Tommia's Tablet

Grandma’s Geraniums by Tommia Wright

There’s something to be said when flowers from Grandma’s yard still bloom, offering a yearly reminder of her love and kindness. The geraniums, along with the mint, make summertime backyard escapes that much more enjoyable.

Cool Moon-Mountain Night by Tommia Wright

Sometimes it’s the hot summer days that make one appreciate the coolness of night. Or is it the coldness of night that makes one appreciate the warmth of the day?

Closed in the Open by Tommia Wright

There’s something fun about playing hookey from work. No guilt, no images of piles of neglected items. Just time on a trail with friends, taking the sights, scents and sounds, sharing lunch. The perfect joys of an artist field day sponsored by ArtEast and led by Reisha!

There’s something to be said for rebellion, too. Looking back (or in this case ‘up’), a ribbon marked the closing of the path to the bridge. To take the long path from above to below, or…to climb the wooden fence, chance balance on a downhill slope and hope not to twist an ankle or break a leg.

Silent Deception by Tommia Wright

True, there was traffic around, tearing apart the serenity of the path. However, as one fellow journeyer said, imagining it as the ocean could be quite fun.

Yellow Mean Yield by Tommia Wright

It was fun to spend the day, to see the flowers, to see clear blue sky instead of walls, to walk from path to grass instead of linoleum to concrete. To hear a red-tail hawk instead of the telephone was a wonderful day indeed.

Will I play hookey again? Of course. I’ve one final ‘permissible day’ to do so. Oh, and maybe a funny thing called ‘vacation.’

Within the Wheel by Tommia Wright

Granted, I could have found a way to center the shot better, but crossing the street wasn’t in my plans just then.

Despite the imperfections, this shot tied in nicely with today’s service – Well, at least in a slightly tangible way.

Hymns, minus an organist, have a different texture, voices not tethered to keys struck, a multitude of layers as each singer focuses on the words while trying to touch the notes. The melody remains the same as familiar hymns are sung as easily as songs to a radio. It brings back memories of the ease in which songs sung in rounds can flow perfectly around a campfire, an instrument maybe or maybe not accompanying.

There are those who can match perfectly the pitch of the leader, the pastor whose ear is gifted towards music. There are those who step a note or two below, an octave or two around, and those who sing their hearts out – all the voices creating a beautiful sound.

What makes service even more enjoyable is the presence of out-of-town or out-of-state visitors. Some who are familiar with the structure, others discovering or investigating something completely new. Is it the comfort of finding familiar comrades in faith? The search of warm welcomes and understanding of the Word, or something more, something less? Is it ‘just right?’

Listening to the hymns, the verses, the sermon, it is amazing what reassuring words can do to the soul. Like cool water or necessary shade from an overbearing sun, service with others can bring comfort. Like the soothing sight of the sun after a long time in darkness, to see what has been provided by grace, by faith alone can wrap one in His arms, sins now atoned.

Ribbon of Warmth by Tommia Wright

Finding a place free of wires and other obstacles can be a challenge. But once found, the treasure seen is worth it.

Various Arcs by Tommia Wright

Sometimes something you’re looking for can be found right on the corner. And when that item’s found, an interesting discovery or two can be made when small steps are taken.

Train by Tommia Wright

Does the view inspire adventure? Mystery? Curiosity? To go forward, turn one way or another or simply turn around?

Is it logical to even consider any particular linear path to lines of thought and imagination? Or is it better to wander wherever it takes you?

Vote by Tommia Wright

I like voting -really, I do.

Every Friday when I get the Bookreporter newsletter in my inbox, I go ‘straight to the poll’ and cast my vote. Wicked grin emerges if I’m among the first 20 voters on any given question – silly, I know.

And then there are polls like NPR’s “Best-Ever Teen Novel” that bring a rush of memories and moments of sadness. (They didn’t think “Little House on the Prairie” counted?)

To see a variety of options and an even wider variety of responses makes voting on things such as these quite fun. If I bothered, I might seek out similar options in music, movies and television.

Why don’t I have the same level of eagerness for voting that ‘matters’ – such as bonds, levies, politician to replace/displace? While books are there in ‘black and white’ – what facts serve as foundations for more funding does not (given the cons of pros, the pros of cons). As for some politicians (yes, I remembered my lesson about ‘false generalizations) – there’s too much muddling/mud-flinging in a field of gray. For once, I want to know why I should put my confidence in someone to do the task elected to. Not the slander/scandal/smut surrounding an opponent.

Alas, I digress.

“Vote” is a four-letter word that doesn’t necessarily get the same response as “work” or “play”. Instead, it seems voting season brings out “good” and “evil” – definitions that vary depending on who is speaking and who is targeted. The parade of cardboard in yards, posted by street signs, featuring one name the campaign hopes you’ll remember. A check mark in a box with words such as “Support” or “Reject” whatever initiative (that almost always brings an increase in taxes when there are plenty of questions surrounding where the current tax funds go now)…

Efforts have been made to create a fair election process: Unity ’08,  Democracy 21, The Campaign Legal Center and others. How can we, the people, continue to ensure that our voices are heard, that our concerns are kept in mind as to what needs to be done for our country to continue going forward?

I could put aside my personal reading today and go through the entire pamphlet. I could be reckless and just ‘eenie-meenie-miney-moe’ it with disastrous results.

Or I could keep to my routine of meditation first, silly reading second, and swap out either the audiobook or current memoir instead. See how the vote goes between “Sensibility” and “Apathy.”

Ducky Devilish Sticky/Logic by Tommia Wright

Logic. It described Spock. It’s the counterpart to emotion. It’s the opposite of discipline.

So, yes, I indulged in getting the free copy of Stephen J. Matlock’s Stars in the Texas Sky for a Kindle I refuse to own (thank you again to Mari and Stephen on breaking that iceberg – I do have the ‘desktop friendly’ version; free!). Two reasons for the splurge: impatience and justification.

I have an awkward way of shopping that I may have rambled on about before – setting and meeting a certain number of ‘searched’ items before splurging. Well, there are two other emerging authors of interests whose works I wanted as well: Vikrom Roy’s The Alchemist and Artistikem/Astrid Cruz’s The Caregiver. So, two to buy, one for free equals three!

And then it hit me, a new level of annoyance. It’s easier to loan an ‘actual book’ than some gadget gizmo. That and how is one supposed to get an e-book autographed?! (One of the silly subtle reasons why I think e-books are odd.) So, I splurged again, this time aiming for a printed version of “Stars….”, all the better to find pen, opportunity and time to get a signature on the title page and read (and reread) it before placing it on the shelf of other signed books. Some folks like collecting autographs of singers, sports folks and actors. Authors top my list every time.

Then again, wait, just wait – there’s probably a ‘signature ebook edition’ existing somewhere. (And in my mind’s eye, I envision an ‘Etch-a-Sketch’ on the back of a Kindle for the ‘signing’ to happen.)

Did I only buy the book? Of course not! I’m odd, remember? So… four items later (granted, six, but they’re musical downloads so in a way, they don’t count – and no, these artists weren’t in the Freegal database), I’ve spent money I probably shouldn’t have. I’ve ‘broken’ the cold-turkey rule of no book-buying, movie-adding, etc.’ and the fun thing (as illogical as it sounds) is that I don’t feel guilty about it. I’ve ‘survived my self-imposed probation’ and have new reasons to reorganize the mayhem – I mean space around me.

So yes, sometimes silliness spontaneously happens. See what mischief happens next, unless logic toes the line…