Bare Branches

Bare branches tell a story
Green ones cannot understand

They were stripped of their livelihood
They stand naked in shame
They never asked to be the chosen ones
They were not given options at that moment
They thought they were in it all together
They were always part of the team

Bare branches tell a story
Green ones just don't understand

As lightening does, it struck
A tiny spark changed the course
Amazing inferno, ravaging the life
Green is vaporized in seconds
The beauty that took years is gone

Bare branches tell a story
Green ones fail to understand

Under the blackened nakedness
Blood flows on
It breathes and moves
Heart still constant in the trunk
Damaged, but not dead

Bare branches tell a story
Green ones misunderstand

Severely broken, but not forever
Struggle is slow and steady
Water and light are needed
But time is the only true healer
They learn they can only grow with the seasons

Bare branches tell a story
Green ones incapable to understand

Solid, perfect, and Green
Balanced and Unmovable
The world offers little threat
Small Animals, tired birds, a bitter winter
They don't phase those green branches

Bare branches tell a story
Green ones will never understand

A forrest full of trees
No one really stands alone
They all touch each other
Need by each other, dependent
It is their togetherness that makes them strong

Yet somehow, bare branches know a different story.

(Written Summer 2008 while sitting in the forest in Yosemite.
Recent life events made it come alive again.)

Rabbi's Wisdom

Today, North Hollywood was rattled by the shooting of two Jewish men as they were entering the Adat Yeshurun Valley Sephardic synagogue for worship. Although the two men were not fatally injured, there was fear and panic this morning as the unknown assailant was loose, and the motive and extent of the crime were undetermined.

The Deputy Chief of Los Angeles Police was addressing the media and spelled the name of the synagogue, Adat Yeshurun, because he couldn't pronounce it. The Rabbi helped him out and pronounced it for him, and then a reported asked the Rabbi to spell it. He said, "Just like the Deputy Chief said", noting the irony of the question. The Rabbi continued, "It is a Hebrew word, you can spell it any way you want."

None of the reporters seemed to pick up on this quip, and they went along with dramatizing the morning's saga. They were asking the most dire of questions - probing for the worst case scenario.

But it was the Rabbi's attitude that caught me, his humor in the face of fear.

If we all could manage to see beyond the fear, beyond the uncertainty, simply live in the moment, and smile at the moment, what a better place this would be.

Non-Random Acts of Kindness

The news has been so depressing as of late, and it seems that somehow the best of human nature has been lacking in display. Yesterday, I was the recipient of some non-random acts of kindness, the kind where people are generally in a position to help, but normally do not.

My colleague and I arrive at the airport after an exhausting but successful 5 hour presentation, and we are running on a bit of adrenaline and I am running a bit on Dayquil. My colleague dutifully writes down the cab number on the receipt, and I tease him for his meticulousness. He is dropped off a few terminals before me, and so I actually pay the cab driver when we arrive at my terminal. I gather my laptop, my heavy overcoat, open the truck by myself (aren't they supposed to do that for you?), and haul the too heavy carry-on bag out. Slamming the truck shut with a deep breath, and the cab is on its way. It hits me like a ton of bricks. I check my pockets, three times, i check my laptop bag, but I already know the answer. I left my iPhone in the cab.

Sheer panic. This is not my city, not any where near my comfort zone, and this is not a good thing. The first person I run into is a porter, who somehow distinguished my cries for help and sends me to the taxi cab stand downstairs. I realize I have my other phone (the boring one that does nothing by call people, which is very important at this moment) and I call my colleague. "What is the cab number?" "What?" I repeated, "I need the cab number!" "6278" "Okay, good gotta go. Bye."

Fortunately, there is hardly anyone in line at the cab stand, so panic stricken me approaches the operator. I explain "my iPhone is in the cab, number 6278, I just left it two minutes ago!" She calmly smiles and never misses a beat. She is on the radio with the dispatcher. Minutes tick by. I start pacing with my rolling bag. At some point she asks if I know the name of the cab company, my answer? "It was yellow?" Then, ah, I remember, the receipt is in my pocket - and amazing, their number is on the receipt too!

I call the company and plead my sad story again. This dispatcher takes my phone and says she will call right back. I have serious doubts about this. The cab stand operator has no more information and my hopes are fading. Besides the actual replacement of the phone, I realize that I have not set up a password on my phone and much personal data is at risk. Shame overcomes me at my willfulness to ignore security precautions that I even preach about!

The boring phone in my hand rings, the dispatcher! She tells me that she will give me the cabbie's number, because he has already dropped off the iPhone with someone. Who?! I can't find a pen, and I know my panic was going to make me forget the number. Hearing me fumbling, the dispatcher calmly said, "Why don't you just put it in your phone?" Duh. Double duh.

The cabbie says "I gave it to a security guard in the parking lot." Which parking lot? No idea. Which security guard? No idea. Ok - so now, all I have to do is find the security guard in the massive Chicago O'Hare airport in one of the parking lots who has my iPhone and doesn't want to take it home for himself, because he has no way of knowing who I am.

Back to the cab stand, I ask her what parking lot might I find security guards with my phone in it. She thinks, probably the "lost and found" in that structure, pointing me on way - so dutifully, I go. I find nothing, the valet parking guys think I'm a little crazy, but at this point, I don't really care. I turn to see a well built tough Chicago guard coming my way. He waves a black object and calls, "You the lady missing an iPhone?"

Running towards him, I cannot resist a hug! I'm blaming all of that on the sinus drugs! He walks me back to the cab stand, explaining how many people lose their phones that way, and how his iPhone is his life, so he totally understands the panic. He bids me a good day and leaves me with the cab stand operator. She has now seen me go through the 8 stages of "Lost and Found" - panic, fear, anger, disappointment, hope, anticipation, relief, and finally, elation. She is pleased and laughs when I yell to no one in particular "I love Chicago!"

It is a rare but beautiful moment as I stand in the security line, and I reflect on how many people it took to coordinate getting that phone back into my hand, and how they made my day.

Never, ever, pass up an opportunity to show someone just a little random or not-so-random act of kindness.

Freshmen

Two young men sat on the bench outside of the Business building; one looking around like a lost puppy, the other one intensely chatting on his cell phone. I am walking by heading to another meeting on this first day of the Fall semester and something made me slow down and I hear the student say, "Where are you? We are in front of the building!"

Instinctively, I looked around and within a split second had found their meeting buddy. I noticed another lone figure out of their view because a tree was in the way. I smiled and said the freshmen on the bench, "he's right there" and pointed out the other lost puppy.

They looked at me a little funny, then realized I was right, and said, "Wow, thank you!" and moved to meet the other student.

As I walked into our new library, I realized, THIS is exactly what our job is to do - as adults, and as educators - our job is to help the students see the world through the trees! Although the students had the technology to connect, they didn't stand up to find the answer standing 50 feet away! Never underestimate the ability to point our students in the right direction, sometimes, they even appreciate it.

Make Time

I was 16, working multiple jobs, in college, and loving life. A bit overwhelmed at how much was on my shoulders, and the competing priorities, I sought the advice of a trusted youth leader, who sat me down and said, "Crista, you will always find time to do the things you really want to do."

So, for years I have attempted to prioritize my responsibilies knowing that I can always find the time to do the things I really want to do. And perhaps there was a time in life when that was true, when I was that 16 year old. Now, a lifetime later, my passion for life has not abated, but my time has eroded and I find that I do not find time to do the things I want to do, because the things I have to do take over the clock.

I want to write - clearly this has not been a priority, given the last time I blogged. Poetry, stories, blog, the world of words daily entices me, and I resist.

I want to watch interesting movies, old ones, new ones; I like the history, the story, the technology use.
I want to listen to more music that I don't know and repeat music that I already love.
I want to dance and sing.
I want to do more yoga and run.
I want to send real birthday cards out to my family and friends.
I want to travel to exotic places, and yet, I want to stay home and do nothing.
I want to eat amazing food and learn to cook it too.
I want to do really well at my job - encourage, inspire, and make the school better.
I want to be a good stepmom, wife, daughter, sister, friend.

A bit of mind rambling - obviously, there is a much longer list.

What I really want is to change the world and make it a better place in my own way.

Somehow laundry, bills, and the "real world" get in the way. Ah, the common struggle.

But I'll keep trying to make the time to do the things I want.

Those Parents

As the world mourns several major celebrities, parents across the world are mourning the loss of their children to the great Ivory Tower. Today, I witnessed as some of these parents voiced their concerns at a university orientation for parents...

"How do I get my son not to play video games while he is a college?"

"I am most worried about my daughter actually exploring and trying new things."

"I don't let me kids do their own laundry, so I don't know what my son will do with it."

Somehow in the recent past, parenting has seriously changed from PREPARING our children for adulthood, to PROTECTING them from adulthood. Some of these parents, grated not all, were so fearful that their students might actually grow up, to be responsible in their own way and experience life. It was so sad. And their poor kids spend more of their time trying to overcome this irrational and stifling fear. These are the kids that are so unprepared for how to even ask the right questions, because they were never taught that they are responsible for their own well-being. Rather than providing their children with the tools to live, a curiosity of what life holds, and how to maneuver that life, these parents are providing them with co-dependency skills and a helpless sense of navigating the world.

I hope never to be one of "those parents".

The Current State of the Tower

The ivory towers stands high, massive, glistening in the far off distance. It's three levels are distinct, each getting smaller and steeper. It is daunting to the millions of minions all around it, although most understand its place and treat it with respect. But many just ignore it, or pretend that it doesn't matter to them.

At the top of the tower, the Admins and Profs are poised and huddled in their own world. They notice little about what is happening around, on, or below the tower. Few look over the edge, and fewer still leave the tower. Although, some do have a fear that some day they might not get to stay in the tower.

The sides of the tower are covered with minions who are crawling, hanging on, struggling with the steep climb. They dodge pitfalls, cracks, and scale the side brick by brick. Some make it to the first level and are awarded. Most leave the tower at this point, and never look back.

Other minions, now B-Minions forge on scaling the wall, which is much steeper, and few of those that try even make it. They are awarded at the second level. Only those with great fortitude and sheer will, even attempt to make it to the last steepest level. Of those very few, fewer make it to the top. Most cannot make it past the final wall to the top.

There is little help along the way, but often M-Minions leave trails for others to follow, and occasionally a Prof will peek out from the top and offer a bit of advice. But it is a very lonely struggle, and it is only the bravest who make it.

After scaling the final wall, a M-Minion exhausted, dehydrated, and confused, they are welcomed into the club. Now they stay, and most do, because it is much too much work to get off of the tower. And there is no need to bother with the outside world - it is very comfortable and self-contained at the top of the tower. They are now Profs.

Unnoticed by those at the top, on one side of the tower, a few Profs, and Minions are making a bit of a mess. They have come down from the top and they are chipping away at the tower. They use every tool they can find - hammers, drills, often their own hands, to just get a piece of the tower. These rebellious ones pass the piece of the tower to the masses that surround them, and the piece gets passed around. The more minions that touch the ivory, the more that they want of the ivory.

Some of the minions realize that they too must scale the tower, so that someday they can give the ivory to others.