Ripple (The Grateful Dead)

I mentioned previously that Dar Williams' new DVD had been released but, for various reasons, I had not yet purchased... almost unheard of, given my DW level of fandom - I dropped a note to a friend last week, bemoaning my non-IG (Instant Gratification, not Indigo Girls) status. "Quick, take a picture", I said - I could imagine him shaking his head and wondering, "who are you and what have you done with Susan?!?"...

I went to check my mail today and there was a package which, when ripped open, displayed the contents of the Dar Williams, Live at Bearsville video - grin then tears then grin again.

I've had a nice, quiet, productive day, so I'll crank out some additional e-mails... and make a few more machete passes over the paperwork on the dining room table... and then I'll reward myself for being "good" by curling up on the couch in the family room with Dar (and you know how I mean that) - gotta love friends who create a good mystery... and then help us solve it... :-)

P.S. Dar participated in a Grateful Dead tribute concert a while back and covered my title song, a long-time favorite which I've not yet heard her perform - yet one more reason to look forward to this evening's viewing!

SONG: Ripple by The Grateful Dead

BOOK: The Ripple Effect: Finding Inner Peace and Harmony by Anne Jones

POEM: As Death Approaches by Susan Deborah King

I can't believe I'm laughing!

I'd have sworn I'd be

shaking or sniveling.

And I sure didn't expect

a limousine.

I've never been in a limousine.

No biggy.

I've had better than fame.

Who needs the pressure?

As for fortune, I'm filthy.

That's why I'm laughing.

I've had so much love:

the giving, the getting.

It's shameful.

It's embarrassing.

And it's too late.

No one can take it away!

And I've had the pain

to help me appreciate it.

Thank God for the pain!

Easy for me to say

now that I'm going!

But no, seriously,

the kicks in the teeth,

the gut, the rugs

pulled out, slammed doors,

setbacks, snubs.

Without them, I'd

never have recognized

Love, bedraggled,

plain eyes shining,

happy to see me.

Do I want more?

Of course I want more!

I always want more

of everything: money, hugs,

lovemaking, art, butter,

woods, flowers, the sea,

M&Ms, chips, tops, bottoms,

trips — I did give up drinking —

time, sure, and yes,

I'd like to see

my grandchildren,

if there are any.

I'd like to see my books

but more has never

been good for me anyway.

Enough — that's what I've

always needed to learn,

and is there a better way?

So this laughter

I had to work up to

through so many tears,

it just keeps coming

like a fountain, a spray.

Let it light on you

refreshment, benediction,

as I'm driven away.

QUOTE: "You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink." ~ G.K. Chesterton