Saturday, December 16, 2006

What I long for...

Photo by Samuel
How many times have you heard someone say
If I had his money I would do things my way
But little they know that it's so hard to find
One rich man in ten with a satisfied mind.


Once I was winning in fortune and fame
Everything that I dreamed for to get a start in life's game
Then suddenly it happened I lost every dime
But I'm richer by far with a satisfied mind.


Money can't buy back your youth when you're old
Or a friend when you're lonely or a love that's' grown cold
The wealthiest person is a pauper at times
Compared to a man with a satisfied mind.


When life has ended my time has run out
My friends and my loved ones I'll leave there's no doubt
But one things' for certain when it comes my time
I'll leave this old world with a satisfied mind.


-Red Hayes & Jack Rhodes 1955

Saturday, December 02, 2006

We'll marry our fortunes together...


The bright spark that fired so long ago has never really gone out, but have you ever gone down the street and seen yourself with someone else? Someone you least expected? I'm sure a lot of people have.
See, we walk and talk our lives away with so much intensity and intention that we can scarcely remember our own original selves. How can we care for someone else when we don't even understand ourselves?
Sometimes we can re-kindle old fires, sometimes we can't. I guess I wonder how you can tell the difference? Why do some people live their lives with the same person they started with and others, alas, spend their entire life trying to figure who that first person is supposed to be? Why do some people have to wait for the happiness that finally comes late in life?
I envy the lovers, the ones that can make a life together and feel joy with each other even in the direst of situations. I am humbled by their ability to cling to each other when all else is failure. I take refuge in their ability to continue happily. maybe I can do it too?
Relationships are difficult, even under the best of circumstances. We work and toil to make them work but, too often, we screw them up. There's plenty of psycho-talk around to decypher motivations for doing things, but none of it addresses the core dilemmas.
Why aren't we happy? Why does everything seem so desperate sometimes? Why do we walk and feel like, any second, the earth will open up and swallow us?
The new day will bring new insights and new revelation. But, somewhere between now and whenever, the anxiety will creep in again. I pray to God for light to understand, but I still wish it were night. The comfort of darkness is warm and inviting.