Blue as the sky

They are packed up so nicely and placed at the curb in their shiny translucent blue bags. It's as if they are just waiting for that bus to come along and take them to a vacation land where life is beautiful all the time. I wonder where they really go - these bottles and cans rinsed and cleaned and decapped? Pieces of our lives once used but barely thought about except for their resting place along the side of the road - waiting - just waiting for the next moment in time.

Does their life begin again as something new and use full? Or does reality smash the bubble and they are dumped as before into a heap of trash and waste to sit and rot and smell and scar the land on which we live? So many and's so many questions left inside my mind. And then I compare the life of cans, bottles and glass containers so perfectly placed in the soft blue bag by the curb - waiting for hands to lift them away to that of children, people and animals.

We toss them away less than the garbage we place by the curb. We hide them, dump them or just neglect them and life goes on. We take such meticulous care of used containers but human life has little meaning and little empathy. Animals are even farther down the scale of justice.

The brand new year blossoms and the commercials of abused animals flicker upon every channel I surf. The headlines on the front page portray the victims and lost souls and those that choose to take a life with no regret and consequences. My mind is bombarded with the pain and suffering and tears become my cloak of fog.

I sit here and stare at the soft blue bag holding the remains of yesterdays dinner waiting to become new again but what of loved ones who cannot speak or smile or hug away our sadness? A burning emptiness smolders in my soul. I watch the sun rise slowly above the tree tops and contemplate priorities and life as it is. Trapped behind these bars that let light through but keep the love at a distance.

Dead in a Dumpster

I live in a quiet neighborhood - or at least I thought I did. This morning while dining at 'The Dirty Dog Cafe', I overheard a conversation. A rather disturbing conversation about a dead body being found in a dumpster. I immediately thought about the three year old missing from Orlando. I hurried out to purchase the paper.
I found the article small and hidden in a corner of the paper. I read the address - hold on - wait a minute!!!! That's just too close to my address. In fact, it's about four blocks from my home. No reasons or motives were given about the body of an 18 year old young man found dead in a dumpster almost in my backyard.
About a month ago several miles from my home an elderly couple was killed in the early AM. Funny thing is perhaps a half an hour before that murder my dog went on a barking rampage. He is not one to bark at the wind although he will bark at squirrels. I am thankful for my pain in the tush dog at this point in time. I feel he is a safety net. But if one intends to rob a home they will also not think twice about shooting a dog.
I wonder if there is any place that is safe from violence and crime? Probably not. More 'Beware of Dog' sign will go up around my home.

Dead Sea

The headlines scream - The Dead Sea faces a slow death. Huh? What? Isn't dead - dead? If the Dead Sea is already dead how is it facing a slow death?

You have me a little confused here. Define dead and death. Why is the Dead Sea called The Dead Sea?

Are we a little slow with interesting news today? Are we just a little slow in the upstairs department? Are you going slow in the slow lane?

Give me some news I can relate to, become inspired or excited with. Give me the meat and potatoes to go with the veggies.

Celebrate life not death

Death seems like such a bleak option. It fills us with sadness, remorse and at times anger. A black curtain of doom shadows our thoughts and actions. When one is 88 it is almost acceptable but when one leaves at 14 the acceptance level is gone with the last rainstorm. Why, is an insurmountable question? It's not fair becomes a statement of contempt.

It is so easy to fall into the dark abyss of despair and smother in frustration and guilt. If we turn the situation around it makes the finality easier to bear. Death is done, gone and end with no return. The light at the end of the tunnel is out. The pulsating heart that moved without notice has turn rock solid. Tears are the spillway to tomorrow.

So, I proposed to this sad young lady the idea of celebrating his life as opposed to permanently grieving over his absence. We toasted him with semi cold diet cream soda in a can. We said - "cheers" as we clicked our cans high in the air and laughed at the way he made her smile. We celebrated his loving personality and how he touched her life with happiness and laughter. We remembered all the good and fun stuff they did together. I helped her bring him back to life within her heart and soul. We concluded the ceremony over mcmuffins, one of his favorite foods. We surrounded ourselves with pleasant memories and fun times they shared as friends. She is learning to savor their friendship and his impact on her life. Death was his option at such a tender age but she can now hold a piece of his goodness inside herself. She can celebrate his life and not be pulled down into the despair of his ending. Death is permanent but love is eternal.