Scrawled on the Curb

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I've been seeing this graffiti on curbs around Chicago.  It's kind of nice.  Just the word FORGIVE scrawled on a Chicago street, with no direct object.  No clear recommendation on what to forgive.  It's left up to the individual.  You can interpret it anyway you wish.  Hopefully the city will forgive the well-intentioned vandalism.  Or is it art?  Maybe the graffiti is done in some water based paint.  I remember my late momma used to say  to me out of the blue:  "Dwight, I love you and I forgive you."  She never said exactly what she was forgiving me for, but her doing so always made me feel just a touch guilty.  By and large, though, the act of forgiving is better than the act of blaming.

I really don't want to hold grudges if I can help it.  If I can't repair a broken friendship, at least I don't want to begrudge the friend and forget the good times we had.  Some friendships have ended mysteriously; I have decided to stop trying to unravel the mystery.  After repeated attempts, I can groove on the ambiguity.  What choice do I have?  Even the boss who fired me.  I have made efforts to let that go.  Everything that happens to me is my opportunity for a karmic lesson and to earn more good karmic brownie points.  Turn those lemons into lemonade.  Turn poison into medicine.



Please don't think I'm a compulsive shopper. I had entered DSW Shoe Warehouse intending to buy some kind of sandals, and a new casual shoe.  The one impulse buy was the cool sneakers -- with the irresistible black and cocoa colored style. (I've always wanted a pair and now I have them.)  I consider it an investment to in my walking/running workouts toward a leaner, meaner me.

Truth is the last time I bought new shoes was probably two or three years ago.  Apparently I walk a bit bow-legged because my heels are worn down to little trapezoids now.  So when I go shoe shopping, I can be forgiven a little, right? FORGIVE.  There's that word again.  I do love DSW's selection and prices.  I love how the shoe sales people don't bug you and you try on everything you want.  Besides, I'm doing my small part to help jumpstart the American economy.  The black shoes are my casuals, made by Dr. Scholl's with little cushions in the heels.  A great fit.  And the brown bowling-type shoes?  They're actually my new sandals.  So comfy.  No straps to velcro.  Aside from the sneakers, I refuse to tie shoelaces.  I was born to wear slip-ons.

So have you made any guilty little purchases lately?

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