Greenlighting
Permission to go ahead...
Remember the childhood game “Red Light, Green Light”? How “It” would dictate when you could move, and when you had to abruptly stop? I most enjoyed this game (natch) when I was “It.” What a power trip! I felt like God, seriously! And of course my favorite part was calling my erring playmates “out,” which is what I, as a child, thought God felt when consigning a person to Hell. I know MUCH better now, and don’t think of God as “It” at all. Instead, I see God as our Cheerleader on the sidelines, encouraging us all, every minute, and celebrating us even when we fall short.
VIDEO: STEVEN SPIELBERG’S DEBUT
When a movie project is “greenlighted” (“greenlit?”) it means the endeavor has been OK’d. Think “Duel” (Steven Spielberg’s directorial debut at the tender age of 24 (he was given only 10 days to shoot!)
ESSAY: MY LATEST “GREEN LIGHT,” ABOUT THE WOMEN WHO CAME BEFORE ME…
As a freelance writer, I regularly pitch articles to editors, then wait. And wait. And (sometimes) wait— for a light (green, red, whatever). Here is my Mother’s Day essay, pitched, accepted and published in the wonderful Next Avenue last week. It’s a reflection on my mom, my two grandmothers and myself, and the sometimes not-so-lovely traits we share…and why that’s really OK.
MY MOTHER, MY GRANDMOTHERS, MYSELF
When Aiden and Peter cross the street, they are super careful to look left-right-left before they embark on their journey through the crosswalk. I love to observe their caution, even though I know they will soon be teenagers, and “teenager” and “caution” do not usually go together. There’s a fine distinction between understandable hesitancy, and frozen panic, and my prayer for my darling boys is that they can thread that needle, moving with sensible, and yes, joyful confidence into the rest of their lives.
MUSIC VIDEO: Aaaaahhhhh! Jack and George!
Here’s to nostalgia, a bygone time when my guys LOVED Curious George, and I was so delighted when that animated scamp and my favorite Hawaiian surfer dude/singer-songwriter/environmental activist Jack Johnson teamed up! This is from the movie soundtrack…
I am a huge fan of the Swiss Benedictine monk and writer Brother David Steindl-Rast. I highly recommend his website www.gratefulness.org, which is a regular dose of faith, hope and love for the world. Here is a simple but profound daily practice I’ve been trying out. Taking breaks to pause, observe my environment, and then mindfully continue with my day. Brother David is 97 years old, so he must be doing something right. Give it a try!!
STOP. LOOK. GO.
BLOG PREVIEW: WOMEN RISING
My goodness, it’s taking forEVER for women to truly reach parity with men! Yeah, we’ve advanced past June Cleaver ( I would hope!) but there are still miles to go…join me over at Working Title and take the Bechdel Test!!
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
— MAYA ANGELOU
As you go through the next week, friends, remember your journey—everything it took to get you here. You made it this far—congratulations!!
I love your Mother's Day essay! I hope you and Steve are having a blast. oxoxo