A Blessing

Shortly after our engagement, Mr. H and I were at Bellevue Square in a stationary shop. He was at one rack and I was at another with my back to him as we quietly read through greeting cards. Out of nowhere, a Buddhist nun with shaved head and grey robe took my hand, then reached out and took my soon-to-be-husband's hand and placed them together. She said a few words we didn't understand followed by "Very Happy," squeezed our hands, bowed, and walked out of the store. We turned to each other and at the same time said, "We've been blessed." Then, hand in hand, we ran out of the store to follow her. Up and down the mall we searched, but she was no where to be seen.

I've always wondered why she chose us. I don't know why I just remembered that story, it comes back to me from time to time. She was right, we are very happy. And very thankful for her blessing.
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Most Like an Arch This Marriage

Most Like an Arch This Marriage

By John Ciardi

Most like an arch—an entrance which upholds
and shores the stone-crush up the air like lace.
Mass made idea, and idea held in place.
A lock in time. Inside half-heaven unfolds.

Most like an arch—two weaknesses that lean
into a strength. Two fallings become firm.
Two joined abeyances become a term
naming the fact that teaches fact to mean.

Not quite that? Not much less. World as it is,
what’s strong and separate falters. All I do
at piling stone on stone apart from you
is roofless around nothing. Till we kiss

I am no more than upright and unset.
It is by falling in and in we make
the all-bearing point, for one another’s sake,
in faultless failing, raised by our own weight.

The Collected Poems of John Ciardi (University of Arkansas Press, 1997)



6 years after our first date and I wouldn't change a thing.
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Finding Beauty in Strange Places

020, originally uploaded by coffeejitters.

A few months ago, I tossed aside my purse and repurposed my camera bag to serve both it's original purpose and carry all my bits that the purse would have handled.

This may possibly be the smartest thing that I have ever done.

Now I carry my camera around with me every where I go.

I look at things differently when I have a camera handy. I notice things that otherwise would have escaped my attention. I focus more on the here and now and less on where I'm going and where I've been; I forget to worry. As a result, I'm happier. And to double that happiness, I actually know that I'm happy. Right here, in the here and now, not a distant memory of some former happiness. I'm happy, and I know it. Clap your hands.