THE PATHS WE CHOOSE

Yesterday was Throwback Thursday, a day that lately has increased in popularity

It’s where you post an old picture of yourself..at least the self you used to be.

Certainly we’ve changed physically...less hair, more weight, more tattoos

But the biggest changes in our life are due to the different paths we choose.

So here are some random thought about those paths...do we have full autonomy?

Or do we make some decisions for ourselves and the rest is destiny?

Remember the importance of family and friends for no matter how much you’ve grown

They are there to remind us, wherever the path leads, we don’t have to walk alone.

Do not walk in another’s shadow...it is up to you to make your mark

Besides when you walk in someone’s shadow, you are walking in the dark.

No doubt there will be darkness for no one can do everything right.

But you can’t reach the glow of the sun without passing through the night.

And if you happen to make a wrong turn...at the end of the day bid it adieu

Because when you wake up in the morning your path will start anew. 

When the path is easy, carefree and happy beautiful memories are to be attained

When the path is hard, filled with obstacles, there are lessons to be gained.

Keep in mind when you choose a path and you’re ready to depart

Sometimes you will be leading the way and other times following your heart.

Wherever you travel, whatever path you choose, let the seeds of kindness be sown

For when you brighten the path of another, you can’t help but brighten your own.

Thank you Throwback Thursday for reminding us our individual paths are what make us unique.

It makes you wonder, doesn’t it...what we will all look like next week.

WHAT'S A TRUNK?

Ali and Fred had trouble with their car...it was something ornamental

But it was in the shop so long the manager offered them a rental.

It was a brand new four door sedan...but a problem was soon revealed

When they told Ava it was time for practice at the nearby baseball field.

Ava stopped outside the rental car and said innocently, off the cuff

“Dad there’s no room in this car for all my baseball stuff.”

Fred quickly took her to the back and opened up the trunk

“See Ava,” he said, “there’s plenty of room for your baseball stuff and lots of other junk.”

Ava’s mouth hung open and she let out a mild roar

As she was seeing something she’d never seen before.

“It’s called a trunk!” Ava told Aden with a big smile...wide eyed

Then she and Aden climbed on up and got to play inside.

Was it possible while growing up, (was she living with the monks!)

That Ava never experienced a car that came with it’s own trunk?

But it’s true in looking at her life so far all this poor girl ever sees

Is a world that’s filled with mini-vans, hatchbacks and SUV’s.

It goes to show the world changes subtly...changes direction...changes hue

And then before we know it...it’s not the same world we once knew...

One day when Ava’s ready before too much more time goes

I’ll explain to her about fuzzy dice and 8 track stereos.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHAKESPEARE

Happy birthday William Shakespeare born on this day in 1564.

But times have changed and today...we don’t talk like you wrote anymore.

If we did perhaps two new lover’s meeting and sharing their first kiss

Would, with my apologies to you, sound something akin to this...

(They know not one another and to further set the scene

Jacquelin falls, Joshua catches her and Fate doth intervene...)

Joshua (Turning to face Jackie and gently grabbing her chin)

“It would have been a shame, nay, a disgrace

If I’d allowed the ground to mar this face.

(He brings her hand to his eyes) Or bruise this hand, or turn this cheek to red.

(He lightly brushes her cheek with the back of his hand)

Or harm a single hair upon this head.”

(He strokes her hair and looks deeply into her eyes)

When in thine eyes I see such symmetry

Methinks, tis I who should be thanking thee.”

Jacquelin (Standing up) “Fie! Tis my thanks on you I must bestow. 

And my, how thy praise and flatter so.

I find myself awash in words so sweet.

I’m charmed and once more light upon my feet.”

Joshua “Be thou dizzy from words I can’t restrain? 

(Joshua comes up behind Jacquelin puts his hands on her hips and whispers into her ear)

Then fall and I shall catch thee once again.”

Jacquelin (Turns to face Joshua and puts her arm on his shoulders to steady herself)

“Thank thee, I’m fine (She says smiling into his eyes) but I would be remiss

To proffer thanks yet offer not...a kiss. (She leans in to kiss his cheek)

Yes, William, as we celebrate your day today, another birthday...another year

Even a simple daily rhyme...sounds better in Shakespeare!

EARTH DAY

Today is the one day of the year set aside to celebrate our planet Earth

A day to think how much she means to us...of her value and her worth.

I have a problem with Earth Day which I shall declare fearlessly.

Bear with me for a moment and I’ll reveal it presently.

First let’s take a moment and talk about this orb on which we dwell.

How all the parts of the Earth work together to keep her healthy and well

There is an interdependence in nature...where does it all begin?

When seeds affix themselves to animals or are carried by the wind.

This is how regeneration occurs in our flowers, plants and trees

Which are fertilized when pollen is transformed from the legs of buzzing bees.

This simple interconnection is paramount for all Earth plants to thrive

They in turn provide the oxygen which allows us to survive.

When we see how every species on Earth is dependent on one another

We begin to realize she’s not just a planet...she’s comparable to our mother.

But somewhere along the way our relationship with Earth became obscure

When we forgot she’s not only here for us but we are here for her.

We have ignored one important lesson...more important than all the others.

That we must admire, we must respect and we must be gentle with our mother.

Unless we learn to use the Earth like the bee does of the flower

I’m afraid the consequences of our actions will be harsh, sever and dour

It’s a simple lesson which if not learned will be the cause of great alarm

The bee helps itself to the flowers sweetness but does the flower no harm.

When we only take and give nothing back...we have committed theft

If we continue in this manner...someday...there will be nothing left.

So here’s my issue with today, and hopefully it’s food for thought...

My problem is not today is Earth Day...it’s that every day is not!

MIRACLES

A woman’s preparing breakfast when she suddenly stops to say a prayer

I’ve found the face of Jesus in my toast..”It’s a miracle!” she declares

Another is cooking dinner when she falls to her hands and knees

“It’s a miracle!” she screams... “The virgin Mary’s in my grilled cheese.”

I do not doubt their devotion but miracles in food make me a little wary

You see I do believe in miracles...it’s just...our definitions vary.

I believe if there is a higher being then he or she would show up coast to coast

Not in the markings on my grilled cheese or popped up on my toast.

And that’s the difference...for I think if you’re observant you quickly become aware

In the ampleness of nature...miracles ARE everywhere.

Yes, if you want to witness miracles...you don’t have far to look

They are in the rhythmic waves of the ocean or the babbling of a brook.

They’re in the birds that soar, the fish that swim, the insects that creep and crawl

They’re in the sun, the moon, the planets...and the tranquil rain that falls. 

They’re in the flowers, the plants, the trees...the mountains that rise above

They’re in the wonderment of childbirth or the gentle touch of love.

If it’s miracles you crave...that will astonish and astound

Stop what you’re doing...open your eyes...and take a look around.

What you see will make you smile, you’re life will be sublime

You might even spiritualize Mae West...so many miracles...so little time.

When you begin to enjoy the myriad of miracles that occur daily coast to coast

You won’t need to find them in your grilled cheese...or burnt upon your toast.

HAPPY EASTER!

Today is Adolph Hitler’s birthday...a man associated with hate

That this year his birthday falls on Easter brings dichotomy to the date.

I wonder...since Hitler was responsible for so much hatred...and bloodshed

If that isn’t the real reason the last full moon was red.

I also wonder when you look through the millenniums at all the hatred that’s amassed

Why haven’t we learned anything from Hitler...and all the Hitlers of the past?

Although hate is the opposite of love both are somehow intertwined

I’m sure Shakespeare would agree...not only love but hate is also blind.

Love may blind us to the faults of another as their failings we suppress ,

But hate blinds us to the goodness and the virtues they possess.

We don’t have to look very far...hatred permeates the news

It preceded Hitler and continues long after he oversaw the killing of the Jews.

People are killed in the name of hatred...I couldn’t guess how many every day

They are killed for being a different color, a different religion; they are killed for being gay.

Experts teach we’re not born with hatred in our hearts, it is a behavior that is learned

It’s simple...teach love and love is refunded...teach hatred and hatred is returned.

Dr. King said we cannot drive out hate with hate, here he looked to the peaceful dove

The only way to drive out hate he said would be with the intensity and love.

Of course that same hatred killed Dr. King and continues it’s killing today

And those of us who observe this pattern continue to hope and to pray...

That someday we’ll absorb the lesson of all the Hitler’s and all of history’s hate

And that someday we’ll take Dr. Kings advice...someday...before it’s too late.

So Happy Easter everyone, and now after a little retrospection

Let us celebrate hatred’s interment and pray for love’s resurrection.

MEDITATION

Yesterday Deborah and I awoke early and off to the beach we slunk

To attend a meditation class...taught by a real Buddhist monk.

Meditation is relatively simple for the value that it packs

It begins with sitting quietly...back straight and head relaxed.

You close your eyes and create a place where only your mind can see

Then you attempt to clear that mind in search of clarity.

I winked at Deborah, “This will be easy.” I said with a naive confident smirk

Little did I know this clearing the mind thing would be such difficult work.

Yes, our monk had a comforting smile and his voice was soothing...still

I couldn’t get past the fact he looked like our daughter’s first husband Wil.

“It’s Wil...it’s not Wil”...my mind kept telling itself, as my relaxing went astray.

While the man who was Wil but not Wil said, “Let all irrelevant thoughts drift away.

I finally watched that thought drift away...my meditation could begin

But darned if so many other thoughts didn’t keep sailing in.

We’re attending a wedding in June...I wondered about the newlyweds.

I thought our monk had a cool outfit; ‘Do all monks shave their heads?’

Did I lock the door to the store last night?  I have never seen a squid.

I wonder what’s for lunch today...How are Ali and the kids?

Try as I might in this meditation I was realizing my deepest fear

No matter how I tried...my mind just wouldn’t clear.

All attempts to ignore them only made my irrelevant thought increase

At this rate I’ll be 100 years old before I find inner peace.

“Today’s meditation is over.” Wil sighed, “See you next week...same time and place

I looked around and noticed everyone else had a peaceful smile on their face.

As for me I smiled like the rest but in truth I felt a little zapped

After all that placId, peaceful meditation...I went home and took a nap.