Progress, Not Perfection

Listening to the news, 

or a talk show, or seeing ads 

for the latest technology, 

I am stunned. 

How did all this come about 

    and why? 

The answers are 

   in the ‘cloud’. 

Up in the air or 

    deep in the ocean, 

so no more questions. 

What I do know is that 

miles to distant family are shortened. 

Coming from pencil and paper, 

a telephone on the wall with 

a long coiling cord on a party line, 

to a hand held phone and 

a vast array of technological devices 

is a joy, a tool, and an electronic 

encyclopedia of knowledge;

not to mention the threat 

of being tossed away!

Can we use our joy and 

the work of our lives to 

keep technology in its place?

As a tool, not an external mind?

“It was one thing to use computers as a tool, 

quite another to let them do your thinking for you.”

~ Tom Clancy,  The Hunt for Red October

The Process

Trust in the process 

even if the process 

is hidden somewhere 

in the back of your mind.

Take a step, no matter the 

direction. Step toward 

your belief, your goal. 

There will always be detours, 

bridges to cross, fallen rocks 

or trees, rain storms, traffic jams 

or a country lane with tall grasses 

hiding all manner of storied wildlife.

“Trust the wait. Embrace the uncertainty. Enjoy the beauty of becoming.”

~ Mandy Hale, author

Christmas Work in Progress

Kind of like life ~

from a plain tree 

to joy of life in 

glitter and shine,

dark places gilded 

with brightness.

Never quite finished……..

“Don’t settle for what life gives you, 

make life better and build something,”

~ Ashton Kutcher

To List or Not to List

My list, long or short 

always includes writing. 

Writing is big on my list, 

given pride of place in the #1 spot, 

followed obediently by 

my daily exercises. 

take the garbage out, the recycling down, 

laundry day, make pancake batter, 

order groceries, put away groceries, 

set bread, bake bread,

clean the bathroom, etcetera. 

Appointments or outings with family or friends

Life is full of so much more.

Spaces between all the things 

we do in a day are filled with 

the aroma of fresh bread, 

soup bubbling on the stove,

the laughter of family and friends, 

the sounds of life being lived. 

A little list sets guideposts, 

touch stones for our homes.

“Lists are how I parse and manage the world.”

~ Adam Savage, entertainer

Hidden

Words locked in

Can’t find the key

In a safe place is

Where it will be!

“Every day, writing. No matter how bad. Something will come.”

~ Sylvia Plath

Icy Zen Garden

Brittle fingers of straw 

traced a meditation 

through glittering snow.

“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake, 

it is necessary to stand out in the cold.”

~ Aristotle

Author's note:

Poem from this afternoon on my balcony

Photo from last winter at Wascana Lake

 

A Muse at Rest

There has been little progress 

the last day or so. I’ve been 

occupied with a birthday. Mine. 

I suppose that sounds rather 

arrogant, but it’s true. Writing 

anything about epilepsy and 

my project has been set aside 

for the most part. So I’m quite 

uninspired tonight. My feet are 

up, my cat sleeps beside me 

and I’m letting my muse 

take a break. Shovelling snow 

did come to mind. It just keeps 

falling and falling from hovering 

grey clouds. A ray of sunshine 

now and then. However, snow 

is as patient as housework. The 

difference is that can snow melt. 

Inspiration is as patient. 

As my muse rests, so am I. 

“When you rest, you catch your breath, and it holds you up like water wings.”

~ Anne Lamott

Gratitude Travels

My birthday, from morning til night, in the company and 

community of family, friends, distant colleagues 

and family and friends ~

Technology over many miles, 

best wishes via social media, 

laughter and conversation 

over lunch and dinner. 

Not a busy traditional party 

but a party that traveled all the day long. 

Am I grateful? Definitely. 

My heartfelt thanks to everyone! 

“With mirth and laughter, let old wrinkles come.”

~ William Shakespeare

Shoulder Seasons

It’s always cheaper to 

vacation in the shoulder 

seasons, the weather 

not as great, the views 

a bit clouded, but 

stepping aside 

from the chaos is 

worth the challenge.

“Thankfully, shoulder seasons can’t last forever.”

~ Michael Haubert, A Shoulder Season of Life

backpackinglight.com

A Nonsense Piece

Waking from a fly by nap, I wondered why it had grown dark. I began chiding myself that I should have been doing and writing and cleaning and what else? 

Oh yes getting my Christmas things to get in the spirit. But my nap seemed more important, not that I had a choice. Words have escaped me like a dog crawling through a hole in a fence. 

All that's left is this little bit of nonsense. Now that I’m awake, it's almost time to sleep 

for eight hours. I’ll just pen 

this piece and close up for the night. 

“A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.”

~ Roald Dahl

Timing

I thought about the timing 

of things today. We all know 

about the timing of schedules, 

calendars and day books 

but that’s the working world; or 

getting kids to hockey practice or 

music lessons. One can’t forget the timing that is needed to dance a fast jive 

or a graceful waltz. My concern today was nothing so interesting. This afternoon, while I was at the mall, the little silver gray slider that 

zipped up my heavy coat came off in 

my hand. It was cold, windy with 

snow forecast. Were the planets 

challenging the goings on of the 

miniscule life of my zipper?! The timing 

couldn’t have been worse. It was  

only after I was out and away from home. 

Fortunately I also have snaps on my 

coat so got home without my coat flapping 

in the wind. A quick browse on You Tube 

gave me an answer to my predicament.

”Life is about timing.”

~ Carl Lewis, athlete