I was recently reminded of three coalescing events that came together to create a humorous story and possibly set biologists in search of a mystery.

In 1995, I had a 5 year old son and a 21 year old son.

First, the older son bought his little brother a battery operated motorcycle. A police motorcycle with a siren and flashing lights.

Secondly, months later my little son and I bought a children’s movie called , The Mouse and the Motorcycle.

Lastly, we saw a mouse in the house!

Our house sat in the middle of five wooded acres and as many know a mice can enter through a hole the size of a dime. In the winter these little creatures of the forest find there way inside of food.

One evening we spotted one of these adorable little creatures with it cute nose, dark eyes and big ears. Really, if you look objectively at these little furry guys they are adorable.

Well, the rest of the story goes like this. Five-year old spots adorable mouse and is convinced he came to ride his motorcycle, just as the mouse in the video does. We are not allowed to trap and kill this adventurous police motorcycle seeking mouse.

The next day we proceed to the hardware store and purchase a live trap. That evening we bait the trap and voilà, 45 minutes later motorcycle-mouse is caught. Yes, he was adorable and disregarding all the pleas from the five year old to keep him. He was marched into the woods and released.

Problem solved… except maybe just to be sure, we set it again. Again, another mouse in short order was marched into the forest. And again. And again.

You get the picture here. Lots of mice evidently. We began searching for the draw into the house. All food items in paper boxes or accessible packing were tightly sealed in plastic containers. As we searched, we thought possibly they were getting into the trash. We pulled the bag out of the bin and took it outside.

To our surprise, the next morning there were two little little mice inside the trash can doing high jumps trying to escape the tall sides of the can.
The trash can was quickly marched into the forest. When a stick was placed into the can the furry little pests scurried up the stick and leaped off the end of the stick onto the forest floor below like cliff divers swan diving into the sea.

The next night, we threw some crackers in the bottom of the bin Score four. The next score three. The next five… you get the picture. All of these little furry friends, like the ones before, made their bold climb and free fall into the forest.

About this time, DrB begins to wonder are we catching the same mice over and over. I personally don’t believe it is possible as it is a long way back to the house. However, he believes they probably make it back to the house before we do.

The next night, the bait is set again. And again, three mice (not blind). To prove his theory, DrB takes some yellow model paint and paints stripes down each of their backs before taking them to make their death-defying leap.

The next night catch four. Again, yellow stripes and release. The next five, paint and release.

By this time, after a week we had caught and released around 30 mice and never did a yellow-striped one reappear. Our compassionate solution had run its course. We called a pest control company and the technician told me something that has stuck with me. “Where there is one, there is a hundred” and “a family of six mice can multiply into 60 over the course of three months”

In short order, the problem was solved. Now comes to the question that may never be answered.

Around that time King County was placing insect collection boxes on trees. We wondered, what if one day a biologist that came out to collect the boxes happened to see one of these yellow striped mice, maybe he’d still be out searching for this new breed even now.

With the tearful heart of a Mother,
I watch this procession of Blue.
To lay to rest a Hero,
Who’s sacrifice was loyal and was true.

For this New Year, I pray
Lord bring,
New hope, new friends, new kindness, a New well-spring
Of joy, of compassion and of abundant
New life.
Please put a hold on the seemingly
Endless strife.

As you bring the dawn to each
Morn anew,
Remind me this precious gift comes only
From You.
And when the stars appear in the eve,
Glittering bright,
Bring to mind that they also gleam in the
Darkest night.

Seasons roll by at a steady speed, unfolding to
Moments unknown.
Help me stay ever mindful, that You are always on
The throne.
When it comes to the end of this year and
These days,
Whatever may come, may I always
Give praise.

~ Trish 2018©️

I want to say and believe,
Oh heart do not be troubled.
My heart is saying please know
It is your mind that holds the struggle.

Controlling those fears that wrestle –
Throughout this spirit of mine.
Takes a power far greater than I hold
It takes a force divine.

I want lay these burdens down
Then calmly walk away.
However, I also want solutions
Before I face another day.

Oh heart please rest, and spirit
Please be patient and be still.
For you know that all the future holds
Will be in His sovereign will.

~i~ Tea 2017©️

I am having a really hard time moving on and getting focused today. I have something on my mind that I feel needs to come out. Sometimes I am not even sure what it is, but it seems if I just start typing it will form some kind of thought and create some peaceful space that enables me to function.

It is October; we are on the fast track to the end of this year and what another hard year it has been. As everyone else did this morning, I woke up to here the horrifying news of another mass shooting, this one in Las Vegas. Another crazy murderous person has taken his anger, frustration, hatred to the ultimate level and destroyed the lives of people he doesn’t even know. Isn’t that pretty much the definition of all mass murderers? You can call them terrorist, or sort them by their religion or political views but really they are people so consumed by their beliefs and hatred that they lash out on innocent people. They have no respect for life and they often take their own lives in the process; they do not value their life why would they value others?

I love this age of instantaneous communication and connecting people, but as with all things it has its downside. It is instantaneous and therefore everyone believes they have the right to say anything to anyone in any manner they please, instantly and without forethought. You know that statement, “Don’t read the comments?” What about don’t respond to the comments, don’t make comments filled with hate and destruction.

We have moved to an age where awareness of “bullying” is in the forefront, yet people make comments in social media, on the news, in sports, in Hollywood, on the floors of Congress and yes, even in the highest office in our land that are just what they preach against. They are divisive, mean-spirited, comments said without thought or care about who is insulted or harmed. Have we reached the point to where we have lost all human decency and respect for one another?

It seems every day people are in a heated battle for their beliefs. I have beliefs, I was not a fan Mr. Obama and I am not a racist. I started the year in 2008 counting the days until the end of his term and after a while I discovered it wasn’t the end of the world. However, I knew people that believed, fervently some truly horrible things about him and his family.  I tried to look at him as a man with two young daughters that really only wanted what was best for them and their future. I disagreed with things he said and did but I did not come unglued over the whole thing for the next eight years.

I was not a fan of some of George Bush’s policies, although I thought he was a decent man and I am not an overwhelming supporter of Mr. Trump. However, I look at his family and his children and think the same thing. He is a man who really wants the best for his family and their future, so I am hoping he would create the same for mine. Will he do things that I disagree with? Yes, but the US is bigger than any, one, man. The United States of America is all of us. The United States of America is all of us. We all make a difference each day in how we treat each other, how we respect each other, how we help each other and how we remember we are above all, Americans. Abraham Lincoln said it best, “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” and popular music harmonized it in the song, “United we Stand, Divided we Fall”

The people you see on the news the rich, the famous, the powerful they may be the popular face of America, but they are a very small percentage of us as a whole. I hear or read disparaging comments about other races or religions, but I can honestly say the people that make these comments are not part of my daily life. I greet everyone with a smile and everyone I greet returns the same. Furthermore, I am a conservative, and I have liberal friends, I have far right and far left friends, friends that I have socialized with for years 30 years. Every time we are together we laugh and share our common goals, share about our families and we love each other. We have not torn our friendship apart over these times or any election.

What will tear us apart? Hate. Hate for those who are different, hate so strong you forget common decency and respectful speech for some little bit of self-satisfaction of venting ones anger and frustration.

I am telling you, life is way too short. Hate and the need to hate can consume people. I pray God, don’t let it be me, don’t let it be those I love; remind me of the important things in life and please protect me from reading the comments.

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

Romans 12:18 NAMS

Hello September ❤️ I’ve written many reflections about my views when September rolls around and this year is no different. It marks for me a new beginning and saying goodbye to those hot August days looking forward to the new year it brings for me.

This year I am feeling the same but have extra inspiration after a long summer of controversy and conflict across the country. One week after Harvey made landfall there are people still flooding in Texas.

South of Houston, I have a friend that is experiencing Harvey for a second time as the runoff is filling the streams, rivers and reservoirs as it heads back to the gulf.  Her house built in the 60’s that has never flooded is about to fill with water.

The inspiring part; her, her daughter, her MIL, SIL are all being rescued and going to her ex’s house with his wife and their two daughters. They are a group of people that still love and care for one another and understand we are more to each than our differences. I have seen this family come together before and it’s an inspiring thing. ❤️

Added to that, her ex is a law enforcement officer who has been working soaking wet for days to help others.

Texans are strong. Keep your prayers going for them It’s not over yet.

Feeling very philosophical on this flight home from Dallas.  It was a journey of love and devotion with uncertain results and conclusions.  

However, after  a couple of Bloody Mary’s which always seem to  taste so superb in-flights my seatmate shows me an article that says there is a scientific reason they taste better at 30,000 feet.  

Anyway back to my sentimental musings… I just watched “Collateral Beauty” with Will Smith.  Oh my gosh… now I am boo-hooing in my seat and those around me are thinking I should have skipped the Bloody Mary’s (the very good 30,000 feet ones).  

The movie is a real heart string puller about life, love and death and time… all of which I have given a lot of thought to in recent years. 

Which once again brings me back to a quote from Lee Cowin from four years ago…

[This tragedy] serves as reminder that “we don’t get to set life’s clock.” and that while we all think we have a tomorrow to say whatever we need to say, sometimes tomorrow never comes.

And…. people wonder why there is so much divisiveness, anger, and unrest in our country? Look no further than “Our Little Town.”

In a nutshell, a female someone parked in a “restaurant only” parking spot and went to a movie next door. She claims she intended to eat at the restaurant following the movie. Well, when she exited the movie theatre her car had been towed. She claims that when she confronted the restaurateur he yelled at her and was unkind. (Something tells me she might have been a bit excited too, but doesn’t say.)

The female movie goer makes a post on a town blog and then on Yelp. Following her post, hundreds of the townspeople have taken on her offense and began telling people not to patronize the restaurant. Even more people started relaying awful experiences they had at said restaurant which previously had mostly rave reviews.

In the restaurateur’s defense, another group started posting that they love the place. They tell it is clearly marked parking is for the restaurant only and perhaps the movie goer should have checked with restauranteur before leaving her vehicle for an hour and a half.

So here it is… people have taken sides in the debate and are attacking each other over something that did not even involve them, they did not witness, they know not all the facts and really is inconsequential in the bigger picture of things.

Finally, one can keep this little fact in mind… “Our Little Town” ~ North Bend, WA – the home of Twin Peaks! A show described as quirky, surreal, melodramatic, supernatural, and with dubious activities.

New episodes coming soon on your TV and just down the street.

Twin Peaks Teaser Billboards Go Up, Revealing Nothing But Cherry Pie (At First Sight)

The timing of connections and losses are the fine intricate dance of life.

Life is fragile – knowing that nothing about tomorrow is guaranteed.

Why does one door open as another closes? What reasoning keeps them closed until the opportunity is past?

There is a  familial connection through our DNA that binds are hearts tenderly with a golden thread.

Know that the paths which are directed by God are ones with design and purpose. Embrace those along that way.

We may never understand these tragedies of life. These are the mysteries of life that are only God’s to know.

Trish
.

I’m claiming divine protection here for myself and my coworker, CJ —

Last Wednesday I was in a rush to get out the door for a trip to Denver. When CJ arrived at work she told me there were two young women sitting at the bottom of the stairs. She went down and talk to them and they said they were just trying to stay out of the rain while waiting for a ride.

Well an hour later they were still there wandering around; they’d come into the office and asked for money. Their original story had changed — it was all very suspicious. I asked CJ to call the police because I thought maybe they might be some young women that were being targeted for sex trafficking.

CJ said they’d claimed they had arrived via bus from a town nearby and they just needed a ride back they wanted to go to an area about 75 miles south. I told CJ I’m heading to the airport I could drop them off in the next town over.

Both CJ and another coworker strongly urged me not to do it.

Well only a few hour later the news was that two women in Town had carjacked someone and caused a serious accident.

Today we find out it was the two women outside the office. They had stolen a truck from another town and had guns that were stolen as well, after hanging around our office for two hours they went down to the retirement centre and tried to carjack an elderly lady.
The manager at the retirement centre came to her aid and was attacked as well. They fled in the truck at a high rate of speed they caused a head on collision with another car and were apprehended by the police.

An officer came to the office today and we are going to provide a video for them.

So as I said, I believe CJ and I were both divinely protected and I believe CJ’s straight talking and compassionate but firm kindness kept us from harm.

Thankful

All the drama when you’re young, seems like nonsense when you’re old.

All the battles that were worth fighting, can turn your dreams to mold.

They seem so important when endless seem your days…

…but you’ll regret when you’re older and your passion has lost its blaze.

If only you could know, what the older ones have learned.

You would change your heart and thoughts, before good bridges you have burned.

You’d understand these thoughts, that seem so Important in your brain,

Seem really rather crazy,  when you’re older and reasoning is more sane.

It only goes to show you that the knowledge when you’re young,

Cannot compare to the age of wisdom, when your song is nearly sung.

©️2016 Trish ❤️

Here are my thoughts regarding all the meme’s showing up with wording that states ” Porta-potties are gender-neutral” and  “what’s the problem with allowing biological men (who identify as women) into women’s restrooms?”  There are also comments about living in a home with a gender-neutral bathrooms all your life and it never hurt you.

Well that is very true and I have no problem with porta-potties or private gender neutral restrooms. We have 5 private gender neutral restrooms at our office and the department store in the next town over has only one restroom for both men and women. I have used it many times, after men and before men, no problem

However, there are deeper issues, and unintended and under-recognized victims of this issue — they are women of sexual abuse.

Opening up locker rooms, changing rooms and less than private multi-stalled restrooms to a transgender man or any man who claims that he relates as transgender person, causes an extreme emotional burden on these women.

It is only recently (within the past 10 or 15 years) women have started to come out and talk about the sexual abuse they experienced at the hands of men. Many experienced these acts when they were children. They felt helpless, without a voice and in an age where children were to be seen and not heard, they were silenced. For these women there are many triggers that set them into an emotional tailspin.

I know because I am a sexual abuse survivor. I was nearly 50 years old before I told anyone. It is an emotional burden I do not want to carry and I cannot control the things that trigger me into these emotional spirals. The anxiety it can bring is almost paralyzing.

In an effort to be compassionate to the transgender community, do not forget these women who have just recently found their voice.

There has to be medium ground somewhere and I think unfettered access to women’s locker rooms and public bathrooms that do not offer completely private stalls (all the way to the floor and ceiling) is not the answer.

Without these considerations we are again being told we should be unseen, unheard and unrecognized.