Passover....

In anticipation of Passover, brought up by the cards and wishes I am receiving, I begin to examine what this holiday means to me. I say "begin" because it is only in between the dog and kids and work that my thoughts swirl and eddy and begin to pool....

And that represents one of the very basic things that Passover means to me. Freedom to think. Even sandwiched between competing interests, I am fortunate in that I do possess the great freedom of thinking. I use that gift to think about other freedoms. Some of them given to me by our Constitution; some by my children and loved ones. Basically, (limited only by my children and the Homeland Security Act), I have the freedom to say whatever crosses my mind....

And one thing that always crosses my mind, is economic freedom. I think of the way it has been so easy for people to maybe heretofore take for granted their own economic power. Or maybe didn't take it for granted, but didn't exactly appreciate it either. And now, maybe those things are changing. Maybe freedom also means the power to think in new ways....

I have to acknowledge, that even in my interesting economic state, I have more than many. I am not on the street....And that, of course, makes me think of the homeless man I often see a mile from my home. Last week I saw him, (near his usual spot), sitting on an overturned bucket, reading the New York Times. I had only the change from a dollar in my pocket and when I gave it to him, I apologized that it couldn't be more. "No worries," he told me, his face a warm smile of sincerity. "The important thing," he continued, "is that you opened your heart." And then we got into a long discussion about how the world is a better place when people open their hearts. He -- this man, whose name I don't know, this man I know only as the 'sweet guy asking for change' -- reminded me to keep my heart open. Even when times are tough. Indeed, when times are toughest. That's when it really counts.

And that too is a freedom. One I don't want to take for granted....

Oh, and I don't want to take for granted the freedom, which we still have in our country, to practice our religion...because this is not a Christian nation or a Muslim nation or a Jewish nation...but a nation for all...including (as our President mentioned in his Inauguration speech) the 'non-believers'....So, no matter what your religion, go out an enjoy your freedoms this week....