A Matter of Balance

Dear Maria,

Thank you for your kind words about “Bear, My Heart”, which I think reached a few folks who understood the sensibility behind it. In rather clumsy fashion I told a friend of mine that our greatest vulnerability is the vulnerability of those we love. Our inability to step in and either shield them from harm or lead them to safety. He’s a parent of two daughters, so he has a finely tuned sense of concern.

And thanks for letting me off the hook on my lax writing schedule. My personal news is not so very compelling, which might not be a terrible shortcoming when I think of friends and family who are wrestling with serious issues—so many health-related that it is unnerving.

I play, then, a little game with myself. Some sad news, or some alarming news, and I bring to mind something that pushes the meter toward the positive. Like how for three consecutive mornings, an Indigo bunting appeared at my feeder. Stunning. That such a color could appear in nature—naturally—well, astounding.

A bit of a more localized flare up over minimum wage last week, but I kept quiet. Of course, just like you, I did some time in minimum wage jobs. In every case, I believed I would be moving on, but I also worked with adults who would not be moving on. They showed up, got along with people, and did their jobs the way they needed to be done.

Was the work honorable? At least, my fellow employees were honorable in their performance. Maybe the question is if the job needs to exist, isn’t it worthy of pay that at least keeps up with inflation? I know the ripple effect—if they get X dollars for doing that job, then we should be paid more.

As for the earthquake in Nepal—what to say. We cling to the skin of a dynamic sphere hurtling through space. At least survivors are being found. A little 4-month-old boy covered in dust, but breathing. What his future holds, in terms of family or friends of the family, I don’t know, but he lives.

And, yes, Baltimore.

I have four and five blooms bunched together on some of the roses. Enough flowers to cover the spread of my hand.

A string of spring days is forecast that can divert us all for whatever time we might have to spare. Of course, I am lucky enough to have plenty of such moments. Don’t quite know how to lend them out, yet.

Thank you for your encouraging words. May you and your family be safe and be well.

Yours, srk