for visiting "The Musings of My Heart" and I shall be having an early night and trying to get my shoes on the right feet tomorrow. Your visits here really mean a lot to me.

Love and hugs,