Don’t Blink

On By Piano girl7 Comments

It seems like yesterday…
I was putting my
Hand in your face
When you tried to kiss me
Yet here we are
Thirty years of marriage later

It seems like yesterday…
We were bringing
Our first baby home
Not a clue what to do
Yet now he is married
With a baby of his own

It seems like yesterday…
I was chauffeuring
Three kids to school
Listening to them laugh
And now, sometimes
I get to be their passenger

I did not think it was possible
For time to pass any faster
But when I watch
My granddaughter sleep
See her sweet smile
I don’t want to blink

Who Are You?

On By Piano girl2 Comments

There is a
Familiarity
In that face
A recollection
Behind those eyes
Curious though
Something
Is missing
A sparkle
In the blues
A sweetness
In the smile
Oh, don’t worry
They have been
Invited to return
And I have
A feeling
They may arrive
Tomorrow morning
About the time
I look in the mirror

Do you ever look in the mirror and think-Who is this person? They do not look like I remember. I think this happens more often the older I get. I am learning to appreciate the changes I see. And to recognize when that reflection says-You need a little extra care today. ❤️

Tears

On By Piano girl7 Comments 
Perhaps if I
Thought of them
As belonging
To a waterfall
Freely rushing
Over the edge
Of a rock face
Skillfully smoothed
From the continuous
Flow of unexpected
Strength and sorrow
Knowing they will
Slow down
Once reaching
A quiet stream below-
Not losing purpose
But discovering 
New resolve-
Perhaps if
I thought of them
As belonging 
To a waterfall
I would let them fall
Free of fear
No concern for
Who might be
Standing at the lookout
Witnessing my life
In motion through
Each drop of rain
From the storms
Each spot of color
From the rainbows 

Talking about anxiety and depression is not easy. When emotions feel out of balance, it is tempting to hide them. But putting on a happy face, though sometimes necessary, is not a permanent solution. Eventually, they will find a way out, often leading to embarrassment and exhaustion. 

Well, at least that was my experience earlier this week. 😉

Thankful for friends and family who understand and keep me grounded. ❤️

Heartful Hope

On By Piano girl1 Comment

All through
The oppressive
Heat of summer
I watched
For your return
Supposing a quiet
Shady spot beside
A quiet stream
Had become
Your temporary
Summer home
But still, I watched
Believing one
Brief sighting
Would offer
Heartful hope-
And suddenly
Yesterday
There you were!
And I smiled
Sensing the ease
Of a new season
If only for a day

Red Rover

On By Piano girl1 Comment 
Standing 
Shoulder
To shoulder
Hands held tight
Forming a
Red Rover line
Strong enough
To keep out
Any who seek
To discourage
All the while
Carrying the
Most precious
Of cargos
Our future
On their 
Shoulders
A responsibility
That when shared
Shines a light
Through
The troubles
Of this day
Into the time
Ahead of us

I am not preparing to return to the classroom. It’s the first time in sixteen years. Feels a bit strange.

There are tiny tinges of sadness. I miss the Good Morning smiles and hugs from friends. The laughter of students. The sharing of music.

Teacher friends, you are my heroes! I am cheering you on from the sidelines! ❤️🍎

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl5 Comments

This week was heavy. I’ve thought about our recent trip to Maui a lot. The shop owners, waiters, waitresses, hotel workers, tattoo artists, and people who rented us snorkel gear-all kind and friendly. Living their lives in that beautiful place, now destroyed.

Yesterday’s news showed the Banyan tree at the center of Lahina. It is scorched but still standing. Time will tell. A tiny sliver of hope amid unthinkable tragedy.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

The Center

On By Piano girl7 Comments

A long life
Well-lived
The center
Of attention
And rightly so
Possessing a beauty
Difficult to describe-
Like a grandmother
Whose arms were able
To reach out in
All directions
At the same time
You pulled us in
Shared your stories
And listened to ours-
You were taken
In an instant
No one will sit
In the wisdom
Of your shade again-
And my heart is broken

I am saddened by the news of wildfires in Maui, Hawaii. The one-hundred-fifty-year-old Banyan tree I sat under a few weeks ago is gone. Along with it, most of the town to which it was the center.

A quaint main street lined with local businesses and restaurants. The constant sound of ocean waves. People, nature, structures-a way of life-all taken in a terrifying instant. I couldn’t allow the day to end without expressing my love and heartache for this beautiful place.

Lahain Banyan Court Park-Destroyed by wildfires August 9, 2023.

Don’t Forget!

On By Piano girl2 Comments

It’s that time again, Mammogram day. Simply saying the word brings tension. Go on! Give it a try! You can expect a grimace or furrowed brow. Maybe even that sound of sucking air thru clenched teeth.

But that’s ok. It’s not a particularly pleasant thought or experience. It is, however, a life-saving exam that should be an available part of every woman’s healthcare.

And so I wait for someone to call my name and give instructions.

Here’s your cape.

It opens in the front.

Come out when you’re ready.

Are you wearing deodorant?

The one time its ok to smile and proudly say-No, I am not! 💗

Get your yearly mammogram!

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl7 Comments

Yesterday, I watched the movie Barbie with my friend, Marina, my daughter, Rachel, and Rachel’s friend, Olivia. The girls had already seen the movie. I was excited to go but not sure what to expect.

Well, I laughed and cried, remembered and thought. And any movie that makes me do those things? Well, I classify it as good. There was a lot to process mixed in with all the fun and I will see it again. 💗

The following line struck a chord.

“We mothers stand still so our daughters can look back to see how far they have come.” Ruth Handler

Hop, Skip, and Jump

Tiny feet begin
To wobble
Their way out
Into the World
Each step
Bringing
A bit more
Confidence
A glance back
After each
Milestone
With a sly grin
And quick wave
Look at me, Mom!
Fall down, get up
Hop, skip, jump
Until steps
Turn into miles
And smiles
Turn into years
And I remain
Standing
Proudly watching
As you learn to fly