Karim’s Lucky Map

Karim taught me about the lucky map.
He taught me that it is a secret map. A map that only he can see.
And to show me he used the flyer in the pew to manifest it to me.
He rolled it into a scroll. “You see, it’s my lucky map” he said, grinning.
I grinned back.
Karim’s lucky map.
“I’m a pirate with my lucky map,” he said.
No doubt the church was his ship, and the congregation his wanton sailors!
He didn’t seem to care what the map was leading to, or what it symbolized…just that he had it and that it was lucky.

I think the real message to me today came through Karim.

Time’s awasting, while I try to figure out what it is I should do, which road to take, what to pack, how to get there, who to take with me, what to prepare for. Time’s awasting while I ask these questions with no answers.
Time’s awasting and it can never be returned.

What can I learn from a 3 year old?

Just be.

Wherever you are.
Whatever you have.
Believe it and be it.

Your map, only you can see.
It is inscribed on your brain, in your thoughts, in your dreams,
And it is lucky.

Time’s awasting,

Get moving.

Meeting a Knight

Today I met Sir Richard Branson.

I knew exactly what I was going to say to him.
I had been rehearsing it for about 2 weeks.

I got to the bookstore on time and even purchased his book…the cheaper older one, because I am poor…and stood in the winding queue waiting for autographs.

He is human, I kept telling myself. A person, just like you. The queue slowly inched forward.

Then something crossed my mind. I had intended to ask Sir Richard Branson what the difference between him and me was. But that seemed suddenly ridiculous, since there were so many obvious differences between us. And what I wanted him to confirm, was what I already knew, that they were all trivial. So I searched my brain for something more meaningful to discuss with the founder of one of the greatest business empires of all time.

Then I remembered that during the interview session, he had spoken about “the Elders” – a group of wise people brought together by him and Nelson Mandela to advise and help reconcile the world’s problems. A fluorescent, energy efficient (because I am in Canada and we are green!) light bulb went off in my head…Zimbabwe!
So as I neared the stage where Richard was signing away, and my palms got progressively sweatier, and I felt my voice box start to shake uncontrollably, I knew what I had to say, Please ask the Elders to help my country!

Alas, I got to the table, and I must have been dazed by his golden locks, because no speech came out. And now I thank my parents, because as he transcribed my name off the little yellow post-it note, he warmly said, “Well, you have an unusual name.” “I’m from Zimbabwe,” I blurted out. “Oh yes, he said, I was just talking about your country this morning.” “Are the Elders going to help my country?” I spluttered. (It is shear torture for me to re-live this!) “I sent them all an email this morning actually. It is a shame that we couldn’t get in there sooner, but if Thabo Mbeki doesn’t succeed soon, we are definitely planning on helping.” “Thank you,” I said.

And then I hung around like the worst kind of groupie until he had finished signing all the autographs and done a second press interview, just so I could get a quick photograph. And Sir Richard Branson hugged me! And I felt the hugs of Nelson Mandela, Princess Diana, Oprah Winfrey, Brad Pitt…

I remember that his hands were warm, implying there is blood in his veins.

He is human… as I am.

And regardless of the obvious differences, what we have in common, is that we were both born with the potential to be the very best we could be.

And I went weeeeeeeeeeeeee, all the way home.

Spin off...!

http://one4dinner.blogspot.com/

Winner by association!

I went to the Scotiabank Waterfront running thing this past weekend. I believe the scientific word for it is marathon. What an event! There were runners from all over Toronto, all over Ontario, all over Canada and yes, you guessed it, all over the world. And no, I was not one of them! Have we met?! But I was so proud to know one of them!

Tendai! Woo Hoo! My heart was pumping so fast as I saw her come around the last bend, that I wished I had entered it into the race! "Go Tendai" I yelled. Woo Hoo! Across the line she went! Way to go! What an adrenaline rush! I literally felt like I crossed the finish line with her! That was how awesome it was. Hugs, pictures, bananas and vita-water later, we went for brunch. Two ladies lunching and chatting about the wonders of their new city...their new life.

I'll never understand why people run, but after watching my first marathon, I know exactly why people turn out in droves to support. Because there is something about watching someone you know...friend or family...accomplish something they set their heart, mind and soul to...that makes you feel like a winner...by association.

Thanks Ms T!

9/19/08

I recently slammed a door shut, heel swivelled and stormed away...

But as I turned, I caught a glimpse of another door.
One that I had locked and bolted years before.

Curious Catwoman,
I stared at it.
And as I did, I began to see...
Visions
Memories of a past time,
All seemingly positive and happy.
Nothing bad to remind me why I had closed the door in the first place!

Perhaps I closed the door because there was something wrong with me
I thought.

I inched forward...peering
Timid...but driven with excitement.

I unbolted...
I unlocked...
I knocked...

And with the voice on the other end, came flooding the memories from that day...

The day I stormed,
The day I heel swivelled,
The day I slammed that door shut.

Someone said, "When one door closes, another one opens."
Someone else said something like, "If a door is closed, a window is opened."

I'm wondering, why all this opening and closing doors and windows and portals and damn pandora's boxes?!

I'm doing away with doors and windows.
Handles, hinges, locks, bolts, all of it!

I'm thinking outside the box!

Because I am secure enough not to confine you to my life, nor to shut you out of it.

Gathering moss just doesn't appeal to me!

So, I moved again...
When I started the blog,
I was living in New York City,
Then I moved to Dallas, Texas,
Then I moved to the great tax-free state of Delaware
The blog is not even 2 years old
And now I live in Toronto, Ontario!

My Dad says the world is my playground,
And I say, I think I've found my sand box.

The Zygote Diaries, Part Deux!

Today, 31 years ago, they said "I do"
It occurred to me that I do not blog enough, because the most popular topic on my blog is my parents' wedding anniversary!

31 years...
I oft wonder how it is that they got it right. Amidst all the people on the planet. How did they know this was the one, that they would share all these years with, that they would share all the family with? How can you tell? Is it just a leap of faith? Or is it a gut feeling? Or is it actually a calculated deduction? It has to be all three I think...to be able to last so long and seem like it just happened yesterday.

So I resolve to just sit and hope that by some miracle, there is a gene that I have inherited from these two wondorous souls. The gene to know, when you've found, the one.

Sweet Pea and Honey Bee, the Zygote says...Take it to the fifth decade! Happy Anniversary!

Nomadic Tendencies...

So I drove back to the East Coast...
And before I got here, I knew it would be temporary...
It's a tough job, but someone has to do it right?!
The engine hasn't even cooled, and I'm planning my next move.
Where to next? You ask.
Pass me a map and a blindfold...my finger is ready...

Dark

I am in a dark place right now friends. It's murky and grimy, and I feel like I am wading through the heaviest muck...inhaling the thickest, most choking funk, feeling and tasting vile gunk...and all the while I can't see a thing, not even that light that is usually at the end of such tunnels. Perhaps this is not a tunnel, but a hole, because the more I walk, the more I feel like I am not really going anywhere, just stepping...left, right, left, right.

I tried to at least turn around and go back where I came from, but in vain. All sides feel the same, and now I have basically lost my sense of direction. I am afraid of what words might come from such a dark place, hence the hiatus from blogging. Bear with me. Someone told me to count my blessings...well...1)I have two legs to keep on wading...