Playing Tag

Last summer I was invited to my friend Aimee's for a 4th of July party. During the course of the party, I was sitting, chatting with another friend, when a young boy named Ben, came running up to our table and shouted out "Anyone who wants to play tag with me....raise your hand." When neither of us raised our hands, he looked at us incredulously and threw his own hand in the air and said, "Like this", as if the only reason we didn't respond must have been because we didn't understand his instructions. We laughed and made some adult like excuses of why we didn't want to play tag, and sent him off to find his uncle Pete, who we figured wouldn't turn down his request. He returned to our table a couple of other times during the evening in an attempt to engage us to play. He was so funny and I can remember telling everyone about this little 5 year old who was the highlight of the party for me.

It wasn't but two months later when Ben was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. They were able to do some treatments that gave him a couple of good months, but on Monday, he passed away. You can read about his story here. I can't imagine the pain his family must be experiencing, but I was reading a book this week and there were some thoughts that gave me comfort....something to hang on to in times when life seems so cruel. The author tells the story of a time when George Bernard Shaw was comforting a friend during a particularly difficult time in her life.

I was shivering. Shaw sat very still. The fire brought the warmth...How long we sat there I do not know, but presently I found myself walking with dragging steps with Shaw beside me...up and down Adelphi Terrace. The weight upon me grew a little lighter and released the tears which would never come before...He let me cry. Presently I heard a voice in which all the gentleness and tenderness of the world was speaking. It said: "Look up, dear, look up to the heavens. There is more in life than this. There is much more."

I love that. It's the only thing that gets me thru sometimes. There is more in life than this.

I'm sorry now that I didn't play tag with Ben that day....but the legacy he leaves with me is that I plan to say yes a lot more often from now on. Thanks Ben, for that lesson.

Peer Pressure

My friend Sara is coming for a visit next weekend, and today, I accomplished the one thing that I had to get done before she comes out. You might think that would be cleaning the house or sprucing up the guest room, but no....it was buying a new cell phone. On Sara's last visit, she totally shamed me over my nearly antique cell phone. I've probably had it for six years or so. I can tell by some of the old numbers I have in there of people I haven't called since then. In cell phone time, six years is an eternity. By the way...Sara is not my only friend who has shamed me over my cell phone. But here's my problem with cell phones, and technology in general. I have this fear that the minute I buy something that they will come out with something better the next day. That is why I have been putting this off. I kept waiting for the next cool thing....and even when a cool thing comes out....I keep thinking the next one will be better....so I wait. This is the reason I haven't bought an Ipod yet. I know, any day, they will come out with a better one. In the meantime....I sit with my antique cell phone and no MP3 player. I wonder if I have commitment issues.

This is so me

AOL has these welcome screens that come up and they try to entice you to click on the link. This morning's title was "If you're angry, blame your sign." It was just enticing enough to make me bite....or click. Here's what they said about me.....and it's so true it made me laugh.....especially the part about Six Feet Under. It was my favorite show, but I haven't bought the DVDs.......yet.


Scorpio (October 23 - November 21)You're one of the deeper -- and darker -- signs of the zodiac, Scorpio, and that's just the way you like it. More than others, you understand there is no happiness without pain. Nothing makes you crazier than someone telling you "smile!" or "cheer up!"
What to avoid: Game shows; cheerleading competitions; boy band concerts; half-full glasses; mysteries that have already been solved; direct sunlight; people who ask too many personal questions; dating someone with bad credit.
Your survival pack: Melancholy Britpop; black eyeliner; true crime novels; thunderstorms; "Six Feet Under' on DVD; a private savings account.

Poetry on the bus

RTD has this cool program called Poetry To Go. Basically, a bunch of kids submitted poems, and they picked the best ones and posted them on the ad placards inside the bus. Here's one I saw last night. I love the image of "Green Marbles of Hope." If you want to read more, you can check them out here. Whoever thought of putting poetry on the bus is BRILLIANT!


FLOORSEEDS

On the linoleum of life,
are the Green Marbles of Hope
(Spheres of Thought
and Pearls of Wisdom)
Slip on them,
and you break your nose
or
you break your fears
into pieces.

FLOORSEEDS
by Dylan Craine, age 16
Denver School of the Arts