Keublog - let the good times roll: November 2009

This past weekend I went down to Richmond to visit my two best friends. I decided to take the train down, which was the worst idea ever, but that’s another story. I got off the train and followed the flow of travelers to the station. As I walked through the doors of the station I saw something that truly moved me. A mom spotted her daughter and started to cry. They both ran to each other and hugged as if a wave of emotion had swallowed them.

“And airports, see it all the time
Where someone's last goodbye
Blends in with someone's sigh
Cause someone's coming home
In hand, a single rose”
– Wheel, John Mayer

There’s never more emotion in any situation than there is in a hello or a goodbye. Try to imagine the last person you said goodbye to in your life. I’m not talking, “catch ya later.” I’m talking, “I’ll miss you terribly because this may or may not be the last time I see you.” That kind of goodbye is gut wrenching. It twists at your insides and breaks your heart because you went from a life where this person was there and now they just aren’t. Maybe it’s not even as serious as that. It could be that you don’t see the person for a month, six months, a year. The time doesn’t really matter, it’s the effect.

Hello operates in much of the same way. It’s like discovering your favorite song all over again. There’s an emptiness that is filled with a smile and a hug. When I went off to school my mom would cry whenever I would leave after a visit. I probably went home every three months or so but for her, for three months, she wasn’t complete. Sappy, I know. We don’t really think about it on a day to day basis because why would we? Most of us can carry on without the thought of leaving the ones we love anytime soon.

This past weekend a nine-year-old boy was shot and killed in D.C. He was inside of his house when the would-be robber fired through the door. This story touched me so deeply because it brought tragedy home. Much of his family life was a lot like mine growing up. His family is from El Salvador and they speak just enough English to make it in the U.S. The tragedy made me appreciate my upbringing so much. What would my parents have done? There was a cultural and language barrier. Grief, however, is the same in any language.

“We are grown
but cannot see
Lost our world of make believe
simple times now seem so far
used to be in my backyard
yeah the world was still in my backyard”
– We Are Okay, Joshua Radin

The next time you see someone you love, give them a real hello. Not a “hey” or a “sup?” I don’t care how socially awkward it is, but take that person, pull them close and say “hello” like you mean it. You might not get the rush of emotion that the girl and her mom got at the train station. You might not feel anything at all. For a moment, though, if only for a moment, you will have loved well. I think that’s the point of this rambling.

Maybe it’s the season or the approaching holidays, but I challenge everyone reading this to love well. Don’t limit it either. Don’t just give all of your love to your significant other or your best friend. We are rich in love despite our lack of using it. Loving well is overseeing the things that annoy you and embracing them as the quirks of who someone is. Loving well is calling back. Loving well is getting to know the little things. Loving well is consistency. Love well.

“I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you.”
– The Luckiest, Ben Folds Five

Thanks for reading. Peace.

Raise your hand if you love spam e-mail. Put your hand down, don't be an ass. Well, I get about 20 spam e-mails a day. My filter seems to catch it all but every once and then I like to take a look. I have to say, these spammers do a pretty good job at creating subjects and content. Some, however, are the most nebulous e-mails ever. In honor of these delightful spammers I have decided to add pictures to their glorious words. The next few pictures are my artist interpretation of the subjects of actual spam e-mails in my spam folder.

now ready to give all info