Hey,
Welcome to a hit of hope.
So I recently bought a new condo.
About two and a half hours away from where I live.
Because I wanted to be close to my daughter and son-in-law as they navigated life with my new grandson.
So I've been spending the summer in this new place,
And my daughter wasn't feeling well one day recently,
So I got to go over to their place one morning to help out.
And my grandson played,
And he ate.
And he pooped.
And he slept.
And I held him.
As he slept.
In my arms.
I murmured to him things like,
Oh,
Little one,
You chose such a good house.
To live it.
And.
.
.
Yes,
Swing at those toys dangling above you with your left hand.
Because we need another lefty like me in the family.
A.
M.
I'm not gonna lie.
Little nugget.
Life is good.
And hard sometimes.
But I will always.
Always be here for you.
And as I rocked and he cooed.
Two songs floated up in my mind.
Oh,
What a beautiful morning from the musical Oklahoma.
And feeling good by Nina Simone.
Both celebrate the new day.
The brightness and possibility.
Looking down at this new life in my arms,
It was a beautiful morning.
And it was easy.
To feel good.
For the sake of my grandchild and all living beings.
I wish the cowboy Curly's jaunty vision of life from Oklahoma was true.
But as catchy as his song was.
Bubblegum.
A whole lot of sweet that at some point feels like it's gonna pop and poof!
Into a sticky mess.
And I don't know,
But anybody else out there have to get their bangs cut because they got gum stuck in their hair.
I can still see myself in that mirror.
Strange,
Jagged edges framing my small face.
Which is why I trust Nina Simone's version.
Life.
You can hear it in her voice.
She knows.
She's been through the strange.
Tough.
And jagged.
And she sings.
She has to.
Her spirit will settle.
For nothing less.
Every day.
We get to choose.
What we will do.
In the face of all.
That is.
There's nothing wrong with pulling out our best cowboy swagger now and then to whisper,
Bring it,
As we stare down whatever it is that has arrived in our lives to take us on.
But we also need to remember that actually.
This is our first rodeo.
Or as I've said before,
We are all like my new grandson.
First time humans trying to figure it all out.
Life is good.
And heart.
And so we all need to find the people.
Who show up for us.
Those who tell us the truth.
Those who hold us close.
And murmur.
I don't care if you are strange.
Or have some jagged edges.
No matter what.
I will be here for you.
Always.
Take care of you.
And live light.
And shine.
