I Wish . . .

Once upon a time there was a tree in the middle of a big city. The tree was not a very large tree but it was a prominent inhabitant of the corner in front of a fancy restaurant.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=39.948605,-75.167988&daddr=&geocode=&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=20&sll=39.948603,-75.167989&sspn=0.000438,0.000837&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=20

This tree was covered in rather odd foliage. It's breaches sported the typical leaves as well as odd garlands of beads in many different colors: green, blue, purple, pink, orange, yellow, red. Legend told that if one were to find one of the beaded necklaces on the ground, one would pick up that beaded necklace, make a wish, and toss it up into the tree. When the necklace lands on a branch, the wish is accepted into whatever mystical realm wishes go. If the necklace falls, the wish is granted.

Although it has never been proven to actually work. I'm sure it would fail Penn and Teller's bullshit test. However, I think the act of wishing creates a sacred space where whatever we wish - the possiblity that it will be answered - is valid. It is a way to recognize that there is a Great Mystery and wishes, dreams, mythology, and prayers are all ways of accessing the laws of attraction and to put our minds into certain pattern of thinking. A wish is not only a silent cry in the wilderness but it is also a good way, if one is paying attention - to reflect on what we really want in our hearts. Even if it's something we know we cannot have or figure out a way to make it happen.

The wishing tree is long gone. It is an empty spot in the pavement. I do not know why it was removed. One guess is that a new owner bought the restaurant and decided the tree did not fit with the owner's idea of how to bring in business. Another idea is that the city had to do some kind of utility work and needed to remove it. Or it could be that the tree became so overladen with unfulfilled wishes that it died of a broken heart or nutritional deficiency. Afterall, how does a tree know that it is a wishing tree anymore than a wishing well knows that it has any other purpose but to allow someone to draw water out of the ground?

My friend, Adriana, mentioned above tought me at least a half dozen or a handful and one ways to wish. There's the classic birthday candle blowout wish, the first cake-cut wish, the wishing bone from a turkey, a shooting star, a penny found face up, on the clock when it reads 1:11, 2:22, or 3:33, etc. Personally, I always catch the clock at 313(my birthday) or 327(Death Star docking bay(SW), Cloudy City landing platform(ESB), Steve's Chevy engine(AG), the day I met Bo*(IRL)).

Do wishes come true?

Absolutely.

To be honest, as much as I adore my friend Adriana, and thought all these things were kind of cool, all the wishes that I have made which came true were never done by any of these methods.

For instance, back in fall of 1997(november-ish), students were given the opportunity to go to MOMA in NYC. I went and my usual circle of friends didn't, so I spent the day alone(not unusual for me back then or now) looking at paintings, thinking about my new friends, college life, etc. It was nice to be away from my roommates. I saw some amazing paintings including the famous "George Washington Crossing the Delaware". In the same wing, I found a little fountain with a ten-thousand wishes sitting in the water. I searched my pockets but had no penny on me.

There was a wish burning a hole in my pocket but no penny onto which I could cast it. It was Friday night, the weekend, and I knew Adriana was going home to Jersey. But I selfishly wished she was going to be around because I would miss her. So I wished.

And later that night I was playing Mortal Kombat with my friend Jeff in his dorm room and Adriana comes in. Turns out her parents were going to pick her up from the train station but the car broke down(I don't remember exact details) and she had to come back to Philly. I was sorry her plans did not work out but I told her the wish I made.

So now that you know the story about the Wishing Tree and wishing in general. I want to create a new segment to my show(er blog- ahh, I said it). TMF presents

I Wish . . .

I wish that wishes actually came true.

I wish that she was in my arms.

I wish that I was in California.

I wish I still in that state of being, with that sense of purpose, that Inner Beauty and Truth that I found on the windy edge some call Mullholland, and my place under the Sun, and frolicking in the surf at Santa Monica, Leo Carillo, Laguna Beach, meditating all night, doing yoga, listening to Frank or Jim**. Walking down Bellaire, fit, alone but not lonely, filled with Spirit and completely open, ready for anything, ready for love.

But alas

they don't

she isn't

I'm not

I am . . .

I am now here or I am nowhere.


I wish . . .