August  30, 2020

HAVES   AND  HAVE   NOTS

That’s us, all of us,

haves and have nots:

a sense of humor,

the ability to speak in both Spanish and English,

a wallet with several credit cards and many $20’s,

a car that smells new,

an 18 year old body,

some stories, some regrets, some envies, 

a unique laugh,

the ability to still run up the street in the rain,

a hurt from way back,

loneliness when going by a certain cemetery,

some humility from a really broken marriage,

a fake Rolex watch,

a trombone I used to play,

some really old baseball cards,

a red Hulu Hoop I used to be really good at.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

August   30,  2020

Thought  for  Today

“After the [leader’s ] death,  his disciples came together and talked about the  things he had done.  When it was Rabbi Schneur Zalman’s turn, he asked them: ‘Do you know why our master went to the pond each day at dawn and stayed there for a little while before coming home again?’   They did not know why.  Rabbi Zalman continued: ‘He was learning the song with which the frogs praise god.  It takes a very long time to learn that song.’”

Martin Buber

August   29,   2020

WELL  CONNECTED

I looked around at my stuff:

A ballpoint pen from Aunt Nora….

A flannel shirt from Mary Joan ….

A classy shirt from Sandy and Jim ….

A suitcase from Maryann and Brent ….

A scarf from Kathy and Steve ....

A shamrock window light catcher from Jan ….

A pair of shoes from Mary ….

A picture of Evelyn and Eileen ….

A corona 19 mask from Maureen ….

A journal book from Herminia and Penny ….

Wow!  I’m well connected.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

August   29,  2020

Thought   for  Today

Ma  Raine:  “The blues help you get out of bed in the morning. You get up knowing you ain’t alone.  There’s something wise in the world.  Something’s been added by that song.  This be an empty world without the blues.  I take that emptiness and try to fill it up with something.”

August  Wilson

 

August  28,  2020

GRAVITY

I spot a pencil on the kitchen  floor.

It fell.

The pitcher of cold water

with ice securely remains  

on the refrigerator shelf

because of gravity.

Likewise the liverwurst and cheese ….

Gravity along with plenty of

water are essential to life on

this earth.

The calendar on the kitchen wall

tells me what day and month and year it is.

Slowly my posture and my body

tell me I’m slowly sinking back

down to earth.

I’ll drink to that – a cold glass of

water – remaining in the glass –

for now - gravity. Time and eternity.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

 August  28, 2020

Thought  for  Today 

“God loves each of us as if there was only one of us.”

Augustine

How could anyone do that?

You’d have to be God.

 

WE'LL  ALWAYS  HAVE  CHARTRES

Many people who have seen the movie, Casablanca, have said for the rest of their lives, "We'll always have Paris."

Well, if you ever get to Paris - take the train - of if you have a rent-a-car - to Chartres - and you'll always have that town and cathedral - but especially the stained glass windows  - in your mind's eye for the rest of your life.