Life's Party

Build your home in such a way that a stranger may feel happy in your midst.

Theodore Herzl
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Hello Sienna
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I cleaned the place throughout, hung more pictures, bought some tasty food, stocked the liquor cabinet and brought in flowers. I was throwing a party for my local New York friends. Most of them came.

One fellow who I had known since summer theatre many years previously and who I had seen off and on over the years, came with his current live-in girl friend. She was a pleasant looking young woman with a nice smile. But it wasn't long before I realized she was criticizing everything. She wasn't a loud mouth or even particularly sarcastic. But with a smile on her face she had something negative to say about everything, me, my apartment, the pictures, the other people, the food. She would seem to be having a pleasant conversation with folks but she always injected some slightly dark observation about what was said.

Since she was a guest in my home I did my best to ignore it and make her feel as comfortable and welcome as possible. But after they left my other guests remarked about how unpleasant she had been. I wasn't interested in analyzing her. I just thought, how sad.

We human beings are all snails. Like snails we carry our homes around with us, our invisible homes. We carry the attitudes, heritage, habits, intentions, behavior, embracements, defenses, differences and uniqueness that make us who we are wherever we go. To meet and spend time with someone is to invite them into that mobile home where we really dwell. Why make it an unpleasant visit? Why block the sunshine?

A welcome guest into my life is not an intruder. I won't treat them as one. But to be invited to be a part of someone else's life and have them entertain me with criticisms and judgements is a darkness I would avoid. I will decline that invitation, thank you.

DB - The Vagabond
Never Give Up
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SUMMER QUESTION

2 more days of Summer. Need I say more?

It's been a long, hot, wet and sticky summer, so here's a hot, sticky question.

Same sex marriage. Should it be legal or not? If so, why? If not, why not?

dbdacoba@aol.com

22 interesting answers so far.

You have 2 more days.
I eagerly await your answer.

DB
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