Flashbacks of Good

Look closely and you will see the white shadow of a mother’s shirt reflecting on the dark shadow of another mother.  We stood, watched and remembered our children’s first steps in the ocean.  We remembered our mother taking us to the shore. Overlapping waves.  Overlapping experiences. Overlapping memories.  All this a poignant moment on the shore.

Cultures may vary, but there is a universal tie that unites you with the entire earth’s population — life itself.  This is my flashback of good for today.  Suzy Shepard

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Monterey Beach, California was beautiful.  I went all the way to the end of the wharf and found this smart pelican and gull sitting under a fresh fish ad.  On closer glance, I realized the pelican had only one webbed foot.  What danger had caused him to lose the other?  I loved that pelican.  He looked healthy and had smartly adapted to his loss.

The part of the brain that is traumatized, paralyzed, and shocked by loss can give way to smart instincts driving you to adaptation and healthy progress.  This is my flashback of good for today.  Suzy Shepard

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The largest reservoir in California, Diamond Valley Lake, is able to hold enough water to take care of the area’s drought needs for six months.  I discovered this awesome recreation and emergency area while visiting my brother in Hemet.  The obvious rattlesnake sign brought a chuckle.  Life saving water coexists with the death biting snake!  Walk to the water.  Walk away from the rattlesnake.  Then I remembered, the rattlesnake provides community benefit by reducing rodent populations.

Consider the healthy coexistence of both positive and negative attributes and you will be able to govern with wisdom.  This is my flashback of good for today.  Suzy Shepard

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In celebration of my son’s wedding, Mehndi, or henna was painted on my hands.  The resulting stain was beautiful and lasted for about two weeks.  I actually started crying when the henna was first applied.  Why hadn’t I known about this all my life?  What other cultural joys were unknown?  How much life had I been missing by staying ignorant and uninformed?

Understanding, enlightenment, and knowledge may be the bliss that will lift you out of ignorance’s tedium and into having not just a good day, but a great one.  This is my flashback of good for today.  Suzy Shepard

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Family and friends came to partake of the Mangalik Prasang (wedding blessing ceremony) and meal.  Before the ceremony and feast, came the hard work of the bride’s mother pictured here in red.  She worked days and nights to make everything right for her guests.

The mystery of overcoming obstacles and ensuring all goes well, lies in willingness to do all that is required of you in the moment and to do it with joy.  This is my flashback of good for today.  Suzy Shepard

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 Grandmother (Ba) is drying her hair in the California sun.  Her beauty can be seen here and in a life of moral, intellectual, and aesthetic good. She has brought life and love to a family.

You may never have been featured, awarded, put on a pedestal, given a high salary, elected to prestigious positions, or ceremoniously set apart. However, your beautiful contributions are essential to life and will be recognized and utilized by those who need them the most.  This is my flashback of good for today.  Suzy Shepard

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My son held up his hand and made an official, legal vow for marriage.  I remembered his hands when he first gazed at them, reached for toys, fed himself, buttoned his own shirt, learned to write, took hold of the steering wheel, and drove away to college.

When your loved ones leave for some new adventure, keep them close at hand in the heart and they will never be far away.  This is my flashback of good for today.  Suzy Shepard

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