Collectively it is time that we imagine a better world.
No matter what happens in the next months or years,
it is time to put our minds on better things.
Call it the power of positive thinking,
of visualizing,
of collective prayer -
it all works and can change the world.
Psychopathic leaders of politics and industry - be warned -
it is time for the Human takeover of our world.
Time to imagine a world where we live harmoniously with the earth,
harmoniously with each other - near and far,
harmoniously with all creatures -great and small.
A world in partnership.
A world of compassion and love and generosity.
If it fits in your mind,
it fits in your world.
We are more than what we can imagine.
Collectively it's time to imagine
what comes after -
to dream big and have faith in the human heart,
in the human desire for connection.
Photo of Park in Godollo Hungary, outside Budapest.
Reprinted from Laine's Blog, October 2020
©LaineQuinn2022
The rain did not deter us from enjoying such a well preserved town,
dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
AND they were renovating the cobblestone streets.
All of the houses were white with very thick walls,
and the shops offered hand made items that were irresistible.
Always great food and a Church in the center!
Holloku, Hungary,
From my trip to Hungary, 2014.
Sunny Flowers!
When visiting a "Foreign" country,
and you see familiar things,
it brings home closer
and strangers become friends.
Holloku, Hungary, which is a very very old town situated in rolling hills that reminded me of Maryland or Virginia! Familiar flowers and great food and company!
September, 2014.
First love.
Second love.
Last Love.
True love.
We are both mother and child,
when it comes to love.
Round statue in Budapest, Hungary.
Saint Augustine, Florida
or
Szentendre (Saint Andrews), Hungary?
Yesterday's answer...can you say "Lit'l Itly?"
Baltimore!
Clouds over the Danube River, in Szentendres, Hungary.
The rain falls on everyone, sooner or later!
It's knowing it will pass,
and in the meantime,
sing or dance or sit by a window,
as the rain falls.
Same with the cloudy weather in our heads.
It will pass!
Don't worry too much!
This pelican and cormorant were a familiar sight at the Budapest Zoo.
Not exactly like our pelicans, but very familiar,
like the people were familiar.
They may have spoken a very different language,
but they looked just like us!
There's a line from a U2 song:
There is no them,
there's only us.
You and me.
There's only us.
And the pelicans and cormorants and all the other creatures that call this planet home.
There is no them!
Budapest Zoo, and lyrics by U2, the song Invisible (RED).
Isn't it good,
Hungarian wood?
A little green for a winter's day.
The park on the way to the castle in Godollo, Hungary.
(Sounds like a fairy tale...into the woods...a castle...talking trees!)
While in Budapest on a rainy Saturday,
we ran into at least three wedding parties!
Rain or shine,
in Florida,
everyone is free to marry the spouse of their choice!
Who would've thunk?!
Kudoos to all who made that happen!
Budapest, Hungary, September 2014.
Freedom to Marry is released by the Court in Talahassee, Florida, January 6th, 2015.
What if you are here on this beautiful, physical, gravity based planet,
simply because you want to be here?
You like a challenge!
In our smallest moments and our largest,
and everywhere in between,
this is it,
the stuff of our lives.
Are you having fun yet?
To be just a wet stone,
or to reflect the sky above?
Changing your focus can conjure up magic,
like this reflection in a very shallow pool of rainwater.
I'm fine really...
Happy New Year, Everyone!!!
Some samplings of photos and sayings from 2014!
Bring on the New Year!
I told you never to come here...
or
What's the password?
The password kiddo is,
this is my house so let me out!
or
Now, you promised,
you won't tell anyone, EVER.
I promise.
The Little House on the Terrace, Tihany Hungary.
Perhaps when we feel alone and fearful,
we truly aren't so alone.
Angels have been part of our imagination for a long, long time.
Maybe there is a reason for that?
At best there is some comfort
in believing that we are all being looked after somehow,
by beautiful, benevolent, winged angels!
Angel and soldier sculpture found in Budapest, Hungary and very similar to another sculpture in Baltimore, Maryland and probably in a lot of other countries and cities.
Unabashed beauty,
there
for anyone to see.
Almost perfect!
A rose garden in the park along Lake Balaton, Hungary.
A Mother Goose Rhyme,
just in time for election day.
Hark! Hark!
The dogs do bark,
The beggars are coming to town:
Some in rags,
Some in tags,
And some in velvet gown.
The Hungarian dog and the King and Queen in Tihany, Hungary.
A swinging, singing witch?
A flying witch?
Or a laughing witch?
Whichever witch you choose to be,
today,
or in life,
have fun!
AND
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Witches of Szentendres, Hungary, or perhaps variations of Baba Yaga, wise woman of Russian and Slavic folklore.
To an adult,
a cemetary is a serious thing,
but to a child,
it's another place that needs exploring.
No prior knowledge,
no expectations,
no prejudices,
a great way to live
each day.
Cemetary in Budapest, Hungary.
Kid = Aden.
Considering these grave markers,
(are they discarded,or awaiting re-positioning,
it's hard to say?)
it might encourage one to seize the day,
since once you have given up your body,
you are really gone.
Maybe not really dead as some suggest,
but really
gone.
Ancient Cemetary outside of Budepest in Hungary.
This is the day before he understood that you can eat the cone
and
get to the rest of the ice cream!
Aden useing a spoon in Godollo, Hungary to scoop out the rest of the ice cream!
Traveling with this little guy and his mom and grandparents,
at that age where he is absorbing language like a sponge,
and learning two languages at one time,
it was little surprise when he could recognize the Hungarian word for "ice cream"
and take you by the hand to the very attractive stands displaying the beautiful choices,
in all the towns we visited.
"Fagylalt"
Aden and swans at Lake Balaton, Hungary.
This man was right next to our table at the very best restaurant in Tihany, Hungary.
He was fine, really.
Staying with a Hungarian family,
is a lot like being with an Italian family,
everyone talks at once.
You almost can't imagine how these conversations can procede,
especially without your valuable input!
Hungarian is actually spoken softly, most times, and these gorgeous pets were shot in Tihany, on Lake Balaton.
Traveling to the little towns and villages that we visited in Hungary,
we had to go through Budapest from Godollo.
These shots were taken through the windshield of the little Pugeot that got us around.
I can only identify one of the buildings, the Opera House.
This building had been gutted by a fire, and was being restored.
The Opera House
Budapest, Hungary.
If I hadn't been traveling with a local,
I would have been hopelessly lost in Budapest.
This archway led from one street to another that took us to the train for home,
Godollo home that is.
It was this shadow cast onto the floor that intrigued me.
Sometimes it's the little things in life that speak to the soul the most.
In Godollo, the little town where we stayed in Hungary,
there is a Castle that is dedicated to the memory of the beloved Queen Erzsebet,
who united the Austrian Hungarian empires.
On the grounds of the Castle,
was the prettiest stand of fall blooming Anemones that I have ever seen.
Queen Erzsebet translates as Elizabeth, but she is not to be confused with the British Queens.
Uh-oh, now what?
One of many sculptures found in the very exclusive clinic in the heart of Budapest.
(Apologies to the artist for not knowing her/his name.)
This terrace was so inviting that we spent time there on our way into the village of Tihany,
and we spent time there on our way out of Tihany.
Situated on Lake Balaton it was a place to stop, slow down and smell the roses,
and the lavender!
Kid friendly with a wonderful view,
it was a very special part of what became the perfect day.
(Where's Aden?)
Hungary is dotted with many charming towns,
like this one, Szent Endres,
situated on the banks of the Danube River.
Once you hear the English translation, Saint Andrews,
it is easier to remember the name.
Forgetting the cobblestone streets and squares and shops and galleries,
is not an option!
(And there are my travelling companions and friends,
just up ahead, as I stop to take yet another photo.)
Our last night in the city and we stumble upon a beer festival,
a distant lightening storm,
and the yellow train whizzing by a Jazz boat in front of the Palace
on the other side of the river.
Still livin' right!
Budapest used to be two cities separated by the Duna, or what we call the Danube River.
Buda is on the hilly side of the river.
And Pest is on the plane and is the more modern section of Budapest.
This is the Palace in the hills.
And this is the famous Parliament building on the Pest side of the river.