The day my boyfriend and i decided to transition our relationship from a romantic one, to a friendship, he gave me this poem. I had asked him a long time ago if he would be willing to write the Introduction for my upcoming book, or an intro for who really is Gabriela Garcia Medina?!? He is a computer Engineer by trade, but he is so much more than that, he is an incredible writer, and one of the most beautiful people i have ever met. It was hard to decide we would transition, but it was beautiful to receive this gift on the day we made the decision! I think it’s very brave of him to write me a poem (that he agreed i could publish), if only we would all challenge ourselves to be brave even when it is scary to do so!
Gabriela Garcia Medina, an Introduction by Cesar Gonzalez
Humming and painting and sewing and writing,
Creative, in flow, this is She, and she’s flying
Amidst incense and colors and Lila Downs records,
Mirrors and Outkast, and leg-warmers with checkers.
Beautiful and focused she channels creativity,
Says she’s the medium not the source, and gives thanks for her ability.
Forget where it comes from, her magic is inspiring and bold
Seeing her on stage is a sight to behold.
She walks up with a smile, and opens her heart.
Fifteen minutes later….she has two-hundred new friends — that’s her art.
She loves with a passion
And also speaks loudly.
Wears her skin proudly,
And creates her own fashions.
In frilly clown-shirts and hundred year-old broaches,
Sexy lingerie and a skirt, you know she looks flawless.
With each new person, she opens her eyes
And looks at them as if for the very first time
(Oh wait, it IS the first time you say? then why don’t the rest of us see them that way?)
At only five-feet two-inches, with dark hair and brown eyes,
You would think she’d get lost in a crowd of tall Gringos.
Nope.
When she walks in a room her presence can’t be denied,
There are smiles, there’s love. Hey! I’ve been to her shows!
When she gets to work, it’s inspiring to see
The to-do list items get crossed out with glee.
There’s focus and purpose, hard work and alchemy
A few hours get transformed into…..oh…..a new poem, a clean kitchen, another handmade shirt, twelve friendly calls, Yoga class, five booked shows, handmade cards for all her friends, and a vegan-Cuban dinner for her boyfriend.
If someone dies, she offers words of encouragement –
“They lived a good life full of love, and fulfillment.”
(Shhh! It’s too soon. He just died; they’re still grieving.)
But you know she can’t help the way she’s perceiving.
She’s climbed Huayna Picchu, and cycled across the US
in three months and a day, and with very sore legs.
Let’s go on a trip — Geneva, Africa, and Argentina
with a stop in Havana and a cup of tea in Bolivia.
A bike and snake have nothing in common,
except on the road when you cycle upon them.
Screaming and crying she cycles much faster,
Uphill, against rain, so that snake won’t get past her.
Of all the things there are, to be scared of in life,
Like people, and stages, and opening up,
The two things she fears are snakes and tall heights,
No wonder she pursues what she wants in her life.
A beautiful person once taught me to say,
Life is too short, live for today.
That doesn’t mean you give up on the future.
By investing this moment your attention and love,
The world spreads its arms and opens its doors.
Standing ovations, connections and magic,
Free upgrades, free meals, smiles and excitement
Abundance and laughter, success and adventure
Are yours to be had, are yours without measure.
Truth is a voice, have you heard it inside you?
It whispers, it fades, its message gets garbled.
Her Truth is a screaming Giant; it can be hard to ignore.
That conviction, that love, make her good to the core.
Life is a dream,
Magical, fun, and exciting.
All around you are signs
Of God’s work, it’s Her writing.