National Novel Writing Month starts today. So far, I've written 895 words. Only 49,105 to go this month. This year I'm writing about my spiritual journey, just in a hopefully funny and entertaining way.

So I might not write so much here.

But that's not the point of this little essay.

For some strange reason, I'm being called to write this without an outline. I have nothing but an idea. Granted, it's an idea I've been thinking about for a year now, but it's still just a general direction. And a lifetime of experiences.

Maybe as I write it, an outline will appear. Maybe it won't. Maybe I'll just be inspired as I go.

Either way, it's another exercise in Surrender & Release.

I look forward to a great future for America - a future in which our country will match its military strength with our moral restraint, its wealth with our wisdom, its power with our purpose.

John F. Kennedy

I'd like to build two 18-inch bridges -- from my head to my heart, and from my heart to my gut. I figure that when I have those three islands working in harmony, things will get even better.

On Monday, a friend was given a rather short time before his transition. He's about the same age as my two kids -- a senior in high school. So I spent the evening with him and his dad.

The next morning, I hung on every word my daughter said. I laughed with her, I fully enjoyed every breath with her. Even more so than usual.

After I dropped her off at school following our first vist to the doctor's office (lacrosse injury), I got a message that another friend's son was in a car accident. Broken neck, ruptured spleen.

When I picked up my daughter for her second doctor's appointment, I just had to smile at how very blessed I am. She's a beautiful, fun, bright, athletic, and healthy kid. We laughed and joked and got her taken care of.

That night she went by to visit my friend. She didn't have to. She went alone (she volunteers in the same hospital). It made me proud. I showed up about two hours after she left and brought him dinner. We ate and talked about life, girls, college, sports, movies, and the ridiculously cute nurses caring for him. I'll see him again tonight.

At school I found out that the budget crisis has left my department gutted. I won't be teaching in the spring. I was sad, but there are worse things.

When I thought about it this morning on my way to work, I realized that life is short. And there is much more dessert than we imagine. We keep thinking that we have to eat our brussel sprouts and lima beans before we can have dessert.

Not so!

I'm a reasonable facsimile of an adult. I can choose to have dessert first. And I do.

I choose to embrace the good stuff. I love that we finally elected a president who provides hope, not fear. I love that I have two wonderful kids who come from their hearts as much as from their heads. I love that I have friends who care about others. I love that I have an opportunity to work with people who are making a difference.

I love that I have this forum to share the fact that I love this life, this world, in all its glory and all its heartache. Because the heartache is like the bit of salt that makes you taste the sweetness that much more.

Life is short. Eat dessert first.

As I sat on the cool stone wall, watching the sun rise over San Francisco, I suddenly got it. I got it in a way that I could experience several times a day. Each and every day.

I got the concept of Oneness.

I realized, as I listened to The Moses Code as the sun began to warm the City by the Bay, that I have experienced oneness all along.

I experience it every time I feel somebody's pain, somebody's joy, somebody's smile, and somebody's need to be held, that's my soul screaming for connection to the rest of the Universe.

I feel the joy because something has raised all of us up just a little. I feel the pain because some part of us all needs to be lifted up and supported.

I feel the need to make the world a better place because, in making the world a better place, I raise the level of joy me too. Because we are all connected.

When I share Reiki, it heals me too, because we're all One. We're all connected.

So I invite you to consider this. Just think about it, even if it's a glancing thought. Maybe reason we get upset with somebody is because we want them to move to a higher plane. Maybe the reason we get angry that laws are approved that seem discriminatory is that they don't improve our collective vibration. Maybe the reason we want to treat others the way we want to be treated ourself is because in doing so, we treat ourself in that way.

We are all One. We all know it. But sometimes we just forget it.

This seems like a good time to remember that.

I've been learning to trust the Universe. And, in the process, I've come to a better understanding of my power. This morning's message from the Universe (via Tut) said,


Guess that's where true eminates. Glad I can finally see it.

Lately, thanks to a certain young woman who has brought an awful lot of joy and boundary redistricting into my life, I have enrolled in the Yay! School of Life.

Yay!

I have to say, I haven't smiled this much in a long, long time. And that's one of the fundamental teaching of the Yay! School of Life. But it's secondary to the most central tenet of Yay! Philosophy -- celebrate everything.

That's everything. Every big thing, every little thing. Every thing.

Yay! for the train. Yay! for soy lattes. Yay! for sweet kisses. Yay! for smiles. Yay! for puppies wagging their tails. Yay! for a brisk breeze. Yay! for the coat that makes the brisk breeze easier to say Yay! to. Yay! for being alive.

Yay! for all of you.

And, just in case you think this whole Yay! thing could get a bit annoying, that simply means you haven't embraced the Joy of Yay! Once you do, you'll even say Yay! for Yay!.

I do.

Congratulations on your new Superhero powers. You have earned them. You taught me the value of every day. The value of following my bliss and encouraging others to.

You taught me that life is too short not to enjoy dessert.

Brandon, you were a hero in life. Now you're a Superhero. I hope you have a blast flying around and making people for no good reason (which is the best reason of all).

Thanks for all the beautiful lessons. Thanks for taking on the role of teacher for those of us who get a little too caught up in the day-to-day stuff.

Be good to your dad. Give him the lottery numbers a day early. He deserves it.

Brandon made his transition peacefully surrounded by loved ones at 12:55 am this morning. His loving father was with him to his last heart beat.  His last words yesterday were, "I love you." His last meal was chocolate brownie ice cream. According to his dad, "he was peaceful and perfect."

Perfect.