Bright Sunshine Ushers in A new day Along with it A new perspective Yesterday The sky was Sleepy Gray Still Do you think Like us, it also Needed rest? Thinking Quiet Still Appreciating Each moment Given Accepting Each goodbye Spoken Certain The sweetest Symbol For love Rooted deep In our hearts Is a smile Accompanied By tears
We will be driving home today. And though I am confident in my dad’s medical care and progress, it was hard to say goodbye.
This morning, the sun shone brightly on Pinnacle Mountain. A landmark that was crucial in my growing up years. Whether viewing it from a distance or standing on its peak, always enamored with its beauty.
When trying to explain where I grew up. Have you heard of Pinnacle Mountain? I grew up out in the country, about three miles from there.
I was thankful for its beautiful colors this morning to guide us out.
Opening doors Requires Asking questions Whether seeking Knowledge Creativity Relationships- Some we ask Almost every day How are you? What’s wrong? What do you think? How does that work? Listening For answers Is the key I pride myself On being A good listener Discovering that Some questions No matter How many times I ask them Have no answers- My youngest son Turns twenty-one Tomorrow- Where has the time gone?
Bath towel Pillowcase Bedsheet Any material will do A giant eagle Flying free Surveying The yard Before perching On the porch Superman Wearing His cape Ready To swoop in And save the day Or maybe A friendly ghost Playing A game of Hide-n-seek Shaking with Silly giggles Any material will do When paired with The wild imagination Each child holds Once they feel free To let it run away
Why is it our imaginations seem to shrink as we get older? As a child, I could always see objects in the clouds. It still happens sometimes, but I often second-guess myself.
Dress-up clothes, imaginary friends, playing pretend. Crucial elements of childhood. Sadly, it is not so simple these days. I was reminded of this while talking to a crying student this morning.
Oh, to be able to help them feel safe. Safe enough to let imaginations run wild!
Big, bright Beautiful Moon Lighting up The morning sky Wish I could Follow you See where you Would lead Instead of Turning away Leaving you Behind me If my Dad were here He would smile and say Look! There’s Kelley’s moon! As if I was still That little girl Claiming you As my own And not a Grown woman Driving herself To work On this early Morning- You know Maybe I will Claim you As my own …just for today
Sharing two poems I wrote in a recent poetry circle facilitated by Ali Grimshaw https://flashlightbatteries.blog/. I continued to be amazed at the beautiful connections made across many miles over computer screens. ❤️
At Seven
It is difficult To remember The me who Once was seven Do you find The same To be true? Oh, there are Glimpses Flashes of Childhood Aided by Photographs The reciting Of stories at Family gatherings I believe at seven Happy outweighed sad And freedom came When swinging To the sky Then bravely Jumping out It is difficult To remember The me who Once was seven But I am grateful For her spirit Continuing To reside in me Even when I’m afraid To jump out Of the swing
Tiny Boxes
Hours spent Together Make me want To remember Not just the present But every visit past- Each block of time Long or short Places another box Inside my heart Tiny boxes Full of surprises To open when Days are long Mind-wandering Tiny boxes Fighting battles Threatening To take away Focus, purpose, joy Tiny boxes Filled with Memories Of loving and Being loved
Dewdrops Twinkle Like stars Resting Among Green Pine needles Playing tricks On my eyes Now you See us Now you Don’t A simple game Of hide-n-seek The same way Children Play outside ‘Til the sun Disappears And the wind Carries them Home to rest Dreaming of Their next visit To the Loblollies
Sitting outside one morning after a rain, I noticed little bright spots in the trees. One would shine and then disappear just as another came into view.
My eyes went back and forth between the trees for several minutes. Each glimmer made me smile.
Joy in the simple things. And how much fun is it to say Loblolly? 😉
I spied Two eyes In the sky Today Against a Backdrop Fluffy white Strikingly Tinted Bluish gray Two eyes Looking My way Feeling Inquisitive I returned Their look Wondering What they Might say A smile A sparkle Followed By a wink Before they Looked away
I like macaroni and cheese. In high school, that and baking a cake were the extent of my cooking. My mom even entered a recipe on my behalf for a church cookbook one year. Not a cake. Oh no, it was the instructions from the back of the Kraft macaroni and cheese box.
My kids also like mac-n-cheese. It was a staple in our house. Of course, I always tried to pair it with broccoli or green beans. Balanced meals, you know.
Some stories need to be remembered. Told over and over. Handed down from one generation to the next. And not just the ones considered to be pleasant. Also, the challenging ones. Those are the ones that show resilience, teaching valuable lessons.
This is one of those stories. And, of course, it involves macaroni and cheese.
My parents have always been hard workers. But like many others, hard work did not always keep hard times at bay. Some years were more difficult than others. And when I was little, money was tight.
My dad was a carpenter and was working on a house about an hour away from our home. One day, mom and I went along for the ride. Well, sort of. You see, he had not yet gotten paid for his work.
Macaroni and cheese…they had one box left. So, we went with him, taking the box along with us. While dad was working, mom cooked the mac-n-cheese on the job site in an electric popcorn popper. That way, all three of us would have something to eat for lunch.
That same day, the woman that owned the property retrieved a frozen chicken from her kitchen. And though my dad was a little uncertain about that chicken, it went home with us that afternoon, along with his paycheck. It was available that day after work.
Perhaps some would think of this as a sad story. Not me. I see the resilience of two people, able to keep going, making the best out of a difficult situation.
Anytime we talk about this time in our lives, Mom always reassures me. “No matter how hard things got, we always made sure you did not go without. You always had what you needed.” Without a doubt. ❤️
Truth is, not only did we survive as a family, but we also thrived! And though my cooking skills have improved a little, I still like macaroni and cheese.
Although I am their music teacher, many of my students are aware I write poetry. Last year, fourth graders had a unit on poetry. I shared some of my poems with their teachers to use however they liked. The connections that occurred were precious.
Students began to ask about my book that was being published. Wanting to know if they would be able to buy it at the book fair. 😉 I assured them there would be copies in the library to check out. They were so excited! I would give each of them a copy if I could.
One day after school, a fourth-grade girl handed me a stack of small notepaper. She had been writing poems and wanted to share! Another day in music, one of her classmates, a boy, shyly handed me a folded piece of paper. “Here are some poems I wrote.” He quickly walked away.
Over the following weeks, I had several conversations with these two young poets. They eagerly shared their writing, and I happily celebrated them.
One of the students traveled to Mexico before the school year ended. I hope she will return next year. The other is transferring to a new school. Brief but powerful connections for me, and I hope for them.
I asked permission to share one of the poems. This young man is confidently referring to himself as a poet now. No more hiding. It is a beautiful thing.
green is for happiness which means that trees have happiness within the leaves another green that gives good vibes is grass that swerves with the breeze
I don’t know about you, but I was impressed! I am going to miss this young man next year. I hope he keeps writing.
Check out my first poetry collection! Available at the following links.
Greetings from Massachusetts! My first visit to this beautiful state. Even though the weather was cloudy and rainy upon arrival, I quickly noticed the many shades of green. No matter where I looked, a different type of tree. Some familiar, others not.
This morning the sun is shining, and the sky is a perfect blue! I am excited to explore with my Aunt Martha and Uncle James. Such a treat! 💚
View from their lovely backyard in Lee, Massachusetts.
Chanel No. 5-Reblog from September, 2019
I don’t wear a lot of perfume. I’ve had a couple of favorites as an adult, but allergy sensitivities often keep me from enjoying them. Currently, I own one bottle of Chanel No. 5.
I’m not sure how long I’ve had this particular bottle. During our recent unpacking, it caught my eye. I could not remember the last time it was open. The design is so classic and pretty, I decided to leave it out.
One morning last week while getting ready for school, that bottle of Chanel caught my eye again. This time, I opened it and placed a small drop on my finger, then dabbed it on my neck and wrists. “It might be nice to wear a little perfume again,” I thought.
As the familiar scent filled the air, a flood of memories filled my mind.
When I was a little girl, visits to my Aunt Martha and Uncle James’s house were a treat. They, along with their children-Jim, Angela, and Brad-moved several times. I remember trips to Fayetteville, Memphis, and Louisiana. Typically, it was a week-long visit during summer vacation.
Some memories are as clear as a photograph. Dressing my cousin, Angela, up in her Raggedy Ann doll clothes. Riding the bus with my cousin, Jimmy, from Little Rock to Memphis and spilling an entire big bag of M&Ms. Kick boxing with Uncle James. Rolling a piano from room to room so I could play while Martha and James painted their house.
So, why did this sweet smell cause such reminiscing? Because Aunt Martha always had a bottle of Chanel No. 5. And when I visited, she would let me wear some of her perfume. Just a tiny drop on my finger, then dabbed on my neck and wrists. Such a treat for a little girl.
I continue to be amazed by the beautiful complexity of the heart and mind. The simple scent of perfume has the power to transport me back in time. It leads me to precious childhood memories. And it reminds me that the love I experienced then has only grown over the years.
I still live far away from Aunt Martha and Uncle James. I look forward to our visits, no matter how far apart. And I am thankful for time spent with them as a child.
Who would have thought a bottle of Chanel No. 5 could make such an impression on one little girl? 😉
Piano Girl 