Upside Down Kris

Hide-and-Seek I was on the way home from my father's church when I realized I had expressed the purest part of myself. I don't mean that I had a religious epiphany: I still believe that a linking power runs through us in the form of light and nature. No, what brought the " me ness" out was a simple question: "Can you play with me?" I didn't really catch the first time she asked, but the lovely little girl Alice posed it again in a soft, undemanding voice. I scanned the basement that served our social hour and saw that all the other children had gone home. So, I quickly responded: "Sure!" What insued was an all out, chasing and dashing hide-and-seek. We were so engrossed in the game that we forgot the fact that we were dressed up. She was elf-like with her long, blonde hair accentuated by her velvet green dress and matching lacquered shoes. I was very unplay-like in my tight, goldish pants and pointed pink shoes...None of this mattered, however.

Family Gratitude I woke up today with two ideas etching in my brain: the push to restart my blog and the the tinkling in my fingers to write down all I'm thankful for.  "Why not combine them?" I thought with serendipity.  The first and last thing that filled my mind was a given: my family. Memories started flowing in...my mom sleeping in a chair next to my bed when I was in the hospital as a little girl and washing my hair as an adult after my last operation. Dad and Linda dancing in a concert outside a hostel years ago after another operation...as well as this past month with brown leaves and swamp scenes from upstate New York whizzing by as they drive us all over, making sure my partner Armi sees enough while he's here. All though this whilrwind trip, Armi has been willing to leave his habits aside. He has even adopted some of Dad and Linda's, like expressing gratitude before eating. The emotion gurgled up to my eyes from somewhere deeper as Armi gave his birthd