As I had peeked through a Cloud,
To see that which was not allowed,
Like the flash from a Falling Star,
Winged Messengers appear so far.
We're ascending up a narrow Path,
Which are to make one realize that,
A Place of peace and love does exist,
To be taken in whole, do no resist,
As the Pearly Gates are opened,
Arch Angels shall be summoned,
On a tree branch sat a White Dove,
Welcoming you to the world above.
Reading this Women of Influence book is causing me to remember another of my great childhood loves -- "The Miracle Worker," the story of Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller. It was Anne Sullivan I really loved, and still love -- it always made me heartsick to think of her sacrifice, devoting every waking minute to another human being, with almost no life left to herself, until she died in old age, and Helen Keller required another translator. But God -- she must have known it -- that's the best way to live -- it is to have every moment of your life swallowed in supreme goodness and satisfaction. No wonder I loved her, and no longer do I feel sorry for her -- I envy her. I thought of her today perhaps because when I was around eight or nine I grew aware that she and I shared the same initials "AS." Today is the first day that I am Amanda Monteleone at work, and I have written my initials "AM" dozens of times already. It's strange, but the satisfaction of...