Blue Jeans and Green...

Blue jeans, a pair of 100% cotton woven pants were banned from public places, schools and represented a generation who identified themselves as rebellious and radical in the early sixties. One could catch flip side of this group wearing flowers in their hair, holding two fingers up for peace and talking about love. It was a group of contemporaries looking to find themselves and loose the identity of an older era, wanting save the earth and the start of an era going green.

During the seventies the ban was lifted, some schools started allowing blue jeans to worn; it was quite fashionable to wear bell bottom hip huggers. Blue jeans became entirely acceptable by all as casual wear. In the eighties fashion designers picked up on the trend with their own styles and labels for a price, blue jeans became a staple in every wardrobe. Fashion changes have come and gone, but cotton blue jeans still hold their statement for comfort.

A new generation of blue jeans has surfaced over the last three to four years. A new mixture of Spandex aka Lycra has been added to the pants, for stretch, gone is the 100% cotton comfort of real blue jeans. Spandex aka Lycra is a synthetic fiber with a polymer base like that of nylon or polyester. Spandex can irritate sensitive skin because of the chemicals it contains. Common sense would say not to wear blue jeans made of these fibers, but it is easier said than done. To find a pair of 100% percent cotton blue jeans in ready to wear, is impossible, all major manufactures of blue jeans have gone to the stretch blend. The only place so far to find organic 100% cotton blue jeans is on the Internet.

What amazes me is that we have generations of green in this era, who will not drink out of plastic water bottles, only eat organic produce and fruit not touched by chemicals, but on the flip side they will wear blue jeans and other fabrics mix with Spandex aka Lycra, made from chemicals that touch their skin. I do believe a wake up call is needed and a voice needs to be heard, we need to start reading garment labels and asking what they are made of. I would like to see those who demand green in what they eat demand green in what they wear. I myself would like to find a pair of 100% cotton blue jeans that fit.

Wallflowers

Wallflowers are usually hidden along the garden wall filling in space adding

height and interest to the garden layout. There are flowers of every shape and

color in front of them and along side of them that seem to attract all the

attention. The wallflower stands alone or in clusters with other wallflowers,

quietly observing all that goes on around them. Wallflowers usually know

all the good and bad about all the other variety of flowers in the garden,

but won't say a thing, because they are shy and respectful. Most

wallflowers blend into the wall and won't be seen because of their quiet

nature, most are ignored until someone walks up closer and takes a look

at the wallflowers real beauty, most of it's beauty is hidden

and has to be drawn out. When given the chance a wall flower will bloom

beyond it's wall and to areas unknown and other flowers from the garden

are surprised. I am one of those wallflowers, not only am I shy but I used

to be thin and willowy, but years have pass and I have gained weight causing

me to feel socially awkward. I went to a reunion and I had fun catching up

with a few friends and chatting, but I stayed along the wall hiding, but deep

down inside of me I wanted out and I wanted to be friends with everyone.

I was determined, so I read articles on being mature and dating, yes even

though I am married and I wanted to feel attractive. I was amazed to read

that size isn't an issue, but being friendly is, wearing attractive clothing, not

expensive but something besides blue jeans and t-shirts, nice clean fingernails

and nice clean simple haircut will do wonders. If I had to write between the

lines, basically how you really feel about yourself is how you present yourself,

you don't have to wear designer clothes to look nice. So I gave it a try, first it

was having my nails done, I was amazed when others noticed, then it was

the hair and boy was I surprised at the compliments I received. Slowly

I've been emerging, in all honesty, I don't think it's the clothes or the

hairdo, it's the confidence that's been expanded by all of it and the

real me that's been blossoming a little bit further away from the wall.

Once was a Brother

There once was a brother,

who looked at the sky.

Wandering through rugged mountains,

close to ragging rivers, he would spy.

It’s in the valley he would lie.

Capturing nature’s treasures, just a guy,

Just peek and see he’s got a magical eye.

By Valaree Weiss for Greg Muir.

Light - by Greg Muir

In all life's frustrations agonies and pain, light still

shines through the falling rain. Streaming down from the

heavens a massive sea of light, brings life to the vine

and separates the day from night. Without the sun and no

light so see the world would be in darkness and misery.

So count your blessing when the day is done be glad you

rise and see the sun. By Greg Muir

The Dance of the Bugs - by Valaree Muir Weiss

Today after work, my chair lulled me to sit in it's lap and lean against it's back. I was tired, it didn't

take me long to sit and snuggle up in it's arms, it was one of those sunny days and the windows

were wide open. No blanket was needed for the sun covered me with its warmth, my eyes slowly

dropped closed one by one, until I fell into a short slumber. When I awoke, the sky was filled with

dancing bugs, in every shape and size, it was as if glitter had been shaken from up on high. The

winged bugs danced and danced they didn't even care that I was watching. I'm sure there is some

lesson to be learned from all this if I really think about it. What strikes me is that they didn't care that

I was secretly spying on them and watching all their moves. I find it interesting that after so many

years, I've learned to let go, I've learned be me, but there's still a nagging in the back of my mind

about what I say and do and about what others think. I really do want to be like those bugs, not

caring, no worries just having fun doing a dance and honestly living like no one is watching me and

not caring if they do. By Valaree Muir Weiss

Travelling with the Wind - by Valaree Muir Weiss

I like to think that when the wind blows across my ear it whispers my name and then calls to me

to come follow it on an adventure. On a hot summer day like today when all the woods around

me are silent, I can hear the highway in a distance and my mind wanders thinking of all the

places I would like to go. The sounds around me become familiar as they echo their way across

the water and through the timberland to where I am standing and my mind becomes confused.

There are so many places I want to go, so many places I want to see. A small breeze touches my

arm, reminding me I need to go, but a quick glance at my watch tells me it's late. So today, I will

allow myself to dream and just take a short walk. I will write my dreams in pen and on paper

when I get back; I will give myself directions to follow and I will travel with the wind. by Valaree Muir Weiss