An Authentic Life v 1.2 - Universalist Radha-Krishnaism

I laid in my crib at
night listening to
cops talk on the way
to the corner precinct
house as eerie rectangles
of light from
headlights moved
along the dark wall. I
bathed in the kitchen
sink and played with
PT boats and frogmen.
When I was
older, I bathed in the
big tub, and Grandpa timed how long I could hold
my breath underwater. He and I took many walks together
by the railroad tracks to a park with a playground
and wading pool. On our walks along Myrtle
Avenue, he taught me to support local merchants
rather than big department stores in Manhattan.
At an early age, I was taught to pray before bed,
“Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul
to keep. And if I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my
soul to take.”
That was real reassuring. Made me start thinking,
“What have I gotten myself into? What’s it like lying
in the grave dead being eaten by worms?” And so
forth. That idea of the temporary nature of life stuck
with me, and I still often wonder if I’ll make it
through the day. I think, “This is a good time to die--
doing what I love.”
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