LOVE...

Courtesy of Ms. Holiday... You go to my head You go to my head, And you linger like a haunting refrain And I find you spinning round in my brain Like the bubbles in a glass of champagne. You go to my head Like a sip of sparkling burgundy brew And I find the very mention of you Like the kicker in a julep or two. The thrill of the thought That you might give a thought To my plea casts a spell over me Still I say to myself: get a hold of yourself Can't you see that it can never be? You go to my head With smile that makes my temperature rise Like a summer with a thousand Julys You intoxicate my soul with your eyes Tho I'm certain that this heart of mine Hasn't a ghost of a chance in this crazy romance, You go to my head. LOVE YOU, JB! xoxoxoxoxoxo

Cordial Cross-Roads

So..."LUSH" (Luscious Jackson--my Mountain Bike) and I ventured out for a ride this morning.

I was half asleep...I think I still had crusties in the corners of my eyes...morning breath?--for sure.

Sexy..I know.

But...I pedal on. Had to push through.

Push through the sluggish desire to remain in the comfort of my squishy bed.

Push through the dreary soundtrack in my head.

Push through the thought of inhaling several clouds of gnats hovering above the breathtaking bundles of spring flowers.

Oblivious to my surroundings...other than the never-ending alertness to automobiles, or motorized vehicle of any kind. I pause to cross the road at my normal juncture....and I am somewhat startled by a group of 6 or 7 men on road-bikes. I guess I'm startled, because I'm the only rider in these here parts, (other than JB, of course...and he's neighborhood King.)

Anyhow...my point is this.

I observed their tight formation.

Their speed.

Their age...and yes...probable station in life.

Couldn't help it.

I noticed how...other than their friendly "HELLO"..."MORNIN'"...

Other than the two-wheels they rode on.....EVERYTHING was different from me.

And....

I liked it.

I was different.

I had my own look.

A Different bike.

My own speed.

My own path.

They may have had a "head start"

A..."warm-up", if you will....

But my path???

where I am at???

Is EXACTLY where I need to be.

Chosen Family

Who are the members of your tribe?

They are the ones who will stick by you, NO MATTER WHAT.

We all have demons. Dark moments.

Times when we are "not our selves".

Times when we don't quite know what to do.

Times when we are uncertain of our present circumstances, or how we should handle them.

Tribe members...

They will understand.

They will feel your pain.

They will accept that even though you are suffering, they will have faith that you will pull through.

The reason?

They are of the same tribe.

They've been there.....done that.

And if they haven't...they possess the spirit to comprehend.

This is why they are your chosen family.

If you are lucky, there is at least one tribe member, who is capable of being there with you through it all.

The one who will not ever disappoint. The one who stands the test of time.

They will have the strength, and gift (in my opinion) to tell you "how it is".

The truth is not easy for this mate.

The truth is not easy for the recipient.

However...

The recipient is appreciative of what his/her tribesman has to say.

In fact, the recipient actually feels a deeper respect for the bearer of such advice.

Thats what we do.

I acknowledge that I am blessed. I am fortunate to have a handful (and more) of tribemates...members of the same clan.

Look out for one another.

Connect.

Keep watch.

Guide, and direct where you can.

You never know when it may be needed most.

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson