fathers tender kisses

 

(Source: her name is moon)

As I was on a boat back to Venice from a nearby island, I noticed a husband and wife with their two kids sitting near me. The husband either previously had an accident or developed a syndrome because he struggled to walk and could hardly maintain balance. His wife, while keeping an eye on the children, tenderly grasped his fragile arm helping him onto his seat. A few moments pass and I glance over to see them holding hands, smiling at each other. My heart melted at this moment. I cannot imagine their day to day challenges, but their love for each other and their family evidently makes them stronger. 

At the table next to theirs I noticed a middle-aged man holding close to his chest his sleeping two-year-old girl. She started to wake as we approached the dock and her father immediately embraced her and sprinkled her cheeks with sweet tender kisses. He rubbed his nose on her pink cheek and wiped the sweat from her damp forehead. I don't think I've ever seen a father express that much love to their little girl before. I couldn't help but notice his wedding ring was on his right ring finger.  What if he is a widower? What if when he looks at her he sees his wife? What if she is all he has in this world? 

What strong individuals! What examples they are!

This caused me to miss home and want to embrace and snuggle every single person I love. 

Maybe, just maybe

I've been in Italy for just over a month now, living with a family and enjoying the quiet peace Tuscany brings to my soul. This quiet (when their 130 lb Great Dane isn't pouncing on me) encourages a lot of reading, reflection, some blank moments, and many pensive ones. The other day I had a bit of an awakening. I found myself reminiscing of High School; the experiences I had, the people I was friends with and those I was not, the people who judged me and those I judged. 

In these awkward pubescent four years of my life, I felt belittled and unrecognized for my qualities.  My boyfriend of the time would often comfort me with these words, "They just don't understand you". This was just one of the many things that justified my decision to live in misery. 

Even till this day my "no one understands me" attitude sticks with me like a leach on warm flesh. It has got to go! 

Maybe, just maybe, my High school experience sucked because I allowed it to. Maybe, just maybe, there was constant drama and tension in my home because I created it. 

Maybe, just maybe, I do not believe anyone understands me because I have not taken the time to understand them.

restless

I've grown restless, as has the sea.

Where I'm From

I am from the swing on Maddie Road,

From salty air and sand in my toes

I am from play dough stuck on the table

(sticky and tempting to eat)

I am from bougainvillea blooming on the porch,

the red like crimson scarlets its way around the fence

Like my ever growing twisted life

I am from grandmas Little Cafe

From chicken tacos and apple pie

I am from no you can't and yes you can

From shut up and I love you

I'm from moving boxes and packing tape

And a new found home where i'd hope to fit in great

I'm from many mothers, many fathers, and many friends

From Moondogies, Pismo Beach, and surfers without a leash

From Micky Mouse and Looney tunes and good old papa bear watching over Baloo

Down in the basement sit suitcases full of Barbie toys

Baby Barbie, teenage Barbie, and one day adult Barbie

There are outfits of old and outfits of new

I am from Birthday cards

From love on paper and tears in an envelope

I am from a life rubbed raw and a room of cards filled with memories

And there are still cards to be written

2010

barefoot

                        Photo by Christie Pham


Even when I was a kid, shoes were of little importance, especially when embarking on an adventure; being barefoot always took precedence over safety.  Sure, the whole "hippie" pizazz is quite the trend these days, but that is merely unrecognizable to a 4 year old. One of the many great things about living in Hawaii is the fact that being barefoot in public is widely accepted, unlike the rest of the world. In Italy, if you are barefoot in public, people being mildly confused is an understatement. Well, I'm sorry that I appreciate the simpler things in life, like the feeling of the warm pavement, grass, and sand beneath my feet.

HIPPIE LAW

my house desperatly needs a hammock...and maybe a meadow in the backyard

I am going brunette

moments

 TIME: Who really understands it? It is completely open to interpretation and everyone feels differently about it. Some fear growing old, some fear what tomorrow brings, and others fear the consequences of the past. The thing that people don't realize about time is that there is a lot of it. My aunt said "life is short so we have to make it seem really long." Embrace the time you have and the time you've spent living. Let the wrinkles fuse to your face because you've earned them.

TIMING: Timing is everything. Randomly running into an old friend who ends up getting you a job that leads you to your destined profession. Choosing to stop and get a Starbucks,then you see a car accident on the freeway that happened about ten minutes before. Every moment of everyday means something so before making a decision, think to yourself is now the right time?