¤t¤t
Tick-tock, tick-tock Stream.
I am late with the Majordanes tunage for the weekend and
2007 is soon to be a memory. But before 2008 comes
running in here, I wanted to raise a glass to a simple
luxury of my life.
My hands.
As many of you know I work with my hands (quite literally - ASL interpreter)
everyday and therefore I find particular interest in them.
Hands can hold a great deal of information about someone.
Calluses, ridges, fingerprints, and lines all tell a story.
*Palmists' work with hands to lend guidance.
*Labors depend on their hands to earn a living.
*Military honor each other by using them to salute.
Hands.
Often, it is customary to shake them when meeting
someone for the first time or when making a deal.
It used to be that a reputation could be
weighed with the shake of a hand.
and they are still used today to judge
a person's character and worth.
Hands.
They do harm and good.
They connect us to each other as a sign of solidarity,
lend comfort to the injured, sick, and dying,
and can hold what is helpless from harm.
Hands.
They can speak a language all their own,
show appreciation when thrust together repeatedly,
and send a kiss across a room to a waiting lover.
Raised high in the air it signals that
a person wishes to be counted or
that a burning question will soon be posed.
Hands.
They come in all shapes and sizes and can be lost- never found.
My aunt used to make me put my hands behind my back when she took
us to fancy boutiques where breakables were within reach of my tiny
young hands. The nuns aimed for them with their rulers when
they saw fit to swing away.
Hands.
But I also believe there are invisible hands that guide us in this life.
The hands that steer us to the path on the right instead of the
one on the left. The hands that keep us from falling when it
seems likely we should. Those hands; there yet unseen.
As each year comes to a close, I think of all the hands
besides my own that have played a part in
making my year a success. And this year,
some of those hands where Streamers.
So raise a hand Streamers.
Be counted.
And thank you.
One of my favorite phrases from college:
"To all of those who have touched my soul... I hope your hands were clean."
Happy 2007 Stream!
Much happiness and contentment
in 2008!
