"do i contradict myself? very well, then, i contradict myself. (i am large, i contain multitudes)"
| walt whitman | "song of myself" |
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once upon a time i asked my father why he helped my mother "celebrate" christmas when he, in fact, was a dedicated muslim.
he told me that as devoted as he was, nothing outside of him had the ability to shake his core beliefs. that he often questioned the faith of people who were so easily rattled, to the point of being offended by the tributes of another.
but what about santa? but what about the government? but what about the lies and mis-truths of this country?
what about all of those things that you've taught me...inherently...to be wary of?
what about them? he said. i've done my job. you've proven it. today is about your mother. she works all year long just to see her worth in the eyes of her children.
and he'd give an entire paycheck to her cause (i learned of this later).
and he'd give an entire paycheck to her cause (i learned of this later).
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since having Toots, i have struggled to embrace my father's energy.
i am not as settled as him. sometimes my militancy overshadows my "family bonding" and i have missed major moments within my own family because of it. aunts and uncles and cousins and elders all gathered to embrace and love and i, the known distant one, tucked away because i have yet to learn...how.
but i am learning.
i am trying to find a blend with my mother. for the sake of my child, for the sake of myself, because i am realizing some very important things: life is short. i have no idea how much longer i will be here (in this country, or on this earth, for that matter) and i want Toots to experience in the joy that i've shared with my mother as i did as a child.
i am trying to find a blend with my mother. for the sake of my child, for the sake of myself, because i am realizing some very important things: life is short. i have no idea how much longer i will be here (in this country, or on this earth, for that matter) and i want Toots to experience in the joy that i've shared with my mother as i did as a child.
something that brings my mother joy should not bring me upset.
i put my own feelings to the side...embraced my father's spirit...and let this happen.
a beautiful contradiction.
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singing and drumming with grandma and si-si
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but like my father taught me early on, Toots is fully aware of one important fact:
none of this...is real.
(((happy holidays)))
(((happy holidays)))
I think it's all real. And I love that we lve in a world where anyone can celebrate
ReplyDeletei just really don't want her to believe in santa claus and reindeers or commercialism.
Deletei don't really understand any of it. i, personally, feel it feeds this society, more than the soul.
(whatever ones belief...i wish we could focus more on spirit. it seems to be last in life)
Whatever they like! 😜 I'm glad you give her a little Christmas magic.
ReplyDeletei had one. my brother (who is a moor did, too, though he will deny this from his memory, he woke me up bright and early eager to open gifts). we'd have xmas breakfast and dinner and visit family all day long. this i remember. FAMILY. and i delighted in it. it was joyous. i remember that feeling. and Toots loved every moment of it. from baking cookies, to the shared energy, she enjoyed it all. and that made me feel good.
Delete(she just knows that her mother brought her those presents...because i struggled to do so...and no imaginary being is getting the credit. she thanked me and kissed me a billion times over...and that made ME feel good)