Posts
The only gesture required is an open hand. Open arms. The only gesture required is a welcoming one. The only gesture? A smile. A real smile, of course, that reaches up to and includes the eyes. Is it Thich Nhat Hanh who counsels us to "be the smile"? That's a paraphrase, but it is the idea: carry the smile as part of you. Just keep the corners of the mouth turned up a little (funny term, that; does the mouth really have corners?)
Recently on the subway, as we slowed to pull into a station, an empty pop can rolled loose from under a seat. Because the train jolted as it came to a stop, the can rolled toward a seated passenger's feet, then circled the feet, all the way around, then made it to the center of the aisle, where it began a fast trip to the other end of the car. I lost sight of it after that, but seeing it swing around the passenger's feet reminded me of the Tilt-a-Whirl. It moved with just that same feeling of centrifugal force—I hope a mouse or an insect was riding in the can to enjoy that Tilt-a-Whirl whirl.
In August, I can go down to the Canadian National Exposition (like a giant state fair) and buy myself a couple of rides on the Tilt-a-Whirl to last me through next year's hard winter, or next year's tornadoes, or next year's unseasonably warm winter—whatever it is that we're bringing upon ourselves this time.
Stop thinking about the weather and go back to the Tilt-a-Whirl. Or even better, back to the rolling pop can in the subway car. And smile.
No comments:
Post a Comment