Democracy for New Mexico

A Winter Solstice Message - December 21, 2014

Happy Winter Solstice! It has been a very very long time since I have come over here to write a piece. I am not sure what motivated me this morning to actually take action on finally writing something here but I am going with it.

This note finds me , Mary Ellen - save, secure, in good health and loved. Life is nothing as it was in the past but I am resigned to accept this and go with it, I liken it to drifting.

Three years has past and I still grieve Barb. Wow I loved her more than I knew. She was a powerhouse. One reason I had to abandon posting here is it was so hard to grieve her not being here and return here to her daily writings and her heart poured into trying to make the world a better place.

But alas, on the Winter Solstice one of her favorite days of the year I return in her absence. If you have any curiousity as to what time the winter solstice happens in your neighborhood go here. She loved the whole pagan history of this short day. And the believe that other religions commondeered the pagan custom.

I am going to link to a couple of her Winter Solstice posts:

December 21, 2006 and another good one - December 21, 2004 - 10 years ago today. And I love this one from .

On the Winter Solstice 2010, the last true Winter Solstice celebration together we had the rare delight of being able to witness a full moon eclipse that year. And as usual Barb and I stayed up til past midnight to try to capture these minutes. Here are some of the images from that night -

this first image was taken at 12:29 AM:

This second image was taken at 1:05 AM

 

The Third image here was taken at 1:16AM

 

And this last image was taken of Barb as I looked through the window at her working on something online. Either persuading someone to think about some thing differently or listening to music, or reading, or just exchanging thoughts with her FB friends.

 

It amazes me that the eclipse of the moon took about 45 minutes that night. Life is going that fast as well. There is so much going on that we have no clue of. I am not sure if there are any coincidences. I love this planet earth and the universe we spin in.

Mushy love to all this Winter Solstice!

From Mary Ellen and Barb in remembrance.

Happy Mothers' Peace Day Message

Barb Wold first wrote this post for Mother's Day in 2006. Barb always wanted us to remember the basis of this day was for peace.
From this weekend's Code Pink Mothers' Day Peace Demonstration

Mother's Day was created after the Civil War, as a protest to the carnage of that war, by women who had lost their sons. The first person to fight for an official Mother's Day celebration in the United States was , who had nursed wounded soldiers during the Civil War. You may be more familiar with her as the writer of the lyrics of the Civil War song, The Battle Hymn of the Republic.

Howe was born in New York City on May 27, 1819. Her family was well respected and wealthy. She was a published poet and abolitionist. She and her husband, Samuel Gridley Howe, co-published the anti-slavery newspaper The Commonwealth. She was active in the peace movement and the women's suffrage movement.

In 1870 she penned the Mother's Day Proclamation. In 1872 the Mothers' Peace Day Observance on the second Sunday in June was held and the meetings continued for several years. Her idea was widely accepted, but she was never able to get the day recognized as an official holiday. The Mothers' Peace Day was the beginning of the Mothers' Day holiday in the United States now celebrated in May.

The modern commercialized celebration of gifts, flowers and candy bears little resemblance to Howe's original idea. Here is the Proclamation that explains, in her own powerful words, the goals of the original Mother's Day in the United States:

Mothers' Day Proclamation: Julia Ward Howe, Boston, 1870

Arise, then, women of this day! Arise all women who have hearts, whether our baptism be that of water or of fears!

Say firmly: "We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies. Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.

We women of one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs. From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own. It says "Disarm, Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."

Blood does not wipe our dishonor nor violence indicate possession. As men have often forsaken the plow and the anvil at the summons of war, let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel. Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.

Let them then solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means whereby the great human family can live in peace, each bearing after their own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar, but of God.

In the name of womanhood and of humanity, I earnestly ask that a general congress of women without limit of nationality may be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient and at the earliest period consistent with its objects, to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace.

Julia Ward Howe, Boston, 1870

December 21, 2012 Winter Solstice

earth-chrysallis from Eden Sky

Here we are at the end of the Mayan Calendar, December 21, 2012. Through the years Barb and I read about this day and this time. One of the things she said a few days before she left the planet was; "I hope I at least make it to the year 2012." That was not to be, but I wanted to assemble a post that would share some of the believes she would say, and that I beleive in as well, or at least hope for.

Let's start with the concept of a Paradigm Shift.
This is a great positive take on the 2012 Prophecy ~ by Eden Sky

To put it simply, it is not the end of the world that is coming, it is the end of a world age. This shifting of World Eras is a cycle change that will steadily shift our human orientation from an ego-based perspective dominated by separation, fear, greed, and destructive, imbalanced tendencies - towards one based in conscious interconnectedness, fueling our tendencies for harmony, compassion, and life-affirming energies and actions. This represents a shift beyond the patriarchal cycle we have been in, sometimes called a "male-dominant linear perspective," into an Age in which masculine and feminine energies and perspectives are balanced, ideally uniting mind and heart, logic and intuition, spirit and matter. The most blatant example of this shift is in re-prioritizing our values and Placing Planet and People over Profits, in true recognition of the intricate, interdependence of the One Web of Life. It is obvious we cannot survive or thrive on this planet without this transformation of our worldview.

Eden Sky's conclusion:

In conclusion, let us strive to evolve into our deepest human potential to be wise and loving human beings, that we may contribute as consciously as possible to the greater well being of human culture, understanding our place upon this glorious Planet, and within this sentient Universe. Let us honor our place in the vast cycles of time, and heed the calls of our ancestors who left these prophecies for us, now. Let us activate the wisdom given to us by Dr. José Argüelles who urged that we honor our Earth as a Living Work of Art and realize that we can each be instruments of harmony and beauty, serving as Planetary Artists! The tasks to be accomplished in these momentous times call us to cooperate on new and grander levels, that we may manifest ever greater harmonies together. Let us synchronize and unify in deep courage, compassion, creativity, willingness and joy with our brothers and sisters of humanity, to be who we truly are here to be, and do what we are truly here to do. Let us awaken our dormant powers. Let us dream the highest dream. Let us ride the upward spiral through the accelerated currents of change. Let us face the death of the body that we may live from a place of realizing who we are as an essence; a heart. Let us seriously invest in cultivating our intuition and inner-knowing. Let us celebrate and nurture our interconnectedness. Let us paint new beauties upon the canvas of our Earth. Let us be grateful for this life we are given, here and now, ever-evolving as children born of the One Great Mystery.

Thanksgiving New Mexico USA North America Continent Planet Earth 2012

Thanksgiving in New Mexico USA November 22, 2012

Things are hardly peaceful on earth. We have wars, we have greed run-a-mock, we have power hungry nonleaders, we have humans suffering from hunger, suffering from cancers. Souls and Beings of all sorts passing to somewhere everyday all day.

We do not know what is happening on this plain as we inhabit this earth.

Why all this love and hate? All this beauty and ugliness? Why all this killing and torture? Why do some of us have so much and some so little?

A very loving friend told me this week I am part of the 1%. That I have riches beyond so many. It was wonderful to hear this and remember we are part of the 1% if we look at the 1% as those that love and feel and want to share, we that can still think and move effortlessly. Us that really do care about the welfare of others and try to put action behind the words.

This Thanksgiving holiday is the last holiday for me to celebrate without Barb in the first year of the string of firsts. I miss her as much as it was yesterday she left. In my conversations with Barb that still continue, she told me the other morning in the shower that "You know you have to let go of me too, so I can move on." Just as clear as could be like you have got to let me get going on with my afterlife.

I went looking for old posts for Thanksgiving that Barb had done - I loved this one from 2009 and this one from last year. God I loved this woman.

Now this year of 2012 I am still surrounded by love both far away and right here in my house. I have a huge spread of food that could serve a small country. I have all the same wonderful birds and have added some to the flock. They each will enjoy there own spray of millet tomorrow, and the outside critters will have there treats as well. Show peace, love and gratitude for all the earth offers.

Mom’s Christmas Wish - Guest Blog by John McAndrew

Guest blog from John McAndrew: John writes his own blog called Uncommontary.com. Always thoughtful John looks at life through a common yet uncommon prism. A dear heavy discussion/arguing friend of my dear Barb, he is such a great part of my life. I am thankful for our sweet John McAndrew.

People have been complaining about Christmas spending for years. Yet, far from addressing the problem, it seems worse than ever. Fox TV has even conflated Christmas (December 25) with the holiday shopping season, taking offense at people not calling days other than December 25 “Christmas,”  and seeing a hesitation to call the days between Thanksgiving and December 25 “Christmas” as an assault on the religious meaning of the holiday. The commercialization of Christmas is complete.

There are models for celebrating Christmas differently. In Spain, Christmas (December 25) is a day for family to gather and to go to religious services. Gift-giving happens in January on a day commemorating the gifts of the Magi, Dia de los Reyes. You’d think American commercial interests would be all over that idea – extending “Christmas” by two weeks? Plus they would get credit for separating the religious from the commercial observance – a win-win.

Mothers always have better ideas than advertisers. It took a national tragedy to provide the catalyst.

After the attack of September 11, 2001, our 85 year old mother spoke to my brother and me about what we were going to do for Christmas that year. She told us  that, after the terrorist attack, gift-giving wasn’t appropriate, and she suggested an alternative.

Mom loved Christmas more than most. She loved baking Christmas cookies, decorating the house, and buying great presents for her boys and other family members. There was that one lime green sports coat, but she was usually almost psychic in her ability to pick just the right thing. She gave Waterford crystal, a pocket watch, and even a bodhran over the years. She wasn’t anti-consumerist at all, but she kept it in check because she was a devout Catholic and the real reason behind the holiday was never out of view for her.

But after September 11, pretty little things in pretty wrappings just seemed wrong. Maybe she intended her suggestion to be taken just for that year, but my brother and I found it so obviously right, so fitting on so many levels, that it has persisted beyond Mom’s death 4 years ago. Like most great ideas, it is simple: instead of buying stuff, why not give the money we’d have spent on gifts to a charity in each other’s name?

Also like great ideas, it is easily adapted to each family’s abilities and ideas. My brother and I have very different priorities: the charities I favor are not always in keeping with his priorities, and vice versa. We decided to give to charities on which we could both agree – an exercise with its own intrinsic value, as it led to a conversation whose goal was to discover a thing or two on which we agreed. It turned out not to be difficult at all, and I recommend it.

We also agreed that we still enjoy getting a little something from each other for Christmas. We haven’t set a firm dollar limit on those gifts, but I think we usually keep it under $50. Jim also suggested that his son, who was in his teens at the time, be excluded from this arrangement – something on which we disagreed, but on which we found middle ground.

I recommend Mom’s idea for its many benefits. You may think of other reasons, but this is why it is so appealing to me.

• It puts the control of the commercialization of Christmas in our own hands, not in the hands of retailers and advertisers who want a commercial Christmas.
• It focuses gift-buying on quality and expression, not on quantity or expense.
• It makes “Christmas” purchases tax deductible in most cases. We can double up on year-end donations by sending a favorite charity a bit more.
• Similarly, it eliminates the sense that we must accumulate more debt during Christmas if we are to “do it right.”
• It does away with the awkward questions of Christmas: what do I give to one who has everything? What if someone gives me something but I have not bought anything for them? What if they spent more on me than I spent on them? “I give to charities for Christmas” answers all those questions, and may even give others a similar idea.
• You might feel embarrassed if you can only afford a very small gift; but who would criticize a person for giving some of what little you have to charity? We know from the New Testament story of the widow’s mite, and O. Henry’s Gift of the Magi, that generosity’s virtue is not diminished by coming from those of modest means.
• It makes it easy to request small things for Christmas, since you don’t have to worry about seeming greedy. For example, this year I intend to ask both my brother and my nephew and his new wife for photos of themselves, so I can complete the rogues’ gallery of family portraits on my wall. This lets them know what I want, in case they were stumped, and they can control the minimal cost. It provides a way to open the discussion about which charities we are choosing for each other. And you know it won’t add a burden to their budget since they are only getting you one small thing anyway.
• Rather than stressing about lines at the mall and getting the latest geegaw before it’s sold out, Christmas became an occasion for giving to the Tiny Tims of the world – Charles Dickens would be so pleased – and isn’t that what the true value of Christmas ought to be? Even for those who are not Christian?

It is a simple transition to make. It requires only a conversation with family members, most of whom will be relieved at not having to deal with “Christmas” mall mobs and glad for the chance to do good rather than buy stuff they’re not sure you want anyway.

This year I will split my donations between two charities.

The first is the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, for whom I raised money earlier this year and with whom I am proud to be associated. Most of my donations will go there.

The other is Rolling Jubilee, a new organization that is raising money to buy and dispose of distressed debt. This latter is particularly appropriate during a season when so many often make purchases they cannot afford, adding to their other debt. Instead of our giving adding to our national weight of personal debt, let it be used to settle the debts of those who are struggling. If the organization does well this year and is well run, I would hope that in subsequent years we might begin tracking how much debt is canceled, rather than accrued, every Christmas.

I have shared this with friends over the years. One decided to buy a family tree each year, some to make sure they shop at local stores, and so on. I would be interested in hearing if you decide to adapt this to your family, and what form it takes when you do. If you need ideas for charities, see the site at Charity Navigator, which will tell you which charity in many different categories is best at spending donation on the cause, rather than on administration.

That is the story of Mom’s greatest Christmas present. She passed away four years ago, at midnight the night of December 2^nd, during her favorite time of the year. I share this now, not just because it’s a great idea that deserves wider use, but as a way to honor Mom’s greatness of spirit. I miss her most around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I wish you a very happy, relaxed, contented holiday season, and a very merry Christmas. God bless us, every one.

Chris Catechis Wins Best Campaign Card

Chris Catechis candidate for Senate District 13 has won the DFNM most creative and personal campaign card of the 2012 primary election for democrats. Not that this is a scientific process of elimination and choosing, but this card caught our eye. With so much campaign info being delivered to get out the candidates message, Chris took a nice angle on this Mothers Day Campaign Lit. What do you think?

Trouble with the DFNM Blog and Happy Easter

Hello friends! I am aware the front page on the blog is screwed up. We are working on it with Typepad.

Also a very Happy Easter and Happy Passover! Went to my first Passover Seder last night. We read from the Haggadah, and ate the traditional Seder plate. Amazing history that is still unfolding.

Basic message for me: Start again. Do not be a slave to the past or anyone, or anything. New Beginnings.

peace and love

Happy Valentines Day! Love Grows

After 22 Valentine Days with Barb I greet this Valentines Day with mixed emotions. To start the day Peter Moulson and I rushed up to the legislature in Santa Fe to be sure the latest Super DOMA legislation did not go any further in this 2012 Legislative session. And it did'nt. Hate stopped again in NM.

It dawned on me writing my rant to Chavez yesterday that what I experienced with Barb was beautiful soulful love. I mean I knew we were in love but we were deeply connected. It grows even now when she is no longer with me, it grew while I took care of her, her last weeks, months, days, hours of life. Love grows people.

I realize that the body is just that, be it male or female. It is the soul within the space suit that matters. We are lucky to find a soul mate. A soul to help us grow in our understanding of love.

Below is a poem my soul mate Barbara put up on Valentines Day 2007. It is perfect still for today and I thought I would share it from Barb and myself. Love you Barb. Always did. Always have. Always will. Happy Valentines day to all! xoxo

We were talking
about the space between us all
and people who hide themselves
behind a wall of illusion
never glimpse the truth
then it's far too late
when they pass away

We were talking
about the love we all could share
When we find it
to try our best to hold it there
with our love, with our love
we could save the world
if they only knew

Try to realize it's all within yourself
no one else can make you change
And to see you're really only very small
and life flows on within you and without you

We were talking
about the love that's gone so cold
and the people who gain the world
and lose their soul
They don't know, they can't see
Are you one of them?

When you've seen beyond yourself
then you may find
peace of mind is waiting there
And the time will come
when you see we're all one
and life flows on within you and without you

Exact Same Words Could Be Said Today by Martin Luther King Jr.

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr's birthday I found a segment of a speech called "Time to Break the Silence."  MLK states in this speech " Year after year to spend more money on military defense then on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death." And yet it goes on year after year after year.

Just to be very clear on how much of our hard earned tax dollars go to military spending I attach a pie chart from 2010.

This is the paradigm shift we have got to keep working on. It may be too late, but we are still alive and we can serve. We too can be a servant.

The Year 2011 Into The Year 2012

If anyone told me the year 2011 would be a year I would experience tremendous beauty and tremendous sorrow as it has been this year - I would have said you are crazy. But alas that is the story of my year 2011. I looked up big events for year 2011: and there are some big ones this Vancouver Sun articleseemed to list them out and stir memories of each event for me. I wish there were more positive events listed because we all know there are those - thank heavens.

I think of the millions who have died this year, and the millions who were born. So natural of an occurrence but so huge for the lives who are attached. I miss one very special human-being. I stayed with her and made her as comfortable as possible til her last hours.

I received a beautiful hand written letter yesterday from a woman Barb or myself have not even met as of yet. I am going to share a beautiful thought from this letter: "I believe in the higher purpose of our lives and possibly that the shape-shifting of Barbara's spirit from the physical to beyond served this great purpose....to inspire those of us left behind in our physical shells to step up and honor her work through our own. I believe a warrior such as Barbara might pass, so that 10 or 20 or more activists will be inspired to work in her memory, and in turn inspire others with their light and thus creating the most powerful, positive shift in human consciousness, as a result of the dedication and commitment to change demonstrated slowly over time by one true and beautiful soul."

That is the message for 2012 for me. Carry the light on to touch others.

12/13: Volunteer with the DPNM & DPBC this Holiday Season!

Volunteer this Holiday Season and Volunteer with the DPNM & DPBC at Roadrunner Foodbank

The holidays are a time for giving and helping others.  In that spirit, the Democratic Party of New Mexico will be volunteering at the Roadrunner Food Bank on December 13, from 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM.

We cordially invite you to join us at the Food Bank to help the least fortunate among us.  DPNM will be packing boxes and sorting food for the holidays.  The Roadrunner Food Bank is located at 5840 Office Blvd. NE, Albuquerque NM, 87109.  If you plan to join us, please call 505-830-3650 and let us know.

We understand that not everyone has time or ability to volunteer at the Roadrunner Food Bank. Fortunately, there are other ways to give.  DPNM will also be accepting non-perishable goods at our offices until December 16.

Our office is located at 3200 Monte Vista NE, Albuquerque NM, 87106.  Whether you join us on the 13^th or donate non-perishable goods, please give what you can.  Even the smallest donation will go a long way to helping families in need this holiday season.

Thanks in advance for your participation!

12/7: Join Rep. Mimi Stewart for a Holiday-Get-Together and Fundraiser!

 

 

 

 

Friends and Supporters! 

You are invited to join us for a 

Holiday-Get-Together and Fundraiser

Supporting my Re-election Campaign. 

at the lovely home of
Bruce Thomson and Phyllis Taylor
1018 Idlewilde Lane SE, ABQ
Wednesday, December 7 - 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Hosted by:
Speaker of the House Ben Lujan
Susan Hamilton ♦ Allen and Andrea Steele ♦ Diane Wood
David Duhigg ♦ Jack Cloud ♦ Sandra Sublett ♦ Juliana Koob ♦ Ken Betzen ♦ Dave Schmidt ♦ Peter Mallory ♦ Neri Holguin ♦ Richard Lindahl ♦ Dominic Silva ♦ Joe Thompson ♦ Marc Saavedra ♦ Natasha Ning  ♦ Richard Malcolm ♦ Drew Setter ♦ Richard Romero ♦ Ruben Baca ♦ Tasia Young ♦ John Lee Thompson

 

Mimi Stewart, State Representative (HD 21) 313 Moon NE Albuquerque, NM 87123 mstewart@osogrande.com * www.mimistewart.org * 505-259-3657