Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

Recently I have taken up weaving as a kind of hobby. I’ve never been one to be creative with my hands and I figure I’d better learn to do something like that before I get old. That’s a joke, actually, because the fact is that I AM old at age 74, almost. So here I am moving the weft through the warp and seeing emerge a really lovely piece of fabric. What’s best about weaving is that it is done slowly, rhythmically, back and forth, back and forth. It’s like breathing – quiet and beautiful and life-giving. It occurs to me that my weaving experience is like my life as I enter into the last chapter, the one we call “old age.” Each day, each moment comes after the other, creating an image of color and texture that reflects the process in my mind, my emotions, my body.  Each thread is new word or feeling or idea or question about life. It’s a kind of inner journey reflected outside of me.  What are you weaving these days? How do you name the threads?  Mary E...

More than five years ago, my blog entry was based on the title hashtag. It is a hashtag I have used in tweets. In my life, it is time to revisit this hashtag. This is a time of huge transitions for me.  The limits of space here precludes going into all that is happening but to say - I am no longer in Florida but now back near Chicago.  No more hurricanes but the potential of arctic vortexes!  It is all good and some days are difficult. Here's my current tweet:  #takewhatyouneed awake ~ nurtured ~ loved ~ trust ~ laughter ~ perseverance ~ open to chaos ~ seeking some order  ~~ Breathe in ~ Breathe out ~~ The breathing is important.  It is the kind that I consider contemplative and purposeful. The words and phrases became the list as I prayed and consider: 'What do I need?' What do you need? Is there one word from my list that you need for yourself right now?  Take it.  It is meant for you. And don't forget...