eBook Available Soon!

Spirit Song: the lyrics of my heart will soon be available as an eBook, to be read on the Web, Android, iPhone, iPad, Sony and Nook. The preview is live now on Google Books.  If you already have a print edition, I would appreciate it if you would take a few moments to write a review.

Of course, if you just can't wait ... you can purchase a copy, or four, today at the "Buy Now" tab located on the right side of this page.

On Love ...

"Could You Be Love/d 2011 Bob Marley"

original painting by Mo

www.facebook.com/Mofee123.pdx

Today is my mom's birthday, the second one since her transition to the ancestors. I wasn't really feeling any kind of way about it. I do find that I remember random things about her at off times ... like any time I go to the mall, I remember Christmas shopping right after my son was born and her telling me not to let people look in the stroller because they would try to steal him (don't ask) ... or while watching the Grammy's the other night I remembered the last awards show we watched together at her house, with my daughter, where I was waiting for Prince to perform but he didn't; they just did a wack tribute ... random stuff like that.  I guess in over 40 years I have a lot of random, and not so random, memories. One thing I hold close is how in recent years she would tell me that I don't always have to be doing something; it's ok to rest, be still, relax.

So, while I knew this day was approaching and I was preparing for the possibility that whirlwind emotions would overtake me (cause that's just how I am), I was not prepared to attend a home going service yesterday. A friend, who had been hospitalized since April, transitioned on last Sunday. Being that he was 88 and his health was degenerating over the months, his passing was not a surprise. My reaction to it, however, has taken me back a little. I feel as if I lost someone who I have known all my life, when in actuality we met only two years ago. I think that is a testament to the type of man Mr. White was and how he lived. He made everybody around him feel welcome and worthy. He was filled with joy. He was grateful for what he had in life. He never thought it robbery to share with others; a smile, a word, a piece of candy, a dollar. When you thought you were going to encourage him, he would lift your spirits. And he proved that one is never too old to flirt!

I think part of the legacy each left was to love with all you have.  This world will have us go all crazy this February 14th and think its all about the most expensive gift, but I know we are bigger than that. It is important to love yourself and all those you hold dear. It is also important to love those who are difficult to love because they probably desperately need it.

I don't have a spouse or mate. I don't expect flowers and candy for Valentine's Day. I had an impromptu celebration of love on Saturday, right at home with the family - those connected by blood and those connected by Spirit. We watched movies, laughed, ate, talked and listened to each other. Taking time from our routine just to be together. Loving each other. That's what it's all about.

Today I wish you all love, joy, peace and whatever your heart desires.

Celebrating Love

I know I'm a few days early, but please indulge me as I don't think love is relegated to one day a year. Actually, I am not enthused about the commercialization of any holiday so Valentine's Day is no different for me. I understand some people need a reminder to get up and show some love; I'm not knocking any one's hustle. However, as my home reflects, I like flowers everyday of the year. I also appreciate receiving a box of chocolate from my partner when he knows I've had a rough day more than on a day marked special by the calendar.

Below is my love offering to you all; an excerpt from Spirit Song: the lyrics of my heart.

Enjoy as you spread some love tonight and every night!

us

it’s all about you and me –

this is not just a fantasy.

what we have, what we are,

this was meant to be.

joined with each other

through eternity.

i want to sky-dive from a high up plane

and land in the depths of your ocean.

i want to open my arms as wide

as can be and float on your strong breeze.

melt into my being

like wax slowly dripping from the candle.

flow to me – in me – around me –

like the river rushing to fill the sea.

you and i/ i and you/

we

man/woman woman/man

one

together

on a journey

to surpass all that has ever been

to exceed all that can be imagined.

this is not some fantasy –

it’s all about you and me.

An untitled piece ...

photo by Saddi Khali of www.saddikhaliphoto.com

 

My next collection may be focused on intimate relationships ... seems to be what I write lately ...

 

i love hard

i’m that “til the end of time” chick

“always got your back” chick

believing

even when you forgot

cheerleader, comforter, confidant

a mirror reflecting all that you are

reminder of who you desire to be

faithful

the truth, plain and simple

 

but loving hard can be a double edged sword

my biggest fault

my greatest reward

i’ve cut myself

placing others in front

shielding my light

hindering my flight

 

balance is the key

loving you while loving me

knowing above all

that love never fails

I Dream Again

Sunset @ Myrtle Beach by Shahmet Gordon

I posted a status on FaceBook last week that said the following:
"It just hit me ... I'm not angry anymore ... I'ma see if I can write on that ..."

When asked what I was angry about, I followed up with this:
"once I let it go, I realized I was on a low simmer for years ... some of it was directed outward toward someone who will remain nameless, worse some was directed toward myself ... holding it for so long was not productive & left me in a victim state rather than the victorious state which I am in now ..."

With  Estelle's latest song, "Thank You", playing as my background music, I was able to elaborate on my initial thought ... 

I Dream Again

I tried to build a reality,

a whole life,

on a false belief.

But my love cannot conquer all.

Some things can’t be seen while in the midst.

Like how I never knew the anxiety I lived with

until I provided myself with peace.

I didn’t realize how angry I was

until it vanished.

I dwelled within a box

determined not to repeat mistakes of the past.

Claiming that all was good

while I cried alone in the dark.

Holding no expectations

enforcing no boundaries

not trusting my own judgment.

No longer on slow simmer

burning myself with rage

I feel re-born.

I dream again.

Childhood’s fairytale of being taken care of

in the mansion on the hill with the tennis court,

pool and streams gliding through the premises,

morphed into teen-aged visions of independence and

getting rich at one of the “Big 10” firms,

which transformed to young adult sights of

children, nation building and saving the world.

Now, I dream again.

Grown woman dreams

of passion

of joy

of sharing

of choice

of desire

of dancing

of smiling

of laughing

of companionship

of traveling

of intimacy

of life

of reciprocity

of purpose

of soul mates

of rest

of intensity

of strong arms

of satisfaction

of completion

of truth

of respect

of acceptance

of understanding

of growing old together

of comfort.

I dream again

of the love that never fails.

Welcome to 2012!

I wish you all a healthy and prosperous new year. Many people look forward to the new year because it represents a new beginning, another chance. No matter what the old year brought, there is hope that the new one will be better. I know that some things never change but that is only for those who choose not to see a different way. I believed that 2011 was going to be a great year and it was. There were some hard times but that's a part of life. I ended in a better place financially, physically, spiritually and (I would like to think) emotionally. I believe that 2012 will also be a great year and I look forward to what may come for all of us!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and your family the most wonderful day filled with love and peace!

THE BEST GIFTS
By Joseph J. Mazzella


I had yet another birthday recently. It is strange how they keep popping
up year after year. They must come from the same place as the grey hairs
and wrinkles, because each year I seem to have more of them too. Still, as
my body gets older and older my soul seems to get younger and younger, so
I don’t mind celebrating a birthday now and then.

For some reason this one seemed especially good. It may have been the
chocolate cake and chocolate chip ice cream that made both my face and my
stomach smile. It may have been the good natured teasing and hugs I got.
It may have been seeing that childlike sparkle in my grown children’s eyes
when they gave me my gifts. It may have even been the thoughtful gifts
themselves picked out with such care. I think most of all, though, it was
the gifts behind the gifts that filled my day with so much joy. You see,
each gift was filled with the love of the person who gave it. Each gift
was a package of love delivered from their heart to mine and each gift
made my own love burn brighter.

The more birthdays I celebrate in this life, the more I see that love is
really the only thing that matters. The parties you have, presents you
get, or years you age aren’t important. All that counts is how much love
you choose, share, and give in this world, because love itself is the
greatest gift there is.

God in His loving wisdom has given each of us the two best gifts we can
ever get: a life to live and the love to live it with. Let’s not waste
them. Let’s not put them on a shelf and ignore them. Let’s use them
instead. Let’s fill each of our birthdays and all the days in between with
loving others, helping others, giving to others, teaching others, and
sharing joy with others. Let’s truly enjoy these gifts God gives us from
our first breath until our last sigh.