MAGIC IN THE CLOUDS

 

There was magic in all his grandpa’s stories…they were filled with wonder and surprise…he could feel the magic in his grandpa’s words and see the magic in his eyes.

His grandpa found magic everywhere he looked…in the birds, the butterflies…the bees,

in the stars, the moon, the sun…in the flowers and the trees.

As they lay in his backyard one day…the grass still damp with morning dew…

his grandpa said, “Did you know…there’s magic in clouds too?”

“Watch the clouds above us…as across the sky they flow…

Watch and you will see…they put on a magic show.”

His fondest memories of his grandpa…the times that make him feel most proud…

are the moment they spent together watching the magic in the clouds.

Still today when he sees clouds spreading across a sky of blue…

he’s reminded of those times with his grandpa…in the grass painted with morning dew.

The other morning, on the beach, far away from the crush of crowds…

he and his wife witnessed that magic…when they saw dolphins in the clouds.

An entire pod of dolphins smiling as they leaped out of the sea…

for a moment, a brief moment, flying high…and flying free.

His wife pointed to the sky and said, “Do you realize what we’re looking at?”

He smiled, then nodded saying, “I bet Grandpa had a hand in that!”

BETTER...GRAND...GREAT

 BETTER…GRAND…GREAT

As a parent the first thing you discuss with your partner, your husband or your wife is the hope your children will be healthy and have a happy life.

And, though you know your life’s been blessed…are there any parents out there who…don’t wish your children grow up to have a better life than you?

And when they do you’re overjoyed…there’s no jealousy…not a trace…

you sit back, proud and cheerful…with a smile on your face.

And if you’re lucky your children are blessed with children…grandchildren whom you adore…knowing when they visit the rules of parenting don’t apply to you anymore.

As a grandparent you don’t often say NO…

“Of course you can have a second piece of cake.”

“Do you want ice cream or pie for breakfast”
“How about another donut with that shake?”

You have nothing to do but enjoy your grandchildren…fill their hearts with love, their minds with fun…and their bellies full of snacks…and when they’re tired, cranky and full of sugar…you simply give them back.

You get to play more…and play often…without rules or regulations…

Grand-parenting, in a way, is like one extended summer vacation.

And though you know your life’s been blessed…is there any grandparent out there who…doesn’t want your grandchildren to become taller, stronger, smarter…and prettier than you?

And when they do you find yourself overjoyed…there’s no jealousy…not a trace…as you and your partner sit back proud and cheerful…with a smile on your face.

Because over the years you’ve been blessed with the wisdom to understand how in your family your children have made you a better person…

and your children’s children have made you grand.

And you begin to wonder as you grow older…if it shall ever be your fate…

That your children’s children will have children…

knowing when that happens…those children will make you great.

A FOUR HOUR TOUR

 Just sit right back…and you’ll hear a tale …a tale of a wonderful trip…

that started from this tropic port aboard a sailing ship.

The mate was a mighty sailing man…the skipper brave and sure…

Five passengers set sail with them on a four hour tour…a four hour tour

As part of Deborah’s 70th birthday celebration…her best friends thought it ‘d be fun…

to take us on a four hour cruise…to watch the setting sun..

That this ship was named Miracle is appropriate..as more of this tale I tell

because we weren’t just celebrating the miracle of Deborah’s birth…

but the miracle of friendship as well.

The seas on Saturday were rough enough that our sailing ship would have been tossed…Sunday was chosen instead…so the Miracle wouldn’t be lost.

By Sunday the seas had calmed and the wind billowing our sails was strong.

We celebrated with wine and cheese as our miracle cruised along.

The views on the water were magnificent…there was beauty everywhere…

Everyone aboard the ship felt the magic in the air.

Miracle leisurely cruised us back to port under a moonlit ebony sky…where we all lingered on her a while…not wanting to say goodbye.

Knowing we had just shared something special…

along with the wine…the cheese…the fun…

we had shared a Miracle…on the water…under the setting sun.

So now you’ve heard the tale…the tale of a wonderful trip…

that started and ended from this tropical port…aboard a sailing ship.

I hope you enjoyed the magic of our miracle…the beauty…the allure…

as a lifetime of friendship was celebrated

in the midst of a four hour tour.

THEIR SECRET

THEIR SECRET

People often ask the old couple, who’ve been married for so long, 

What’s the secret to your marriage…the key that’s made it last so long?

The couple look at one another…then with a gleam reflected in their eyes…

They smile, take a deep breath and out pop their replies:

Everyone must find their own paths to happiness once they accept their wedding rings…but, for us, the secret is quite simple…it lies in all the little things.

It’s not only listening when the other person talks…it’s hearing what they have to say.

It’s a note that says ‘I love you’ at the end of a long day.

It’s a little gift that’s given when there’s no reason for a gift…

just to say ‘I’m thinking about you” and to give your day a lift.

It’s a drive out in the country at some random time on some random day…

and stopping by a random stream for a picnic along the way.

It’s reaching something on the top shelf when your short wife is unable…

It’s anytime our family gathers around our dining room table.

It’s sharing our deepest fears…our long range goals…all our hopes and wishes…

while one person does the cooking and the other does the dishes.

It’s a surprise call in the middle of the day just to hear the other’s voice…

It’s being together during sad times…and times when we rejoice.

It’s watching the sunrise hand-in-hand and thinking about the day we met…

It’s still holding hands in the evening while watching the sun set.

They never know what answers will pop out…what simple things they’ll name

but the last words out of their mouths have always been the same.

The secret for us has been living with someone we adore…and all the joy that brings….

joys we are blessed to discover every day…

in all the little things.

http://dailyrhyme-jim.blogspot.com/ 

I TRIED

 

I like to walk in the morning before most people and the sun arise…

while the last scenes of their dreams are still dancing behind their eyes.

Walking alone among the stars I feel alive….I feel free…

It’s where I do some thinking…it’s where I wrote some poetry.

This morning, however, I thought…I’ll just walk…I’ll enjoy my quiet time…

I won’t do any thinking…I won’t fill my head with rhymes.

But it’s hard, even in the darkness, not to think of all the beauty that I see…

from the stars that dot the sky…to the shadows of the trees.

From the clouds floating overhead that lovingly caress the moon…

to the owls and crickets and mockingbirds who sing their morning tunes.

From the sound the unseen ocean makes as she blends in with the night…

to the rabbits who, as they watch me pass, are illuminated in moonlight.

Yes, I attempted to walk this morning and just enjoy my quiet time…

for no particular reason and with no particular rhyme.

But with all the sights and sound around me…all this beauty that enchants…

Though I try not think or come up with rhymes…it’s obvious…I can’t.

AN OLD PHOTO OF HIS DAD

 He happened across an old photo of his dad the other day and immediately remembered the advice he use to give…on a host of different subjects but mostly…how to live:

Things like:

Make friends with the Earth…with her mountains, her oceans…her rivers…and her seas…with every creature she created…with her flowers and her trees.

When your world is moving too fast and questions and self-doubt are everywhere…take a leisurely walk among the stars…you’ll be amazed at the answers awaiting you there. 

Be courageous and loving, forgiving and compassionate…even on days when you find yourself in situations where it is difficult to be kind.

Be kind! because every act of kindness whether you know it or not…plants a seed 

a seed of love and love is something the world shall always need 

Laugh whenever you can…don’t let one happy moment pass you by…and when you’re sad…be sad…allow yourself to cry.

Treat everyone the same in all you say and do…remember everyone you meet is just a different kind of you.

He knew words of advice were easy to hear but it’s often difficult to heed them…so he offered his eyes, his ears, and his hands if ever he should need them:

When you need someone to talk to throughout the coming years…

I will always be available to hear your hopes, your dreams…your fears.

When you do not need advice…you just want someone to hear…to understand…

I will listen quietly…I will be there to hold your hand.

And if you ever forget what love looks like…since love is the ultimate prize…

wherever you are…come find me…you will see it in my eyes.

He smiled looking back….remembering a father who was kind, compassionate and wise…

and glad in that old photo…he could still find the love in his dad’s his eyes.

WASH HER WORRIES AWAY

 She loves to sit by the sea when worry fills her thoughts

when her mind’s in disarray

where she can close her eyes, 

and

for a moment, 

allow the waves 

to wash her worries

and her troubles away.