This is a Father's Day Tribute to my dad who always addressed me by Vondie. I have ignored this holiday for many years. Now it is time to move forward to acknowledge, and honor his contribition as to this man who played a role into my being here within this space and time.

My Dad was Augusta "Chick" Little. He was well known in Breathitt County, town of Jackson, Kentucky, by the name of Chick because he had a wild reputation, and never lived by the rules. He was from the "Little Clan" who had feuded with the "Watts" for generations.

He was born to George and Lottie Little. His father was a Mason, and the last republician judge in the 1940's for that county over many years afterwards. He attended the Free Methodist Church in the mornings and the Presbyerian Church in the afternoons on sunday.
His Mom Lottie Little made it clear that Chick was her favorite, and she always considered him fragile.
Lottie had many children, and lost several to death because she would be out working and plowing with the horses in the fields so that the crops could be managed and planted.
My dad Chick was an unsettled man who lived on the wild side from youth forward. He was a drinker, and on the weekends he, his brothers, and cousins would have wild card games. the gun ruled in favor of the strongest and the fastest. Breathitt County developed the nickname "Bloody Breathitt" due to these games and blood spilled in the streets. On one occasion, a male from another group shot and killed a cousin and the brother of my father due to cheating, and my dad shot him.
My Dad was a tall man with black wavy hair and striking looks. He was a busy ladies man even after he was married with children. He continued to court the females after marriage to my Mother.
He had other children by other women, and one day at grade school a boy identified himself to my brother as my dad's child, as he had been informed by his Mom.
Dad went away to work in other states. He situated my Mom and kids in Elkatawa Kentucky on a section of land up the road from his parents farm while he worked for the recently established telephone company in Penn and Ill.
He had a promising career ,and it was short lived due to his wild behavior. The costs were great to his wife and children which he never took responsibility for.
Due to his behavior he returned to the farm in the late 1940's and worked for my grandfather, who when I was a child never spoke to him unless it was related to work on the farm.He was given some land to build a house to house his family.
There can be so much humor found in the reality of life. My father would drive down the road by us as we were walking to my grandparents house. He did electrician and mechanic work on the side and he kept his front and back seat filled with tools so there was no space for any one else to sit.
when I was around 10 yrs old, my dad became a jaintor and firestarter at the grade school I attended. I would sweep and clean the rooms after school for him. when it was time to return home I would have to sit close by him in the car due to the cluttered seat and I remember that it did not feel pleasant.
My dad would take me to town two times a year to buy a new pair of shoes for the work I did at school. We would stop in the "White Flash" Cafe and the men would tease Dad about his new girl friend as we sat there together. I remember looking down as there was a long mirror the length of the bar where we sat. I did not like the raw looks from those men.

The Rural Electric Cooperative would come to our house intermittently to disconnect our electric as Dad had decided not to pay the bill.
I would go to the store to get a gallon of coal oil for fifteen cents so we could power up the coal oil lamps. Dad would disappear to his parents house until the electric was restored as he could not read his Lexington Herald Newspaper by that light.
Dad would work at the elections at our school. he was a "die hard" republician and my mom was a demorcat. He would buy peoples votes for five dollars. Dad was always involved with the bootleggers and the moonshiners in our area. He always carried his bottle of whiskey with freah honey from my grandmothers bee hives as he said it helped with that ongoing cough and sore throat.
The bootleggers on our hollow would siphon gas from peoples car and hide it in wash tubs along our walking path. I was interested why and dad had no response except to say they are rouges.

In the middle 60's the termites were eating the wood floors from under our block house. My Dear Dad did not see the necessity to use a treatment, instead we laid down planks to walk across in order to travel from room to room safely.
Dad died in a nursing home in July 1996. he was in in later 80's.

Dear Dad: You were certainly a different type of "Pop". My deepest wish for you is that you have found peace and understanding wherever you are in time and space with the scheme of life. Your Daughter, Vondie

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Vonda,

Vonda,

Sinner and Saint! Seemingly two, yet tethered together, forever and eternally.

Unconditional Love unites All.

Thank you, Vonda!

Yes , I am deeply grateful to my Dad for all the lessons he taught me in such a colorful way!

The next two posts is my Gift to my Spirit Sisters Meeting in Littleton, and may your Soltice Celebration bring to each of you ALL that is to be! (including Dear Tom)
Tonight June 18, 2008, the Strawberry Moon will be displaying it's beautiful body, and sailing across the sky from after dusk to dawn and will be in evidence in the Southeast Sky.
The actual full moon happens today at 5:30 Universal Time, which is 12:30 time in North America. We will be unable to see it at that instant of fullness because it is below our horizen.
It's means Moniker which is Rose Moon, Flower Moon, or Strawberry Moon. The Strawberry Moon was cristened from the Algonquin Indian Tribe. The reason was because of harvesting strawberries. In Europe it's called The Rose Moon.
Now this Moon of June 18, 2008 is going through the sign Sagittaries and Sagularuus is a sign of enthurisasm and optimism. It's a reunion of the physical and spiritual union in the search for knowledge. Time for deeper awareness, to enjoy the journey of your existence, spend more time getting in touch the the self thru nature and setting intention just generally in deeper discovery about the self. VL

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Vonda,

The above post came as inspiration of searching and setting intention for the gift to community I would share at our Soltice Celebration this weekend.
White Eagles Full Moon Prayer at the top of Macchu Picchu. Can be used anytime you want to honor the full moon.
Welcome Sisters and Brothers, this is White Eagle's Prayer to share with our community, at this time the passage which is open - the pathway to the Milky Way.
As the moon comes up over the horizon:
Imagine the Milky Way becoming stairs and humanity walking upon those lights to deminisions and worlds untold.
Imagine that you will remember when to begin and how to walk on those stars.
Imagine that everything you will need,
you will know in your moment of requesting.
Imagine that there is nothing you don't have.
Imagine there is no heart so far away you can't love it, Imagine there is no star so far away it can not brighten you.
Imagine the web you live becoming closer, becoming one.
Imagine all ancient knowledge remembered.
Imagine your lives a clear reflection of beauty.
Imagine your ego serving your spirit. Imagine your spirit serving one.
Imagine that you know how to bring it all together.
Play your part, be aware and walk that Milky Way pathway to forever.
You are all great ones. In the greatness that you recognize, may others remember their greatness. May you all, in the United Human Spirit, find the glory that is meant to be.
This is excerpt from the Eagle and the Condor, a true story of unexpected mystical journey and from from the aduio companion set of meditiations and intitations from the Himalayas and Andes. VL

Vonda, and all you other Jewels:

I’ve been deepening into this mystery of the Imaginal for several years, and found this piece about "Indra's Net" on the internet several months ago. A numinous image, it seems to me . . .

Indra's Net: What Is It?
FAR AWAY IN THE HEAVENLY ABODE OF THE GREAT GOD INDRA, THERE IS A WONDERFUL NET WHICH HAS BEEN HUNG BY SOME CUNNING ARTIFICER IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IT STRETCHES OUT INDEFINITELY IN ALL DIRECTIONS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EXTRAVAGANT TASTES OF DEITIES, THE ARTIFICER HAS HUNG A SINGLE GLITTERING JEWEL AT THE NET'S EVERY NODE, AND SINCE THE NET ITSELF IS INFINITE IN DIMENSION, THE JEWELS ARE INFINITE IN NUMBER. THERE HANG THE JEWELS, GLITTERING LIKE STARS OF THE FIRST MAGNITUDE, A WONDERFUL SIGHT TO BEHOLD. IF WE NOW ARBITRARILY SELECT ONE OF THESE JEWELS FOR INSPECTION AND LOOK CLOSELY AT IT, WE WILL DISCOVER THAT IN ITS POLISHED SURFACE THERE ARE REFLECTED ALL THE OTHER JEWELS IN THE NET, INFINITE IN NUMBER. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT EACH OF THE JEWELS REFLECTED IN THIS ONE JEWEL IS ALSO REFLECTING ALL THE OTHER JEWELS, SO THAT THE PROCESS OF REFLECTION IS INFINITE . . .

THE AVATAMSAKA SUTRA
FRANCIS H. COOK: HUA-YEN BUDDHISM : THE JEWEL NET OF INDRA 1977

Namaste to all you Jewels!

What a beautiful analogy of life and ourselves. Thanks for sharing this jewel. VL