Welcome to a World of Spiritual Harmony

My baby sister - okay, she’s not really a baby anymore, and looks like my twin - lives in Ft. Myers, FL and has pointed out a number of times over the winter that I haven’t been there since 2001.

I couldn’t believe it - but turns out it’s true. While I was pondering that, Delta sent me a nice email offering specials during April - and one of the destinations was Ft. Myers.

So given that convergence, I just bought the ticket. And am on my way out the door to spend time playing with my little sis.

Just she and I, hanging out. Super fun!

I had blogged a review of a novel, Consumed in Freedom’s Flame by Cathal Liam, about the Easter Rising in Ireland in 1916 when I finished the book in late February. And then blogged its companion historical novel, Blood on the Shamrock, when I finished it around St. Paddy’s Day. And discovered not long ago that the blog program had eaten it.

Found out that it’s eaten several other blog entries, including a review of the super fun Calculus: The Musical at the Know.

Since I write them on the blogpage, rather than copying them in, that’s evidently a risk. Though it hadn’t happened in nearly 3 years, recently it’s happened several times. So now I copy them before I click on publish, so that the writing continues to exist, no matter what the computer decides to do.

And someday soon I’ll catch up with all those missing entries, floating around in cyberspace somewhere - orphans not able to find their way home. Maybe the starship Enterprise will find them for me.

I met Teresa of Avila during my upbringing in an Irish Catholic school. She sounded pretty tedious and grim - but then all of the saints did.

I got re-acquainted with her early on in my conscious spiritual path. Our relationship has never been easy. I argue almost all the time with her beliefs and actions. Why, for instance, would she believe that flailing herself with a small whip would be a good thing from her Bridegroom’s / Christ’s point of view?

Surely she could have thought her way through that differently, could have gotten to ecstasy some other way.

There are now 2 new books out featuring Teresa. One is a fictionalized account of her life: Sister Teresa - The Woman Who Became Saint Teresa of Avila, by Barbara Mujica. The other is by excellent spiritual teacher Caroline Myss, who has put Teresa’s Interior Castle into modern understanding as Entering the Castle - Finding the Inner Path to God and Your Soul’s Purpose.

I’ve started with the fictional bio, having read several previous biographies from several time periods. It’s a good picture of Spain in the 16th century, including its treatment of women - and the pluses and minuses of marriage and the convent. Those were the only 2 choices easily available for upperclass women.

I’ll keep you posted as fresh arguments break out between me and T.

Suddenly, right after the Ohio primary - there were no more Barack stories, no editorials, no op-ed pieces, no editorial cartoons or letters to the editor. It was too sudden - no tapering off - just GONE!

It was too much. I’ve been suffering severe withdrawal for weeks now. It’s been just a bit better since last Friday - when Bob Casey from Pennsylvania endorsed him. And when Barack landed his first ball in the gutter at the bowling alley. And now when his healthy self is eating all manner of junk food across the Keystone State.

I’ve been just surviving - am now reviving. I’m ready to put on the O’Bama t-shirt I bought from their website - bright green with shamrocks! - and go back out and face the world again.