Superstitious writings on the wall.

As I was working around home 

I was listening to a little Stevie Wonder.

"Superstitious" got me thinking...

I am not superstitious.

I was with a friend recently

who had a conniption fit 

when I walked under a ladder.

I was incredulous.

Really?? 

Bad luck?

I told her 

I would walk under a ladder

chasing a black cat

while breaking a mirror.

I grew up with all the popular ones.

We heard toads cause warts,

a nose itching means company's coming,

palm itching- there's money coming your way,

a cat has 9 lives... etc.

My mom once told me

as I was sitting on the ground

a few weeks after giving birth

that if I didn't get up

I would catch a cold in my ovaries.

Seriously, she believed it.

I got up.

I mean who wants that ailment?

Where exactly do you apply

Vicks for that?

I mean we rub it on our throats,

chests, and feet around here 

when  a head cold ensues.

I really am not superstitious.

Unless you count

wishing on a fallen star,

throwing a pinch of salt over your shoulder

when you spill salt,

blowing out candles on a birthday cake

and expecting a wish to come true.

Or making a wish on a chicken bone,

giving my daughters'

something old, borrowed and blue 

on their wedding days, and also

 putting a penny in their shoe on that day.

I give a coin when I give a knife or a wallet.

I even have a horseshoe hanging 

facing up to keep our luck in.

What the...

I am a fake.

I practice all that. 

I am shocked.

I am stopping all this nonsense.

I am off to pull a gray hair just

to dare 10 more to grow.

I may even open an umbrella 

right here in the crib.

I'll book a flight on Friday the 13th.

I'll step on a crack.

 I'll even swallow a watermelon seed.

I have just one request of you on my behalf.

Please  keep your fingers crossed.