Bouquets

Dark curly hair topped his sweet face. ’Bye’! From the stroller navigated by his mom, he waved and smiled to the bus driver…. 

Canadians are often said to be polite and today, one little Canadian proved that some of us start young! Alighting at a signalled bus stop, most of us, men, women, teens, children ~ grumpy or cheerful ~ do say thank you or offer a ‘have a good day’.

Bus drivers are paid and have good union support. Why should we say thank you to someone for doing their job? Because, in their chosen career, they do for us what we cannot do or choose not to do. We get to our destinations safely despite the traffic of the day. Walkers, bicycles, strollers. Suitcases, shopping trolleys, umbrellas, bicycles, groceries, plants. Winter or summer. Dripping wet with rain or snow filled boots.

Do these men and women that take us hither and yon get tired, by the end of a long shift, of replying pleasantly to each and every one? It is a wonder. Today, the broad smile on the face of this morning’s bus driver told me that special ‘Bye!' was a highlight for his day.

“Everyone appreciates being appreciated”

~ Lance Greenfield

A Gift

Unexpected,

cherished and welcomed ~

being appreciated serves

a greater good to heart and soul.

“A page in the story of my life that I never could’ve anticipated.”

~ Emma Mills, First & Then

Appreciation

Reaching out

a simple gesture

a knowing from within.

The gift of a single flower ~

greater than the biggest bouquet

“One of the most important things you can do on this earth 

is to let people know they are not alone.”

~ Shannon L. Alder

A Fleeting Moment

A bouquet arrived like magic
Unexpected and very appreciated
Accepted with surprise and gratitude
A bright spot of awareness in a very ordinary day.

“There are always flowers for those who want to see them.”

~ Henri Mattise

Vancouver Art Gallery - Mashup: The Birth of Modern Culture

Top half of the Andy Warhol painting on display

This exhibition that began February 20 and continues to June 12, 2016 was fascinating.  From Pablo Picasso and Quentin Tarentino to Jean-Luc Goddard and Joyce Weiland four floors of the mashup of art forms were displayed. There were some that were interactive, some that filled every inch of wall, ceiling and floor space. I especially loved the TV footage of the telephone from clips from movies. These clips, from many movies of yesteryear, demonstrated the part the telephone played in the ambience and character of a movie. All of these mashups of  substance, mixed media, and sound demonstrated the artists' confidence in their creative endeavours.

I want to return so I can appreciate this exhibition in it’s totality. I only present the top half of this Andy Warhol as the image of me in front of it showed an extremely exhausted me! I do feel as though I was only able to appreciate half of the richness of this exhibition. 

“Others have seen what is and asked why. 

I have seen what could be and asked why not.”

~ Pablo Picasso, Pablo Picasso: Metamorphoses 

of the Human Form: Graphic works, 1895-1972

In Appreciation.....

A correction:

December 28, 2011 was the first day of my blog

(my first 'In Appreciation' post stated December 31, 2011)

December 28, 2011 - the first day of my blog. 

Today, six months later, is an anniversary of 

beginnings, middles and ends:  

a commitment that I made 

to myself

for myself.  

It has blossomed in so many ways 

and for that I have many to thank. 

My sister Kate continues to inspire me to keep moving forward and find the joy in my own creative endeavors, whatever they may be. 

Her blog site is <movingforwardlookingforthejoy.blogspot.com>

Many of my other family members, past and present, have shown me a myriad of ways to express creativity, and so have taught me how to be practical and creative.

My next thanks is to you, my readers:

my family ~ so disparate geographically that we have few opportunities to know each other

my friends ~ childhood friends, colleagues, friends from places I have lived ~ new and old friends, as well as people that I have not, nor probably will ever meet.

You have each suggested to me, by comments and by accessing my blog, that what I write is heard and appreciated.

Personal confidence has built each day as I take your words into my heart, each day speaking my own authentic truth.

Thank you to my writing group ~ Writer’s Ink.  You have been so patient with me for many years, listening to the next project that began, and then....fell by the wayside.  And in this last six months listening to my blogging adventure.  Many of you follow my blog and for that I am truly grateful.

A huge thank you goes out to my creativity coach, Connie Frey (www.creativitycoaching.ca).

You and I began this journey very serendipitously, and over many weeks, months and years you have patiently coached me in the art of seeing, knowing and developing my own muse. Coming from a focussed and narrow career in hospital and health care, this has been quite a challenge.

Thank you to Carolyn Bateman at (www.carolynbateman.blogspot.ca).  Your editorial wisdom has made me think more analytically about words, their placement and their power to rework, reframe and revise.

Thank you to Dorothy Appleton, a good friend, for the painting of me on this blog site page.  You captured my writer persona in a way that I have been unable to see.  I so enjoy being able to share this portrait with others.

Thank you to Blogspot for providing this venue that allows me to speak what is in my heart 

unravel feeling and emotions 

share activities

journey back, and forward, through my nursing career

discuss my relationship with the disease of epilepsy

all the while sharing my Daily Muse with the world.

Thank you to Facebook for providing a such a wonderful vehicle.

I still have so much to learn about the writing life and it is such an honour to be able to share a part of this life with all of you.  For those of you that I may have missed, I do apologize.  For your contribution to my growth, I thank you.

“I can no other answer make, 

but thanks, and thanks.”

~ William Shakespeare