Watching a Symphony Unfurl

The maestro’s face 

lit up

toned down

calm

eyes closed

brows furrowed

hair flying

arms waltzing his hands 

encouraging

inviting 

clarinets

violins 

french horns

kettle drums

piccolos 

oboes

saxophones

cello

to harmonize in

cohesion

collaboration

in a symphony of passionate sound.

“To the sound itself the conductor adds the italics and 

punctuation of gesture, of strained arms, of startling 

tautness of the shoulders, of brisk nod, of hands

flung apart in some wild appeal to the universe.”

~ Christopher Andreae

Spaces

Wide open sky

Valleys and plains

Oceans and lakes

Between fence boards

wrapped with ivy

green grass on the other side.

Between appointments to 

clean my teeth

get my hair done

Between

events at work

phone ringing

tasks to be done

Gaps of time 

great

small or

in between

like spaces between 

words in a sentence

notes of music in a score

Filling silent spaces with 

more appointments

more words

more sound

brings exhaustion from 

frantic busyness

speaking fast, breathlessly

white noise

Fill them with

reading a book

taking a snooze

a stroll in sun or rain

or just listening to the 

sound of myself

sounds of others

In the spaces between

words

actions

music

hurt

joy

there is much to learn.

"The eternal silence of these infinite spaces frightens me."

~ Blaise Pascal

If only I could catch them........!

How many words come 

in my head in a day?

As many as starfish 

found in a bay!

Words float into my view

and then they float out.

No matter the task

they’re always about.

When washing the dishes

or scrubbing the floor,

they hide in the bubbles

and slip out the door.

When mowing the grass 

with a blade that is sharp

words sing through my head

like the sound of a harp.

When weeding the flowers

where butterflies go,

words ride on their backs

then sit on my nose!

When driving the car,

at work or at play,

a light will turn green

and the words are away.

Words perch in the trees.

They stand up on rocks.

Words nest in my hair

while I'm taking a walk.

Words dive in the water

and swim with the ducks.

They slip through sea weed ~

to catch them....good luck!

Oh, what shall I do 

with these words that are mine?

Should I string them in 

sentences, story or rhyme?

“Papa, potatoes, poultry, prunes and prism

are all very good words for the lips”.

~ Charles Dickens

"How bad can it be....?"

Born July 18, 1943

This morning's reminder that the owner of this sweet face would have celebrated her 69th birthday today started my search.

Paging through my photo albums I found many memories of Audrey.

So deeply missed.

Eyes that sparkled and twinkled,

this innocent face convinced me that going down a Black slope at Red Mountain would not be that bad: "How bad can it be......?"

Did I mention I was a beginner at skiing?

And for non-skiers, Black slopes are not for beginners.

I bought into this dare

once, then

twice.. but,

the third time.....

Well, let’s just say, 

Gliding down the Green slopes (for beginners) on skis was my preference

rather than the bumping down the black slopes on the seat of my pants

desperately clinging to my ski poles and any branch or rock that had a remote chance of being a hand hold,

while trying to avoid collisions with more seasoned skiers.

Audrey and I, in hysterics, were covered in snow!

I always remember having fun with Audrey.

Audrey’s kind and loving soul, is in my heart and memory.

Her soul so loved a bit ~ or a lot ~ of mischief and great music.

How bad can it be....?

It’s pretty bad when a dear friend, and sister-in-law for many years, passes from this world.

But we did have fun!

“If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun.”

~ Katharine Hepburn

A Blessing for Nolan

Warrior spirit

perches quietly above

broken body that imprisons him

begins slowly, yet eagerly, to heal.

Warrior spirit

grows stronger within

confused mind struggles

to make sense

of tragedy sudden and without reason

Warrior spirit

holds white light

mends body, mind and soul

returning him to self and family.

“Man never made any material 

 as resilient as the human spirit.”

      ~ Bern Williams

Bridging generations - Lending a hand.

‘The young will lead the way

when they are old and gray

Youthful memories stay

bridging generations

lending a hand.’

Susan M. Ward

Nov. 7, 2008

I found this poem this afternoon.

Nothing much - 

just a bit of a muse,

but it wrapped up 

the events of today.

Neither young, nor old and gray,

in my mid sixties, I consider myself to be on the far end of middle age.

As for the gray ~ you would have to ask my hairdresser about that.

But age and hair colour is really not of much import.

What is exciting today is that I was awarded and offered ~ 

a full time position in the part of nursing that I love and have devoted my career to ~ 

Addictions Nursing.

It is a short term position ~ at least one year ~ 

but in the part of nursing that I love. Am I repeating myself?

Addictions Nursing, I believe, is 

a critical part of our health care system, too long neglected.

Detox: the physically painful, anxiety ridden beginning for so very many to change a lifetime of learned living and re-positioning in families and communities.

Medical Detox - 

eases much physical pain,

some emotional pain and

walks beside people through the anxiety and lure of cravings.

Letting go when active addiction demands control is sometimes the only care that can be offered.

But shouldn’t I be looking forward to retirement?!

Time to spend on writing more 

stories

poems

anything I want to write?

Really digging deep to develop a solid writing practice?

Well, can't I do both?

In 1995, seventeen years ago,

I graduated from a program at Texas Tech University 

achieving a Minor in Substance Abuse, 

a non nursing program

which advanced my nursing career.

I began writing about Addictions Nursing then.

In this past ten years,

I have worked diligently at learning the craft of writing

and continuing to develop my nursing career.

Both experiences have blended beautifully.

I have listened, and will continue to listen, 

to many stories during this new chapter in my career.

Listening not for the gory details but for 

clinical information detailing the destruction of substance abuse

glorious humanity that still glows ~ and then grows ~ within so many.

Joyfully, I have had opportunity to be that ‘senior nurse’ 

who walks with young nurses through potentially very rocky terrain as young minds and hearts learn principles of 

Addictions Nursing in a medical detox setting.

Looking forward to more such opportunities excites me.

There have been, and will continue to be,

many ethical principles, and 

just plain common sense issues, 

to juggle over these past many years ~

all worthy of 

poems

story

any other subject I want to pen.

“Do not be concerned with the fruit of your action - just give 

attention to the action itself.  The fruit will come of it’s own accord.”

~ Eckhart Tolle