Such a strange Thought Forever I’m not sure it’s Understandable But certainly Beautiful I haven’t seen you in forever! Spoken with joy Spoken with regret Both can fill The same space Other times The word seals Every hole In the heart Despite lack of Understanding Will you marry me? And this is forever… Received with security Received with doubts Both can fill The same space Twenty-nine years Of forever, so far And I still don’t Fully understand But I am grateful That forever Continues To grow
But I know it’s true And those words? Spoken in love So, why is it Still so hard To admit? As if speaking The words Out loud Gives them power When actually The opposite is true
You’re right I’m depressed Not simply End-of-school Exhausted Though also true
Today’s remedies? Sunshine Fresh air Newly planted Flowers Only enough Planning to Ease some stress For the coming week Small steps Moving me Forward Gentle reminding Only I can take Those steps But I don’t Need to Take them Alone…and Neither do you
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…
The snow fell Light and fluffy Gusty winds Caused confusion As to how much But the snow fell White and bright On the ground It called my name In the morning Here I am! It called again At mid-day Still waiting! It tried one more time Daylight is fading You’d better hurry– Cautious steps Bended knees Body outstretched On the ground Giggling like a child Answering the invitation To be wrapped up In a moment Of pure joy
The snow finally came. And yes, I made my snow angel. Gone are the days of playing in the snow until our hands and feet are frozen. These days, I enjoy its beauty from the warm inside. But I could not let this snow pass without making that snow angel. I’m so glad I listened to my heart. And that my husband was there to help me up off the ground!
Long drives Lunches By the lake Even on The rainy days Waiting for Sunny days Means missed Moments The sun Peeking From behind A cloud To warm My cold nose Raindrops Falling From up Above To cool My rosy cheeks Your smile Reaching Across The table To hold My heart
My mom and I text often. She keeps me updated on doctor appointments and tells me how she and dad are doing. Sometimes there will be a picture to accompany the message. Here are two of my recent favorites. Both with the same message-lunch by the lake.
These two I took from the same spot, different days, months, and visits. Both beautiful in my eyes.
Working on finding the good in each day. Not just waiting for the sunny ones…
It’s all a matter Of perspective Well-rehearsed Full of love Celebratory Happy Birthday! Performance Complete with Full chorus And orchestra
Impromptu Full of love Rambunctious Happy Birthday! Complete with Kindergarteners School hallway Their stage It’s all a matter Of perspective
Each rendition Delightful In its own right In its own space But those sweet Kindergarteners Singing in The school hallway Provided a harmony Beyond music
My birthday celebration this year was topped off with a special treat. My husband surprised me with tickets to see James Taylor and Jackson Browne in Kansas City, MO last night. Road trip! ❤️
So excited!CopperlineYou Can Closer Your EyesHappy tired
Four hours of life’s soundtrack from these two artists who are still going strong. Both in their seventies, I was amazed at their energy. Inspired by their love for what they do. Sharing the power of connection that lives in their music.
I hope to write more about this event. But right now, I want to bask in the harmony beyond music. It started with those sweet kindergarteners and continued right until the final note of last night’s concert.
So close your eyes You can close your eyes, it’s alright I don’t know no love songs I can’t sing the blues anymore Oh but I can sing this song You can sing this song when I’m gone-James Taylor
Every seven years or so, my parents’ anniversary falls on Thanksgiving Day. This is one of those years. Today marks fifty-seven years!
We had planned to celebrate together this year. Due to my dad’s recent hospitalization and health issues, those plans changed.
Although disappointed we are not together today, I remain thankful.
Thankful for time spent with my parents earlier this week. Thankful for the example of their marriage. Thankful for the encouragement and support from my husband, Gart. Thankful for our three grown children and daughter-n-law. Thankful for the family I grew up with and the one I married into.
Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving! ❤️🧡💛🤎
Tended Hearts
Tend to the one Sitting near Let them Tend to you Better, worse Richer, poorer Sickness, health Isn’t that how the promise goes- No longer Left alone With only My thoughts Fighting a fight I will never win Now together Your heart Close enough That I can Feel it beating In time with mine Better, worse Richer, poorer Sickness, health Thankful For each day Our hearts Are tended By each other
Update on Dad. He is home from the hospital, feeling much better. With doctors’ guidance and mom’s help, learning to live with congestive heart failure. I plan to visit again soon. ❤️
Gentle ferns Brightest green Soft clover Delicate White lines A perfect carpet For majestic Residents Red trunks Growing Standing For hundreds Of years Though roots Are shallow Strength comes When each Intertwines With the next Building A foundation Stretching From carpeted floor Rising Thru drifting fog Reaching Toward the sun- Enter quietly
Imagining Rolling hills Once covered In grass and dirt Graced With trees And fields As far as One could see Now paved Rolling hills City streets Perfectly lined With building After building Architectures New and old Juxtaposed To create An endless Visual puzzle Architectures As varied As the languages I hear while Waiting in a line For breakfast City of diversity In every sense I’m captivated And caught Between Wonder And Grief Marveling at All that surrounds While walking Down sidewalks So many call home
Gentle breeze Across my face Carries hope For a new day Some days My mind is stormy Unable to focus Thoughts Jumping From one To the other Lightning bolts On the horizon And yet, the storms Pass with your Witty words Our laughter Mingling with The breeze Kissing away My fears
Twenty-eight years. Sounds like a long time. As far as anniversaries go, I am hoping for twenty-eight more. Through moves, job changes, raising children, illness, even deaths, there has always been laughter mingled with it all. Hardly a day goes by without it. I’m not sure if that’s our secret, but I don’t ever want to take it for granted.
I always say you rescued me. I suppose it worked both ways. All I know is that I’m glad you didn’t let my putting a hand in your face deter you from trying again. 😘
Piano Girl 