It Takes A Leap Of Faith...

“…It takes a leap of faith to get things going
It takes a leap of faith you gotta show some guts
It takes a leap of faith to get things going
In your heart you must trust…”

“Leap Of Faith” – Bruce Springsteen

            I spent the day teaching math and helping kids with their projects.  We do World Affairs everyday, and covered the gun debate and an attempted “honor” killing in Afghanistan.  The prospect of women’s rights in a world filled with disturbing acts against, expectations of, and unequal pay for women, well, let's just say I could have really started popping pistons to write about the ignorance and savagery, BUT, I figured I would do that another time—because all you’ve got to do to see the human cost of ignorance is turn on your t.v. However, I WILL deal with it very soon, ‘cause I’m really wanting to scratch that itch, to thoughtfully seethe about it.  Stay tuned.  For now, I’m just trying to stay positive, ignore Republicans, pick a shade to put to this print, and start recounting what I appreciate today.

TODAY I AM GRATEFUL FOR…

1.  Taking Emmie for a walk we both enjoyed.  Got peeps and poops again!  YAY!!!  I am grateful for the love of my life, Emmie.  Today, all the days passed, and all that I will have graced to me.  I was wondering what it is that all dogs seem to have, that draws me in, and makes me get a lump in my throat.  I figured it out:  when I look in their eyes, I see God…

2.  Making a new, true friend…Cynthia is lovely.  She is the wonderful, sensitive woman I spoke with yesterday. And, yesterday was different. Cynthia: you can feel the goodness in her soul just by looking at her dark, thoughtful eyes, eyes that have seen her through evolutions of spirit, and a smile that is genuinely warm and kind.  That’s it!  She is kind and kindred.  Cynthia is a keeper.  I am grateful for her.

3.  Seeing little boys playing on a clean playground, shirttails out, toothless smiles, high-pitched laughter.  I am grateful I saw little boys playing today.

4.  Having a great night’s sleep—something I have not had in probably years.  It had something to do with taking this challenge…it is urging me to write everyday, and reach out to others…thank you beloved Maria…I am so grateful.

5.  Reaching out to a beautiful baby girl who, to my everlasting surprise, is a gorgeous WOMAN now…you know, it seems like I just turned away for a minute, and, all of a sudden, she grew up!!!...beloved Melissa…a little beauty whose mom was the coolest chick we knew on Staten Island, the one who wore make-up like it was worn in the 60’s, thick black-eyeliner, and white lipstick, who loves animals, as Beautiful Melissa does…Melissa, you had big, dark eyes, a mouth people pay surgeons to have, with maybe one tooth, if that many...so, so innocent…toddling around with a dog nearby, a house filled with wonderful things, teetering, like babies do, as you explored your world…I remember you falling once, and Maria turning white as your mother’s lipstick, nearly having a heart attack…but, funny thing is, I don’t remember you crying…your eyes just grew bigger, as color started to return to Maria's face, and now, you are finishing your DOCTORATE???!!!  In PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY!!! God, please, do not let us miss any more of this beauty’s life…our little girl is growing up, and WE WILL NOT MISS THIS!!!!!!!!  I am grateful for Melissa…

6.  Enjoying a dark, crunchy, whole oat bagel that filled my mouth with warmth and nuttiness…it tasted like nutrition…like manna…I am grateful for my daily bread.

7.  Knowing the girl in Afghanistan, whose sick brother tried to kill her, succeeding in fracturing her skull, exposing her brain, cutting up her face, and leaving her for dead, is alive and being taken care of in an underground women’s shelter.  To see women risking their lives to save another, with gentle hands ranging over this girl’s hair, washing her, feeding her, saving her from five suicide attempts is to witness a love that over-matches and defeats the hatred, the IGNORANCE that brought her to them, an act of aching and beautiful courage…I am grateful for the life of that girl and the women who are saving her everyday…I am grateful for courage beyond what we can imagine, in a place we would never want to be…I am grateful…

8.  Feeling a rant about to come on, I am grateful for stopping myself from writing what I am wishing for that girl’s brother, and allowing me to get back to this list…I am grateful for self-control.

9.  Watching L’il Kim showing his tits AND shaking his fat ass…ok…no rant, and no bombs today, either…I am grateful for another day of relative peace.

10.  Seeing God in Emmie’s eyes, healing hands across the world, the smile of a sister in a new friend, little boys dancing a dance of innocence, a little beauty growing into a grounded, gorgeous, sensitive, loving young woman, a cousin I adore more than words can say…ok, I’m crying now…I am grateful for these tears…I AM  JUST GRATEFUL…

And, yes, Bruce, it takes a leap of faith to get you over a river of darkness, to the shores of light, and a house of warmth…today is my beautiful reward…