Taking Another
Step
by
Dick Prosapio © 2005
My
father once wrote me, "I never thought I'd have a son turning 60!"
He found it remarkable that we had both aged; I found it remarkable
that he had written to me. That was only the second scrap of paper
he had sent to me in those 60 years. (The other one was a commentary
on the movie "Lonesome Dove" which I had sent him. He liked it.)
I'm a bit more prolific than that and, thankfully,
so are my daughters. Lia, for example, is a poet, she takes after
her mother in this regard, and for my birthday, a "surprise" party
that Elizabeth ambushed me with, she put together a book. Not just
any ol' book, this is a book of "thank yous"a heart felt and highly
personal little piece of art that I will treasure.
In its twelve 7 x 6 inch pages were notes in
envelopes, collages of pictures and illustrations, and all the love
she could communicate. Themes ran from her dedication, "This book is
dedicated to you in memory of all of the dreams that we have created
together and as a family.." to "out of all the things you have
taught me, jazz is one of the ultimate lessons in great music.." to
".I hope you know that the life we have created is more unique and
special than the original one my sisters and I were born to. In my
opinion we were given much more than we could have ever asked for.
.you have now become the bio-dad!." ending with, "For myself, I can
only wish that I would continue to be the light in your eyes. In the
near future I will graduate, and want to see the proud faces of my
parents as I walk down the line with a degree in hand. It has been
my greatest ambition to see mom and you as the proudest and happiest
parents in the world." Lia had run away and dropped out of high
school, subsequently getting her G.E.D., but never feeling she had
done it 'right".
I read all the notes in this book to a gathering
of people, who over the past fifteen or so years, have become my
friends, in some ways, my extended family. We were all touched by
the love and affection our survivor daughter communicated in this
small piece of great art.
And then there was Elizabeth's poem. A
clarification note: we met as a result of a Tarot readers
recommendation to Elizabeth, "You should meet this guy, he's doing
work you would fit right in to." The reader had just attended one of
my workshops in San Antonio.
Here's the poem: (The "Dedication" being "For you
as you turn to page 70.")
The
Forest for the Trees
When I stand back far enough
I remember
The gypsy with the small French
cards
Who spoke the magic words and cast
the spell
And possibilities hovered on the
horizon.
Meeting, we told our stories
And recognized each other from
another time.
You, the tender, Fierce Heart
Warrior.
Me, the Magical Mother.
We lifted our hearts
They took to the wind and
Our dreams flew off together.
In the comfort of your arms, in the
relief of your sureness
I surrendered.
And, time passed.
Now you sit on the edge of Age,
testing the waters.
You are only young in my life.
You are forever the Magician Lover
who sweeps me away over and over
Again.
Who lures me from the trees with
whispers of exotic fantasies.
You are the enchanted boy,
Born to be the man for my woman
self.
The one destined to become the
father for my daughters,
Bringing all the good men with you.
You are my tireless hero
Who brings me home when I have lost
my way on the wounded continent.
In the holy moment, when we know
the forest for the trees,
We conjure ourselves forever young.
You wear your seasoned skin
loosely,
Opened so that your wisdom may come
and go as it pleases.
Without end, you return from the
forest
Bringing me the spirit message of
our love.
We are forever
I am forever, Your Elizabeth.
These are just a few of the gifts upon turning
seventy years. Being healthy is right up there too. And being in a
great relationship, and living here in New Mexico, and doing what I
(we) do, and being supported in all the ways we are by the people
around us.and by some kind of indefinable
magic!
It's good to be alive.
