10, Her Way

My girl -

You are a wonder.  You defy expectations every minute of every day.  I have never met anyone so much her own person, not bothering with what others might conclude, just making your own way, in your own way.

Your beauty, strength, confidence, power, intelligence, compassion, humor, love and limitlessness will always be a wonder to those who love you and those who learn to love you.

Happy birthday, my sweet.
~Mom




Wonder by Natalie Merchant:

Doctors have come from distant cities
Just to see me
Stand over my bed
Disbelieving what they're seeing

They say I must be one of the wonders
Of god's own creation
And as far as they can see they can offer
No explanation

Newspapers ask intimate questions
Want confessions
They reach into my head
To steal the glory of my story

They say I must be one of the wonders
Of god's own creation
And as far as they can see they can offer
No explanation

O, I believe
Fate smiled and destiny
Laughed as she came to my cradle
Know this child will be able
Laughed as my body she lifted
Know this child will be gifted
With love, with patience and with faith
She'll make her way

People see me
I'm a challenge to your balance
I'm over your heads
How I confound you and astound you
To know I must be one of the wonders
Of god's own creation
And as far as you can see you can offer me
No explanation

O, I believe
Fate smiled and destiny
Laughed as she came to my cradle
Know this child will be able
Laughed as she came to my mother
Know this child will not suffer
Laughed as my body she lifted
Know this child will be gifted
With love, with patience and with faith
She'll make her way

Your Eyes

Child,

Fourteen years ago I first looked into your eyes. I could not yet name what I saw, I didn't know what you saw. Since that time, I catch the light and the heat daily. You see without judgment, you see with love, always looking for connection, for amusement, for what it good. You see the power in others first and you make certain they see it clearly themselves.

In your eyes I do see joy, love, hope, change, power, justice, promise, light, heat.

Happy birthday, sweet.

(Full screen view recommended)

24 Minutes Now, Connections Uncountable Later

 "The more important thing for me is that when I know someone don't want to understand me, I give up. I only want to connect, communicate with people who want to, not with people who don't want to."

What Do Ed Roberts and MLK Have in Common?

Probably quite a bit, but I'll let you do that research.  Both revolutionaries are celebrated this week in our country.

Celebrate Ed Roberts Day today by challenging at least one assumption.  You can start by challenging any disinclination you might have to clicking on this link and reading a short article about Ed Roberts:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ed-roberts-legacy-lives-on-in-youths-living-with-disabilities-187901931.html

Both visionaries inform my hopes and plans for my children's futures.  Let me begin to explain (by recycling a post from a year ago this week):

Ought to Be

May each of us see where potential greatness on any scale is being thwarted, may we call oppression what it is. May we speak against it. May we act to end it.