Living Juliette's Dream

When Juliette Low started Girl Scouts in 1912, her vision was an organization for ALL girls.  At the time, the only people who "really counted" were affluent whites, especially in the South.

This weekend was the Annual Meeting for our local Girl Scout Council.  Sitting at the table at lunch, I was talking to a Muslim (in full garb) and a Jew.  One of them was in her mid-50s and the other her 20s.  Then there was me - a Roman Catholic in my late-30s.  Between the diverse religious differences and the age differences, we probably wouldn't have met under other circumstances.  What made me realize the diversity of the three of us was the Muslim lady sharing about going to a Catholic school.

Girl Scouts is an organization that promotes "colorblindness".  Although we celebrate our diversities, we also meld into one group.  We are all human beings and even though we each have our own story, we are all Girl Scouts (or Girl Guides).

I have talked to a couple of ladies who were military brats while growing up.  As the military would move the family all over the world, these girls-at-the-time, would have to change schools, and often countries.  They have all said that no matter where they ended up, they had built-in friends in their new Girl Scout troops.

We have a long way to go before we can all look at each other and not see our differences first.  When that happens, World peace will be a lot closer.

I wish Juliette Low could have seen the three of us visiting last Saturday.  I think she would have been proud to see that her dream of diversity is coming true.

More Animal Joy

In the last couple of weeks, I have had two more times that I have enjoyed "animal watching."

The first was a gila woodpecker.  They were making a new nest in our palm tree.  The male was working on the inside of the nest.  Every 30 seconds or so, he would pop his head out and blow the wood from inside his beak. It was such an awesome and rare site.

The other was a cat.  He lives down the street from us.  There are actually two of these cats.  One has a tail, the other doesn't.  The coloring of these cats are what first caught my eye.  They have tabby coloring and markings on their backs and haunches, but on each side, they have a huge spot surrounded by an open ring.  In all the books I have looked at about cat breeds, I have never seen anything like these markings.  Anyhow, we had a "situation" in our park and down the street from us was part of a crime scene.  There were two police officers watching the crime scene.  There was also one of these cats.  He wanted attention from these officers so badly.  He would weave in and out of their legs and lay on their feet.  He almost got stepped on a couple of times.  He stayed with them for at least three or four hours.

Take time to listen to the birds or marvel at a flower.  If you get a chance, watch a bird as well.  If you are someplace where a cat or dog wants attention, give it to him.  Taking the time to slow down and enjoy these things are good for us.

Joy from Animals

I have had three experiences with animal recently that brought joy to my life.

The first was last Sunday.  I was sitting in the car reading and I heard a bird cheep behind me.  I turned around and a sparrow was sitting on top of the fire hydrant across the street.  He then hopped onto the chain attached to the plug and, hanging upside down, drank the water that was seeping out of the hydrant.  He then left and came back and repeated the process for the other plug on the hydrant.  Too bad I didn't have a camera, but then I wouldn't have wanted to move and startle him, either.

The second experience was yesterday.  I stepped outside and heard a bird singing.  We don't get much in the way of singing birds around here.  I looked up and sitting on top of the street light was a red-throated grosbeak. His throat was so red it almost hurt to look at him.  It was so joyful to stand there and just listen.  He probably had his eyes on a girl (and, most likely, it was not me.)

The third was last night.  It was more of a learning experience that excited me.  When a cat purrs, he actually expels the air, with force, through his nose.  I did not know that the air had such force and I didn't realize that a cat purrs only on expelling the air.  I put my head down near our cat (we've had two for almost eleven years, now).  He lifted his nose up and purred in my ear.  It actually felt like someone blowing in my ear.  Although the experience wasn't life changing, I was awed by, what seemed to me, like a simple discovery.  I was also surprised that I hadn't discovered it before.

I hope you take time in your day to experience a little bit of joy.  Take even just 30 seconds to listen to a bird sing or watch a cat.  Even watching a cat sleep can be joyful.  Notice the position he is in.  Notice the pure contentment.  Focus on his peace.