Home For Christmas

Soon we will be on our way 'home for Christmas'. There is something special about that phrase; something warm and inviting; something nostalgic; something surely reminiscent of past Christmases that are worthy of remembering.
In any event (and even though I am already HOME as George so often reminds me) I am looking forward to going 'home for Christmas' this year to be with my family. I haven't been back to celebrate Christmas since I came out here to Surrey in 2007. It will be nice to be in Alberta for this 'Merry Christmas' season.
Hopefully we will get a chance to drive down Candy Cane Lane to see all the lights and decorations; perhaps see the parliament buildings; maybe build a snowman; take a sleigh ride behind the quad; have a snow ball fight or whatever happens to touch our funny bone.........and of course a wonderful chance to remember Christmas past with family.
Alberta, make room............we will soon be on our way!

The Words Are Lost

It's been forever since I last wrote.......

The Words Are Lost

Where are the words I used to pull
from the crinkles of my mind
the words I used to call
from unknown places I could find

They used to smile upon my page
make me feel that I was not alone
They used to paint the ocean waves
a sunset we could watch at night

Where are the words, my friends
that held my hand when darkness came
Where are the words, my force
that rescued me from disregard

Can you help me find the words
I used to place so fondly down
upon blank paper for the world
to see, to hear, to touch, to hold

To Two Very Special Guests

Welcome to our home
We are so glad to have you visit us
Rest your weary bones after a long drive
On this bed of good intentions and dreams
Rest your head after hours of beautiful scenery
On the soft pillows of this bed of good intentions and dreams
Relax your mind after all the stresses of this week
Let the worries roll off your back onto the floor
As you close your eyes for darkness of night
We promise you dreams in fluffy clouds
With not even a raindrop to be felt
Welcome to our home

Especially for Shelby and Brodie. Thank you for coming to visit us. We are so glad to have you.

Altered Ending

Most times I longed for the end to an enduring journey; this time was different. What awaited me at this journey’s end I could wait another lifetime to find.
The previous hour was surreal. I vaguely remember being called away from the meeting to the phone that afternoon. Even the words I heard on the other end of the line seemed less than valid. What followed as I gathered up my belongings was life in slow motion, and not very clear.
Then I was in the truck heading down the highway; I remember saying I really wanted a coffee; we stopped at Tim Hortons; I drank my coffee and cried.
I remember saying how angry I felt. Someone said to me “It’s all right to be angry”. Why was I angry? It was truly of no use to be angry now (or before for that matter).
I didn’t call the night before like I said I would. Why didn’t I call? The answer (if I had one) would make positively no difference now.
“Is there anyone we can call for you?” someone asked. I replied “no” but not recognizing it was only an offer of genuine caring, I wanted to scream at them “what kind of a stupid question is that?” Thank goodness I didn’t.
“Where would you like us to take you when we get to the city?” I had no idea where I wanted them to take me. I felt like shouting “take me some place where someone can take away this day and restore my life to where it was yesterday”.
They assured me it was all right to cry, scream, holler or do whatever I needed to do. Although I couldn’t stop the tears I wondered and wanted to ask them “What good will any of that do?”
What I really wanted was to erase the last couple hours, drink my coffee, watch the traffic go by, look at the cattle in the fields as we passed, think about my beautiful grand babies, hear the wind ripple through the leaves and the water run in the stream, see the smile on the faces around my kitchen table, hear the laughter, think about sitting in the moonlight and maybe if I could just fall asleep I might awake to a completely different scene. That’s what I wanted.
The closer we got to our destination the more I dreaded arriving. As strange as this may sound I wanted to get there but I didn’t want to be there. I really did not want this journey to end but end it must because sooner or later, with the wheels turning, you do arrive at where you are going.
As we pulled into the parking lot and I looked at the condo I had been inside so many times before I had a strong urge to jump out, run and keep running………….far away. (If I did, maybe that would mean this journey had not come to its end.) I didn’t of course. I went inside to where my little family was waiting but one beautiful daughter was not there. She would never be with us again. Like mine, her journey had ended; in a much altered way.

Saturday Writing Prompt (WFSC) July 02, 2011

Nothing Works

"Is this going to be one of those days?" I ask aloud to the room, to the air, to the world, to whomever is listening (which seems to be nobody). I have spent the last three hours rushing about doing chores, trying to reach the goals I have set for myself and it seems I haven't satisfied one single objective, let alone satisfied myself in any meaningful way. I want to get things done, make things happen, but it seems my destiny today is to be frustrated.
I sit for a moment in the big chair beside the window looking out over the back yard, where the leaves are rustling lightly in a small breeze. it took me a while to realize it, but my frustration has forced me into this chair, to sit, to watch, to listen, to just relax a little and think.
I have to review the realities; I have to review these realities often; I continually overlook them (though not intentionally); I get caught up in the bustle of life and trying to force things to go the way I want them to; I inevitably hit roadblocks and brick walls. Once again I remind myself to observe what is going on; there may be answers for me when I am quiet and willing to accept them. Yet again I remind myself that life unfolds exactly as planned; everything is the way it is supposed to be at this very moment; trying to force it to be different will only cause me more frustration.
The discovery I have made is that doing nothing works.
Watching the soft fluffy white clouds high in the sky sets the mood for my moments of nothing. I can imagine floating among those beautiful clouds, weightless and without a care. From my place up there I look at the beauty in my back yard; the rainbow of color created by the blossoms; the little butterfly sitting on the branch; the busy bee collecting pollen, my beautiful family sitting around the fire pit; my special little Mocha running about; the best life partner anyone could wish for; and I had to do nothing to realize these very beautiful pieces of my life.
Important to remember that sometimes nothing works!

(Writing Prompt - Write Well University June 18, 2011)

Happy Father's Day

I don't remember my father being at home. He left before I was four years old so I don't really know what having a father is like but I imagine that I would have loved a father like the one I write about in this poem.......In place of my missing father I had two wonderful brothers who stepped in and took his place; They are both gone now but I will remember them always and be thankful for the role they played in my life. This is my Father's Day tribute to them and all the fathers.

HE

HE............
helped me find worms
find a safe place for them to be
built me a wagon for hauling
a cradle for my favorite doll
sang lullabies to me at night
listened to my silly songs
tucked me in, read me stories
always heard the tales I told
wrestled with me, tickled me
threw me up as I giggled
helped me to ride my new bike
cheered as I struggled on my own
seemed always to be present,
for the disappearing broccoli
smoothed things over with mom,
at most of the required times
gave me chores and taught me how
reassuringly worked beside me
taught me how to drive
loaned me the car sometimes
HE...........
took my hand, we walked, we talked
was strong as he lifted me from a fall
gentle as he held me close after a bad dream
was reassuringly proud
as he walked me down the aisle
lovingly thoughtful as he wiped away a tear
first from my eye; then from his
HE...........
was always there
My dad

Seeking (But Not Finding) Stanley VII

Game seven, a sad loss!
Congratulations Boston!

What was even MORE SAD was the behavior of a select few citizens of the area. What happened in downtown Vancouver after the game was inexcusable. I know that most people realize the rioting was not representative of the majority of the residents of the city however it is still embarassing that the world has seen Vancouver in this light.