SO WHO ARE THESE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE & PLACES??

Among today's pop phrases are "the beautiful people" and "the beautiful places." Right from the start, we have a problem here. This small word "beautiful" is expected to bear the incredible burden of describing so many differing concepts of beauty. Just not fair. The word begs for help. Just like the word "red" gets help from: burgundy, ruby, scarlet, crimson, cerise, vermilion, and so on.

But, stuck all by itself, "beautiful" has been kidnapped lately by the likes of: Paris Hilton...Lady Gaga...Donald Trump ...George Clooney. Then there's: Las Vegas...The Riviera...London...Hawaii. We can do better. At least it's worth a try. I'll start by trying right here. Maybe you can join in.

As for "the beautiful people" in my life, a few strangers come to mind who won't make any Top Ten lists. I'm thinking here people like that cab driver in New York who took his job so beautifully serious that he had plumped up the back seats with Oriental cushions, added pull-down shades to the windows, piped in soothing music, and scented the vehicle with a faint luxurious fragrance. All in all, he made the perilous dash through Manhattan streets a rare pleasure instead of a regular terror. Now to me that's a "beautiful person."

Precious others come to mind who will also be unknown to you. To most anyone. But these select few have earned a line in my personal address book. And if your book is anything like mine, these few find their way there largely because of the conspicuous beauty with which they have gifted our lives. Dear family and friends who have given the small word "beauty" a palpable meaning that will surpass any headline out there.

As for "the beautiful places," most of us upon reflection will think of venues not on any travel brochure. Right now I'm thinking that branch from that stately Sycamore tree which just reaches our bedroom window. Every spring a pair of friendly Cardinals sing to me from there in the morning. My very own, no-cost "beautiful place." And because you too have such "beautiful places" in your life, you'll understand why I end here with this wish. That poets not copywriters would start defining the "beautiful people & places" in our world.