Photo by Tim Stief on Unsplash

Celebrate this Moment

Not for the record spinning wheels of steel, DJ starting countdown, blasting off cosmic adventures. Anticipative walkabout, testing out new swag, bright lights big city traded for Outback’s story-line.

The record skips, scratched, nails across the chalkboard, world standing still, entering lock-down, eternity, infinity as it may.

Neighborly love sharing moments, laughter, tears, Sapphire, and beers, cherished most certainly. Bomb dropped, dreams and aspirations negate, change of plans, soiled underpants shit just got real (Thank you Ricky Baker). All expenses paid to whoever will take us, like Sumerians labeled scarlet letter, rolling dice, location soon to be.

Bayou’s warm hospitality trumped Mickey’s Grand Floridian, draining tub, swirling tornado expressions, dropping the bomb de novo. Worries not celebrations do exist, special dinner, reserving a favorite place, drinks, app, main, even dessert, gone like the wind…frankly I Do give a damn.

Universe spoken word, whispering grounded, pounding tympanic membrane, renovating house inside and out, life’s metaphor laughing in one’s face, peeling layer upon layer, work undone. Embodiment, endearment, cherished moment this is, strapping tool belt, lucky hammer accompanies.

Present moment words transfiguring page, Satsang sings work is never done, back to re-wiring neuropathways, twenty amp circuitry piggy-backed new lighting presents. Pulling heartstrings uncovers granny knitting sweater, coasters in variance, and multiple synapses at play.

Joyous melody plays as Xavier sings: Gather the Hands, sing up to the heavens, and let it rain down on us all. Unforeseen circumstances, as planned all along, it is as it is supposed to be, celebrating life as we ought to be. Medicine woman sings medicine man smoke rings clear, tap, tap, tapping, breaking out in dance fortuitously.

~ Ani Po

Seriously, I cannot make this story up! At the beginning of the year, in celebration of turning fifty, we made plans to go down under. Visit a few friends, maybe camping in a distant gorge, listening to Elders singing ancient story-lines, uncertain as to where we shall end up. Corona Virus hits, Corona beer stocks drop 80%, name change on demand, Covid-19 was born.

Fuck 2020 song comes on, months into pandemic Australia trip canceled. Borders locked to land down under, no Vegemite sandwiches for this guy. What to do? Unfinished projects calls out in desperation…pick me, pick me! I offer up my tool belt services to the family, objection at first, seriously was the reply.

Plans in place to renovate what was once a porch converted into three seasons room as if that wasn’t enough a fourth season added. With each new layer, uncovering hidden treasures, code violations, and metaphysical realization, laughter, and celebration presents. Sun coming up, carrying a song, forgiveness of all there is, gratitude for this opportunity, love with all my heart as painfully as it may be. It does hurt this love of mine; seriously, Advil is a daily best friend.

What if we do a Zero Dark Fifty? What?! What if we take you on a trip to Florida for your fiftieth birthday? Already set to renovate, I could squeeze in a quickie, right?! We could not tell a soul. Secretly sneaking off for a long weekend was the plan. Yet Covid struck again. Trip canceled.

As if the Birthday plans didn’t get worse, they did. How about we take you out on your birthday, to that favorite place of yours? We could make reservations and have a nice birthday celebration and you can keep renovation plans? Sounds perfect!

Very next day the restaurant burnt down to the ground, reservations were canceled. Guess Zero Dark Fifty means I will be hiding in my cave…in the dark?! As I said, I cannot make this stuff up. Universe has made it loud and clear…You Are Grounded.

So this year I turned fifty. I am not sure what I am to feel…except Joy. I truly do feel great joy, celebrating this moment in time. Building re-creating life as I see fit, painting a New Canvas, co-creating with Great Mystery.

Each moment of life is a reason to Celebrate. It really does not matter whether I am in Australia, Florida, Bahamas, Back porch, or fine dining, the root cause for celebration is Just Being here in this moment of time.

Joseph Lieungh