WHY DO WE COME TO...

 

Why do we come to the mountains?

Why do we embrace every animal…every tree?

Could it be we come to the mountains

to visit nature…to breathe…to feel free.  

Why do we come to the water?

Why along her shores do we stroll?

Perhaps it’s one way to replenish our hearts,

one way way to enliven our souls.

Why are we silent at a sunset?

Why does a sunrise make us smile?

Perhaps they allow us to put the ills of the world behind us…

If only for a little while.

Why do we wander among the flowers

that paint their colors on the ground?

Perhaps we love being surrounded by the splendor of nature…

to feel her beauty all around.

Could it be nature lives by a different set of rules…

unlike the rules of man…

that nature does not stick labels on herself…

the way that humans can.

Nature shows no prejudice…no sexism…

there is no homophobia and misogyny filling the air.

No abuse, no hatred…no bitterness

No racism anywhere.

Nature accepts how all of nature is different 

living life in their own way…

she loves the way these differences come together

the way they dance a beautiful ballet.

Nature celebrates her variety…

She strives to keep all her species alive…

She knows without this wonderful medley

Nature, herself, wouldn’t survive.

Perhaps that’s why we come to the mountains, 

to the water

To the sunsets

To the flowers

To witness nature’s beauty and diversity…

To experience a world different than the world we’ve created for ourselves…

To encounter life…as it was designed to be. 

THE LEAVES THAT GLOW

 

I love how the stars and the moon glow in the night

like a Lite-Brite in the sky. 

A beautiful reminder…of another day gone by.

We count on the stars and moon…like clockwork

every night to reappear…

It is their fate to glow in the sky 

every night…of every day…of every year.

But during the Autumn season…

If you look quickly…before the season’s done

you notice the leaves upon the trees

have a special relationship with the sun.

When the sun begins to rise and shine on the trees

as they continue to grow

immediately you notice how their leaves begin to glow.

You’re taken aback at first…

by all the colors overflowing.

You can’t believe your eyes…

because all the leaves are glowing.!

Even the leaves that have fallen from the trees

the way the creators all designed them

begin to glow with pride

when the sunlight finally finds them.

And when the sun sets over the mountains…

the leaves slowly lose their light

willing to cede their glowing

to the stars that light the night

It’s one of the reasons I love the Fall…

the only time of year to see nature’s lights on full display

from the stars that sparkle in the night

to the leaves that brighten up the day

WHEN NAP TIME RETURNS

 

Our great-granddaughter visited our cabin the other day…

When she arrived she woke up from the nap she took along the way.

It made me reminisce about my napping days…

back when I was young and I also had a flair

like Violet, for taking a nap…anytime and anywhere.

I imagine, like me, there will come a day…

as a toddler bouncing on Mom or Dad’s knee

when nap time comes….she will go…albeit reluctantly.

  

And there will come a time as the days and months and years all blend

When she reaches a certain age…and her need for naps will end.

There will be so much to do each day in this world she’ll be unwrapping

She’ll have so much time to play…there will be no time for napping.

Then she’ll have school, a job, 

and in time

perhaps a family with many promises to keep.

She’ll have no time to take a nap…she’ll barely have time to sleep. 

She may wish at these time…with perhaps her own baby on her lap

that she had less time for work…and more time for taking naps.

As I waved to Violet as they drove away…

I thought…I’m sure she won’t get far

before she once again takes a nap in the back seat of Ali’s car.

And how lucky I am to have another wonderful experience 

a Pop-Pop and great-granddaughter can share

for I have now returned to taking naps…anytime and anywhere

It’s a 45 minute drive back to Asheville…provided Ali doesn’t speed…

Which is perfect because a 45 minute nap…

is exactly what this Pop-Pop needs.

ANOTHER PERFECT DAY

 When I think about it…nothing special happened yesterday…

Or did it?

We heard from all our family and some friends 

even those who are far away…

The trees and mountains were alive

with the colors of the Fall.

And from our porch up in the mountains

we could hear the chickadees call. 

We had lunch with our daughter and great-granddaughter

where we sat on the floor…and played.

We had quiche for lunch (Violet ate bananas)

followed by a chocolatey dessert that Deborah made.

We did a little shopping…watched TV

headed off to bed…then…as is our way

we kissed each other good night

and thanked each other…for a perfect day.

I’ll share this happy fact of life we’ve learned along the way

Each day itself may not seem perfect

but there is something perfect in each day.

Which is why every night…before we fall asleep we always find a way

to give each other a kiss..and thank each other for a perfect day.”

For us… what makes a day perfect is easy to decide…

It’s feeling love within our hearts…it’s existing…side by side.

The perfect life is out there for anyone who can find a way

to realize a perfect life…begins…with a perfect day.

And if you can find perfection in each day…

despite life’s troubles and strife…

before you know it you’ve strung so many perfect days together…

you have a perfect life.

EVERY DAY BLIND DATE

 

I have a special relationship that begins each morning 

after the moon has set. 

What makes this relationship special?

It’s with a bird I’ve never met.

She’s the first bird of the morning..

with whom my life is intertwined…

the early bird who begins to sing

in the silence the owls and crickets leave behind.

With all the other birds still sleeping…

their heads snug beneath their wings

this bird I’ve never seen before

each day begins to sing. 

I’ve often wondered in the dark…

how does this bird know…

the morning is approaching

before the sun begins to glow?

But she does…her instincts must be strong…

and I imagine she’s as happy singing…

as I am to hear her song.

This is why after waking I hurry outside

because I don’t want to be late…

and miss the morning song

of my everyday blind date.

THE KINDNESS MOB

 

We’re sad when we see people hiding behind the anonymity of the internet…

spewing words of loathing, animosity and hate… 

and using those words, often on people they don’t even know,

to demean, belittle and humiliate.

We’re sad when we see this hatred bleeds into our daily lives… 

adding to others…suffering, pain and torment

It’s even sadder when this behavior is encouraged

by our politicians…and our president.

It’s difficult to combat bullying and hate…

It is a full time job…

It cannot be done individually

which is why we’ve joined 

The Kindness Mob.

After seeing how easily people jumped on the bandwagon of hate

In 2023, Tyler, at that time filled with dread.

thought…what if he formed a different bandwagon 

a bandwagon of kindness instead.

His idea was to find those people on the internet being bullied,

whose comments some people fill with hatred and animosity….

and encourage others  to fill their comments 

with kind thoughts and positivity.

Everyday Tyler selects one person…

nominated by a member of the mob

and encourages us to send them words of kindness… 

anonymously…

call it…an inside job.

So we have joined the Kindness Mob…

we’re now proudly part of the Kindness crew…

because if we are ever to do away with hate…

we start by sharing more support and kindness too.

And that is what we do…

for we think the world can only be great…

If we spend more time on kindness…

and less time on hate.