LITITZ, PA - A GREAT PLACE TO STROLL AND SHOP

Because I so love this little town of LITITZ, I wanted to share more photos with you to give you a feel for the place.  Visualize one "Main Street" with interesting shops that individually draw you in.

Looking for a gift for the person who has everything? - you'll probably find it in Lititz.  

Want to stop for a "Brew"? - yup

Want to sit for a cup of "Coffee"? - yup

Want to eat some "Chocolate"? - yup

Want to do a little "Wine Tasting"? - yup

Want to shop for Clothing? - yup

Want a nice Lunch? - yup

Ok, you get the PICTURE.......  here are some "PICTURES".........

SCROLL and STROLL slowly.........

ROAD TRIP to LITITZ, anyone???

JOAN

BOARDING SCHOOL IN 1968

It was a shock to be sent away from home at 16 years old, particularly when my destination was a PRIVATE BOARDING SCHOOL FOR GIRLS. All I wanted to do at that time in my short life was be with BOYS!!

The first day there, I walked into the BATHROOM and there were 2 girls passionately kissing. "Not that there's anything wrong with that" of course, but I didn't know that Girls did that!  Ok, I had some things to learn and things to get used to, because I was going to be there for a full school year.  And do I have some more stories to tell!

Let's begin with the LOVELY town of LITITZ, PENNSYLVANIA.  And I mean LOVELY!!! I was in LITITZ yesterday to visit my BESTIES, LINDA and ANDY SMITH (professional watercolor artist), so I took a few photos to share with you.  

I actually fell in love with the town of LITITZ when I got married at age 23 in 1975.  JACK found us a 2-bedroom townhouse there to rent. Here is a photo - ours was this corner unit - still there 40 years later!!

While married and living there, I met BESTIE, JILL RODRICK at a WELCOME WAGON meeting (ever heard of that??) and we hit it off immediately. Our husbands did too, which made it even more fun. Jill and Gary lived in an apartment just a few blocks away. 

Thankfully, I still see them often, although they moved to OHIO not too many years after we first met. In fact it was just a few years ago that we met in LITITZ for the day.  We had a ball reminiscing.  An old friend of theirs joined us for dinner, who I subsequently fixed up with another BESTIE!!  Yes, they too are still happily together!

In 1968, when we were practicing field hockey every afternoon, we could smell the chocolate from the famous WILBUR CHOCOLATE FACTORY, which is still operating today. YUM!! My addiction to chocolate remains strong........

Boarding school girls were allowed to leave school and walk into the town of LITITZ only ONCE A WEEK and we had to "SIGN OUT" when leaving campus.  It took me about a minute to figure out that if I wanted to go into town (to smoke a cigarette or flirt with BOYS), I simply didn't "sign out". I walked off campus and came back before our required time.  This happened MORE THAN ONCE a week of course.

Ok, back to my visit with LINDA and ANDY SMITH yesterday.  Here is their home/studio.

LINDA and I took a walk into town to enjoy lunch at a great little restaurant called "TOMATO PIE CAFE". Always great food there. We actually tried something different yesterday, but didn't pass up starting with our cup of their homemade "TOMATO BISQUE SOUP".  

So, you're wondering what's in the bag? On the way to lunch we stopped in a little shop, MinD's BOUTIQUE, owned by MINDY DONECKER BEATTY, a good client/friend of LINDA and ANDY'S. I couldn't resist making a purchase - their clothing is so fun and trendy........

And as LINDA said, "Only in a small town will you see a sign on the door like this one!!" LOVE IT.

After lunch we wandered a little more through town.

I will continue tomorrow with photos of the variety of very cute shops.  If you've never been to LITITZ, it's a GREAT strolling town and my photos will surely tempt you to visit.......


JOAN

ATTRACT WHAT YOU WANT TO ATTRACT

As NEALE DONALD WALSCH says, your soul is a MAGNET, and will attract what you want it to attract. The book "THE SECRET" by RHONDA BYRNE also focused on this concept.

THINK POSITIVELY and you will attract POSITIVE energy.  Focus on ABUNDANCE and you will attract ABUNDANCE. Focus on PAIN and you will attract and learn more about PAIN, etc.

Many years ago I dated a guy who was uptight and didn't drink alcohol ("Not that there's anything wrong with that".....). I threw it out to THE UNIVERSE that the next man I dated should be carefree and enjoy drinking. I sure got what I asked for - a hard-drinking alcoholic who didn't work. UGH. See what I mean?

Another example - I have a friend who desperately wants a man to share her life with. She's constantly asking for "A MAN", but as I've shared with her my opinion - her request is too VAGUE. As requested, "A MAN" is delivered into her life, but he doesn't have the qualities she's hoping he'll have. Disappointment..... I've suggested that she be much more specific about "THE KIND OF MAN" she wants to attract and put focus on the qualities she's hoping he'll have. 

So, remember to "BE CAREFUL AND CLEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU WISH FOR", because I believe you WILL receive what you ask for. Such a miracle.

JOAN

"WHAT IS THE SOUL?" by NEALE DONALD WALSCH

For those who enjoyed my post - "FINDING DIMES FROM HEAVEN", you might also find this short (8 min) video interesting.

NEALE DONALD WALSCH shares his interpretation of "WHAT IS THE SOUL?". 

Click here to watch ---> VIDEO

I love his simple explanation, which totally resonates with my beliefs. It also resonates with the writings in "THE SECRET" by RHONDA BYRNE. I felt I could have written that book - it was so real/clear to me.

"Earthly possessions are not what you came here to gather. Do not worry about your earthly possessions.  Place your attention on your heavenly goal -- the evolution of your soul -- and you will find peace even while on earth.

You will not have to think but a second to know exactly why you received this message today."

---Neale Donald Walsch

JOAN

HAD LUNCH YESTERDAY WITH A MEDIUM

My friend ANNA and I traveled to the coast of NJ to meet NY friends halfway for a picnic lunch by the beach. However, it was a day filled with "interruptions", which naturally we "rolled with"......

First of all, the GARMIN GPS was instructed to show us the "fastest" route to BRICK, NJ. We were on a back-country, 2-lane road for miles and miles and miles and miles....... We took it in stride and enjoyed the diversion from typical highways and saw beautiful miracles of nature throughout the countryside. Here is one example - acres and acres of vibrant yellow FORSYTHIA (is there any other color than yellow forsythias?).

   

It could have been frustrating that it took us 2 hours and 45 min to make a 1.5 hour drive, but it was so pretty...... AND we were not in a rush because our friends, HELEN and GINGER called us and were going to be delayed because THEY had a flat tire (for the first time in about 20 years). They called AAA...... who arrived and found that the spare couldn't be put on the van....... so a flatbed truck was summoned....... the van was driven to the nearest dealer for a new tire....... and they waited 20 minutes for the tire to be delivered....... and then installed....... and we arrived almost at the same time (now further north - in SOUTH AMBOY, NJ).  

Windy and chilly, the "park" had a lovely gazebo by the water, but no tables for our planned picnic lunch, soooooo.......  

..........we set up lunch in the back of HELEN'S van. Too funny. We had a great time and naturally there was more food than we could eat! Homemade Individual GREEK SPINACH PIES under the red lid........ hot pepper jelly was delicious on them, as it was on crackers with cheese, etc.

So, you're asking, "What about "THE MEDIUM"??"

ANNA and I met HELEN LALOUSIS a number of years ago in a TAROT CARD READING course. HELEN is a PRODUCER and for as long as we've known her, HELEN has had a goal of trying to help families who have lost loved ones, put some closure to their grief. She's worked with many PSYCHIC/MEDIUMS in this quest. She's filmed interviews with the MEDIUMS and family members, has noted confirmations of information and has successfully helped MORE THAN A HANDFUL of people find answers to questions about loved ones who passed unexpectedly, often by murder or suicide. There will be a documentary in her future.

GINGER (VIRGINIA ROSE CENTRILLO), a PSYCHIC/MEDIUM since childhood, is a member of the PA PARANORMAL ASSOCIATION (PPA) and is known in her field as "THE HOUSE WHISPERER". The internet is full of information about her and you can even listen to interviews and enjoy her NY ITALIAN accent.  I love the internet.  I love GINGER'S accent!

HELEN and GINGER met while trying to solve a "COLD CASE" (murder) several years ago. ANNA and I listened in awe to the facts that she and HELEN have been gathering to help solve TWO MAJOR "COLD CASES". I'm sure you've heard about MEDIUMS helping police to solve "COLD CASES" - well, GINGER does it in some of her free time, while most of it is spent running two unrelated businesses.

Naturally I can't share any specifics about either case, but I'm fascinated by the extraordinary ability some people have (and have further developed) in order to solicit help from "the other side". Our world is full of unexplained phenomena, and this ability is one to add to the list. If you have personally experienced "intuition", and wonder where the "messages" of intuition come from, perhaps you too have a curiosity about or belief in the ability of MEDIUMS.

JOAN

DIMES FROM HEAVEN

When I was getting dressed yesterday morning, I found a dime on the floor in my walk-in closet. I immediately took it as a "Hello" from my Mom. I never have my wallet upstairs, so it didn't drop from there....... 

You see, I had a medical test completed yesterday and I suspect that finding that dime is Mom letting me know that "It's going to be ok" OR if it's not ok, she's letting me know that she's here with me. In either case, 16 years after her death, it continues to comfort me to know that she's still with me.

My Mom died in 1999 from breast cancer that metastasized to her liver, but we knew she was terminal for 2.5 years before she died. This gave our family some time for meaningful, open discussions and sharing our love for each other.  

Mom and I discussed Heaven, the Afterlife, communicating after she's gone etc. I was in her condo living room in Florida one evening when she said to me "I have no idea how I'm going to communicate with you, because I have no idea what can be done after death, but PAY ATTENTION, because I WILL communicate with you."

I didn't realize it at that time, but right after she died I found out that my sisters both had had a casual conversation with Mom.  One asked her to leave "Pennies from Heaven".  The other asked for nickels, and Mom said to her, "I'll do better than that..... I'll leave you quarters!"

About two weeks after Mom died, I was returning a video to Blockbuster (remember the old Blockbuster movie rentals???). When I opened the car door to get out, I saw a dime on the ground. I smiled and picked it up. When I closed the car door, I then saw a penny on the ground. I picked it up. I took only a few steps to the curb, where there was a quarter. I picked it up AND I took this experience as a "SIGN" that when I find DIMES, it's a message from Mom.

MANY, MANY times over the past 16 years I've found dimes JUST when I've needed to. Most of the time I take it as a simple "Hello", but within a few hours it becomes clear to me what message was attached. And since my whole family tends to look at things in a positive way, I continue to regard these "Messages" as positive ones.  

For example, I went for a mammogram one time and when I got out of the car, there was a dime on the ground. I took that as (and actually heard in my head) "Everything is going to be ok."  And it was.

And in case you are still doubting about all of this, here is one more little example that might be more convincing - 

Last year, on June 17th, I was getting a routine blood test. At the registration desk I retrieved my driver's license and insurance card from my wallet and a single dime just flipped into the air from my purse and onto my lap. I immediately took it as a "Hello"....... But when I got back home and realized the date, I knew it was more than a "Hello", because you see, the date that Mom died was June 17th, 1999.

The Universe is so full of wonder.  I am continually amazed at the mysteries and the powerful energies beyond our comprehension, aren't you?

JOAN

GOOD THINGS I LEARNED FROM READING ABOUT SOCIOPATHS

I just finished my book - "THE SOCIOPATH NEXT DOOR: THE RUTHLESS VERSUS THE REST OF US" by MARTHA STOUT, Ph.D. 

Are you like me that when you read a description of a psychological or medical disorder, you might begin to recognize it as referring to you? And oh my goodness, the worry begins. Ok, I truly don't think I'm sociopathic, because I do feel guilt, I genuinely care about people and I do have the capacity to "love", but some of her examples had me on the brink of worry....... (giggle)

I'd like to share 3 short paragraphs from the end of her book that will hopefully get you thinking about the good life that you and I live, full of CONSCIENCE. Yes, of course, we all have bad thoughts about others from time to time.... don't be too terribly hard on yourself, UNLESS........ :)

The author states:

     In a book that is a collaboration between psychologist Daniel Goleman and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, entitled Destructive Emotions: A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama, Coleman writes, "The very act of concern for others' well-being, it seems, creates a greater state of well-being within oneself."  

She goes on to say:

     As a psychologist, I am particularly taken with the Dalai Lama's description of those whom I might refer to as sociopaths, or as people devoid of an intervening sense of obligation based in connectedness to others. He refers to such individuals as "people who don't have well-developed human lives."

In closing I'll share this wonderful story she included that isn't new to me, but perhaps it is to you. In any case, it's worth reading again, and again, and again........

     A wise woman who was traveling in the  mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation.

     The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune.  He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.  But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.

     "I've been thinking," he said. "I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone."

JOAN

HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED ANY SOCIOPATHS??

My sister's dogs on either side of me, while WILLOW looks on, wanting SOMEONE to continue to play!! They were tucked in beside me, because they were exhausted from already playing together!!

And you can see the book on my lap - "THE SOCIOPATH NEXT DOOR" by MARTHA STOUT, PhD. I'm intrigued by psychology and the inner workings of the mind. It has always fascinated me that although we all have a brain and emotions and a soul and intuition, each of us uses/experiences each part differently - and for some, VERY differently.

SOCIOPATH - just the sound of it can send shivers up your spine as a Jeffrey Dahmer or a Ted Bundy comes to mind - serial killers, who are/were Sociopaths. Sociopaths do not experience GUILT or REMORSE, so in the most extreme cases, they can kill an animal or another human without any guilt or remorse. I almost said without any EMOTION, but there might be excitement or joy or satisfaction when they kill, which is emotion, right? Sounds deadly doesn't it? (no pun intended)

In the American society we have MANY Sociopaths (1 in 25) who may not be KILLERS, but who are destructive to others. Think of the successful business people, CEO'S-EXECUTIVES-ADVISORS-MONEY MANAGERS-LEADERS who climb the corporate ladder, discarding people and stepping on toes, and ruining lives during their climb. They feel not one bit of guilt for the impact on these tortured, ruined, disabled human lives they've destroyed in their climb. SOCIOPATH. What matters is their own rise to the top. POWER.

Think of people who are married or in committed relationships, who can with NO GUILT, have multiple relationships (affairs) at the same time - CHEATERS. They profess their love and have the answers to all of your questions, keep you entangled in their sticky web.......  They can lie and carry on a double life without any remorse or guilt about their actions. MANIPULATIVE. SOCIOPATHS.

Or what about the people who appear helpless or "in need" and prey upon your goodwill to take care of them and feel no guilt in letting you do so? I had a 2-year relationship with a man like that. We lived together, he drove one of my two cars, carried one of my credit cards, didn't have a job, didn't want a job, didn't try to get a job.........  didn't mow the yard or do any work around the house........ YES, I'm the dummy who allowed that behavior to continue, but I felt sorry for him...... He needed my patience..... I "understood" his problems (one of which was alcoholism) and I wanted to HELP him get on his feet. He felt NO GUILT that I paid for EVERYTHING. He almost had me convinced to buy a bigger house! He took advantage of my generous nature and manipulated me into feeling sorry for him. He overextended his welcome for way longer than I should have allowed. SOCIOPATH. I ask myself now, HOW did THAT happen? 

I realize that SOCIOPATHS are good at what they do - manipulation, pulling on heart strings, climbing to the top. I'm quite curious about what it was about the SOCIOPATH personality that attracted me - - - more than once! PLEASE tell me that I'm over that!!

I recommend the book. It's informative. It's an eye-opener. It's interesting. It's real. It's frightening. 

JOAN

EASTER - SPRING - TULIPS!!

HAPPY EASTER!!

My sister JANE and I had a lovely Brunch today nearby at VICKERS RESTAURANT. They provide such an intimate and somewhat elegant environment and the food is always delicious. My friend KERRY was there with her husband, RICH....... seated at the table right next to ours! What are the odds of that?  She travels a lot for work, so it was great to see her.

JANE very thoughtfully gave me these beautiful Easter tulips - a really vibrant color of red with yellow tips and the most unusual spiky edges. I've never seen anything quite like them. In fact, that is what made her think of me...... they're "different".

Finally we are starting to see buds on the trees, green grass and temperatures rising into the 60's.

HAPPY SPRING!!!

Joan

BOOK - "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD" by HARPER LEE

I'm probably the only person who just read this book for the first time - but I DID see the movie - several times. 

I loved the book. What controversial topics the author presented and worked through, in a very open and forward style.  Written from the perspective of a young white girl, Scout, made it an even more interesting read.  The ending had me thinking and questioning for a few minutes, which I liked too. 

Some excerpts that I enjoyed:

Pg. 39

     "Jem, you reckon that's somebody's hidin' place?"

     "Naw, don't anybody much but us pass by there, unless it's some grown person's - "

     "Grown folks don't have hidin' places. You reckon we ought to keep 'em, Jem?"

Pg. 45

     I was not so sure, but Jem told me I was being a girl, that girls asways imagined things, that's why other people hated them so, and if I started behaving like one I could just go off and find some to play with.

Pg. 103

     Atticus said to Jem one day,  "I'd rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you'll go after birds.  Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."

     That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it.

     "Your father's right, " she said. "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."

Pg. 112

     "Looks like he'd be proud of it," I said.

     "People in their right minds never take pride in their talents," said Miss Maudie.

Pg. 114

     Jem and I hated her. If she was on the porch when we passed, we would be raked by her wrathful gaze, subjected to ruthless interrogation regarding our behavior, and given a melancholy prediction on what we would amount to when we grew up, which was always nothing. We had long ago given up the idea of walking past her house on the opposite side of the street: that only made her raise her voice and let the whole neighborhood in on it.

Pg. 146

     I said I would like it very much, which was a lie, but one must lie under certain circumstances and at all times when one can't do anything about them.

Pg. 245

     "I simply want to tell you that there are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us.  Your father's one of them."

Joan

BOOK - "THE INVENTION OF WINGS" by SUE MONK KIDD

Slavery is abundant in Charleston, SC in the 1800's. Young SARAH is given the gift of a slave (HANDFUL) by her parents in her early teen years. SARAH doesn't believe that a human should be owned by another and refuses the gift. Her parents force her to keep HANDFUL and they basically grow up together as friends.  

There are examples throughout the book of the terrible treatment of slaves, used to keep them in line - torture, beatings, hangings - which is tough to read, but it's a part of our awful American history.

The chapters alternated between SARAH and HANDFUL and I was kept interested throughout. Handful's mother, CHARLOTTE was fully developed and is a major character in the story. I liked her. SARAH'S mother was wretched and had no guilt taking her cane across the head of a slave.

A very good read - great writing and particularly interesting because it's based on a true story.

Some passages that bear recognition:

Pg. 50

     "You will not set foot from this house!" she ordered. "I forbid it."

     I stepped through the back door into the soft gloom, into the terror and thrill of defiance.  The sky had gone cobalt.  Wind was coursing in hard from the harbor.

    Mother followed me, shrieking, "I forbid it." Her words flapped off on the breezes, past the oak branches, over the brick fence.

Pg. 112

     Goods and chattel. The words from the leather book came into my head. We were like the gold leaf mirror and the horse saddle. Not full-fledge people. I didn't believe this, never had believed it a day of my life, but if you listen to white folks long enough, some sad, beat-down part of you starts to wonder. All that pride about what we were worth left me then. For the first time, I felt the hurt and shame of just being who I was.

Pg. 115

     There's a frightful muteness that dwells at the center of all unspeakable things, and I had found my way into it.

Pg. 118

     The worst troubling thing he told me was how his neighbor down the street - a free black named Mr. Robert Smyth - owned three slaves. Now what you supposed to do with something like that? Mr. Vesey had to take me to the man's house to meet the slaves before I allowed any truth to it. I didn't know whether this Mr. Smyth was behaving like white people, or if it just showed something vile about all people. 

Pg. 162

     Mr. Vesey, though, he didn't like any kind of talk abut heaven.  He said that was the coward's way, pining for life in the hereafter, acting like this one didn't mean a thing.  I had to side with him on that.

Pg 357

     He was the best man I knew.  Without meaning for it, my heart had got tangled with his.

Joan