OutFront

#256 - To Learn - I knew same sex marriage was illegal in MN, but I didn't know the specifics and that same sex couples that marry elsewhere will not be recognized here.

#257 - There were a few things today that really touched me. I felt a snippet of what it must feel like to be told your whole life that your love/relationships are less then other people's, and then (in the case of being married in Canada etc.) to be acknowledged by the state and therefore Be Affirmed and Seen For Who You Are

#258 - Also something I never thought about before...my brother recently married a Japanese woman. It was a lot of paperwork, and I know it was pretty hard for them living in opposite sides of the world, but now they can live in the same country and share their lives/love. If he was gay and had fallen in love with a man from Japan. Then what?

#259 - My Best Lobby Day - I've never lobbied on this issue before. It is one of a zillion things I care about, and I happened to be at an event last week where the woman organizing it was...and I was truly curious how my rep and senator feel about the issue because I didn't know... so I signed up. I did know they were supportive of comprehensive sex ed and safe schools for all, which were two of the three things we lobbied on, but I didn't know their stance on marriage equality.

I was happily surprised to find that my Representative said it made sense to protect families... My Senator on the other hand....Ok here is the cool thing. Almost always (it seems) when you lobby you are not really influencing you are mostly supplying information (because they are expected to know everything and they obviously can't), and telling them what is important to you. But it's not that your legislators are going to change their opinion because of your conversation. However, this was not the case with my senator. She was comfortable with civil unions, but not quite at marriage yet. And so I got to simply listen to her talk through the process she is walking on this issue. And I genuinely felt that she was in a place of consideration uncertainty, and openness and that my gentle support and smile would be one of the many nudges that might put her in the equality direction!

#260 - On a lighter note... I wore shirts both yesterday and today that I thought, "I will never wear this," when I bought them. But it was the thrift store and only $2-3 and I felt drawn to them...so they did end up in my closet. Today and yesterday I wore them and it felt wonderful because they were different than who I usually am and they felt right.

Red Fox

#251 - Red Fox - that I had the honor to see run across a residential street this morning

#252 - Animal Speak - a book that can help give meaning to sightings such as my red fox today

#253 - Since I now have those library items I mentioned yesterday. I have all the guitar (which in my case will be ukulele) chords for MR.A-Z. I already played Life is Wonderful.

#254 - Being well-rested and not rushed, so I had something to give today when it was needed.

#255 - I have no idea where my writing is/will take me, but I always appreciate the encouragement that nudges it along the road. Today, the woman who I took a class with last fall asked, "Do you mind if I use a section of your writing for my brochure and website?"

Not Important but More Present

#246 - This Flowering Tree in the Neighbor's Yard

#247 - Remembering how Funny my Brother is - when he is happy. I can't explain what he did today because it won't sound funny, but it was.

#248 - Library - this is pretty general but genuine. To be specific, I currently have 2 books, 2 CD's and 2 printed music items (for the ukulele) waiting for me to enjoy.

#249 - Emily sent me an Email - sometimes I think my friends are more important to me than I am to them (well maybe not important, but more present in my heart), because for many of them I take the initiative to keep in contact. It is such a simple joy to have someone reach out. I think sometimes we (I) hesitate because we have nothing to "say." But really do the words even matter?

#250 - Leftovers from the Pasta Salad - which I made yesterday, so dinner was homemade and easy

Longing

#241 - "Why not be grateful for what you have and listen to what your longing is telling you?''
Roger Housden Chasing Rumi

#242 - Matt Nathanson's Some Mad Hope (CD)- I listened once, didn't get much from it, was going to return it to the library this morning, and then...today came.

#243 - I'm grateful that #244 doesn't have to make sense and even if it doesn't make sense, I know reading number #244 will help someone, even if that someone is "just" me

#244 -

Some days your heart hurts
because you have no dreams.
Some days your heart hurts
because dreams are hard to find.
Some days your heart hurts
because the dream feels so real
you want to touch it, to hold it, to place it in your hand.

What do we do with dreams on their way
to fulfillment?
What do we do with what's left
before they come?
What do we do when tomorrow and today
merge together?

I am held, you are holding, we are bound
This life, this time, this question.
I see so clearly images, interactions, lives
Are these meant to torment, who creates them?
Who creates?
It's because I want to act, to take action, to follow-through, to force
I want to know - after yesterday, so certain,
it didn't matter.
Yesterday I knew it didn't matter, and now,
and now?

Some days your heart hurts
because it beats
and you're alive.

#245 -

"This much is enough was always true
we just haven't seen it yet"

Rumi

Bridge of Dreams

#236 - This Blue Heron Nesting Island on the Mississippi


#237 - I grabbed my journal right before I left on a bike ride. I wanted someone else to ride with today, but I ended up being glad I was alone because I Needed to Write.

On the way back I went on the walking instead of the bike path and I came across this bridge (please click on the photo so you can see it).




#238 - That's right, a few minutes after writing I came upon the Bridge of Dreams. At first I planned on walking across (there are steps on the other side, obviously not a bike path),

but then I realized once you cross the Bridge of Dreams you can't go back, so I took my bike.

The view from the Bridge of Dreams



Where would The Bridge of Dreams lead me?

Well, the first thing I learned is that dreams take you off the established path. The concrete steps just ended. There was a narrow grass pathway, so I followed. I walked in between a fence to my right and a creek to my left. I either had to push my bike through tall grass or walk in it myself, offering my sandaled feet to the possibility of ticks that love long grasses.

After a while I started to wonder if this bridge led anywhere? What it was built for certainly did not make any sense. Maybe I should go back?

Was I going to have to turn around eventually anyway?

"No, you can't turn back, once you've crossed the bridge of your dreams." I thought

and then "But would I?"

As I continued walking I realized,

"There is path here, unofficial as it is, because others have walked this ahead of me. It has to go somewhere."

I walked on.



It "ended" at a big hole (broken) in the fence with a "no trespassing" sign next to it. Hmmmm

My options -

#1. Go though the "no trespassing" hole
#2. Turn around
#3. Leave my bike and walk down a steep embankment with lots of trees/shrubbery and see if I could get anywhere.

I choose #3 and found I could get through. I went back for my bike and looked forward to seeing where the Bridge of Dreams led me.

My Bridge of Dreams led to a park with children playing. As I walked, by a small boy ran and up and wanted to ride my bike.

"It's too big for you honey."

He just started climbing on. I held the bike, not thinking he'd be able to get on, but he did. My helmet was hanging on the handlebars, he put it on (without the strap). He couldn't reach the pedals so I held the bike, slowly walked along, and looked to see if any adults were alarmed that I was taking their child. It was beautiful, and sweet and fun. His name was Davonn and he was three. Then other children ran up and asked for rides (at least 4), some of whom were big enough to actually ride my bike and who knows if/when I'd ever get my it back if I started that so I, unfortunately, said no.

So my Bridge of Dreams led to children running towards me for a ride.

Hmmm

#239 - Writing that Story

#240 - Meg Hutchinson - minutes 14:00-19:20 when she talks about Suicide.

Stand

#226 - Standing - This little guy's current favorite activity is standing (holding your hand). It requires no money, can be done anywhere, and will not produce trash.

#227 - Good Things by the BoDeans (the Live version)

#228 - I sent a letter with a request on tuesday to someone I don't know that well. She should have received it either yesterday or today. This evening I walked into a building to check out a poetry reading and the woman I sent the letter to was there! (I was hesitant about sending the letter in the first place, and I took this as a sign that I did the right thing.)

#229 - Her Gratitude - one of the young women who read poetry tonight was also fundraising to attend a gathering about spoken word and human rights. When I gave her money, her gratitude was so genuine, her whole face lit up. "This is what giving is supposed to feel like," I thought. It felt so good I truly wanted to give her more.

#230 - I started feeling a little guilty. She might not have realized I only gave her $4 (that was all the cash I had with me). I usually have more cash, "Why did I only have $4?" But then I thought, "If everyone in that audience gave her $4, she'd probably have $400."

"No one can do everything, but everyone can do something, and if everyone does something than everything gets done."

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