This news just in From Sendai, Japan

I have been neglecting my awesome blog here that is focused on healthy alternatives to all that mainstream often doesn't have to offer all of us at any one time! My own neglect is reflective of the recession I am afraid; nineteen months now looking for work_ with good skills and education!
Never mind who we can slur a sarcastic thanks for this recalcitrant mess for the moment!
The most inspiring way I can recognize to restart my blogging again, is thanks to a friend's forwarded email today, concerning the catastrophe in Japan. We are resilient as a species_ never forget this! When all the material trappings & consumer hoopla is stripped away, there is still caring and kindness actively showing up_ in order that we each can carry on more in tune with our true nature.
In this vein of mutual inspiration, I post this report sent just today. It is written by another (extra)ordinary American citizen who right now, is living and working in Sendai, Japan. In her poetic words that follow, she shares with us a glimpse about her experiences day-to-day, moment-to-moment now, as people cope together with life as it is happening on that surface of our beloved planet, only very seemingly a world away_ for the moment. I share it here for all of us:

"It's not payday, and I'm not sending a poem, but I received the following letter from a teacher friend of mine, and it was so full of hope and light, that it felt like a poem, and I wanted to share it with you all.

From an American teacher in Sendai, sent to her loved ones here:
Subject: from Sendai, Japan

Hello My Lovely Family and Friends,

First I want to thank you so very much for your concern for me. I am very touched. I also wish to apologize for a generic message to you all. But it seems the best way at the moment to get my message to you.

Things here in Sendai have been rather surreal. But I am very blessed to have wonderful friends who are helping me a lot. Since my shack is even more worthy of that name, I am now staying at a friend's home. We share supplies like water, food and a kerosene heater. We sleep lined up in one room, eat by candlelight, share stories. It is warm, friendly, and beautiful.

During the day we help each other clean up the mess in our homes. People sit in their cars, looking at news on their navigation screens, or line up to get drinking water when a source is open. If someone has water running in their home, they put out sign so people can come to fill up their jugs and buckets.

Utterly amazingly, where I am there has been no looting, no pushing in lines. People leave their front door open, as it is safer when an earthquake strikes. People keep saying, "Oh, this is how it used to be in the old days when everyone helped one another."

Quakes keep coming. Last night they struck about every 15 minutes. Sirens are constant and helicopters pass overhead often.

We got water for a few hours in our homes last night, and now it is for half a day. Electricity came on this afternoon. Gas has not yet come on.

But all of this is by area. Some people have these things, others do not. No one has washed for several days. We feel grubby, but there are so much more important concerns than that for us now. I love this peeling away of non-essentials. Living fully on the level of instinct, of intuition, of caring, of what is needed for survival, not just of me, but of the entire group.

There are strange parallel universes happening. Houses a mess in some places, yet then a house with futons or laundry out drying in the sun.

People lining up for water and food, and yet a few people out walking their dogs. All happening at the same time.

Other unexpected touches of beauty are first, the silence at night. No cars. No one out on the streets. And the heavens at night are scattered with stars. I usually can see about two, but now the whole sky is filled.

The mountains are Sendai are solid and with the crisp air we can see them silhouetted against the sky magnificently.

And the Japanese themselves are so wonderful. I come back to my shack to check on it each day, now to send this e-mail since the electricity is on, and I find food and water left in my entrance way. I have no idea from whom, but it is there. Old men in green hats go from door to door checking to see if everyone is OK. People talk to complete strangers asking if they need help. I see no signs of fear. Resignation, yes, but fear or panic, no.

They tell us we can expect aftershocks, and even other major quakes, for another month or more. And we are getting constant tremors, rolls, shaking, rumbling. I am blessed in that I live in a part of Sendai that is a bit elevated, a bit more solid than other parts. So, so far this area is better off than others. Last night my friend's husband came in from the country, bringing food and water. Blessed again.

Somehow at this time I realize from direct experience that there is indeed an enormous Cosmic evolutionary step that is occurring all over the world right at this moment. And somehow as I experience the events happening now in Japan, I can feel my heart opening very wide. My brother asked me if I felt so small because of all that is happening. I don't. Rather, I feel as part of something happening that much larger than myself. This wave of birthing (worldwide) is hard, and yet magnificent.

Thank you again for your care and Love of me,
With Love in return, to you all"