The Way It Works
Portland Waterfront, working.
Portland Waterfront, working. Sternman and third man (maybe got that right ?) prepping well into it by 6AM
All I could think was, if the child chooses a brilliant orange crayon to draw the sea, do not interrupt them.
All I could think was, if the child chooses a brilliant orange crayon to draw the sea, do not interrupt them.
Minimum Daily Dose of Awe
Minimum Daily Dose of Awe
Have I told you about the man recently who asked for coffee cards to donate to these folks on the street as his Christmas present?
Dear Anonymous,
Have I told you about the man recently who asked for coffee cards to donate to these folks on the street as his Christmas present? His loved ones responded. There you have it. And I picked up his gift today to distribute. And he is not the only one. A woman recently dropped off another pile of coffee cards, also the gift she had requested from loved ones. Loved ones. Loved ones. Loved ones. Thank you Dear Anonymous and all you dear loved ones.
Under that circumstance, when I removed all doubt, you showed me the inner chamber of my own heart
Under that circumstance, when I removed all doubt, you showed me the inner chamber of my own heart
At Attention in F Sharp
At Attention in F Sharp
At the Desert between fish dumps and the rest of the world.
At the Desert between fish dumps and the rest of the world.
What neighborhood is this? It's the intersection of the differences between us and...this.
Dear Anonymous,
What neighborhood is this? It's the intersection of the differences between us and...this. And this love wins.
Coffee cards, socks and the currency of connection. And all that may be criticized; or analyzed; or disputed; or argued gets to just f*ck off. Excuse my language.
There ya' have it. And the words: Standing at the threshold of love who am I to deny entry. P.S. Boundaries in place. Thank you Dear Anonymous for the support and resources. Deeply appreciated. Every. Day.
He thought he had missed us, but he hadn't and we had the coat in his size he needed.
Dear Anonymous,
He thought he had missed us, but he hadn't and we had the coat in his size he needed. Talk about Christmas morning. For the rest there was coffee cake and coffee cards and socks and boxers and stockings full of donated treats. Lots of hugs. And for others, plenty of despair.
Tomorrow, we continue on. Cold, broken full of despair and without resolve. And lots of love. Thank you Dear Anonymous.
He can't wait to tell me 'Yesterday was the BEST day EVER.'
Dear Anonymous,
He can't wait to tell me 'Yesterday was the BEST day EVER.'
He delivered a bag of toys we put together for some families at the shelter. Some of the parents close to tears for the assistance. Now he is dream weaving a toy chest for the shelter that we stock with toys for the kids to keep them occupied when parents are trying to get organized and fill out paper work and more.
'I got right down on the floor and played with the kids. We were playin' cars and building things...and the coloring books and sticker books were good for the older kids. It was just the BEST day.'
Merry Christmas and thank you Dear Anonymous.
Christmas morning.
Dear Anonymous,
Christmas morning. We filled those boots with news socks and more. A new meaning to Christmas stockings. Merry Christmas. Thank you Dear Anonymous.
Calm Is The Path
Calm Is The Path
Memory from December 24th, 2012
So, this is the result of a collaboration with my daughter, microbiologist Dr. Anne Madden and her obsessive compulsive gingerbread making mother.
So, this is the result of a collaboration with my daughter, microbiologist Dr. Anne Madden and her obsessive compulsive gingerbread making mother. That's me. This was used in a promotion for Thermo Fisher Scientific. I designed and constructed the gingerbread lab bench with the oversight of Dr. Madden.
So lucky.
So lucky.
Widgery Wharf and the Moon, had a thing.
Widgery Wharf and the Moon, had a thing.
Like a redux of Santa's sleigh, with toys and a backpack for his boy.
Dear Anonymous,
Like a redux of Santa's sleigh, with toys and a backpack for his boy. And then he comes up to me and pulls his hat off and says 'How can I help keep this going? Like, how can I donate?'
And it's his smile. His willingness. His offering that is the gift. The donation.
I say 'We are all set. Keep that smile. Worth more than any amount of money.' And then his smile broadens like a wave landing on the sand at a beach. Broad and light.
Thank you Dear Anonymous. I am the luckiest person to receive that smile. Deeply grateful to you, Dear Anonymous.
He tells me he's enjoying his own apartment.
Dear Anonymous,
He tells me he's enjoying his own apartment. Can't sleep at night yet. Only sleeps during the day.
The rhythm of the street still at play in his body.
Great to see him this morning. Geared up with a back pack and socks and a coffee card.....a sweatshirt or so.
Thank you Dear Anonymous.
'Joanne, this little girl, she came over to thank me. That sparkly hat fit JUST right....'
Dear Anonymous,
'Joanne, this little girl, she came over to thank me. That sparkly hat fit JUST right....and the purple jacket ! Her mom said they couldn't get her a new one and she's grown out of her old one. It was perfect... They were so happy. And I was able to give her some sparkly gloves too, to match! And today she gonna' get a toy! ' This is Mike describing what it was like to share donated toys with the kids at the shelter.
He 's got one big toy picked out for a woman who just left the shelter and got a job at a local coffee shop. 'She's so kind to all of us, and I know she got a little boy....I bet this is gonna help. Joanne, you shoulda' seen how that little girl said thank you....' Thank YOU Dear Anonymous. Homeless. NOT heartless.
They were here early and there were socks and coffee cards and thermal layers and coffee cake and backpacks to share.
Dear Anonymous,
They were here early and there were socks and coffee cards and thermal layers and coffee cake and backpacks to share. But several of these men we were able to outfit to distribute toys to some of the children up at the shelter. Legos, coloring books, matchbox cars, baby dolls...and candy canes. This is one 'Santa', who may be missing his own little one but is going to help share some toys today.
They were so excited. Not sure who wants to play with this stuff more. And that felt lovely.