Thinking in terms Of my life story At this moment Feels a bit Daunting Contemplating What I know And wish I knew About my own Grandmothers Naturally shifts My perspective So much more They could have Would have said Given more time Asked more questions- Motivation to Open the book Begin writing One word One sentence One memory One song At a time
Row Your Boat, arrangement The Piano Guys, Kelley Morris, pianoAll Good, The Piano Guys, Kelley Morris, piano
Beautifully bare Impressions From life’s Encounters Left behind as History lessons For anyone Willing to give A little time- See the hawk Proudly perched On a branch Looking back One more time At the empty nest That not long ago Held its young Once again Ready to fly The past Held close To her heart A catalyst For change A sanctuary For reminiscing
The question We always ask Our children What do you Want to be When you Grow up? It’s funny I seem to be Answering That question For myself These days- When I grow up I want to hold Your tiny hand Watch your breath Rise and fall In the smallest Of motions Hear your cries Comfort your fears Feel the complete joy Only found In the heaviness Of rocking Back and forth In our favorite chair Reading our favorite stories Singing our favorite songs My heart younger As yours grows stronger
I saw you Ten years From now Or maybe It was fifteen My perception Of time seems To be changing With its passing In any case It certainly could Have been you Or at least The future you I sometimes imagine… Faded jeans Plaid shirt White hair Just a little On the sides Perhaps a little shorter We do eventually Start shrinking Purposefully walking Into a local Coffee shop I smiled but refrained From saying hello Wonder if he’s picking up a London Fog just for me?
For all the hurrying To complete The next task Reach the next Milestone I am finding peace In the unfinished Relief in knowing There is more To become Simple changes In the day to day Or transformation Across the years A me anyone has yet to know… Hopefully, one who is A bit wiser, one Who remembers To slow down So as not to miss Even the singular Steps of growth Requiring The most faith Revealing The simplest joys
I wish I knew the whole story. How your life began. The circumstances surrounding your birth. How your big sister played with you. What you were like as a toddler.
When we first met, you were bossy and tall for your age. But you had a big smile and beautiful long, dark hair. You loved flying high on the playground swings. I’m glad for those moments of joy in your life.
Schoolwork did not come easy. You worked so hard. No matter what we tried, letters and numbers couldn’t find their way into your memory banks. Not long-term, anyway.
You enjoyed listening to stories and spending time playing pretend with your friends. Somehow, unphased by the lack of remembering academic details.
Traveling between Mexico and Oklahoma seemed to be the pattern. You, your mother, and your older sister. That must have been stressful and scary. Not knowing how long you would stay in one place or where you belonged.
I wish I knew the whole story. Why the older you grew, the less care you seemed to receive. Understanding there must have been challenges in raising a child with disabilities. But still, you deserved to be cared for and loved.
What love there was somehow faded with the birth of a new baby. Slowly turning to neglect and abuse. My heart breaks over what I do know.
You are unable to tell me your whole story. Only bits and pieces. Maybe I shouldn’t wish to know it. One thing I do know is you will always wear the scars. Yet, you still manage to smile. You give and receive love. And just maybe, that is the whole story. ❤️
Our sweet friend, Marie. So glad she is part of our lives.
Gart and I will be married twenty-nine years in May. We have lived in seven houses and one apartment. Furniture in those early days was often passed down from family. Maybe something we could buy cheap from a friend. No matter that it was used. Once we had it, it was ours.
We recently bought a sectional for our living room. Now everyone has a place to sit when the kids visit. That left us with a leather loveseat to sell. There was just no room to keep it.
A couple inquired and set a time to come check it out. After sitting in it and propping up feet, they decided this was the one for them. The first furniture purchase for their new home. We helped them load it, threw in a couple of barstools, and wished them well. ❤️
That was us all those years ago. Such babies.
I know! We did ok.
Ghosts
Saw ourselves In both of you Almost like Seeing ghosts Young couple Starting out First home Excited, nervous Buying used furniture Our furniture I could not Stop smiling Fought the urge To wrap you up In a hug-Tell you What an adventure This life will be But we don’t know each other Best wishes for your new home! Hope you enjoy the loveseat! And you drove off Ready for your journey Not really ghosts But a sweet reminder Of where our story began And the chapters We have written so far…
My heart used to Think letting go Was harder than Holding on- Moments I wished Could last forever- Nothing lasts forever No matter how Tightly gripped- Experience taught me Tighter the grip Greater the chances Of shattering The treasured into A million tiny pieces- I am learning to hold Precious moments with A more gentle touch Like cuddling A newborn baby Or caressing Weathered hands- Where joy slowly fills The heart to overflowing Seeping out of every pore Spilling onto anyone Who comes near A limitless circle Of holding close Then letting go- Hmmm…maybe… Sharing is forever
Past fading Future unclear Only today matters Where to look What to think How to act Opinions are Shared that Cloud the way The choice must Be made to put Away doubts View the path Ahead through Younger eyes Untarnished by Hatred and greed Younger eyes Full of life, love And generosity Younger eyes Holding the Power to light Up the world With their smiles Offering hope For tomorrow