The Oscillators

The Oscillators will be at the Coffee House at Chesnut and Pine in Burlington, Friday Nov 2, 2018. The caffeinated folk pop sounds will be celebrating percussionist Max Melendez birthday!

God's Commas

It appears that God uses lots of commas. It appears that miracles can be small, but they are still miracles. Thank God for small miracles. Pinkinklingz appears to be free of warnings and blocks. I am going to cry BIG happy tears. May YOU have a small miracle today as well. My Mom taught me to share. Süsy¸.•*¨`*.¸.•♥

Whoa!

Things have REALLY piled up. It's been quite a while. And when I wasn't looking some very nasty hacker snuck into my blog. I am still not sure of the details. I just know that suddenly there were warnings that you might get viruses and all manner of of misfortunes may befall you. If you can read this without your security software screaming at you, maybe everything is fixed. I apologize for any disturbances you may encounter. Quite frankly, I've had enough of heart attacks myself these past months. Check back...hopefully all will be resolved soon, and I'll explain the hiatus.

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The Charms

When my daughter Shannon began chemotherapy, she started a bracelet of beads to commemorate each treatment in her journey. These are not the simple token dangles I remember as ‘charms’. These are objects d art and each bauble is rich in meaning. She had 12 treatments, and selected the right beads carefully. After one of the sessions, she showed me the bracelet’s work in progress. I admit to being charmed myself. It was a thing of beauty, but this is not a picture of it.

At Christmas time, Shannon presented me with my own ‘starter’ bracelet. She included a sparkly pink gem that would brighten even the gloomiest of days. There’s also a heart with the word “MOM” engraved on it. I could not believe my eyes when the dazzle of iridescence got my attention. That was one of her original beads.  You could say they all actually had the word ‘MOM’ engraved on them. Being the Mom, I can read words that others might not see.

It has taken, ironically, nine months to travel from the day she was diagnosed, to being declared in remission, to having the portal for chemotherapy removed at last. Being pregnant with her for nine months was much easier. I have been through birth with her, and I have been thru re-birth with her.  Both of these life events, and the thoughts and feelings that weave their way throughout, cannot be captured simply with words. Every heart and soul has a depth that has no vocabulary. All people smile in the same language, but there is no dictionary anywhere with a word for that.

And so we sometimes have to use symbols to communicate a meaning to others. My bracelet is one such symbol. Each charm will signify a time I spent with my daughter during this journey. The bracelet in the photo is mine. It celebrates life.

Tidings of Great Joy

Tidings of Great Joy
Originally uploaded by Moonflower Studio

‘Tis the season for “tidings of great joy…” and we have already received a goodly number of greetings. I have marveled at this.
Last year, the opportunity to send out Christmas cards flashed by faster than I could grasp. I vowed not to even open the ones we received until I got our own sent out. I never did, and I imagined many may have wondered if I’d given up on this quaint tradition.
I kept the unopened envelopes in view for all of 2011. I wanted to remind myself to never let this happen again. To quote Scrooge, “The spirits shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.”
Time has almost gotten the better of me anyway this season. Still, as fast as the days have scurried by, the envelopes have come again. How wonderful it is to be remembered despite my 2010 tardiness. How delightful it is that this tradition continues, and that you have included us in yours.
You may think I am taking sentiment overboard, but I assure you little things DO count. That new Hallmark slogan is true, ‘Life IS a special occasion.’
This past year my daughter, Shannon Joy, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Anyone whose life has been touched by cancer knows what a struggle it is. Being Shannon’s “Chemo-Buddy”, I‘ve witnessed her battle first hand. It has taught me a lot. I’ve been inspired by her courage and strength.
In early December her doctor gave us the results of her last PET scan. His words were “complete response to treatment” meaning there were no cancer cells to be found. She still has to finish her prescribed chemo treatment, but no extra rounds or radiation will be necessary.
Which brings us back to “‘tis the season” and “tidings of great JOY” I’d also have to add “It’s a wonderful life” and not one of these phrases is a cliché.
This Christmas, we wish every one of you all the blessings and joy you can hold.

Bella Buon Natale

There was a knock at the door around sunset. That made the young lady standing there harder to see. I opened the storm door and a small voice said "Merry Christmas!" brightly. She was holding a large tray of assorted Christmas cookies and candy canes, all carefully covered with plastic wrap. I was unsure of what I should do, so I replied "Merry Christmas!"
She lifted the festive tray higher and repeated her greeting. In stunned confusion and curiosity I muttered "Are you bringing me cookies?" She lifted the tray a bit higher. "Yes! Merry Christmas!" I took the tray from her outstretched arms. I did not recognize the young lady but her confectionery gift seemed to be wrapped in sincerity as well as plastic.  "Why?!" I asked. "Because my Mom said so...Merry Christmas!", she replied.
My guess was that this was a first for both of us. Her first delivery to a stranger, my first from a stranger. We were both unsure offer our roles. So I opted for impromptu FUN.
"Are you an ELF?" She giggled at the concept. "NoO0!"
"Then who ARE you?!"
"I am Bella ...from across the street. "
She waved her arm in a flourish as if the distance WAS to the North Pole.
I told Bella that I thought her name was beautiful. I told Bella I thought her name MEANT 'beautiful' in Italian. (She beamed at the recognition) I also told Bella that she had really made my day. I thanked Bella profusely ~ and then realized we still hadn't been introduced. I put out my hand and said, "Merry Christmas Bella, my name is Süsy."
She extended her arm and offered a warm handshake.
"Merry Christmas Süsy, I am Bella."
Yes you are Bella, yes you are.

Happy Candy Corn Birthday

Happy Candy Corn Birthday
Originally uploaded by Moonflower Studio

It was Halloween. It used to be a rather quaint little autumn festivity for children. It involved sweets.
But on that Halloween, the ‘tricky’ part was the labor, and the treat was one of the best days of my life.
On that Halloween, I had my first baby. I had a miracle happen. I made a miracle happen. A tiny little person with his very own heart and soul, mind and body arrived in this world. My Mom called him my “lil’ Punkin” I gave him a nickname as unique and special as he was. There was a chamber of my heart I hadn’t even known was there, and now it was filled.
In the years that have passed, he has gotten the cards, and the presents and the cake. You’d think everything special about that day was for him.
But I had a very blessed event that I got to hold close to my heart. I got a memory to cherish forever, and I am so glad he arrived to share it.
Happy Birthday Christopher! : D