" Judge nothing,
you will be happy.
you will be happy.
Forgive everything,
you will be happier.
you will be happier.
Love everything,
you will be happiest.”
Sri Chinmoy
" The price
of hating other human beings
is loving oneself
less. "
Eldridge Cleaver
“ The important thing
is not to think much
but to love much;
and so do that
which best stirs
you to love. ”
Teresa of Ávila
is not to think much
but to love much;
and so do that
which best stirs
you to love. ”
Teresa of Ávila
[///]
He and I
had been together
for years.
What would
marriage
add?
Just a piece of paper,
right?
And what about
those who cannot
be married?
Nonetheless,
it seemed
the time.
it seemed
the time.
We went to the judge
at his lunchtime.
One handful of friends
were there.
I figure we started our
marriage
$30,000 ahead
that way.
Things sure felt
different afterward.
I felt different.
So did he.
I felt different.
So did he.
I don't know why.
We both felt it.
The next morning
before awakening
I 'dreamed' of being
in an old fashioned room.
Women
whose faces I couldn't see
sat around the perimeter.
Light poured in through
windows,
but I could discern nothing
through them.
These women
were my ancestresses;
somehow I simply knew that;
Grandma, Auntie
who I had known,
& further back
who I'd never
met.
A hand,
an old woman's hand,
manicured,
gnarled, familiar-
handed me a small plate.
On that plate:
a slice of
Honey Cake.
Honey Cake!
Like grandma used to bring!
Hadn't thought of it
in years.
Hadn't SEEN it
longer.
Later that day
we were shopping
at the usual place.
And there on the shelf
a new item,
or simply never noticed before:
Honey Cake!
I remembered
the 'dream.'
I knew it was the welcome
of the women
in my line;
When I became
a married lady
somehow
I joined their
ranks.
Honey Cake. . .
We'll sit together
in that room,
drinking tea
and sharing
Honey Cake.
Not a bad way
to spend
some Heaven.
What will you
do? eat? share?
with YOUr ancestors
later?
Please share in comments.
And thanks so much for visiting!
Warmly, cloudia
Enjoyed all your wordings. Especially i love the first one!
ReplyDeleteI especially loved the wisdom of Sri Chinmoy. :)
ReplyDeleteA wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteI hope to go to Mardi Gras with my ancestors, and have some King Cake. I know it's so-so in taste, but it's traditional.
But, better tasting, beignets and café au lait! Yes! We drink coffee together and let the good times roll.
Really nice reflections. Yeah, that piece of paper somehow does makes some difference: really hones in on the commitment part. SO glad you have some very nice memories. Not so sure I joined ranks of women from my past, as much as I bucked so much meaningless tradition. Even Ann Landers said I had a right to get married the way I wanted. (1974) My grandmother's recipe for whole, baked, pastry-covered apple dumplings are the "love food" in my family. Been making them since jr. high school. As a young adult, every man I made apple dumplings for, I ended up marrying! Powerful fruit!
ReplyDeleteDrumMajor
Banana sandwiches,
ReplyDeleteVery profound memories
of eating them as a small boy
in the park, with mum, happy days
treasured for ever.
very sweet, cloudia.
ReplyDeleteVery nice quotes! kisses from Italy.
ReplyDelete:))))))
great quotes
ReplyDeleteSo you kind of had your wedding and got cake too. :)
ReplyDelete"If you can't be at the beach, visit cloudia's blog. It's the next best thing!"
ReplyDelete~
Oh wow that is amazing after all those years Cloudia.. I know many people who have done the same, isn't it funny to think that nothing has really changed yet everything has! Congratulations by the way :)
ReplyDeleteYour comments today are like wedding gifts! I love opening them.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Friends
Gorgeous. We have never taken the marriage step, but are committed (should be committed?).
ReplyDeleteI would love to sit down with my ancestors and hear their stories. Share their wisdom... Other than my immediate family I have never known any of them. The immediate family didn't have an intimate relationship with truth so there is a lot of listening to do.
... a pint!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous shots!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful dream :) There are so many things I would like to share with my ancestors. I would like to meet one whom I resembled more than any other and listen to her life story.
ReplyDeleteHow true... :)
ReplyDeleteYou write a wonderful blog!
ReplyDeleteGosh thanks, each of You, for sharing today!
ReplyDeleteI will share travel stories and the wonderful people I met on the way.
ReplyDeleteNamaste /\ from Mumbai
Aloha!
i think marriage makes that bond something different for sure...and it is sad that it is not available to all...love that first quote too....hope you have a great start to the week...
ReplyDeletealoha from va
Love the quotes and the verse. Is this a true story? If so congratulations! Great write either way though.
ReplyDeleteI tell my son this about marriage, but he doesn't believe me. He and Sarah truly believe it would just be a piece of paper. I believe it really is quite a bit more. Beautiful post, Cloudia.
ReplyDelete