Wednesday, May 30, 2007

changing the world and standing still

do you want to improve the world?
i don't think it can be done.

the world is sacred.
it can't be improved.
if you tamper with it, you'll ruin it.
if you treat it like an object, you'll lose it.

there is a time for being ahead,
a time for being behind;
a time for being in motion,
a time for being at rest;
a time for being vigorous,
a time for being exhausted;
a time for being safe,
a time for being in danger.

the master sees things as they are,
without trying to control them.
she lets them go their own way,
and resides at the center of the circle.
tao de ching-29

we hopped the amtrak in salinas.
barbara and i headed to santa barbara
on my birthday to visit marilyn,
see odysseus and mend the world!

train travel is one of the perfect go-aheads.
fast and slow at the same time.
the coast starlight travels along the edge.
one of my favorite pastimes!

barbara had prepared a bag full of provisions;
we had books, crossword puzzles,
(thanks to loel) and death valley playing cards.
we had each other to ourselves..

felicity was heading south with her two young sons
to visit grandmother and grand papa.
she and the boys had a quality and presence
that opened out to the landscape.
while barbara and i were
creating a virtual tarot reading,
felicity quietly 'grokked'
the magic and mystery of it!
we enjoyed one another's company;
she told us of the 13 grandmothers.
http://www.grandmotherscouncil.com/

when we disembarqued,
she gifted me her turquoise necklace
as company on my journey.
we will meet again, she said,
as we bowed our good-byes
laced with namaste.

we arrived late, a bit rail weary.
marilyn met us at the station.
rejoicing in our rendezvous,
we headed to her home where birthday soup,
birthday cake and surprizes were waiting!

i had envisioned marilyn, barbara and me
making 'free hugs' signs over the long
week-end and placing ourselves on a
busy corner in santa barbara,
joining the freehugscampaign.org
barbara and marilyn agreed to the adventure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4

the next day was busy..
i was to meet a woman in the neighboring towne
who had a cat and a house that needed sitting.
we required paper for our hug project.
there was a mending circle where a group of
fine women gathered monthly to mend;
their clothing, their hearts, the world.
we had tickets to see the odyssey.
this is a production presented
by the boxtale theatre company.
it may be an annual event as marilyn had
seen it once before and was enthralled.
she treated us to homer's epic.
breathtaking!

it was sign time on sunday morning.
we three turned into 5-year-oldes
designing, tracing and colouring
our unique and particular placards.

before we met the world,
we retreated to the vedanta temple
where we sat in stillness imagining
huge inescapable hugs!
the solitude opened our hearts.
we were able to cultivate courage,
tenderness
and
yes! indeedy..the good humour man!

marilyn had the perfect spot for us.
it was in/around a large shopping
area on state street.
we parked in a nearby garage..
the first 75 minutes free..
isn't that generous?
and walked with our signs
to the large open space in the mall.

we had made three free hug
signs and the fourth was a large arrow..
to point the way!
(thank marilyn for that direction!)
b. was a bit hug shy so she took the arrow.
it started off slow..
i heard someone say..
look! more free hugs!

wouldn't you know..
down where the mall meets the street
(where the river meets the sea)
there was jerry
with his rainbow free hugs sign..
jerrymatteo@cox.net
he posts himself on state street
most sundays..
this sunday he was being videoed
by students for a film project.
we joined jerry..
who was flabberghasted
(and delighted) at our presence.

there was the tall homeless man..
with startled eyes..
i engaged him with mine..questioning..
no, no..he couldn't cross over..
..for a hug..he walked away..
only to return slowly ..
watching intently with his hand to his head..
marilyn encouraged a hug for him;
no, no..not just yet..
he stood still.. witnessing..
the joy of huggers abounding..
marilyn faced him again gently;
no, no.. not yet..

all the while there is boisterous
laughter..many takers for hugs..
young children, teen-age girls,
handsome young men who were so eager
to step right up into any one's arms!
one last time marilyn urged the
the wondering wanderer..tenderly..
but no, no..not this time.
he walked on.
we held him in our heartminds
long after the signs were put away.

a nurse came up to me to harvest a hug.
she instructed me
on the rights and lefts
of arms and hands and hearts.
'no patting on the back,' she advised.
3..that's three..hugs a day
to lower blood pressure.
we went in for the count;
one..big squeeze!
two..bigger still..
three..the grande amour!

barbara is writing
a short story of the hugging day.
marilyn is hooked, lined and hugged.
we are planning our next adventure!

as we were leaving,
a man approached me.
he spoke with a german accent.
i saw on his jacket a lapel pin
with two flags crossed;
one, american..
the other german.

"what is hug?" he asked.
i gave him the biggest bear hug
i could conjure up..
'THIS - this is hug!'

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