Giving thanks in over 1200 languages, dialects and variations…

(Transliterated where appropriate.)

Can you find yours? (Hint: the originating language or people are in alphabetical order.)

Wliwni ni, Wliwni, Oliwni, Mantiox chawe, Maketai, Yuuminsame, Wapsaw, Thawerapsaw, Gadda ge, Dankie, Baie dankie, Ntyox teru’, Seé, Tsin’aen, Iyayraykere, Hioy’oy, Gui lah hui te ha, Gui lah hui mi a de, Gui lah hui dui dui ma, Ghu long khu me-ah, Gu lah hu ma de , Saeamat kimo, Alíila, Kano, Kanobi, Tá, Alíilamoolo, Kanoomoolo, Kanopalammoolo, Ju falem nderit, Faleminderit, Faleminderit shumë, Bïyan bolzïn, Ondapandula unene, Amesegënallô, Amesegunalhun, Betam amesegënallô, Quialva’, Ashoge, Áshood, Ihe edn, Ahíyi’ee, Mvto, Ahoo, Ahó, Ahókacira, Shukran, Shukran gazilan, Mamnuun, SaHHa, El-hamdullah, Barak llahu fik, Grazias, Shnorhagallem, Shterakravetsun, Shenorhagal em, Shad shenorhagal em, Sh’norhakal em, Shnorhakalutjun, Merci, Multsãnjescu, Meda w’asé, Meda wo ase, Meda wo ase paa paa paa, Basima, Basimta, Basimeh, Mesi, Hawit basima chim raba, Taudi, Gracies, Muhuway su, Mhuway su’, Mhuway su’ balay, Hway, Eyalama, Juspajaraña, Juspajarkätam, Juspaxar, Yuspagara, Dios pagarakátam, Yusulupay, Yuspagarkàtam, Yuspagaràtam, Sayol, Sag olun, Tæshækkür elæyiræm, Chokh sag olun, Masuma, Na somi saisai, Tiang matur suksama, Matu suksama, Matur suksme, Tai merbani, I ni ce, Aw ni ce, Nba, Nse, Rekhmet, Eskerrik asko, Mila esker, Esker mila , Esker aunitz, Eskerrik anitx, Mauliate, Dziakuju, Dziákuj, Tsikomo, Twa to te la, Dhanyabad, Ozasro dhanyabad, Tangkiu, Tangkyu, Tangkiu tumas, Ta, Ang hmèn yá, Nitsíniiyi’taki, Baraka, Hvala, Hvala vam, Trugarez, Trugarez deoc’h, Trugarez dit, Mersi dit, Ho trugarekaat, Boche’, Sa-aun, Nasima, Orio muno, Webaale, Wanyala, Blagodarya , Mersi, Mnogo blagodarya, Akeva, Uninang, Maraba, Chezu ba, Chezu tinbade, Amyaji chezu tinbade, Juu na, Juu goor maniSh, Shukria, Bakhshish, ‘Ácha-ma, Matiosh chawe, Gràsce, Doh je, M goi, Doh je sin, M goi nei sin, Dzãkujã, Dzãczi, Bóg zaplac, Gràcies, Moltes gràcies, Mercès, Uan tabuan, Si yuus maasi, Si yu’os ma’ase’, Ngua tsaa xlay’be hii, Barkal, Barkalla, Wa’-do, Néá’eshe, Néá’êshemeno, Hahóo, Zikomo, Zikomo kwambiri, Zikomo kwambili, Zikomo, Zikomo kwambili, Zikomo, Masiem, Mahsie, Zikomo , Zikomo kwambiri, Ndatenda, Ndinotenda, Tatenda, Tinotenda, Mazviita, Maita basa, Maita zvenyu, Yewo , Yewo chemene, Twalumba, Yewo, Yewo chemene, Yewo chomene, Sikomo, Asante, Sikomo kwejinji, Asante sana, Yokoke, Yakoke, Wokolix awölö, Wokol a wala, Ch’ahp’ei’x ta’p'a, Yuj wal dios, Kili so, Kili so chapur, Kini so, Kini so chapur, Tavtapuch, Tav, Tavssi, Limlemtsch, Ura, Urako, Marahaba, Marahabha, Dew re-dallo dheugh-why, Durdala dywy, Durdaladawhy, Gwra’massi, Merastawhy, Meur ras, Meur ras dhis, Grazia, À ringraziè vi, À ringraziavvi, Kinanâskomitin, Kinanâskomitinawaw, E’kosi, Têniki, Mikwec, Nunasko’mowin keya, Mîkwêc, Kitatamihin, Mese, Obrigado, Hvala, Puno hvala, Hvala lijepa, Dêkuji, Dik’, Barka, Puorra bebe la, Pidamayado, Pidamaya yedo, Pidamaya ye, Tak, Mange tak, Lac jak, Lac jak ko ih lu, Dogedinh, Xisrigidisddhinh, Musi, Musicho, Snachailya, Snachalhuya, Nahnachailya, Nahnachalhuya, Nenachailya, Nenachalhuya , Snachailya, Snachalhya, Nenachailya, Nenachalhya, Snachailya, Snachalhuya, Nahnachailya, Nahnachalhuya, Nenachailya, Nenachalhuya, Shukuriyyaa, Varah bodah shukriyyaa, Yin acaa muoc, Mersi, Emitekati, Daarim, Pounsikou, Dank u, Dank je, Dank u wel, Dank je wel, Bedankt, I ni che, Kadinche, Kadinche la, Ù rú èsé, Dua Netjer en ek, Dua Netjer en etj, Imbuya mono, Tángeyoo, Thank you, Thanks, Ta, Cheers, Thenks, Enks, Ic þancas do, Ic þancie þe, Ic sæcge eow þancas, Thank ya, Dankon, Dankon al vi, Tänan, Aitäh, Ole meheks, Aitih, Aiteh, Tehnän, Abumgang, Abuimgang, Mudo, Akpe, Mudu, epenau, Abui ngan, ‘Awa’ahdah, Abora, Medagse, Medawagse, Takk, Takk fyri, Merci, Tashakkur, Motehshakeram, Mamnoon, Vinaka, Vinaka vakalevu, Vinaka sara vakalevu, Kiitos, Kiitoksia, Paljon kiitoksia, Kiitti, Ablo, A houanu, A houanu ka ka, E na ce nu we, Merci, Merci beaucoup, Tanke, Tanke wol, Tankje, Tankje wol, Graciis, Jaaraama, A jaaraama, On jaaraama, Malo, Fafetai, Jinisa, Ogiwadong, Áwdém áalò, Àayyá, Saa olsun, Gracias, Mèrczi, Téngi nían bún, Merci, Mahd-lob, Gmadlob, Mahd-lobt, Gmadlobt, Danke, Danke schön, Vielen Dank, Dank dir, Dankschen, Danksche, Dank schön, Dankë, Dank schön, Merci, Merci villmahl, Ang kêun, Efcharisto, Sas efharisto, Efharisto poli, Sas efharisto poli, Kali’ sso’rta-ssu, Aguije, Aguyje, Ha’evete, Aabhar, Dhanyawaad , Ga’, Yaddung jee, Syaabaas, Dxanyaa’baad, Mahsi’, Mahsi’ choo, !kaen se !tau, Kaen se !tau, Háw’aa, Mahsi’, Gaza yagabzal yushen, Alla magah, Shukram, Na gode, Yauwa, Mahalo, Mahalo nui loa, Toda, Toda raba, Nodan mamomamo, Shukriya, Danyavad, Dhanyawaad, Tanikiu, Ua tsaug, Ua koj tsaug, Ua tsaug ntau, Ua koj tsaug ntau, Ô chò, Ua tsaug, Ua tsaug ntau ntau, Zoo sab muab, Jamadi, U de, Gum xia, Kam sia, Kwakwhá, Askwali, Hevé, Is kwakwhá, Is askwali, Ei, See, Maake, Ewa ra, Jalbinchi yaan, C’ac’naamal yaan, Dios mangüy ic , Pan parius, Pam parios, Köszönöm, Köszi, Nagyon köszönöm, Köszönöm szépen, Yontonwe, Ti-jiawen, Takk, Takk fyrir, Ilakasugotia, Danko, Imena, Imela, Yâuwá, Dalu, Dios ti agngina, Agyamanac, Agyamanac unay, Salamat, Daghang salamat, Terima kasih, Makasih, Thanks ya , Trims, Barkal, Barkl, Barkal xalda hwa, Saagha xalda hwa, Deala reaza xalda hwuona, Tshinashkumitan, Gratias, Qujannamiik, Qujanaq, Qujanarssuaq, Mutna, Nakorami, Taikkuu, Quyanaq, Quyanaqpaq, Taku, Qujanaq, Aho, Aha, Go raibh maith agat, Go raibh maith agaibh, Go raibh maith ‘ad, Go raibh mile maith agat, Go raibh mile maith agaibh, Dios mamajes dinio, Grazie, Ah Dios mamexes, Ah Dios mamexes dimo, Dios mamexes dimo, Rakux u kapamaxemaxes namen dimo, Dios mamajes dimo, Mamajemajes kami dimo su racuj, D’yos b’ot’ik ti’ij, D’yos b’o'tik, D’yos b’o'tikil, Skanaa-ri, Ta’n tiz, Nich’an tiox, Arigato, Domo arigato , Arigato gozaimasu, Arigato gozaimashita, Dan san, Ookini, Ookini arigatou, Kora doshi, Ohkini, Ookini, Oshoshina, Nihwee-deebiru, Jilatyi, Matur nuwun, Kesuwun, Mèrci bein des fais, Obrigadu, Tamemmirt, Chyeju kaba sai, Chyeju gaba sai, Kotohuadan, Eso, Khanganav, Niawen, Yujwal Dios, Yuj wal tyoxh, Yuj wal ch’an tyoxh, Dhanyawaadagalu, Vandane, Vandanegalu, Ardeneskin, Salamat, Salamat pu, Tabu, Rahmet, Spassibo, Passibo, Da blu, Da blu do ma law, Yo-twa, De N lei, A ke lei naa, Shukria, Danawad, Eso, Ngaityalya, Rahmet, Rahmet sizge, Bantiox, B’antiox, Khuu’a, Da-waa-ee, Aalghïstapcham, Ispasiba, Ar kun, /Aise, Shukria, Mehrbani, Tazim, Haika, Chavucha, Ni waro, Kazaare, Webare, Mwebare, Yebare, Otyo, Osyo, Ni oseo, Ntôndili kwami, Merci mingi, Ndondele, Ntandele, Wuanka, Nkimandi, Manbote, Ni wega, Thengiu, Niwega muno, Wafwa ko, Wabeeja, Murakoze, Urakoze, Aahóow, Kongoi, Rakhmat, Chong rakhmat, Ko rabwa, Murakoze, Tua santa, Asante, Aksante, Ahsante, Asanteni, Asante sana, Shukrani, Nashukuru, Melesí, Há’neng cen, Há?neng cen, naschá?che, Há?neng cen, nescháye?che, Neschá?che cxw, Há?neng cen ?a? ce n’s?éngateng, Tâ, Alí:la mó, Shukria, Maigo, Maiteka, Atto, Attö, Dhanyawaada, Dev borem korum, Komapsumnida, Kamsahamnida, Komawoyo, Kulo, Kulo maluhlap, Kulo na maluhlap, Baasee’, Anaa basee, Tenki ya, Tenkey, Dot nuet, Keyi tapon, Shukur, Sipas, Sipas dikim, Murromboo, Gilakas’la, Ah gilakas’la, Nda pandula, Mèsi, Mèsi plen, Mèsi anpil, Granmèsi, Od dju, Jule, De gra, Dilan, Detelpai, Develpai, Gracias, Munchas gracias, Ah bo, Ah bo u ja, Aw bon uija, Da ja, Òboi jâ, Pilamaya ye, Pilamaya yelo, Pilamaya aloh, Khawp jai, Khawp jai lai lai, Gratia, Gratias, Gratias tibi ago, Gratiam habeo, Paldies, Liels paldies, Wanìshi, Trok chi, Melesí, Matóndo, Natondi yo, Gratzia, Mouchou gratzia, Xual mu wa, Dut zoil, Atkel bboxmu, Ahku bumu, Achiu, Dekoju, Labai achiu, Dekui, Labai dekoju, Nuoširdziai dekoju , Tienu, Tenu, Sia, Dank, Danke, Ek dank auk schoin, Sind auk viellmaols bedankt, Moducué, Webale, Webale nyo, No$un looviq, Hy’shqe siam, Kusakililaku, Webale, Webale, Erokamano, Ck’wálidxw, Helí’dubshewx, Gunasakulila, Merci, Aske, Ashi, Ashi oleng, Ashi naling, Eso, Blagodaram, Asantte, Kooshukhuru, Marahaba, Misaotra, Misaotra tompoko, Misaotra indrindra, Terima kasih, Terima kasih banyak-banyak, Nandi, Valarey nanhi, Nanni, Sabkaa, Ni ke, Grazzi, Grazzi hafna, Chjóonte, Chjoonta, Chjónta tey, Chjónta che, Sanco, Mossi, Baniha, Xie xie, Toa chie, Abaraka, I ning bara, Al ning bara, Gura mie ayd, Gura mie eu, Gura mie mooar ayd, Mauruuru, Tika hoki, Ka pai, Meitaki, Meitaki ma’ata, Krasia may, Chaltu, Chaltu may, Traeltu, Manumeimi, Abhari ahi, Dhanyawaadh, Dhanyawaatha, Tau, Koutai, Kommol, Kommol tata, Kwölukkuun emmol, Koko, Pöjö, Natejchiri, Nkhi k’a ninashitechino, Baiika, Bisse, Baika, Eswau, Laengz zingh, Laengz zingh meih, Laengz zingh camv, Tö’ dun, Welálin, Weláliek, Akpe, Akpe ka ka, Tarimo kasih, Makasi yo, Tingki, Tengkiju, Kúta’ùná, Kúta’ùrí, Kúta’ù shãàrí nuùro, Niku tab’i, Niku tab’o, Ta xa’u zin, Cutahvixieensa, Cacutahvixensa, Tyáhvi nyóò, Nihedebil, Wneeweh, Oneowe, Multumesc, Tang kun, Merçì, Bayarlalaa, Gyalailaa, Tand ikh bayarlalaa, Saikhan zochluullaa, Ta ikh tus bolloo, Wenatase, Barka, Mpuusda barka, Barka wusgo, B’o'tic, Syukprya, Mersi, Tanikiu, Mèu mèu, Kewa, Mvto, Henka, Ka, Akvsv’mkv, Tlazohcamati, Icnelia, Tlazohcamati huel miac, Tlazohcamatzin, Tlazocama, Tlazocamatl, Tlazocamati, Nictlazohcamati, Pinamaya, Aio, Kongoi, Kaigai, Asai, Gràzzie, Tobotonoque, Ttaubotneanauayean, Kuttabotomish, Tsuba kor, Ahéhee’, Jjef bei seiq, Ngeyabonga, Ngiyabonga, Ngiyathokaza, Ngeyabonga kakulu, Ngiyabonga kakulu, Siyabonga, Siyabonga kakulu, Gaantangi fi ye, Gaantangi, A bigi ba, Nyarya bada, Dhanyabaad, Su-bhaay, Qe’ci’yew’yew’, Xoasi, Nägê, Dé kãã, Ná goodoota-ngaa naa ci, Zikomo, Sauha gölö, Söwö gölö , Thank yu, Well done, Fakaaue, Ha ia, Fakaaue lahi mahaki, Takk, Tusen takk, Takk, Ebóto, Ewata, Miigwech, Lim limt, Danna waat, Ulfaad’d'a, Waaqni sii haa kennu, Maharaba, Galatoomii, Galatomaa, Fayyaa ta’aa, Fayyaa ta’i, We’-a-hnon, Thla-ho, Arfö, Buznyg, Losaka, Hihuri, Namasmasuk, Kibeiné, ‘Ara’ya:ikm, ‘Ara’yai:km, ‘Ara’ye:km, Malimali, Masalu, Sulang, Msuulaang, Ke kmal mesaul, Tingkih, Danki, Tashakkur, Sta na shukria, Hambadiahana, Hsà khawn hsá ta má’ lâw, Tanggio, Paampa diyúx, Padiux, Dankscheen, Rin dios awe, Kalangan, Kalangen en Komwi, Dziekuje, Dziekujemy, Dzieki, Dziynki, Dziynkuja, Auw’e, Kelangan, Ni’ctíyus, Obrigado, Obrigada, Iwgwien, Migwe’c, Kcumigwe’c, Mercé, Gramaci, Mercé plan, Da-wah-eh, Kilissow, Dhannvaad, Dannaba, Shukria, Miharbaanee, Tuhaadee kirpaa hai, Tayu’an, Paylla, Yuspagrasunki, Dyuspagrasunki, Diyus pagapusonqa, Diyus pagapusonqacheh, Anchata agradisiyki, Anchata agradisiykicheh, Diuspagarasunki, Diuspagarapusunki, Pachi, Pachis, Yusulpayki, Yusulpaykinsunki, Yuspagarasunki, Yuspagarasunkichis, Añay, Añachaykin, Grasias, Urpi sonqo, Sinchitan añaychayki , Rasyas, Maltiox, Maltiox tat, Maltiox nan, Sibälaj maltiox, Cheri cha ai, Pagui , Pagui shungulla, Diusulupagui, Yupaichani, Chyee zu thon ree, Maururu, Kashoonopihku, Shukuria, Gestena, Nais, Nais tuke, Najis tuke, Multumesc, Grazia, Grazie, Grazcha, Noa’ia, Filo’montou, Maulanenga, Spasibo, Giitit itt, Giittus, Giitus, Giitus eanat , Giihtu, Gaejtho, Giitu, Takkâ, Spässep, Spä’sseb, Hay sxw q’a, Hay sxw q’e, Muhuway su, Fa’afetai, Fa’afetai tele, Birepo, Mèrèsi, Anugurihiitosumi, Angen, Gaantángí fii , F&uacteu;únu, Grassias, Dhanbaad, Dhanjabaab, Sukriya, Soekoeria, Matur tampiasih, Tampi asiq, Miigwech, Kiitoksija, Tapadh leat, Tapadh leibh, Moran taing , Gun robh math agaibh, Gun robh math agad, Thenk ye, Thank ye, Thenks, Minkari, Minmonchar, Ke a leboga, Hvala, Hvala lepa, Yooz ma samsisíinxo, Dioka ndjiale, Mersi, Gran mersi, Ke a leboha, Ke itumtese, Ke itumela, Ke a leboga, Aiteh, Tà byu’ dô law, Dah bluet, Sha ja non, Sha sha, Sha ja, Djeelsha grawsta, Thuchi chea, Thuchi che, Marahaba, Shukria, Bakhshish, Iráque, Ichabires iráque, Grazzii, Ni itumezi, Litumezi, Nitumezi, Mehrbani, Istuti, Bohoma istuti, Ngiyabonga, Siyabonga, Dakujem, Dakujem vám, Dakujem ti, Hvala, Hvala vam, Hvala ti, Hvala lepa, Sol Ti, Mahad sanid, Nawari, Dz’akuju so, Z’e'kujom se, Gracias, Muchas gracias, Chn lm-s-cút, Grantangi, Tangi, Danki, Denkâ, Denkauja, Quyanaa, Hatur nuhun, Engraziel, Tawdi, Tawdi sagi, Inwali, Dankeschee, Dankschee, Tack, Jag tackar, Tack så mycket, Tackar så mycket, Stort tack, Salamat, Salamat po, Salamat sa iyo, Maraming salamat, Mauruuru, Mauruuru roa, Oáan, Bo matum, Tashakur, Rakhmat, Ganta, Tanumert, Nandri, Nangreeih, Romba nanringa, Rumba nandri, Rumba thanks, Chin’an, Basee choo, Maasee’, Tsen’ii, Matéterabá, Matétera, Natérarabá, Rahmat türi, Rekhmet, Day fon, Dhanyavaadaalu, Tamara krutagntha, Obrigado, Obrigadu, Obrigada, Obrigado barak, Obrigadu barak, Obrigada barak, Kuunda, Khawp khun, Khawp khun khrap, Khawp khun kha, Khrap, Kha, Khawp khun makh, Sewa, Tujechhe, Yrunyli, Yaqhanyelay, Yeqniyeley, Yekanyelay, Guneshcheesh, Gunalchéesh, Gunalchéesh hó hó, Atlein gunalchéesh, Tzachatal, Yuj, Tenkiu, Tenkyu, Tenkyu tru, Malo, Malo ‘aupito, Kurre sumange, Paxkatkatzinil, Twasakadila, Way dankoo, I nkomu, Salamot, Tarima kasi, Mast upakara, Azéharamopa, Azéharamo kui, Azéharmo kui, Azéharamo aypopa, Ipopa, Ipo, Azéharamo aypo-mia, Tesekkür ederim, Tesekkurler, Mersi, Sagol, Sagolun, Çok tesekkür ederim, Çok sagolun, Sag bol, Sag bolung, Tangur, Nyeahweh, Fakafetai, Chettirdim, Jocolawal, Wokolawal, Kolaval, Kolawal, Batz’i kolaval, Ois botik, Nihei deebiru, Ippe nihei deebiru, Nifee deebiru, Tau, Dyakooyu, Spasibi, Qagaasakung, Qaqaasakuq, Shukriya, Danyavad, Merbani, Towayak, Tog’oyak , Tograyock, Tokhoyak, Malo, Malo te ofa, Rakhmat, Rähmät sizgä, Rakhmat, Tashakkur, Gracies, Moltes gracies, Ndi a livhuha, Ndo livhuwa, Ukhani, Spasibo, Cám ơn, Cám ơn ông, Cám ơn bà, Cám ơn cô, Cám ơn anh, Cám ơn chị, Cám ơn em, Cám ơn quý vị rât nhiều, Ông quá tử tế với tôi, Salamat, Gracia, Passibo, Antagoo Jumal tervüt teilee, Shukria, Shobosh, Bareka, Merci, Mercè, Gråces, Taubut, Wiyarrparlunpaju-yungu, Diolch yn fawr, Diolch yn fawr iawn, Diolch, Depelda mat doyut, Depelda cala da mat doyut, Cala da mat doyut, Djere dief, Jerejef, Ndiyabulela, Enkosi, Enkosi kakhulu, Kam sia, Balika, Koloombo, Ayoi, Kam magar, Dank, A dank aych, E se é, Oshe, A dupe, E seun, O seun, O se, E se, Dios bo’otik, Dyos bo’otik, Dios bootiki’, Hach dyos bo’otik, Yum bo’otik, Ki’ bolal, Mis tatk, Sagha &ccedi;owattï, Çowattï, Yo manymak, Eso po yu, Quyana, Quyanaghhalek, Igamsiqanaghhalek, Dishkleno, Dishklenle, Choshcwleno’, Choshcwlentio’, Choshcwlen chele, Choshcwleno’ de’e zan las, Choshkleno’, Choshklenteco, Choshklenle, Guishepeli, Fofo, Yuscotoya, Ngiyabonga, Ngiyabonga ka khulu, Siyabonga.

Rage, rage against the dying of the meat…

Tweet: Bought new sneakers today.

No, you really shouldn’t care and fear I more each day that with the great ease and transparency of communication this online wild has brought has come some great loss. “Where’s the beef?” and has the cow indeed left the building?

 

“Do not go gentle into that good tweet,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the meat.”

——————–

DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

 

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,

Because their words had forked no lightning they

Do not go gentle into that good night.

 

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright

Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

 

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,

And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,

Do not go gentle into that good night.

 

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight

Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

 

And you, my father, there on the sad height,

Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

(~Dylan Thomas)

A Coveted Truth…

I think, perhaps, this is a good time to offer a coveted truth. The name of this blog is Promiscuity—I am not.

While the more perceptual among you have, no doubt, figured this out for yourselves, I did want to at least say it. Private and sensual, my few trusted friends and lovers are gifts who have openly shared so much of themselves with me and with whom I’ve been lucky enough to share, in the most private, personal spheres, their touch and myself. The specific details of these shared experiences do not (and will not) appear here.

It is my sincere hope that everything else will. That said I invite you all, once again to come in! Come in! so we can explore each other, touch each other, excite each other and sooth each other. Welcome.

A Love Letter…

Dearest Love,

I’ve felt the pressure of time this week—a dimension which used to exert a great force upon me and my direction. Perhaps simply aftershocks of last week’s demarcations, perhaps a premonition of your immanent voyage or adventures yet to come, it is a more rarified experience for me these days and one that overcame me a bit unexpectedly. I’m excited for you and look forward to the sharing sure to come. Please stay safe and enjoy the gift of this time with your closest loved-ones all the while knowing there is another with you in mind.

And so we dance the most wonderful dance in and around each other—a very old dance while at once with unknown steps. We learn a language or, perhaps, to even just speak a few words. In those first few steps and words, our experience, our love, our fear, our shyness, our frailness, our strength, our history, becomes each of us. That is what I love. So, my dear, don’t clean your apartment; don’t make the bed; don’t brush your hair; don’t change your dress. Just come in sandals or flip-flops, famished or full, pensive or passionate, aroused or ablated, just bring yourself and come. I will be waiting for you.

Like a whimper in silent ecstasy, tonight in the evening silence, I find you. I hope you close your eyes and find me too.

No surprises my love. Just my hopes and feelings for you and a short note to let you know I look forward to touching you and to you touching me.

Have a wonderful trip and find in it’s discovery, as well as in ours, all those things you never find until you close your eyes and stop looking. You really never know where those will lead.

So very warmly,

???

The Big Rocks…

Stephen Covey, in the book First Things First recalls the following story that one of his associates experienced in a seminar. The original presenter of the story remains unknown. While some of you may already be familiar with its lessons, I’ve found it valuable to return to it now and then over my years. I hope you find the same.

—–

An expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget. As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said, “Okay, time for a quiz” and he pulled out a one-gallon, mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. He also produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar.

When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, “Is this jar full?”
Everyone in the class yelled, “Yes.”

The time management expert replied, “Really?”

He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. He dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. He then asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?”

By this time the class was on to him. “Probably not,” one of them answered.

“Good!” he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, “Is this jar full?”

“No!” the class shouted. Once again he said, “Good.” Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, “What is the point of this illustration?”

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, “The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!”

“No,” the speaker replied, that’s not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.

What are the ‘big rocks’ in your life — time with your loved ones, your faith, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching or mentoring others? Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you’ll never get them in at all.” So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the ‘big rocks’ in my life? Then, put those in your jar first.”

My Life as an Explorer…

This basically sums up my life as an explorer and, most probably, everything else…

My daughter and I set out in the sea kayak to explore the inner harbor. The tide was coming in for another few hours with a sea breeze so I figured we could go out as far as we wanted and it would be easy to paddle back. Needless to say, I had to do all of the paddling so didn’t want to get caught out in the middle of the sound.

We set out into the wind and decided to check out a private beach across the bay. When we got closer to the beach we discovered a small causeway with a road on it heading out to a beautiful home on an island. There was a small passage under the causeway just large enough for the kayak to pass through with the paddles turned parallel to the boat. We decided to paddle through the tunnel under the causeway.

So far so good, right? As we approached the passage, it became quite obvious that the water was flowing inward at quite a rate. In fact, a small waterfall had formed within the passage—no problem. I’ve done a fair amount of white water canoeing and kayaking and I assured my daughter that everything would be just fine. Indeed it was great fun as we shot through passageway and down the small waterfall into a beautiful private sanctuary behind the house on the island.

My daughter pulled out a snack and relaxed to enjoy the ride. Something was bothering me a bit though. The water in the passageway was flowing south into the sanctuary. The water in the harbor was flowing North due to the tide. If one thinks about this logically, and I was only then beginning to think that way, there had to be another passageway into the sanctuary. The only problem was, the water in this second passageway had to be flowing northward. Stated more succinctly, the water in both passageways was flowing inward.

This realization tended to quash much of my immediate excitement regarding the beauty of the place we had serendipitously discovered. My daughter continued to enjoy her snack as my mind sank into the sad reality that we either needed a lock, a motor or we would have to wait for the change in the tides.

No problem without a solution, right? I decided, without yet informing my daughter of our predicament that I would try to simply paddle up the waterfall, under the causeway and out into the outer harbor. I paddled the kayak under the causeway and directly into the large eddy formed by the falling in-flowing water. The front of the kayak shot upward with my daughter into the air as the keel of the kayak hit the bottom. With a loud scrape we were washed backwards back into the sanctuary. Needless to say this slightly concerned my daughter but also drew much excitement as the whitewater shot us backward.

I now explained our predicament and she stated she did not want to try again to escape, as it was just too scary. I am always sensitive to the fear reaction in children as I never want contribute the need for any more therapy than is absolutely required. I’ve come to the realization in my life that one of the primary goals of parenthood is to minimize the number of years of therapy your children will require later in life. In any case, it took 3 more times dipping the nose of the kayak into that eddy at the base of the waterfall to raise my daughter’s comfort level with the noise to be able to make a final run for escape.

We let the water push us backward into the middle of the sanctuary. I had my daughter crawl forward as far as she could to better balance the kayak as we attempted to paddle up the waterfall. Now to most reasonable human beings, the mere thought of paddling up a waterfall would, or at least should, have set off a few alarms but we had no choice. The Cheese Doodle snack would simply not hold out until low tide and we were down to our last bottle of water and our last 3 pretzels. Yikes!

Well we made a run for it. Paddling like a man possessed, we shot through the sanctuary. Fish jumped and birds scattered as we accelerated under the bridge and into the waterfall. In order to be able to paddle within the shallow passageway I had to turn the paddles I was using upside down so they wouldn’t scrape the bottom.

So here is the picture… my daughter and I are racing towards the passageway. She is jammed into the floatation in the front of the kayak all the while shoveling Cheese Doodles more and more rapidly into her mouth. Faster and faster we shot across the sanctuary until we blasted through the eddy and up the waterfall under the causeway. For a moment we hung just balanced on the crest of the wave going under the causeway.

I didn’t want to alarm my daughter so I put on a totally happy face and sung sea shanties as I paddled for my life. With a splash, the bow of the boat fell off the wave and we shot out into the harbor. What an adventure! I guess I should have thought ahead. We were, however, always safe from any real physical harm—always my first consideration.

When we did finally get out of our predicament, we decided it was about time to call it a day—a good day.

A Private? Moment…

Sitting here this evening, writing a few personal letters to newfound friends—Sex and the City is on in the background. I’m not watching—story of my life these days. I don’t actually watch much television. I’m not against it but never seem to be very hip with the most recent titillating tales of other’s reality or otherwise. Nonetheless, the TV is on as it is so often as a backdrop to the relative silence of the burbs.

Strange… a voice I recognize—a stage voice—a voice calling a cab—a dinner conversation—a bedroom voice. I look up just in time to see an old friend and long past lover resolve, albeit briefly, the other half of a conversation with Sarah, uh, Carrie. It was a strange moment—not of irresolution or reminiscence but of striking sanctum.

For anyone who has lived in or around the city for some time, it is not uncommon to find oneself very few degrees separated from individuals in media especially in the case of Sex and the City or Law and Order. Still it seems strange to repeatedly find these people here with me in my most private and intimate space.

How important is personal privacy in our deepest and most connected relationships? With parents? With children? With lovers? From a private drawer or closet, to private time, what role does privacy play? And critically, how does privacy differ from secrecy?

Supercalafragilisticexpealodocious does not make a good safeword…

From a very early age the concept of safety and being safe is drilled repeatedly into each of us. From the habitual behaviors associated with the yearly fire drills and bus safety presentation to the root metaphors underlying a simple game of Red-light Green-light. As we mature, the ability to effectively communicate, through myriad means, our desires to move or stop, be touched or left alone, tickled or soothed, supported or challenged becomes integral to all our relationships—even our survival.

Complex multisyllabic messages so often just don’t meet the challenge. Thank god for bedroom eyes (and “Out to Lunch” signs)!

Down the Drain…

I learned to fly before I could drive. I used to have to hitch a ride to Westchester County Airport, where I would proceed directly out onto the tarmac, hop in a plane and, well… up, up and away! An airplane slut from an early age, I would do just about anything for a hop and used to just hang out with a bucket of propwash until someone offered me a flight or let me fly their plane. Met lots of characters over those summers… this is the story of the final resting of one.

They say there are no old and bold pilots. Spend enough time at any airport and eventually someone you know ends up dead. The truth is, spend enough time in any one place and someone you know ends up dead. It is certainly part of life. In any case, I diverge. That summer, an elderly pilot and local friend passed away. While his death, ultimately had nothing to do with an airplane, his family decided that he would be most happy (needless to say, a common but strange personification, uh… lifification(?) attributing emotions to the dead) if his cremated ashes were spread into the winds over the airport. Surly a beautiful thought in the mind’s eyes of all who knew him.

One of those characters and a long time fixture at the airport offered to do the deed and help the family enjoy their last moments with the one they lost. The plane we chose was an old open cockpit Waco biplane that he had meticulously restored. In hindsight, ‘no windows’ was probably not a great idea.

In any case, the family gathered at the airport one beautiful afternoon. After a few tears and private wishes, the urn was handed to our hero pilot with great care and love. Holding the urn like a football, he climbed onto the lower wing and up into the cockpit of the big biplane.

The picture was right out of the barnstorming days with the scarf and old-fashioned goggles. We all secretly giggled at the strange combination of serious and silly. The radial engine sputtered and spewed as that big prop flipped round and finally disappeared in a giant blast of wash.

The Waco taxied down to the end of runway 22 as the family gathered at the center of the small airport. With a smooth push of the throttle, the plane rolled down the runway first toward the family and then past and away as the tips of that big prop snapped through the sound barrier. What a great sound!

The Waco climbed steeply upward and gracefully turned to make its pass over the airport to sprinkle our friend onto the winds where he could finally rest. I doubt anyone could have really predicted what happened next as certainly none of us had ever even attempted a tribute like this before. On the ground, the anticipation mounted as the Waco flew nearer.

Flying with the stick between his knees our fearless pilot reached for the urn he had wedged by his side. As the plane approached the airport, he pulled the cover off the urn only to have the ashes of the deceased explode in a poof of grey dust in the swirls and eddies of the airstream through the open cockpit. Unable to see and choking on the ashes now in his nose and mouth, the Waco suddenly pulled up and nearly inverted. I think the family viewed this as the ultimate final tribute. The rest of us thought, “What the hell was that?”

With the entire cockpit, instruments and pilot now completely covered in ash, the Waco regained controlled flight and gracefully turned a circular base and touched down at the end of the runway. Our pilot taxied straight past the family to the far end of the airport and disappeared behind the last hanger. They were filled with love and delight for all the pomp and circumstance. To this day, I do not think they know exactly what happened.

The rest of us wandered down to the Waco behind that last hanger, got a hose and, after some debate, washed what was left of that poor guy right down the storm drain. I wonder if it really is the thought that counts?

I often wonder if our way of death has kept pace with our quickly changing way of life.

Hail to the Ch- Ch- Ch- Chief…

Personally, I would like to see a full nude Chia Man and Woman that could be personalized by growing “hair” in locations of my own choosing… but, then, that’s a topic for another post.

Apparently you can currently purchase either the “Happy” Obama or “Determined” Obama. What expressions would you like to see?

•	Happy (already available)
•	Determined (already available)
•	Stoned
•	Constipated
•	Angry
•	Amorous
•	Poised for nuclear release
•	Le petit mort
•	Other… (please specify in comment below)