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Showing posts from September 9, 2011

Magical Moment 584, "Conversation with Willie"

I opened the glass door of the retail store and walked inside, eyes immediately drawn to the mannequins donning outfits I could never pull off. Yet I couldn't keep my fingers from running over the fabrics displayed on racks that were laid out, row after row around me. Months of penny pinching and shopping-deprivation made me like a hungry child in a bakery. My arms were full of clothes in mere moments. A sales clerk politely offered her assistance and asked my name.  "Elizabeth," I told her. "I'm Willie," She replied with a slight southern accent, cheerfully as if we were about to become best friends. She was an older black woman who I noticed was just as attentive to all the customers in her section. Animated and friendly, Willie drew my complete attention as she continued, "Elizabeth, I can remember that. That's my sister's middle name. Her first name is Mary," she explained. Before I could help it, I told her that my first name was actu

Magical Moment 583, "Up"

"Go on with your normal day." That's what we were told to do on this 10th anniversary of 9/11.  So I went for a run, practiced the piano, and cleaned the kitchen. I went to the grocery store, took a nap, and did laundry.  I walked to and from the laundry room, white basket balanced on my hip, held steady with my right arm. And with every airplane that flew overhead, I couldn't help but look up. I did my best to suppress the paranoia that no doubt crept over the majority of New Jersey and New York. Neck craned and imagination running wild, I followed the jet soaring above that was no larger than a dot in the sky. It glided from one horizon to the other, momentarily being eclipsed by a tree branch that arched overhead. It was then I noticed a birds nest I'd never before seen, tucked firmly within the sturdy limbs of the mighty tree. I wondered what birds had hatched and lived within the woven walls of twigs and leaves. "They're safe up there," I thoug

Magical Moment 582, "A Change"

Change, whether it's the gradual shift in seasons, or sudden like an unpredictable storm, it's bound to happen. The changes in my own life over the past year and a half, are obvious when I take to the time to reflect. And each one held its own set of struggles and benefits.  There is a change today in the name of this blog, from "One Magical Moment Per Day," to simply "Magical Moments."  For 582 days, I've made an effort to choose one positive moment to write, sing, or video about and share with whoever feels compelled to follow this blog. And while I no doubt will experience numerous more of these moments on a daily basis, I've decided to lessen my posts.  I began this blog during a time when I needed accountability within myself to  choose  to see the positive aspects and beauty throughout difficult situations. My original intent was to post one of these moments every day for one year. When a year came and went, I still felt like I had much more

Magical Moment 581, "Receding"

Earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and now the 10th anniversary of 9/11 looming. This area has been through quite a bit recently. The local news is packed with stories of road closures, heightened security, and power outages. It's enough to make you not want to go outside.  But I  did  go outside. I can go to Shoprite now and buy groceries because the water has receded. I can drive to and from work, when just last week I was forced to miss a day due to flooded highways. I can jog outside with Joy, because the rain let up this morning.  It takes a while, and we still have a ways to go, but these daily routines are a gentle reminder that hard times  do  pass. Sometimes, it's only 5 or 6 days for the waters to go down. Sometimes it's a decade before a country starts to heal from a horrifying loss and gaping wound. But this too will pass. And yes, what you're going through, that will pass too. Said Charlie Brown to Snoopy, "Are you upset little friend? Have you been