They say distance makes the heart grow fonder. And when two people are separated, they are still connected by one moon in a constant sky.

They say some things are just written in the stars. And if we simply have faith, our dreams reveal itself when we least expect it.

They say love cannot exist without pain. And when that pain runs deep, it can awaken in the soul an even greater desire to love and be loved.

They say the cry of broken hearts can't be silenced. And when the heartache begins to settle, it can open the way for forgiveness and inspiration.

They say love has a way of finding us again. And when we think we have nothing more to give, love reminds us that sharing one's heart is the real gift.

The Haunting

As she leans in to caress my cheek,
She tenderly grazes my lips
And slowly, deeply breathes me in.
She presses her small hands to my stomach
To let me know she is there - and I am safe
And I think, she is goodness personified.

She is my first thought, my first breath
And my constant moon each night.
She is the one I dream of and dream with,
Whose dreams have become intertwined with my own.
And when I look into myself and all that I am,
I see her, my greatest feat of love.

I happily drift to a familiar place,
Wrapped in warmth and the lightness of her touch.
I trace the curves of her face, her shoulders, her hips
Probing and wanting so much on this wintry morning
Only to wake in despair that another season has passed
And as the moon wanes with certainty, so is she lost to me.

On Reflection

"There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered."

- Nelson Mandela, A Long Walk To Freedom

True friends have a way of seeing you as you are in the present -- minus the frills and the pretense. They understand where you've been and perhaps the role they played in helping you get here. They also believe in the person you're capable of being, even before you knew that person existed. Sometimes, they're your mirror and in them, you see the best version of yourself.

On Perspective

Strangers collide everyday in the crowd but there isn't always a connection. We keep moving though and make introductions along the way. We graciously seek, often not knowing who or what lies ahead. Light of heart and quick of feet, we travel with a handful of luck and a handful of hope. Patience steadies us. Humility humbles us. Free will guides us.

Every now and then, a stranger compels us to take pause and reach out despite unfavorable odds or less than ideal circumstances. The crowd swirls around you and you simply try your best to hold your ground and unearth the stranger. You drown out the noise until all that remains is a whisper.

Every now and then, you stumble and a kind stranger breaks your fall. You exchange a touch but not what lives in the smallest corners of your mind. The encounter is sweet but short-lived, and you do not seek more.

We cannot command the crowd or the frenzied pace at which it moves. We accept that these collisions, while inevitable, are also a product of chance. We relish the experience, the feeling, the moment. We are thankful for it all because even if the connection is fleeting or flawed, the stranger's impression remains with us. And though we may walk away heavy of heart, we are also enriched by the stranger - a fellow seeker who found us among the crowd and gave freely without regret or promise.

A Poem of Friendship

We are not lovers
because of the love
we make
but the love
we have

We are not friends
because of the laughs
we spend
but the tears
we save

I don't want to be near you
for the thoughts we share
but the words we never have
to speak

I will never miss you
because of what we do
but what we are
together

-Nikki Giovanni

Happy birthday, girls : )

Clarity

It seems to have been a week of major upsets. Things didn't work out for J. Things doubly didn't work out for P. And yet, they are coping far better than another would in their situations. Perhaps the male mindset really works differently. I imagine it's not easy to appear vulnerable, even in front of gal pals. But something tells me they already have a gameplan and will be okay with whatever the morning after brings.

Bad things happen to good people. I accept that fact of life. But it's tough being an observer. I wish I had better advice to offer or even some answers, but I suppose comforting words (and a beer) will have to do for now.

I heard myself telling J/P to give himself time to gain a fresh perspective and greater clarity on the situation. While I believe in the present and in creating our own opportunities, I also believe that sometimes answers can only reveal itself in time. It can be a painful waiting game, but it also can be very telling and essential to the healing process.

I used to tell A that no man is an island. With good friends in life, no (wo)man should linger in solitude or despair.

I've heard that love makes a man weak.
It puts butterflies in his stomach,
Music in his heart,
And bounce in his stride.
His face gleams with pride
And his smile shines true.
Happiness overcomes him.
Visions of Her cloud his mind.
Love puts ache in his bones
And fire in his soul.
I've heard that love makes a man.

9/14/00