I SHALL DOTE MYSELF br br I was inspired to write "I Shall Dote Myself" Mother's Day, after noticing I had not received one card from my four (4) children! I thought, perhaps they cannot -after so many Mother's Days-find the words to express their sentiments. Her, my children, I shall dote myself: br br br I am a widow, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, a sister, a partner and friend- br just an ordinary woman who can do extraordinary things. br I know how to lead, and br I can follow br I am naive: br shun sophistication in styles and techniques br I am ingenious: br clever, original, and effective. br I am sensitive, but br can be thick-skinned br I am a pragmatic, yet br I have fancies: br Impulsiveness, desirous-sometimes unfounded. br br I'd rather truthful pains than comforting lies br I try not to judge, for br I too may be judged br I like goodness, br I dislike wickedness… br I see me in both. br I witness justice and experience its prejudice br I practice tolerance, and br I disavow unpermissiveness br I see love as a present and br give it wholeheartedly br br br I, myself, believe: br love, loyalty, and honor to be precursors… br to gently tapping the souls of humanity br to bring out the best br of humankind…what I believe br can be a cure for the worst conditions. br br br -Almedia S.