Mish-Mosh ~ PriMary Colors ~ Cornflakes of Words - Nuts n Bolts ~ Wired for Sound

"You gotta give and expect nothing in return."

~ J.C. A. Ortiz

Essential, existential, quintessential, sentimental, elemental, depart-compartmental, fun & fundamental, ornamental ~ Balance, fairness, awareness, wellness, alarmist, extremist, alchemist ~ fanatical, radical, maniacal, satirical ~ create, hesitate, escalate, elevate, eliminate, celebrate, salivate, navigate, levitate ~ satire, expire, retire, rewire, transpire, desire, fire, hire, sire, lyre, zyre, liar, prior, mire ~ never, ever, clever, weather, feather, leather, lever, tether ~ fantastic, romantic, hieratic, lunatic, aristocrat, acrobat, astronaut, aeronaut, juggernaut, whether or not, all for naught, not @ all, short & tall, off the wall, all n all ~

(?) You Ever...

• Feel like somebody is watching you?
• Love to the point of tears, cheers, jeers?
• Wish you'd taken a second look?
• Raced thru something that would have been better to stroll through?
• Moved at a snails pace while the hare & the tortoise passed you buy?
• Started your day on the wrong foot?
• Ended the night just right?
• Wished you hadn't said, done or thought that?
• Needed nor wanted for anything?
• Worked yourself into a tailspin?
• Seen wishes come true?
• Been energized by some one's enthusiasm?
• Smiled for no reason?
• Jumped for joy?
• Lost at love?
• Found love again?
• Forgot what you were looking for, what you were gonna say, why you were there?
• Known nirvana?
• Took control of a nightmare and turned it into a sweet dream?
• Imagined, embraced, endured all the possibilities?
• Seen the best, worst, brightest, darkest days of life?
• Begged for forgiveness?
• Forgiven the unforgivable?
• Wasted too much time?
• Hurried-up and waited?
• Laughed like there is no tomorrow?
• Felt like the music sounded?
• Tasted what color looks like?
• Smelled like you remembered it?
• Won the auction, lottery, game, match?
• Lost the toss of the coin?
• Danced yourself into oblivion?
• Run with the wind at your back?
• Walked into a storm?
• Drove, dove, flew off the edge?
• Buttoned-up a beautiful day with an even better night?
• Slapped it silly?
• Slept it off?
• Ran for your life?
• Spoke too soon?
• Asked for grape Nehi soda and got Kool-Aide, got red when you asked for green?
• Bit off more than you could chew?
• Missed the opportunity?
• Ceased the moment?
• Cried yourself to sleep?
• Woke-up laughing?
• Peed in your pants?
• Whistled while you worked?
• Thought you were doing the right thing, got the wrong results?
• Faced a fear, reached for the stars and dreamt the impossible?
• Looked to the future?
• Learned from the past?
• Waited out a storm?
• Heard a forest fire, snow fall, rain pour, a pin drop, a bee buzz, clouds burst, lightening strike, chick's chirp, an eagle soar, lion roar, lamb tremble, a frog rribit?
• Listened to day break or night fall?

I have... what a rush.

I Wondered

As a child, I looked beyond the end of the block for what might be out there. I wondered about things I could only imagine, discoveries to be made as I catch-up to what calls. Where will I find it and when? From this quiet spot in the world I looked past the present and wondered about the future... how will my life unfold, where will I go and how will I get there? Who will I love, how will I know? What navigational tools will I call upon for help? What will I do and which direction will I go? Unafraid I've come and gone forth, moved forward and backwards, and forward again. One day at a time, step by step, one experience by one... simple, spectacular, turbulent, tiny, troubled or tremendously fulfilling experience and moment at a time. With a heart full of love, the tears have welled in my eyes, overflowing with joy. My face at times, hot with tears, whether self induced or unsolicited, drenched in gut wrenching pain. Some lessons learned came softly and subtly, some lessons learned with unforgiving harshness, real and stark, bitter, biting, leaving raw bloody welts from the sting of stress and strain from life's battlefields and land mines.

All the days and nights of my life linger on in my memory. Faces from the past dart in and out of my thoughts. The places I've been, people I've known and thought I would have around me forever... fade like pictures we tuck a way but surface again reminding me of what was. The night hastens to the day as the school of life begins class promptly with my first thought or prayer of the day. I awake to meet new challenges, attempting to complete and pass the tests and look to the future, the unknown and mysterious in place and hopefully at the end of the day, emerge satisfied that I am stronger and better than the way I began.

Again I look out at the horizon, away from the city, the streets, far into the sky. What's out there? Who do I need to know? Where do I need to be and how will I recognize the answers even as they stare me down and look me square in the eyes... through my heart and into my soul? There are times even now in my life, I'm not exactly sure what questions to ask much less what answers to look for. I thank God that mostly I know it when I see it, if it's a good thing I hold on if it's meant to be and pray I have the grace, understanding and courage to let go if it is not supposed to be that something, someone, sometime, the place for me.

Moon River

Never in My Lifetime

I used to think, it would be mind blowing if a man or woman of color was ever voted into the office of the presidency? It was a remote possibility I thought, but never in my lifetime, much less my 83 year old, dear mothers lifetime. It is now a matter of reality. It is a fact that Barack Obama, born of multiracial parents, is now the 44th president of the United States. We look forward to "a new era of responsibility" in America, wanting to believe in positive CHANGE(S). HOPE has become a mantra for many when someone with a brand new voice and face, has the audacity to attempt this bold feat, to vigorously campaign day after day, month after month for this formidable position and postures one prominently, forever in history. In a time when the world is fraught with discourse, the future full of uncertainty and unfathomable challenges. People on an international scale, watch eagerly in anticipation of a new way out from underneath the clouds. Our newly inducted commander in chief has his work cut out for him and asks for help amongst it's citizens... solidarity, for country men and women to unite as the pressure to refresh and renew abounds. People from every walk of life, excited about the possibilities and potential opportunities to adapt and modify accordingly in this parched and anemic land starving for new and improved ways of living our lives with dignity, resources regenerated, poised for preservation with arms stretched across the waters, committed to rebuilding mutual respect in cooperation with others around the world. A new light cast upon several dark years, with only a bad memory and not much to show for the wear and tear.
What would you and I do if we were in charge of the safety and the quality of life for millions of people? How about we give this guy a chance to prove himself. How about we send good thoughts and prayers to President Obama... for this great nation to find in it's heart and soul, more respect in every direction, to ensure we are part of necessary changes, for a better place, a brighter horizon and a fresh, renewed faith in ourselves, in liberty and in justice for all.
Congratulations Mr. President! God speed. Here's to your imagination, big dreams and better ways and means of making life more livable for the old, sick, tired and huddled masses desperately seeking security in insecure times.

WHEELS OF LIFE by Gino Vannelli

Life's wheels, thrills, chills continue like smoke rises, wafting-up and out, side ways, right side-up, upside-down. Full of twists, turns, bends, curves, spinning, spiraling on... round and round she goes and where she stops, nobody knows. Your breath is taken away as you inhale another day and nights worth. All the living, loving, hoping, praying, pleading for peace, for something to hold on to that makes sense in the middle of the senseless.

Like smoke, life too moves elegantly, gracefully yet forcefully, powerfully, lifting up, higher and higher as it goes... or perhaps unforgiving with jagged edges, roughly hewn, hazy, crazy, muddled, laden with messy, mucky-muck. Not so clear cut and dry as we would like. If we could only blow out troubles like a candle flame, with only wisps of smoke lingering lightly as the hurt of the aching heart fades away.

... and so it goes