Calling On A Quote

I must have shared the quote below on ye old blog at some point.  Must have.  Somewhere.  Maybe several times.  It's one of my favorites.  Probably one of everybody's favorites.  Anyway it's on my mind tonight.  It was on my mind all day as I sat here writing/trying to write a statement for an artists program I'd like to be a part of... I started judging myself and what I had to say and all that judgement kept me staring at a blank screen for way too long. Then I thought of this quote and began judging myself a little less.... a little less is always a beginning.  Thanks M.G.

"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique.  And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost.  The world will not have it.  It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions.  It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.  You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work.  You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you.  Keep the channel open..."                   - Martha Graham

To be reminded that there is only one of you...  I think I found what I will celebrate for the rest of this night.

Mommy Says The Darndest Things

It's a Sunday with Mommy.

After church I arrive at her place.   She has oranges cut up and a pot of black beans sitting on the stove.  I can smell the pepper.  That pot of beans is for me.

The Waltons marathon on is GMC.  Of  course that's what Mommy wants to watch so that's what we watch.  It's nice watching shows I don't want to watch with my mother.  She says ridiculous things, I crack jokes about her old school values and pretend I don't agree with them.  We laugh.  We eat oranges and the television begins to watch us.

I know exactly where I get my knack for not shutting up.  We talk and talk and talk.

After eating my pepper-full beans and a few more orange wedges I make my way to the floor just beneath her legs, throw my head back and beg for a massage.  I knew she wouldn't be able to resist the face I was making.  Mommy's little hands get to work and we have the exchange below.

MOMMY:  You know my dear friend Victoria... her son was born the same year you were born.  He's married now and has a son.

ME: Okay.  Are you trying to tell me something Ma?

MOMMY:  Yes.

I took three deep sighs and continued to enjoy my Mommy massage.  The woman says what she feels.  She holds nothing back.  While she rubbed and commented on the state of my tense shoulders I wondered how she would tell me I should be married with kids next Sunday...

This is the life!  Absolutely.