Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden

2012-08-20 Thread Emily Reyn
Excellent, Merudanda.  Thank you.



 From: merudanda no_re...@yahoogroups.com
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, August 1, 2012 4:05 AM
Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
 

  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paVED2TFvEknoredirect=1 



 

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden

2012-08-20 Thread Emily Reyn
A ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.  A ha ha ha ha hahahahahaha. Ah ha ha ha 
ha ha ha ha.  I feel my core strength increasing by the secondah ha ha ha 
ha ha ha ha ha.   Now, that was a funny one.  Your whole problem stems from 
irregularity...ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.



 From: Robin Carlsen maskedze...@yahoo.com
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 7:05 PM
Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
 

  
http://tinyurl.com/cfvn82e

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuNNjD_AxrE

--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Emily Reyn emilymae.reyn@... wrote:

 Excellent, Merudanda.  Thank you.
 
 
 
  From: merudanda no_re...@yahoogroups.com
 To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com 
 Sent: Wednesday, August 1, 2012 4:05 AM
 Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
 
 
   
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paVED2TFvEknoredirect=1 



 

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden

2012-08-18 Thread Emily Reyn
Dearest Robin, I'm going to let you get away with this one.  



 From: Robin Carlsen maskedze...@yahoo.com
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2012 3:20 PM
Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
 

  


--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Emily Reyn emilymae.reyn@... wrote:

 Dearest Robin, RC, RC(C) (subscript or superscript - let us say that the C 
 stands for compassionate shall we?  Just add that to your many personas)  
 
 You acknowledge me where I am, as I am, and you give me that gift.  Yes, I 
 took on life, but in a rebellious way and now I am forced to take a more 
 gentle approach and I am pretty P.O'd when I'm not visiting the victim 'hood. 
  
 
 The inner drive, the energy that sustained me, my ability to write and think 
 for a living, my physical stamina - I depended on these things - they defined 
 me (took them for granted in hindsight.) These things have faded in the last 
 1.5 years - my emotions took over, demanded attention, overwhelmed me. 
  Ahhh, WTF?  Is it the hormones, is it the family of origin issues, is it 
 my karma, is it the collapsed adrenal system, is it unprocessed grief, is it 
 negative entities taking over, is it the diet, is it lack of spiritual 
 discipline, is it that I am inherently flawed?  Self-forgiveness is the 
 hardest thing I do, or don't do as the case may be.  In my elementary 
 understanding and reading of well-known verse...Jesus said, Father forgive 
 them for they know not what they do.  This helps me forgive others, but I 
 give myself no such out.  
 
 My new philosophy is pay attention to the next indicated step.  It's all I 
 can do..show up for drill...try to stay present.  My memory fails mewhat 
 is happening now?  Oh yeah, I have a dog and the kids are still here. 
  Alright then, off to a walk in the park and a visit to the counselor.  Our 
 new thing. (I'm a hard ass if you didn't know...my kids will tell you I lack 
 compassion.)  I said: Either you agree to family counseling or you move 
 out.  Period. Oh, you are only 15 (to the youngest)?  I don't care.  They 
 believe me.  I'm firm, not always fair, and not always consistent, but they 
 believe me. It's my latest attempt to salvage the family and after today's 
 session, my oldest thinks there may be a glimmer of hope.  Small steps.  
 
 You have been mentioning my name of late...every time, I say What?  Do 
 you mean me?  Seriously?  Where are my poetry books? The last 
 philosophy I really remember reading was while on long passages on a sailboat 
 back in my 20's - Nietzsche, Kierkegaard and then the novels , Siddhartha 
 and Madame Bovary, as I recall.  Where was Jung? I should read Jung 
 perhaps.   I have so many books.
 
 Now Robin, baby, I want to tell you that your posts always surprise me.  All 
 of them.  I look forward to reading them.  I am so happy you are here for 
 now.  How funny the Iranitea exchange was.  How fabulous is Share to chat 
 unconditionally with you.  Unlike Marek, I don't see FFL as a violent place 
 - all that makes me laugh.  Not unlike today's Prairie Home Companion. 
  They did the skit on conflict avoidance that was so funny.  Share, are you 
 reading this?  This is for you.  You have to imagine the voices of Garrison 
 Keillor and the typical radio female of that show. 
 
 http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/2011/10/08/scripts/sailboat.shtml
 
 
 On FFL, the currently departed Mr. Price helped me claim and own pieces of my 
 past and places I had been that I had hidden far away from others for many 
 long years.  He gave me the gift of forgiveness and I love him for that. 
  You give it to me as well.  I allow it in when outside, in the trees, at 
 the beach.  The ocean is so extraordinary - subtly and vastly different at 
 every beach - it cares not about our little concerns - it is relentless in 
 it's beauty. It washes over me again and again and I cry in gratitude.  

http://tinyurl.com/6esha4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4nUFxsZqpA


  From: Robin Carlsen maskedzebra@...
 To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com 
 Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2012 7:34 AM
 Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
 
 
   
 Dear Emily,
 
 I can't help but feel the struggle and trauma of what you have been passing 
 through for some time now: I have fallen from the top of my game to not 
 being in the game at all in a pretty short timeframe, with no end in sight, 
 and a lot of responsibilities remaining. I wish I could offer up a remedy; 
 and obviously you have read too much on this forum not to have anything more 
 than an ambivalent attitude towards Transcendental Meditation. 
 Neverthelessâ€and in a way which I suppose is quite different from the Share 
 Long approachâ€I would reach out to you with my caring for you, even as I 
 don't know you at all. But anyone who has followed your posts 

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden

2012-07-30 Thread Share Long
Dear Emily, I had it all planned to say that in addition to cool loneliness or 
warm loneliness and cool togetherness, it takes a village.  And not just an 
online one as enlightening as it is (-: 


But I see you have a village, the trees which I also love, the ocean which I 
also love and miss.  You have tears of gratitude for this crazy old world.  You 
have your kids and your dog and maybe your extended family is nearby.  I don't 
know a lot about your circumstances so apologies in advance if I say something 
not useful.


Who am I to disagree with Pema Chodron on cool loneliness?  And actually I 
don't.  (Thank you, meru d, that post was helpful.)  OTOH, I can't help but 
remember that my favorite tantric teacher David Deida says that going it alone 
is the masculine way.  It is not the best way for the feminine.  And yes, I 
realize Pema is a woman, very enlightened, etc.

I'm just saying that perhaps so many of the spiritual traditions were designed 
by men for men.  Anyway, Deida believes that the better way for women is in 
community.  I think it's very important for us women not to get down on 
ourselves because we prefer warm community to cool loneliness.  

Hmmm, bet it doesn't have to be either or, bet can have both.  Chubadunga!


So we're back to it takes a village.  It takes a village not only to raise a 
child but also to heal the inner child of so called adults.  This is partially 
why I suggested you move to FF.  I'm sure there are other wonderful villages 
but this is the one I know about.  And of course it's not perfect, but it is 
wonderful anyway.  And inexpensive.  I'm earth rat so tend to be very practical.


Thank you so much for Prairie Home which I did read tho not at the moment when 
you asked if I was reading (-:  

Because I tend to wake up early no matter when I go to bed, I tend to go to bed 
early ish.  Yeah, it made me laugh wonderfully, thank you so much for that.
As for cruises, if I'm near the water, I prefer to be in the water not on it.  
Tho best friend raves about food on cruises.


Actually I know of one very cool hypnotherapist in FF who believes that 
attending to the next step is very enlightened.  There you are!  As to what 
caused the change in your life?  Dare I suggest, maybe you went into a new 
dasha period?  That's an idea from jyotish, astrology from India.  Plus all of 
what you mentioned including peri menopause.   Hey the bodily changes are real 
and can explain a lot about our emotions and moods, etc.  Again, we women tend 
to get down on ourselves about emotions.  As Pema says, compassion is 
paramount.  

Some indigenous people believe that when the earth's kundalini moved from 
northern hemisphere, China and Tibet, to the southern, Peru and New Zealand 
that it actually signaled a new emphasis on feminine ways of spirituality and 
living.

My ex David reminds me that there tends to be a lot of introverts on forums.  
Maybe you're one too?  Sometimes it's harder for us introverts to be in 3D 
community.  Ok, hoping some of this is helpful and not too long.  

Share  



 From: Emily Reyn emilymae.r...@yahoo.com
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2012 9:08 PM
Subject: Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
 

  
Dearest Robin, RC, RC(C) (subscript or superscript - let us say that the C 
stands for compassionate shall we?  Just add that to your many personas)  

You acknowledge me where I am, as I am, and you give me that gift.  Yes, I took 
on life, but in a rebellious way and now I am forced to take a more gentle 
approach and I am pretty P.O'd when I'm not visiting the victim 'hood.  

The inner drive, the energy that sustained me, my ability to write and think 
for a living, my physical stamina - I depended on these things - they defined 
me (took them for granted in hindsight.) These things have faded in the last 
1.5 years - my emotions took over, demanded attention, overwhelmed me.  Ahhh, 
WTF?  Is it the hormones, is it the family of origin issues, is it my karma, is 
it the collapsed adrenal system, is it unprocessed grief, is it negative 
entities taking over, is it the diet, is it lack of spiritual discipline, is it 
that I am inherently flawed?  Self-forgiveness is the hardest thing I do, or 
don't do as the case may be.  In my elementary understanding and reading of 
well-known verse...Jesus said, Father forgive them for they know not what they 
do.  This helps me forgive others, but I give myself no such out.  

My new philosophy is pay attention to the next indicated step.  It's all I 
can do..show up for drill...try to stay present.  My memory fails mewhat is 
happening now?  Oh yeah, I have a dog and the kids are still here.  Alright 
then, off to a walk in the park and a visit to the counselor.  Our new thing. 
(I'm a hard ass if you didn't know...my kids will tell you I lack compassion.)  
I said: Either you agree to family

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden

2012-07-30 Thread Emily Reyn
Hi Share:  Thanks for this.  Gotta roll and get back to all this great info 
that has crossed in the last 24 hours later.  Pop had a small brain hemorrhage 
- forgave him on the spot for everything.  That was easy.  My heart is full 
today. 



 From: Share Long sharelon...@yahoo.com
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2012 8:19 AM
Subject: Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
 

  
Dear Emily, I had it all planned to say that in addition to cool loneliness or 
warm loneliness and cool togetherness, it takes a village.  And not just an 
online one as enlightening as it is (-: 


But I see you have a village, the trees which I also love, the ocean which I 
also love and miss.  You have tears of gratitude for this crazy old world.  You 
have your kids and your dog and maybe your extended family is nearby.  I don't 
know a lot about your circumstances so apologies in advance if I say something 
not useful.


Who am I to disagree with Pema Chodron on cool loneliness?  And actually I 
don't.  (Thank you, meru d, that post was helpful.)  OTOH, I can't help but 
remember that my favorite tantric teacher David Deida says that going it alone 
is the masculine way.  It is not the best way for the feminine.  And yes, I 
realize Pema is a woman, very enlightened, etc.

I'm just saying that perhaps so many of the spiritual traditions were designed 
by men for men.  Anyway, Deida believes that the better way for women is in 
community.  I think it's very important for us women not to get down on 
ourselves because we prefer warm community to cool loneliness.  

Hmmm, bet it doesn't have to be either or, bet can have both.  Chubadunga!


So we're back to it takes a village.  It takes a village not only to raise a 
child but also to heal the inner child of so called adults.  This is partially 
why I suggested you move to FF.  I'm sure there are other wonderful villages 
but this is the one I know about.  And of course it's not perfect, but it is 
wonderful anyway.  And inexpensive.  I'm earth rat so tend to be very practical.


Thank you so much for Prairie Home which I did read tho not at the moment when 
you asked if I was reading (-:  

Because I tend to wake up early no matter when I go to bed, I tend to go to bed 
early ish.  Yeah, it made me laugh wonderfully, thank you so much for that.
As for cruises, if I'm near the water, I prefer to be in the water not on it.  
Tho best friend raves about food on cruises.


Actually I know of one very cool hypnotherapist in FF who believes that 
attending to the next step is very enlightened.  There you are!  As to what 
caused the change in your life?  Dare I suggest, maybe you went into a new 
dasha period?  That's an idea from jyotish, astrology from India.  Plus all of 
what you mentioned including peri menopause.   Hey the bodily changes are real 
and can explain a lot about our emotions and moods, etc.  Again, we women tend 
to get down on ourselves about emotions.  As Pema says, compassion is 
paramount.  

Some indigenous people believe that when the earth's kundalini moved from 
northern hemisphere, China and Tibet, to the southern, Peru and New Zealand 
that it actually signaled a new emphasis on feminine ways of spirituality and 
living.

My ex David reminds me that there tends to be a lot of introverts on forums.  
Maybe you're one too?  Sometimes it's harder for us introverts to be in 3D 
community.  Ok, hoping some of this is helpful and not too long.  

Share  



 From: Emily Reyn emilymae.r...@yahoo.com
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2012 9:08 PM
Subject: Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
 

  
Dearest Robin, RC, RC(C) (subscript or superscript - let us say that the C 
stands for compassionate shall we?  Just add that to your many personas)  

You acknowledge me where I am, as I am, and you give me that gift.  Yes, I took 
on life, but in a rebellious way and now I am forced to take a more gentle 
approach and I am pretty P.O'd when I'm not visiting the victim 'hood.  

The inner drive, the energy that sustained me, my ability to write and think 
for a living, my physical stamina - I depended on these things - they defined 
me (took them for granted in hindsight.) These things have faded in the last 
1.5 years - my emotions took over, demanded attention, overwhelmed me.  Ahhh, 
WTF?  Is it the hormones, is it the family of origin issues, is it my karma, is 
it the collapsed adrenal system, is it unprocessed grief, is it negative 
entities taking over, is it the diet, is it lack of spiritual discipline, is it 
that I am inherently flawed?  Self-forgiveness is the hardest thing I do, or 
don't do as the case may be.  In my elementary understanding and reading of 
well-known verse...Jesus said, Father forgive them for they know not what they 
do.  This helps me forgive

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden

2012-07-30 Thread Emily Reyn
Dear Robin, thank you for the beautiful response.  I have no words to express 
how touched I am and your words make their way through my self-flagellation 
reminding me that it's time to stop with all that nonsense.  It's nice to know 
that you are one of those people out there who will throw one a life-preserver. 
 Sincerely, Emily



 From: Robin Carlsen maskedze...@yahoo.com
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2012 1:47 PM
Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
 

  


--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Emily Reyn emilymae.reyn@... wrote:

Dearest Robin, RC, RC(C) (subscript or superscript - let us say that the C 
stands for compassionate shall we?  Just add that to your many personas) 

Emily1: You acknowledge me where I am, as I am, and you give me that gift.  
Yes, I took on life, but in a rebellious way and now I am forced to take a more 
gentle approach and I am pretty P.O'd when I'm not visiting the victim 'hood.

Robin2: I simply sought in my letter to you, Emily, to find you in my 
experience, never knowing you in person. You engendered a certain feeling in 
me, and I thought I owed it to that feeling, therefore to you, to follow that 
feeling out to its natural and logical expression: which was of course to 
express my affection for you, and my desire to have the grace of life somehow 
heal you. Heal you, that is, to the extent that you can feel your present 
circumstances are becoming manageable. Again, in trying to address you here I 
am doing the same thing. Reality will have to do the rest. In a sense the very 
reality which first dealt you such a blow. 

I don't know objectively where words spoken to you from here in Toronto, 
Canada, can actually be carried somehow to you and make themselves felt in some 
way which creates even imperceptibly a difference—I doubt that. But I must do 
what I feel I cannot not do. And that is just to follow my moral intuition 
here. Essentially, then, I will be repeating the same act. But with no less 
inspiration and intention. 

Emily1: The inner drive, the energy that sustained me, my ability to write and 
think for a living, my physical stamina - I depended on these things - they 
defined me (took them for granted in hindsight.) These things have faded in the 
last 1.5 years - my emotions took over, demanded attention, overwhelmed me.  
Ahhh, WTF?  Is it the hormones, is it the family of origin issues, is it my 
karma, is it the collapsed adrenal system, is it unprocessed grief, is it 
negative entities taking over, is it the diet, is it lack of spiritual 
discipline, is it that I am inherently flawed?  Self-forgiveness is the hardest 
thing I do, or don't do as the case may be.  In my elementary understanding and 
reading of well-known verse...Jesus said, Father forgive them for they know 
not what they do.  This helps me forgive others, but I give myself no such out.

Robin2: This seems an inexplicable and almost entirely gratuitous blow of fate, 
Emily. I cannot discern how providence (the plan that God has for you—if we can 
just relate to that metaphorically: which amounts to saying that everything 
happens for a reason—a saying I recoil at, because it is so often uttered at a 
level of experience that doesn't bite into reality at all) can justify having 
deprived you of so much of what was strong and creative and masterful in your 
life. This utterly confounds me, Emily. But I am not so naive as to pretend I 
could possibly understand the causality of this—You have offered various 
explanatory candidates for your present suffering and the enervation of will. I 
suppose, I am just discovering this, I can only pray for you (In my own way, 
which for me is just realizing that I care for you and want you and your life 
to be different; that is, indeed, how I shall pray for you). I don't of course 
have any personal
 responsibility in all this, but the fairness, the sincerity, the intelligence, 
and the common sense in you seems quite remarkable to me. I have to respond to 
you, Emily. You have said things in your posts, offered perspectives, tracked 
your own sense of truth in ways which compel me enough to write to you 
personally. And so I have, and so I am.). 

Emily1: My new philosophy is pay attention to the next indicated step.  It's 
all I can do..show up for drill...try to stay present.  My memory fails 
mewhat is happening now?  Oh yeah, I have a dog and the kids are still 
here.  Alright then, off to a walk in the park and a visit to the counselor.  
Our new thing. (I'm a hard ass if you didn't know...my kids will tell you I 
lack compassion.)  I said: Either you agree to family counseling or you move 
out.  Period. Oh, you are only 15 (to the youngest)?  I don't care.  They 
believe me.  I'm firm, not always fair, and not always consistent, but they 
believe me. It's my latest attempt to salvage the family and after today's 
session, my oldest thinks there may be a 

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden

2012-07-29 Thread Emily Reyn
Dearest Robin, RC, RC(C) (subscript or superscript - let us say that the C 
stands for compassionate shall we?  Just add that to your many personas)  

You acknowledge me where I am, as I am, and you give me that gift.  Yes, I took 
on life, but in a rebellious way and now I am forced to take a more gentle 
approach and I am pretty P.O'd when I'm not visiting the victim 'hood.  

The inner drive, the energy that sustained me, my ability to write and think 
for a living, my physical stamina - I depended on these things - they defined 
me (took them for granted in hindsight.) These things have faded in the last 
1.5 years - my emotions took over, demanded attention, overwhelmed me.  Ahhh, 
WTF?  Is it the hormones, is it the family of origin issues, is it my karma, is 
it the collapsed adrenal system, is it unprocessed grief, is it negative 
entities taking over, is it the diet, is it lack of spiritual discipline, is it 
that I am inherently flawed?  Self-forgiveness is the hardest thing I do, or 
don't do as the case may be.  In my elementary understanding and reading of 
well-known verse...Jesus said, Father forgive them for they know not what they 
do.  This helps me forgive others, but I give myself no such out.  

My new philosophy is pay attention to the next indicated step.  It's all I 
can do..show up for drill...try to stay present.  My memory fails mewhat is 
happening now?  Oh yeah, I have a dog and the kids are still here.  Alright 
then, off to a walk in the park and a visit to the counselor.  Our new thing. 
(I'm a hard ass if you didn't know...my kids will tell you I lack compassion.)  
I said: Either you agree to family counseling or you move out.  Period. Oh, 
you are only 15 (to the youngest)?  I don't care.  They believe me.  I'm firm, 
not always fair, and not always consistent, but they believe me. It's my latest 
attempt to salvage the family and after today's session, my oldest thinks there 
may be a glimmer of hope.  Small steps.  

You have been mentioning my name of late...every time, I say What?  Do you 
mean me?  Seriously?  Where are my poetry books? The last philosophy I 
really remember reading was while on long passages on a sailboat back in my 
20's - Nietzsche, Kierkegaard and then the novels , Siddhartha and Madame 
Bovary, as I recall.  Where was Jung? I should read Jung perhaps.   I have so 
many books.

Now Robin, baby, I want to tell you that your posts always surprise me.  All of 
them.  I look forward to reading them.  I am so happy you are here for now.  
How funny the Iranitea exchange was.  How fabulous is Share to chat 
unconditionally with you.  Unlike Marek, I don't see FFL as a violent place - 
all that makes me laugh.  Not unlike today's Prairie Home Companion.  They did 
the skit on conflict avoidance that was so funny.  Share, are you reading this? 
 This is for you.  You have to imagine the voices of Garrison Keillor and the 
typical radio female of that show. 

http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/2011/10/08/scripts/sailboat.shtml


On FFL, the currently departed Mr. Price helped me claim and own pieces of my 
past and places I had been that I had hidden far away from others for many long 
years.  He gave me the gift of forgiveness and I love him for that.  You give 
it to me as well.  I allow it in when outside, in the trees, at the beach.  The 
ocean is so extraordinary - subtly and vastly different at every beach - it 
cares not about our little concerns - it is relentless in it's beauty. It 
washes over me again and again and I cry in gratitude.  




 From: Robin Carlsen maskedze...@yahoo.com
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2012 7:34 AM
Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
 

  
Dear Emily,

I can't help but feel the struggle and trauma of what you have been passing 
through for some time now: I have fallen from the top of my game to not being 
in the game at all in a pretty short timeframe, with no end in sight, and a lot 
of responsibilities remaining. I wish I could offer up a remedy; and obviously 
you have read too much on this forum not to have anything more than an 
ambivalent attitude towards Transcendental Meditation. Nevertheless—and in a 
way which I suppose is quite different from the Share Long approach—I would 
reach out to you with my caring for you, even as I don't know you at all. But 
anyone who has followed your posts at FFL must know the willingness of yourself 
to take on life—and what it seems to be dishing out to you—and to not be 
conquered by your misfortune. For myself, regardless of what you write on FFL, 
I sense someone who deserves the good will and the love of those who would wish 
someone who has suffered as you
 have suffered—and who is the appealing human being that you are—to receive the 
grace to be healed, and for your life to not be as hard as it has been. 

So, Emily, I can do nothing by way of recommending gurus or spiritual 

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden

2012-07-28 Thread Share Long
Hi Emily,
I LOVE FFL!  Ok, here's why.  Due to lower temps, I finally got a decent 
night's sleep, 5 hours straight which is a miracle.  

Btw, this is not why I love FFL (-:

I woke up around 2:30 and did EFT tapping for about 2 hours.  In the midst of 
that here's what came to me:
that we're all making such a big deal about unconditional love.  And what if 
it's not really a big deal at all?  What if we all are experiencing it many 
times in a day?
an athlete being in the zone
a mother holding her baby
anyone being in a beautiful place
listening to sublime music
reading writing sublime words

lovers making sublime love
praying or meditating
attending funeral of beloved friend
dancing to favorite oldies

any old ordinary moment  

I think those moments of happiness are also moments of unconditional love.  
We're not always experiencing it.  But does that really mean it's not always 
with us?  And just because conditions surround the experience, does that really 
mean that the unconditional isn't happening too?  I guess by now you all know 
what my answer is.  But I also wanted to share how I come to think such stuff.  
FWIW.


Anyway, it was your comment that evoked all this so I'm grateful to you for 
that.  


BTW, FF is a good place for single moms.  For one thing, it's very inexpensive 
to live here.  And it's pretty safe compared to a lot of places.  Of course 
it's not perfect, which is the kind of phrase certain folks will disregard  
when rebutting this post.  Chubadunga!
Share




 From: Emily Reyn emilymae.r...@yahoo.com
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 10:35 AM
Subject: Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
 

  
Dear Share, now is the time to exercise unconditional love towards Barry.  He 
cannot help himself; his hostility runs subconsciously, especially towards 
women.  It always only a matter of time before you get slimed.  The good thing 
is, he is fully predictable, so it's easy to sidestep if one so chooses.  



 From: turquoiseb no_re...@yahoogroups.com
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 4:33 AM
Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
 

  
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@... wrote:

 Creative snipping happening
 
 but another cool and beautiful morning so me sending almost 
 unconditional love and forgiveness to all baad snippers

You might save some of that forgiveness for yourself,
and the paranoia and self importance that lead you to
accuse someone of creative snipping.

Either that, or explain it. I for one am getting more
than a little tired of you saying it. So put up or shut
up. Explain what you find offensive and requiring of
forgiveness in Iranitea, or STFU.




 

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden

2012-07-27 Thread Share Long
Bd Nabby very bad (-:




 From: nablusoss1008 no_re...@yahoogroups.com
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 3:31 AM
Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
 

  


--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozguru@... wrote:

 
  Nothing in Holland is far from Vlodrop, including Leiden :-)
 
 Ever been to the states, Nabby?  Some of our states are bigger than some 
 of the European countries (including the larger ones).

I know, I've driven through endless cornfields probably bigger than the entire 
Holland :-) My point was that perhaps the Turq-fellow finally was picking up 
some silence from Vlodrop.


 

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden

2012-07-27 Thread Share Long
laughing because when I was a young Catholic girl growing up, the nuns who were 
our teachers would always give credit for the good in the world  to the 
cloistered nuns especially the ones who are always praying, always in silence.

All I'm saying is I'm accustomed to this attributing credit business.  I say 
let's give everybody,  Heck, not only credit but extra credit!

Ok, I'm going back to bed like a sane person (-:




 From: turquoiseb no_re...@yahoogroups.com
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 3:44 AM
Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
 

  
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, nablusoss1008 no_reply@... wrote:

 --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozguru@ wrote:
  
   Nothing in Holland is far from Vlodrop, including Leiden :-)
  
  Ever been to the states, Nabby?  Some of our states are bigger 
  than some of the European countries (including the larger ones).
 
 I know, I've driven through endless cornfields probably bigger 
 than the entire Holland :-) My point was that perhaps the 
 Turq-fellow finally was picking up some silence from Vlodrop.

Nabby's point was self importance, and trying to suggest
that Maharishi and the TMO could take credit for the
silence I feel around Leiden.

Horseshit. Absolute, self-serving, egomaniacal horseshit. 

I've been to Vlodrop. It has all the silence of an auto
factory in full production. 

The silence of Leiden comes from several centuries of 
energies emanating from and circulating along its canals
and the land they're sitting on. Nabby wouldn't recognize
a Place Of Power if one snuck up and carved a crop circle
on his ass.  :-)

One point that I've never seen any TMer address with any
seriousness is how, if the TMO wants to take credit for
any good things they perceive happening in the world,
they can't be held responsible for all the bad things 
as well. If the Buttbouncers Of Being and the Fart Of 
Flying were responsible for avoiding floods last year,
aren't they responsible for the drought and heat this
year? If they claim to be responsible for lower crime
rates, aren't they responsible for Hurricane Katrina.

It must be one of those mysteries of the Laws Of Nature.
We only take credit for those things that make us seem
more important; the other stuff we blame on Buddhists. :-)

While we're laughing at Nabby for this, we might as well
throw in his ludicrous gaffe in trying to diss Iranitea.
Tea suggested that the Dalai Lama was more popular in
his country than the current Pope, even though the Pope
was from that country. 

Nabby came back with a diatribe against Poles and Poland,
obviously trying to insinuate that Iranitea was from there.

Former Cardinal Ratzinger, former head of the Inquisition,
and current Pope of the Church Of Rome, is from Germany,
same place Nabby is from. 


 

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden

2012-07-27 Thread Share Long
Furthermore sharelong tho being an earth rat doesnt even know about Cardinal 
Rat much less write about him

Creative snipping happening

but another cool and beautiful morning so me sending almost unconditional love 
and forgiveness to all baad snippers

Moon debilitated in Scorpio this weekend be nice to women

cackle cackle 



 From: iranitea no_re...@yahoogroups.com
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 5:50 AM
Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
 

  

--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, nablusoss1008 no_reply@... wrote:

 
 
 --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote:
 
  Former Cardinal Ratzinger, former head of the Inquisition,
  and current Pope of the Church Of Rome, is from Germany,
  same place Nabby is from.

Nope, Nabby isn't from Germany, not of 2012. Before 1945, for a short period 
his country was.

 That's right, it was the former Pope who was Polish, Ratzinger is from 
 Bavaria. 
 
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bavaria#Kingdom_of_Bavaria

Bild isn't a Bavarian newspaper. It's the main German tabloid, roughly 
corresponding to the Sun in UK, the same that features excerpts from the Dalai 
Lama. The headline, no very famous says: 'We are Pope', meaning something like, 
with Ratzi, we all Germans became now pope sort of.


 

 

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden

2012-07-27 Thread Share Long
It was Nabby not Tea who snipped stuff so it appeared that I wrote the bit 
about Cardinal Rat  

Since it required snipping a lot of stuff I assume done to take a swipe at me

Yep I'm flawed.  Whatever!


If accident then ok no forgiveness happening and mea culpa to Nabby


But why turquoise knicks in such a twist today?




 From: turquoiseb no_re...@yahoogroups.com
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 6:33 AM
Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
 

  
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@... wrote:

 Creative snipping happening
 
 but another cool and beautiful morning so me sending almost 
 unconditional love and forgiveness to all baad snippers

You might save some of that forgiveness for yourself,
and the paranoia and self importance that lead you to
accuse someone of creative snipping.

Either that, or explain it. I for one am getting more
than a little tired of you saying it. So put up or shut
up. Explain what you find offensive and requiring of
forgiveness in Iranitea, or STFU.


 

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden

2012-07-27 Thread Share Long
and appreciating how you continued the horse theme (-:

Horse hockies as Col. Potter used to say on MASH




 From: turquoiseb no_re...@yahoogroups.com
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 3:44 AM
Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
 

  
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, nablusoss1008 no_reply@... wrote:

 --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozguru@ wrote:
  
   Nothing in Holland is far from Vlodrop, including Leiden :-)
  
  Ever been to the states, Nabby?  Some of our states are bigger 
  than some of the European countries (including the larger ones).
 
 I know, I've driven through endless cornfields probably bigger 
 than the entire Holland :-) My point was that perhaps the 
 Turq-fellow finally was picking up some silence from Vlodrop.

Nabby's point was self importance, and trying to suggest
that Maharishi and the TMO could take credit for the
silence I feel around Leiden.

Horseshit. Absolute, self-serving, egomaniacal horseshit. 

I've been to Vlodrop. It has all the silence of an auto
factory in full production. 

The silence of Leiden comes from several centuries of 
energies emanating from and circulating along its canals
and the land they're sitting on. Nabby wouldn't recognize
a Place Of Power if one snuck up and carved a crop circle
on his ass.  :-)

One point that I've never seen any TMer address with any
seriousness is how, if the TMO wants to take credit for
any good things they perceive happening in the world,
they can't be held responsible for all the bad things 
as well. If the Buttbouncers Of Being and the Fart Of 
Flying were responsible for avoiding floods last year,
aren't they responsible for the drought and heat this
year? If they claim to be responsible for lower crime
rates, aren't they responsible for Hurricane Katrina.

It must be one of those mysteries of the Laws Of Nature.
We only take credit for those things that make us seem
more important; the other stuff we blame on Buddhists. :-)

While we're laughing at Nabby for this, we might as well
throw in his ludicrous gaffe in trying to diss Iranitea.
Tea suggested that the Dalai Lama was more popular in
his country than the current Pope, even though the Pope
was from that country. 

Nabby came back with a diatribe against Poles and Poland,
obviously trying to insinuate that Iranitea was from there.

Former Cardinal Ratzinger, former head of the Inquisition,
and current Pope of the Church Of Rome, is from Germany,
same place Nabby is from. 


 

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden

2012-07-27 Thread Emily Reyn
Dear Share, now is the time to exercise unconditional love towards Barry.  He 
cannot help himself; his hostility runs subconsciously, especially towards 
women.  It always only a matter of time before you get slimed.  The good thing 
is, he is fully predictable, so it's easy to sidestep if one so chooses.  



 From: turquoiseb no_re...@yahoogroups.com
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 4:33 AM
Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
 

  
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@... wrote:

 Creative snipping happening
 
 but another cool and beautiful morning so me sending almost 
 unconditional love and forgiveness to all baad snippers

You might save some of that forgiveness for yourself,
and the paranoia and self importance that lead you to
accuse someone of creative snipping.

Either that, or explain it. I for one am getting more
than a little tired of you saying it. So put up or shut
up. Explain what you find offensive and requiring of
forgiveness in Iranitea, or STFU.


 

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden

2012-07-27 Thread Bhairitu
On 07/27/2012 01:44 AM, turquoiseb wrote:
 --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, nablusoss1008 no_reply@... wrote:
 --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozguru@ wrote:
 Nothing in Holland is far from Vlodrop, including Leiden :-)
 Ever been to the states, Nabby?  Some of our states are bigger
 than some of the European countries (including the larger ones).
 I know, I've driven through endless cornfields probably bigger
 than the entire Holland :-) My point was that perhaps the
 Turq-fellow finally was picking up some silence from Vlodrop.
 Nabby's point was self importance, and trying to suggest
 that Maharishi and the TMO could take credit for the
 silence I feel around Leiden.

Do you have crickets chirping in the evening as I have around here? I 
even have a freeway about a block away but out here it is country 
quiet with all the amenities of an suburban city.  Such are the 
benefits of living in what was once John Muir's orchard. ;-)



Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden

2012-07-27 Thread Bhairitu
So now you're calling Emily a cricket? You're pretty amazing, Robin. :-D

On 07/27/2012 09:56 AM, Robin Carlsen wrote:
 There is a cricket named Emily who just chirped. Did any of you guys hear 
 her? Her chirp seems to be one sound that is not to be heard. One person 
 heard the chirp and pulled out his noise-maker. And then the other 
 noise-makers all came out. I guess I was just hearing things. Pretty soon it 
 will be as if the cricket named Emily never did chirp.

 --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozguru@... wrote:
 On 07/27/2012 01:44 AM, turquoiseb wrote:
 --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, nablusoss1008 no_reply@ wrote:
 --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozguru@ wrote:
 Nothing in Holland is far from Vlodrop, including Leiden :-)
 Ever been to the states, Nabby?  Some of our states are bigger
 than some of the European countries (including the larger ones).
 I know, I've driven through endless cornfields probably bigger
 than the entire Holland :-) My point was that perhaps the
 Turq-fellow finally was picking up some silence from Vlodrop.
 Nabby's point was self importance, and trying to suggest
 that Maharishi and the TMO could take credit for the
 silence I feel around Leiden.
 Do you have crickets chirping in the evening as I have around here? I
 even have a freeway about a block away but out here it is country
 quiet with all the amenities of an suburban city.  Such are the
 benefits of living in what was once John Muir's orchard. ;-)






Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden

2012-07-27 Thread Share Long
I'm sure I would agree too, Mr. Nablusoss.  If only I knew what the heck you 
mean!  Very computer illiterate here, sorr (-:




 From: nablusoss1008 no_re...@yahoogroups.com
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 8:51 AM
Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
 

  


--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@... wrote:

 It was Nabby not Tea who snipped stuff so it appeared that I wrote the bit 
 about Cardinal Rat  
 
 Since it required snipping a lot of stuff I assume done to take a swipe at me
 
 Yep I'm flawed.  Whatever!
 
 
 If accident then ok no forgiveness happening and mea culpa to Nabby

You see Share, you are in a habit of answering to posts that are already 
vry long, in fact up to 32 pages long in some cases. To those of us who 
read this stuff from the web it's kind of waste of the indexfinger hitting the 
PgDn button all the time to get to the next poster. I'm sure you wil agree :-)


 

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden

2012-07-27 Thread Bhairitu
Yahoo needs to do what Google does on their groups.  When you read 
something on Google Groups it doesn't display the quoted sections but 
has a link saying show quoted text if you want to load it.  Of course 
maybe Google has a patent on it. :-D


On 07/27/2012 01:23 PM, Share Long wrote:
 I'm sure I would agree too, Mr. Nablusoss.  If only I knew what the heck you 
 mean!  Very computer illiterate here, sorr (-:



 
   From: nablusoss1008 no_re...@yahoogroups.com
 To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com
 Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 8:51 AM
 Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
   




 --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@... wrote:
 It was Nabby not Tea who snipped stuff so it appeared that I wrote the bit 
 about Cardinal Rat Â

 Since it required snipping a lot of stuff I assume done to take a swipe at me

 Yep I'm flawed.  Whatever!


 If accident then ok no forgiveness happening and mea culpa to Nabby
 You see Share, you are in a habit of answering to posts that are already 
 vry long, in fact up to 32 pages long in some cases. To those of us who 
 read this stuff from the web it's kind of waste of the indexfinger hitting 
 the PgDn button all the time to get to the next poster. I'm sure you wil 
 agree :-)


   



Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden

2012-07-27 Thread Emily Reyn
Awww, so nice.  I don't require acknowledgment and I'm practicing listening, 
which my kids say I don't do enough of.  I am a chirper in my current state and 
am not in the least offended; in fact FFL seldom offends me personally...and 
when it does, not for long.  Mostly I laugh, which is a good thing.  

I'm not as nimble as most of ya'll, either in verse or intellectual musings or 
spiritual discourse or witticisms (is that a word?).  I enjoy reading and 
trying to assimilate what crosses here.  My brain still doesn't work the way it 
used to and I am beginning to seriously worry as I have fallen from the top of 
my game to not being in the game at all in a pretty short timeframe, with no 
end in sight, and a lot of responsibilities remaining.  I have been hiding and 
in denial about many things.  But, I'm coming out of my denial and as I have 
yet to be diagnosed with a terminal illness, it looks like I'm going to 
*really* have to reinvent my life before all the money runs out.  There is no 
going back.  





 From: Robin Carlsen maskedze...@yahoo.com
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 12:12 PM
Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
 

  
Dear Bhairitu,

Very good point, Bhairitu. I wanted to insult Emily, but thought no one would 
notice. You caught my real intention here—and I am found out.

Is there any way I can expiate for my derogatory remark?

Your objection (which nailed me good) reminds me of the idea of poetry: 
imaginary gardens with real toads in them.

But I, for one, am glad that the Pudget Sound lady graces us once in awhile by 
rubbing her wings together to create a distinct chirp,—which, you will observe, 
silences.

Robin

--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozguru@... wrote:

 So now you're calling Emily a cricket? You're pretty amazing, Robin. :-D
 
 On 07/27/2012 09:56 AM, Robin Carlsen wrote:
  There is a cricket named Emily who just chirped. Did any of you guys hear 
  her? Her chirp seems to be one sound that is not to be heard. One person 
  heard the chirp and pulled out his noise-maker. And then the other 
  noise-makers all came out. I guess I was just hearing things. Pretty soon 
  it will be as if the cricket named Emily never did chirp.
 
  --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozguru@ wrote:
  On 07/27/2012 01:44 AM, turquoiseb wrote:
  --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, nablusoss1008 no_reply@ wrote:
  --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozguru@ wrote:
  Nothing in Holland is far from Vlodrop, including Leiden :-)
  Ever been to the states, Nabby?  Some of our states are bigger
  than some of the European countries (including the larger ones).
  I know, I've driven through endless cornfields probably bigger
  than the entire Holland :-) My point was that perhaps the
  Turq-fellow finally was picking up some silence from Vlodrop.
  Nabby's point was self importance, and trying to suggest
  that Maharishi and the TMO could take credit for the
  silence I feel around Leiden.
  Do you have crickets chirping in the evening as I have around here? I
  even have a freeway about a block away but out here it is country
  quiet with all the amenities of an suburban city.  Such are the
  benefits of living in what was once John Muir's orchard. ;-)
 
 
 



 

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden

2012-07-27 Thread Emily Reyn
Or are we talking about Emily Litella?  Ahh, no matter.  Never mind :)



 From: Robin Carlsen maskedze...@yahoo.com
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 12:12 PM
Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden
 

  
Dear Bhairitu,

Very good point, Bhairitu. I wanted to insult Emily, but thought no one would 
notice. You caught my real intention here—and I am found out.

Is there any way I can expiate for my derogatory remark?

Your objection (which nailed me good) reminds me of the idea of poetry: 
imaginary gardens with real toads in them.

But I, for one, am glad that the Pudget Sound lady graces us once in awhile by 
rubbing her wings together to create a distinct chirp,—which, you will observe, 
silences.

Robin

--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozguru@... wrote:

 So now you're calling Emily a cricket? You're pretty amazing, Robin. :-D
 
 On 07/27/2012 09:56 AM, Robin Carlsen wrote:
  There is a cricket named Emily who just chirped. Did any of you guys hear 
  her? Her chirp seems to be one sound that is not to be heard. One person 
  heard the chirp and pulled out his noise-maker. And then the other 
  noise-makers all came out. I guess I was just hearing things. Pretty soon 
  it will be as if the cricket named Emily never did chirp.
 
  --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozguru@ wrote:
  On 07/27/2012 01:44 AM, turquoiseb wrote:
  --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, nablusoss1008 no_reply@ wrote:
  --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozguru@ wrote:
  Nothing in Holland is far from Vlodrop, including Leiden :-)
  Ever been to the states, Nabby?  Some of our states are bigger
  than some of the European countries (including the larger ones).
  I know, I've driven through endless cornfields probably bigger
  than the entire Holland :-) My point was that perhaps the
  Turq-fellow finally was picking up some silence from Vlodrop.
  Nabby's point was self importance, and trying to suggest
  that Maharishi and the TMO could take credit for the
  silence I feel around Leiden.
  Do you have crickets chirping in the evening as I have around here? I
  even have a freeway about a block away but out here it is country
  quiet with all the amenities of an suburban city.  Such are the
  benefits of living in what was once John Muir's orchard. ;-)
 
 
 



 

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramblings around Leiden

2012-07-26 Thread Bhairitu
On 07/26/2012 02:07 PM, nablusoss1008 wrote:

 --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, turquoiseb no_reply@... wrote:
 I'm still clearly in the honeymoon period w.r.t. my
 new town. I just love it.

 Sometimes it's the Little Things. Like how the primary
 mode of transportation is the bicycle. You are actually
 penalized to some extent for living in the Centrum of
 Leiden and having a car. To park it, you have to get a
 permit, which costs 40 Euros a quarter for the first
 car, and 80 Euros per quarter for the second car. It
 is a policy clearly aimed at reducing the amount of
 auto traffic and presence within Leiden, and it is
 clearly working.

 Living here, a car is superfluous. I still have my old
 but eternal Peugeot 306, but it will probably remain
 sitting in its parking space for the full duration of
 my first parking permit. I will probably never need it.
 Everything I need is within walking or biking distance,
 and both walking and biking are more fun than driving.
 It's sort of a no-brainer. If this happens, and I wind
 up not needing my car for a full quarter of the year,
 I will most likely sell the car.

 My story is kinda normal around here. Now compare it to
 the story of moving to a new community in most places
 in the United States. In how many of them could you
 live a quality life without a car?

 One of the reasons that I enjoy staying in touch with
 the Fairfield community is that I sense that -- should
 the shit hit the fan and autos not really be as avail-
 able or affordable as they are today -- you could prob-
 ably get by, and comfortably, without a car in Fairfield.

 I like that in a town. I could say that about several
 of the places I've lived, including tiny little Sauve,
 France, or much larger Sitges, Spain, or even larger
 still Santa Fe, New Mexico. It's really *neat* to live
 in a town that you can live in successfully and
 comfortably without a car.

 All of that said, the takeaway I have from my walk
 tonight is still the silence.

 On foot, on a bicycle, or probably even in a car, this
 is one of the most *silent* burbs I've ever lived in.
 Whatever is going on on the surface of life -- dogs
 barking, the rare car horn honking, party boats on
 the river blaring tasteless music at high volumes --
 *whatever*, the silence is still there.

 It's like there is nothing in the environment that
 can *overshadow* the silence.

 I have no explanation for how this could be, only
 that it seems to be.

 Nothing in Holland is far from Vlodrop, including Leiden :-)

Ever been to the states, Nabby?  Some of our states are bigger than some 
of the European countries (including the larger ones).