From The Desk of Kat-Renée Kittel
(Revised: 25.2.06)
In a few hours, I will be another year older and many years wiser... from the School of Hard Realities. What is the main lesson I have learned??
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle." -Unknown.
I don't know why my family was "thrown into the lion's den" or why it seems way too many years have past since I last remembered how to give the gift of laughter... but there it is. Now I find myself giving joy even when my heart is breaking...over the loss my brother & stepfather, and not knowing when I'll be reunited with the kind, dear soul I call my husband.
Does that mean I'm going to gleefully run out to the only comedy club in this Hayseed County, grab a mike and make twenty-something's laugh? Not particularly... I drove by there tonight and the place looked claustrophobic and too much like a loud, overcrowded smoke-filled room destined to give me an asthma attack or a migraine.
Forgive me y'all—from the looks of the marquis that night, I couldn't tell if they knew real funny from a chicken bone stuck in someone's throat and I'm not that good with the Heimlich manuever yet. Although I did save my cat the other day. Besides I would really rather draw roses than host a spelling bee in a bar.
Well I did get to have fun before age twelve in front of around 3,000 people, playing a male role, fake mustache and all (well the auditorium did hold about that many...I dunno). And I spent more than ten years in front of a nursing home audience, doing what some religious ministers think women ain't supposed to do... sharing sermons and stories to folks who in all intents and purposes were just waiting in the station for their train ride home. My worst audience so far would have to be a man who held up the convenience store with me the sole employee for the night.
If I had a chance to step into theater or act before a camera?? Would I love to play next to my big brother Richard Belzer? As my Spanish teacher used to say— "Que fun." As long as he teases me a little and I get to wear his hat...
Still I figure this—how my gifts are used will have to be up to Providence to decide. (I still don't know how I get people to laugh so easily... )
So what am I doing for my birthday? Well, I went looking for black tennis shoes. Haven't found a pair that fit. Other than that, I just tried to give my gift of joy to a friend... (mon chat vous aime. )
A bit of news.
Writing this column has been an essential part of walking out of a nightmare and toward a new lease on life. I started another column for funnier stuff. Check out "Da Katie Katz n Reni" at this address: "https://chutzpah33.blogspot.com/" Previous "Agape" entries can be accessed from the links on the right side of the new site. Use the "Go to Da Katie Katz" link for the new journal.
Shalom everyone...
Little Eagle Dancer
Twirling in the moonlight
Bowing to The Maker
Blowing kisses to His Constellations
Barefoot now and knee length deerskin dress
Long black hair swirling as you tease
The grass with your light-foot steps
She-Who-Has-Climbed-The-Mountain
And picked the eagle’s feather
From the nest
Now laughing at your bravery
You dance with the feather
At the edge of running water
Joyfully waiting for
Your older brother
Who gave you the dare
© by
Dreamof-Roses, 2006.
Kind Regards and Laugh Safely,
Reni =^..^=
"There is no problem that cannot be improved by effort, and no effort that is too paltry to be worth undertaken." -Sam Waterston.
©2006 by Kat-Renée Kittel. All Rights Reserved. Photo by Gil Perez. Please be kind and give laughter/funny credits to author and founder of the Laughter Safety Valve Commission™. (Dear Richard, thanks for the hug...)
Agape Is A Five Letter Word... For Chutzpah
is inspired by my Big Brother, The Chairman of The Laughter Safety Valve Commission™. (Turnabout's Fair Play & note by Mr. Anonymous, Chairman, LSVC)
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