it is a human right

The other day was Martin Luther King Jr Day a man that stood up for human rights. I have an uncanny ability to remember peoples names, what they do, their favorite sports teams. their dogs, their kids, their struggles, their triumphs and everything in between. A customer marveled at the fact that I was able to recall different aspects of their life. And I began thinking about this ability I have. I am not a memorable person. The people I have seen every day for the past four years, yes they recognize me. But some that maybe I saw an hour or so before and we had chatted about the upcoming test or the stressful day at the office, I won't be remembered out from behind my bar. And that is fine, I served my purpose in their life for that day, that moment, I filled that need.

We all feel the need to be known. That is why I have this blog, am addicted to facebook and post stupid videos on youtube. None of us want to go through life being forgotten, unknown, alone. Now this is where I can tie it all together. I believe it is a human right to be recognized, to be remembered. I don't believe anyone deserves to be forgotten.

Sometimes people share things with me while I am behind the bar that I don't want them to. Often times I know about the same phone call three days running, or the issue with the light bulbs that has been dragging out for two weeks. Sometimes it is hard to help the grieving daughter who just lost their father, or the poor kid on the block who doesn't have a dime to his name, or the drunk who somehow magically bought a computer, or to the mother who is tired of dealing with her rebellious teenager, or the student who just can't figure out college, or the kid who really wants to be all grown up and living his dream but can't figure out how to get there. Sometimes I forget what my purpose is. Sometimes I wish it wasn't my purpose that is was someone else's problem to listen and offer the same advice every day. But it's OK at the end of the day, the week, the month when one person says thank you at the end of our conversation. It helps to get to the next conversation, and the next problem. Though sometimes I am tired and feel that I have nothing much left to give, someone will see me at the grocer and say hi fancy seeing you here. And then I the forgettable one was unforgettable for a change.

it is normal

A friend of mine has decided that they are missing normalcy in their life. What is normalcy might I ask? Who knows what is normal in their life? Do you have a normal life? Do I? When I told her that a normal life is an enigma she said she wished to be God's version of normal. Well the word normal is not in the Bible so how would one find out God's version of normal. In the Song of Solomon he says...but my dove, my perfect one, is unique... and who doesn't want to be that girl? I mean he wrote one of the steamiest books to date all about her uniqueness. What I am trying to say is that why would you want to be average, plain, boring, just like any other bloke. Why wouldn't you want to be yourself,find your uniqueness and stand up on your own two feet and say to the world this is who I am deal with it! I don't feel like I made my point, or if I even know which point I was trying to make. But I'll leave you with this. Be yourself and be proud of yourself.

It is your mind

I was thinking last night as, I was falling asleep, about how our brains work. And then I was thinking about how little of our brains we actually use, I think it is somewhere around 10%. And then I was thinking about all the crazy people in the world and I was thinking if we utilized more of our brain capacity would these psychotic people be more psychotic or less. And would all the good people in the world be better and would more positive change come about. And how come in movies aliens who use more of their brain can always speak telepathically. That is their big achievement with more brain power, telepathy.

-- Posted From My iPhone so please excuse the typos!

It is snow

It snowed last night and as I walked to work this morning the whole world sparkled in the street lamp's. It was perfectly still the world hadn't started moving, the only sound I heard was my booted foot crunching the snow cold on the ground. I began to think about winter, I hear many people complain about it every day. This is met with a reminder of all the bugs and the bacteria and allergens that are being killed thanks to the cold. I have to admit I do not enjoy every season. I am not terribly fond of summer.
But this morning while I was walking I decided to make a mental note, always find the beauty in each day, in each season, in all weathers.






-- Posted From My iPhone so please excuse the typos!

It is a new year

Here it comes. Are you ready? Here come the resolutions to be a better person to make next year better than last. And well was this year better than the one before? For me I'll say yes I had a better year than before, not that the one before was bad. This year 2009 I grew a lot. I had several hills to climb and I seem to have made it over each one without breaking anything beyond repair. And I have a better idea of who I am.
I hope you have made an effort to better yourself and the world this past year and I hope this next year is the best to date.
B


-- Posted From My iPhone so please excuse the typos!

What a great Christmas. It was exactly what a holiday should be. My kid sister and I headed over to parents early on Christmas eve due to the snow storm blowing in. We cooked French food and drank wine and watched Bing Crosby. Christmas morning we were up and opening presents and then ate some serriously good but serriously bad for you food. Than played games lots lots of games. A friend came over that evening to share in a serriously delicious roast and we played games and drank martinis and listened to jazz. At some point i thought this is what it is supposed to be like. Nobody was screaming or arguing noboy cared we all just were low-key. No worries. Flexible. And what happened because of that was magic. No one was thinking about themselves no one had a rush schedule to keep. We just were. And it was wonderful. And the food was great. :-)
Merry Christmas!!


-- Posted From My iPhone so please excuse the typos!

it is a meeting

Yesterday at the Hard Bean several of my customers who have gone off to college ran into each other while home for Christmas. It was fun to hear them catch up and share stories from the "old days". A customer of mine from great island of England was here hopping from blues club to blues club writing reviews of the great blues artists that come through KC. The returning college-ites all happened to be jazz musicians. A conversation was struck between them, from across our country and across the pond. Have you heard this guy play guitar, what abut this guy on sax, oh you have got to hear this band, I remember when I got to meet so and so and on and on the conversation went for about a hour. It reminded me of a book, or well a series of books, I have read. Amelia Peabody and her intrepid husband embark on several Egyptian expeditions, and seeing as they are the worlds leading Egyptian archeologists so they should. Each adventure always begins at Shepherds Hotel in their cafe where they meet the most interesting people. I take great pride in having a spot where connections can be made, and people can be met, and conversations with a complete stranger can be intelligent and stimulating and on the whole good.

It is Christmas

I love Christmas! It is so wonderful! I wish we had snow out here in KC. The forecast as of yesterday said snow christmas eve so I will keep hoping. Customers have asked me often lately why I love Christmas so much. And what is there to say? I love St Nick and sleigh rides and sleigh bells and snow and blazing hearths and little birds with all their feathers puffed out and all the surprises and all the food and all the children such a great anticipation. And the joy and the merriment. And the wine, and the parties and the overall charity that even Scrooge cannot ignore. And eggnog and eggnog latte. And the smiles and the laughter and the love that is suddenly spread around our little community. And the Christmas trees and the twinkle lights on all the houses, I especially love those. And I love picking out the perfect gift, when their face says "oh my word you thought of that for me, how did you know!"
Well anyways all that is to say, I love Christmas I hope you do too and I hope you take the time to find the joy, make the memories and spread love this holiday season.
B

It it a thought

I am asked surprisingly often why I am single. Almost like it is a crime that I am. Some people have even come to the conclusion I must be a lesibian. This was a shock to me the first time I was asked :-). I have several married friends and several single friends. I have single friends who are happy to wait and I have single friends that are obsessed with finding their mate (male and female I should add). I was watching "that 70's show" the other day (great quality TV I know) the episode where Hyde comes back married to stripper Samantha and like magic they are perfect for eachother their relationship just works. I have single friends who chase after any available man in hopes they will click and spend the rest of their lives together. I knew a guy who "interviewed" potential wives. I have a friend who wants to "wake-up" the guy that she currently likes so that they can enter into matrimonial bliss. I know of girls who are so anxious to wed yet feel they should hear a sign from God that they make up words of God in their head to justify whatever thoughts or actions they are presently entertaining. I've also heard of married couples who only got married because God told them to not nesiscarily because they loved each other at the time. Then of course you have arranged marriges and mail order brides. Does it seem to anyone else that we are maybe too obcessed with this idea of marriage? Maybe that is why we have such a high divorce rate. Maybe we are so caught up in the whole deal that we jump down the ailse with the wrong person. Well I guess it's not the only reason why we can't, as Americans, seem to hold marriages together. But sometimes I think if we were just pateint and waited for the right time the right person who shares the same passions and desires and goals and morals as you then maybe we wouldn't be so disfunctional 20 years later. Still we are often told seek and ye shall find.


-- Posted From My iPhone so please excuse the typos!