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Saturday, October 5, 2019

Road Blocks and Scraps

Estimating time and distance over land, sea or in the sky
is relatively easy.

Estimating time and distance from head to heart oft encounters deep pot holes, sharp rocks, giant boulders, fierce fences, stormy weather and ...........

Estimating time and distance to meet these annoying or frightening challenges
involves digging deep for 
even the smallest scrap of courage.

“The head learns new things, but the heart forever practices old experiences.”
~ Henry Ward Beecher

Friday, October 4, 2019

The Interview

The Interview

“Mastering moments in step with your mission statement for this position, ma’am? That sounds like a challenging, if not daunting task.” Stanley, nervously straightening his tie, was intrigued. He had already dubbed his prospective employer ‘Miss Thin Lips”. Not very respectful, but being interviewed by one so young and lovely called for a bit of dampening.

“Your resumé suggests that you are definitely up for the sort of task we need in this company.” This was Melanie’s first interview without her own supervisor over her shoulder. Nervously, she smoothed the papers on her desk and cleared her throat.

Stanley sat forward in his chair and pushed forward. “Can you tell me what direction your organization wishes to take in regards to this position?”

“With respect, I believe I am the one asking the questions, sir.” Melanie pushed her glasses firmly on the bridge of her nose, just a little intimidated by this older man. He was rather good looking, in an older man sort of way.

“I’m not that young any more, as you can see by the extent of my resumé. If I’m not mistaken, as this interview is winding up, you will be asking me if I have any questions for you.” Stanley took a deep breath and tried to find the easy confidence that had trademarked his career.

“Well yes, that is on my list of items, but I haven’t reached that part of the interview yet. Could I please continue with the talking points as listed here?” 

Melanie thought maybe that her interviewee was on the defensive? Stanley was not at all pleased with how this organization was run by this young woman. But he was determined to get hired, so backpedaling seemed the best course of action, even if she did seem young enough to be his granddaughter.

“I’m incredibly sorry for my blatant jumping ahead in this interview. I suppose it comes from my long years in management and sitting on the other side of the interview desk. Please, continue as you see fit.”

“Yes, you do have an impressive resumé and I am familiar with your career. Do you not feel you are over qualified for the position you’ve applied for?”

“Well, certain of my qualifications are not on my resumé. Reliability, presentability, and willingness to learn have been paramount to any career path I have taken. Because of them, I believe I am absolutely qualified for this position.”

“Hopefully your references will agree with you. Moving on. For this position you will require your own transportation. Ease of mobility for a timely manner to our several city wide job sites is needed. Will that be a problem at all?”

“Not at all. Although I don’t own a private vehicle, transportation is no problem.” (What Stanley didn’t mention was that he had recently had become co-owner of a taxi service. He didn’t think Miss Thin Lips needed to know that detail.)

Leaning forward, arms resting casually on the desktop, she continued “What shifts are you able to work? We have twelve hour or eight hour shifts for twenty four hour coverage. Because of our numerous office sites, that sort of coverage allows this department flexibility between sites.”

“My previous jobs have all included shifting my hours from time to time. I have developed a routine to manage that part of my life. I will state that night shifts are not my preference, but I am not averse to them.” Stanley felt the ember of his old confidence warm his heart. He had dared to set himself up for this job interview. He had grown very tired of the last forty years of office politics, yet here he was back in an office building not unlike the one he had left over a year ago.

Melanie’s voice broke into his reverie. “And do you have any other questions for me?”

“Is this position part-time or full-time? Your advertisement suggested that it may be one or the other.”

“At present, this position is only part-time which can work up to full-time pending the results of the probationary period of three months.”

“Is there an orientation period to each of the buildings? I need to know where specific offices are, work spaces, and of course supplies ~ any other specifics that go along with the position.”

“Yes, there will be a brief orientation to cover all the necessary details. I will go over your references as soon as we’re done here. Will you be able to start today?”

“Yes I can as a matter of fact!” That was a surprise. He hadn’t see that one coming but was more that ready to get started in this new direction.

Excellent. Your floor supervisor is waiting for you in the coffee shop on the main floor. He will start your orientation today and give you your hours. Oh, and one other thing ~ he will present you with your own personal mop and bucket.”

“We are always the same age inside.”
~ Gertrude Stein

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Tricycles, Area Rugs and Snow Angels

Inspired by falling from my tricycle
when the bumpy wooden sidewalk 
tripped my tricycle ~ I got up, 
stamped my feet and 
tried once more to ride.

Inspired by falling into soft snow 
I spread my arms back and forth
making the angel wings of childhood ~
in my mind I sketched a picture 
of what memory tells me is true.

Inspired by falling leaves that carpet 
the city like mismanaged, crisp, red/orange area rugs ~ I am careful to not run and jump in them as I did when I was a child, never knowing if squishy or sharp things hide quietly beneath. 

Inspired by falling stars, I look 
to the heavens because I want 
to see star dust and magic in 
the velvety blackness full 
of new worlds to live in and on.

Inspired by falling into the colourful
trap of area rugs rectangular, square, round or oval ~ 
scattered here and there with edges 
that reach up to grab my toes 
and pull me crashing to the floor, 
I decided, instead, to decorate beneath 
the rocking chair in my bedroom.

Inspired by falling I see wonders 
of our world that can only 
be recognized when the world
greets me without warning,
showing me that I have learned to
 twirl on my toes
  pick myself up
   try again
    imagine the impossible.

“We learn from failure, not from success!”
~ Bram Stoker, Dracula

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Over the Kitchen Table




Taking my time 
for thought 
   before speech, 
for breath
   gentling words,
carefully shares our time 
   over the kitchen table.




“Sharing is a much better way to communicate than proving.”
~ Yo-Yo Ma

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Entering a Time Warp








Taking my time…..
Inspired by falling………
“Mastering moments in step……..
Estimating time and distance…..





“Old and new make the warp and woof of every moment. 
There is no thread that is not a twist of these two strands.,”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Monday, September 30, 2019

Echoes ~ 4



The end of my Progress
theme for this month and
I simply move on, with little 
fuss or bother, to October.

A frightening thought is ~
a screeching end to Progress 
as we know it, dictated by 
the raging winds of climate change.




“You cannot get through a single day without having 
an impact on the world around you. What you do makes 
a difference, and you have to decide 
what kind of difference you want to make.”
~ Jane Goodall

“Humanity is now standing at a crossroads. We must now decide 
which path we want to take. How do we want the future 
living conditions for all living species to be like?”
~ Greta Thunberg

Sunday, September 29, 2019

From My Garden





Four green beans ~
lowly in the stature.
Sheltered by broad leaves.
Cornered and hidden.
Ripened past crispness yet
quietly gathering energy
for new growth in spring.





“We were planting seeds of change, the fruit of which 
we might never see. We had to be patient.”
~ Michelle Obama,  Becoming