Another 'Elspeth' classic

(From a phone call a few minutes ago)

Me: Hello, may I speak with Mrs Xxxxx, please?

Woman who answered: She's on lunch. May I ask who's calling?

Me: Elspeth Duncan

Woman (brief pause): E ... E ...

Me (slowly): Elll - spethhhhh Duncan

Woman: L ... Elstet?

Me: No. Elspeth.

(This is followed by a few variations of the name which I can't remember now, then):

Woman (finally getting it): Elspeth! Forgive me!

(She then consults with the person I am trying to get onto and comes back to the phone):

Woman: L ... Les ... look, Elsie, she will call you back in 7 minutes.

The Very Day of Love

Chookooloonks has spearheaded another postcard swap. Last time the theme was Beginnings. This time it is ‘Love’ (since Valentine’s Day is approaching). I made my cards on Friday evening. I will post them today so they'll reach to their destinations ‘on time’. By ‘on time’ I don’t mean for V-as-in-Valentine’s Day specifically. In this case, V-Day can stand for "Very Day". Each card will arrive on the Very Day it is meant to be received by that person.

Speaking of love and postcards … when I was leaving St. Lucia, I got to the airport a bit early. To pass my time, I went across to the beach and bought two of those little smoke herring and bakes and sat by the water eating them. I then returned to the airport and spent my remaining small change on a postcard and some stamps. The card featured two dolphins leaping together out of the ocean. It was so beautiful, I wondered who I could send it to. On the back I wrote: “Dear Elspeth …”. I can’t remember my exact words now, but basically I wrote a short love letter to myself, signed it: “Love, Elspeth”, addressed it to myself, stuck on the stamps and dropped it in the little airport post box.

I’ve been back in TT over two weeks and the card, which should have arrived by now, has not. Maybe it will come on the Very Day.

The date: 8th January 2001

Just a few days ago I realised that I had missed an important and life-changing date. The 8th of January 2008 marks 7 years since I miraculously woke up and stopped smoking and drinking alcohol and coffee. Never looked back and never got cravings. I believe it was yoga that did it.

Jan 8th 2005 is the day I started this blog ... partly out of curiosity and partly out of doing something to celebrate my miraculous anniversary. So I am now entering my 4th year of blogging!

Jan 8th 2005 on this blog.

Jan 8th 2007 - celebrating my anniversary of two things.

This week's Sunday Scribblings is "The Date"

3rd song in my 2008 soundtrack

Love, thy will be done
I can no longer hide
I can no longer run
No longer can I resist the guiding light
It gives me the power to keep up the fight
Love...thy will be done
Since I have found you my life has just begun
And I see all of your creations as one
Perfect complex
No one less beautiful or more special than the next
We are all blessed and so wise to accept
Thy will love be done

Love, thy will be mine
And make me strive for the glorious and divine
I could not be more, more satisfied (satisfied�)
Even when there's no peace outside my window
There's peace inside
And that's why I no longer run (I don�t know�)
Love thy will be done

Love, thy will be done
I can no longer hide
I can no longer run (no�.)
Love, thy will be done
Thy will love be done

No longer can I resist (no..) the guiding light (guiding light)
The light that gives me the power to keep up the fight
I couldn�t be more satisfied (no�)
Even when there's no peace outside my window
There's peace inside
And that's why I can not longer run
Love thy will be done (thy will be done, done, done�)

Love, thy will be done
I can no longer hide
I can no longer run
Love, thy will be done
Thy will love be done

Love, thy will be done
I can no longer hide
I can no longer run (no, no, no)
Love, thy will be done
Thy will love be done�
Thy will love be done�
Thy will love be done

2nd song in my 2008 soundtrack

"Big Time Sensuality"

i can sense it
something important
is about to happen
it's coming up

it takes courage to enjoy it
the hardcore and the gentle
big time sensuality

we just met
and i know i'm a bit too intimate
but something huge is coming up
and we're both included

it takes courage to enjoy it
the hardcore and the gentle
big time sensuality

i don't know my future after this weekend
and i don't want to

it takes courage to enjoy it
the hardcore and the gentle
big time sensuality

First of 12 songs in my soundtrack for 2008

Now and then a song comes along which I can't help but play repeatedly - for days, weeks, possibly even months (mostly in the case of a whole CD) ... until my mood/vibration changes and requires a new soundtrack to accompany it.Above: singing and bopping to my January 2008 theme song. I love it: the words, sentiments, beat, melody, energy. Yesterday I must have played it hundreds of times for the day alone - and today will be similar. It speaks on so many levels, the way I see it: not just as one lover to another, but as self to self and the Divine to the human/vice versa.

Eleven platforms of my life

As I described before ... on the zip line adventure there were eleven wooden platforms high up in trees throughout the forest - for us to zip from one to the next (on cables strung through the trees).

Yesterday, as I gave more thought to my willingness to remain-open-and-patient-and-be-surprised-by-the-Universe, I felt that just ‘being open’ is not enough. For the Universal energy to work on my behalf I need to work with it. So, in keeping with my 2008 zip line metaphor, I used the eleven platforms as a template and identified eleven areas of my life as portals through which the Universal energy can flow. This does not limit or constrain the openness of the experience or the vastness of the energy/potential. It grounds it and gives direction and focus. “Ask and you will receive,” as the saying goes.

These are my eleven platforms (in no particular order, since all are important):

1. Self
2. Spirit/Spirituality
3. Love Life
4. Relationships (friends/family)
5. Career
6. Creativity
7. Geographical Location (travel/abode)
8. Recreation/Social Life
9. Learning
10. Finances
11. Health/Exercise

Further to making the list, I added details for each platform. As time goes on I may refine and adjust these details. ‘Remaining open to surprises’ means that, having outlined details for each category the way I see it … I will not dwell on them, wonder if or how they can be achieved or think that what I have written is an absolute. I am letting go, being open and trusting that:
(i) the Universe is already moving in its mysterious ways to manifest these platforms in ways that are best for me and my happiness – ways that may even be unknown to or unimagined by me
(ii) I do not need to worry. As with the zip line, everything is organized, my guides are with me and I can safely let go and enjoy the ride.

"Surprise me" is what I have said to the Universe

Propeller of the LIAT plane shot through dirty window on flight back to TT yesterday.
*

My focus this year will be me. As simple as it may sound, this is such a vast statement that I'm not even sure what it means or how to fully go about it.

TSTT has given me the first major clue. I came back yesterday to a dead telephone. I called 824-TSTT to report the problem and was kept holding the line for so long that I gave up. When I eventually get through I will no doubt be told that in "3 - 5 working days" a technician will come and look at it. From past experience this could mean three to five working months. Rather than get irritated and worked up, I will be patient and see this as a simple message to trust, communicate with and listen more to my internal self, my higher self ... and less with external people and sources.

In the midst of everything, this year I will strive to be patient. Patience is not one of my virtues, but I will make it one of my strengths. Lack of it leads to impulsive emotions, thoughts, words and (re)actions. There is nothing wrong with impulse, but I want my energies to pass through a filter of patience so that when they are released (whether impulsively or not) they are clear, focused and sure.

I have made no fixed plans for 2008. I will be an open vessel ... letting things come to me, rather than thinking of, worrying about or figuring out what I want or what I 'should' be doing or who I am or am not. This process can involve the feeling of being lost (a bit like how I feel upon returning) ... but I do not want to be afraid of or impatient with the 'lostness'.

"Surprise me" is what I have said to the Universe.

This involves patience, courage and trust ... being in the 'now' and not dwelling on the past or projecting into the future. It involves developing a solid core of 'me'. It involves being true to myself and constantly tuning in to what that means. It is an intense learning process on so many levels. Being true to myself involves the possibility of other people feeling/being hurt (albeit unintentionally) ... because in being true to the self there are elements that others may not like, agree with or understand. There are elements of my self that I also may not understand ... until I do.

Spelling Bee

An excerpt from a conversation I had this morning with a receptionist. This is where she asked me for my name so someone could call me back as "all agents were busy".

Her: Can I have your name please?

Me: Elspeth Duncan

Her (pause): Can you spell that?

Me: E-l-s-p-e-t-h ...

Her: T-e ... I didn't hear you after the T.

Me: Not T. E ... l-s-p-e-t-h ...

Her: T-e-l-

Me: No. Elspeth!

Her (meekly, maybe because she hears irritation in my voice): Miss Duncan, can you start over please?

Me (slowly): E-l-s-p-e-t-h Duncan (not spelling Duncan although I've experienced a few people who also can't spell Duncan)

Her: Okay, I'll have someone call you back. Can I have your number?

And the 2007 winner is ...

With national elections in the air, some may read what I am about to announce and think: "But this is like Patrick Manning deciding to do away with elections, bold-facedly telling the nation that PNM is back in power and that he has chosen himself to be Prime Minister!" But no, it's not like that at all, thank God.

I am seeing my announcement purely from the basis of Love. You can only really love another/others when you can love and appreciate yourself fully. So, in complete love, honour and appreciation of myself, I hereby elect myself as the Happy Hippy Hero for 2007.

I have carefully read the criteria and believe that I am worthy of this prestigious award. There is no corruption or 'bobol' involved and my granting of this award is 100% transparent (I am openly telling you that I am giving it to myself this year).

BASIC AWARD CRITERIA:
1. Nominee must be born in T & T (or must be a citizen) and must be currently living in T & T
2. Someone whose work or continued contribution has one or all of the following: a positive, healing, empowering, uplifting, progressive impact on our society and/or environment - on a micro or macro level. (Does not have to be a member of an NGO, CBO, etc. May also be an 'everyday' person or ‘regular citizen’ who regularly goes about doing good deeds without thought of recognition or reward).
3. Someone who, in spite of financial and/or other obstacles, continues to believe in good and work tirelessly towards the realisation of dreams and goals connected to (i) a particular cause or (ii) the betterment of life

Normally the winner gets a piggy bank trophy (2006 was a wild clay quenk and 2005 was a large pink plastic pig). Having a piggy bank trophy symbolizes the winner receiving great things in miraculous amounts. I will not be giving myself a physical trophy, but I will gladly receive the great things in miraculous amounts.

The winner also receives a cheque from Happy Hippy Productions. Since I am Happy Hippy Productions, I can't give myself a cheque, but I will take that money and treat myself to something special ... especially as my birthday is coming up (7 October) and it is going to be a great one.

On this note, Thank You. I graciously accept the award being given.

Elspeth Duncan
Happy Hippy Hero 2007

Duncan of Elspeth

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse than Elfin. Yesterday I got a message on the voice mail of my cellular phone ...

Woman's voice: Hello, this is a message for Duncan of Elspeth. I am calling to tell him that the venue has changed for bla bla bla ...

I figure they had Duncan, Elspeth written on the list (for the workshop) ... but I'm not sure how she got "Duncan of Elspeth" from that. Did she think that 'Elspeth' was the name of the company (as someone once did) that Duncan works for?

The woman called back later to ensure that 'Duncan' got the message.

Sigh ...

At least she pronounced Elspeth right.

Names I've been called recently

Simple pheonetics: E-l-s-p-e-t-h

Two syllables: EL and SPETH

What makes it so hard?


1.
(Upon leaving a message for someone to return my call ...)
Me: Just tell him Elspeth Duncan called, please.
Man on other end: Elfin Duncan?

2.
I had left my name for a friend/associate to call me back. When he did call back, he sounded a bit unsure, trying to figure out who the voice belonged to.

So I said: It's Elspeth.

He laughed and said: You know, I thought it could be you. The note they left for me says "Call Eltezz".

3.
After a meditation session I went to last Saturday evening, I said hello to a group of women. One of them said to me: You look so familiar. What is your name?
Me: Elspeth Duncan
Woman (kind of rolling it on her tongue as if it's a pleasant taste): Ohhhhhhhhh. Elllllspethhh!
Me (pleasantly surprised): You pronounced it!
Woman: Some of us do read novels, you know.