Acceptance
June 30, 2011
“Acceptance of others, their looks,
their behaviors, their beliefs, brings
you an inner peace and tranquility –
instead of anger and resentment.”
-Unknown
Today
June 29, 2011
“Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or to lose.”
-Lyndon B. Johnson
A singing tree
June 28, 2011
“A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease.”
-John Muir
Doughty Oak
June 26, 2011
I’m mourning the loss of a family tree.
Last Tuesday, the Doughty Oak, one of the oldest and largest Oak Trees in Texas collapsed. One of my co-workers forwarded the article to me from the Uvalde Leader News. As I read it, my heart fell and I was very sad, but the comedian in me looked for something funny. All I could think was, my Family Tree just literally collapsed. What’s up with that? We’ve been in Texas and have remained quite humble for more than 165 years. The spiritual side of me wonders if this means anything. The Tree of Life? Now gone.
I called my common cousin, Frances Doughty, and offered my condolence. Like a no nonsense, quick-witted Doughty she simply said, “Well, it ain’t comin’ back.”
Frances’ father, Ross Ethelred Doughty, served as Judge of the 38th Judicial District of Texas. According to “Our Doughty Families” by Preston Doughty, Judge Doughty was elected to public office twelve times without opposition.
Judge Ross’ grand uncle, James Murray Doughty, was my 3rd great grandfather. James Murray Doughty was one of the founding father’s of Rockport, the first superintendent of the King Ranch and sheriff of Refugio county.
The first Doughty’s arrived in this area back in 1845, the Doughty Oak was here long before that. It’s estimated to be between 600 and 2500 years old.
The Doughty’s were hardworking, proud pioneers of South Texas and for 101 years the family members of Judge Doughty took good care of the Doughty Oak. And while trees are precious they are just a gift. Their time on Earth must come to an end.
One city worker I spoke with suggested the Texas drought this year was just too much. The Doughty Oak had been treated with concrete to fill a cavity. In this heat the ground likely shifted and took the behemoth tree down.
Our life is a gift. One of the promises in life is that we can live like a tree planted by water. Everything we do can prosper. The Doughty Oak is gone, but the Doughty’s are alive and well. Their strength, stability and nobility continue to bless Texas, the USA and the Universe. JMD
Photos courtesy of the City of Uvalde.
The Doughty Oak
Tools
June 26, 2011
“We shall neither fail nor falter; we shall not weaken or tire…give us the tools and we will finish the job.”
-Winston Churchill
Where are you going?
June 25, 2011
“Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?”
-Mark Twain
Comedy Show!
The Revolution Room
8123 Broadway
Saturday, June 25th
8pm-10pm
Man’s best friend
June 24, 2011
It’s Take Your Dog to Work Day!
“We have walked together in the shadow of a rainbow”.
-Native American saying when something magical happens between man and animal
Comedy Show!
The Revolution Room
8123 Broadway
Saturday, June 25th
8pm-10pm
$7 cover
Trickster
June 23, 2011
“Many native traditions held clowns and tricksters as essential to any contact with the sacred. People could not pray until they had laughed, because laughter opens and frees from rigid preconception. Humans had to have tricksters within the most sacred ceremonies for fear that they forget the sacred comes through upset, reversal, surprise. The trickster in most native traditions is essential to creation, to birth.”
-Byrd Gibbens
Business
June 22, 2011
“If they don’t fail outright, most businesses fail to fully achieve their potential. That’s because the person who owns the business doesn’t truly know how to build a company that works without him or her, which is the key.”
-Michael Gerber
Right on target
June 21, 2011
“To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first, and call whatever you hit the target.”
-Ashleigh Brilliant
