Copyright © Louis Schmier and Atwood Publishing.
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....
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