Raindrops On Roses And…

It wasn’t unusual for me stay out past dark, growing up. I lived on a dead end street so there wasn’t any through traffic to stop me from doing the things, I loved. After the ground cooled on a hot summer’s day, I would lay flat on my back with my arms spread straight out as if I were making a snow angel. I would stare up in the dark sky, gazing at the stars for hours, wondering if I closed my eyes if I could reach up and touch them. I would wonder if people far, far away were looking at the same stars as me.

It also wasn’t unusual for me to play in the rain as long there wasn’t any thunder or lightning and only then would I sit on a friend’s porch, listening to her grandfather tell stories in Italian. I would wait patiently for the perfect storm and then listen to see if it was OK for me to go out. When the silence signaled me to go ahead, I would rush out into the rain, feeling the large drops, stinging my skin and bouncing off like a trampoline. The blistering paved street became more refreshing with every footstep as the cool water smacked against it. I never felt freer as I did so long ago on those hot rainy days.

I have a birthday coming up. I dread birthdays because that means I’m getting older and with each year, I get older that is one more year closer to death. This has been a tragic year for everyone that has touched my life. I’ve realized that life is too short and it doesn’t matter how old you are death will come no matter what.

I’m gonna celebrate my birthday this January 15th, with enthusiasm and excitement and happiness and passion and everyday thereafter. I want live through that child’s free spirit again, running through raindrops and reaching for those stars as I did so long ago. I want life to be spontaneous and mysterious; I want it to be filled with love and laughter. I want to be evil and honest and every thing in between. I want to smile. I want to cry. I want to hate. I want to have fun.

Would you join me? Life is too short.

Peace.