koalas asleep in the trees

Yesterday afternoon I walked with Ann up through Balboa Park and over to the zoo, getting to hang out with giraffes, a cheetah, and a couple of kookaburras. On the way back I heard and saw a guy playing guitar in an alcove in the walkway structure of the park. I walked past, then turned around and dropped a dollar in the hat-thing he’d placed for donations. He did not look up, or acknowledge my gift.

Most often there’s a different response, with the musician making eye contact, nodding his/her head, mouthing “Thank you.” I had a feeling about it, just a little for a second, and again when we walked past a homeless guy who was staring out into the day, trance-like, perhaps my dollar would have meant more with/for that man.

This morning, I think it was during meditation, this thought arrived unbidden – Generosity doesn’t need a dance partner. One of those times getting it after not getting it. An opportunity presents itself to be kind, and that alone is a great gift. Anyway, I was always one of the last ones picked in ladies choices.

Lately I’ve been handing out a bit more money to folks out in the world. I guess there’s a dancing with myself experience – once it was three dollars, usually it’s a dollar. There’s a getting to save the world sense, one small, small act at a time. Which, hmmm, is dancing with myself at all.