How do you do what you do? How do you say what you say? With such integrity. You’re so brainy. You have so many important things to say. And your questions are more interesting than the answers most often! How do you make a symphony of sights and sounds, and of thoughts and feelings, and make it all so effortlessly combine? Like some mystical crocheting. And all I’m really good at is loving you. I wish I were a puppy. I might as well be one! That’s the way I love you. Only understanding half your words, and all the important things you do. But I love you like an animal. You could say anything with a smile to me, and I would wag my tail. Adoringly. Yes, that’s how I love you! I know it for sure. Maybe if I just looked a little more like a puppy then you’d adopt me! Like Haley Joel Osment in A.I. wished to be a real boy! When his real wish was to be loved by you. It’s kinda all the same, after all. You’re so smart. And you wore that dress again! I call it polka-dotted because I don’t know what else to call it! *Refer to previous sentence – ‘not as smart as you are!’ But it’s a lovely choice. And we get to see a different view. Of you, and the place you call home. I can’t believe we get to see it for free! No paywall or anything! That’s must-see-TV. But people dial in for the heart of you. Those ones who really aren’t that smart, but, oh boy, have they been lucky. They followed their hearts, and look at where it got them! To you! “Last stop, *your name!!*” as the train slides on its brakes. You’re the last stop in a heart. Figurative, yes. But you’re as real as it gets. You remind people how special people are. When they see God only in nature. But that person over there? God in *that?!* Oh, never mind! Forget it!! But after seeing you, even if it’s someone we are so *sure* is vile, I can’t help but find myself smiling! And seeing the divine inside him. We’re all kinda the same underneath the personality. Underneath the masks we put on. Of deciding whatever it is we believe, or whoever it is we are. Sometimes I need a lot of help in getting there. But it comes so easy after seeing you. I carry you, right into the next thing. They can’t be so bad. Well, not *really.” Because they’re a person. And you’re a person, too! So it must all be related. You’re such a beautiful girl. As far as women go, you’re the womanest!! You’re a citrus kiss!! I gaze at you when you’re talking, and almost fall on the floor! It can’t be possible! I feel around for hidden strings!! Is this all CGI?? Is she part of the green screen?? Because you’re too beautiful to be *really* real. And yet you are. You’re the realest thing ever. You’re that summer field where sunflowers grow like twelve feet high! I’m not lying, I saw it!! It’s a field I often pass by. You’re something so big, it can’t really fit, despite your lovely frame. So talk of you has to move to fields that stretch on forever under skies that sing lullabyes. And stars that twinkle and wink! That’s you!! That brightest one!! That North Star will do. She’ll like that one. I’ll take it home with me. And maybe someday she’ll let me line her bookcase with it, with all the flowers I never got around to giving her. And you’ll say, “Um, it’s kinda bright in here! Is this your star? Or did you steal it?” And, I’ll say, it’s on loan! I’ll give it back when you’re done with it. “Breaking News: Apparently a star has been seen inside a New Jersey apartment!” And people jump up and down! That’s her! That’s her!! People would confuse the two of you! “Are you the North Star?!” “Oh, no, that’s her (pointing to your bookcase, which is trembling under the pressure, and yet a big smile on her face!!).” “I’m that other star,” you say. And they answer, “Well, who could tell the difference! You both are so much the same!” Stars do look similar, after all! And often familiar to a heart. When they are spectacular lights of promise in the sky. You gotta get closer to tell them apart. You’re made of that light, after all. And stars are stars whether anyone’s looking or not! If a tree falls in the forest, does anyone hear a sound?? Yes! Oh, yes!! They do!! I know because my heart goes *THUMP!!* when you’re seen and it hits the ground!! That’s how I know when you’re around! And I look in like a little kid! Typing in your name, so nervous I hit the wrong keystorkes!! Oops, I did it again!! *Keystrokes!* And there you are!! And I’m doing backstrokes! In a pool I haven’t used in so long! It just sits there. Everything just sits there. As if all created for you, but without you, it’s like Gatsby’s mansion, dark at night when the parties have ended. It turns out everything is for you. Otherwise, what’s the purpose? And yet I feel no sadness, I feel no remorse. I feel no self-pity! See? I’m becoming a better person almost by the minute! Because of you! Because it’s all been so good. It’s all reflections in an eye. I saw my life in yours. And if your eyes are so beautiful, my life certainly can’t be that bad at all! I have never seen eyes like yours. Your beauty leaves me breathless. Literally so. It never fails. You never fail to inspire me. You see, you’re always perfect, and perfect is a word that’s relative. It can’t easily be defined. What’s imperfect to one, is pure perfection to some! It all depends on who’s viewing. Unfortunately for this viewer, it seems to be consensus that, when it comes to perfect, you’re as close as it gets! Oh, what would it be like to just hug you!! Not in a creepy way, no, no, no!! A gentle way. Just a “Hey! It’s only me, How do you do?” And even though he’s a guy, he bends one of his knees! And his left toes shoot up to the moon! Like in one of those old movies where the girl is in this swoon!! And he floats away, hoping you don’t notice. All this giddiness! This dizziness! Trapped in the body of a guy who tries to seem manly and unfazed. “Yo, wat up? Thanks for the hug. Yeah, it’s cool. I’m cool.” But the temperature is only going up!! One way or another, a guy always ends up a puddle on the floor. Might as well get the mop early, cuz it’s always gonna end up that way, anyhow. Over you. Sitting in that chair, in a polka-dotted blouse – I don’t know what else to call it! Your face is a dream! Your hair is serene. And you say really important things, and ask really important questions. And I only understand one or two. Kinda like a puppy would do. And tilts his head quizzically. But his tail is always wagging! Oh, just one word in his direction, and he’s up on your lap before you even know what’s happened! Just to be a part of you. A love unconditional like that. Never judging. Whatever you do, well it’s what’s meant to happen. Who would question a star?? Stars are there to guide you. Something so much bigger than who we are, and yet reminding me what’s inside me. So I can pass that love along, and see God in everything, even people I tried to avoid with my gaze. That sunset, sure! That river stream, yes. But that person? Oh, I can’t see God in that. And now I do. It’s a natural occurrence after seeing you. Because if you’re a person, too, then people must be the most wonderful thing ever!! Underneath all the personality and beliefs, then surely. You show the light that is inside of everything. That’s how it feels, anyway. When I see you. You’re so beautiful. You’re so lovely. You’re so brilliant. You have this majesty! You’re the girl next door, who keeps the North Star on her bookshelf. (It was a gift, after all. Keep it as long as you want it! Those three wise guys will make do with their frankincense and stuff! They’ll be fine. Don’t worry about them!) You’re unassuming, and yet all eyes are on you. You’re someone so loved. And don’t you ever forget it! You’re mistletoe and moonlight sonatas, and cotton candy and angelic cantatas. You keep me on my toes. So I’m three inches closer, when wishing up on a star. Only to find the star is you. It’s who you are. How is it you’re so magical? Well, how is it it could be any other way? It’s who you are. It’s part of your mystery. It writes your story. All the fairy tales and adventure. Your magic wand. Your special song. You capture all of us, without even a hint of trying. It comes from the effortless part of you. Doing what you were so beautifully made to do. And your light is simply shining! You’ve been so wonderful all along. And you are so wonderful today. You are timeless. And you’re healing. ❤️  I mean, just look at that light of yours. I see it! I promise you: So does everybody. ☀️  

Happy almost Thursday! Almost Friday! I got the days right this time! “THERE SHE IS!!” is on amazon. If you like this sort of thing! Search ‘todd demartinis’ on there. 

Otherwise, happy summer!! We still got a lot left!! So hope you are enjoying it. You should be so proud of yourself. You’re someone so inspiring. You’re loved, greatly. 🌅