IT'S GOOD TO BE TOGETHER

 

 When family and friends come together for the holidays

(In North Carolina that means cooler weather!)

one of the things we say when we all gather is…

It’s good to be together…

And as we leave to go our separate ways…

with each hug our hearts begin to soften…

and we say to one another…

we need to get together more often.

The times we get together are important…

It helps the bonds we form remain strong…

It’s wonderful to feel the love…the support…

to feel we belong.

The stronger this bond is in each family…

the more we love, welcome, accept and forgive….

The easier it is to extend this feeling of togetherness

into the world in which we live.

Showing the rest of the world we are all together is important

It helps our world community remain strong

It helps all of us feel love and support 

It elps us feel that they belonged.

We don’t need to be the same color, religion…

have the same sexual preferences to be together…

to belong….

Having the ability to come together in spite of our differences

that’ s what make us strong!

We know from our families and friends how togetherness

fosters understanding, kindness, love and joy

and has the ability to rebuild……whatever hatred can destroy

If the world could come together…in support and joy and laughter

think of all the endorphins that would be released….

All this togetherness…this sharing…this supporting one another 

could lead to happiness…

and peace.

And we’d reach a point in this world…

where even after all the bad times we have weathered….

we can look around at all the people of the world and say

It’s good to be together.

I AM BLESSED

 

The longer I live upon this Earth…every now and then I like to reassess

to determine when it comes to life…If I am truly blessed.

The dreams I had when I was young…you know the kind I mean

of fame and fortune…living in a castle…being chauffeured in a limousine.

Dreams that I’d be held in high regard…I’d be praised, recognized…acclaimed.

People from all over the world would smile when they say my name

Who knew those dreams I made so young wold be harder than they seemed

I can’t remember if having a family ever entered my youthful dreams.

But that is exactly what happened…in the world I was beholding

I left those youthful dreams behind…as I found new dreams unfolding.

I began to dream for my family…as each day and year went by

I dreamed they were healthy and happy…that we had enough money to get by.

I’d like to say I know exactly when it happened…but I don’t think I can… 

the day the young boy’s old dreams gave way to the new dreams of the man.

We never lived in that castle…I drive myself around in our Subaru…

What wonderful is…I don’t care!

I have a wife and family and friends who I love and who love me…

I’m surrounded by joy and love and happiness everywhere.

I like to think in my little circle…I have a modicum of acclaim

and that my family and friends are smiling whenever they say my name.

It appears this life I have been living…has given me everything I need

has created for me a happy life…

has given me everything I could have ever dreamed.

So today as I reassess…

and think back to the dreams of that little boy I once knew

I am truly blessed his dreams stepped aside

so my new dreams could come true.

ONE RAINY NIGHT

It rained all day at the cabin…and was still raining on into the night 

so we left our feeders out a little longer…for the birds to get one last bite.

When it was time to bring the feeders in…a raccoon was there to dispute

she was doing her best to extract from one feeder…seeds, and nuts and fruit.

 

From the moment we noticed her on the porch…

we tried to make it clear…

that this hungry and wet raccoon

had nothing she need fear.

Because of the rain we welcomed her to our porch…

didn’t tell her to take a hike…

Instead we left our feeders out 

and told her…to stay as long as she liked. 

Throughout the evening we kept checking on her.

She would turn and catch our eyes…

It was as if, in her own, way she was thanking us

for feeding her…and keeping her dry.

One time when we checked on her

she was on the railing nestled in a comfortable heap…

having eaten her fill…and a little dryer

she had fallen fast asleep.

The last time we checked

we looked from the feeder to the rail she had been sleeping on…

then up and down the porch…but our little friend was gone.

So feeling happy we played a part 

in keeping her safe, warm, dry and well fed

we brought the feeders in for the night

then headed off to bed.

For the animals that populate the mountain

life can have it’s share of misfortune, troubles and pain…

so we were happy for this evening we were there

to comfort this one raccoon 

who decided to come in from the rain.

 

MOUNTAIN STORMS

 

One of the advantages of having a cabin in North Carolina

is we have front row seats…where we sit protected safe and warm

to witness the weather changing across the mountains…

like the coming of a storm.

It’s like we’re attending a free concert.

It begins quietly…her dark clouds moving slow…

And all that nature asks is that we sit back…and enjoy her show

Those dark clouds block the sun…in the middle of the day

and in the distance we hear the drumming of the thunder

like a marching band announcing a storm is on its way.

If the storm has enough intensity…it’s a treat for ears and eyes

as the thunder claps and lighting streaks in flashes across the sky.

If the storm occurs at night after the sun departs the sky

the lightning puts on a fireworks show…like it’s the 4th day of July.

We hear the thunder in the night…like angels cymbals crashing…

and the only time we can see the rain…is when the lightning’s flashing.

I think my favorite storms, however, are the bashful ones

the ones that move across the mountains without making a sound 

and when they arrive they just as quietly 

place their raindrops on the ground.

We can see these storms approaching…

across the mountains and the plains…

and we have to listen closely…if we want to hear the rain.

The loud storms are the rock bands…

where we want to stand up, dance and cheer

The quiet storms are the symphonies….

where we close our eyes and let their music fill our ears.

We don’t have to purchase tickets…parking is no problem…

There is no tall person sitting or standing in our way…

Our seats, the only seats, are in the front row…

when the storm begins to play.

Our job is a simple one…

as we watch storms come and go…

to marvel at the wonder of nature

to sit back…

and enjoy her show.

ALWAYS SOMEONE MISSING

 

When you think about it…

no matter how much love is in our life

no matter how much laughter, hugging and kissing…

during every birthday, holiday or party

there is always someone missing. 

Someone in our family…our ancestry…

who were in this family long before…

or perhaps someone we knew…

who isn’t with us anymore.

Any member of our family

who now reside up in the stars…

those who have in some way

helped create the people who we are.

We remember the ones we’ve lost

as we celebrate on any day

and thank all the others…too many to count

who’ve left us along the way.

And we try to be thankful at our celebrations

(For they wouldn’t want us to be blue)

as we remember those relatives we’ve lost

as well as those we never knew.

And the way we celebrate this ever-increasing crowd

is to live the kind of life

that would make each family member proud..

To fill our lives with love and kindness…

laughter, hugs, and kissing

so we will, too, will be remembered fondly

when we’re the one who’s missing