Cheered

On this first day of summer, the ball park just down the street is lit up and the whole neighborhood is under its dome. In my bedroom, over a block away I can hear the cheers from the stands. Outside, the twilight air is cool and the not yet Super Moon is so big and bright in the sky it seems we have two suns. I played and sang 80's and 90's music today, perking up the sleeping youngun in me.

Play ball friends. Play ball.

Heart of It

Artichokes are my favorite vegetable. Ever since I was young, they seemed more than any other veggie, an event. You have to work for the delight at the end. When I was about ten years old my whole family was sitting down to a dinner that included that most delicious artichoke and while we were eating I found a worm inside mine. A giant, ruinous worm. I of course stopped eating and no matter how much my parents tried to convince me there was artichoke left to eat, I was done with it. From that night on whenever I ate an artichoke I was leery of finding such a giant worm inside, ruining not just my dinner but just the peace of such a simple enjoyment.

Three nights ago I made artichokes for myself. Cleaned, trimmed and steamed them, sat down and started to dig in. On the second choke, a quarter of the way in there was a giant worm. I sat back for a second, then I just ripped off all of the leaves, cleaned off the choke and ate down that heart. Now, to do that when those ruinous worms of everyday get stuck in my head and in my way. Rip past them and eat the heart out of life.

Who's Knocking

Knock on my door and it is my neighbor Misty I have talked about often.  I knew she was going in today to get her tubes tied so seeing her back so soon was a bit of a surprise.  She asks if I feel like taking her to the store (beer run.)  She doesn't want to take the pain medications that they gave her, mixed with her meds for her schizophrenia she would just rather stick with her beer.  Misty has it hard, I don't judge her.  She knows this.  I get my shoes and purse and when I am locking my door I see my "other" neighbor's teeny tiny 10 week old miniature Chihuahua on the landing, alone, about to fall under the railing a full floor and die.  I scoop her up, much to her protestations, as she pees everywhere.  I take her to my neighbor where she is collected with a bunch of others talking.  The kicker of all this?  The puppy's name is Misty.

Life choices.  Saving a life.  Amazing what happens when you answer the door.

She

I have a friend.  She is beautiful.  She is a wife.  She is a mother. She has leukemia.  Right now she is at Huntsman getting the treatment she needs to continue being all the wonderful that she is.  When I hear her voice on the phone I hear some of how I must have sounded to all those that loved me and couldn't take it all away that instant.  You want to be strong for every one else because you see how much your pain is making them suffer.  My friend is so loved.  My friend is so needed and wanted.  This is her time to get better.  I have a friend.  She is beautiful.