January 10, 2023

 

I DON’T  REMEMBER

 

Before I was getting words,

I don’t remember any words,

any conversations with

my mom and dad from

any of my childhood days.

Sorry mom and dad. Sorry.

I just remember my mom putting

raspberry jam on breakfast toast

and my dad taking us to the park

on Sunday afternoons. Now

in my 80’s I have to tell myself

that words before 10 are pigeons

and birds long flown away.

But good thing my dad and

others had Brownie cameras

to take 1,000 black and white

photographs that I have to study

and analyze and put words to.             

                                                              

Reflections (c) Andy Costello

 January 10, 2023

Quote for Today

"Two things fill the mind with ever-increasing wonder and awe; the more often and the more intensely, the mind of thought is drawn to them: the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me."

Immanuel Kant [1724-1804]

Critique of Practical Reason [1788]

 January 9,  2023

SIMPLICITY

 

To be simple,

to not get caught up in the chase for stuff,

to not spend too much time and energy

figuring out other’s motives,

to let go of wanting everything to go my way,

to say what I mean and mean what I say,

to have balance in my life, in my prayer,

my work, my time, my fun, my friends.

To be simple is to be calm and to avoid agitation.

To be simple,

is to avoid trying to juggle too much.

To be simple,

is to allow and to acknowledge others

to be far more gifted than I am,

to know there is lot more,

but so what?

To be simple is to relax,

knowing I came into this world with my own skin,       to know I’ll be going out the same way                       a bit more wrinkled with some scars and warts,

simply saying to God,  “Thanks!”

 

Reflections © Andy Costello

January 9, 2023

Quote for Today

"Abortions will not let you forget

You remember the children you got that you did

      not get."

Gwendolyn Brooks [1917-  ]

A Street in Bronzeville [1945]

The Mother, st. 1

January 8, 2023

ILLUSIONS

 

Illusions: we have them.

Illusions: we are them,

 

But we rather just admit we have them

and keep moving on through the day.

 

Naked honesty is too much and too tough

at times, yet it’s the way to be and the way to go.

 

Others see us as they think we are.

But to be honest we know, we’re not.

 

Slowly as I age I’m admitting

who are I really am.  Slowly.

 

But why not be and see who I am

as God sees and knows I really am. Slowly

 

And God while I’m at it, how about

letting me see who YOU really are? Slowly.

 

Reflections © Andy Costello

 January 8, 2023

Quote for Today

 "People ask you for criticism, but they only want praise."

William Somerset Maugham [1874-1965]

Of Human Bondage  [1915] - Chapter 50

 January 7, 2023

OLD SONGS

 

I was wondering

if everyone has some old songs

that are still playing back there

and down there in the bottom

of the basement of their being – 

a song or two that starts playing again – 

when they are walking through a bank

or an office building – or simply

while twisting the radio dial while

driving alone doing some shopping

on a Saturday morning. Surprise

there are more songs waiting for you

to attach themselves to your feelings

and your experiences.  Twist those

dials. Turn up the volume. Listen

and sing along with the old songs.

Reflections © Andy Costello