Thursday, February 28, 2019

FOOTPRINTS IN THE LEAVES

It’s been said a million times before…but since we know time can be fleeting
‘Take pleasure in the little things’ is a phrase that’s worth repeating.

As an illustration of this point I offer now to you
a day that was filled with little things…little things…times two.

Two people take a morning walk…leaving two sets of footprints in the leaves
along the way they hear two mockingbirds chirping in the trees.

They pass two people walking…their pace a little slow
what’s slowing down their walk is simple…they have two dogs in tow.

Two sets of smiles quietly exchanged in a beautifully natural setting
Two people pause a moment…for two dogs in need of petting.

Two eagles sitting on a pole…it is their normal place for meeting
Two people stop and wave to them…it is their normal way of greeting.

Two smoothies shared for breakfast keeping two people healthy and alert 
Two tuna melts at a cafe for lunch…and two donuts for dessert.

Two people moving silently together…two bodies at Tai Chi
Two people watching TV together…a documentary.

Two people reading in their bed…two people turning out their lights
Two people glad they spent this simple day together…
two kisses…
two good nights.

Two people drifting off to sleep…and as their dreams take wings…
Two smiles on two people’s faces….as they dream of little things

Of donuts, tuna melts, and eagles…of birds chirping in the trees

Of smoothies, dogs and a morning walk leaving footprints in the leaves.

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

THE BOOK

The gift he gave her on their wedding night before they drifted off to sleep
was a book…an empty book…which she didn’t get to keep.

I will keep this book, he told her and throughout life’s different stages
whenever I shall make you sad…I’ll write it on these pages.

I will record it in this book…indelibly…in pencil or in pen
so I’ll be sure I’ll never make you sad that way again…

It was a beautiful gesture…and she still remembers his look
that night…so many years ago…when he didn’t give her that book.

But life has a way of moving on…like an eagle it takes flight
and she never gave a second thought to the book he mentioned that night.

Until after a lifetime together he was gone…and she was cleaning out his drawer
when she happened on that little book she remembered from before.

It was a little weathered…worn around the edges…she thought as instinctively she sighed…
It’s a little wrinkled here and there she mused…but, you know what…so am I.

And just as he had promised…written in this pad
were the dates and times and reasons he had ever made her sad.

Chronicled together…her heart aching at the sight
were a lifetime of disagreements, little squabbles…little fights.

Completed in his handwriting some in pencil…some in pen
all followed by the same pledge…This will never happen again!

She held the book close to her heart…and shed some silent happy tears
when she realized he hadn’t made an entry 

in over 30 years.

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

THE BOOK OF LOVE

“The book of you is complicated…
how shall I read it?“ I purred…
“By turning my pages slowly”…she grinned…

“and savoring every word.”


Monday, February 25, 2019

THE GREATEST ADVENTURE

As children they loved listening to fairy tales
of adventures…large and small
then once upon a time they discovered
life …is a wonderful fairy tale

and…the greatest adventure of them all

Sunday, February 24, 2019

A SIMPLE QUESTION

We see pictures of hungry, sad and poor people in the world…
and we question…how can this be?
We wait and hope someone will help them
perhaps their friends or family…

After all…If a member of our family or a friend was hungry
we would gladly share our food.
If their heart was broken or they were sad…
we would try to soothe their mood.

If a member of our family or a friend needed money
we would find a way to share
If they needed shoes to cover their feet…
we would gladly give them a pair.

If a member of our family or a friend had no home
we would try to ease their pain.
We would want to keep them safe and warm
we would offer them shelter from the rain. 

But…if we believe everyone is our brother or our sister
then doesn’t that make everyone we see…
every person in the world
a member of our family?

So instead of questioning how can this be
and waiting for someone else to help the hungry, sad and poor
Shouldn’t the more appropriate question be

What are we waiting for?

Saturday, February 23, 2019

AN UNFOLDING LIFE

Although it seems at times life moves so fast we have trouble keeping up
(Wasn’t it only yesterday our children were babies…our dog was just a pup?)

But there are times we look into the mirror and think as we grow old
how life doesn’t actually fly by….it evolves slowly…it unfolds.

And as life unfolds in front of us…at its slow and steady pace…
We see changes in our friends and family…we see it unfold upon our face.

So every now and then we stop and take a moment….allowing memories to rise
Memories of bygone moments that unfolded before your eyes.

Moments with our family and friends…when we were little girls or boys
Moments of great sorrow…
moments of great joy.

It is one of the wonders in an unfolding life…how our memories move so fast
that every now and then our present mixes with our past.

And we realize at these moments…before the moment’s done
how our present past and future have become united into one.

And for that one brief moment…our past, present and future pause for us to see…
and marvel in that moment…how we’re living in all three.

Perhaps that’s why times seems to move so fast…and before we know it we are old…
Perhaps that is the reason…
and the answer 

to how and why a life unfolds.

Friday, February 22, 2019

LITTLE PIECES OF BREAD

When her Grandma was alive sometimes they’d sit in her backyard without saying a word.
They’d throw little pieces of bread upon the ground and silently feed the birds.

“Sometimes I get lonely.” Grandma would tell her in a sad and mournful tone.
“But as long as birds are visiting, I never feel alone.”

There were days they lost count of how many birds there were…
It’s just one of the wonderful memories her Grandma bequeathed to her.

She remembered this heading to the car for Grandma’s funeral
“Wait…I’ll only be a minute!” she said
Then she ran back into the house and came out with a loaf of bread.

At the cemetery when the service was completed…she gave Grandma a goodbye wave
then gently sprinkled little pieces of bread quietly upon her grave.

“What are you doing?” her mother whispered as her last little pieces were thrown…

“It’s to remind the birds where grandma is.” she said, “so she’ll never be alone.”