I think of you often. Not at the strength of the relationship but at the alignment of energy colliding. In every word is a speck of dust we breathe without knowing, entering our soul with no means of escape.

It has always been timing with us. An event. A place in our lives. A growth to share. Yet without this growth, without these coincidences, our words wouldn’t have committed action, our actions wouldn’t have created habits, habits wouldn’t have etched our character, and our character wouldn’t have created this coincidence of destiny. There’s never going to be a living soul in this universe to convince The Creator that we are merely dice & probabilities.

You once said to me that you weren’t aware I was that passionate…and for all my years, neither was I. The turning of events take place when we no longer look to this love for our possessions and fears; it’s when we set aside our human love and understand Divine Love. All our ups and all our downs intermingle with those specks of dust in our words. And because I’ve learned to act in accordance and happen to things…things no longer happen to me.

Thank you for unknowingly being a part of my ‘coincidental’ path to this day. We all play a role in each others’ escape, and it’s only right to show gratitude. This is for you.

Poker. I can see it makes my family happy. There’s a higher level of consciousness at the table at times when emotions aren’t tangling with ego. A playful way to digest a meal. An event the kids look forward to “growing up” for. Ironically, adults feel younger when playing.

Yet as a kid myself watching the generations float by, I still see myself a part of the games. I imagine myself seated next to you & you let me take your seat as you did when I was “a kid.” I see the empty chair of my uncle, my aunt, my grandma, my grandpa, and most often, my father. Temporarily reserving this seat for my happiness.

You see, they were never afraid to show their eagerness to make me happy and neither was I, I just didn’t know how.

I was always told I had potential and being imprisoned made this task rather difficult, but it only became difficult because I feared to listen to my Inner Voice. How do I show my family and the world a picture they haven’t seen in anyone they come across daily? A picture without the ‘prison blues?’ What is the reason for this intrusion of privacy and how does it play a role in this grander plan? Is it taking risks & going all in on pure faith of my imagination given to me by God? Eternal life is power, I suppose. We take bets on life’s coincidences by seizing opportunities to be happier in spirit. In every game, in every moment, in each and every memory I am no longer imprisoned because He saved me a seat at this table with you all, Eternally of course.

My love & respect to the Hoang family.

In a land where squatting is prohibited, WE walk so very tall, not daring to buckle. Yet as the years strolled by, WE began walking on all fours so we could sneak in a squat. At first every now & then. Now very often. I guess we’re addicted. Why is this a law again? Because squatting’s forbidden. You squat here. You squat there.

But you must beware.

The Squat Police is everywhere.