tradition is more than yesterday’s stories
old photographs and dusty keepsakes
it is the remembering of tomorrow

it is the nervous acting out
of ceremony with candles and words
of an ancient story of wonder and light

it is the gladsome preparation
of the festive foods for the jolbord
and the pride of happy hosts

it is the gentle noise of children playing
the rumbling conversation of friends remembering
the tear in a grandparent’s eye

it is the leap in our hearts at midwinter’s turn
it is the song that ever celebrates life’s wonder

in another time and place - another then
you planned a dreaming, a pleasing
that destiny might weave your lives together
for much is required of hope, of intention

in another time and place - another now
you planned this joy, this sharing
that circumstance might weave your living
for much is required of love, of commitment

in another time and place - another tomorrow
you planned your future, your happy story
that you might weave your happiness
for much is required of respect, of compassion

now in this present time and place
all is yours to promise and to celebrate

love is still
   lost in tranquility
love is patient
   awakening to complexity
love is busy
   with synchronicity
love is a candle’s
   light and darkness
love is sending an arrow
   to vanquish the heart
love is the sweet music
   found in growing old
love is forlorn
   and also hope

i am (was) a *** ******, and it was rather funny - what happened. you see, i’ve got ms and my feet always hurt. get’s annoying. limits things. sometimes stops things.

and from time to time I heard about how *** got rid of pain for folks with ms. but i’ve no idea how to get some. so naturally i ask my kid to get me some. he does. brings me 3 wilted looking cigarettes in a plastic container. i stick ‘em in the freezer.

then one saturday afternoon, i’m alone and all caught up and i think - ok, let’s give that **** a try. so i take one and light it up. a bit tricky in itself. keeps going out. well i just keep re-lighting it and ******* ******* it.

for i knew what to do. i’d seen how in movies. just **** in the smoke and pretend you’re under water as long as you can. so that’s what i did. over and over. lighting it up again and again. 20 minutes goes by. by now i thought i’d be feeling “high”. nope. just dizzy and getting a sore throat. and then the little cigarette was gone.

so i walked into the kitchen for something to drink. rather annoyed. my feet still hurt ******. then the world spun around 20 or so times and i couldn’t move my head a millimeter in any direction or it would spin again.

oops. this is awkward. so i take half an hour to get to the phone. phone my other kid and explain how i’m stuck in this one little spot in space-time and can’t move. and i don’t know what to do - does she have any advice?

she laughs and comes over and laughs some more. what did you do? well i smoked one of those marijuana cigarettes your brother gave me. and it didn’t help - my feet still hurt! and i can’t move my head! just my eyeballs!

a whole one yourself? all at once? well, yeah. and she gives me the orientation training i’d neglected earlier. so i crawled into bed and slept it off like any good drunk.

the other 2 are still in their plastic container in the freezer. the container without any instructions. and without warnings. been there a few years now. not too sure i want to try again. kind of reminds me how silly life is sometimes.

i miss you
and find myself wondering
where and how and if you are
you are because we are
and you are part of we
but are you free?

i remember how you just hate anything
the least bit tainted by the supernatural
yet you believe in the good
and work for the peace
you are relentless
about the consequence of a thought.

perhaps that's why peaceful buddhists
beckoned you across the sea
and why you were happy in their place
i see you now again in their midst
in their bardo - awakening
where the sun is always setting
and souls are recycled

these folk gave you a great gift
for bardo is the proper in-between
to finally unwrap your sadness
and be pleased with all you are

but you were christian first and still
and have chased jesus all your life
you've met him often in his varying disguise
and so encouraged, uplifted us

i remember your lessons
your direct manner
the joy above your sorrow
the hope above your hurt
you always left a warm space after
you have left it again with us.

we were:
   managing chaos
   working well
   seeking excellence

we are:
   managing opportunities
   working wisely
   developing excellence

we will:
   be managing programs
   be working wonders
   be excellent

our new consensus confidently directed
our new perspective discovering excellence

i came to you and you welcomed me.
i was with you only for a while and you understood.
i gave you all i had and you loved me more.

when i was happy you laughed with me.
when i was sad you encouraged me.
when i was curious you delighted me.

then came cancer and you were astounded.
then came doctors and you interceded for me.
then came knives and needles and you stayed with me.

i loved the water and you brought me dolphins.
i loved the blue sky and you coloured it with butterflies.
i loved you and you filled my final days with joy.

always remember our days together.
and, i really liked the balloons and bagpipes.