Several years ago,
I was the speaker at a women's organization's
75th Anniversary luncheon.
Lucky me to be their speaker.
These women are beautiful "rocks of determination".
From their regional officer,
I heard for the first time...
Start where you are,
Use what you have,
Do what you can.
Quote by Arthur Ashe,
Perfect guidance for all of us.
It put a name on what these
Hard-working rural folks
Had done all their lives.
It named the way they kept
Their organization together
For seventy-five years.
There it was, in those phrases,
Guidance fitting for any venture.
Olden days recipe books had
"Substitutions for Emergencies" page.
No sour milk? How-to-sour fresh milk.
I think of "bike-ride-gear" substitutions.
No front light for dark early morning departure?
Strap the extra back light to handlebars.
Motorist couldn't tell if bike was
Coming or Going.
Did it matter? I could be seen.
Rain filling your bike shoes?
Plastic laundry bags from last night's motel
Pulled over shoes ... helpful.
Blown-out bike tire with no spare?
Earnie, 17-yrs-old at that time, used
Duct tape to wrap tire to rim,
For another required hour of riding.
Reaching for Farmer Jean's fabulous tomatoes
What substitutions have you made?
An unforeseen turn that let you get past the wash-out?
A location change that gave you new possibility?
A time of reserving direction so the wind was at your back?
A shift in perspective letting you view differently?
These get us through and can
Take us farther.
Sending you wishes for creative substitutions.
Hugs.
Lin
Now is a time you must troubleshoot.
Know that your plan was not absolute.
View differently.
Who knows what you'll see?
Solution may be a substitute.
Left: My neighbor's hallway plant. Love these colors! Right: Lin with Farmer Jean and granddaughter. Great people, great produce.
Spectacular sunset. Look closely at top of clouds. In this completely untouched pic, what do you see?
