Date: Sat, 13 Oct 2001 08:17:42 -0400 (EDT)
Random Thought: A Blessing

I was sitting on the edge of the fountain in from of the Library yesterday morning inhaling with great relish both a deliciously glazed doughnut into my mouth and the deliciously crisp, clear, sunny autumnal air into my lungs. "What more could a person ask for at this moment," I impishly thought to myself. I soon found out.

Suddenly I was sitting in a shadow. I looked up. Standing before me was Latanya. I hadn't seen her in a couple of years, but for reasons I can't share I never forgot her and thought on occasion how she was doing.

"Hey, Dr. Schmier. A doughnut? Where's your Tootsie Pops?"

"Don't do them anymore since I got myself into physical, mental, and spiritual shape three summers ago. Where have you been?"

"I'm sorry I haven't talked with you in a long while," she repentantly apologized. "Got good classes this semester?"

"Always do."

Suddenly, without warning, she shifted moods, tightly clutched her books to her chest, almost jumping up and down with uncontrollable excitement, she squealed with a burst, "I'm gonna graduate this spring! I'm gonna be a teacher!"

There was such celebration, self-confidence, self-worth, and accomplishment in her.

"Damn," I thought to myself, "she made it!"

I jumped up and we hugged in joyous celebration. I wanted to whirl her around and around I was so proud for her, but I had a cup of coffe in one hand and a half eaten doughnut in the other.

"It's been such a struggle," she said a bit more calmly. "With all the mistakes I made and all the shit I had to walk through, I never thought I would get there. I know. Don't say it. You always did believe. I guess that got me to start believin'."

Then out of the blue she came at me with, "Hey, I got an idea. Give me a blessing as a new teacher."

"You mean advice? You know that I...."

"Nah," she waved me off with her hand. "I know you don't ever give advice. I mean a preacher-like blessing."

I looked at her. Stunned. "You got to be kidding. I'm no priest or rabbi."

"Ah, come on. Don't tell me you're not a man of the spirit. Come up with something. Right here. Right now. No thinking. Something from your soul. Bless me as a new teacher."

I sat down, turned my head away and down, put my finger to my chin and lip looking as if I was Rodan's Thinker, thinking of her, and looking to find some writing on the fountain wall.

"Well....stop thinking."

I raised my head, looked at her, got up, reached out straight armed and clutched her shoulders, looked deeply into her eyes, and like the high priests of old, I slowly and deliberately invoked:

                "May you be blessed with many challenges, 
                many struggles, many mistakes, and many 
                discomforts."

I saw that slight quizzical look appear on her face. I smiled, saying only, "Not what you expected? Think about it. You especially will understand."

Then, it was my turn to shift into a hurried mode. "Gotta go to class. They're starting to present the Bruce Springsteen Project today."

We hugged again.

"I'm gonna think long and hard about this blessing and then come talk with you about it. But, that's want you want, isn't it: to get me thinking and feeling."

I smiled again.

This morning on my walk, I decided that it's a darn good blessing for me and each of us.

Think about it, and....