A Special Gift

While greeting people each school day morning from about 7:35 to 8:35, this morning there was a heartwarming, unusual occurrence.

School Day Morning Greetings, 12/9/22

On school day mornings, from about 7:35 am to about 8:35 am I greet children and their families and commuters driving or walking by my home, at a busy intersection, a block from a grade school and near a middle school. I posted this in my Journal on 3/21/22.

Recently, there have been some changes which I discussed yesterday with my dear friend Yanin Ontiveros. This morning I sent her an email summarizing our discussion: 

When I greet people each morning, the vast majority smile and wave from their cars, windows up. Many others put a window or two down to talk and be gently fist bumped. In recent times, the “I love you’s” (Te Amo’s) and other endearments have begun, including a few ladies blowing kisses. I greet most people in English, but also many in Spanish.

Where I focus is in my prayer, “Dear God: That I love others is not dependent upon whether they love me for if I am to grow depends upon me opening my heart to all.” And open my heart to all, I do. (Even the grouchy ones.)

Con Carino - Dick

School Day Morning Greetings, 3/21/22

Each school day morning from about 7:35 am to about 8:35 am I go out to the edge of the street and greet the many people who are taking their children to school, whether to the school a block from here or a nearby middle school or high school. I also greet the commuters, the pedestrians and others. 

But this early morning was extraordinary and if I may, would like to share it with you:

I greet people from the north side of the street, westbound traffic is directly in front of me. A gentleman in his car on the south side of the street, eastbound, slowly crossed over to block the traffic to fist bump me! I was startled, and as protective of him as I could be.

A woman in her car gave me a small bouquet of white flowers and thanked me for my love.

A 50 - plus year old man from Mexico City, 25-years in the U.S., three-years in Palos Verdes walked up and said he had never seen anything like this before. We spoke English and Spanish and he spoke of what a wonderful life changing event this is.

This is in addition to all the waves, fist bumps and words of good cheer that are standard practice.

With Love To All - Dick

A Timeless Love

Your life is more precious than ever before, because as time passes I love you more.

What will happen tomorrow no-one can say. But if you are here, we will fall more in love, come what may.

And as we do, our mutual pledges will renew, and our feelings for each other will again be fresh and new.

For your beauty will never grow cold, nor in my heart will you ever grow old.

With Love To All - Dick

Knowing Your Love Is True

Each day is beautiful and new ... for you love me and I love you.

We speak of each other with great pride and from our hearts our arms open wide.

Let old loves not send us askew, for they don't matter only you and I do.

Knowing your love is ever present and true, gives my life purpose each time I think of you.

With Love To All - Dick

A Mother's Love

Yesterday, Hortensia, the mother of my close friend Yanin passed away. This is the poem I wrote to Yanin:

I wish I could relieve your strain and bring you joy instead of pain.

But as day follows night, so will the light, and as you will see, so for you, your mother's love will always be.

She Touched My Heart

She touched my heart, her beauty profound, and as she spoke I heard each sound. 

And when she smiled, my heart she beguiled.

For no other woman has such a glorious glow, like so many stars lined in a row.

I told her I loved her and cried out, "marry me." But she replied, "That can never be."

"For if I give you my heart, you will act coyly smart, and heart broken I will be."

"No my love, I promise you, you give me your heart and I will be true." 

But when no words were spoken my heart was broken.

Then suddenly with a sigh, she looked me in the eye and said, "I will give your love a try."

"But just once be untrue and I will say to you, never more shall be, my love for thee."

And to this day I have been true. 

For I shall never give her a reason to change her mind, nor could my heart ever leave her behind.

With Love To All - Dick