Mexican Food and Boom Babies (Maggie)

What do you do when you've got a pile of work to get done, are way behind schedule, and an opportunity for fun arises?

Answering that question can tell you a lot about where you are in life at a given moment or on a given day. It happened to me yesterday, and because I've decided life is too short not to spend every possible minute doing exactly what you want, milking life for all the joy it has to offer, I set the work aside for an afternoon, and went for the fun.

Let me 'splain. No, there's no time, let me summarize. I spent two gruelling days not only completing my daily writing quota, but also reading through a 420 page printout (for DEMON'S KISS, on sale in December) in 48 hours flat. On day three, I had another hundred page novella to read through, and did that before my daily writing, since I was already in reading mode. I was nearly finished when my best girlfriend Michele called. That's her with me in the pic up top. She'd just returned from her aunt's funeral and needed to get out. I didn't even hesitate. I was in. Screw work. I don't think we look back on life as it winds down, and regret that we didn't work more. I rather think the opposite is true. So I finished reading the novella, hopped in the shower, and threw on some clean jeans. She arrived, and we took off. She was thinking of going to the mall, to hunt for a dress for her daughter's wedding. But we started out at Joanne's Fabric, where she needed some scrapbooking supplies. She was afraid I'd be bored there (not into crafts or Suzy Homemaker stuff, but I'm never bored with her!) I shopped around the place, and found some things that made me smile. A set of bamboo windchimes, and two little stuffed birds--a red-tail hawk, my personal totem, and a loon. When you squeeze them, they do their version of the actual bird's call. The hawk screams like it's about to snag a snake, and the loon sings that mournful loon song that can break your heart. I was absolutely delighted.

Then we headed for Syracuse and the mall, but as we got closer, I suggested we keep going straight instead of taking the turn to the mall, because only a few miles ahead were some of the best shops Syracuse has to offer. Seven Rays, and Boom Babies. I told her the best dresses in the city were waiting for her there. She'd never been.

So we drove to Westcott St, tucked away where you'd least expect it, and slid to the parking lot behind Seven Rays, then went in the back door. I always love people's first reaction to that shop. It really doesn't look like much from the rear--what shop does? But once inside, my pal's eyes lit up. Seven Rays is an occult book store, by definition, but it's so, so much more. The space is huge, and the energy just sparkles. The entire place is brimming, not just with books (though there are those--hundreds of them--) but with racks of glittering gemstones, stacks of fragrant incense, cases overflowing with the most unique, gorgeous jewelry, magick wands, staffs, sacred statuary, some of it utterly magnificent. Giant Buddha sculptures, and little ones too, and Kwan Yin, and Ganesha too. The place is overloaded with unique, exotic, fascinating things. So many more than I can list here. They also do massage, psychic readings, hold classes and workshops, and have drumming circles twice a week.

Despite our fascination with Seven Rays, I dragged my friend through it, and out the front door, promising to come back later, and we crossed the street to Boom Babies, since a dress was our mission for the day. And once again, her eyes lit up. The dresses in this store seem to me to be dresses you can't find anywhere else. Certainly not at the malls. Like kids in a candy store, we picked out dresses, and eager employees hung them in fitting rooms, side by side, where they awaited us. We looked and looked and picked and chose, and ooohed and ahhhed. I chose about six dresses to try on, and she chose more. (And I didn't even have an event in mind for mine. You'd understand if you saw these numbers. No woman could resist.)

Then we dove into our fitting rooms, and started trying them on. Each time we were dressed, we'd pop out and inspect each other, turning, critiquing, oohing and ahhing some more. Laughing as we assisted each other with zippers and hooks.

In the end, my pal found a gorgeous gown for her daughter's wedding. The color matches the bridesmaids' gowns, but it has sequins and beads that will make it stand out. It was a little too big, but she has another friend who can do alterations (and she promised to introduce me!) I found two dresses that I was dying to have, but decided to choose only one. They were running a sale--buy one dress, get the second for half price. So she and I each got fabulously expensive, glittering, beaded gowns, and we split the savings. Mine looks Eqyptian, and I swear Cleopatra would have been jealous. I'm going to snap a pic of it, though it looks better on me than on the hanger. I'll get a shot wearing it as soon as I have an occasion worthy of its beauty.

After that, it was too late to go back to shop at Seven Rays. I had made another promise to do something for another friend that evening and had to be back by six. We had just time enough to carry our carefully wrapped gowns, the kind of dresses that make a woman feel like a princess, or better, an Empress, or even better, A Goddess, and we went back across the street to this wonderfully authentic Mexican Cantina, and I'm kicking myself that I can't remember its name, but it was fabulous and I'll post it as soon as I remember. We ordered way more than we could hope to eat, and Diet Cokes. =) And the food was incredible, just as the women at Boom Babies had told us it would be. Fresh veggies, salsa made right in the kitchen. Oh, yeah, it was great. Which reminds me, I have some quesadillas left over in the fridge and I'm going to have them for breakfast!

After that we went back through Seven Rays just to let them know we'd used all our time but would be back. I imagine before the day is out we'll be planning our next trip up there. We really didn't get a chance to shop Seven Rays. And I might just buckle and buy that second dress from Boom Babies. And some shoes. And maybe some jewelry to go with. And they even had some belly dancing items. I only saw hip scarves but I bet they had entire costumes in there somewhere.

So we came back home. I barely had time to let the dogs out, grab a green tea, and check my phone messages before it was time to head out again. A good friend of mine, one of my former students of magick and Wicca and the like, who now runs a group of her own, had agreed to do a house blessing and lead an observance of the dark moon at another friend's house. But her job sent her out of town, and at the last minute (the night before) she asked if I could do it. I've really been taking a break from active teaching and leading the group over the past year, but I found myself ready to dive back in. So I said yes. And last night, on the dark moon, I gathered with several other women and one man, and we moved in procession through her house, wafting the fragrant smoke of sage and rosemary, sprinkling specially blessed waters, ringing bells, and carrying blazing white candles. We moved through the entire house, filling it with positive energy and blocking out any negativity. We said a little blessing to seal the deal and then we went outside to gather around a small bonfire. We observed the dark moon by focusing on things we need to release from our lives. It was a tough one for me, but it was time. We wrote the things down, then sat, holding the papers in our palms, eyes closed, really focusing on releasing those things from our lives. Then one by one we tossed those bits of paper into the fire and watched them burn. Fire destroy and fire create, let what's written become fate. Everything we released will be transformed into something new, something better. It was good. I cried a little, but it was good.

After that we got out the drums. We drummed a bit, we sang a bit. And it was good.

I told my best bud yesterday on my shopping trip that I've decided that when anyone asks me to do anything I might enjoy, from now on, I will alway say yes. No matter what else might be going on (short of someone being ill or in dire need of me.)

Last week I said I was reclaiming my life. I said my goal was to sign up for either belly dance class or flying lessons and apply for a passport. Well, I did find a belly dance class and I did join. The second session is tonight, and I love it. I didn't do the flying lessons or passport yet, but I fully intend to. And as for the dating, I kept that promise to myself too. One date this week, really nice guy and I enjoyed myself. No chemistry, but it was still fun. Next week I have another, with another really terrific guy with whom there seems to be some excellent chemistry. So it's all good.

Life is short. Lick the beaters. Or in other words, you never really get where you're going. You really don't. You never really get it right, and you honest to goodness never really get it done. So the key is to enjoy the journey. Yesterday that's exactly what I did. And you know what? I've gotten more work done this week than I usually do when I keep my nose the grindstone all week long and have no fun at all. That should tell me something, shouldn't it?

Carpe Diem (Baby.)

Maggie