Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013

Every day of our lives, we learn from our mistakes and our victories, the important thing is that we live something new every day. May we live intensely every moment, the New Year that begins tonight, with peace and hope, for life is a gift and every moment is a blessing from God. Happy 2013!

This is my message to everyone today December 31^st. 2012 is leaving and 2013 is knocking on our doors. Many New Year’s resolutions are being formed as well as the old ones are being checked up on to see how many were achieved. Isn’t this something that we do every December 31^st?

Overall 2012 was not such a bad year although I heard from a lot of people that they were anxious for the year to end. This has always been an intriguing fact for me. If you think about it, every morning a new day is born and you can change your lifestyle at any moment. So what is the magic of January 1^st? Indeed, it is a magical day.

January 1^st is the beginning of new plans: more exercise, lose weight, be a better person, travel more, read more, work less, make more money, help people etc. It seems like we overload January 1^st, doesn’t it? You can do all of this every morning.

Anyhow, let’s reflect about my 2012.

Yesterday at church the Pastor asked us to think about our year and asked to think about the people that we have left positive marks in their hearts and a list of people who have left them in ours. As soon as he said this I started thinking. It was not an easy list to make, but I tried.

I have made a difference in the lives of a few people as a few have made a difference in mine. Even if it was just one person, it was worth it. If you think about it, we do not do anything alone. You need people in your life.

Reflecting about my year, I have a lot to be grateful for. I was able to return to work after nine-month tough battle with an unknown disease that took away my ability to walk. I still have to deal with the pain that I feel on a daily bases, but at least I can get up and go; I have gone back to walking at my own pace and carefully.

My friends and I have gotten closer and the few moments spent together are rich and filled with growth and happiness. Despite the fact that some people have left my life, they have left positive marks in my heart although there was a lot of pain that came along with the loss. People come and go and the earlier we accept this, the easier it is to deal with loss.

Moneywise, well well, that was a real challenge. Life is not easy here in South America although the media shows the opposite or people are spending more money and traveling more. Food prices go up on a daily basis and because of my diet restrictions, my food bill is quite pricey; however, as if magically, the money that I need has always been in my bank account. I know it is not magic, but God.

I believe that faith is my biggest achievement in 2012. My faith is stronger and I live by it. I know that God is taking care of me and supporting me in every decision that I make and every step I take. For this I am grateful. Up until now, I have been given life. So whenever little things try to bring me down, I remember that I have been given the gift of life and that is not to be wasted.

My blog is also a great achievement for me. I have written 70 posts and it has been viewed by 1818 people up to now. 70 moments of creativity, inspiration based on people that I have met or just seen on the streets of Sao Paulo and other places that I have travelled to. It has been a way to get rid of my thoughts and my stress; an escape valve. By the number of the stories viewed I know which stories are appealing to my readers and those that are not so much. I have four followers who I know may not understand everything I write, but are there to support me.

I am happy at where I am right now and I hope that in 2013 continue on this path of experience and growth.

Thank you for reading and may 2013 be a filled with daily blessings in our lives J

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( written Decemebr 31st, 2012)
copyright ©2012 - Todos os direitos reservados a Meire Marion.

At the Checkout Line

It was a typical Saturday morning for two women who were on their way to the supermarket with their mom. Mildred and Martha look forward to taking the car and driving to the big supermarket near their house although it was summer and they knew that on the drive home there would be a rain storm for sure. That’s the way it was in this city located in a tropical country.

Mildred was named after Charlie Chaplin’s first wife Mildred Harris. He mom simply adored him and enjoyed watching his movies over and over again. If she had given birth to a boy, he would have been called Charlie, but then again, she ended up having two girls.

Martha was named after the American journalist Martha Gellhorn. You see the mother enjoyed reading about people and when she read about Mrs. Gellhorn she fell in love with her life. However, if you looked at the mother, you’d think she could barely read at all. Life had been cruel to her and her body had aged quite a lot.

Mildred was older than Martha, however, Martha looked older. Because she had the same body shape as her mother, she shared he clothes. She wore her mother’s dresses which were made for older women. Mildred on the other hand, was thinner and liked to keep in shape.

People thought Martha was much prettier than Mildred but it was Mildred who was seen in the neighborhood getting friendly with the males. Martha had never been with a man although she would be celebrating her 31^st birthday in a few weeks. She worked as a clerk at a shoe store near her home and when she wasn’t at work she was at home watching TV and keeping her mother company.

Mildred was 3 years older than Martha, wore glasses and liked to wear miniskirts and really short shorts in the summer time. She was the only person in the family who drove and she worked as an editor for a local publisher. She worked a lot in the office and when she wasn’t at work, she was hanging out with her friends at the bars in the neighborhood. She loved to drink and make out. However, she didn’t want to get involved with anyone seriously. People used to say that she was too easy therefore it was not that she didn’t want a serious relationship, it was the opposite; no one wanted to marry her.

The mother was well aware of the situation of her two daughters. She loved them dearly and was very grateful to have them around despite not knowing what she could do to help them.

At the supermarket each of them filled that cart with what they needed for that week. The mother worried about getting the rice, beans, potatoes, meat and pasta while each of the girls got snacks and other things to their taste. Of course, Martha didn’t read the labels and was not worried about her health or her shape whereas Mildred read all the labels and only got low-cal, low-carbs, low-salt, and low-sugar goodies.

They had made it to the checkout counter before the downpour. While Martha and her mom were placing the items on the belt, Mildred had gone to the lingerie section to grab a pair of new panties; one never knows what can happen on a Saturday night.

-          “250 reais” said the checkout girl.

Martha placed her bank card in the slot and told the checkout girl that she was paying for half. Then Mildred paid for the other half. They never talked about how unfair this was or not. Sometimes Mildred tried to mention the fact on their way home from the supermarket. But after a few unsuccessful tries she just gave up. Nonetheless, what her mother did with her pension money always crossed her mind. Perhaps she would find out when the inheritance came about.

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(Written December 29, 2012 – all of this came to mind at the checkout counter at the supermarket this afternoon as I observed the three women in front of me.)

copyright ©2012 - Todos os direitos reservados a Meire Marion.

A Game of Dominoes

              Christmas had just gone by and Paul had gotten what he had asked for and he was on his way to Fred’s house to play with his Christmas gift in hands.

            His family was going through dire straits so he asked Santa to bring him a game he could play with his friends. He was ten years old and he knew who Santa was, he didn’t want to ask for something his parents couldn’t afford.  He had seen some old men playing dominoes at the park and he was intrigued with how much fun they had.

            Reaching Fred’s, Paul rang the doorbell and Fred’s mother answered.

-           Hello Paul.

-           Hello Mrs. Sanders. Is Fred home?

-           No, he went to the restaurant with his dad today.

-           Oh. I wanted to play with him. I got a game for Christmas.

-           Go down to the restaurant. I am sure you’ll be able to play with him there.

-           Ok. Thanks. Bye

            He just had to walk down the street and he was at the restaurant. It wasn’t a fancy place, quite simple in fact; decorated in tones of green and yellow. Sometimes Mr. Sanders invited him to eat there and he thought that the food was very yummy.

-           Hello Mr. Sanders. Is Fred here?

-           Hello Paul. Yes, he’s out back. Go ahead and see what he’s up to.

Happily and anxiously Paul walked out back. He couldn’t wait to show his

best friend his new toy. Fred was sitting with his back to the door and Paul noticed that he was playing with something.

-           Hey Fred, what’s up?

-           Hi there Paul. I was just playing with my new video game. Look.

-           Cool. Paul was a bit upset.

He knew that Fred’s game was much better than his and now he wouldn’t

want to play with him.

-           You have to press all these buttons and then the little soldiers shoot everyone and defend their territory.

-           It sounds really exciting.

 Paul tried to hide his simple game.

-           What’s that you got?

 Fred pointed to the small box in Paul’s hands.

-           This is a Dominoes game.

-           Dominoes? Can I see?

-           Sure.

 Paul hands him the box.

-           Where do you turn it on?

-           It’s not digital or anything like that. You need to play on a table. Come with me.

Paul walks over to the restaurant and tells Fred to take a seat.

-           Let me show you how to play. Each player draws seven dominoes. Like this.

Paul draws seven and Fred does the same.

-           To win the game you have to get rid of the dominoes you have. Whoever has the highest double goes first.

-           I have a double six.

-           Ok so you start Fred. Now, I have to put down a domino with the same numbers next to the first domino. And we take turns putting them down.It doesn't matter which end but you have to make sure the same numbers are always touching. Do you understand?

-           Yeap, but Paul, what if I don’t have a domino that matches either end?

-           Then you have to pick from the pile until you don't get a domino that matches.

-           What if there are no more dominoes left in the pile?

-           Then you just pass. The first person to run out of dominoes wins.

-           Can we play Paul?

-           You really want to? Yours is much better.

-           No, it isn’t. Mine can only be played alone. Yours seems more challenging and you know I love a good challenge. Or are you afraid that you are going to lose?

-           Lose? Me? You’re on. Let’s play.

Paul and Fred played for hours. They laughed and yelled every time they laid a domino down. They were having a blast. They kept score as to how many times each one won. As the customers arrived for dinner, they were surprised to see those two little boys having such a good time playing a simple game of dominoes.

( Written December 27, 2012)

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copyright ©2012 - Todos os direitos reservados a Meire Marion.

The Man in the Red Suit

( For João Arthur )

He was just two and 11 months old, spoke a lot but sometimes He used his own language. He was the cutest thing to his family for he was the youngest nephew, grandson, child in the family. It was his really first Christmas that he could understand. He knew that all the gifts under the tree were to be opened on Christmas day after Santa had come to visit. He was not looking forward to Santa´s visit because that old man in the red suit just scared him so much. Besides, he was everywhere: on TV, at all the malls and on many street corners. Every time someone walked by that old man shouted HO HO HO. It made the little boy jump with fear.

The day had finally arrived. It was time for the presents to be opened but first there was a ritual that was done. Every one sat down around a very pretty dinner table, held hands, said a prayer and ate a lot. He did not understand why some of the people present were tense because there was a power shortage. He was thrilled that everyone he loved, his mom and dad, grandparents and favorite aunt were there and pretty soon Saint Nick would show up. The little light in the house was candle light which he tried to blow out every time someone was distracted. He was enjoying this family time.

Then it started. Boom! He shrieked. Fireworks! He hated fireworks.

All of a sudden the family got up and started hugging and kissing each other and shouting Merry Christmas.  Was it now? Where would he show up from? Out of the blue, they heard a truck honk and there he was that man in the red suit shouting HO HO HO and ringing a golden bell. Everyone waved and to his surprise the old man just smiled and shout Merry Christmas little man and was gone.

That was the sign and off into the house they went. He could not believe his eyes. Where had all those huge gifts come from? They weren´t there the last time he snuck into the living room. He was so happy that he jumped up and down and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and just kept saying: let´s open them please.

And when he did, he realized that Santa had remembered each and every little thing he had asked for whenever he spoke to him at the mall.

( Photo by Meire Marion taken Dec. 24, 2012)

( Written December 26, 2012)

copyright ©2012 - Todos os direitos reservados a Meire Marion.

Rain

The rain seems like it is going to pour,

Pour into a non-stop valley without an exit.

Exit? Wish there was one,

One person to be there with me when times are hard.

People say that times are hard.

My heart cries out,

It cries out to you who does not respond.

Could you be deaf?

Could you be blind?

Why do I question you?

Perhaps it is I who am deaf.

Perhaps it is I who am blind.

In the end it does not matter,

For my heart is pouring out an endless rain to flood my eyes.

I call you all the time for an evening together.

You seem to always be busy.

I am starting to wonder what you are afraid of.

People should not be afraid of friends.

People should not be afraid to love.

Giving you love is all that matters.

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( Written May 26, 2011)

copyright ©2012 - Todos os direitos reservados a Meire Marion.

An Unexpected Squirt in the Face

They had gone away on a field trip to study some caves with their Geography teacher. They had been looking forward to this trip for everyone who had gone before always had fantastic stories to tell and they were sure that it wouldn’t be any different for them.

They had called each other up on Skype the night before to make sure that they had packed everything they needed for everything they had planned. They were really excited that they would be sharing a room in the hotel. The teacher had divided the class into groups of four. They had been friends for ten years now since they started the first grade. For them their friendship was filled with laughter and pranks and to the outsiders they were just a bunch of brats.

On the way to the caves they sang, teased a few of the other kids, slept a bit and talked; it was a five hour ride.

Having arrived at the first cave they were in awe. It was huge and the cold stone walls seemed to have caught their attention. Not to mention that each time someone saw a bat, it was a glorious finding.

Back at the hotel they used paper, scissors, and rock to choose their beds. They needed to wash up and meet everyone else in the hotel cafeteria for dinner. Three of them were ready and impatient to wait for the fourth member. They decided that they would go ahead and get a good table. Everyone agreed.

While they were waiting for the fourth member to arrive in the cafeteria the other three were making plans on how to play a prank on their friend. Every group has a leader and this group was no different. The leader had a wonderful plan. He would be the last person to use the bathroom and he planned to wrap the toilet seat with plastic sealer and then when the fourth member woke up to pee in the middle of the night, he’d be surprised. They agreed to the plan and were quite anxious to see what would happen.

The leader had done what they had planned, turned off the lights, they giggled and laughed about what had happened during the day and after some time, finally all four fell asleep.

In the middle of the night the leader of the group got up and really needed to go to take a leak. He was sleepy and apparently had forgotten that he had sealed the toilet with the transparent plastic. He raised the lid and started to pee. The squirt came out so powerful that the pee bounced off the plastic and squirted him in the face. He was still kind of sleepy and did not realize what was happening. However, he let out a loud cry. He was soaked and wet from his own pee. How could he have been so stupid?

The other boys jumped out of their beds and ran to the bathroom to see what the matter was. They laughed and laughed at the poor sight. The leader was drenched from head to toe. They laughed so hard that they almost peed themselves.

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 (written December 15, 2012)

copyright ©2012 - Todos os direitos reservados a Meire Marion.

Alcohol Reveals the Truth

The party had been going on for a few hours and everyone was having a blast enjoying the food, drinks, and the music. The guests felt at home and greeted everyone as they walked in. It was not a big bash, approximately 30 people among friends and family, no one unknown.

Then out of the blue he walked in, handsomely dressed.  His beauty did not call everyone’s attention, but the fact that he was alone did. Everyone questioned where his wife was. He shouted for everyone to hear that he had spent the whole afternoon at another party drinking and according to his wife he was drunk therefore she was too embarrassed to be with him. So, they had an argument and she left him there.

The guests went on eating, drinking, dancing and talking. He was not able to stand so he sat down and started to talk about how he was getting home. If his wife had left him there, who would drive him home?

-          “If you want to, I can drop you off at the nearest subway station” offered one of the oldest guests.

-          “No that is ok. I am going to spend the night at her place.”

He turned to the quite blond sitting at the opposite side of him. She made believe that he was not talking to her and looked the other way.

-          “Please look at me. I am talking to you. Will you take care of me tonight?”

She did not know what to say after all drunken people are not in their right mind; how to get out of the situation without starting an argument or upsetting this poor drunk. Everyone anxiously awaited her response.

-          “I don’t think I can. I do not drink and wouldn’t know how to take care of someone who does.” She managed to come up with that and turned away again.

Her cousin noticed how uncomfortable she felt and added

-           “Don’t you know that she only likes cats ,not dogs? “

Everyone laughed. He had managed to draw everyone’s attention. She just wanted to dig a whole and crawl in it.

-          “If I meow, would that help? I am a handsome guy. Don’t you think that I am a handsome guy?”

She just smiled and started to wish really hard that he would put an end to that embarrassing moment. He was the host’s best friend and she always suspected that he had feelings towards her and she did think he was rather hot, but she never gave it much thought; he was a married man. But now, in front of the whole family and close friends, under the effect of alcohol, the cat was out of the bag.

His phone rang and he started his goodbyes. His wife had called and was coming to pick him up. He realized too that it was time for him to go perhaps he was a bit more sober. He came over to her while everyone was watching and in her ear he whispered “My luck will change next time. I will still spend the night at your place one of these days.”

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(Written December 10, 2012)

copyright ©2012 - Todos os direitos reservados a Meire Marion.

My Legs

My Legs

My Life

My world

Shattered

No ground

No security

Nothing to hold on to

Let go

Fall

Fall

Fall

Why? I scream!

So I stop and listen.

No answer

Wait

Recover

Love

Love

Love

My legs

My legs

They walk again!

(Written : 27/05/2011 at 12:41 am)

 copyright ©2012 - Todos os direitos reservados a Meire Marion.

Have To´s

One of the most difficult aspects of life that I find hard to deal with is the 'Have To'.

You have to be kind. You have to do your work. You have to pay your bills. You have to exercise. You have to respect. You have to take your medication. You have to wake up early. You have to be polite. You have to follow the rules. You have to study. You have to clean up after yourself. You have to prove to others that you are good enough. You have to make others like you. You have to make a difference…Enough already!

There are so many have to´s nowadays that frustration is hitting me as I list them. Why can´t we just do what we feel like doing and when we feel like doing it?

I realize that I am not the only one on this planet who feels this way. I have heard it coming out of other people´s mouths; how much they hate having to do something. Even so, we write up our ‘to do’ lists and cross out each and everything that has been completed. Although we hate doing something, we go ahead and do it just because we have to. To me it is an insane process. Some one somewhere decided that these things had to be done and without questioning we go ahead and do it putting aside our feels or our beliefs.

In the process of writing this, I was watching some reruns of one of my favorite shows at present: The Big Bang Theory and found a very logical thought.

In the first season, episode nine,  there is a sketch where Leonard tells Sheldon that they have to go to a conference to present their findings and Sheldon answers: “No we don’t. We have to take in nourishment, expel waste, and inhale enough oxygen to keep ourselves from dying, everything else is optional.” His answer hit me so hard making me think how easy and makes so much sense.

If we humans came with instructions, I believe that this would be it; simple and straight to the point: Eat, Expel Waste and Breathe. Everything else is up to you.

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(December 7, 2012)

copyright ©2012 - Todos os direitos reservados a Meire Marion.

The End of the Party

It was around two am and many of the guests had already called it a night. I had to wait for my ride was the host. I was very tired from sitting and dancing and all the excitement, so I decided to stand and join in on the conversation at a table nearby.

All of a sudden there was a big bang. It sounded like a gun shot. But that couldn´t be. I looked towards the far end of the room, there was a couple. The man was standing and burning off steam while the girl was still seated listening to what he was screaming at her.

She got up and then very quickly he grabbed her by the neck and started to strangle her. She did not scream nor punch him back. It seemed as if she was accepting what he was doing to her. He threw her to the floor with one sharp move. Down she went and he threw himself on top of her. I screamed. The security men ran towards them and so did a few of the male guests; six in all. They tried and tried to remove the girl from under him and it seemed like such a long time before they managed.

Some of the female guests took her to the opposite side of the room where she was giving a glass of water and comforted. As he was escorted out he was sobbing and repeating: I went for her neck again!

What a horrible scene! I could not believe my eyes or my ears. I could not believe why such a pretty girl would be engaged to someone who had gone for her neck again (I found out later on that they were engaged). How many times had he done this? I was more shocked at this fact than the scene I had just witnessed. What makes a person stay with a person who apparently has some issues that need to be worked out; a person who could take away the other´s life in a spilt second without a thought? Love? In my conception, love is so much greater.

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 (Written December 5, 2012)  
        

copyright ©2012 - Todos os direitos reservados a Meire Marion.

Johmnee's Holiday Weekend

                                       ( Dedicated to Joao Arthur )


            Johmnee was a strong blue fun fish who lived all by himself in a quite comfortable but downsized tank. Since he was a loner, he didn´t need much space. He had been brought up to be by himself and take care of himself. In fact, he was trained to fight whenever another fish showed up that is the reason why he was separated from the rest of the world of sea fish. His whole breed was that way. He comes from the line of fish called Betta  Splendens  or better known  as Siamese Fighting Fish.

Photo by Meire Marion

Little Johmnee was owned by a small two-and-a-half-year-old boy named Johnny. When Johnny saw the Betta for the first time at the pet shop he turned to his dad at the speed of lightening, and said I want him, I want him.

His dad could not resist that little face that had lit up and clapped and spun around in the shop while he was non-stop saying those three words: I want him. So, he bought him.

When father and son arrived home with the new family member and introduced him to the mother, she turned to the little boy and asked him: what his name was. He smiled and said “Johmnee”.

Johnny took good care of Johmnee by feeding him once a day usually after dinner. Johmnee patiently waits for Johnny to finish his meal before he gets fed. When Johnny feeds Johmnee he always says the same thing: eat everything so you can grow up and be strong.

Many days went by when Johmnee saw the mom and dad talking and pointing at him. He could understand the little boy, but these two used words that he could not decode. But then they turned to Johnny and Johnny smiled and jumped up and down really happy, so it must have been good.

The next day, bright and early the father lifted Johmnee´s tank and off they went to an unknown place. He was placed on a soft surface but the object moved so much that some of his water spilled out.

Photo by Meire Marion

He wondered where they were heading. The only trip he had taken was from the petshop to the house and now there he was again going somewhere.

After an hour or so they arrived in a beautiful house where surrounded by trees, a swimming pool and lots and lots of bright sunshine. Johmnee was happy although the water in his tank was starting to get a bit warm.

Photo by Meire Marion

The mother put Johmnee´s tank down on a shelf at the entrance of the house on the inside and there he stayed for six days. There was much to do but he did get to watch the trees sway, see the birds fly by and also watch those other people he didn´t know walk by.

Photo by Meire Marion

Photo by Meire Marion

There were only two of them who noticed he was there when they walked by, little Johnny and Johnny´s Godmother. These two would walk by and say hello, good morning, good afternoon and good night sleep well when it was bedtime. The others went on with their busy lives and didn´t even notice he was there. It made Johmnee a bit sad. Also little Johnny didn´t play with him once so he was not able to perform his daily stunts, no one stopped to watch. At least they remembered to feed him, but still it was not at the same hour and it was always the father who did and not little Johnny.

When the six days were up he was put back into the vehicle and after a couple of hours he was placed in front of the TV and he knew he had arrived home and at last  would have little Johnny´s attention all to himself once again.

He could not understand why all these people wanted to go and do their daily chores in another place; why they had taken him with them if they simply ignored him. All he knew was that, for him, those were the loneliest six days ever.

Photo by Meire Marion

(Written: November 22, 2012 All the pictures were taken by me and the fish belongs to my Godchild - JA)

 copyright ©2012 - Todos os direitos reservados a Meire Marion.