A Good Altar and Some Hand Lotion

    

   A few weeks past, I had painted a picture of one of my high school girlfriends, Harriet. I had it framed and walked around in my house deciding where to put it. It went in my bedroom on a little wall, and it looked like an angel. It needed an altar. A little yellow table with three drawers was purchased and placed. On the table I put two pictures of Bill and I holding Ward as an infant. An altar was born. ( hand lotion was added , because I believe the two things go together!)

       There was a tiny bit of space, and it was bothering me, so I looked around and found a green cross, up it went. My hubby said, it was on his side of the bedroom, " Another altar? You have one on your side of the bed already??"  Me back to him, " You can never have too many, I may not make it from my side of the bed, slippers and glasses on, before I need to pray again! or praise the day!" " Harriet makes me smile, and say thank you again, plus there is lotion!!" You see I appreciate good lotion located throughout my house, and especially in a prayerful pose, or a Namaste greeting! I want to smell nice, and be smooth.

      All through my house there are spots of reflection, things of simple beauty to cause me to rejoice with gladness. My yard is no different, I plant things that remind me of certain people, and places. I can not go anywhere without gratitude
     These are gentle reminders. Not too long ago, my cousin Jeannine's grandchildren had a picture on FB, their last day of school, I printed it and framed it. It sits by my computer, to make me laugh, not take everything so seriously. The Kee children are another altar in my life.

     Last night, the reluctant hubs, ( he says no?) went to the symphony with me to hear Joshua Bell and Chris Botti. Josh was playing with a 300 year old Stradivarius violin, I put my hand over my heart, another altar, a sacred place of prayer, listening to music. There were at times, that I may have just voiced a " Oh My God!" and caused people to look my way. Until.....they felt that it was an OK thing to do, and I heard the woman next to me, shout "Jesus"
    ( note there was lotion in my purse!) ( smells and smoothness, are holy)
   I could not get on the elevator to get to the parking garage after the concert, too many people crammed into a phone booth size elevator. Bill looked at me, and told me to go to the curb ( with the homeless people and crack dealers) ( which I prefer) he would drive around and get me. It was not a long walk, but it was a hot night and then I saw the ginkgo tree ! It was one by Ward's old college, that we had many a picture posed for under that tree, and there it was! In all its glory, lighting my way to the street, waving me on, another altar to close my eyes, and say thank you.
     We have choices, make them count.
     and Yes Bill did pick me up, off the streets, and I told him, I want cash only!!