i hope my words are strange and wondrous,

like kisses that quiet all things superfluous,

so that we can all stop and

listen

but here i am,

again, asteroid B 612 in my mind,

the little prince in my heart

and the rose,

in a jar on my table.

the first gift of the 16th.

this year i have been captivated, by the relationship between the prince and his rose,

and because of the significance of my name,

there is also a desire buried within me,

of my own little prince.

i have learned many things this year,

but most of all i have taken my heart,

weeded out the baobabs,

captured all the caterpillars, (except for one or two to become butterflies)

and built a glass case so that it will be protected:

from the winds and storms

from sheep without muzzles

from kings who want to own me,

from volcanoes that might possibly erupt,

and i am waiting,

for a little prince to come back home.

the numbers on the top of this blog will shift again,

but they still boldly state that

'i am more than my yesterdays'

i am changing,

i am growing,

i am failing but

i am trying.

and every day i am blooming,

and leaving a fragrance that is my own,

of this i am certain,

of this i am proud,

and i thank the King of the little prince,

for every little thing that has happened this year,

and even while i step over the threshold into a new decade,

i am waiting,

i am listening,

i am learning

that the road between each birthday

is a chapter of unfolding understanding.

i will never take it for granted that i have passed another year here,

that there is work still for me to do,

that i can learn still more ways, to glorify you

that i am blossoming into the rose

you made me to be,

and one day,

the little prince,

he'll come to me.