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Brother David Crook and I visited the magical Butterfly Wonderland in Scottsdale late in May this year. We’ve been there many times and always discover delightful changes/additions. This time I noticed new tropical flora, and couldn’t help but photograph some of it. I also had some fun editing the pictures and occasionally trying out new filters . . . just for fun.
Message from my sister, Jan Crook Pierson, regarding the Sue C Boynton Poetry Awards. Sue Boynton was my grandmother, and there are many of my siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends who remember her with love and respect. In her later years she wrote poetry, and put together a book for family and friends. Later, an amazing group came together to honor her by creating an annual poetry contest. This has grown exponentially.
Last night in Bellingham at the Sue C. Boynton Awards Ceremony, professor (WWU in Bellingham, Washington) George F. Drake (nearing 90) spoke and gave a $10,000 check to the foundation. This is a marvelous event that gives aspiring poets a chance. I have been honored to have been able to speak on behalf of our grandma Sue for 14 years. I pray our family will continue to be a part of this amazing endeavor. Grandma lectured in his sociology class and got standing ovations again and again. He adored her and called her Mother Sue. They both gave each other so much in the last few years of her life while she lived in the nursing home.
He has never forgotten her. Obviously.
Thank you who have donated every year to keep this going and to keep the Boynton family and poetry alive in Bellingham and Whatcom County. There were probably close to 200 people there last night! If you visit Bellingham, be sure to visit the Boynton Poetry Walk at the Bellingham Public Library. It’s a lovely garden walk which includes grandma Sue’s life story and those who contribute Plus the winning poems each year. Next year I hope some of the family can join me!
The Sue C. Boynton Poetry Contest has numerous reasons to be grateful to George F. Drake. Here are two:
Beyond the evening’s raucous and prolonged applause, the Sue C. Boynton Poetry Contest and all the past, present, and future poets of Whatcom County, and their fans, owe George Drake a huge THANK YOU.
Guest post by Becky Blanton:
It’s a VERY intense and personal experience. It’s not just “getting rid of stuff,” it’s readjusting – a hard reset – of your life, values, lifestyle, and belief system. It doesn’t come easy to most of us (ANY of us?) so that’s why people don’t finish. It’s emotionally painful at times. It reminds us of dreams we’ll never see come to fruition, friendships, relationships, lifestyles, friendships and work that will never be more than hopes, not reality.
Clutter does NOT serve us. It demeans us. It cheapens us. It negatively impacts our lifestyle. I’m reminded of the story about how hunters trap and enslave monkeys. They put a banana in a jar and leave it out. The monkey will reach into the jar, grab the banana, then not let go when the hunters approach. It’s willing to hold onto the banana and give up its freedom. We hold onto STUFF the same way a monkey hangs onto that banana. The world is full of banana trees and fresh fruit. Let the piece in the jar (storage unit, closet, garage, attic, crawl space) go and then go in search of the really good, abundant fruit that’s waiting for you.
Decluttering is about reorganizing our priorities and values. You can’t hang on to worthless stuff you never use in hopes that “someday” you MIGHT need it.
I don’t know that I would have undertaken this process/challenge if I HAD known all this, but I can’t say it would have deterred me either.
When you are clutter-free you are also free to do other things with your life – like explore, travel, pursue a new job or interest. Life opens up when we get rid of the things blocking our way. I’m soooo CLOSE to being done, but so happy with exactly where I am right now. I’ve been getting rid of flaky friends, people whose “friendships” don’t serve me, and clients who are a waste of my time, money, energy and resources. It’s a different way of looking at my life for sure.
I’ve learned who my real friends are, and who only wants me for my time, experience, money, help and not because they want a relationship. For those who couldn’t be here for me when I needed them, don’t expect me to be there for you when the time comes either.
Yesterday my brother, David Crook, and I went to Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. We both have memberships. It is a magical place. Sounds strange, since most people don’t think of a desert area as magical, but trust me, it’s possible. Shapes, colors, textures, stages of life, cute little critters, chirping birds, shade tree areas . . . there’s so much. And on this day, Palo Verde blossoms blanketed much of the garden. Enjoy!
