Archive for March, 2012

New Orleans

March 28, 2012

New Orleans

We watch him make a coin disappear

Into thin air,

The magician entertains us

Not in a fancy nightclub

Or at a show we bought a ticket for,

But on the street in Nawlins,

Where he earns his living

Collecting money in a hat,

A cop on motorcycle

Interrupts the show

Beeping his siren, clearing us away,

The magician, irritated,

Quickly wraps up,

reminds us to contribute,

he steps to the curb,

Where now appears

On the street where he was standing

A parade! – for no other reason than to celebrate Spring,

Strutters strut their stuff

While playing ragtime music

Marching past with drums and trumpets,

They wink as we catch the beat

start moving to the music,

while Kings and Queens and children

Hand out flowers to the crowd,

I collect my own colorful bouquet,

Some real, some imitation,

Then the band goes by, and we join the end of the line,

Climbing into the street,

we strut our own stuff

on the streets of New Orleans,

dancing, strutting,

we join the grand parade.

Cfblack            3-27-2012

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Together for 40 years

March 17, 2012

My husband and I have been friends and lovers for 40 years now. That is hard to imagine. We met in a church parking lot. After my father died at age 50, just after my 16th birthday, my mother moved us back to Indiana and we happened to join his family’s church, the United Church of Christ. I remember my image of him from that first meeting. He was tall and energetic, throwing his head back as he talked, and full of ideas. He kind of made my head spin. I was rather amazed he was talking to me and stood there and listened to him talk. He seemed rather “stuck up”. And he wanted to change the world.

We both became members of “Up With People,’ a national singing group organized locally, that supported the oneness of humankind. We sang songs like “If MORE people were FOR people, all people everywhere, there’d be a lot less people to worry about, and a lot more people who care…” It was hokey but positive. He first talked to my sister, who found him interesting as well, but then he talked with me on a long walk home from a group choir practice. I think our hearts were connected on that night but it was just the beginning. We had NO IDEA what we were in for!

I cannot begin in this post to tell our 40-year story. But what I know is, from that first night to today, his enthusiasm for causes and being involved has never faded. He has only matured in practice. I have had to learn to develop my own skills and interests, and we have both had to mature GREATLY, in order for our union to survive. We have managed to do that, only through the grace of God. We now have 4 adult children we are proud of, a daughter-in-law and son-in-law we love, and 4 absolutely AWESOME grandkids with more expected. We have the most solid friendship ever. It’s been a long, hard road, but we have reached the point of no return and now share the joyful memories of love over a lifetime.

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canopy of stars

March 14, 2012

After teaching a night class at a neighboring university this semester, my husband and I drive back from Greenwood all the way to Chapin. This takes about an hour & 20. One of the perks is being outside at night, in a rural state, and looking out the car window. I can look because usually, my husband is driving. He is my companion and he accompanies me every week on this venture, usually driving to allow me to sleep or sometimes to catch up on reading something on the way TO that class. I appreciate his company. On the way back home after the class is over, I look out the window, to a canopy of stars. This canopy is unlike anything you’ve ever seen in a city. It is unlike anything you’ve ever seen living CLOSE to a city. This is a myriad layer upon layer of glittering light.

I am fascinated with stars and the sky, and watch them all the time. I do not feel settled until I have found the Big Dipper to get my orientation to reality. There are 3 little stars that are always in a row, together, pointing out in the direction of northwest. On the road back from Greenwood, I find that these 3 stars in a row are SURROUNDED by layers and layers of sparkling diamonds! From my house in our neighborhood, where we have irritating bright security lamps placed by the Neighborhood Association, I cannot see these diamonds. The Neighborhood Association says the blaring beacons are for our “safety”. In reality, we know they are placed so the people on that committee can see through their secret cameras 24/7, because they have nothing better to do than to spy. After all, the beacons are not in their side or backyard — they’re in mine.

In any case, these are the bounties of living in a rural state: Being aware of the canopy of stars, and layer upon layer of glittering diamonds, all available free in an enlightening and entertaining show. And we are a part of it. Looking out at the canopy, you realize just how vast is the universe, and how tiny is your own little star, your own little place within it.

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