Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Meme - Seven Random Things

My friend Val at the Stepping Stones of Truth has tagged me for this intriguing meme, and here we go.

(1) When younger, I wanted to own a working mill and came very close to actually doing it. I still have vivid dreams of mill wheels turning, of sitting by mill ponds stocked with trout and visiting quiet channels graced by herons on warm summer nights. The dream remains, and who knows? It may still come true. If it happens, I shall acquire a good cello and sit by down the water, playing Mozart for the trout and the herons and the ducks.

(2) I've always wanted to visit Iceland, have already been to Baffin Island and absolutely adored the untrammeled rocky wildness of that far northern place. The north calls to me in the voice of the sirens, and Iceland, a truly northern place, has more book shops per resident than any other nation on earth.

(3) My favorite color is ultra-violet, and one of these fine days, I shall tint my silvery hair that very same color to match my favorite old Doc Martens (if the Docs hold out for another year or two).

(4) I'm a cancer patient and am hanging in there with a combination of forbearance, obdurate self-sufficiency, the occasional temper tantrum and a mountain range of hope as high as the Himalayas. I sing and dance whenever I can, and when I can't sing and dance, I croak and totter around to the best of my ability. I also spend a lot of time peering into hedgerows and wandering around with a camera, no matter how I am feeling.

(5) The little blue house in the village does have a television set, but I can't remember the last time I turned it on.

(6) When younger, I assumed that I would be a wise entity by this ripe old age, but as I move further along this meandering journey, I am realizing that I don't know anything, not a single thing, and that makes me laugh. Becoming wise or enlightened is an undertaking for many lifetimes, and several more will probably have come and gone before I have learned anything at all, however small and insignificant. I shall be content in this lifetime, if I have managed to acquire even a small scrap of mindfulness and compassion.

(7) Today is my birthday, and I am beginning the day with a fine large mug of fair trade Java. I have already received a wonderful gift from Gaia - there is a whole flock of Bohemian waxwings cavorting in the crabapple tree out in my garden. It looks as though this is going to be a long cold winter.

In my turn, I am tagging:

Caroline's Crayons
Daring To Write
Endment
Goddess in a Teapot
Kate Smudges in Earth, Paint and Life
Magic in These Hills
Rapunzel's Castle

20 comments:

adoodleaday said...

I hope you had a wonderful birthday. Best Wishes :D

Changes in the wind said...

Thank you for sharing yourself with us:) HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Richard said...

Happy Birthday Cate. Many you have many, many more.

Joanna Powell Colbert said...

Dear Cate, I am a day late, but I offer you the happiest of birthday seasons. You enrich my life so much through your blog, and I am blessed to know you.

Endment said...

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Cate, Happy Birthday to YOU!

Anonymous said...

Dear Cate,
Many good wishes to you and Happy Birthday my dear. You are a wise woman, I know, you have taught me plenty, more than you know.
It is soon time for our yearly cup of Chai Tea...
Cheers
You soul sister

kate said...

Happy Birthday to you, Cate! Mine is in two days ... number 50. And like you, I realise how little I know. You are an inspiration with your photographs and your words. I thank you for that.

This will be a fun meme to do! Thanks for tagging me!

Anonymous said...

happy happy birthday baby...tra la la.... remember that song? by my calculations this could be a significant birthday ...as they say... or the one after ...either way they are all significant. and though you aren't as old as you make out sometimes!!! you are wise. you have gathered the wisdom of your years and shared it here on this blog which touches so many ... me included. for that, and for sharing yourself in the meme, i thank you profusely.
i'm glad you were born, cate!
nance

Shelley said...

Many happy returns, dear Cate... I think there were little wood sprites dancing for joy the day you joined us here on fair Gaia.

Sorrow said...

Happy Birthday, it would seem that your modicum of wisdom shines very brightly, for I have enjoyed many of your potterings.
Thank you, and have a blessed year!

Endment said...

Well Cate - it took some doing but I managed to come up with seven things - it was just as challenging to come up with seven people to tag see my response at Seven Random Things Meme

Val said...

Well Cate, that was as fascinating as I had hoped! Much food for thought there. You are totally amazing. AND you share a birthday with my youngest daughter!! How lovely.

I shall enjoy following the meme to blogs anew.

Thank you.

Anonymous said...

I feel like I really know you better now, Cate. I was yelling "right on" at number 6.

Beautiful photos, and happy belated birthday.

Anonymous said...

happy birthday, to a wise woman, an elder of our tribe, and one who walks lightly on the earth

Shelli said...

Happy Birthday. Thank you for sharing.

Maya's Granny said...

How lovely that the Bohemian waxwings visited on your birthday! Thank you for sharing yourself in this way.

Marcie said...

Happy birthday, Cate! We share a zodiac sign. *grin* (My birthday is this coming Sunday.)

I have to disagree with you. You are wise, though humble. I am thankful for your quiet wisdom every day as I read what you share here.

hugs,
Aisling

CarolynLBoyd said...

Happy belated birthday! I love being tagged for this though it may take a few days for me to come up with my post. I learned such interesting things about you that I didn't know -- thank you for this post.

Ted Marshall said...

Coming to this belatedly, happy birthday from me also. I lurk more than comment on your blog, but always enjoy it, often for its sheer beauty.

daringtowrite said...

Dear Cate, I'm sorry to be so late with my birthday greeting and to have missed reading this post and catching up with you sooner. Still, it is very good to be here now and to be invited into your more private domain. I wish you good health and continued wisdom.

And, thanks for the tag.