Street Smarts

A L O H A !

" We never really grow up, 
we only learn how 
to act in public. "
Bryan White

" Enjoy

 the little things, 

for one day 

you may look back 

and realize they 

were the big things. "

                         Robert Brault

A perennial quote 

well worth repeating. 

Like a mantra. 

cloudia 

" You get tough 

when you grow up 

unloved. 

People described me 

as a boyish girl - 

rather shy, but I didn't show it. 

I had an attitude. 

I was rather wild. "

                       Maj Sjowall

As an adult,  

I realize that  

 though I was not  
loved as I wanted, 

or needed at the time. 

I WAS loved. 

cloudia  

" The greatest day in your life 

and mine is when we take total 

responsibility for our attitudes. 

That's the day we truly grow up. "

                                    John C. Maxwell

['^']

Are You street smart,

do you look both ways?

That's one kind.

The deeper ways

of Street Smart

were taught me

young

by my father,

a city boy

who was in WWII

and raised me

in a new suburban home

on a new street

in a new subdivision

where I went

to a new school

outside his old City.

The new adventure:

SPACE.

[God Speed John Glenn!]

So I'm walking in

The City

with my dad,

down a gritty sidewalk

wider than our street.

The air is full

of sounds and smells.

Nothing is new.

Buildings various

in age, style, height,

profused

before my green 
suburban eyes.

Classic rube pose:

eyes up high.

Classic line:

"Lookit all them 

tall bildins!"

Dad didn't smack me

on the back of the head,

but he didn't have to.

His reaction

and horror

were imprint enough

[this is over 50 years ago]

" You DON'T walk

on the sidewalk

looking UP!"

He said.

I can hear

his inflection.

"Look like you

know where you are,

like you belong there,

like you know

where you are going,

Don't stand out 

as a stranger."

To this day,

I behave

as if I belong

everywhere I go

no matter 

how different

in geography

or culture.

This trait

has gotten me

into some 
really

cool places.

It must have 
gotten me

into a few

rough places

and close calls

as well.
But I can't recall any!

Oh well,

such is vie!

I traveled by train

into the city

by age 14,

disappearing 

for the day.

[before mobile phones

and helicopter parents].

I made the City

mine too

with knowledge

and experience,

places and people.

Today, "children"

skype parents daily

from college!

I had my own apt

at age 16.

Maybe I grew up

too fast.

But dad respected

people who worked,

and paid their way.

I always will too.

Some of us

contribute else

than paychecks now.

I prepare

a modest feast

for Friends.

And YOU

make it so

by visiting!

Thank You Friend!

                       Fondly, cloudia