I Believe…

in acceptance of all people – race, creed, color, ethnicity, lifestyle

that children should be cuddled more than chided

in baking brownies and calling on the new neighbors

that the universe created figs just for me

in the promise of spring on that first warm day in April

that learning is lifelong

that stories about the human condition and the ironic, bombastic, insightful language used to describe it should be taught in schools based on two writers: William Shakespeare and Aaron Sorkin

that each of us should be immortalized in our own special folk song

in the stress-reduction properties of twinkling white lights on the little trees lining the West Village streets during the holidays

in patronizing the small business owner whenever possible

the only thing I have to fear is fear itself…and penguins – I really hate penguins

that I’m a stronger, better human being than I was when I was 20…at least I hope so

in the legend of Pinus and I can’t wait until I’m 60 to participate

in Chef’s Salty Chocolate Balls

in reincarnation, and that the theme song from Love American Style will still be running through my brain at the oddest moments in my next life

that even one act of kindness makes a difference

in hot chocolate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream in it

that I’ve reached my tipping point in my ability to handle new technology…on the other hand if “IPod” were a cult, I would shave my head and beg people for money in the airport to support it

in cleaning out the basement every year whether I want to or not

that some occupations are more noble than others

that red toenails are sexy but red fingernails are slutty

that any television show titled “My Three Sons” should only have three sons

in a Christmas tree even though I really don’t celebrate Christmas

in the Sweet Potato Queens’ view of life and love

that my dreams are way more vivid and imaginatively odd than the norm, based on the stunned stares and general laughter that ensues when I describe my dreams

that I should be able to have an intelligent conversation after 8:30pm, but it hardly ever happens

that even though children love the Harry Potter books, they’re really for adults

the most famous classic blunder is “Never get involved in a land war in Asia,” but only slightly less well-known is “Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line”

that you really have to like the person you’re in love with so that you have something to talk about as you fall out of love, then back in love, then out of love, then back in love

that two dogs are not twice the work, but two cats would have been half the trouble

that somewhere in the world my childhood best friend, Michelle, thinks about me sometimes too

there are very good people in every part of the world, but we often only hear about the bad eggs

that I should have worked harder in science when I was in high school and college because most of the careers I wish I had now require it

that I have zany charm – my Myers-Briggs assessment says so

that sometimes you just have to put your head down and keep going…what else ya gonna do?

that I’m not the only middle-aged woman who still has Bobby Sherman memorabilia hanging around

that I’m not the only middle-aged woman who still has a Vietnam MIA/POW bracelet hanging around

that everything is a choice…and ‘not choosing’ is still a making a choice

that getting through the day is made easier by what I Believe.