A Happy Accident

A Happy Accident

Many years ago, purely by accident, an elephant, a monkey, two owls and a frog found their way into my home. No children in my home, I asked them 

“Why me?”

The elephant said,

with a toss of its trunk:

“just because!”

The monkey said,

as it swung from a branch:

“ ‘cause you need some fun’

The two owls, perched on 

the elephant’s back, hooted as one: 

“wise words are what you need”

The little green frog croaked,

as it squatted in the mud:

“for children to come.”

So I welcomed the elephant,  

the monkey, two owls and the frog

~ and two great granddaughters (for real!)!

“Every single thing in the world has its own personality, and 

it is up to you to make friends with the little rascals.”

~ Bob Ross, Happy Little Accidents: The Wit and Wisdom of Bob Ross

Disclaimer: not a handmade quilt! Shh ~ Don’t tell.

A New Arrival

Mail boxes are often only full of flyers with advertising to buy all the things we can’t live without. I have received a couple of very lovely Christmas cards this year, along with two or three fundraising letters, and a monthly newspaper, but today this little green youngster arrived. Froggy, made by my sister Kate Hersberger, was cold even though he was all wrapped up in tape and brown paper! His tiny scarf only kept his little neck warm. He is a welcome and cheerful addition to my living room now devoid of Christmas glittering decor.

“There’s so much love sent through the mail.”

~ Sheridan Hay, The Secret of Lost Things

On a Morning Walk - Freshening

Before the heat settled 

its mantle on the land,

in this freshened morning.

with each welcome greeting

from joggers or walkers

my path curved by still waters

hastened on by feathered parents,

decorated by spring blossoms.

“Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.”

~ Laura Ingalls Wilder

Air Flow

Glad handing and high fives 

never touching skin to skin 

pass the energy of welcome and yay! 

through the air dodging 

hovering viral party crashers.

“I must choose between despair and Energy - I choose the latter.”

~ John Keats, Letters of John Keats

Sky

Sunshine and cloud streak across the sky,

a kaleidoscope of colours and textures from sunrise to sunset

shaping this new beginning of mine;

a grand welcome from my growing-up place.

“Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”

~ Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky

Winter Past

Stepping up into the park still feeling the cool of winter past ~

twittered on by tiny brown birds

that blend with bark and twigs.

greeted by new seeds,

sprinklings of daffodils

fronting the brown skeletons

of winter past,

welcomed by a cheerful blonde poodle

and her smiling owner ~

all signs of spring in Victoria.

“The deep roots never doubt 

spring will come.”

~ Marty Rubin

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

Touched

Velvety touch, firm grip, clear words ~

Respectful welcome of touch and tone

to meet the spiked edges of fear,

baffle wild splashes of uncertainty,

settle the dust of chaos ~

Honest service to those who still suffer.

“ A firm, hearty handshake gives a good first impression, 

and you’ll never be forgiven is you don’t live up to it.”

~ P. J. O’Rourke, political satirist and journalist

Work Life Balance

At the bus stop!

Rumbling bus took me to

a day at work

moving quickly with focus

client care to telephone

to paperwork to client care

to telephone to computer

to groceries to bus to home

where the lingering aroma of 

last night’s apple crisp

welcomed me in the door

soon replaced by chicken baking,

fresh coffee dripping

fish chowder bubbling

until my day at work

drifts into memory of

a job well done.

“Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create.”

~ Jana Kingsford, 

UNJUGGLED: Lessons from a Decade of 

Blending Business, Balance and Big Dreams

Miss Communication

Miss Communication

Miss Communication was ready for work. She almost had all of her books, fact sheets (well most of them) and some resource materials. She had already passed on pieces of information to some, and couldn’t really remember to whom or about what.

Even if she hadn’t been certain of her facts, Miss Communication knew that her information brought a smile to many sad faces. Her job description was not to put all of the facts in order, nor to do proper fact checking. That was someone else’s job. She was just to gather facts, some of which only looked like facts, and present them to whomever wished to speak with her.  

She sometimes felt that she was like the pinched face old woman at the grocery store on the corner that handed out samples of tasty cheese. Proud of her own smooth and smiling face, she also wasn’t even old - not really. Everything she said sounded fresh and new, even if it was old. If it was old information, she had learned how to put a new and pleasing twist to it. Colorful bits of distraction that really led no where ~ but Miss Communication didn’t know that! With no particular employer, she was just a volunteer for any workplace that needed information passed outside of formal, and sometimes boring or very frustrating, meetings. 

Miss Communication was a bit confused and hurt though. At first she was always welcomed with her bits and pieces of good news. Then, for no reason at all, people began turning their backs on her.  Refusing all of her news that had been so welcome. Some people were even angry with her! Hurt and rejected, Miss Communication became smaller and smaller until she vanished only to reappear inside the staff room in some other workplace.

“News told, rumors heard, truth implied, facts buried.”

~ Toba Beta, My Ancestor Was an Ancient Astronaut

Three days.......

...with my sister Kate 

                    niece, Daisy

                      nephew, Max.

Welcomed into their home,

comforted with food, fun and kindness, with snuggles from Muffin, Rocket and Trouble (he’s in the picture): like cream cheese and strawberries on a bagel!

Love you all!

“Welcome ever smiles,

And farewell goes out sighing.”

~ William Shakespeare

Auld Lang Syne

Ceremonious scurl from bagpipes Lifted by solid drum rhythm to spread plaintive notes over the balcony to uplifted faces at Government house gathering ~ A royal welcome to the New Year!

"Learn from yesterday,

live for today, 

hope for tomorrow."

~ Albert Einstein