Dear Dr. King,
I hope you were blessed by the day of celebration and service in your honor. I just wanted to let you know that your dream is still alive and that even in Mayodan, NC, people are making progress.
I have two sons, 9 and almost 11, and they play basketball at the local rec center. Last Monday, afterschool, we stopped at Food Lion to pick up groceries and saw one of their teammates, who happens to be bi-racial. He was shopping with two white women. My oldest son said, "Hey Mom! I think _____ has two moms." To which my youngest son replied, "No he doesn't. One of those is his grandma." "Actually," I said, "I think he does have two moms...and that woman is much too young to be his grandmother." "Well, I know one thing," the little one retorted, "he must have a brown skin dad, because he couldn't have gotten his skin from those blonde women." And I smiled.
Granted, it is 2012. And granted, my children have grown up with the expectation that they will judge people based on the content of their character...not the color of their skin or their family dynamics. But it still felt like progress to me.
And this past Saturday when I relayed this story to _____'s two moms, we hugged and beamed with pride at our boys and laughed for a long time. Because given all the elements of the story where judgment and prejudice could have crept in, we were only appalled that anyone could think ANY OF US were old enough to be GRANDMOTHERS!
Dr. King, I thank you for your wisdom, your sacrifices and your legacy. And I wanted you to know that we are still listening, still dreaming and still believing. Because....We Shall Overcome Someday.
Most Sincerely,
Melanie Miller
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
Pursuing Peace - Day 2
For the second consecutive day this year, my motivation for accomplishing anything other than breathing in and out came from the Inspirational Ms. Debbie. Last night the boys were with their dad so I slept on the couch in front of the Christmas tree and watched, "Meet Me in St. Louis", which were the last two items on my holiday to-do list. When I woke up this morning, I was sorely lacking in motivation...and my back was broken...okay, not broken exactly, but definitely out-of-whack. And given that I hadn't taken my thryoid meds for two days, it was looking like one of those days when I was probably going to have to mainline Diet Coke.
The word of the day was no help whatsoever; apparently, the word"fetor" means, "a strong and offensive odor." Which was actually appropo, given that I never showered yesterday! Oprah.com also offered little wisdom on this fine Monday, because I have absolutely no interest in living my best life in 52 weekly installments. So, I lumbered in and out of the shower, actually brushed my teeth AND dried my hair, before putting on a clean pair of pajama pants, that can double as loungewear, if necessary. It was at this moment that I received a text from the Divine.
No! not Bette Miller or the working girl hired by Hugh Grant, but the Divine Ms. Debbie. Who casually informed me that she probably would not be able to go for a walk with me today because she was "directing the choir for a funeral before I take my mother-in-law to the hospital to visit my father-in-law who has had pneumonia since Saturday." Alrighty then...message received loud and clear from the Universe via Verizon. Apprently, I was being instructed to get off my expansive derriere and accomplish something...without any further bitching!
So today, I am gratified to report that I found Peace through Perseverance; not because I felt like doing the tasks, but because I did the tasks regardless of my feelings. Honestly, I don't think I completed any task except getting the clean sheets on the beds. But I made progress in a million different directions and in 2012, making forward progress directly correlates with letting my efforts Be Enough. And as is often the case, along the way I was rewarded with moments of magic.
The pageantry, imagination and tradition of the Tournament of Roses Parade. Beginning work on a surprise for Jackson when he graduates from 5th grade. Relishing life in a town small that when I called in a prescription at 1:10 PM to a pharmacy that apparently closed at 12:00 noon, they recognized my home phone number and had the meds ready for pick up at 1:39pm. Listening to the laughter and negotiations of the neighborhood boys who worked fervently to build a ramp and then spent hours jumping their bikes and boasting.
But most impressively, I obliterated both of my children at Just Dance 3, because I am smart enough to figure out that you score points by moving your arms and hands, whether your feet are in sync or not. And for today, that is more than Enough.
The word of the day was no help whatsoever; apparently, the word"fetor" means, "a strong and offensive odor." Which was actually appropo, given that I never showered yesterday! Oprah.com also offered little wisdom on this fine Monday, because I have absolutely no interest in living my best life in 52 weekly installments. So, I lumbered in and out of the shower, actually brushed my teeth AND dried my hair, before putting on a clean pair of pajama pants, that can double as loungewear, if necessary. It was at this moment that I received a text from the Divine.
No! not Bette Miller or the working girl hired by Hugh Grant, but the Divine Ms. Debbie. Who casually informed me that she probably would not be able to go for a walk with me today because she was "directing the choir for a funeral before I take my mother-in-law to the hospital to visit my father-in-law who has had pneumonia since Saturday." Alrighty then...message received loud and clear from the Universe via Verizon. Apprently, I was being instructed to get off my expansive derriere and accomplish something...without any further bitching!
So today, I am gratified to report that I found Peace through Perseverance; not because I felt like doing the tasks, but because I did the tasks regardless of my feelings. Honestly, I don't think I completed any task except getting the clean sheets on the beds. But I made progress in a million different directions and in 2012, making forward progress directly correlates with letting my efforts Be Enough. And as is often the case, along the way I was rewarded with moments of magic.
The pageantry, imagination and tradition of the Tournament of Roses Parade. Beginning work on a surprise for Jackson when he graduates from 5th grade. Relishing life in a town small that when I called in a prescription at 1:10 PM to a pharmacy that apparently closed at 12:00 noon, they recognized my home phone number and had the meds ready for pick up at 1:39pm. Listening to the laughter and negotiations of the neighborhood boys who worked fervently to build a ramp and then spent hours jumping their bikes and boasting.
But most impressively, I obliterated both of my children at Just Dance 3, because I am smart enough to figure out that you score points by moving your arms and hands, whether your feet are in sync or not. And for today, that is more than Enough.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
A Peace Offering
I came home from Florida on Friday with the usual mix of emotions...exhaustion, relief, grief, overindulgence on every level, exhaustion...oh, I said that one already, didn't I? While we were gone the Most Inspirational Ms. Debbie had been taking care of our house and feeding the beloved Furona G. Pig. Once we got the suitcases unloaded and the boys left with their dad, I noticed that Ms. Debbie had left me a gift, in a large red bag. Upon closer inspection, I realized that the bag contained three items, and apparently one of them was peace...a small, rusted, metal ornament tied with twine that read "peace."
Hmmmm...Peace in a red Christmas bag...along with a 20 serving bucket of Strawberry Margaritas and a peppermint antibiotic hand soap. Like gold, frankincese and myrrhh, I had been honored with three gifts offered by a Wise Woman. Blithely, I placed the hand soap under the bathroom sink, stored the margarita bucket for a Valentine's soiree and hung the "peace" over my bedroom door knob to be packed away with the other ornaments when the mood struck.
Fast forward to Sunday, January 1st.
Logging onto http://www.quotations.com/ for an inspirational quote and the word of the day, I found the following:
"Human beings have the inalienable right to reinvent themselves." - Germaine Greer
and
"ruminate - to consider a matter again and again; ponder; muse; meditate; reflect upon."
And so, today I have been ruminating on Peace. How I might be more peaceful. How I might cultivate more peace within and around my being. How I might encourage more peaceful interactions between my warring offspring. Which, quite frankly, seem like overwhelming tasks...especially where my boys are concerned. Make no mistake, this is not a declaration of resolve for a new year. I am simply offering that each day I hope to be more aware of the peaceful moments in my life; with the hope that awareness will bring appreciation which will encourage greater awareness, more appreciation, etc., etc., etc.
When I began this blog last winter, I was seeking to live a more inspired life...to seek the elusive balance between "being" and "doing". As of today, I have produced 39 posts, some of which inspired, lightened a load, encouraged a laugh or kept someone from feeling so fucked up or alone. Along the way I have been blessed with the adventures of travel, discovered a passion for photography, and rediscovered the artistry of cooking for those you love. I have had moments when I genuinely enjoyed the growth of my children more often than not, deeply appreciated the strong steady love of the finest man I have ever known and enjoyed 365 days of unobstructed breath. It truly has been, a Life Well Lived, and I appreciate those of you who have shared it with me.
Therefore, I offer you this thought:
Today I found Peace in thought, organization and gratitude. By kissing my children at midnight on New Year's Eve. By sending our dreams and wishes up into the universe in the flames of biodegradable hot air balloons. By trying a new recipe for breakfast, organizing our photos and typing up our 2011 Year in Review. Today I breathed in tranquility in the quiet in my own home, doing exactly as I chose...celebrating the gift of today. My hope for you is that you can count the blessings of the year gone by and forgive yourselves the transgressions. Breathing in Love, Breathing out Peace...at least for today.
Hmmmm...Peace in a red Christmas bag...along with a 20 serving bucket of Strawberry Margaritas and a peppermint antibiotic hand soap. Like gold, frankincese and myrrhh, I had been honored with three gifts offered by a Wise Woman. Blithely, I placed the hand soap under the bathroom sink, stored the margarita bucket for a Valentine's soiree and hung the "peace" over my bedroom door knob to be packed away with the other ornaments when the mood struck.
Fast forward to Sunday, January 1st.
Logging onto http://www.quotations.com/ for an inspirational quote and the word of the day, I found the following:
"Human beings have the inalienable right to reinvent themselves." - Germaine Greer
and
"ruminate - to consider a matter again and again; ponder; muse; meditate; reflect upon."
And so, today I have been ruminating on Peace. How I might be more peaceful. How I might cultivate more peace within and around my being. How I might encourage more peaceful interactions between my warring offspring. Which, quite frankly, seem like overwhelming tasks...especially where my boys are concerned. Make no mistake, this is not a declaration of resolve for a new year. I am simply offering that each day I hope to be more aware of the peaceful moments in my life; with the hope that awareness will bring appreciation which will encourage greater awareness, more appreciation, etc., etc., etc.
When I began this blog last winter, I was seeking to live a more inspired life...to seek the elusive balance between "being" and "doing". As of today, I have produced 39 posts, some of which inspired, lightened a load, encouraged a laugh or kept someone from feeling so fucked up or alone. Along the way I have been blessed with the adventures of travel, discovered a passion for photography, and rediscovered the artistry of cooking for those you love. I have had moments when I genuinely enjoyed the growth of my children more often than not, deeply appreciated the strong steady love of the finest man I have ever known and enjoyed 365 days of unobstructed breath. It truly has been, a Life Well Lived, and I appreciate those of you who have shared it with me.
Therefore, I offer you this thought:
Today I found Peace in thought, organization and gratitude. By kissing my children at midnight on New Year's Eve. By sending our dreams and wishes up into the universe in the flames of biodegradable hot air balloons. By trying a new recipe for breakfast, organizing our photos and typing up our 2011 Year in Review. Today I breathed in tranquility in the quiet in my own home, doing exactly as I chose...celebrating the gift of today. My hope for you is that you can count the blessings of the year gone by and forgive yourselves the transgressions. Breathing in Love, Breathing out Peace...at least for today.
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