My Black Jesus

Somewhere out in this world there is a black man close to my age who went to a Christian school in the Deep South, the same school as me. It wasn't a big school, maybe 300 students, but we were all very white except for two of us. I try to imagine what that must have been like for them, but I get so scared. Sure, there was racism everywhere, but you wouldn't think so at a Christian school, but it was worse. It was that snot-colored worm in that pretty red apple.

I was doing something stupid on the metal playground death traps and I fell, knocking the wind out of myself and laying splayed out on the dirt. The place was all ate up with white kids, but the only person who came to help me was the black boy.

Forever in my life he has made a difference. He took care of me when nobody else did and I have never forgotten him. He has been my shield and compass when racism belched out invitations at me.

Today, he is what I am most thankful for in my life.

My Kindergarden Song: Polly the Polliwog

Polly the polliwog, said to Papa Frog,
"What shall I do?
I can swim like a whale when I wiggle my tale,
but I want to jump like you."

"You're just a polliwog," said the Papa Frog,
"but wait and see, you can swim like a whale
when you wiggle your tale, but soon you will jump like me."

Polly the polliwog waited,
her eyes got big and round,
she grew four legs, lost her tail,
and her tail has never been found,
do do do do do...

Now she's a happy frog, sittin' on a log,
where froggies play, father says, "Chug-er-ump!"
And she takes a big jump, her wiggle has gone away!

A Poem: Growing Orbits

I live my life in growing orbits
which move out over the things of the world.
perhaps I can never achieve the last,
but that will be my attempt.

I am circling around God, around the ancient tower,
and I have been circling for a thousand years,
and I still don't know if I am a falcon, or a storm,
or a great song.

Rilke, 1899

Sometimes I forget what I'm made of...this poem reminds me.

Crunch Bliss!

I just witnessed the most amazing thing with my very own set of eyeballs. Whilst looking out my third floor window, I saw a black car backing out of a parking spot right into the side of a slow moving black pickup truck. Tires screeched to a halt, vehicles were put in "P" and I held my breath!

The men emerged from their inky steeds slowly and cautiously as they moved toward the offended parts. They eyed one another and then the damage. Hands were rubbed over the marks, I didn't see either one's lips moving. Both stood up simultaneously, smiled and thrust their right hands forward and shook!

They got back to their seats, doors closed in unison, and they slowly pulled away one after the other.

No raised voices! No shots were fired! No middle fingers displayed!
It was just love.

Ain't life grand?

Cuddle Fart

I went home to visit my folks last week. One thing I adore about being with family is that you can touch them whenever you want. I live alone so months may go by that I don't get hugged or cuddled. One reason I like to get pedicures is because someone is laying their hands on me, even if it is just my feet.

Have you ever gone so long without human contact that the slightest brush of a cashier's fingers as he hands back your change can send little ripples up your spine? I think that's a wonderful feeling.

While I was home I went to church for the first time in more than a decade. I held my mom's hand during the service and I playfully punched my dad's arm during the part where they want your money (he's pretty partial to his coinage.)

And according to my mom, I fart in my sleep. That doesn't have anything to do with cuddling, I just thought it was funny.

Now, go get a hug!

Prairie Dog Adorableness Watch '07!

There is nothing in this world as uniquely and consistently adorable as a prairie dog's fuzzy gut...or funny little fingers, precious kissable face or any other part of a prairie dog!

I hung out with some prairie dogs back in my summer camp days. They're quite friendly and they love the trail mix.

It sure did feel good to get that out of my system.

This is That Moment!

For the first time in my adult life, I am just me, Maisie without debt. No more student loans, car loans, credit card bills...I paid it all off, the last part just moments ago!

My head is swimming and I'm a little scared...who am I if not that chick trying to pay off her debts? I have owed someone something for the past 22 years, more than half my life.

This is my first full-on blissgasm in a very long time. For now, I will just be happy and proud of myself. And wish this feeling on everybody else. Woooohooooo!

For those of us who have paid our debts...HOORAY!

Most Fabulous Delightful Bodacious BIG HAIR!

Last weekend, Tricia Nathan (first photo) of Grafton, Mass.,
won the Imperia Vodka Hair Competition in Manchester, N.H.
I want to extend a huge DANG PEOPLE, NICE WORK!
to the stylists responsible for these delicious dos
as photographed by Jim Cole at the AP:
And my personal favorite...
These folks are gifted artists...wouldn't our days be more fun if we went to work like this?

My fun car repair

That's something I never thought I'd hear myself type, "my fun car repair." But it was fun. I have this great 2001 Honda Cr-V with only 34k miles on her, but she's never been serviced for anything other than an oil change. I pulled up to the service department, and a very friendly man told me I was in the wrong place and he pointed where I should go. He had a great smile for a Monday morning.

I found the right entrance, got my car checked in, and waited for the rental car van. The van driver was an older gentleman wearing walking shorts and a polo shirt. His head and arms were a golden honey brown while his legs had apparently never seen daylight. He was a rebel!

Two other women and myself piled into the van and he drove to the next dealership and a beautiful blonde handful of a child bounced into the van with her grandmother in tow. I had moved to the van's back row to give them room in the middle, but she told her grandma that she wanted to sit with me. She looked up at me and said, "Click me!" as she pulled on the seatbelt. I fastened her in and told her, "Good girl for asking for the seatbelt!" On the short drive to the rental car office, she became "Tori" and I became her new friend. She got a dog from Santa and named him "Shadow." Her most favorite color is pink. We made funny fish-lip and flared nostril faces at each other.

In this part of life, I am fortunate. I don't have any children, never really decided if I wanted to. But children like me. I'm one of those people that children run to even though they've never seen me before. They jump in my lap, ask for hugs, stare at my face and smile. It's fun. And I get to walk away when it's time to go.

This was a sweet way to start my morning.

I Liked "10 Items or Less"

10 Items or Less is a wonderful little film. I've always enjoyed Morgan Freeman's work, but his performance in this movie is like biting into what you think is some nice solid chocolate and you discover there's mmmm...
a rich caramel center. I'm pretty sure that's the way he is in real life and I'm envious of the people who get to spend time with him. I bet he's a great friend.

10 Items or Less is out on dvd, it's rated "R" for language
and it's good for men and women to make them smile.

Your eyes are loud on me!

This is my spot for blissfully happy thinkings. I want to know what makes you feel joy. I don't mean slight-smile pleasant, I'm looking for kid-getting-a-pony, dog-when-you-come-home, "it's not cancer" kinda happy. Come play with me!