Thought for the day : "More Fruit", John 15:2 "Every branch that does bear fruit (God) prunes so that it will be even more fruitful"

To me, this is apt, a process I have been through for a few years now, and yet still have to work at, to cut away materialism, cynicism and old habits - each time I do so, I get happier within myself as a person. Painful as it might be to let go of wants or dreams, in the long run it makes me a happier and better person. Focus for the day, is in contact with other people, to lose that negative edge...that by doing so it will bear fruit in better relationships with those around me.


Usually I take the 8am train, everyone awake, ready to go to their day, The 7am crowd is different, people quieter, more reserved, their eyes stretching wide as they lok at their newspapers trying to wake up, lids almost shut one second, then eyes stretching the next, as if opening eyes wide will allow the story to sink in better. The woman in a seat two rows from me talking to a friend on a phone headset, about the adult toy and clothes party she hosted Saturday. The two women a few seats down, both deaf, talkng in sign language, the one making clicking sounds as she mouths the words she is talking.

The woman opposite me, putting in eye drops, before her contact lenses...one hopes someone else dropped her off t the train. Others snoozing, grabbing a few last minutes of z time before their day begins.

The walk from the Dupont Circle metro, first on the elevator, standing behind someone in khaki capri pants, complete with ruby red slippers, straight out of the Wizard of Oz, as I get off at the top I notice it is actually a man..welcome to DC

A quick stop to browse in the window of Claude Taylor's store (www.travelphotography.com), new pictures, wonderful, beautiful and insightful of the countries he has visited, his personality and eye shining through. I have yet to be thrown out of his store, but that's probably in the mail (read his bio).

This morning, with the rain, there is no sign outside Scientology, no offer of a free IQ and Personality test..the usual crowd outside the El Salvador Embassy, not on the sidewalk today, but instead huddled in every available doorway, bringing back memories to me of freezing January morning's standing outside the Immigration building in Ballston to renew my work visa while my Green Card was being processed.

Outside the office are two of the big yellow busses for the school on the second floor, Chuck arrives, unlocking the side door to let the kids in, his usual happy self, with a smiley face umbrella, hang with him for a few seconds, saying hi, talking down to the weather and asking about his weekend. He always has something funny, or good to say about life, a good person to see first thing in the morning.