Some days it seems
The tap of a feather
Can knock me to the ground
Yet, on those very days
A kind word
Or simple gesture
Can lift me to my feet
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.
Proverbs 12:25
Simply Sunday
Tag: life
Tears
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. ❤️
Red Rover
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
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
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.
Simply Sunday
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
Packing and Unpacking
Started unpacking today
After twenty-plus years
Guess it’s about time-
Not that this suitcase
Was hidden
No, it has floated
In my periphery
Until a flashback
Would open the latch
Spilling its contents
In a jumbled mess
All over my heart-
A quick nod
Possible sharing
Then once again
Packed away-
Not this time
This time I am
Choosing to
Open the latch
Hold each piece close-
Fear
Anger
Gratitude
Release-
Acknowledging
Their impact
Before gently folding
Placing them in my
Chest of Memories
Not to be forgotten
But remembered
With clarity
Within the journey
Miles Away
It could be the one-hundred-plus-excessive-heat-warning temperatures.
It could be because I’m missing Dad.
It’s most likely an all-of-the-above answer to any multiple-choice question you might ask.
Whatever the question or the answer, my thoughts keep drifting.
What would I give?
To rest in
The Wisdom
Of your shade
To sit beneath
Limbs-curved
And crooked from
Over a century
Of growing
Reaching
Learning to be-
Witness to
Stories unseen
Standing vigil
Thru seasons of
Darkness
And light
Firmly holding
In your arms
All those seeking rest-
What would I give?
To rest in
The Wisdom
Of your shade-
Listening
As the tide rolls in
Wondering
If you can hear it, too
Simply Sunday
It was an eventful week. My yearly physical suggested the need for cholesterol medicine. Then I was rear-ended Thursday on my way home from work.
Such is life, out of our control. Well, I can do some work on the cholesterol front. But that’s not the point. The point is hope remains.
A weekend visit meant all the chicks in the nest, along with the grandbaby chick. Girls went to a concert, boys to a movie. And Gigi hung out with Emi.
The Best Medicine
Listening as you
Find your voice
Watching as you
Learn to reach
Rocking as you
Fall asleep
Troubles
Of the day
Melt away
Collaboration
I love connecting with others in the WordPress family. Reading and learning about you and your corners of the world is fascinating.
David, the author of the https://skepticskaddish.com/ blog, offers a regular opportunity for collaboration. I’ve thought about participating many times. Finally, this week, I submitted a poem.
He graciously accepted and wrote a poem in response.
Here’s the beginning of my poem.
Looking Up
My earliest memories
Are only glimpses
A tiny sapling
Growing roots
Dancing
Swaying
In the breeze
Waiting for limbs
To grow stronger
To reach farther
Wishing time
Would speed up-
I have felt
The seasons
Changing from
Bright greens
To deep reds
Warm yellows
To crunchy browns
Again and again
Wishing time
Would slow down-
Read the remainder along with David’s response by clicking the link below. 😊
Piano Girl 