My name is Donnie Smith and I have a lot of love to give.

Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday dear goldispikes!
Happy birthday to you!

(And on the Solstice, no less!)

~//~

To all of my Pagan-minded friends, the most blessed of Yules to you. I know that you celebrate Yule, salomes_pimp, and wingedwolf, and I'm pretty sure about reveries. And there's dch4 and michael622 and mrmoe and solcita and thespian. I'm not sure about scottopic or zarabeth but heck, a Blessed Yule to everyone! :)

From the old Book of Shadows (21 December 1996):

Beautiful Lady glowing bright
Shine your love on me this night
So I may with your power fill
And better able do my will
Celebrate you in this rite.

Lord of Might and King of Sun
You who holds my heart, the One
Please let your rays inside me deep
So all my promises I'll keep
Til your ritual be done.

The wind blows fierce and cold but I fear not
The sky falls heavy with snow and freezing rain
For now the Wheel has turned to cold from hot
I sorrow not, for spinning brings the springtime 'round again!

~//~

I welcome your return my Love, my Sun
And await your growing power day by day
May your light reach every corner of the Earth and Sky
May your light shine brightly on your Lady
May your light fall protectively on me
All blessings be upon you, my Reborn King
As you build strength to energize the recharging land
Who will bloom again.

Silver on the sage, starlit skies above...

It's not often that I am surprised by a holiday card. I mean, I usually get cards from the same people. Very very rarely do I get a card from someone I didn't send a card to (because I use my cards from the year before to start my list!). Today, however, was a very good surprise.

Amy (Uhler) and Sean Maxey sent me a card! I worked with Amy and Sean at Philmont (Amy in 1998; Sean in 1997 and 1998) and they are wonderful. Fabulous. Fun. :) They have a 16 month old daughter Isabelle and they /live 2 hours from me in southeastern Ohio/! I smell a road trip in my future.

They are coming up to Klumbis at the end of January to go to the LDS Temple, and I will get to see them! Then, when the weather is warmer, I think I will take an excursion to Appalachia! I am so excited!

She left their number in the card, and of course I called right away. It was so great to talk to her. She just totally rocks. Sean was at work, but he will have to hear all about it later! WHEE!

Thanks, Amy and Sean! I [heart] the Pony Wrangler and the Services Manager! :)

Awwh yeah!

Line up, girls.

I am so cute that even salomes_pimp will want me!

Wow. My arrogance astounds even myself.

And now, for fumblefactory and jjustj, but dedicated to kungfoogirl:

"Mercy's for the weak!"
So says Cobra Kai sensei.
Haiku for ninjas.

~//~

Must. Pack. NOW!

Flashback: 1984

The little boy went to her room to hide, as she'd done many times before, several in the past week. Closed doors were not allowed, but some privacy was afforded by the shape of the room - the bed hiding behind the doorway offering a touch of solace. Solace was broken that day, though, by Her.

A somewhat slight woman with a helmet of frizzy curls, She loomed ominously over the nine-year-old boy. Already backed into the Corner of Solitude, the boy had nowhere to run, nowhere to escape to.

Before the shrill voice that emanated from the frizzy head could be blocked out, several words landed; One sentiment gleaned. "I'm glad you're not my daughter," she said in hushed tones that could be denied later. "I could never create shit like you."

~//~

Dad is dating Her again. After 6 years of torment followed by a 13 year break, everyone seems to have forgotten her words, her actions, the marks she left. I haven't. They want me to. I can't.