Stain-glass Eyes

I spent most of the weekend at my brother’s place in South-Eastern Michigan.   My niece had a couple of days off from school for “Winter” break.   It really wasn’t a break.   She had her wisdom teeth out.   When I see someone with such a vibrant life-force compromised by surgery, illness or life-stresses, it hits me in the heart. Jenna is in Winter Guard at school and is physically fit.   She gets her schoolwork done.   Almost in her spare time, considering how much she has to practice for this competitive sport. (I’m calling it a sport, it should be!!! The way the twist and turn, dance and throw those flags, swords and guns is phenomenal!) When she came out from the room, at the dental surgery office, I had to swallow hard to keep from crying.   All I could think is how fragile our bodies, our minds and lives are!   A close friend of mine is trying to recover from cancer (among other setbacks). When I talk to her on the ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeVqRFtffnw&feature=youtu.be from University of Michigan UMS Porgy And Bess presented in Ann Arbor!   Being on the Hill Auditorium stage, as a member of the Our Own Thing Chorale, is extremely exciting. I sit next to (young) U of M voice musicians and try to keep track of where I am in the score.  I frantically turn page and watch the director at the same time.  Challenging, but an adventure to say the least! http://www.chicagotribune.com/ entertainment/music/reich/ct- ent-jazz-porgy-bess-0221- story,amp.html

Locks put on Bridge In Prague to Show Love Warning labels are on products we use every day.   When we don’t look at them they lose their purpose.   We trust the products on their own merit without taking a closer look. It puts us at risk. I find I do that with people. We don’t come with warning labels.   Maybe they’re there, we’ve just learned not to read them or worse yet-ignore them.   I’m an expert at ignoring.   I want people to be honest, humanistic, kind, optimistic, understanding and loving. Because I want this with my whole heart I trust information I see on the surface of people when I interact with them.   When I start to see red flags or start to suffer adverse reactions and pain from people, I push on without reading the warning label they obviously have glued to their forehead.   I’m aware I do this.   The only way I can take care of myself is to try and catch the errors I’ve made in overlooking the warnings. ...