Here it is, the last day of March. Its days flew by. I half expect that I can look skyward to catch a glimpse of the last of the fleet-winged days making their way westward toward the setting sun. March is now past tense, living in the realm of was. Nonsense to think of the days as birds, I know, especially when we are rooted in the present like oaks, fixed in place.
March brought a few unexpected little gifts - simple things really that could have gone unnoticed. One was that while listening at length to an elderly customer vent about her husband, she, out of confusion no doubt, ended the conversation with "Okay, I love you honey, goodbye." It was just one of those endearments that I am sure she said to her daughter thousands of times. It was not really intended for me but I was taken by surprise and quite liked it. I confided to my co-worker that I "kind of liked it". Well, it's better than what we usually get she reminded me. And yes, that much is true. Now when this customer calls and is speaking to a co-worker I playfully whisper, "Tell her that I love her". I wish I could and don't know why I can't other than it's just not what we do and it would seem weird. We just don't go around telling our acquaintances that we love them. But, it was nice to hear and even now, two weeks later it makes me smile and feel all warm inside.
I received my second little unexpected I love you from the director at the Mahamudra Centre in New Zealand. She (or he) emailed just a few days ago. I was reminded that working with animals can be a wonderful thing. I was also given a few recommendations for meditation books. The first was a book titled 'How To Meditate' by Kathleen McDonald. She is a Buddhist nun and has been for years. Her book is reprinted often so is very up to date. I did purchase it and am enjoying it.
The second book is by Paul Wilson. I believe the title is 'The Calm Technique'. It sounds like there are no references to Buddhism in his books. He has a few different titles out, I looked them up on Amazon. So I received a few book recommendations and at the end of the email Ven. Nangsel wrote, "...and lots of love to you". Maybe I am especially needy this week, maybe it was just being in the throes of PMS that made me respond the way I did, with warm fuzzy feelings tingling from head to toe. I am not desperately seeking I love you's, I have been my same bristle-y and fairly surly self lately but both times I responded the same. Gasp! How strange! Hmmm.....I kind of like it.
My advice for April is to scatter a few I love you's around and see what springs up. And read a poem for heaven's sake, it's National Poetry Month!!! Hopefully I will do much better posting poems for you all this year. Last year was dismal on my part.
Have a goodnight, little darlings. Sleep tight, stay warm and remember, I love you.


