The Godess of Dance

“Life is better with friends and a good dance floor.”

– Unknown

Gods played a central role in daily life and culture in ancient Greek society. They had a healthy belief that many Gods could live in unison, as they each had their own specialty. There was the God of Dreams, Morpheus; the God of Ecstasy and Wine, Dionysus; the God of the Underworld, Hades; the God of War, Ares; the God of the Sea, Poseidon; the God of Music and poetry, Art, and even the Plague, Apollo; and then there was the God of Thunder, Lighting, the Sky, and most important Law and Order, Zeus. The gods were not just distant deities but were considered the primary facilitators of daily life.

Like Costa Ricans, the Greeks believe in the importance of living the purest life. Many buildings in Delos have male genitals carved into them as a symbol of Good Fortune, and it is said that many men would wear filicide Jewelry around their necks as a homage to this belief. To this day, the Greeks, like the Costa Ricans, embody what it means to live the purest life and embrace Good Fortune. Everywhere one goes in Greece, the people are kind and welcoming. They make one feel part of a close-knit circle of friends with their laughter, generosity, and dancing. I had the privilege of learning the simple 7 steps to their native dance and getting others excited to join us as we went around in a circle, kicking our heels up and shouting, “Opa.”

On my last day in Santorini, I took that joyful spirit on a sunset catamaran ride. The group of Americans that I went to Greece with was booked for the catamaran tour with a large group of Korean tourists who spoke very little English. They probably had no idea that the peaceful evening they had set aside to swim in the sea and sightsee would turn into a night of conga lines, 90s hip hop, Latin dancing, and so much more. Once the crew turned on some tunes, we could customize the music they played, and of course, my group wanted it to feel like we were at Studio 54, which just happened to be floating out at sea.

I lugged around my Greek Goddess Toga and headdress for 9 days. Since it was our last night, I felt there was no better time to embrace the original Greek fashion statement. That night, I became the Goddess of what I do best, Dance. I was told as we disembarked that I should work in a club as I was good at interacting with strangers and getting them to dance even if we didn’t speak the same language. I had a good time getting everyone involved. At first, the Korean travelers were not keen on getting up and dancing. They would rather observe, but after some coaxing, they did the conga line, laughed, videotaped, and took photos with me. I felt like a mini-celebrity and proud to represent the real Goddess of Dance, Terpsichore.

Moral: 1) Dance is a universal language. 2) The Greeks sure know how to dance.

Zoey’s Big Adventure

“When I am feeling low all I have to do is look at my cat and my courage returns.” – Charles Bukowski

It was a day like any other. I had just woken up from my 10-hour nap; my master was looking for my favorite toy that I hid under the sofa for safekeeping. I sat beside her, meowing with laughter as she spent 10 minutes trying to “rescue it.” I then went to the food bowl and waited for her to give me my calming treats, like giving Ritalin to a normal child; it made me want to race around the house even more throughout the day. I was excited to see all the new climbing material around the home, big stepping blocks with nice cozy sleeping bags all around it. It wasn’t until I started to sniff around that I noticed my pink bubble of doom was placed next to it all.

I tried to find a hiding spot because I knew what that pink bubble signified. I was going in it and would be taken to other realms, some realms made me pretty, had good treats and smells, while others gave me the shakes because of uncomfortable inspections and shots. I never knew whether I was going to cat heaven or hell.

I attempted to hide, but all doors were closed. My master cornered me and gave me extra treats, which I happily enjoyed. Then, just like that, I was in the pink bubble of doom with no escape.

I meowed and meowed to no avail. I eventually sat on my master’s lap with half my body in the pink bubble of doom and the other in her lap while she petted me and said things in a language I did not understand.

After a while, I wondered if I was in a nightmare as the ride to the other realm took almost a cat day. I looked out the window and wondered where I was, as I had never seen so much green dirt before. After what seemed like forever, the car stopped, and I was put back into the pink bubble of doom and carried out into a place with giant trees, bigger than I have ever seen out my home’s windows, and a steady breeze that fluffed my tail and gave me a little chill. My master took me down to blue water that stretched as far as I could see. I was intrigued.

For once, I enjoyed sitting in the pink bubble of doom, smelling all the new smells and taking in all the new surroundings. I saw several large fish jumping out of the nearby blue water. It reminded me of my favorite toy, Happy Fish, which I play with every day and sometimes give a bath in my drinking fountain’s blue water. I watched the birds flying around and other people walking by. Happy day, happy cat.

I was surprised when my master caught one of the big fish and delighted, too, knowing that my dinner bowl would be filled with fresh and yummy fish. As the day wore on, I was comfortable enough to take a nap and dream of tall trees and the soothing breeze.

I awakened with a jolt as I was swinging onto my master’s shoulders and sad when I could see we were walking back to the car. Oh Lordy, where to now. As all good stories have a happy ending, after a long and bumpy ride, mine was being carried into the fragrant and familiar smells of my home, a place where I knew I could relax. I headed straight to my bed, where I passed out for two days straight. Somewhere in the twilight, I enjoyed my tasty fish and dreamed of new adventures on the road. I do hope that the next time we go to new places with new smells and things I have never seen before, my master brings a few more treats.

Moral: 1) Even cats can enjoy some adventure time. 2) One can never have enough treats.

Blown Away: Z Style

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
Pablo Picasso

Picture this: Phoenix, Arizona, November 30, 2023, and a young lady was going off to accomplish a goal of being the #1 glass blower in the state or at least having a chance to learn the craft. She was excited, yet nervous, when she stepped into the glass-blowing shop surrounded by a few professionals, but mainly amateurs like herself. She was wearing her blue jean overalls, hoping it would make it look like she was at least somewhat skilled in the Arts, even if it was just card making.

She dipped the stick in glass goo and twirled it around the colors she had picked out previously and thought, “This is easy.” Next, she was told to place the ‘goo’ into what is called the Glory Hole, a hot furnace with a hole in the front for the stick of ‘goo’ to go through to heat it up to make it more flexible and easier to mold into whatever shape one wants. However, it became evident that it would not go as smoothly as hoped. The young lady was left-handed and needed to find a way to turn around, so the stick was in the other hand. The instructor laughed, and a plan was put in place that involved everyone getting out of the way while a hot flaming stick was twirled around.

Eventually, everything was set to move forward, but being left-handed, nothing would shield the inexperienced artist from the hot breeze and blinding light coming out of the glory hole.

Being an amateur, the young lady did not realize this was not the norm. She figured incorrectly that the instructor was holding up a piece of paper to test her skills of rotating the stick without setting the paper on fire. However, the paper was an impromptu way of shielding her from the heat and light she was unnecessarily battling with the Glory Hole. After thoroughly heating the stick, it was twisted and heated some more. Then, the instructor started to bring the glass to life by pumping air into it and allowing the young lady to blow

through a tube at various pressures to allow the glass to expand and come to life. After the pupil and the instructor were satisfied with the shape and size of the glass, she took special scissors and cut the tip of the glass ‘goo’ off, allowing the glass globe to be free. Lastly, a stamp of approval was pushed into the bottom to allow the glass globe to freely stand. It had to be left for a few days to cool off. She was excited yet disappointed once the process ended because she could not bring her creation home that day. After a few days of anxiously waiting, she was amazed and delighted with her creation and can’t wait for another opportunity to put her new-found skills to the test.

Moral: 1.) Glass Blowing teaches patience. 2.) Being left-handed does have its challenges, even with glass blowing. 3.) Allow yourself to try new things because you might enjoy them.

Born to be a Sun Devil

“To boldy go where no cat has ever gone before.”
Annoymous

The first sounds I heard were A S U, A S U, ASU (Arizona State University) while nestled snuggly in my mother’s belly. It was January 1987, 3 months before I was born, and we were at the Rose Bowl. ASU played the Michigan Wolverines and won 22-15. The roar of 103,000 people as they cheered ASU to victory was something to behold. They were loud, they were proud, they were electric. The Sun Devil Spirit was contagious, and I was born with ASU fever. I was inside my mom’s belly, making the forks up sign and jumping up and down because I, too, was excited about the big win. Since that day, it has been a dream of mine to go to the Rose Bowl wearing the same ASU/Rose Bowl sweatshirt my mother wore to keep us both warm. I am pleased to report that 36 years later, my silly little dream came true.

It may not have been an official New Year’s Day Rose Bowl game between the Pac-12 and Big Ten winners. Still, it would be the last time the Sun Devils play at the Rose Bowl due to the changing of the guards and the slow dissolution of the Pac 12 while most everyone, except Oregon State and Washington State, head towards the Big 10 or Big 12 next year. I was excited to be a part of history when ASU took on UCLA (University of California Los Angeles) one last time, making it officially the last time any of the Pac-12 teams, including our rival (UofA – University of Arizona), would play at the Rose Bowl representing the Pac-12.

I met many amazing people who were diehard ASU fans, just like my father and me. They understood and appreciated the significance of me being a Sun Devil before I even took my first breaths of outside air. I met people there who had attended the ’87 Rose Bowl and were pictured in the Arizona Republic newspaper after the win, current students, Cheerleaders, and of course… Sparky. I got to cheer, chant, jump up and down in the stands, and show great appreciation for my team when they won 17-7. I got to be surrounded by those who bleed maroon and gold as much as I do, and there was no more incredible feeling.

We were the underdogs, but my new friends and I never gave up. We knew our guys were tenacious and always fought hard. We didn’t have a regular quarterback or many other players, as most players were out for injuries. We played to our strengths no matter how goofy it looked to the outside world. The first time offensively on the field, everyone wondered what we were doing. We had one receiver on the far right side of the field, the center, a running back, and a tight end in the middle of the field, and the other seven players lined up on the far left side of the field. When a penalty was called for an illegal formation, and we lined up in the same position, we were as confused as UCLA. We were playing a swinging gate offense. The running back and the tight end switched now and then to play quarterback. Whatever it was, it worked. It was not surprising when our running back ran for a score, but it was when our tight end threw a bullet through a donut hole for a touchdown. Our defense stopped the Bruins on the one-yard line, not once, but twice. If there was ever a game you had to see to believe, this was it. I have a healthy imagination, but this was better than my dream.

Moral: 1) History will forever be on ASU’s side as we have gone where no Wildcat fan or player has ever gone to play on New Year’s Day….. the Rose Bowl, and where we won every time. 2)

Never let your shortcomings dictate where you can go in life. 3) Never give up on a dream.

Eating at its Finest

“I eat all my junk food in the kitchen in the dark so I don’t have share with my kids.”
Unknown

I recently took myself on a group date and went to a restaurant where you wear a blindfold and eat whatever they serve you. You can only control whether you want seafood, meat, or vegetarian main dishes. Three courses are served, and after each one, they let the participants guess what they ate before they tell you in detail what you may have enjoyed. The group I went with was extremely anxious or starving and needed to arrive before our meals arrived. I could hear fingers tapping on the tabletop to some unfamiliar, restless rhythm. When the food did come, there was no arguing that the seafood had the most prominent smell that made one long to have their feet in the sand.

It was fun to hear everyone guess what they were eating and work together to give each other tips to figure out how to eat some of the food served and know when they were finished. Some decided to forgo the silverware and experience their meal with the authenticity of a prehistoric civilization before tools. The silverware aficionados laughed and lamented that keeping food on a fork is a highly underrated skill.

For me, the biggest foreseen challenge would be using a knife. I’m an unskilled knife handler without a mask. I thought I had taken every precaution to ensure I made it out of this experience alive and unscathed by ordering the vegetarian dish. I should not need to cut my food, just stab it. How wrong was I? When the second dish arrived, the waiter said, “Miss, you will need a knife for this one.” My heart sank, knowing the nightmare I had been trying to avoid all night was about to come true. I sighed, “Here goes nothing. I love you fingers and always will.” I fumbled around but finally found the sharp, pointy end. My mistake for the ensuing bloodbath was that I swooped in for the knife instead of slapping straight down where I would have avoided stabbing myself. Between screeches, I heard, “Should I be worried, sitting next to you?” I laughed and replied, “Yes.”

At this time, another person at the table remarked, “Please, how can you hurt yourself with a butter knife.” All I can do is laugh. “I’m sitting next to Edward Scissorhands, for all I know”. Therefore, I decided to forgo the knife and further self-mutilation by spearing my prey with a fork. I could then gnaw at it like a savage beast. I am proud to announce that no limbs were lost during the experience, nor did I spill any food on myself. Now, I can’t say the same for others. Several looked like they were in a high school food fight.

My main takeaways were that smell is not very predictive of how much you enjoy a dish and that taste and texture are not overrated. I also learned that when a group of people cannot look at one another, we have issues with our hearing and tend to speak louder about the inappropriate topics we discussed.

Moral: 1) Sight is a small part of the eating experience. 2) Not being able to see is a great way to feel less inhibited without much coaxing because the feeling of others judging you tends to disappear.

Girls Day gone…. corky

Women made the best beekeepers, ’cause they have a special ability built into them to love creatures that sting. It comes from years of loving children and husbands.
Unknown

Arizona is hot and humid; therefore, the only way to make it through the summers is to either stay indoors with the AC on full blast or find a puddle of water to swim in. A friend of mine invited me to go to Lake Pleasant with her and try out our paddle boards on Sunday; I was all in. I could not wait to get on the water, have girl time, and work on my tan. I packed up her car, and on the way, we were.

When we got there, we realized parking would be a bit more difficult than expected as everything is in the dirt, up hills, or down by the water. We drove around for a bit before finding a spot in between and didn’t have to worry about her car accidentally going into the lake. We were very happy to find out her car was 4-wheel drive as it was a must-have.

She took out her electric pump to blow up her paddle board, and I took out my hand pump and got to work. I noticed my board was getting firmer and firmer, but the PSI amount did not look as though it was quite where it needed to be, so I kept pumping. I also realized that my arms weren’t tired yet, so I assumed that meant I could not be close to pumping it up. Well, I was wrong. Within seconds of these thoughts, my board popped from having too much air, and at the same time, I was stung by a bee. All my friends heard was a pop and an “AWEEEE… What the….”. They turned and saw me jumping up and down holding my butt. They looked at me very puzzled and asked what I was doing. I said, “I think I just got stung by a bee. Do you see anything?”

I let my friend know that if we weren’t good friends before, we would be as it was now up to her to look at the lower part of my butt cheek to see if it was red or swollen. She laughed and told me it was a little red but not too bad. I spent the rest of the day at the lake in the water or just sitting on the front of her paddle board as we cruised around. The next day, however, I had several bumps from where I was stung, and my shoulders had hand-printed sun burns on them from my unsuccessful attempt to put sunscreen on. All in all, it was still a good day. We saw a fish at one point, so I caught it with my bare hand. I have always wanted to do that, and now I can say I have done it.

Moral: 1) Don’t overfill your paddleboard. 2) Ask for help if you can’t get sunscreen to cover your whole back. 3) Surround yourself with good people; you can never have a bad time.

Forks UP: Once in a Lifetime

A true fan doesn’t just root for thier team, they invest thier emotions in it.
Bill Simmons

August 31, 2023, started as any typical day. I went to work and came home to get ready for the season opening Arizona State University (ASU) football game. I admit, I was a bit bummed about going because I was supposed to do Glow in the Dark Axe Throwing that day. But as a hard-core Sun Devils Fan, I could not let the team down by not being there to support our new Coaches and an outstanding group of new players getting their introduction to playing in front of our rambunctious crowd. We had just recruited a freshman quarterback who could throw 50 yard bullets, which I was anxious to see after last year’s dink and dunk offense. My dad and I geared up, put our game faces on, and continued to make our way to the light rail with the endless possibilities of what could happen that night floating in our heads.

After kickoff, we were able to score our first touchdown within the first 6 minutes. Things were looking up. The crowd was cheering, thinking this year would be our year. After a few more minutes, we picked up another touchdown, 14-0. Our defense was on fire, we held Southern Utah at the one-yard line for three attempts, but they finally broke free and scored.

Then, out of nowhere, everyone’s phones started going off with weather alerts to inform us of a dust storm in the area and to take precautions. We all laughed because we had already seen the dust roll onto the field, with trash flying everywhere and even getting caught in spectators’ hair. The announcers let us know the game could be delayed, and they kept an eye on the weather reports. I could barely make out the players on the field through all the dust, but I did clearly see our 47-yard touchdown pass on 4th down and 8. My mouth dropped open in disbelief, but I quickly got it together and was more pumped than ever. Then the inevitable was announced during halftime: the game was being delayed due to the weather and possible thunderstorms, and it would resume when it could. Others were evacuating their seats to seek cover to escape the dust, thunder, and rainfall during that time. Others remained dancing in the rain. It warmed my heart to see at least 300 people were so dedicated to supporting our Sun Devils as my dad and I that we waited 2 hours before resuming the game. I enjoyed taking in the weather’s view from under the upper deck canopy from which we were sitting, enjoying not having a care in the world. I was proud to be able to say I survived the haboob (new weather term for a Dust Storm) to see my Devils play, which is not something most people will ever be able to say as this type of thing has never in all the years the Sun Devils have been playing football.

The game resumed at 10 PM and ended at around 1 AM on a Friday. I got home at 2 AM. I am pleased to say we won 24-21. Luckily, there was no security checking tickets on the light rail at 1 in the morning because most of the riders had purchased roundtrip tickets for Saturday and we boarded on Sunday. I earned my actual fan pin that day. No one can ever question my loyalty. I made it very clear I am a Sun Devil fan through and through, and nothing will stop me from being there for my team and alma mater.

Moral: 1) Be open to the unexpected. 2) True Fans are there no matter the circumstances, weather or won-loss record.

A Night on The Town

Never underestimate the power of a good friend
Todd Stocker

When it was time to pick out a dress for my brother’s wedding, a fly on the wall would have thought it was my mom and I getting ready for my ceremony. We spent months trying to find the perfect dress for the most spectacular event of a lifetime. My mother spent hours poring over website after website, trying to find one that would be a tea party dress and summer heat comfortable. We tried to find the dresses she found online at stores, only to find out the stores were no longer accepting real-life customers, only virtual ones. My mother hadn’t worn a fancy dress in over 20 years, so this dress had to be perfect. Eventually, she found one that made her look even more stunning than she already does regularly.

As for me, I had some dresses in my closet that I thought might want to come out and play, but I also looked online to see if anything caught my eye. I had settled on a pink flower dress I felt was made for weddings or easter dinners. When it arrived, I took it out to see how I felt. I gave it an A-. Then, a few days before leaving for the wedding, my mom reminded me I had my beautiful prom dress from my junior year in high school. Mom and I have worked hard since November 2022 to improve our eating habits. As a result, we have each lost about 50 pounds. With that in mind, we thought it might fit; I have been lugging it around for 20 years because I just couldn’t let it go. I was scared when placing the dress over my head, thinking maybe this time I would rip it and the dress would be gone forever. After a few seconds of deep breathing and repeating my mantra, “I am beautiful and strong no matter what comes,” I pulled the dress down. It fit better than it had ever fit. I was practically glowing. I couldn’t stop smiling. I love that dress, and now the world could see me in it.

Later that evening after the ceremony and beautiful reception, many people were going out to continue the celebration. I decided to seize the day with them. When I arrived at the bar, it was evident that I had not been to one in some time. When the bouncer asked for the $5 cover charge, I replied, “What, no ladies’ night tonight?” He then stared at me for what seemed like an eternity but was properly only 5 seconds, and requested to see my ID. I explained that I had just come from a wedding and did not have my purse with money or an ID. I tried convincing him that everyone in the bar could vouch for my age, but if he needed to, I was okay with a wristband stating, “Only Serve Water.” He kindly let me know that is not how it works. If someone looks under 35, they must be carded, and he did not believe I looked older than 35. I thanked him for saying I looked younger than I was. Giving up, I got the attention of my family, who were partying in the bar, and told them I was sorry but wouldn’t be able to hang out. They laughed and told me to wait just a moment. The person who was the ordained minister for the wedding worked at the bar and could waive the cover charge and walk me in. I breathed a sigh of relief and was glad this happened in a small, friendly town.

Moral: 1) Always have your wallet and phone on you because you never know what fun adventures await around the bend. 2) Spread kindness like a disease because you never know who you might encounter. 3) If something as simple as a dress means something to you, don’t feel bad for keeping it, as you might be wearing it again one day. 4) Embrace the unknown.

Locked Out

“If you ever get locked out of your house talk to your lock calmly as communication is key.”
Unknown

I am sure many of you can relate to being locked out, whether locked out of your car, home, office, laptop, etc. It can be beyond frustrating, as I recently learned. My parents and I walk to get mail daily from the community mailboxes located about 5 minutes away from the house. When we leave, we ensure the front door is locked, as there have been issues in our community with stolen packages and burglaries. We don’t want to take any chances of someone walking into our home. My dad usually grabs the keys and exits after me to lock the door. My dad was out of town, so my mom and I just ventured out for the mail. I was half out the door when I remembered I needed to lock it, so I stepped back and engaged the lock. As the door swung shut, I knew I had forgotten the essential thing, the keys. I mumbled, “Oh shit,” as the door slammed and locked. My mom knew what I had done. She frantically searched her pockets for her cell phone but realized she had left it in the house. I didn’t think I needed a phone for our little mail run. So there I was, standing in our courtyard dressed in fuzzy shorts and a Love-Up t-shirt I planned to sleep in. I actually thought if only my cat inside our home could save me.

In a panic, I went to one of our neighbors and asked if they knew how to break into a home, but she did not. I asked for the next best thing, “May I borrow your cell phone to call a locksmith.” She agreed. While our beloved neighbor and my mom contacted countless locksmith companies to no avail, I went looking for the security guard who roams the neighborhood to ensure that the parking rules are followed and that the pool gates are not propped open for outsiders to enter restricted areas. I also asked a few passer buyers if they knew anything about getting into a home because I was locked out. Of course, people laughed and gave me some weird stares, but none had the hidden talent to break into my house. I felt safer knowing some of my neighbors could never rob me, but it didn’t change that we were locked out. Another neighbor even gave us his key to see if it would work on our door. It was a very kind gesture.

The results of the first 35 minutes of locksmith calls were that we would have to wait until the morning due to high demand. We reminded them we didn’t have any money for a hotel as it is all inside, so unless they were going to pay for a hotel for us, the only option would be to sleep outside on the patio, which was not an approved option. Eventually, a locksmith had an apprentice willing to help, but it would be another half hour. We had been stuck outside for almost an hour, so another half hour seemed tolerable.

When a person arrived to “save us.” I asked if he would let us in, and he replied, “Yes, but it would cost 5,000 dollars.” All color drained from my mother’s face, and he assured her he was joking. I told him we may not have that kind of money, but we could get him 50-yard line tickets for an ASU football game. He smiled and said he might take me up on that. However, when he got to the door, I heard a, “Oh shit.” He turned and said our door and lock are almost impossible to break into without cutting a hole in the door to get the lock off.

He attempted many ways to open it for the next hour without success. We told him we couldn’t go thru the windows or sliding glass side doors because they were double pane. He asked if he could remove his shirt because he was sweating and getting very unnerved about his effort to open our door. He assured us he had a tank top under the shirt. We had a few laughs trying to lighten up our distressing situation while our apprentice was sweating more than I thought possible for a human being. We three women agreed that he could remove his shirt, but that was it. We didn’t call for a stripper Locksmith. I had trouble shaking the thought that we would lose the door.

After twenty more minutes of trying to pick the lock, he asked about the upstairs window. I told him I didn’t think it was locked as I don’t lock my bedroom window. He smiled and replied he hoped I was right and went to grab his ladder. He climbed up as he worked on getting the window screen off; I laughed and said, “This is not how I imagined a man would enter my room. I always imagined I would be in the room and at least know him.” Nothing goes as it seems with me, and this was a first-time experience I was sure to remember. He laughed and apologized for not bringing his boom box, and with that, he climbed into my room. He smiled out the window, letting me know he loved my room and the personality it showed.

When he let us in, he walked outside to get the paperwork for us to sign for payment, and we got our debit card to pay him. He stood outside the now open door explaining the amount. My mom laughed and reminded him he had already been in our home and was welcome to come in while we paid the bill. It ended up being way less than 5000 dollars. He gathered his supplies, returned to the door, and asked for my number. I was flattered, seeing as I am 36, and the man who let us in was 23.

My dad’s reaction was to put a new fingerprint lock on the front door. Okay, I don’t need to worry about forgetting a key anymore, but what about losing a finger to a desperate burglar hanging around the mailboxes.

Moral: 1) Never leave home without the keys. 2) Always have a backup plan. 3) Get to know some of your neighbors; you never know when you need their help. 4) Learn not to replace one worry with another.

Finding Love….

They say love hides behind every corner, I must be walking in a circle.

Don’t find love. Let love find you. That is why it is called falling in love because you don’t force yourself to fall, you just fall.
Unknown

Love. We all need it, want it, and are, sometimes, afraid of it. Love often seems unattainable,
but we forget we already have it. We have it for ourselves, friends, family, pets, nature, etc. We
also received it. However, at times it doesn’t seem enough. There is still that elusive ” one ” that
seems just out of reach. The “one” that everyone talks about, not knowing who they are, but
just knowing they are out there. My favorite philosopher, Steve Martin, says, “There’s someone
out there for everyone, even if you need a pickaxe, a compass, and night goggles to find them.”
While there is enjoyment in being single, there may be times we wish those around us were
right; someone would show up to laugh, love and build a life.

We go on various dating apps, blind dates, speed dating, and events for singles. Some even ask
for spiritual guidance. I am guilty of dabbling in dating apps in the past, such as Match.com,
Bumble, Plenty of Fish, and eHarmony. The one thing all those apps had in common was that
connecting with someone I had never met over a chat line was harder than I thought. I would
exchange a decent message with someone, and then they send me dick pics. My
dating standards were high when I started the apps. Afterward, it was simple; if the guy doesn’t
send me a dick pic, he is way ahead of the rest. I decided apps were not for me.

I have tried speed dating at Phoenix Fan Fusion. This was more my speed. It was nice to meet
someone dressed as a character, as it took some of the pressure off. I went on a few dates and
am still friends with one of the people I met there, so I consider it a win.

For fun, I decided to try an online tarot card reader and a woman who draws up people you
should end up with. As you can tell from the photos above, both had very different ideas about
what my person was supposed to look like. One said he would have the initials VA and I would
meet him in a shopping mall in July. He was supposed to work in a high position in marketing.
Which, I suppose, could be an advertising executive or a second-floor telemarketer.

The other noted the initials would have the initials DJ and I would meet him around my birthday next
year. The second one was to have some financial issues and may rely on me or others for
money. It could be the guy holding a sign at the off-ramp, “Scream at a Bum- 50 Cents a minute.”
Both stated that the man I was to meet would enjoy traveling and adventures.

They noted that I was the only one causing the relationship not to happen, as I had to let go of my past to move forward. I get daily emails and text messages now telling me that I need to call and talk to my
tarot card reader as there are a lot of things I need to know about, such as the man I am
supposed to be with is holding on to a secret and is afraid of what I might think. I have been
told someone still wants to be together, but it might not be my wisest choice. I have been told
to spray myself daily with the leftovers from a melted candle and aroma therapy that smells like
honey roses. I have been told to say my intuitions about the person I want to meet to get them
out in the universe. I have even bought the twin flame stone I was told would help me find the
person I work best with. It was a fun experiment, but I would suggest meeting with a tarot card
reader in person; that way, you get everything you are asking for all at once, and you won’t get bombarded daily with more flim-flam offers.

Ultimately, I think it is best to remain oneself while still getting out into the world: volunteer in an organization or charity, join a book club or sports team, travel, and attend art gallery openings, concerts, sporting events, and church meetings. Meeting people in person that share your interests and beliefs is a good off-line place to start.

Moral: There is no secret to finding love; just be, and it will come.