Reflections By The Bay

Friday, September 16, 2016

HARMONICA

What a humble musical instrument…

A tuba, a violin, a clarinet, a piano

with all those keys - black and white -

could cause pause and panic and

an “Uh oh!” - but not a harmonica.

In fact, no one would picture
harmonica players on stage, screen,

church or symphony orchestra.

A harmonica - a child finding one in

a grandfather’s box in a garage - and

not knowing what it is, picks it up -

studies it - blows into it the wrong

side - then the right side - and out

comes sudden sound. A star is born.

Another hears the sounds and wants one.

Two moms hearing the argument

laugh and the other mom goes inside

and comes out with a harmonica from

her way back when great grandfather

and the next day two kids are making

music. Then a third - then a fourth -
then lessons and then Carnegie Hall -

well many, many years later.

What a wonderful musical instrument ….

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows

September 15

MATER DOLOROSA

Swords piercing mothers' hearts -

in every age - in every way.
Crucifixions keep happening.

Stabat mater dolorosa ....

We see mothers every night

on the TV stations of the cross -

bombs, bullets, the deaths of so

many kids. Stabat mater dolorosa ....

Mothers looking out windows

with nervous fists - with the sound of

so many ambulances in the night....

Stabat mater dolorosa ....

September 15, 2015

GOD MUMBLES

Who was the first preacher to say

God Mumbles were a sin? Oh my

God, how could they be so dumb?

"Oh my Gosh," we blurt them out all the time -
in near misses on the highways - spectacular

sunsets - and an amazing football catch.

“Oh my God!” “Jesus Christ!” “Holy Cow!”

Then there are those abbreviated prayers

in awful moments: “Wow!” “Woo!” “Aaaaah!”

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

September 14, 2016

5 PICTURES ON THE WALL

There were 5 pictures - on the wall -

and one was slightly tilted - off a bit -

and that tilt drove her crazy - sitting

there - annoying her - non-stop - all

through the meeting. The place was

not her place - still it kept bothering

her. She didn’t hear a word. In fact,

she missed the whole meeting - but

she did get up - 10 minutes before
the end of the meeting .... She just
stood up - in front of everyone - and
walked over - straightened out that
picture - and that’s the only thing
anyone remembered about that meeting.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

September 13, 2016

POINT OF VIEW

I'm not sure of this,
in fact, I don't know if I ever will be,
but at some point
we all need to discover
that everyone has a different
point of view. We can't interview
everyone, so maybe some cab driver
in Madrid or Hanoi thinks the same as I think.
In the meanwhile this other person we're
with is not hearing what I'm saying
with my meanings and history and mystery
and vice versa.
Got that - better remember that -
and it will lead to less frustration,
less divorces, and interesting bar talk,
soup suppers, coffee breaks, and bus rides.
Enough for now....