Sandy OR SUHS Class of 1963

Alex Trail- September 2023

RIP Alex Trail- September 2023

"You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby.
But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand."
Margery Williams -The Velveteen Rabbit, 1922.

Illustration from The Velveteen Rabbit by William Nicholson.

A musician called Paul sits at a piano and plays classical music to an 80 year old blind Elephant that is transfixed by his playing. Paul left concert halls behind to share his exceptional talent with elephants after he discovered that his music had a soothing and comforting effect on these majestic creatures. A video of Paul playing to a blind Elephant called "Ampan" went viral on YouTube as the old Elephant stopped what she was doing, listened intently and became visibly calmer with every note Paul played. Seeing the peace and joy music can bring to these beautiful animals is truly heart warming. Watch video in comments below 👇

How I Go To The Woods
by Mary Oliver

Art by Michael Fishel

Ordinarily I go to the woods alone,
with not a single friend,
for they are all smilers and talkers
and therefore unsuitable.
I don’t really want to be witnessed talking to the catbirds
or hugging the old black oak tree.
I have my ways of praying,
as you no doubt have yours.
Besides, when I am alone
I can become invisible.
I can sit on the top of a dune
as motionless as an uprise of weeds,
until the foxes run by unconcerned.
I can hear the almost unhearable sound of the roses singing.
If you have ever gone to the woods with me,
I must love you very much.

When we are young, it’s the illusion of perfection that we fall in love with. As we age, it’s the humanness that we fall in love with- the poignant stories of overcoming, the depthful vulnerability of aging, the struggles that grew us in karmic stature, the way a soul shaped itself to accommodate its circumstances. With less energy to hold up our armor, we are revealed and, in the revealing, we call out to each other’s hearts. Where before wounds turned us off, they are now revealed as proof that God exists. Where we once saw imperfect scars, we now see evidence of a life fully lived. ~Jeff Brown

(Book: Love It Forward https://amzn.to/3OzGfNY)

“‘Why did you do all this for me?' Wilbur asked. 'I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you.' 'You have been my friend,' replied Charlotte. 'That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what's a life, anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die... By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle.
Heaven knows anyone's life can stand a little of that.'”

~From Charlotte's Web by Elwyn Brooks, “E.B.” White

Shel Silverstein ❤️❤️
(Pinterest)
amzn.to/3pkerQM
amzn.to/34Ow2Xv

Indian Eagle Owl, India 📸 Iqbal's Photograpy
See more: themindcircle.com/majestic-owls/

Black & White

Mesmerizing Sunset Clouds under Hawaii ☁️☀️
📸: Nathan Province

RIP Norm Sandblast- Nov. 2021

Changes to quarterly breakfast-

Will now be meeting at 11:30 am every other month at The Tolgate Restaurant.

Meeting dates:

Jan 5th
March 2nd
May 4th
July 6th
Sept 7th
Nov 2nd

Hope to see you there!!

Please sign our virtual guestbook!

Carl Sandstrom- October 2021