Why insist on
Seeing things
Only the way
That you want
To see them?
Everything
A part of
The same
Domain-edges
Clearly defined
Explanations
Always
In black
And white
No room for
Meaningful
Questions or
Incomplete
Answers-
Hues
Undreamt
Wait to be
Discovered
In the hidden
Curves
Of our world
And the secret
Corners
Of our hearts
Yesterday
I smiled
Watching you
Flit and flutter
All around
So small
Compared to
Your surroundings
So small
Yet, able to
Captivate the
Hearts and
Imagination
Of those
Both inside
And outside
Your world-
Realms to which
You offer a
Playful grin
In your daily
Flitting and
Fluttering
Of living
On our trip, I often noticed the tiny things around us. In the water, on the sand, in the rainforest-the massive made up of the minuscule. If only I’d had a microscope!
Of course, the big picture was also captivating. Even a panoramic taken through a telescope would not do it justice. Maybe just that recognition is enough. I’m not sure. I suppose there is room for interpretation. 😉
Today was our last day in Maui. Sad to leave but ready to be home. I will miss the slower pace of life here. It is refreshing.
A few things I take with me.
The constant rhythm of ocean waves- A reminder to listen thoughtfully.
The colorful contrasts between land, sea, and sky-A reminder to look curiously.
The ever-changing view from one day to the next from the same spot-A reminder to expect surprises.
That there is such a thing as terrifyingly beautiful views. Terrifying if only due to the path required to witness them.
And the knowledge that calm is only a breath away-maybe two. 😉
The love felt in celebrating thirty years of marriage in this beautiful place-Reminding me to be graciously grateful.
My bare feet squished in the sand as we walked along the shore. I smiled as my husband’s footprints disappeared within seconds. It occurred to me that not getting a pedicure before our trip was not a big deal after all.
I picked up a tiny piece of coral, obviously aged by the sand and waves. We talked about how it once was alive. I left it there to wash back out to its home. This one little thing represents an entire way of life? Now that is a big deal! 💙
White foam
Rolls in
Rolls out
As tides shift
And sandy shores
Silently wait-
Motion on the
Surface is
Endless-
One quick
Glance below
Reveals
Surprising
Stillness
Colorful
Creatures
Gracefully
Traversing
Their home
A peaceful
Contrast with
The waves
Overhead-
My heart could
Learn a lesson
From the wisdom
Below the waters
Endless shades
My favorite color
Clear, bright
Dark, deep
Each hue
Weightlessly
Effortlessly
Drifting, one
Into another
Providing
Few clues
As to where
The waters end
And the heavens begin
Day before vacation
Awakened from a
No-sense-dream
A phone ringing
Several missed calls
And text messages
Confused does
Not justly
Describe my mood
I was frantic
A panicked spiral
Attempting to take hold-
Not just a mess
But a hot mess
According to
My husband
Shhh…
He was right
I need you
To stand still
And take a
Deep breath
Breathing out
I felt the tears
Beginning to form
This is me
But only
A part of me
Today, I sit
In the airport
Traveling within this
Thirty-year love
And we are ok
Better than ok
How is it measured?
That depends
On the need
The event
The goal
The work
Where was the starting line?
That depends
On a memory
A realization
A decision
A step
Where is the finish line?
That depends
Each is different
Though more
Important than
The steps or the pace
Baby steps
Or giant leaps
The pace of a snail
Or a horse race
Not about comparison
But valuing the journey
Stretching
Bending
Twisting
Walking
All with purpose
Back straight
Head held high
Muscles engaged
Strengthening
The outer shell
So that the
Inner soul
May freely and
Graciously
Continue on
Its journey-
One carrying
One held
Each breathing life
Into the other
I have recently been going to physical therapy. It is not my first experience with PT. A long history of scoliosis, a couple of bone breaks, and hours of sitting at the piano made it necessary.
This time, however, was different. At our first meeting, my therapist asked about my goals for therapy. He gave me a chance to think. What do I want to get out of this? I knew from experience PT was helpful. But I needed to think past the initial results.
At the time, we were awaiting the birth of our first granddaughter. I knew I wanted to be able to hold her, pick her up, and play on the floor with minimal discomfort. You get the picture. Ultimately, I wanted to feel stronger.
Today, I am a little stronger. I also have a lot more work to do. And possibly some weights to purchase. 😉 But I now have some helpful exercises with specific purposes that make a difference.
My therapist viewed me not just as a patient but as a person. Both challenging and encouraging me through this process. And I am grateful.
Five tiny fingers
Wrapped
Around my thumb
Eyelids heavy
With sleep
Let it fall
As I hold you
Little one
And dream
Your dreams
While I remember mine
We are products of public education-me, my husband, our three children, and our daughter-in-law. Each of us graduated from college. Several hold graduate degrees.
Our combined work in public education equals over fifty years. Our varied experiences include band, elementary music, special education, geometry, computers, and administration. Collectively, we worked in many classrooms with different age groups from varying perspectives across several states.
I am grateful for my public education experiences as a student, parent, and employee. Each provided caring teachers, opportunities for creativity and learning, and lifelong friendships. These are things that continue to happen in today’s classrooms.
Were they perfect? No. Are they perfect now? There is no such thing. But they were and are filled with hardworking staff and teachers who love their students. Individuals dedicated to the pursuit of lifelong learning. People who hold dear the responsibility for our future.
They need and deserve our support, as do our children.
What can we do?
We can choose not to perpetuate inflammatory rhetoric concerning teachers and classrooms.
We can choose not to apply broad generalities. History has shown us how detrimental those can be.
We can accept that there is always work to do. And remember the work is made lighter when we join hands.
“I have the right to do anything,” you say-but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything,” you say-but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. I Corinthians 10:23-24
Do everything in love. I Corinthians 16:14
Piano Girl 