Spring in New York

Here in western New York we wait agonizingly for spring to arrive, starting in like...January. We are nothing if not zealously optimistic. We had a really nice March for a change. The week of the 15th I was off work and it was mild and sunny every day!


I had planned to get a lot of cleaning done, but by Wednesday it was time to move on to more enjoyable activities. I started by giving my kitchen a little "facelift" with new satin nickel knobs on the cabinets and curtains for the windows. It didn't stop there though-matching cushions on the chairs and a tablecloth came next.


The kitchen looked so nice that the dining room chairs began to bother me (the plaid upholstery on them no longer went with anything in the room). So I disassembled them and covered them with a satiny gold fabric that matches the valences in the room.

The week ended with me feeling quite satisfied, although not as caught up on housework as I would've liked to have been. I did buy a new vacuum though, to replace the one that no longer would turn on. I've even used it once too.

Relativity

As I get older I am learning that perception is truly relative. Ideas, opinions and perspectives are as numerous as the individuals who hold them! And I am but one individual, whose ideas, opinions and perspectives are a miniscule, fragmented part of our (humankind's) collective world view.

Since this epiphany, if you will, I have been listening more to what others are saying because there are so many valuable insights to be collected and stored that will enrich life. Sure there is plenty of "junk" floating around too, but I am getting more and more proficient at honing my "filter" to save just the really good stuff.

Sometimes I hear people talking about going back and wishing they could have a do-over. Not me. Even though there have been many, many at times devastating bumps in the road, I'm definately a journey kind of person rather than a destination kind of person. I relish anticipation because it lasts so much longer than achieving or arriving at a goal. And while I'm anticipating, I'm collecting the good stuff.

Twilight

This was the amazing view from my front porch a few nights ago! Just wanted to share it. The strip along the right side is a post with our Christmas lights still wound around it.

Trash Day

It's easy to forget the part one plays in the daily routines of life...until someone's gone. Like I completely forgot that yesterday was "trash day," because my husband always takes care of it. He goes out the night before pick-up and wrangles the toter through the maze of flower beds, down our narrow, 100-foot-long driveway-being ever so careful not to scratch, dent or otherwise deface the stream of cars parked there waiting for another blizzard of activity in the morning.
When he and the toter make it to the front curb, two weeks of recyclables must take their rightful place alongside. Even a family of three can produce a lot of recyclable refuse in two weeks. Needless to say, the crates are always overflowing with things that can roll-like tunafish cans and water bottles that careen down the street needing to be retrieved and contained once again so they can be destroyed and remanufactured. Sometimes I wonder if I'm actually buying the same can or bottle. Ever wonder about that?
Anyway, with my husband out of country on business there are some things that just aren't getting done because I either forgot, or didn't want to go running down the street chasing speeding bottles and cans.

I Hate to Sound Cliche, But...

When it rains it pours! Have you ever had periods where life just won't let you catch your breath? I know, of course you have. So I know you'll understand when I tell you that this is one of those periods of time for me and my loved ones.
We just suffered an unexpected death in our family a week ago today, so we're still reeling from the shock. Needless to say we've been off work for a few days. When my husband comes home from his first day back, he announces that he has to go to Germany on business next week. We knew he had to go soon, but not this soon. This is not a good time for us to be separated (foot stomp).
On my first day back my co-worker gets sick (sigh), more for her than myself. This is where I have to remind myself to breath. As my dear late uncle used to say,
"This too shall pass."

Is it okay to be me?

In a country where there seems to be (okay, is) so much opportunity for self actualization, there are an awful lot of unhappy people. We have schools for everything under the sun, more disposable income per capita than many other nations, spas, amusement parks, golf courses and malls a-plenty, yet we're never happy.
We're never "us" either. I mean we don't know who "we" are. I don't know about you, but it seems like we spend a great deal of time listening to external voices giving well-intentioned "suggestions" about what we should have done, or should do with our lives.
In high school my loving mother said I should take secretarial classes so I would always have something to "fall back on." Only thing was I couldn't type worth a damn, still can't. It's taken me 30 minutes to type these three paragraphs! Some said I should join the military, but since I majored in art, I don't think the U.S. government would've had much use for my particular skill set.
I have always loved to write. Everyone knows that non-tangible abilities are just for hobbies though. But what does one do if that's how she's "built?" I have spent many years trying all kinds of jobs and professions, and you know what? I've got that humanities, linguistic, creative kind of brain and that's that. Whenever I try to do something else I'm just never as good as somebody who's good at it is.
So to answer my own question, finally, yes. It's okay to be me. I hope you know that it's okay for you to be you as well.

Well it's been awhile, but I'm still here. Feel free to email me your work as I enjoy savoring the ponderings of other writers.

Serenity

You can hear the sweet sound
That her small hands make
When they are one
With the instrument.

She stumbles on the notes
Every once in a while,
Her fingers going back
To get it just right.

The sound, the feeling,
The satisfaction that only
The music can bring-
Keeps her fingers to the keys.

The years of lessons have paid off,
Have allowed her to discover
A talent-a talent that brings
The praise of adults.

But it is more than that.
It is melody. It is daydreams.
It is another place
To be in.

Yippee!!!

I just recieved notification that one of my poems may be published in a gift book. The editor said that she likes my work and encourages me to submit more. Those are the sweetest words a poet can hear!