A Capitol Possibility

We attended the ribbon cutting for the Capitol Theater here at W. 65 & Detroit last night. As part of the Gordon Square Arts District the Capitol will be a three-screen theater for independent, foreign and documentary films. Here on the west side! The best part? Bobbi will no longer be suffered to listen to me whine all the way over to the east side for such films.

The event yesterday was sponsored by Detroit Shoreway. They honored and thanked all those investors making the renovation and opening of the Capitol possible. But in addition to the investors there are two people in particular that we can thank: Ray Pianka and Jeff Ramsey. Without both of them, during their particular time of leadership, this possibility would not be-becoming a reality. Thanks Ray and Jeff.

I'm picturing myself in a seat at the Capitol watching a great new foreign film - and only two blocks from my home - a two-run homer.

The Earth is Cold Today

How strange - to be some warm yesterday then so cold today. It is in single digits this afternoon. So hard to connect to the same earth.

I read a Wendel Berry poem again that talks of being estranged from the dance of the earth in the city. In Song (3), he writes:
"I knew that circle broken, the steps awry,
stone and iron humming in the air.

But I thought even there, among the straying
steps, of the dance that circles life around,
its shadows moving on the ground, in rhyme
of flesh with flesh, time with time, our bliss,
the earthly song that heavenly is."

How wonderfully put - that connection is always available. I brought firewood inside today and have had a fire on and off all day in the living room. Thanking the earth and nature. Amen.

Unjustifed winter beauty

I drove back from Columbus late this afternoon. I was dog tired after two days of meetings. But I remembered how I love the trees along the highway this time of year. You can see so far into the woods, each tree standing out in it brownness, its greyness, and all the colors in between. A gift of winter colors - just as beautiful as spring and summer and fall, more so in being unjustified beauty. I am thankful.

I'm grateful for slowing down

From this month's Gratefulness.org newsletter:
"If gratefulness did nothing more than to slow us down, it would still be one of the most powerful tools for transformation that the world has ever known."

I am grateful for slowing down and walking home from work today. I encountered three different friends, two that I rarely see, chatted with each, and am happier tonight because of doing so. I'm also grateful for stopping in at The Gypsy. I saw Catherine who just got home from Sweden and is back in class at law school already, and met Travis, a new barista; we exchanged stories about urban living, going to CSU and knowing Norm Krumholz. Thank you to all.

Relating to Rain

How do we relate to rain?
- Call it The Rain
- Stormwater run-off, flooding
- "We needed that rain"
- Drive slower, ride bikes faster
- Grumble and grouse
- Hate the grey skies
- Love the sound of it
- "Not on Monday morning!"

How does rain relate to us? It rains. Then it doesn't.

How could we relate to rain? Raining. Thank U.

Katie's birthday

Today is my daughter's nineteenth birthday. Katie is an amazing young woman and I am incredibly proud to be her father. I am grateful for every moment.

There is nothing I know like becoming a parent and then having to let go. Like much of life the secret to being happy is to keep loving after letting go.

I love you Katie.

Slowing down at twilight

What is it about slowing down that allows even more "things" to get done?

When I try to squeeze too much into too little time I just stress and freak.

When I intentionally slow down and do less I gain more time which allows me to do more.

And I see the cardinal sitting on the wire, the color of the brick wall, and the fireflies and swallows kissing earth and sky at twilight.

Thanks to all.

Thank you Dad

Thank you Dad for 65 years of putting your children first. That was a commitment you might have found difficult but never waivered on your always trying. And we were trying - all eight of us. I express my gratitude to you almost every day. You know it. Today we all say thank you again.

P.S. Say hi to Mom.

Love, Mark

You and me

If my life is an adventure to discover joy and create love, what does that make you in my life?

Life's circle

In the airport today I watched as a woman held her newborn grandbaby for the first time. Wow.

Haiku string - my family gone

(I have not posted for a week. Life out of balance. Here is a haiku string written on an airplane flying to St. Louis this last Tuesday.)

Missing my father
in the early days of May.
First beers outside back.

Wanting my mother.
Her little one's little ones
miss her this Springtime.

Dear little brother:
You left in early Summer
Not March as they say.

10 Steps to Happiness

A group of UK social scientists tested out ten steps to happiness in Slough, England. Slough is about 20 miles west of London and a diverse but economically challenged city of some 120,000. (The British comedy "The Office" is set in Slough.) The experts called their 3 month experiment a success.

At any rate here at The 10 Steps to Happiness:

• Plant something and nurture it
• Count your blessings - at least five - at the end of each day
• Take time to talk - have an hour-long conversation with a loved one each week
• Phone a friend whom you have not spoken to for a while and arrange to meet up
• Give yourself a treat every day and take the time to really enjoy it
• Have a good laugh at least once a day
• Get physical - exercise for half an hour three times a week
• Smile at and/or say hello to a stranger at least once a day
• Cut your TV viewing by half
• Spread some kindness - do a good turn for someone every day

I say add some meditation and some Van Morrison and make it an even dozen.

Check it out: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4436482.stm

Ancestors and loved ones

When we hold our ancestors and loved ones who have died in a heart filled with gratefulness, we experience them as before us, not behind us, outside of linear time. Thus we continue to receive their love and guidance; perhaps in ways we were never open to when they lived. Even if we did not know them.

Simply call on their names, say, "Thank you", and open your heart.

What are you grateful for today?

This morning I had a test at Lutheran Hospital then walked to Talkies and had coffee and a bagel. I observed with gratefulness the following:
1. The love of my wife who got in the car in her pjs and drove me to the hospital.
2. The crescent moon in the southern sky.
3. A security guard who greeted me and talked about the "old days" in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood.
4. A radiology technician who explained everything possible to me and answered my questions with friendliness.
5. An adult woman with Downs Syndrome who flashed me a 1.5 second smile in passing.
6. The rising sun reflected on downtown buildings.
7. The beginning of a BEAUTIFUL March day in Cleveland!
8. The ever present smile of Kate at Talkies.
9. The joy that listening to U2 brings me.
10. My deep fondness for my two children, both of whom are out of town for spring break right now.
11. My freedom to write anything I desire on this blog and the freedom of all bloggers, writers and journalists in this country. (A 22 year old Egyptian was just sentenced to 4 years in prison for "insulting Islam and Egypt's president.")
12. Did I mention the joy that listening to U2 brings me?

All this was just in the first hour out the door. How much more will the day present me if I am willing to be aware and awake to it?

What are you grateful for this minute?