Wednesday, October 29, 2008

*NOTE* re: my recent bloggy posts~ revised

Millions of people spend Thousands of dollars a year on "traditional" THERAPY
Its part of the humanistic healing process, ever since I was a toddler, social workers had come in & out of my life. Obviously, nobody can be their own "therapist"- even therapists need someone to talk to.

Spiritually, we are ALL brothers & sisters no matter what creed, religion, or race- we all come from the same place. We all revert back to the sacred "womb" when we feel lost.

Many start out with a seemingly average life striving to escape the "mundane". My life is quite the opposite- full of enough drama & trauma for a soap opera, Im working backwards in a sense to create a quite simple & normal life for myself- having children someday will be another way to repair the damage of my own. Although, my own mother was inadequate, when the time is right, I will be the best mother to my children, thats a fact!


what lessons of value would I teach them?

* Your heart must be in the right place: have a center that does not revolve around your possessions. Nobody should be forced into a religion or faith, believe in something other than what others say especially the media-
When somebody told me that the state of the world took decades to create & may take centuries to repair has made me wonder if adoption will be a better alternative since so many children
world wide have nobody to love & care for them. Beside, i can relate to their "situation"

*Money does not bring or buy happiness for that matter. Accumulating money only makes you richer. Period. If thats all you have to offer, nobody will really remember you as a flesh & blood being but only see dollar signs when they thing of you- is this the legacy, you want to leave behind? BE GENEROUS with your~ time~ as well as money.

When I was 20 & discovered by gift for expressing myself through writing, I slowly stopped the idea that I had to vent to an actual person, in fact, I had been keeping a journal or diary for as long as I could remember, I always knew how to express my deepest desires & fears into words, even if it was scribbling on a napkin.

What made this all the more poignant is when my aunt brought me a manuscript written in Chinese- she told me that my grandfather used to write poetry about the family- I hope to translate it one day. Unfortunately, I never got to know him- although I have some of his pictures- he is remember as a good, kind man who loved his family. He was also mighty intelligent & hard working, besides our appreciate for poetry, we also share the disdain for a 9-5 lifestyle.

Strict schedules are NOT for me...

I feel its not fair to put all these heavy, negative emotions on others thats why I spend much time alone when Im depressed or just down. Of course, since this is a public diary, other have a right to read it & judge- Understand, I dont write this to be judged by others- this is my way to VENT & release some inner tension.

We are are creatures of experience. We have a past. Its not always pretty. If it was then either you were extremely lucky or delusional. Until you have had to sacrifice - loved & lost - caried the burden of hardship, responsibility- how can you say you have truly LIVED. Perhaps you only skimmed the surface.

Remember, its the little things in life that can make or break us. The Joy & the pain are one in the same- you cold never FULLY appreciate one without the other.

Im not a sad little woman who sits at a computer all day- I have a blackberry too, that gives me freedom to blog where ever I am in the world;-) Maybe, I have had to carry more pain than most, but what I write here is letting go of my vulnerability.

Any human being I have expressed all of this sorrow with must have had to be very dear * special for me- those we dump all their garbage on others are selfish. And Im the first to come to those friends who have needed console.

We can only be our best with what we are given. If we fail, we have nobody to blame but ourselves. Nobody is braver for pretending certain things never happened- nobody is that brilliant that they can push back the pain so far it disappears, it always resurfaces.

I write a little here -n - there instead of hurting others. The only time, I admit to exploding is when others dont respect my boundaries. Pushy people are not my cup of tea. Other than that, people fascinate me. Sometimes in shallow ways. Sometime with their wisdom * insight. Other times in their equally quirky presence * free ~ spirit.

My goals in life are more clear these days as my lifes purpose unfolds each day. I have come too far to give up. I want to share the success with others too, I just discovered that the happier you seem, the more certain people want to bring you down - its because they are unhappy with who they are, they have no control of their own life so they try to discredit your personal victories.

My only hope is those who have doubted me, realize they were wrong, wrong, wrong- Im a fighter. No way, no how, will I quit to appease those I will never ever please.

More to come. xoxo~ Crystal.

Monday, October 27, 2008

*Love of my life* (poem)

The Love of my life
Was my greatest sacrifice.
Its been four years,
The easy part was
Signing your life away
They dont prepare you
for making it day to day...

BELIEVE me I have paid
The price, every month
Has been a reminder-
If that isn't hell -
A place here on earth
I know all too well.

Until the Lord shed
A light onto me
Carried me away
From the self pity-
It took me a long
Time to see the truth.

There are some many times
when I picture you - there
Your soft skin,
wind in your hair.
Would you be green eyed
And fair?

Funny, you never approach
Me in my dreams.
Softly, we embrace
In crowded places
I swear I've seen your face
No man alive could ever
Replace!

I could never let you
live the life I had -
Often lost
Sweetly sad
Losing sleep
Over a life that was
Never yours or mine
To keep.

Guilt writhing from
your pours. There are
Times Im conflicted-
Did I make the right choice?
Follow the right voice:

I chose to listen to the
Father never to be.
He never saw you as
a blessing but complete
Misery.
Excuse after excuse
Finally promising to
Marry me,
I believed every word in my naivety ~

Perhaps he had a point.
Another breathing being
We had to feed & nurture.
No, I believe the loss
Of unconditional
Love is complete and
utter Torture.

See, he never knew his father.
We were far from kids-
Already in our 20's
Without a home
of our own or
Boundaries. We only
fed each other's emptiness-
The hypothetical:
Black-hole
thats never full.

I went back to school that fall
More like a zombie than
Young woman looking
Forward to the future.
There was a life literally
Forced out of me, an
Intricate part missing forever.

Add that as one more scar
Nobody will ever see
the many times, i fell apart
and had to repair my own
Broken heart - Im a pro
These days.

So numb, I dont feel
the rage. Just keep turning
The page until the book
Is complete, until I kneel
At the mercy of his feet
For forgiveness of my human
weakness...

So you were the
Only TRUE love of my life
My only consolation is I
was wise enough to
Protect you from this
World in all its pain
All the shame-

Because of you I will never be the same.
You will return to me in another
Form or entity -
When I have the chance to create life
Again- the things we take for granted-
Our path so dark & slanted.

Im so much braver now! Its you
who showed me how.

xoxo ~ Crystal.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

*Introduction to my family*

My mother Lulu is the youngest of 6 children- 5 girls & 1 boy- each of them had two children each, my uncle has 2 girls & my aunt Betty had 2 boys.

Random fact, except my 2 oldest cousins in Taiwan- all my cousins have Irish/german spouses- as I was sitting at the "cousin's table", I looked around at them- Chinese relatives with significant others that are fair, blond, with blue/green eyes- my boyfriend Matt would fit right in- it was not planned. Even my cousin Alex who is a year younger has been with Maggie for 5 years- shes a tiny blond with big blue eyes who is a children's librarian. they met in Germany but she is from the mid west with an Italian last name.


Our cousin Albert who is the bride's older brother has 2 children with his wife Michele~ Julia & Justin- really the most adorable part of the family so far.

See, Alex, Jeff, & myself are the "youngest first- cousins" but we are all pushing 30, I'd like to say. Ah, there is still 2.5 years for me but im mentally preparing myself since settling down was never a long-term goal, i figure it happens when it happens.

Most of my cousins are 10+ years my senior, Im not intimidated by there age per se just the fact they have more success b/c they have lived longer so they naturally have more experience. Yea, who doesnt think they know it all at 18 or 25. now at 27- there is a part of me who thinks Im set for the next level in life which means stop playing the field (that part is easy with the slim pickings) + get into a career that will provide a steady income.

There was a time when I thought money was everything. Well, we need to provide for our children without depriving ourself - the house, cars, best schools, vacations, clothes, furniture- nothing hand me down - Im the one who gives the clothes away - all the best for my family- whenever that time will be.

Am I too young to focus on babies?

Somebody told me: You are a New Yorker, dont think of marriage until your mid-3o's.

So now, Im starting to believe Im not a "true" New Yorker. Im not even a conventional person. I really am tempted to just elope with my lover. Everyone thinks I like being the center of attention b/c I dress flashy & my body stands out in anything- the truth is, everybody should be part of the "big day".

Truth be told- weddings are celebrations & meant for sharing with loved ones. Still, when you stick a group of people in a room who dont know one another then force them to sit at a table & eat then the real party starts... especially if there is an "open bar"

Like anything else, if the chemistry between the parties is non existent then everyone will get bored. Who needs that? I worry is one person is stressed let alone dozens-

Im going to find a creative way to bring all the ones nearest & dearest in on the festivities without making them want to jump out into their "birthday suit" half way through MY BIG DAY...

Back to my Cousin, Formerly Miss Ma - now, Mrs. GERMER:-)

Ok, Amy never happier. Could it have been the alcohol? As her maid of honor said in her speech: I knew her through the vodka phase, the whiskey phase, the Miller Light with ice phase....what?!
Right away Mick responded: Don't blame me for that! *laughter*

Weddings are a bit rehearsed. They are like a play with different "players/ actors" each time. Its not just this wedding, I fear, its all weddings. Perhaps Im being too general - Im still trying to find a happy medium b/t commitment (being tied down) & singledom (freedom).

The food is always over cooked & mass produced. But this is about the BRIDE, not us enjoying the music, food or company - its not her fault. I DONT blame her one bit- its tradition by society. Its the great circle of life. Its obvious they want children. I wish Amy & Mick the best always, they are really a great couple. Im certainly not one to judge...

At least a bride can say for one night- she had her cake & ate it too.

xoxo C*

Friday, October 17, 2008

PART DEUX (2)

Self Preservation is essential the American way. We can only gain true independence once we realize the only true "bail out" we have is ourself!
I've been the luckiest girl on earth,confession my past indiscretions to some select friends & my aunt who is more like a mother & best friend rolled into one pretty, neat package.

Still, she could not satisfy my deep seated need for affection & for a man who would nurture & protect me unlike my actual father. That coupled with my desire to have beautiful "things" made me an easy target for wealthy men who were equally needy. They had all the spoils but no princess in their castle.

They were not looking for permanence mind you. All they wanted was the false sense of intimacy & control men in "power" live for - its their drug amongst other things. Most of them are super strategic intellects: its nearly impossible to get inside their heads. The only "head" somebody like me could possibly get close to was the little one. This is of course a literal statement.

Im not one to name names, thats part of my own ethical code. I prefer to just write about situations. besides if I called anyone out, nobody would believe me. Im just Crystal H. a 20 something young woman from Queens-)

As fate would have it. The timing could not be more perfect for trouble to brew.

New York City ~ the NEW *devil's playground* PART ONE

New York is the only real city-city. Truman Capote

I'm really rooting for this city, NEW YORK, NY.... its not the city of my childhood fantasies anymore. Sure its always been corrupt, thats the underbelly of any true metropolitan. We have our Rockefellers the we have our "good ~ fellas". This is truly a city for the tough & the brave. You have to have THICK skin to make it through the door.

As a young woman from Queens, "the city" was the place to be. My instincts told me to stay away, maybe it was the bright lights or the glamor, I just could not stay out of the LIGHT, the people, the action. Its not even as if I was chasing after anything.

Since I was in high school, the first thing my friends & I would do after class is grab the 7 train into Manhattan. MTV studios @ Times Sq. was our playground. We stood outside for hours meeting the Djs, hosts, & celebs just to get a glimpse, we got lucky many times to get autographs - we even got a chance to hange out with NSYNC & Backstreet Boys in the studio - Im dating myself now;-)

I was like any other teenage girl today who adores the Jonas Bros or Hannah Montana - I must make ONE admission however, although it was only within the last 10 years, innocence has declined. at that age, just to be in the same room was enough. I remember getting my hand into somebody's limo & their body guard lifted me out of the way. These days teenage girls are "exposing" themselves to grab attention.

It gets worse, grown women are selling themselves to pay the bills. This is what happens when our economy fails us. When greed corrupts a society. Its like a game of Dominoes, it only takes ONE to effect the whole group - at least dominoes are predictable - human nature, in all its intricacies is full of eccentricities.

How did I discover this? I've been keeping my eyes open & keeping sober. Alcohol is the beginning & the end for most men (and women). My connection with GOD has been so much stronger, hence he has given me the vision to see the truth.

Now when I walk into a busy bar where cocktails are over $20, men in suits have a worn-out-looking lady on their lap, I see what is going on. When a man tells me, he can go on Craigs list for a hooker that charges $200 a night, & women are putting themself in physical harm just to feed their children- I see where NY society is heading.

Trust me, Im speaking from experience NOT ignorance. Its surely easy money. Its a slippery slope into the dark - side. Just as what goes up must come down. What once was magnanimous can be overshadowed by evil.

Its tempting when you have NOTHING to lose. When you are being brainwashed by somebody you trusted. Thats why we cannot trust other human beings. As much as we like to turn to even the most rational person we know for guidance, when SURVIVAL trumps spirituality, morality, etc... selfish instincts kick in.

After my first 25 years of going with the flow too readily, lacking real ambition, settling for the average - my internal clock kicked in & accelerated into full gear. Life is a ROAD full of cul de sacs * sharp turns * false exits then you reach a "fork" One way is the tried & true safe... The other is unconventional: it could lead to self mastery & success or failure & pain. The road we choose all depends on our mental / emotional outlook & the people we are exposed to. So you see, its complicated.

Nay fear, there is a light at the end of this tunnel. This is only an introduction to my tunnel of darkness- the entirety of my last couple years can be turned into a novel. the fact that I survived is the true miracle. It was not even my own (free) will. It was my acceptance that Im not strong enough to hack it in New York, yet I keep coming back like a masochist.

Lord, when will I ever learn.



East Side, West Side, all around the town,
The tots sang "Ring-a-rosie," "London Bridge is falling Down";
Boys and Girls together, me and Mamie O'Rorke,
Tripped the light fantastic on the sidewalks of New York.
James W. Blake (1894)