MAGIC MOMENTS

When it comes to being happy…I have an opinion to express…

We tend to search for magic moments…to ensure our happiness. 

We hope for these magic moments…to be like the ones in storybooks

but in so doing, I believe, there are moments we overlook…

Take last week for instance:

While on a morning walk with Deborah I found a penny…and picked it up!

We greeted Murphy, our friend’s dog, who, though humongous, is still a pup.

We saw a rainbow spread across the sky as we walked along the beach.

I talked to Ali on the phone. 

I ate the most delicious peach.

I heard my favorite song on the radio. 

I saw a butterfly in our back yard.

A red headed woodpecker came to our feeder. 

We taught a friend a game of cards.

We had dinner with the grandkids- we ate our usual…tuna melts.

At last count I hugged eleven people, I can’t express how good that felt.

We had our August family birthday party…we ate pizza, brownies and key lime pie.

We shared a few hours of games and laughter. 

It’s always hard to say goodbye…

These moments may not seem so magical when all is said and done

but I can tell you from where I stood…there was magic in every one…

I believe I’ve mentioned this many times in these rhymes I’ve been completing…

but there are certain epiphanies in life…that truly bear repeating:

When we search for happiness in only magic moments…

we will find happiness to be as elusive as it is rare…

But if we search for the the magic in every moment…

We will discover our happiness there.

WHY NOT YOU AND I?

The sun and the moon are different!

We all know the reason why.

They’re as different as night and day,

yet they choose to share the sky.

The plants and the animals are different!

It’s the way the world was planned.

Yet, despite their apparent differences,

they choose to share the land.

The creatures in the ocean are different!

As different as they can be.

But that doesn’t seem to bother them

as they choose to share the sea.

Which makes me wonder...

If the creatures can share the ocean...

if the sun and moon can share the sky...

if the plants and animals can share the land...

What is stopping...you and I?

NATURE'S SYMPHONY

When we take our walk in the morning…(something we’ve been doing for many years)

We’re amazed by the number of people who run by with gadgets in their ears…

We don’t know what they’re listening to…on whatever route they’re taking

but we do know they are missing all the sounds that nature’s making.

They could be listening to the frogs, and crickets…the buzzing of the bees

They could be hearing the music of the wind as it whistles through the trees.

They could be listening to the singing of birds 

in the trees and in the skies

a multitude of unique melodies that delightfully harmonize.

And even when the birds are silent…when they’re in no mood to sing

If they listen closely as they fly by…they could hear the flapping of their wings.

They could be listening to the ocean waves as they rhythmically push on shore

some days they seem to whisper…other days…they roar.

They could be listening to thunder approaching…thinking it sounds like a distant train

They could be hearing the tintinnabulation on a roof as they take shelter from the rain. 

Yes, I imagine if they began their day

with nature’s music in their ears…

perhaps they too would walk in wonder

as we have for many years.

TWO OLD COOKIE SHEETS

We never know where our thoughts will lead us 

down which lane our memories will be stirred.

Sometimes it’s a photo, a smell, a taste…

sometimes a song…sometimes a word.

Yesterday my memory was piqued…

which caused my heart to skip a beat,

when, as part of cleaning the dishes, 

I was drying our two old cookie sheets.

Just by looking at these cookie sheets it’s quite easy to deduce

by the marks of age that cover them…they have seen a lot of use…

I smiled when I thought about how Deborah and these cookie sheets endear…

and I stopped to wonder how many cookies they have baked in 30 years.

She’s baked for family…for friends…

for years her cookie batter’s flowed…

and all the time these two cookie sheets have shouldered all the load.

She’s baked for our children and now our grandchildren.

cookies…delicious, warm and sweet

and long ago these two metal trays became much more than cookie sheets…

For they have grown old along with us.

They’ve seen us through laughter…and through tears

and it is my hope they will be baking cookies

for another 30 years…

Yes, I love never knowing where my thoughts may lead me…

down which memory lane…or boulevard…or street…

and I’m glad they chose to pause today

on these two old cookie sheets.

LIFE THREW HER A CURVE

I did not ask our cashier’s age of course…as etiquette forbids.

I imagine she was in her 80’s because she kept addressing us as ‘kids’.

She was effusive, kind and talkative as she undertook her cashier’s task

She mentioned she was from Oregon…

“What brought you to Florida?” I asked.

She smiled though her eyes seemed sad, then sighed, 

I’m sure she was working up the nerve…

“My husband and I were visiting here,” she said, “when life threw me a curve.”

Her sadness drifted onto us…we found it hard to orient…

We were not sure what to say or do…for we knew what her words meant.

“Now I’m on my own.” she said, “It’s not the way it was supposed to be…

so I moved here to be closer to my daughter and help with her family.

“Life goes on!” she said forcing a smile as she took a bag off of the shelf…

but I wondered…was she still talking to us…or trying to convince herself?

We talked with her a while…perhaps we made her load a little lighter

and I noticed as we left the store…we held each other’s hand a little tighter.

For, once again we were reminded of how quickly life can pass

and why…while we’re still on this planet…

we need to make each moment last.

So hold the hand of someone you love a little tighter today…

show them you love them with respect and passion and verve…

because you never know when tomorrow comes…

If life will be throwing you a curve.

ODE TO MOM'S SUMMER VACATION

SUMMER VACATION: MOM’S FANTASY

I’ve read 100 ways to have fun with my kids…some cost money…some are free

We will enjoy every second we’re together…it will be the best summer in history!

The day is finally here…I’ve created a 10 week activity chart

I pick my three girls up from school ‘cause I can’t wait for this summer to start.

FIRST DAY OF SUMMER VACATION:

My children sleep until eleven…so we missed our first activity in June.

None of them are fully dressed and we don’t eat breakfast until noon.

I try to wash the breakfast dishes…I want my uncluttered kitchen restored

but two of my girls are fighting…and the other says she’s bored.

So I referee the two fighting and tell the other to find something to do

I beg them to finish getting dressed…they don’t…and we don’t eat lunch till two.

Once again I try to clean the dishes…but I hear “Mommy this” and “Mommy that!”

and I wonder for a moment: Are these the same children I begat!

Then I see my chart upon my wall…What did I plan today?

I can’t remember!

and I realize the dishes won’t get clean…until late August or September.

But I start thinking of all the activities I’ve planned…all the fun that still awaits

So I load my three girls in the car…and head off to buy paper plates.

I have made it a point not to swear in front of my children and I haven’t made one threat…

but we’re not even out of the driveway when I hear, 

Mom…Mommy…Mom…are we close to being there yet?

And they begin to fight in the back seat…again I try to referee

but I soon realize there are three of them…an only one of me.

We somehow make it back home…just when I think my sanity’s restored

two of my girls are fighting again…and the other is still bored…

And again I have to ask myself…are these children really mine…

as we eat dinner on our paper plates…and it’s now about half past nine.

Next it’s time to get ready for bed…this should be an easy path

but all of a sudden they’re not tired…

they’re still hungry…

and they don’t think they need a bath.

I finally get them into bed…I think perhaps by now they’re sleeping

and I stop in my exhaustion in front of the chart I have been keeping.

I had over 50 activities planned…if I’m lucky we’ll do five

at this point when I think about summer vacation…I’m just hoping I survive.

Then I hear a commotion in the bedroom…

they haven’t been sleeping at all

And now I see three screaming children…

running at me down the hall…

So I rip down my beautiful hand-made chart

replace it with a calendar…and then…

I circle the date when summer ends…

and they’re back in school again!

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

I was raised on fairy tales…my favorites were the rhymes.

It’s where I learned about happily ever after and once upon a time.

Fairy tales helped develop my hopes and dreams.

I can’t measure their effect on me.

They helped to shape who I was then…

and the who I came to be.

Then I grew up and I was told happily ever after is harder than it looks…

that it doesn’t always happen the way it does in books…

But I believe it can…

for every fairy tale, as anyone whose ever read them knows,

had their share of troubles…had their share of woes…

but troubles were always resolved…and all the woes were mended

and happily ever after…is how those stories ended.

Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Cinderella

all had sorrowful moments…devoid of joy and laughter

yet in the end didn’t our protagonists…

live happily ever after?

It’s simple really…we have to learn to recognize the signs…

because sometimes life…as with fairy tales 

Is lived between the lines…

As for me:

My fairy tale has come true…I’m living my once upon a time

I found my happily ever after…and as you may have guessed by now…

I still enjoy the rhymes.