point of view

"Hormones." Kind of an ugly word to explain the flood of emotions, don't you think? So many different things to hold in my heart this twenty-eighth birthday. So many things have changed so quickly in the space between my twenty-sixth and twenty-eighth birthday - I hadn't even met the man who woke me singing "Happy Birthday" so I would hurry to open the gift he would use to make my morning coffee for me, while our child kicked his or her greeting inside me. My twenty-seventh birthday was just after our honeymoon. The newlywed stage is beautiful, but for all its thrills and despairs, treasured new things and bumbling adjustments, I don't wish to be back in that stage. How thankful I am for all we've learned, the trust we've built, the skills acquired for cheering each other on. How much more we have to learn. Each of us hold our everyday sorrows, together with the immense and humbling realizations of how much good we've been given. ...

today the sun shone a little spot of robin-red popped up from brown-green grass six-year-old voices repeated the meaning of the Easter symbols: "New life! new life!" We sang of assurance with a dying man I looked in your eyes I saw your soul shining bright though your bones were too visible and you talked of your body starving itself the doctors say there is no healing but you and Jenny have joy on your faces and peace is in the air as she looks love at you and talks of how little time you have left but there is content because you put your trust in a healing the doctors don't know about because it isn't here on this earth she will go through dark days but she will still rejoice in that healing it is promised her too. And for now I thank you for the gift of your love the glow of hope in your frail embrace I feel a strength I want and I marvel at the beauty of the two of you a little envious of your sweet communion but mostly, I thank you for the gift you gave - my spi...

Do you have a moment, sir; could you tell me a story? I can see at least one held captive in your eye If you have a moment, ma'am, I'd like to hear a little of the storms that traced the lines where my cheek is still smooth Tell me, sir, of a day that one white hair stands for and most of all I want to know what kept that twinkle in your eye Please tell me, ma'am, how you're still smiling though you've known pain and heartbreak so much longer than I have Was it easier to let go the tenth time? Do you ever get used to being lonely? When I've seen as much as you, I want to rejoice as well as you do. Will you teach me how to grow old?