Rolling flutters
of soft purples and
sweet floral aromas
call tiny tarsus
in for a landing—
Fortitude in frailty
for both Iris and Bee.
Wings excitedly buzz.
Precious nectar and
baskets of pollen are
carefully collected—
Valuable resources for
sharing and sustaining
a beautiful partnership.
Security in the hope
of their survival
across the flourishing
of each new rolling
purple flutter and
tiny buzzing bee.
We hope and dream
Plan and build
Laugh and live-
Until we compare-
Then we search and rethink
Remodel and rebuild
Until our misguided focus
Causes discontentment and
Greed leads us to
Tear down and abandon-
Oh, that we will realize
Before it’s too late
Our emphasis on places and things
Has the power to destroy the heart-
Unless we, the people,
Choose to treat each other
With dignity and respect
Dreaming and planning together
To build a kinder, stronger tomorrow-
At least, that is my hope…
If you had a porch swing
I might never leave-
Innocent comments carrying
A hint of hope for the future-
Offered with a smile
Received with curiosity
At a time when everything was new
Excitement mixed with hesitation
In the getting-to-know stage
Holding tight
To possibilities
But not too tight-
Until uncertainties vanished
With one thoughtful purchase-
Perfect spot for relaxing, talking, laughing-
And when the time was right
A sweet proposal-
Who knew so much hope and love
Could be held in the sway
Of one perfectly placed porch swing
For Rachel and Austen ❤️
What kind of footprints
Am I leaving behind
As I walk through each day?
Are they easily erased
By the wind and rain?
When walking alone
That may be the case-
But what if my feet
Are like those of a child
Following the impressions
Left by those walking ahead?
Confident or unsure
It does not matter
They are not mine alone
But instead, a grain of sand
Within one layer of history
Where many who walked
And continue walking
Will faithfully
And gently call me back
When my feet
Step off the path
I see you up ahead
Peeking out from
Around a corner
Wearing a curious smile-
You used to be
Much further away
Another lifetime away
But now my sight
Is surprisingly clear
Considering the distance
My heart has already covered-
Strange, I thought it would take longer to reach you
Even the thought of it
Made me nervous
Not knowing how different
Our reflections would be
Yet, catching a glimpse
Of your curious smile
Around the corner up ahead
Assures me that it will be okay
It’s not the getting older
That bothers me
Yes, I often wish
My body felt less stiff
My joints were less achy
But it’s not the getting older
That bothers me
Aging is a natural progression–
I’m beginning to understand
What bothers me-
It is the time passed
Compared to the probability
Of the time remaining
Life’s great happiness is to be convinced that we are loved. Les Miserables, Victor Hugo
My stack of paper journals is growing. I love them. I love writing in them and using certain pens. But there does come a point when I must think about the amount of paper and what to do with all these journals…
An important part of my writing process is the actual handwriting. There is something about the use of cursive lettering and the way it flows. I had not considered a completely technological option…until now.
I wrote the examples below using a digital notebook. The handwriting is mine! And with one click, it was converted to text that I could edit. It is still an experiment, but I’m excited about the possibilities. Has anyone else tried something like this? I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences.
An experiment merging the past with the present while
looking to the future. The foundation is technically the
same. Feelings transferred from thoughts to words.
Visible for reading in the writer’s own script. Yet it is not
written with a pen. And not written on paper. Is it a
mystery? No. It’s an imaginative invention. Kind of
exciting, don’t you think?
It is not an
Exaggeration to say
Some moments
It feels like
My heart
Might explode
Several chapters
Lived over time
Love, joy, grief
Converge at once
Holding hands
Across my story
One sweet sentence
From a paragraph
That I never
Want to forget
Though impossible
To clearly express
Lately, emotions seem to well up, catching me by surprise.
A sweet conversation with Mom. A moment of missing Dad. Crying on my husband’s shoulder. Chats with my adult children. Watching my son and daughter-in-law care for my granddaughter.
Both the enormity and the smallness of life collide. And I feel every single moment right in the center of my chest. ❤️
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! ❤️🍎
I walked past
My future self
This morning
At least
She could have been-
Faded jeans
And sandals
Unassuming
Floral patterned
Cotton top with
Spaghetti straps
White hair
Pulled back
In a relaxed, but
Fashionable style
Wire-rimmed glasses-
Well, I would probably
Choose more
Colorful
Frames
They are so much fun-
As I continued
To walk into
The day ahead
I couldn’t help but smile-
I wonder if she saw me?
Such a simple idea
Cooking dinner
Admittedly, not
Something I do often
I would rather
Bake cookies
But this thought
On this day
Brought a smile
Along with
A complete
Shopping list-
Meal and dessert!
Before you offer
Any congratulations
Just know it was
A simple meal
Tasty, healthy
But not complex
Still, I energetically
Prepared, carefully
Timing each chop
And measure
Proud of myself
Upon completion
Happy to announce
Dinner’s ready!
And share this simple joy-
Piano Girl 