Last night I walked through the park where I live and along the levee road. I quietly sat on a wall. Birds sang around me. I shed a few tears for the passing of one of the singer-songwriters to whom I have turned for comfort in dark hours. I stood six feet from a group of my neighbors to marvel at the glorious full moon. I closed my door against the chill after three gracious young men walked me home through the meadow, one strumming his guitar and softly serenading.
As I settled for the night, I realized that these three weeks of living in an altered reality have drawn some truths from deep within me. I share them here.
- I still do not like mean girls (of any age).
- I need to take a refresher course in Non-Violent Communication (to avoid becoming a mean girl).
- The careless ease with which birds dwell high above our structured world fascinates me.
- The plain simple goodness of a loyal friend moves me beyond all comprehension.
- One-hundred ninety-eight square feet suffices.
- I no longer desire to tolerate bigotry, dishonesty. arrogance, or cruelty.
- I don’t want to complain about the behavior which I will no longer tolerate it but neither will I stand silent while such behavior wounds innocent people.
- My scars have not fully healed; but neither do they remain open wounds.
- I am not crazy. Awful events occurred. I can move beyond them, but I no longer doubt what I saw, heard, and felt; nor will I stand silent when someone says people don’t talk like that; people don’t act like that; you must be exaggerating.
- I choose joy. Still. My goal: To be the best possible version of myself imaginable. And yes: People DO talk like THAT. Not for nothing did the Honorable Peggy Stevens McGraw once take judicial notice that I am relentless.
It’s the eighth day of the seventy-sixth month of My Year Without Complaining. Life continues.
For no particular reason, here is a montage of pictures taken on Andrus Island over the last few days. My neighbor Noah took one of the “pink moon” shots through the trees. Enjoy
I remember seeing John Prine in 1975 – an amazing artist and composer. He will be remembered.
On a more upbeat note, your moon pictures are wonderful!
I think the very nicest one was actually taken by my neighbor/friend Noah. But thank you; and yes, he will be missed and remembered.