reflections

two things i would like to mention here... first off, this morning while driving my lady-friend to work, she reached over and lifted a fallen eyelash from my right cheek. ritually, she asked "which finger?" i chose the thumb, and as usual she flips today's finger of choice on the bottom to let gravity increase my odds. i won the toss up, and as usual, felt like i had nothing to wish for... i have everything i need and appreciate all that i have. i usually pick a topic seemingly pressing and either close to my heart or to my loved ones. this time, for some reason, i wanted it more than other wishes... i thought, not speaking a word of course, i wish the hostage situation in india will come to a swift and peaceful end... i'll take 1 out of 2 in this situation. an hour later, i heard on npr that the situation had nearly been resolved, less the one missing gunman "presumably dead". my heart lifted slightly with much weight to bare... i am so sorry and offer my love to the nearly two hundred human beings that lost their lives and those locally and globally close to them.

secondly, i want to reflect on the stampeding, 4:50 am, maniac walmart shoppers in new york on black friday that killed on walmart employee. nothing is more deranged than this complete and utter... no words seem to describe it well enough here. i am completely blown away and ashamed by the values perpetuated in this money/commodity driven society. seems like the fellowship we so admired in each other, post 9/11, has risen its white flag in the heartland of humanity. may i so naively and rhetorically ask the question, what the hell is the matter with people?  to top it off, the customers where aggravated that the new york walmart store was evacuating and closing the store upon learning of Jdimytai Damour's death. the police were the only authority able to force the shopping crowds from the retailer's floors. i hang my head in disbelief.

Photos courtesy of Newsday