When I grow up I don’t want to be an air hostess.
While some are scared of flying, I’m frightened by air hostesses. Not them personally, but what they collectively represent. The Barbies of super service. Minding their manners and following rules. Trained and conditioned to endlessly serve. To not rock the boat – or should I say plane? Plastic and animated puppets of the sky ways. Dangling mid air. Secure and falsely content in the narrow strip they patrol like soldiers, serving not country, but seats. Saying nothing to pinched bottoms as they travel to end up nowhere. And from their demonstrations of survival tips I take my own … never, ever be satisfied with being a puppet. A follower of mindless instruction.
So join me in flight, to the tune of, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your golden hair”. May we unravel from the tightly bound plaits of expectation. Let our hair down and fly freely, into our selves, with no need for wings, or plastic things – or air hostesses and heels for that matter.
(Reposted from 2011. Find her in Clunk & Jam book.)
Sometimes people tell me what to see – but I know what I saw.
Footnote: As a kid, I used to hang upside down on the monkey bars, get a swing up and then release my legs, flip and land on my feet in the soft white sand – like a cat. This ink could be about about hanging on with a firm grip on of all that might be pulling her off in a direction that’s not her own. And evoking that feeling of release that comes from the moment when she trusts in herself so strongly that she lets go and flies …
(Reposted from 2010. In Clunk & Jam, 2019 book)
Tug, Tug, Tug .
The pull of the past tugged at her every attempt at a brave step away. But, alas, the counter bell in her mind rang with enlightenment….”You’re just going to have to be a touch more strategic in planning your moves and setting yourself ever so lovingly loose.” At that very moment she felt her shoulders come down from her ear lobes and life return to the balls of her feet. She was ready to go.
(Reposted from 2012. Find her in ‘Clunk & Jam’ book.)
Wish Upon A Cake .
I once wished upon stars. Books with crosses. As the white man stole birthdays. Red man pretended. Black collars wrapped around truth. Now I wear the hat that makes me taller than the glaring. Stays on as I rattle my little box. Make sticks come alive. Hard things run. Soft things dance with my breath. Spin circles that wrap all the way around me. And everything disappears .
(Clunk & Jam book, 2019. Originally in handmade book, ‘Rock The Boat’.)
They said it would be a piece of cake .
(Reposted from 2009. Now in Clunk & Jam book, 2019).
How Does Your Garden Grow .
This little soldier discovered that even though the world seemed way too BIG for her – she could create a little room for herself. And because it was just the right size, she could carry it with her so she could go all the way home wherever she went. And because it fitted her so snugly, she had to choose very carefully who she opened up to. And if they didn’t look after her things, they’d been shown nothing more than the door .
Footnote: A snail and turtle have the ability to tuck back into their shell to protect themselves – escape. There are times when we wish we could just disappear – escape too. Without a shell there are many other ways we can to this and so it’s good to make up your own ‘escape’ list. And what if when we ‘escape’ we escape into things that help us feel good about ourselves. Maybe call that list a, ‘How Does Your Garden Grow?’ list perhaps? What do you need to do to look after myself – which is not the same as selfishness by the way.
(Reposted from 2009. Original in ‘Rock The Boat’ handmade book. Now in ‘Clunk & Jam, 2019 book)
