Ritual: A ceremonial act or a series of such acts.

People!

This weekend is the celebration of Luminara, a prosession of worshipers celebrating the Volto Santo (a wooden crucifix supposedly carved by the Pharisee Nicodemus himself) , marching through the streets- drum cores accompany Renaissance clad players making their way down the route of winding coblestone lit by thousands of votive candles arranged 'round the windows of old, decaying buildings and as the drums beat and the people march I am listening to Joni Mitchell ('For Free', 'A Case of You', 'Free Man in Paris', 'Ladies of the Canyon'...) and classic Elton John ('Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters' and 'Tiny Dancer'). Martin is on my lap and I am downloading 'Entrouage' (I am so discustingly American) on my itunes and I live in a dream and I live here far from the people who know me and love me just the same, surrounded by people who do not know me so well and love me anyway, too.

Elton's (and Bernie Taupin's) poetry/music

And now I know
Spanish Harlem are not just pretty words to say
I thought I knew
But now I know that rose trees never grow in New York City

Until you've seen this trash can dreams come true
You stand at the edge while people run you through
And I thank the lord there's people out there like you
I thank the lord there's people out there like you

While mona lisas and mad hatters
Sons of bankers, sons of lawyers
Turn around and say good morning to the night
For unless they see the sky
But they can't and that is why
They know not if it's dark outside or light

This Broadway's got
It's got a lot of songs to sing
If I knew the tunes I might join in
I'll go my way alone
Grow my own, my own seeds shall be sown in New York City

Subway's no way for a good man to go down
Rich man can ride and the hobo he can drown
And I thank the lord for the people I have found
I thank the lord for the people I have found

Wish you were here to sit for a bit in the piazza. Wish you were here to 'bake some brownies, today'...to be a mad hatter and watch the mona lisas strolling like it's perfectly normal to be a mona lisa...

There are people in the piazza below laughing over cocktails and Joni is skating away on her river.

And, me, I thank the lord for the people I have found.

Peace