Scratchy Sweater

Ever since the Super and Full Moon of a few days ago, it seems that the air has been absolutely thick with aggravation, something akin to wearing a 'scratchy sweater.' This seems to be happening not only on a global scale (unrest in many countries in the Middle East/bomb in Jerusalem), but on a personal level, as well. I literally wanted to jump out of my skin, today! Realizing that, I took a detour after work and enjoyed some sunshine (with 60-degree weather that we haven't had in 139 days) by a saltwater seashore while talking to my Rock-of-Gibraltor sister on the phone. Water always calms me down (as does she) and brings balance back in to my life. What a sweet Piscean she is.

Another famous Pisces checked out today, though: actress Elizabeth Taylor. When she was younger, she was the most stunningly beautiful and iconic brunette of her generation...with unique violet eyes. Had she been paired with Tony Curtis when he was in his prime...OMG what a visually stunning couple they would have made! Not to mention the attractive beauty of Liz & Montgomery Clift...be still my heart. I guess on this 34th anniversary of my first divorce I can no longer joke that I'm competing with Liz in the marriage category...that would honestly be disrespectful, now. I'll never forget seeing the huge playbill memory book my brother got from the movie 'Cleopatra' in which she played the lead role. While filming this very EXPENSIVE film of the time, she met and had an affair with her future 2-time husband, Richard Burton, a larger-than-life Welsh Scorpio (what a volatile combination right there!)

No doubt that the recent conjunction between the Sun and Uranus, 4 planets in Aries and the intense Scorpio Moon until this afternoon (Pacific time) played a part in my 'scratchy sweater' discomfort. This early in Springtime it's too breezy and chilly to be without it, but at the same time it was a source of extreme irritation and drove me absolutely bonkers! And that is even though I wasn't actually wearing a 'scratchy sweater'...it was rather the current mood of the last several days. Thank goodness the Moon has finally moved in to a-happy-go-lucky, the-glass-is-half-full, all-things-are-possible Sagittarian attitude! Vive la difference!

If I had a glass of champagne (as my brother had waiting for me after my intimidating divorce court experience ) I'd toast Liz to a life well-lived. Having read her biography of many years ago, I remain amazed at the multitude of medical problems she personally endured . Today, I'll settle for saluting her contribution to the big screen with a cup of coffee, remembering she hated to be called 'Liz.' May you find your place in the sun.

©2011 Debbie Ballard

Extreme Super Moon

March 19, 2011 (approximately 11:10 am PDT)...date of the 'super moon'...one this bright or this large not having been seen since March of 1993! The typical NW rain kept the clouds in place to obscure the view of this shiny orb the night before. Therefore, I climbed out of bed at 5 am today to behold a beautiful pre-super moon. There she was in all her glory: scattered clouds adoring her from afar, a golden-reddish orb encircling her circumfrence, farther away from her shimmering and permeated within the deep blue abyss, twinkling stars dotted the early morning...it was an absolute perfect feast for the eyes.

At almost the same time on this date 30 years ago (the last day of winter on a Thursday morning) the weather was not much different than today. It was still pretty brisk for March, giving you 'goosebumps' if you were without a jacket in a slight breeze...but seeing the pink ornamental plum trees and bright, golden daffodils in all their glory warms you up very fast. That day, 30 years ago, I was feeling on top of the world because I was lucky enough to be married to my second husband overlooking incredible Snoqualmie Falls. Nevermind that the wedding ring fell off the pillow and bounced to the very edge of the Falls overlook, and thankfully suddenly stopped. You can hear the gasp of my matron of honor in the audio tape when that happened. Signing the marriage license on the huge outdoor sundial, throwing 3 coins in to the fountain and a bus full of seniors clapping as we walked away as man and wife are etched in to my memory. The picture I remember most, though, is of a triumphant husband lifting his new bride in to his arms with a perfect wall of green ivy in the background. Even though the marriage started falling apart years later, I have always said that "I married in a beautiful place and I divorced in a beautiful place"...trying to extract the positive out of any given situation.

Having not traversed very much of Washington state, even though I had resided there for 2.5 years by the time of this event...I was driven by my new groom to a suprise honeymoon destination. I had absolutely no idea where we were going; I was merely instructed to pack both for cold and warm weather. In the dark of night he asked me to roll down the window when we arrived. I heard a 'rushing water' sound and instantly thought he had brought me to another waterfall. He replied, "well, it's the Pacific waterfall." He had brought me to a secluded & rustic ocean destination named Kalaloch in western Washington, perfect for honeymooners. Three days later I was almost killed by standing on one of the huge coastal logs moving amidst an undertow. However, during the honeymoon I also found a four-leaf clover for every year the marriage lasted. From the fantastic ocean vistas, smelling the enticing aroma of wood fire smoke from the fireplace, to discovering treasures from the sea deposited onto the shore; the moral of the story is: whether your life contain wax or wane, enjoy the beauty of the moment while it is happening...and as the famous poem goes:

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles to-day
To-morrow will be dying.
The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.
That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times still succeed the former.
Then be not coy, but use your time,
And while ye may, go marry:
For having lost but once your prime,
You may for ever tarry.

Carpe diem

©2011 Debbie Ballard