Crossing Lines

Two days ago I wrote about a man named Frank Raymond Clark who had passed away. What I didn’t write is that I took a small wooden cross that was left at his little memorial on a street corner. Though I didn’t know him, I took it to remind me of him; to remind me of the magic moment I felt on that day. I took it to remind me of the magic we leave behind. I’d like to believe that he wouldn’t have minded.

Today, as I read from All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, Fulghum wrote, “There was a famous French criminologist named Emile Locard, and fifty years ago he came up with something … to the effect that any person passing through a room will unknowingly deposit something there and take something away.” On this day, I left a little prayer in Frank’s honor and I took not only a little cross, but also a memory that I will cherish forever. I hope to leave more of ‘me’ on our world.

Again, thank you Frank Raymond Clark.

The piece here is titled “Lindsay’s Lows.” It is inspired by Lindsay Lohan’s mug shot on July 20th. For reasons I don not know, I came home yesterday and felt compelled to start and finish it. Viola! I choose this piece today for the obvious reasons of me not only taking this cross, but of knowing that I have been in jail once before. To be ‘frank,’ I received a DUI almost 12 years ago when I first moved to LA. I promised myself to not ever drink and drive again. On that day, I even thanked the cops who arrested me for not only saving my life, but also for saving the lives of others who were out on the streets that day.

Throughout life, we make our mistakes; how we use the lessons learned from those mistakes is the true judge of our character.

Forgive yourself and one another; it’s less to carry around.