Butterflies, Bees and a Birthday

Butterflies and bees came a-partying for

a charming, sweet girl ~ One Year Old today!

Happy noise filled the birthday room when

toys for little hands in bright shiny colours

burst from glossy party bags that glistened.

All topped off with cake, hotdogs and yummies!

“Today you are you! That is truer than true! 

There is no one alive who is you-er than you!”

~ Dr. Seuss

Party On!

Results of Spring Partying

Early morning blue sky, thinning drifts of cloud

a beautiful golden orb rose above the roof tops

shadows thrown onto banks of soft and greying snow……..

sudden movement….!

where none had been before………..!!

the rabbits are running!

the rabbits are running!

early morning sky was still azure blue,

clouds drifted away while I stopped and stared

shorter shadows had been tossed lightly on the snow.

“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s Party!’ “

~ Robin Williams

Two Steps Forward

Two seconds for

a tiny pity party

then wash my face and smile.

Two hours to organize

today’s thoughts and plans

that change faster than I can guess.

Two shifts remain to be part 

of an amazing health care team

that flows with any changes in service.

“Some days are like folding fitted sheets…”

~ Nanette L. Avery

Into the Depths

It was a party. Haven’t had one quite like it for a very long time! No one was invited so it was only me standing alone in my living room looking out at the dark. My mood was as dark as the night sky. The only lights - and there were a lot of them - were street lights, a curving moon, car lights swishing back and forth, and the warm glow of living room lights in apartments across the street. 

Now you may think I shouldn’t be talking about these dark moods, but I think that it’s important that dark moods be given a hearing now and then. Have you ever tried to keep a smile on your face continuously for even an hour? How about keeping that smile in your heart when your head is running non-stop with every conceivable negative thing past, present and definitely future? I can usually get my black belt anti-gremlin stance on and just knock all the mud balls up, down and sideways. But when I have a cold (which I do), or when I’m over tired (because a cold makes me overtired) those gremlins get the upper hand. I tried to ignore the little darlings and, with a good box of tissues, reminded them that this Pity Party is my Pity Party and they had not been invited. Those silly gremlins kept scritch-scratching at my minds door. I kept trying to ignore them while I wallowed around in the warm mud of Poor Me Lake. It sometimes does take going down into the very depths of Poor Me Lake, bruising myself on the rocks at the bottom and pushing myself back to the top where I can breathe. 

Once all that whining and caterwauling was over I went back to bed, had a sound sleep and when I awoke, the fears and awfulizing of the previous night seemed but a nasty nightmare. There were some real concerns, but valid issues, not wisps of panic.

“You can close your eyes to the things you do not want to see, 

but you cannot close your heart to the things you do not want to feel.”

~ Johnny Depp

Ready to Roll

Ready to Roll

The gritty dust hung in the air, back lit by the orange glow on the horizon. Anthony, his jean jacket slung over his shoulder, walked toward town. Not necessarily because he even wanted to walk into town, but because his old pickup ran out of gas. He kicked at a clod of dirt that burst bits of grass and pebbles into the dryness. Stupid gas gauge. He didn’t have any money to get it fixed, but he sure loved that old red hunk of metal. It had been his dad’s. When his dad wanted a new bigger, shinier pickup, he let Anthony have Old Red. He had to let him be - to just sit waiting to be filled up and roar into life again. Well, not a real big roar, just ready to roll again.

“Hey, bud! Need a ride? Did Old Red give out on you again?”

“Jethro! Sure do need a ride and it was just the gas gauge. I forgot I have to fill up every week and I didn’t do it. My fault. Let’s just get some gas. That party’s going to have to start without us, but thanks to you at least I’ll get there. Jenny'd be real mad if I just didn’t show up.”

By the time they got back, filled Old Red up and Anthony got to the party, the sun had set. The air was cool and music filled the small prairie town. Across Main Street, the straw scent of harvest was wrapped with the buttery aroma of popcorn. It was the last weekend of the summer that Old Mr. Sanders had his popcorn stand gathering customers like flies around a honeypot. A full moon night, with popcorn, a party and a pretty girl, Anthony felt good. Focussed on a life he had almost left behind. He missed having beer with the boys, but at least now he would remember the evening. Jenny could count on him and Old Red could count on him to drive them safely home.

“Reliability is the precondition for trust.”

~ Wolfgang Schauble

Future Panic

Future Panic

“Hope for the future! Hope for the future!! Are you kidding me? Have you even listened to the news even once this last six months? We’re headed for a major war. None of this sending our troops overseas. We’re going to need them here on our own soil!”

“Have you no faith. You teenagers are always so pessimistic. Never seeing that you have oh, I don’t know …….university to go to next year. And then there’s your sister wedding in the spring. I could go on, but I think you just might get it. Both of those things are in the future.”

“But mom, I’m talking about the future future. Not next year. I’ll just go to university for the parties ‘cause it won’t make a difference if I pass or fail. But I sure could have fun and hook up with some really sweet girls.”

“Well, while you’re having so much fun don’t forget about your grandmother’s 75th birthday the year after you start university. She’d be so disappointed if you were off partying. Now, here take the keys and make sure you drive carefully. You don’t want to mess up your future - or today. Love you, honey.”

“Love you more, mom.  See you after school - in the future!”

Garvin gave his mom a hug, picked up his backpack and went to his very last high school class.

“Life’s under no obligation to give us what we expect.”

~ Margaret Mitchell

Politically Polite ~ IDEAS ~ Theme for November 2016

Politically Polite

Ismelda had no idea what costume she could have worn to the office Hallowe’en party.
Donald Trump had come to mind but it just seemed too darn politically incorrect, although that would have certainly kept her in character.
Even going as Hilary Clinton wouldn’t work because she didn’t even own a pantsuit!
After hemming and hawing Ismelda had her hair done like Hilary, wore a blue suit and red tie like Donald and learned how to be polite with bad grammar.
Success!!!

“Politician = close your eyes and I will lead you, I know better.”

~ Bangambiki Habyarimana, Pearls of Eternity

Attention to Detail - 1

Th
The monthly Writer's Ink group is on summer hiatus. I have chosen to continue the writing 'assignment' part of the group through the summer as my blog post.

The opening line is taken from writingexercises.co.uk.

Attention to Detail - 1 

Half the names on the list had already been crossed off. It wasn’t a particularly long list but someone had been meticulously going through it. There was a gigantic party planned for an anniversary that was coming up. The guest list, while not long, was made up of couples and their families. Hermione was sure that Sam was only trying to be thorough, making sure that they had invited everyone that their parents would have chosen. Sam wasn’t uninviting anyone, only doing his usual ‘attention to detail’ checking, making sure all the contact numbers were accurate.

They were a small family, but had many aunts and uncles. Their parents were actively involved in many community activities. Despite their popularity they were humble people, childhood sweethearts in fact. They had not been one bit curious about all the phone calls Hermione had been getting. No questions about the whispering between the two of them. She and Sam had planned this 35^th wedding anniversary for a year and now. Seeing their parents surprised and laughing, Hermione and Sam were proud and happy. Everyone on the list had arrived, even their friends from school days. And the party on the wharf began in earnest.

“The truth of the story lies in the details.”

~ Paul Auster, The Brooklyn Follies

Come As You Are Party

When big red bells chime
red lights flash,
sirens ring out a tuneless tune

When neighbours gather,
visiting and wondering
why firemen come to the party.

The party went flat no when fire was found
but the bells kept on ringing and ringing
And ringing and ringing…….and ringing……...

No vision is needed when the big bells ring out
merely response to what could be disaster
and (hesitant) gratitude for the impromptu drill ~ and knowing that the fire bells work!

“Our life ends up becoming the result of 

the responses we give to the demands of life.”

~ Sunday Adelaja

Expectant Excess

White faceless mannequins
dressed in jeans and sweaters
suits and ties
forever ready for a game of tennis or a board meeting

White faceless mannequins
hands on hips
dressed in flowered a-line sundresses wearing wide-brimmed net hats
forever ready for a garden party

Racks and racks of clothes
Shirts and sweaters
Skirts and dress slacks
Silent and expectant for someone needing clothing

Cool airconditioned comfort
Silent as a mausoleum
Voices of salesclerks distant and echoing
Hum of escalators and aromas of the latest perfumes
Abundance inaccessible to most.

“What fun it would be to be poor, as long as one was 

excessively poor! Anything in excess is most exhilarating.”

~ Jean Anouilh

A Difficult Lesson

Two chairs face each other
One kid on each chair
Quiet chatting encouraged
Kicking a definite no-no
Fifteen minutes is a very long time

Finally free to jump off the chairs
rolling, tumbling, and running away
lost in silliness that leads to tears.

Learning the value of 
calming, slowing and stillness
and time for a tea party.

“Some people regard discipline as a chore. For me,

it is a kind of order that sets me free to fly.”

~ Julie Andrews

A Christmas Staff Party

The evening was festive

for colleagues and friends

Good food, drink and laughter

to Christmas time lends

ease away from the work 

that we share in each day

to share a few games, silly gifting ~ 

yes, we can play!

All that’s left from this eve are these bright coloured lights

so Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

“Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, 

doesn’t come from a store.”

~ Dr. Seuss

Growing Up

Exterior wall painting in downtown Victoria.

And so it began

and has continued for a long time

almost six and a half decades

and what a ride.

Being raised up

falling down

running ecstatically

through fields of daisies

dragging my feet and my mind

through muddy pastures.

Reaching plateaus with

no goals in sight;

goals stewing inside

seemingly unrealistic and impossible.

just keepin’ on, keepin’ on ~

sometimes just because.

One minute at a time

One day at a time

One week at a time

One month at time

Calendar pages peeling back

to reveal each new day.

             ***

But tonight was a party

with laughter and fun

table groaning with food

choice of beverage
chocolate (cake)

Conversation: conservative and polite?

Not so!

Irrelevant
irreverent

tests of memory about movies and radio

who’s right about what stars

challenges with technology
some politics

banter and chatting

and so very much fun!

“It takes a long time to grow young.”

~ Pablo Picasso

Who's on the Guest List?

Positive thoughts

seldom on the guest list 

for any pity parties I've attended -

not that I've attended many.....

Atmosphere more important -

black balloons, 

shrouded windows
gray skies.

Positive thoughts ~

party crashers with wings and wands. 

Pity party poopers flitting about 

with stardust and fairy sprinkles

popping all the black balloons,

opening windows and doors, and

blowing clouds away.

Positive thoughts ~
definitely unwelcome at the door of any good pity party!

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems,

but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort."

~ Herm Albright