Upside Down Kris

The Balcony I stood looking out into the darkness. I may sound like a busybody, but I like looking into my neighbors' glass door on the left. Their kitchen light gives me hope for the rest of the day. Not even the slightest gleam came through the blackness, however, which wasn't surprising seeing as how it was 5:15 in the morning. As breakfast was warming my stomach, it was still dark. I looked out my transparent door expecting to see the balcony directly opposite. I could kind of make out an angle if I squinted, but it was very indistinct and could have been the angle to anything. Was the balcony there just because I remembered it was? 5:30 is a bit early for these musings, I know. Once I started, however, my thoughts followed each other as if they wanted to make some logical order to form an understanding. How did I really know the balcony was there? The shapes could be anything, and it was my belief in its construction that made the balcony into something. But what if things

  Your Lifesaver Word I f you were lost in the middle of the sea and all your words were carried away from you, which word would you hold onto as your lifesaver? That is, the sea has somehow sucked all your power to recall language and you have only one word left to bring you to safety? The first word that surfaces in my mind is patience. It doesn't seem like it would help, seeing as how in such a drastic circumstance one should spring into action. I envision myself inside this tube and all I see is water. I could swim, but where? I imagine that I have splashed about, grabbing onto as many concepts as I can. However, nothing brings me closer to land, although I know sooner or later an answer might arrive on a wave. You could say: "You should have chosen hope, then." Well, it's not the first word that came to mind. In any case, I believe patience would get me further. Hope might lead me to swim my hardest in the direction of a boat that never stops. In my life, the pat

Magic Moments, Week 4 Day 22 o Waking up to my love sleeping next to me and reaching out to take him in my arms. Warmth, warmth, peace. o The soft afternoon light bringing the brick walls of a canal to life. The walls were visibly giggling as they danced with the water. Day 23 The reddish glow on the roof which is also highlighting the tip of the enormous tree across the way from my kitchen window. Day 24 Lazing about for hours in the afternoon accompanied by Gershwin on my stereo. God, I love Gershwin. His music is pure magic where all good happens. Day 25 Sofi sends her warmth and happiness through the dark. She comes for hugs and comfort, and in return helps sooth the spasms in my stomach, making them pass. I decide that today cuddling the cat is more important than Pilates.  Day 26 I am distraught and a little lost at not being chosen for a show at the theater (I miss the theater so much!) So, my love sends me the recording of some birds chatting. They are conversing so merrily

Magic Moments, Week 3 Day 15 Unfortunately, nothing special stood out today. A gray, drab day…or maybe it’s my mood. Day 16 Boogie Woogie and Rockabilly–it’s almost impossible that I wouldn’t have a good time, even if there wasn’t dancing. I love couples dance, but it wasn’t dancing with a partner that made the night special…it was the moments when I danced alone. Even more so when I found myself in a group of three. We were all doing our own thing until I noticed that a girl who taught swing was copying my moves. So, then I started copying hers. Proposal and acceptance of proposal: the interest in dancing with another, mirroring them for no other reason than to enjoy a piece of time and rhythm together. This with a girl I had thought to dislike. I had found her a little pretentious as a teacher, but we definitely were in agreement on an improvisation level. Who knows how many judgments I’ve passed erroneously? Day 17 As I was walking up the hill near my apartment complex today, I obse