traveling up and down the blind highway

After the death of Pope Frances, I realized I have memories of seven popes. I was too young to recall Pope Pious XII. I do have a memory of Pope John XXIII . There were stories in the Catholic Treasure Chest comic book. Short, Stocky, always smiling, he reminded me of my grandfathers rather than the head of the church. One story told about the pope feeling sorry for the Swiss guards who carried him in the raised throne in the crowds. He petitioned the Vatican to pay the guards extra because of his weight.
Pope Paul VI served as Pope from 1963 to 1978. He was the first pope to visit six continents. He was a scholar and wrote many encyclicals on a variety of subjects. He was pope when I was a teen and young adult. Many young Catholics rejected the doctrine of the use of any contraception. Like many woman, I used some form of birth control to avoid pregnancy.
Pope Paul was the last pope to have a coronation.
In 1978, Pope John Paul the 1st was in the papacy for only 33 days before suffering a fatal heart attack. He opted to use a motor vehicle referred to as the pope mobile rather than be carried in a raised throne.
Pope John Paul II was elected pope in the fall of 1978. At 58, he was one of the youngest popes in recent times. He served as pope for 26 years. I remember him for traveling, he visited 103 countries. There is a story told about John Paul when he was bishop of Krakow . He would escape his duties to ski. He was known as the daredevil of Tetra Mountains. One story related the bishop skied across the boarder and was detained. He was released after he was recognized. He was the first Polish pope.
Benedict XVI was pope from 2005 until he abdicated in 2013 due to illness. He died in 2022 at age 95. He was member of the ruling body of the church. He was part of the second Vatican counsel in the 1960’s.
Pope Frances was elected to the Papacy in 2013 and served for 12 years. He was a pastoral pope. He was the most comfortable serving the marginalized and migrant populations. He was the first pope to be from South America. He lived a simple life choosing not to live in the palace.His stone says the single word Frances in latin.
He changed the clothing of the papacy, making the robes and extras such as the staff, miter not used. Pope Frances often wore only a pileolus . He was seen giving rides in the pope mobile. Before an audience, he was told the 90 year old mother of an interpreter was ill. He started to give her the anointing of the sick. The son worried about the pope’s schedule and reminded him that people were waiting. The pope replied, “They can wait.”
Even his burial place was nontraditional. He is being buried outside Vatican City in the Basilica of Mary Major. It was reported he often prayed before the icon of of Mary before He would travel. Pope Frances toured the basilica to select his tomb site. He found a nook serving as a storage area for extra candelabras. This will do for my burial.”
136 cardinals will meet to select the new pope in a conclave that must meet starting in the first week of May. Italians say a fat pope is followed by a thin pope. A tall pope is followed by a short pope. The Sistine Chapel is being readied. A metal floor will protect the marble and prevent listening devices from being used. The cardinals will be sequestered until they elect the next pope. It is in God’s hands.

The first official Earth Day was celebrated in 1970. This year, 193 countries participate in earth friendly activities around the globe. Usually, there is a theme each year. In 2025, the emphasis is reassessing the success of past projects. Earth Day has lead to the passage of the Clean Air Act, The clean water Act and the protection of endangered Species Act and the establishing of the EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency, an independent governmental group that is tasked to oversee environmental concerns. Like many federal agencies, the EPA has seen a hold in approved program funds for reassessment.
In my state of Michigan, there are studies of wildlife, fish and study for water clean up from chemical spills. They are yet to be completed. A pillar of the EPA is to make our country number 1 in AI use. In six years it has been responsible for 20 percent of energy production. The current production of energy from wind, solar, gas and petroleum sources will not be enough to meet demand. Nuclear solutions with small nuclear small nuclear modules to be placed underground and use passive sources to cool the reactors. There are currently no working reactors in the US. They are currently waiting for approval before implementing them in this country. So far, only 2 SNM are operational with over 100 others in the construction phase. They have been studied for 9 years by the Department of Energy. Is this the solution? With only two working nuclear modules, it may be years into the future. A current option may be global cooperation to decrease our energy footprint on our world.
AI***. poem
Five Pillars
Clean air, clean water for all
Artificial Intelligence is
making our country great by
less regulations
May not be good for all.
A different solution may be to decrease each individuals
use of natural resources. shop for containers that can be easily recycled. Compost branch and grass clippings to to produce a mixture rich in nutrients. Plant native plants that encourage diversity while increasing the insect and bird populations, recycle paper and magazines. Lets all work to be part of the clean up.
***. Poem
Remember the ad, with a native American?
He was looking over a large pile of trash.
Showing a closeup of his face, a single tear trickled down his cheek.
As a child, I wanted to help.
Now as an adult I have the power to make a difference.
carolaspot@aol.com
copyrighted 4/22/25

This past Saturday was the pink moon. It was named as the time when flora start to bud and leaf. Other names for this moon are bud moon, pastel moon and awakening moon.
This year Passover started on the evening of the12th. It is celebrated for one week and a day. My mother in law’s church called the celebration , “the night to be observed.” This was on The Thursday before Easter.
Christians are starting their Holy week starting with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter Sunday.
The spring Hindu festival of Holi started on March 14TH and can go on for 40 days. The Muslim holy days of Ramadan are a month long observation ending on March 31. This makes a person wonder if the cosmos is aligned this month.
Returning to the pink moon, I have my own story about a full moon and religion. When I was a young child, I loved to pick violets and dandelions to make a bouquet . I would take the small offering and place it at the feet of Mary outside the church. I was brought up on stories of Mary’s appearances in Lourdes and Fatima. One night of a full moon, I prayed to see Mary. I was alarmed to see the moon appearing to come closer and larger in appearance. I covered my head and prayed to stop the moon from coming any closer. When I peeked from under the covers, the moon was back where it belonged.
As an adult, I can rationalized that I mixed my love of Mary with Glenda, The Good Witch from the Wizard of Oz movie. But that night, I was in terror of what I prayed for. Now, I wonder what if I had said yes. May your prayers, hopes and dreams come true. Blessings

Carol Farnsworth

**** poem
glowing moon
child’s prayer
Imagination
panic
retract wish
back to normal
but I still wonder
what if…
carolaspot@aol.com
copyrighted 4/14/25

Today’s weather is calling for snow flurries and continued cold temperatures. Not promising for Spring Break week. My brother Craig and my husband John both will be celebrating birthdays in the coming week. What does this have to do with World Health Day? Everything! With cuts across the board in health care programs, rising food prices and prescription drugs, They may be in poorer health in the coming year. John and I can still afford our health care even if the co-pay increases. What about the millions of Americans that have little or no providers or can not afford medical care?
We use to have programs that help low income families. Medicaid and medicare are being limited or dropped. Programs initiated thirty to fifty years ago, are on the cutting board to appease the conservative agenda. I would bet that none of the proposed cuts affect this group of politicians. But the more disturbing policy concerns the overreaching of the executive branch to write executive orders and enforce them as if they are laws.
Where are the other two branches of government? Where are the checks and balances. How is democracy being tested? Meanwhile, people like your neighbor, the clerk in the grocery store, the family that is sitting beside you in church, even your family members will be affected. We must make a choice, to not take action or to rise up to uphold people in our community, state and our country.
If we don’t act, when the changes finally affect us, there may be no one to challenge the orders.
Our grandfathers and fathers rose to protect democracy, our grandmothers and mothers, taught us to treat others as we would want to be treated. Are we so apathetic to not care to make waves. I, for one, would start a tidal wave of concern. Together we can be a force for ourselves and our country.
Take your temp and choose your path.

poem
I pledge allegiance to to democracy
the building block on which we stand.
Many faces, different voices but one people
one nation, in love and peace
caring for the vulnerable we will rise
to protect all.
carolaspot@aol.com copyrighted 4/7/25

Every spring, John has to decide when to stop feeding the deer in favor of the birds and squirrels. He fears that too much offered food will make them dependent on humans. I suspect the feeding habits of the animals have more to do with whether they will get a handout in our backyard.
The number of deer vying for bird seed has grown from a doe with her twins to seven or more deer at one time. When a group is that large, disputes erupt with shoving and head butting of the smaller deer. One morning , a younger deer stamped it’s front hooves . John took this as frustration at the lack of feed to go around. Later, I read that stamping front hooves is one way deer communicate with each other.
Wanting to feed the pregnant squirrels, John built a mesh square cover . It was eight inches above the ground. The food container will sit under this mesh to protect the seeds from the deer.
Last night was the first night using the tray. I hope that hungry deer don’t become aggressive, destroying the mesh covering. This morning a young deer, had her head on the ground to lick up seeds with her tongue.
This is the opening salvo in the game of creatures in our yard.This is before the chipmunks, mice and turkeys join the contest. They and John will go back and forth with no clear outcome. I’ll pop some corn and watch the show. There a bias towards the manner the animals feed. Squirrels and birds select one seed at a time. Deer, chipmunks and turkeys will eat until the food is gone. We will see who outwits whom.
***. poem
Cycle
Warmer weather, longer days
start the spring cycle.
nature vies for limited food. Before the buds form, rabbits chew on last year’s growth. Many are eating for two. Spring can be a feast or famine.
carolaspot@aol.com
copyrighted 3/31/25

I found this special day to celebrate the achievements of friends, family and coworkers in my life. I am referring to the clerk that remembers to double bag my groceries each time I use her checkout. The young person that runs to get to the library door before me so he can open and hold the door for me. There is the family member that takes the time to read and comment on my blog. The older woman, who sits in front of us in the first pew, that walks over to smile and offers her hand in peace during service. The driver that stops far back from the crosswalk to signals he sees us.
For every person that ignores or scowls, there are nine others who smile. They make my day. Exchanging “hellos” is healing for the soul.
In this list, I will add my virtual groups of friends. Those in Behind our Eyes , Writers with Disabilities, Braille Chat group, Braille Forum and Newsreel.
The online magazines The Avocet, Breath and Shadow, The Plum Tree Tavern and Spirit fire Review for publishing my poetry and short stories. The editors have become friends. Your work and dedication to those of us who deal with blindness and other issues is appreciated. Your encouragement has helped many achieve their writing goals. You are the reason for my writing achievements. You know who you are. Thank you.
Carol Farnsworth
* Poem
Invisible
I sit by myself
Who is watching?
I smile and hope another receives it.
I am here, to offer my hand to touch.
a hand reaches for mine.
connection
I achieve my goal.
We are not alone.
carolaspot@aol.com copyrighted 3/24/25

Visiting a butterfly exhibit in a local garden area, I was struck how the butterfly and a poem are similar. Both are dull before they take flight. Lifting us higher in the turn of a wing or phrase. They change our understanding while sharing an experience with others. With poetry and butterflies, we are lifted in ming and spirit. Take a moment today to appreciate the gift of nature. If you are moved, write down your observations. This could be a start of a journal to find ideas for poems. Can’t see? Use your imagination and your other senses to create a moment caught in time. Enjoy the coming month to expand and take time to hear, smell, taste and feel . Write them down before they disappear…
like a butterfly.
poem

Buckeye Convention
Sun streams in flooding ferns with light.
Thousands of blue insects move in zigzag flight.
Whisper movement passes by.
To the apple slices tied and hung.
One mottled brown flyer rests nearby.
Pausing to sip a sugar brew.
Startled by another, change to blue in flight.
It lifts skyward, joining others.
Sapphire jewels amid the plantings.
Against the window panes, invisible to the eye, they hide.
Reappear near my side.
With six inch wing spans hide in foliage when they land.
carolaspot@aol.com copyrighted 3/20/25

In these changing times in government and status quo, the average person will have a policy change that will affect each person. My challenge occurred at the beginning of the year. My husband, John’s health provider changed. He retired from the postal service. The postal retiree’s were not allowed to sign up for the health program that we have had for over eleven years. Instead, we were given a new program created just for this group.
We were switched from a HMO plan with Priority Health that had no co-pays and paid for most drugs to A Blue Cross/ Blue Shield that was suppose to be comparable in coverage. Instead we were told in January that we didn’t sign up for Medicare, part d to include drugs, we would have to wait until February 1st to have coverage. The problem? I have been on a drug for thin bone density for nine months, given as a daily shot. Tymlos, couldn’t be ordered from our initial source. I was running out of the drug. The new provider kept asking for a new prescription. My doctor wrote a new script that was good for two years.
Then the CBS Specialty Pharmacy needed more information. I did finally receive the drug after using the injection every other day to extend the drug. What was paid for last year was now 350 dollars a month. We thought,”Well that should be the end of the problems.”
When we went to order the drug the next month, we ran into the same problem with ordering. A drug that I have been on for nine months was ordered for thirty days !
Back to the phones, transferred from Blue Cross to CBS Pharmacy and medicare. As we called and waited, my drug was running low. The drug was sent with only one day’s supply left. We had ordered the refill the first day we could, 15 days before the supply ran out.
Again, the pharmacy had to receive a prescription again.
It is close to reordering the drug. I wonder if I will have issues again. Is this a result of a new program or downsizing of government ?
Egg prices, tariffs and stock market slump, one wonders what is next?
***. poem
Playing Trump
shell game slight of hand
pick a card
carolaspot@aol.com

Daylight saving time has been used in the US since 1918 with the exception of brief periods during WWII and the Vietnam war. Initially, it was implemented in Germany during WWI to save energy during production. The use of Daylight Saving Time was reinforced in 1966. The time change is observed in all but two states, Arizona and Hawaii.
Yesterday, the clocks skipped forward one hour. On November 2nd, the clocks will be set back one hour. There is good reason to change the clocks on the weekend. Being late to a service is preferable to being late for work or an appointment.
It is jarring to get up after the sunrise. My inter body clock is off for several days. More usable sunlight in the evening is nice for after school and work activities.
For a blind person, I reset my clock regularly I have an internal clock that runs on a 25 hour day. My brain alternates perceived light and dark days. I know there is sun by feeling the heat .
I wish the time could stay the same all year. There have been several resolutions to do away with daylight savings time, but we still observe the changes.
Short of moving to Arizona, I will have to deal with a tired, grumpy self, for a while.
****. Poem
Tripping into Spring
Though the saying states
“Spring Forward,
I trip my way through the week.
Feeling the sun’s warmth,
I am tired and grumpy.
No morning glow.
Hungry in mid-afternoon, before bedtime.
Tired before evening.
Dragging, I will adjust.
In six months,
I’ll do it again.

carolaspot@aol.com
copyright 3/10/25

The practice of Lent has been in existence from the earliest Christian times. The idea of a time set aside to reflect, renew and change in preparation for the celebration of Easter can be traced to the third generation of disciples and the length of 40 days can be traced to the 40 days that Jesus abstained in the desert before beginning his ministry.
As a cradle Catholic, I have had different views of the season of Lent. My Mother was a strict enforcer of lenten rules of abstaining and no eating between meals. This was not enforced on Sundays. That day was set aside for joyful celebration. Some how Mom kept the eating practices through the 40 days of Lent. More rules for the week before Easter. Abstaining from meat on Wednesdays and Fridays , we limited sugar and salty snacks creating a craving for the forbidden treats. Giving of part of our allowance to the weekly collection was encouraged. Wednesday night services and becoming alter servers or choir members was also strongly suggested.
I would visit my non-catholic friends to be offered a forbidden snack.
“Do I take the food and confess the transgression that Saturday?”
“Do I not confess and have sins pile up?”
“Do I just avoid my friends until after Lent?”
When I gave up a favorite television program and limited movies , I had nothing to fill in the time. For a kid, Lent lasted forever!
Good Friday was particularly difficult. Only one meal, music was allowed but no tv. We were encouraged to visit the two sets of grandparents to do simple chores or errands for them. Often, I was given a cookie.
“To eat the cookie or rack up more sins to confess?”
I took the cookie and tried to forget it before confession.
My husband, John, had some of the same thoughts. On Good Friday, he and his older brother Gene, were alone at home with both of his parents working. What could they do on Good Friday?
Hey, John, let’s play Crucifixion.”
“How do we play that?”
“You can be Jesus, I will be the soldier putting on the cross.”
John agreed and Gene found two pieces of wood to make a rough cross. Taking some clothesline, Gene tied his younger brother to the cross.
“Hey, I have to use the bathroom”. Gene went into the house, leaving John attached to the cross. The boy’s Dad came home to see his young son attached to a cross and his older son no where to be seen. He went to look for his older son. Gene had started to play after using to the bathroom.
Taking his son outside he lit a cigarette , inhaling before remarking:
“You better get the baby off the cross before your Mother gets home.”
For a long time I ignored Lent and the practices. I found the season lacked the special quality that I remembered.
This year, I have studied some of the traditions and beliefs behind the abstaining. I have found there are three reasons to keep lent a tripod of theology to base the practice.
First. To give up a action that can be harmful. This can be giving alcohol, sweets or places that cause temptations. I have given up watching the national news. It only makes me angry and powerless.
Second. I put a new task to take the place of the old habit. I have put time to call or write to relatives especially the elderly of my family and friends to keep of them and show they are still a part of my life.
Third, The idea of almsgiving can be expanded to giving one’s time, to a charity, a neighbor in need or helping a stranger by smiling and saying, “Good morning.” Giving to groups that make requests are also part of giving. I find it is too easy to give to a charity but to go through my clothing and donate items that I no longer use or volunteer at a local second store to help others is a way to build relationship with others.
So I will keep Lent day by day. I am sure that I will have days that I fail, but I am determine to pick myself up and continue to a blessed Easter.

*** poem
Lent
in my childhood, a four letter word
Lost in a cluster of rules many starting with “Do not”
Easy to slip, then back to the confessional
notice many of my friends have no restrictions
Time drags , I wait for the basket delivered on Easter morning.
carolaspot@aol.com 3/3/25 copyrighted