A Letter Asking Forgiveness

A few months ago, a blog I used to frequent had a dust-up over the banning of a frequent commenter. Stuff like that happens, of course, but what really set some people off, myself included, was the banning of one individual by another, without benefit of a vote or even a consensus, in a blog that had established no rules for conduct. Consequently some things were said by certain parties. I may not have said them first, but I agreed, and chose a side. This letter is to those who, like myself, were caught in the crossfire.

Dear people,

I’m sorry for any conflict I may have caused, either directly or indirectly. I’m sorry you felt the need to tip-toe around the conflict. I am not one who deliberately sets out to poke with a cattle prod, but I couldn’t in good conscience keep quiet about my opinions. If I feel something was handled in the wrong way, I will say it. If I feel some are acting childishly and circling wagons, I will say that, too. But if you felt that I passed judgment on you for whatever reason, then I am truly sorry, for that was never my intent. Being ignored and defriended has taught me who has thin skin, and who can take the blows.

It has also taught me the value of true friends.

Sincerely,

Me

Letter to a Dream

Today I write a letter to a dream.

Actual representation of my dreams after chocolate.

To my dream,

Every child had a friend like you. You were so cool and tempting, and gave people a goal to reach, in small ways and big. And you were the one thing EVERYONE had, no matter how rich or how poor. I thought there was no harm in our friendship because it was natural and healthy to develop it. But unlike other people, I didn’t let you grow. I kept you away in the back of my mind, like a toy on a shelf that I was afraid would break. And I was afraid, because I had seen so many dreams broken before. For a long time I forgot about you. I went on with my life, knowing you were always there, waiting for me to notice you again, until one day, when someone asked me what my life-long dream was.

I stood there in silence, and went to the shelf were you sat, wondering how dusty you were, and to my amazement, you looked happy, your frame shiny and the glass unbroken, the picture of a happy family in the frame untouched by rips or tears. And I realized that, though I had placed you on that shelf to remain untouched, you went ahead and lived in me, quietly so I wouldn’t notice. And as I look at my family, I see that you had been with me, growing and living and coming true. So, thank you for not giving up on me.

Sincerely,

your Id.

 

Hairy Situations

A few weeks ago I took my son to get his hair cut. This was not only momentous, but timely, since the awards assembly was coming up. It was important that he would be able to see where he was going when accepting his awards. As I was wating for him to be finished, another  hair stylist came in and asked if I needed to be seen. Disclosure: we were at Sports Clips. I smiled and said no, that I was waiting on my son. She smiled and said that if I needed to have my gray taken care of, she could recommend a salon for me.

I was not amused….

Approximation of gray, not of beauty. Scars not included.

I politely said thank you, and left it at that. But after a few weeks, it came to mind that some people are rather presumptive over women’s vanities. True, we get bombarded by Madison Avenue’s version of what a woman should look like and act like. Some advertisers are moving away from the “triathlon-gourmet-supermodel” template, like Dove™ and their Campaign for Real Beauty. And though I admit to dyeing my hair over a decade ago, I have to say, I do love my gray, and embrace it like spun silk, even though it tends to feel like wiry wool. I like to think of them as God’s Highlights, and I know for a fact I earned each and every single one 😉