It’s a Love Story . . . Discovered

I’m falling in love again with a little girl named Patsy. I’ve lost touch with her since I grew up. You may say I abandoned her, when I moved on to what was accepted and required. She grew pigtails, climbed trees and built houses in the dirt. We used to play and had a loving, imaginary friend that was always with us. (You’re right ― that’s me.)

Patsy as a baby

Patsy © Pat Ruppel

They were happy, carefree days with warm summer breezes and cloudless skies, where she played with cousins and ran barefoot in the dirt. Continue reading

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Squeezed Oranges and More

squeeze oranges,

Oranges — Image by © Royalty-Free/Corbis at MSN Clipart

Yesterday, I was reminded of an analogy Dr. Wayne Dyer spoke of awhile back, when he asked (to paraphrase), “What comes out when you squeeze an orange?” Well, the obvious answer would be orange juice. But, he took it further in asking to take a personal look at ourselves and what goes on in our lives.

What comes out when we’re being squeezed? I think this is what I got hit with yesterday ― the stuff that’s held onto for so long in people’s hearts. It had to come out.

The story of the orange came to me after a series of phone calls. I was excited to chat, as I normally don’t talk on the phone that much ― at least, not this many calls, one right after the other. The energy built and momentum from one call to the next and I didn’t notice it at first.  Continue reading

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The Secret

The Stonehenge in England Photo Provided by Fotolia at MSN Clipart

The Stonehenge in England Photo Provided by Fotolia at MSN Clipart

 “We all sit around in a circle and suppose, while the secret sits in the center and knows” ~~ Robert Frost

I love this quote by Robert Frost and can relate in many circumstances. In fact, it’s probably what I’ve done most of my life, metaphorically ― analyze everything to death but would never get to the core.

Therein lies the frustration, when it seems the answers are right there ― so close you feel them. Only, you don’t know why you can’t see. Why you don’t understand and why it’s happening to me. Have you ever felt that way?  Continue reading

My Little Miracle

Tree Photo - MSN Clipart

Tree Photo – MSN Clipart

I’ve been reading a lot lately, books, posts, articles, and came across some of my old journals. I had forgotten about this incident I wrote about in December of 1999 . . . my little miracle.

It’s been more than 10 years ago and I can still remember it, as if it was yesterday. It was not so insignificant, at the time, or minor, as I recall, and goes like this:  Continue reading

It Was One of Those Moments

My heart was touched today. It was one of those moments I wish I could capture and hold not letting it slip away. Sometimes memories are triggered from an old song or the smell of fizzing Coca-Cola transporting me to a safe place of love. That’s what happened today when I read this little story from an old friend. I guess I needed a jump-start, feeling dull and bored, second-guessing my purpose and worth in the world. You know the tapes.

And then a little whisper of inspiration came my way and tears bubbled up. In listening to this song and reading the story, I felt a flood of mixed emotions ― sadness, disregard, old, withdrawn, shame, guilt, innocence, discovery, forgiveness, love. What a piece of work we are as humans.

I saw myself playing all the parts. I was the son, daughter-in-law, the grandfather and the child and felt the emotions of each one as they played it out. I’m glad they played it to the end and didn’t get stuck on one part. That’s what it feels like sometimes.

The story triggered a genuine, tender love for my fellow humans and me. We mess it up a lot ― BIG TIME. But, when we get it right, it’s just as monumental. As I reflect on that moment I still feel the tenderness of forgiveness and love given freely as you would to a young child.

My heart was touched ― “Oh, how I wish this tenderness, love and forgiveness for the world.”

Pat from the ol’ kitchen table