The Book Zoo and Dylan Thomas

Yesterday I was walking with my dear friend and my dear boy down Telegraph Avenue to pick up our volvo that had finished it's stay at Montclair Auto. It had been an incredible day, where circuitously and in strange ways the universe answered every prayer that I've had for communication between my daughters father and I. It was stressful and curious and yet somehow I felt everything would be OK. That everyone involved had my daughters best interests at heart. After this long strange couple weeks I found myself on a Friday walking down the block, with a dear old friend and the sun shining. My son was babbling from his stroller, enjoying things as much as we it seemed. We came up on Book Zoo and had the most marvelous interaction. As we were checking out the sale books on the sidewalk, the owner of the store popped out and I realized I had seen him at SFO at 12:30 in the morning on Tuesday. He had a book zoo t-shirt on, so it was easy to remember him and there he was again with his mop of curly black hair and bright smile. I mentioned that I had seen him and we exchanged small talk. It's funny I never feel great about small talk, but am always conscious that there may be another reason for my interaction with someone than actually passing information about the weather. Now I don't question it. If my spirit has something to communicate I let it do it's job and I speak about the ice cream I just bought or the cute t-shirt in the window till it's done. Any who...there we were and this little sprite pops out! Her mom (my daughters kindergarten teacher) introduces her again and the little elf proceeds to be the most amazing sales person I've ever seen! She lures us into the store saying that "we have a children's area" and "he (meaning our boy) will love it." I can't resist her beautiful smile and tousled hair. Not to mention her cute polka dot dress. She shows us to the children's area and we browse a little. I've already got two in my hand, one a Beverly Clearey book for C. and two a book called something like I love you stinky face for A. But I browse and I find a book of Children's tales from the dark side of the spirit or something like that. of course this immediately jumps into my hand and E. and I check it out. I believe the whole reason that our sprightly sales girl lead us into the store was to see the quote in this book by Dylan Thomas, it's from A Poem on his Birthday and taken way of of context, but it speaks to me so here goes "Dark is a way, Light is a place." When I looked the poem up it seemed locked to me. Like the information I was meant to get from it was this one line and no more, because I could not read the poem to save my life. Strange eh?

Our little elf brought us to the register, added up our $2.00 for the two books and took our money before escorting us out telling us we should come back when A was older and could really enjoy the children's area. She followed us a half block before going back to her parents at the book zoo and we went on, pausing at a bus stop to nurse and then continuing down to the auto shop to make it just before they closed and pick up our car. I've been thinking about that quote ever since and the meaning has not become clear yet. Perhaps it is meant to go on my wall, when I do get my own dedicated office space. Perhaps that's all....but I find myself curious to meditate on it. I find myself curious what messages do others receive in their lives? Are the clear? Or are they like mine, mysterious sometimes and seemingly unrelated yet important?