Peace on Earth

I have been wrestling with the issue of peace for over two weeks. Quietly and to myself in the few minutes of alone time I carved out of a rich and full life. At first I was troubled that I wasn’t doing enough to help find answers for the world at large as to why we don’t have peace that lasts in places that need it so desperately. This impulse to do more was brought to me by my inability to disregard the media. That same week, I listened to an article on KCUR about children in the Middle East – I truly forget what country and hate to lump them all together – where the children were talking about the ridicule they face on their walks to school and at school for having faith beliefs different from their peers and neighbors. Then I read an article online about Rush Limbaugh’s vitriolic “feelings” about Hillary Clinton’s beauty and power as is pertains to her job as Secretary of State, and then my head exploded.

I was not at peace in my soul.

I had an epiphany several years ago when I realized – possibly for the first time – that Casey and I were the “bosses” and no one was “workin’ for the man” any more – and never had been – at stuff. This whole small business ownership thing had put us in charge. We were the parents, the bosses, the leaders. No one was going to enter our lives anymore and tell us what to do. And for one fleeting moment I was scared. I knew I had been in a co-driver’s seat for a while, but the true meaning hit me hard that day. No longer would a parent of mine walk into the room I was playing in – while arguing with a sibling – and say, “That’s enough! Clean up this mess and be nice to each other right now.” And then to have us do so.

I wish to be Pollyanna-ish for one more moment and say that that’s what I wish we had in the world right now: someone we all listened to – and were maybe a wee bit scared of – that walked onto the world stage and said, “It’s time for you all to get along and find a way to play together. You’re locked into a long term relationship with each other – and this planet! – and you must find a way to separate church from state and find peace. And I mean right now!”

Just when I think the media is around to make me crazy and cause me to think too much, I read an article in National Geographic last night and felt peace jump out at me from the whooper swan you see here.

I gazed at this photo in silence and told myself that I will be finding more time in 2011 to continue working on causes and issues involving basic human rights, civil rights and financial empowerment for women and families. I will be one of those voices that says, “I’m a peacemaker, and I am at peace.”

Sloane

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Quirks & All

It is finally Christmas Eve, and we are snuggled in at Sloane’s home. We closed the store at 5:00 today, and the last two gifts we sold were to two different young men for their grandmothers. The day was filled with quirks and lots of laughter. We had to drop one of the cash drawers on the floor from three feet to get it to open…. A customer had to tell Casey what an item number was after Sloane had told her three times…. The Minsky’s pizza guy told us he would miss us next week while we are away from the store…. And, yes, we popped a bottle of champagne at 12:30 to share a mimosa toast with our shoppers – which may explain some of the quirks.

Now we are having a sing-along of holiday songs led by a 5-year-old in red polkadot PJs while a 13-year-old performs a “light show” with lit LED balls on strings…. early presents very well received.

We wish you a very merry Christmas… quirks and all.

Casey & Sloane
casey & sloane simmons
sisters & co-owners

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Fair Weather Fan

I am a “fan of fair weather” – as opposed to being a “fair weather fan”. Being a “fan of fair weather” means I spend winter dreading getting out of the house. It means I bitch incessantly when putting on boots. It means I have to go back into the house four f-ing times to get everything I can’t seem to get the first trip to the garage, since my vision is blocked by the four tons of crap I have to wear to get from the house to the garage so my teeth won’t chatter upon opening the door to leave.

Yesterday morning’s light snow and 17 degree weather was not welcomed by me. However, my Bernese mountain dog and my daughter were both thrilled and spent an hour outside playing and waiting for me to get my act together.

Casey

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I May Need an Intervention

Oh crap. I’ve turned into one of those people who can’t throw away a poinsettia plant in May when the lack of watering and general bad air in the office has ruined whatever lustre there was to the plant. When it’s down to three leaves and woody stems.

Correlation to the ponsettia issue: What you see before you is a petunia plant I finally put to rest this morning. I have great pangs in my heart throwing a blooming plant in the yard waste bag. I’ve even caught myself, in years past, saying the despised word “goodbye” to an annual plant as I shut the top of the bag. What’s up with that?

Since early this May, I passed this petunia plant – and its birdbath brethren – multiple times every day as I entered and exited the house. The joy and general spirit that “The Wave Petunia” brings to my world every year is tantamount to my general sunny disposition. It was on my way to the car yesterday that it came to me why I had trouble sending this one to the compost pile. The other plants my son and I planted with this petunia had long since been trimmed back and/or removed. But this purple wonder had given me everything it had and, like me, it was not giving in easily to the cold weather and bitter air. It was going to bloom as long and hard as it could. (The only parallel I can draw to myself is that I only started wearing socks with my shoes early this week.)

I’ve cleaned out the birdbath planter and put it away until next spring. I’ve washed all my socks and purchased tights. I’m currently embracing the holiday spirit and have welcomed the brisk and cold air as I take my walks. I’m happy.

But I miss the little touch of purple moving ever so slightly in the warm, sunny breeze.

Sloane

PS…I’ve never been a fan of poinsettias. I probably never will be, and we don’t have them in our home. They just aren’t my thing. However, I know they bring great joy. I’m at peace with that.

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Fearless Ability

The right side of my desk

I envy my niece her artistic talent. Yep. I’m 45 and she’s 5 and I envy her this trait.

Several weeks ago, while she was at stuff for all of 5.3 seconds between activities, she found a balloon left over from Wings of Hope, blew it up, had me tie it, and disappeared into the office I share with Casey.

Then she left the building.

When I got to my desk an hour or so later, the face in this photo was staring down at me, and I can’t take it down from its perch. The balloon will have to give up the ghost before I ever  remove it. She has the ability to just sit with pen and paper – or balloon – and start drawing. She is prolific and fearless. For this I envy her.

When I get over the selfish envy, I will be able to learn from her.

Sloane

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Whispers

It started just this past weekend, the holiday social season for my husband and me. I always enjoy it very much.

Except the one part that crept in several years ago: the whispered and sad timbre that people employ when asking me about my business when in public. It always makes me remember the scenes in movies and on TV that depict the 50s and 60s when people whispered the word “cancer” and glanced from side to side to make sure no one heard them.

Now this is one forecaset I can live with!

The business that I co-own with my sister is, of course, susceptible to the economy and its whims. All businesses are. But there is something about retail and how it is used as a forecasting tool in the media – for what seems like every economic indicator that is reported on – that makes people feel like they need to be quiet when speaking to us.

So, let me tell you how it works from our side. Running our business, as we approach the holidays, is like preparing for a party in your home. You clean everything so that people won’t think you live like a pig. (We do that.) You preparing an enticingly beautiful and delicious array of food and drink. (We do that, but with local and handmade art.) And you sit back and anxiously hope that all your favorite people show up to enjoy a great time in the magic you’ve created. (We do that, too.)

This past weekend – as in years past – I answered in my regular voice as these quiet questions found me. I am not asked these questions every year because people want to hear a horror story full of troubles and hardship. At least I don’t think so. Goodness gracious, we’re at a party!! My responses have helped those around me to remember that my sister and I delight in what we do and find great joy in supporting local artists. We have built an award-winning business based on ethical practices and honesty. We’ve even opened our online store and stocked it with the same incredible things you can find by walking in to our store in Brookside. As I answer these questions, I remind the friends who have posed them that we just turned 14 years old and are enjoying our teenage years this time around.

All year long we forecast, budget, train, order, clean, count and worry. Thinking we may already know the answer, but are too scared to place hope at the forefront and jinx it, we whisper to each other early each December, “Do you think anyone will come?”

Sloane

PS…Photo credit goes to House Beautiful.

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Copyright Casey Simmons and S. Sloane Simmons. People who steal other people's words & thoughts are asshats. Don't be an asshat.