Tag: love

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl9 Comments

Undeniable

Ask her if
She is strong
Her response
Will follow a
Quizzical look-No
But the truth
Speaks clearly
From the past
Into the present
Instances too many
To list on a page-
On this day
With the sun
Shining brightly
On flower petals
Still wet from
Last night’s rain
These stand out-
Her beautiful
Brave smile
While in recovery
Following
Breast cancer surgery-
Her gracious
Prayer of gratitude
Standing with me
And my brother
Next to Dad’s casket-
Ask me if
She is strong
My response
Will follow an
Undeniable smile-Yes!
She’s my mom!

Happy Mother’s Day! 💐

Shared Tears

On By Piano girl13 Comments 
Even the warm 
Sunshine 
Was unable 
To keep  
The shadow  
Of dread away-  
Like a dark cloud 
Approaching 
Warning of storms 
Up ahead 
While providing 
No instructions 
For preparation 
Or survival 
Only questions- 
What is about to happen? 
How will I respond? 
A revelation lifts 
The uneasiness 
But leaves behind
A sadness 
The weight of it
Heavy
Pulling strings 
Between souls 
Across minor chords 
Tension eased only 
Through shared tears 

My dad’s only living brother, Sam, is not expected to live much longer. I have not seen him in years. And yet, this news brought sadness. 

Dad has only been gone a few months. I know the heartache Sam’s loss will bring to others in my family.
 
Family ties are often stretched and sometimes broken. I’m so thankful Dad and Sam were able to reconnect in recent years. https://pianogirlthoughts.com/2021/04/01/brothers/



Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl11 Comments

Digging in the Dirt

As we were planting flowers today, my husband reminded me that I used to be a kid. In other words, it was ok to dig in the dirt. He’s right.

When I was a kid, I loved being outside. Playing kickball, basketball, riding my bike, and digging in the dirt. Only after practicing piano and violin, of course.

Well, I may not enjoy it quite as much as when I was a kid. But, the results are worth the sweat and sore muscles. Especially when we are working together.

We clean up pretty good, too! ❤️

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl15 Comments

You Can Call Me…

We are officially on baby watch! Emilia is due May 23. Doctor appointments are happening weekly. The parents-to-be are excited, anxious, and tired. But I have no doubt they are ready.

There is one thing I have not been able to decide. What is this sweet baby going to call me? Gart says he is Papa, easy-peasy. Not so for me.

I have tried on multiple titles in a variety of phrases.

Nana loves you.
I’m so glad to be your Mimi.
Hi, Emilia. Grandma is here.

You get the idea.

Well, the other night I had a dream. A baby was crying. I remember walking up some stairs toward the crying. And right before I woke up, I heard it-Gigi.

Hmmm…I could get used to that. If Emilia approves, that is.

One last weekend visit before baby arrives! ❤️

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl11 Comments

Much of last week felt heavy. Saturday, I was thankful to spend time writing with my friend, Ali. https://flashlightbatteries.blog/ What a treat! I wrote the following poem during our time together. It seemed like the perfect choice for Simply Sunday. Hope you enjoy it! ❤️

Hold My Hand

Where were you in my yesterday?
Where will you be in my tomorrow?
A thought
A smile
A memory
Today, you may
Very well
Hold my hand
And that is
A beautiful thing
Even if only
For a moment
Sometimes
A moment is
All that is needed
To carry us
Into tomorrow-
Where was I in your yesterday?
Where will I be in your tomorrow?

Near Perfect

On By Piano girl1 Comment 
Space Between
Seems vast
Both in distance
And significance
One nearby
Easily seen
But often
Overlooked
The other
Requiring
Near perfect
Conditions
For clear 
Viewing-
Which holds more sway?
That far-away star
Or your crooked smile-
Guess it depends
On who you ask

Secret O’ Life by James Taylor ~Kelley Morris, piano

Einstein said he could never understand it all.
Planets spinning through space; the smile upon your face.

One of our favorite pics. ❤️

Remedies

On By Piano girl12 Comments 
I want it to
Go away
The feeling itself
And the way
It makes me feel
Yesterday
It refused-
Sticking around
Like a dull
Headache
Affecting
All of me-
Blurry vision
Upset stomach
Tense muscles-
So it goes
With anger
But like that
Dull headache
I know it will ease
When carefully
Tended with
The right remedies 

Anger is listed in the stages of grief. But somehow, I was not expecting it to be part of my experience. That is not my personality. Nor did I understand its close relationship with sadness. That is, until this week.

Driving to work Monday, I had a sudden image of Mom and Dad at home. They were going through their morning routine, smiling. I smiled. Just as suddenly, I felt mad. Angry at the reality that he is not there with her.

Honestly, I did not recognize it as anger at first. But it did not fade. Two things helped. Naming it and allowing it to work its way out thru tears.

Smiling helps, too. It's just that some days that requires a bit more intention.😊

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl12 Comments

When our kids were younger, they would spend a week at my parent’s house in the summer. We would meet my parents halfway between our house and theirs. One weekend, dropping off. The next picking up.

This week took me to that halfway point again. Except for this time, I was meeting my brother. And I wasn’t dropping off or picking up kids. It was my mom. She was spending the week with me. ❤️

We had a great time. Lots of time to talk and reminisce. We laughed and cried as we talked about missing my dad. But most of all, we remembered. And remembering is good.

Leave a Message

On By Piano girl2 Comments 
Each bird has 
Its song 
Each song 
Its melody 
Each melody 
Its contour
But each voice? 
Well, that is a 
Bit more complex 
Changing with age 
A familiar timbre 
Develops, yet 
Can be altered
In an instant 
By circumstance 
And emotion- 
Whether warm
And welcoming 
Afraid and unsure 
Or confident
And caring
One thing is sure-
A deep-down longing 
Rises, a desire 
To hear the voice 
Of one no longer here 
Just one more time 
A longing not
Easily erased 
A longing 
Leading me to  
Scour through
Voicemails
While listening 
For memories 
Of your voice
Inside my head





Goodnights

On By Piano girl9 Comments 
Tiny hand
Gently
Patting me
On the back
Head quietly 
Resting
On my shoulder-
Hands folded
Held still
Near your face
As I tuck you
Snuggly in bed-
Seemed like
Overnight
You were too big
To be tucked in
Staying up 
Later than
Mom and dad
A sweet
Reversal of roles
The big kid
Coming in
To tell us goodnight-
I don't remember 
When any of those
Goodnights
Changed
But they did-
And that's ok

Preparing to be a grandma has me thinking about those early days and years of motherhood. They change so fast.

We are looking forward to welcoming sweet Emilia June very soon! 💗

Mom and Dad to be!
Great-grandmas. 💗