Beautiful Hands

We stooped under the door

We entered into a shelter-

a barely habitable structure

with warm air, strong smell, & dirt floor.

This was her home.

She welcomed the outsiders-

with our wide eyes & light skin.

She demonstrated her work.

We watched her grind the coconut-

with power & grace.

She was strength & she was diligence.

I couldn’t take my eyes away,

I couldn’t stop looking at her hands-

hands of power & grace,

working to make her commodity-

coconut oil “to keep skin beautiful.”

She sold beauty in a bottle,

and her shirt was tied together

just for the sake of modesty.

I looked around her home- walls, tin, & dirt.

I took in her work- the sweat & strength of her hands.

I cried as I came face to face with the life of an elderly woman,

selling beauty in a bottle.

If only I could bottle up her hands,

her beautiful hands.

You Know That Feeling…

when there are not enough years, months, days, minutes in your life to do all you want to do!

I think I’m having a crisis. There are so many things I am passionate about, joyful for, angry against, and just plain obsessed with. It seems to me I can’t even begin to start one thing because there are 80 things I have to do, learn, accomplish, experience.

I must write a novel. I need to tap into my, yet undiscovered, painting abilities. I know I can draw- I just have to get good at. I mean it’s really about time I mastered guitar. I should definitely be fluent in Spanish. I want to have an impact on international women’s rights issues. I need to place children in homes. Writing a grant is a pivotal point for my career. I still need to shoot a turkey. Ok, this is getting out of control. but I just can’t stop! I am bent on photographing something profoundly beautiful. I hope to have the before-mentioned as a side business. Travel, travel, travel! Oh, I’m getting married. I have this craft idea that I want to do. One day I will decorate my own home. Being super fit is so important! I have this weird inkling to recite a poem on video tape. I want to lead and teach. Adventure is a must. I’m always finding the next book I must read. This gets in the way of writing my own. New friends, new experiences, new places!

I’m telling you, I’m bursting. Maybe I should just appreciate the talents and experiences I do/will have in my life without clamoring for the ones I might miss out on.

OR maybe I should lay off the “Crystal Light Energy Wild Strawberry” drink mix for a while.

On to the next one.

Catchy Slogan

Don’t step in poop… Come to our wedding!

Rhyming is overrated.

Time Travel

I was almost back in Colombia for a second…