New Friends

today remains a memorable day

today, December 24, 2007. today i went to the mall. (those who know me know a mall is the last place to find me). today i went to the mall to spend time by myself. family coming out my ears, eyes, nostrils- family still there after i blink, after i wake up, after i eat, after-between-before-around- just everywhere! and i went to the mall without wallet and any id, i went with notebook and pen. to be me- to write. (my cousin needed more presents so i shared a ride with her and told her i'd meet up with her when she was through)

wandering through this mall in Binghamton, NY- observing folks and looking for a place to sit and write. with no money i felt guilty going into a coffee shop knowing i wouldn't be able to buy a seat and time to sit, to write. i found a bench, crossed my legs and began to write. fine. observing couples, families, factions, fashions... fine. (thinking, too- i can't believe i'm at a mall!!!!)

i wrote this "big shoes steppin, punks and goths. more lip gloss colors than there are shades of people. perfume so sweet- our bodies make our own, sweat, smell- not good enough i suppose. bottled water, colored and flavored-- still the world is thirsty. breads, chocolates, coffees-- still the world is hungry. stores, bags, bows and toys- still the world is lonely. cars, planes, cell phones-- still the world is distant." the next word i wrote was "strangers"

then i looked up, two people had just sat down on the bench where i sat. isn't this america? where every man is for himself and this bench is meant for one even though it holds three-four? i smiled, so glad these two young people had sat down. we smiled. a young couple from Jordan.
talking about life, college, English, Farsi, media, war, friends and traditions. our conversation- beautiful, memorable. my appreciation for them, their smile, these moments together forever in my heart. i will share their answer to my question about refugees in Jordan. YES. from Iraq, Iran and Palestine- they know the millions of refugees who have come to Jordan.

you might have sung Silent Night tonight. i'll never forget a few years ago when that song made me piping mad. no way could i sing "all is calm all is bright" with a conscience. blood and body parts, ravaging, retreating refugees into somewhere far from hate, bombs, fear. my new friends, this young couple from Jordan is in America. together listening and sharing- in America where hate in silence or in words become other bombs. in this conversation understanding and smiling prevailed. the three of us were safe. if we were together now i would feel okay singing, "here is calm, here is bright"

thank you friends for these moments. for reading. please remember people around the world this holiday (season), this new year, this-the rest of your life.

I'm currently reading The Miracle of Mindfulness. (Hanh). mindful of breath. but here, I mean mindful of hate, terror, war- suffering currently happening. unwrap mindfulness this year and find joy, peace, awareness and life.

peace love joy and smiles