THANKFUL FOR THE THINGS I DO NOT KNOW

I taught students with Autism for 39 years, people thought I was well trained

They would congratulate me on my knowledge and the expertise I had attained.

I was quick to tell them I was no expert and their argument I’d spurn

For I knew no matter how much I taught, there was still so much to learn.

In fact it was my students who taught me (it was part of their magnificence),

To look to each day as a blessing through the eyes of innocence.

They helped me realize it’s OK if on many things I have no clue

That way the world still holds some mystery and many things seems new.

The other day Deborah and I went for a hike and as we wandered to and fro

I found myself so thankful for the things I did not know.

I did not know one cloud from another as they floated in the sky

So each cloud seemed as beautiful as the last as I watched them drifting by.

I did not know the names of the birds or where they ranked in artistry

So every bird I saw seemed magnificent to me.

I did not know one bird’s warble from the next bird’s song I’d hear

So every sound I listened to was music to my ears.

I did not know the names of the plants, I’ve never had a need.

So I was free to see the beauty in the flower and the weed.

As we walked amidst the beauty and watched nature put on her show

I had to thank my lucky stars for all the things I did not know.

Once again I thank my students who taught me to see with innocent eyes

So that a simple hike in the woods is a wonder, and every day is a surprise.

BE THE CHANGE

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world” is one of Deborah’s favorite quotes

She paints it, reminds our children and grandchildren and writes it down in notes.

Gandhi never spoke those exact words...no need to worry or lament

They were paraphrased from his writings and I’m sure that’s what he meant.

For he believed in telling the truth and that all people should be free

He believed in protest but was adamant that it be done nonviolently.

He led India to independence to his country’s sheer delight

And continued to work around the world for freedom and civil rights.

He was a peaceful man whose only goal was to help the human race

You could hear the kindness in his voice and see the gentleness on his face.

He will be remembered for how he lived a life nonviolent and dignified

And, sadly, for the irony in the manner in which he died.

January 30, 1948 on his way to a prayer meeting and no doubt feeling blessed

An assassin walked right up to him and put three bullets in his chest.

The world knew right away that act of violence was wrong

Proof of what Mohandas Gandhi was saying all along.

In a world filled with violence and hatred Gandhi was unique

I have no doubt if he had survived he would have turned the other cheek.

For he knew violence upon violence will be the bane of all mankind

When he said and eye for an eye will only succeed in making the whole world blind.

This simple man who lived a simple life knew what the effects of violence would do...

Someday I hope the rest of the world will understand it too.

Oh there’s one more thing I’m sure Gandhi knew, when all is said and done

You can kill the person speaking but you can’t silence his message with a gun

That’s why today long after his death his message continues to unfurl

Anyone can be the change...and gently shake the world.

THANK YOU PETE

Pete Seger died yesterday. He was 94 years old

He’s famous for his songs and the stories that they told.

He was a folk singer and activist whose passion never ceased

As he wrote and sang songs about love...nonviolence...and peace.

If I Had a Hammer, and Where Have All the Flowers Gone he would croon

And as a young man growing up in the 70’s I liked the message in his tunes.

His death yesterday came in a world still filled with war and violence and hate

Not the world, I’m sure, he was hoping to create.

It seems there are many people out there who still need to fight, abhor and kill

Perhaps they did not hear his message...perhaps they never will. 

But I believe as Pete did, that there are many, many more

Who strive each day to make this world a little better than the day before.

Who instead of making enemies believe in making friends

Who believe that love and kindness will win out in the end.

So thank you Pete for the words and music you so masterfully combined

And may the whole world practice living the legacy you left behind.

SOUL MATES

Everyone has a soul mate, which adds to our mystiques

That is if we are to believe the mythology of the Greeks

Zeus was the Father of the Gods, his power was unchecked

Yet even in his omnipotence he was a nervous wreck.

Take when the first humans were created, well Zeus was traumatized

When we came out with two sets of everything including legs and eyes.

He thought these strange looking creatures would someday him betray

He worried they would steal his throne and take his powers away 

So Zeus came up with a plan to solve his little riddle?

He made an executive decision to split each human down the middle.

Then Zeus would look down Mount Olympus throne and laugh

As we humans wandered aimlessly in search of our other half.

Zeus figured he needn’t worry, that his powers would never abate

I mean what are the chances of one person every finding their soul mate?

But Zeus didn’t count on the compassion of his daughter as he ruled from up above

Aphrodite was her name and she was the Greek Goddess of Love.

To help you find your soul mate, here Aphrodite was quite wise.

She gave us the ability to recognize them when we look into their eyes.

It makes sense, the same eyes you shared before Zeus divided you in two

Is where you’ll find your soul mate...staring back at you.

Zeus and Aphrodite are gone now as is belief in Greek Mythology

But the idea of a soul mate...is not a myth to me.

You may have found your soul mate, or perhaps you may have not

It’s possible you may have never given soul mates a first or second thought.

But for me there is a satisfaction in knowing my soul mate came my way

It’s why I take a moment to thank Aphrodite every day.

POLITICAL ADS

Is there an election around the corner? I didn’t think so but there must be

Because I’m starting to see political ads airing on TV.

The ads show the candidate with an angelic smile beaming on his or her face

Attempting to show their good side as they enter the political race.

You see the ad and think, “There’s a person who’s honest, wise and smart.”

And if the ad is accurate, has a kind and gentle heart.

“I’ll vote for him or her,” you say, for our political climate has been strange

And it’s great to finally find a candidate who promises a change.

But then you see conflicting ads that say these candidates are bad

And you find the candidate you liked at first has, indeed, approved this ad.

The candidate you thought you’d vote for now makes you feel uneasy

And that angelic smile you liked at first now seems a little sleazy.

Once again you realize each candidate has ads meant to agitate and inflame

And the climate you thought was changing has, indeed, remained the same.

I wish all political ads could be written, filmed and eventually shown

By independent organizations with no agenda of their own.

That way it might be possible for us, our candidates to explore

And truly know the person who we’ll be voting for.

Until then when a political ad pops up as quickly as can be

I’ll close my eyes, feel for my remote then change the channel on my TV.

HEROES

When I was young I thought it would be great if I could be a hero...

The one who slays the dragon, or defeats the invincible foe.

The guy who saves the baby from the burning building before she’s engulfed in flames

Then everyone would recognize my courage and forever remember my name.

The heroes I had when I was a boy revolved around sports, the movies and TV

When I grew up so did my heroes, with names like Lincoln, Franklin, and Kennedy.

But as I learned more about my heroes..I was astounded by what I found.

Abe couldn’t discipline his children, Ben abandoned his wife and Johnny fooled around.

How could my heroes not act in real life like they did in books or on TV?

Who would have thought my heroes were human, just like me.

I believe I was looking in the wrong places for heroes, now I think wherever we roam

Our heroes should be more personal, we can find them closer to home.

They are the people who have loved us, who’s guidance and inspiration we have sought

The ones who have stood by us whether we’ve slain a dragon or not.

Could it be our heroes don’t have to save the world or make that winning score?

Could it be our heroes have always been as close as our own front door?

Yes, now that I am older, (some might say past my prime).

I find the heroes I most look up too have been with me all the time.

I still think it would be great to be a hero but now I look more objectively

My heroes are kind, accepting and supportive people...at least they strive to be.

If I get the chance I’ll still save that baby before she’s engulfed in flames

But now I only care that my friends and family shall forever remember my name.

WHAT'S YOUR HOUSE WORTH?

I love picking up the mail each day even thought it may seem orthodox

Because you never know what the mail man has left you in the box.

Today’s mail was prosaic, causing the usual amusement, irritation and mirth

But one realtor’s card caught my attention for it asked, “What’s your house worth?”

It got me to thinking...the value of our house as I’m sure we’d all agree

Is quite different for the realtor than it is for Deborah and me.

They might look at that bedroom door and as realtors might frown

They don’t know I hung it myself, that’s why I left it upside down.

They might want those broken parts fixed along the outside backyard wall

They don’t know that’s where Ryan, when he was young, used to kick his soccer ball.

They might want that closet door fixed, they might see it as a drawback

They don’t know that from the day Ali came to live with us it’s been coming off the track.

They might ask us to take down that sculpture, the one that looks poorly made

They don’t know Bryan made it by hand when he was in 1st grade.

They may want that old swing in the backyard removed, it’s old and shows its wear. 

They don’t know our children and grandchildren have grown up swinging there.

They may want those cracks in the ceiling and along that one wall erased

They don’t see them as we do, like wrinkles on this old house’s face.

They might look at our house and see imperfections behind every window and every door

They don’t understand in our house, it’s those imperfections we’ve come to adore

No, to the realtor this is just another house as in search of houses they roam 

But a long time ago it became more than that to us, when it became our home.

So back to the question of the moment, how much is this old house worth

The house that has seen us through sadness and joy; through marriages and births.

The house where for over 25 years our family has laughed and cried and sat...

The answer is quite simple, you can’t put a price on that.

At least that’s what I was thinking as that card mentioned they’d pay cash.

And why I smiled so contentedly as I tossed it in the trash.