<![CDATA[Fiction and life . . . from the desk of Gwen M. Plano

<![CDATA[Fiction and life . . . from the desk of Gwen M. Plano - Blog Reflections]]>Fri, 08 May 2026 02:20:20 -0600Weebly<![CDATA[A Legacy of Valor]]>Wed, 06 May 2026 20:05:27 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/a-legacy-of-valorDear friends,

I've another Tanka Tuesday poem to share, and it includes a story. Yvette invited interested folks to write a poem about resilience and pointed out that life teaches us to "push through our obstacles." When I read that line, my thoughts went immediately to my father and our men and women in uniform.

Many in my extended family served, but I know very little about their experience. None of them talk about it. WWII, Vietnam, Middle East -- Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines -- not one talks about it. But all of them "push through" their obstacles, even if those hurdles are not visible.

When I looked through my family photo album, I saw images of my dad in his Navy uniform, and I saw pictures of him post-war working in the fields. I only knew him as a farmer, but it struck me that both soldiers and farmers trudge across barren land. Maybe we all do -- figuratively.

My simple, two-stanza tanka:

I hope the rest of your week is blessed with much laughter. And whatever you might be doing for country and/or for family, thank you. Your legacy will not be forgotten.😊

]]><![CDATA[Music and the Soul]]>Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:00 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/music-and-the-soulHello blog friends,

I've a story and a poem to share -- prompted by Melissa Lemay. She hosts Tanka Tuesday this week and invites poets to use one the paintings of Romare Bearden as inspiration. I had never heard of this artist prior to Melissa's post, but when I looked at his work, I was drawn to the one featured below. My story ~

Years ago, while working in Connecticut, I attended a meeting in New Orleans. It was the first time I had traveled to that area and was quickly entranced by the music.

From the windows of our meeting rooms, I could hear the street musicians. Then at night, the area transformed into a lively medley of competing singers and their drums or guitars. People danced and sang in the streets, and, of course, had a drink or two. I had never experienced anything quite like this before.

By nature, I'm a quiet person. I'd rather escape into a museum than a street party. But, if truth be known, I enjoyed being around the frolicking people and the groups of musicians. Although I was overwhelmed by it all, I soon forgot my timidness and had fun dancing. Music has a wonderful way of freeing the spirit.

My poem:

Painting by Romare Bearden, Three Folk Musicians (1967) Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, dear friends. Let's find a way to celebrate... 🌞

]]><![CDATA[Climbing through time...]]>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:43:47 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/climbing-through-timeHello, blog friends ~

These last couple of months have been a blur for me with multiple family concerns. I've sure you've been in my shoes at one point or another. It's the ebb and flow of life -- we all experience it, don't we?

Today I'm doing a bit of catch up. Lovely Yvette offered a prompt last week for Tanka Tuesday that filled my heart immediately. She asked that we create a poem that focuses on "the idea of sisterly love or sisterhood." I've three beautiful sisters, but my first thought was my mom and her identical twin.

Lauretta and Luella would be 100 years old in September. They left behind a legacy of love, sacrifice, and generosity. I never heard either of them say something unkind or unforgiving. And each of them always turned to prayer for all the many problems in their life. Truly, they are both saints.

With much gratitude to them both, I offer a belated poem:

This week, Dan Antion invites images of "something that took you higher." I choose the stairs in Marvel Cave (which is near Branson, Missouri, where I used to live). If you're an adventurous type and you're in the area, this is one not to miss.

When I was a kid, my dad sometimes took us into the mountains where we explored caves. I've several stories and wild findings. I suspect that's the reason, I enjoy checking out these dark spaces. Below the surface, there's incredible beauty. My simple poem...

I hope to visit your blog sites this week, and perhaps catch up a bit. In the meantime, I wish you a miraculous week! 🌞

]]><![CDATA[AI's Answer to the Mystery]]>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:03:56 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/ais-answer-to-the-mystery

Dear friends,

I have an update about last week's post and, separately, a poem for Tanka Tuesday.

You may recall that I posted about a hanging votive and asked whether anyone had information about such artifacts.

Writer John W. Howell responded to the challenge and provided a fascinating AI explanation. Thank you, John! Here's what the AI determined:

The main symbol: the double-headed eagle:

The most prominent symbol on your piece is the double-headed eagle, and that carries a lot of meaning:

1. Byzantine / Eastern Christian symbol

The double-headed eagle dates back to the Byzantine Empire.
It represents authority over both East and West—a kind of spiritual and imperial unity.

2. Religious meaning
In a church context, it’s often interpreted as:

The union of church and state (historically)
Or more broadly, Christ’s dominion over all directions / the whole world

3. Orthodox association
This symbol is still widely used in:

Greek Orthodox tradition
Russian Orthodox tradition
Serbian and other Eastern churches

So its presence strongly suggests your votive lamp has Orthodox or Eastern European roots, rather than Western Catholic.

The surrounding design:

A few other details reinforce that:

Pierced (openwork) metal
- Not just decorative—it allows heat to escape and light to glow outward.
Scrollwork handles / vines
- Common in late 19th–early 20th century ecclesiastical metalwork
- Often symbolize growth, life, or divine connection
Hanging chains
- Typically used to suspend the lamp in front of an icon or in a prayer corner

What it was used for:

This type of lamp would have been:

Filled with olive oil
Lit with a floating wick
Hung in front of:
- An icon
- A home prayer space
- Or inside a church

It’s called a vigil lamp (sometimes lampada).

Bottom line:

The symbol is not a random decoration—it’s a strong cultural marker.
Your piece most likely comes from an Eastern Orthodox tradition, possibly Greek, Russian, or Balkan.
The double-headed eagle = authority, unity, and divine oversight, rooted in Byzantine heritage.

The votive above holds a special meaning for me. It belonged to my mother, and her faith gives me hope -- especially during times of sorrow. My beautiful daughter-in-law has struggled with cancer for over a dozen years and now faces her final days. If you were to meet her, you'd be taken aback by her courage and her love. Soon, she will be dancing with the angels, and this thought evokes great tenderness. ❤️ My poem is inspired by her journey.

Tanka Tuesday's prompt for this week is hosted by Willow. She asks that we write a 3-line, 3-stanza poem in which each line contains exactly 3 syllables. My simple poem ~

I hope you have a wonderful week, dear friends. Every moment is a gift to be treasured, so let's laugh and hug often. 'Till next week...

]]><![CDATA[A Mystery]]>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:31:47 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/a-mysteryHello, blog friends ~

Today I'm sharing a mystery, and if you are a history buff, perhaps you can solve it for me. I'll explain.

In earlier posts, I've shared that I grew up on a farm. We had little but laughed much. Above the kitchen sink, there was a hanging votive. Mom often prayed there while she washed dishes. Sometimes she lit the candle, but most of the time, the votive was flameless.

This past week, I opened a box and found the votive. Mom had given it to me before she passed, but I had lost track of it. All I know about this vigil light is that a Catholic nun gave it to my mother. For the first time, I really looked at it.

On the sides of the cup are two-headed eagles with their wings pointed down. The chain has a couple loops that appear to be crosses, and the outer edge of the votive has a design that suggests little crosses. Otherwise, nothing indicates a Christian object, as one might expect.

I've spent several hours researching two-headed eagles, and I'm more baffled than ever. The object appears to be from the Middle Ages - at least in design. But why would a missionary nun have this object?

I've mailed the mystery votive to my sister, who is a brilliant researcher. We both recognize that the object resembles the two-headed eagles of Byzantine Russian Orthodoxy, Freemasonry, and the emblem of the Kingdom of Mysore. There are other possibilities, but these three are the most similar to the votive. After my sister does her deep dive, I'll share her findings.

Intriguing, don't you agree? Here are my two cellphone photos:

This week's Tanka Tuesday is brought to us by Robbie. She invites interested poets to compose a poem that uses onomatopoeia -- "a type of word, or the process of creating a word, that phonetically imitates, resembles or suggests a sound that it refers to."

My poem is inspired by the mysterious votive:

bellowing brightly

flames enfold prayers and dreams

whispered in the heart

the present talks to the past

hope pirouettes with the flares

Have a wonderful week, dear friends, and if you have any insights on this mysterious vigil light, I'd love to hear them. ❤️

]]><![CDATA[Our Journey Home]]>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:55:23 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/our-journey-home8453836

Hello blog friends,

I have two poems to share and two stories to tell. First, Yvette hosts Tanka Tuesday this week, and she has invited us to focus on something fun or annoying. Well, since we're in the Easter season, and chocolate candy abounds, my poem is intentionally playful.

I remember the Easter egg hunts with family and friends. And, I also vividly recall the mess. But truly, who can get mad at a little guy like the one in this Canva photo? You may not want to give the child a hug, but chuckles abound, don't you agree?

Growing up on a farm, we mostly had hard-boiled eggs dyed with food coloring. But...there were a few chocolate bars for us to munch on as well. How about you? Did you participate in Easter Egg hunts, and was your basket full of delights?

My second story:

A couple of decades ago, I accompanied a friend to one of Paramahansa Yogananda's temples in Los Angeles. I knew nothing of Yogananda at that time, other than he was a Hindu priest.

My friend and I walked the grounds and then went through the temple. In the main gathering room stood an altar, and on it rested the images of six holy men. One was of Jesus. I was very surprised, but as I looked around, I began to understand. These six holy men taught a message of love. All were Hindu, except Jesus, who they believed embodied their truths.

For many of us, this week is a time of prayerful reflection on universal truths. Despite our differences, I believe we are all brothers and sisters, and Love provides us with the pathway Home.

My simple Tanka poem:

Have a wonderful rest of the week, dear friends....

]]><![CDATA[A Poem about Choice]]>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:48:59 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/a-poem-about-choiceHello, blog friends ~

I've another poem and reflection to share. This week, Melissa Lemay is the host of Tanka Tuesday, and she asks that interested folks create a Hautt poem, which she describes as:

content-driven, pursuing “wisdom and eternal truth”;
a hexastich poem of six lines;
syllabic with 4-5-2-2-5-4 syllables; and
unrhymed.

My contribution is inspired by an experience I had fifteen years ago. I'll explain:

In 2011, I was working at a college located near Camp Pendleton in California. At that time, large numbers of Marines and Soldiers were returning from service in the Middle East, and many enrolled in classes at the college. Almost all of these Veterans dealt with post-traumatic stress, but many also had physical injuries. Their world contrasted starkly with that of the other students.

I transformed my office complex into a Veterans Center for these young men to congregate. Then, on May 2, 2011, al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was killed. I walked into the complex that morning, saw the disillusion, and was told, "No one cares!" These brave men had imagined that their fellow students would thank them or at least acknowledge this pivotal event. No one did.

I share this personal story as a reminder that we see through our own experience. On campus that fateful day, students had organized to complain that the coffee cart didn't have the flavors they wanted. The Veterans were right -- their classmates didn't know or care about Osama bin Laden.

Harper Lee powerfully wrote, "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."

With Lee's words in mind, I've created my short Hautt poem. I hope you like it.

May your week be filled with laughter, and may your crossroads be simple ones. 😊 I'm heading to Phoenix for several days, where my husband has multiple appointments related to his accident. It's a dreaded drive, but I'm hoping we'll be surprised by a miracle. ❤️

]]><![CDATA[Mother's Day in the UK]]>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/mothers-day-in-the-ukHello, dear blog friends,

I have another poem to share. This week, Willow hosts Tanka Tuesday, and she has asked followers to write a Nonet focused on mothers. She explained that in the UK, Mother's Day was celebrated a few days ago - on March 15th. In the USA, we will celebrate that special day on May 10th.

With all that is happening in our beautiful world, pausing to remember our mothers sounds good to me. My mom had nine babies, and many of my memories of her include her holding one of them. Later, she cherished cuddling with the grandchildren.

In the photo below, you'll find Mom in purple in the first row. BTW, this isn't all the grandchildren. Some couldn't make it to the gathering. Yep, we wear name tags when we gather to avoid mix-ups. 😊

My Nonet poem tries to capture the tenderness moms feel when holding their newborn. Ohhh, if only we had more of that peace.....

I hope you have a fantastic week. In our area, we've been issued an "Extreme Heat Warning". Whatever happened to Spring!?

]]><![CDATA[Mesmerized...]]>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:22:59 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/mesmerizedHello, blog friends...

This past week has been quite the rollercoaster, hasn't it? Rather than giving the ups and downs any more energy, I invite you to consider something that Rumi, a Sufi poet and mystic, wrote 1,400 years ago. He said, "You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop."

Perplexing? Yep. His words convey a connectedness to all creation that I rarely think about, but these days I find myself considering it more often than before.

So, while pondering Rumi's ocean, I read Colleen Chesebro's poetry prompt. She asked that we write a syllabic poem inspired by a piece of art. I knew I wanted a scene of an ocean and chose a painting by Sergie Vinogradov.

My poem is a simple Tanka. Remember, "You are the entire ocean in a drop."

Sergei Vinogradov (1869-1938): Women by the Sea, 1915. Posted on Facebook by Art Infinitus.

Let's have a great week, dear friends... ❤️

]]><![CDATA[Swaying together]]>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 02:02:32 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/swaying-togetherHello, blog friends...

I'm sure you'll agree that life's challenges can overwhelm us at times. Being the fixer that I am, and probably you are too, it's hard to stand at the sidelines, when others are suffering. We want to make things better for them. And when we can't, it's a weighty burden. For me, prayer and deep silence offer solace -- usually through nature.

When I read Robbie's Tanka Tuesday prompt for this week, I smiled. She asks that we write a syllabic imagist poem. This simple assignment took me away from pressing challenges to something beautiful - a butterfly. And after I wrote the poem, I realized the poem was about each of us.

I hope you enjoy it.

Have a wonderful week, dear friends... ❤️

]]><![CDATA[Nature's Healing Energy]]>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:30:04 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/natures-healing-energyHello, dear friends...

I have a personal reflection and a poem to share. The two are interconnected by the season and the emotions evoked. Melissa Lemay hosts this week's Tanka Tuesday assignment, and for an in-depth explanation, please click on the link above.

So...first, a brief reflection:

Nature has been my escape since I was a child. If I can disappear into the desert sand, or a forest, or walk the perimeters of a farmer's field, or stroll a seashore, I'm at peace. I listen, and I breathe. It is my way of silencing fear and embracing the Creator's love. Always, the worries and sorrows of the day fade amid this holy exchange.

As I've shared in prior posts, my parents had nine children, seven of whom survived. I am the eldest. For eight years, we lived in a one-bedroom home with a converted attic for the four girls.

The home was always a busy and noisy place. I share this because I attribute my yearning for silence to my childhood. 😊 Notice the trees behind the house. I'd climb those trees and sit on a branch alone. No one knew I was there. It was my place to dream about worlds far away, and especially about bible stories.

My poem tries to capture the wonder I feel in nature...

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, with opportunities to bask in nature's healing energy. ❤️

]]><![CDATA[Time - the treasured gift]]>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/time-the-treasured-giftHello, blog friends ~

I have a story to share about how life can change in an instant. On Valentine's Day, my loving husband brought me an armful of red roses. My gift was a breakfast at a favorite restaurant. When we got home, tummies full and happy, hubby decided to take a ride on his bike. Shortly after this, a friend ran breathless to our front door to tell me that my husband had been in a terrible accident. Within minutes, the blare of sirens filled the street. An ambulance took my husband to the hospital, where doctors determined he had to be airlifted to a special neuro hospital for surgery.

The happy news is that my husband was discharged yesterday. He must wear a brace for "at least" two months and cannot drive or do much of anything without assistance (mine or the walker).

While the beautiful red roses have lost their petals, something far more glorious has taken their place - a deep gratitude for life.

My apologies for being absent from social media. Now you understand why. Plus, there was no WiFi in the hospital. ❤️ I hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day, full of laughter and tenderness....and no accidents. I think I'll never look at a rose the same again, for it has become a reminder of the gift I've too often taken for granted.

Have a great week and lets celebrate the moments...

]]><![CDATA[Love and Passion]]>Wed, 11 Feb 2026 01:58:54 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/love-and-passionHello, dear blog friends ~

Valentine Day is fast approaching, and Willow has a special prompt for us. She invites us to write a poem using synonyms for Love and/or Passion. My response is a simple tanka poem.

Separately, Dan Antion encourages writers to consider inventions this week, specifically things invented, then modified, and sometimes reinvented. When I read his post, I immediately thought of my father. He created tools, most likely the first RV, and the first dune buggy. I think this creative energy relates to passion. Don't you?

Dad was a hardworking farmer who always sought solutions to problems. He loved the sand dunes, but getting into them meant walking there. With his buddy, he pieced together old parts of cars, then got some big tires, and created a buggy that could go across the dunes.

I don't remember much about the first buggy, as I was young, but I think it was built around 1956. In the picture below, my siblings and cousins are taking turns riding around the hills. Imagine if Dad had patented his invention...

I hope you have a wonderful week, and a very happy Valentine's Day. I'm thinking roses....❤️

]]><![CDATA[Purification or Atonement]]>Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:54:57 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/purification-or-atonement

Hello blog friends,

Well, we've survived a tumultuous January, and according to the infamous Punxsutawney Phil, we have six more weeks of winter ahead of us. More storms, more snow, probably more upset folks.

Yvette Calleiro offers an interesting solution. She hosts Tanka Tuesday this week, and in her post, she explains that the Latin name for February means "to cleanse." (who knew?!) Anyway, Yvette invites us to consider purification or atonement in a poem. What does it mean to us? How do we incorporate that theme in our lives?

I've shared that I lived in Japan for five years, among the Burakumin. It remains the most transformative experience of my life. My then-husband and I supported ourselves by teaching English. Living in the outcast community meant our rents were low — and conveniences nonexistent. Folks in these communities have very little water. They, and we, used the public baths. It was the 1970s.

When I think of Japan, I think of my neighbors, the nearby temples, the Zen Master I studied with, and the aroma of incense which permeated the air.

Some Japanese clear their homes of emotions or unhealthy energy with incense. And, when they pray, they often use this fragrance. Incense is both a purification ritual and a way of lifting their supplications. I believe most major religions use incense in a similar way, and my tanka tries to capture this practice.

I hope you have a wonderful week, dear friends. And, if you use incense, I'd love to know what it means to you. 🌞

]]><![CDATA[A Special Kiss]]>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 21:27:06 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/a-special-kissHello, blog friends...

Hubby and I had a little excitement this past weekend. After shopping in Prescott, we drove back home, and upon entering our housing area, we stopped abruptly. In front of us was a police officer holding a man, spayed against the asphalt, at gunpoint. Within seconds, three additional police cars arrived. Needless to say, we quickly turned around and went to a different entry. Today, we learned that the car was reported stolen, and the criminal was the ex-husband.

Well...Yvette Calleiro hosts Tanka Tuesday this week, and she invites us to focus on "proactive self-care, building resilience, and finding emotional balance." I've chosen to write a poem using the third theme of finding emotional balance. These days it's badly needed, don't you agree?

If we all could take a mental health day and play with our four-legged loved ones, our children or grandchildren, or our spouses... whomever and whatever makes us laugh, I suspect the sky would not be as gray, the snow not as cold, and the politics not as caustic. And, who knows, maybe ex-husbands would think twice before taking their ex-wife's car.

My thanks to Yvette for the inspiration to write this simple Tanka, with syllables of 5-7-5-7-7. I hope you enjoy it.

photo from Canva

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. Let's find ways to laugh! 😊

]]><![CDATA[The Author's Journey]]>Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:22:10 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/the-authors-journeyHello blog friends,

I hope you've had a great week thus far. I've been busy with guests and fell behind in my reading. Like many of you, I have a Kindle clamoring for attention. Thinking about those books, I've dedicated this week's Tanka poem to writers.

Melissa Lemay offers the prompt. It's an unusual one in that contributors are asked to create their own syllabic pattern. I've written four stanzas of six lines with 4-5-9-9-4-3 syllables.

To each of you -- thank you for the journey. ❤️

And indeed, I honor you. Blessings to one and all.

]]><![CDATA[Historical Present]]>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 21:39:29 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/historical-presentHello blog friends,

This week, Robbie Cheadle invites Tanka Tuesday participants to respond to an oxymoron, a phrase that seems to contradict itself. I've chosen the phrase historical present. But first, my explanation.

My Grandma died decades ago and had very little to call her own. When she was widowed, my father purchased a mobile home for her and put it close to our small farmhouse. When I could, I'd escape our busy household and visit with Grandma. She told me stories of traveling via horse and wagon, and explained her family's struggles during the Great Depression. One day, she told me about the treasured clock she purchased with Green Stamps. It looked like a boat, and I'd never seen a clock like that.

After Grandma passed and when my dad was ailing, he asked me if I'd like the riverboat clock. "No one else wants it," he told me. I was elated.

The clock now sits near our kitchen/dining room, and throughout the day, I notice it and think of Grandma. The past and present meet through this Green Stamp relic.

Here's my simple Tanka poem:

Do you have something special from your grandma? I am deeply grateful for this simple gift and ever so glad my sibs did not want it. I think it was meant for me. ❤️

Have a wonderful weekend, dear friends.

]]><![CDATA[The Japanese Micro-Seasons]]>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 20:15:49 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/the-japanese-micro-seasons

My neighborhood.

Hello, blog friends...

It's been mighty cold in our part of the world, and with the winter chills in mind, I'm responding to Colleen Chesebro's prompt using the Japanese Micro Seasons.

The Japanese have a special respect for our natural environment and recognize 72 micro-seasons. Colleen focused on 7 of them and included an explanatory chart (attached below).

Participants are to use the descriptive phrases (seen on the right side of the chart) in our syllabic poems. I've emboldened these phrases in mine, and I've numbered them to correspond to the chart.

My Haiku, numbered to follow Colleen's chart:

I hope you've enjoyed this cultural journey. I also hope the seasons have been kind to you. May this New Year bless all of us with health, laughter, and love in all its many forms.

]]><![CDATA[Life's Contrasts]]>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 12:07:47 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/lifes-contrasts

Carlsbad at Christmas 2025

Dear blog friends,

I hope you welcomed the New Year with great hopes and dreams to be manifested. With the waxing moon, the night was especially magical in our part of the world (the high desert of Arizona). We celebrated quietly at home, since we had just returned from Carlsbad, CA, where we visited family.

January 1st was ice-covered, no snow, just ice. Everything from rooftops to streets glistened. Quite the contrast from our days at the beach. But, in a way, the contrast was perfect for this week's poetic challenge. I hope you'll agree when I explain the prompt.

Willow is the host this week, and she invites us to "find a quote about new beginnings for the new year or your life." She explained that the quote would bridge two parts of our poem.

After straddling two worlds (the beach and the desert), this week's Tanka Tuesday prompt opened a door for me -- to the political, religious, and socioeconomic contrasts we all live with. My poem is a simple one... I hope you like it.

Have a wonderful week, dear friends--rain or shine, warm or cold. 🌞❄️🌞

]]><![CDATA[A New Year Resolution]]>Tue, 30 Dec 2025 13:14:24 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/a-new-year-resolutionHappy New Year, blog friends!

A confession...I've never created a list of resolutions. But, a few days ago, I stumbled upon an article in Maria Shriver's Sunday Paper that convinced me to start my list. Her post focuses on Ron Shaich's Pre-Mortem Ritual - "a method that helps him live a life without regrets." Intriguing, right?

The method is simple: imagine your final hours and think about what you truly value or hold dear. Then, with those images in mind, travel back in time and consider how you will foster those values concretely in your daily life. It is a brilliant approach, and I'm a convert. 😊

I'm not a partyer, though I've been to several New Year's events. In the past, I've decided to exercise more, pray more, write more... whatever more. But I've never written down my goals nor taken them seriously. Shaich's approach is thought-provoking and has captured my attention. If you decide to read the article, I hope you'll let me know what you think.

Now for a poem...

This week, Melissa offers a list of resolutions for the Tanka Tuesday New Year's prompt. I've chosen this resolution: write down one thing you're grateful for every night.

My gratitude list is long, and it includes you. My poem ~

photo from Canva

Have a wonderful week, and may blessings abound for all of us!

]]><![CDATA[The Highest Honor]]>Tue, 16 Dec 2025 13:47:25 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/the-highest-honorHello blog friends ~

I suspect most of us are preparing for the holidays. 🎄 Like many, I will be traveling to see family and friends. The car's been serviced, the suitcase awaits my clothes, and gifts mount in a cardboard box.

Wherever you might be this next week, I hope you experience much laughter and precious joy. Holiday blessing to you and yours! ❤️

Willow is the host this week for Tanka Tuesday. She invites us to focus on empathy and compassion for our holiday poem contribution. That's an easy assignment for me.

These past several months, I've focused on a novel featuring Veterans. I've learned immensely since I began this project. For instance, according to the VA News, on a single night in January 2024, 32,882 Veterans experienced homelessness in the U.S., and as horrifying as that is, 5.5 million Veterans have service-connected disabilities--per Global Statistics.

When I read these stats, I was brought back to the early 2000s, when I worked at a college campus near Camp Pendleton. On holidays, I'd invite a couple of Marine recruits to my home for dinner. They'd often share why they enlisted. Most came from a struggling household and wanted financial security and life skills. Yes, they enlisted to serve their country, but circumstances often drove their decision.

A couple of years later, a wave of soldiers and Marines returned from Afghanistan and Iraq and enrolled in the college at which I worked. I saw their struggles and injuries firsthand. They had literally just left the hell of war and were placed on a campus of privileged young people -- two very different realities. I quickly created a Veterans Center, where they could congregate, feel safe, and help each other.

The years assisting these courageous young warriors remain sacred to me and have had a lasting impact. The Vets wrote a letter on my behalf when I retired and referred to me as their mom-away-from-home -- the highest honor I've ever received.

My poem...

photo by Canva

A few great organizations that help Veterans:

Gary Sinise Foundation

Homes for Our Troops

Wounded Warrior Project

Semper Fi & America's Fund

PVA: Paralyzed Veterans of America

I close this post with a thoughtful tribute and my wishes for a very blessed holiday season. God bless each of you. ❤️

]]><![CDATA[Unseen Gifts]]>Tue, 09 Dec 2025 11:28:41 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/unseen-giftsHello, dear blog friends ~

I've been a bit quiet of late, tending to "life" concerns in the extended family. There's been plenty of laughter, but the days have also known many tears. Sometimes, with the mix of emotions, I find peace in silence and tend to rest in that sacred place.

Earlier this week, I learned that dear writer friend, Joan Hall, passed away. We had communicated the day before, and her kindness filled my heart. She was a holy person, someone who pursued and lived the great virtues. I know she rests in peace, for that is how she lived - loving and supporting others through her kindness. ❤️

Yvette offers the Tanka poetry prompt for this week. She asks that participants focus on the word gift. You can read her instructions here. With Joan in mind, I've written a poem about the gifts we don't see but hold dear.

My simple Tanka:

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. Consider yourself hugged. 🤗

]]><![CDATA[Charting Our Way]]>Tue, 18 Nov 2025 12:17:47 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/charting-our-wayHello, dear blog friends!

I hope you've had a great week. One of the highlights for me was watching a miniseries about President James Garfield. If you've not seen Death by Lightning, I strongly recommend it. I knew nothing of Garfield before this series, but I'm left with respect and the sober realization that not much has changed in the political arena.

The above series opened my eyes to the mindset of a true believer and to those who impose their ideology upon others. As a counselor by trade, I try to understand people, but I often find I cannot. The one thing I can do, and perhaps the only thing each of us can do, is try to hold the person in respectful regard. But as my wise mother would say, "Easier said than done." 😊

The simple poem below is a reflection on the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk and the sorrow it evoked. It now appears that the accused was not the shooter, and perhaps there is truth among the theories. But one thing is clear: his death was a tragedy. As President Garfield states in the series, "Assassination can be no more guarded against than death by lightning."

Willow offers this week's Tanka Tuesday poetry prompt and asks that we write a Shadorma, a syllabic form with 3-5-3-3-7-5 syllables. And my poem is written in that form. Though more serious than my usual submission, it tries to reflect the times in which we live, and the choice we always have to see one another as brother or sister.

I hope you have a wonderful week. With Thanksgiving quickly approaching in the United States, I wish each of you safe travels and a joy-filled and lighthearted experience with family and friends. Hubby and I will be heading to Southern California to visit his family (several of them are huddled below), and hopefully, I'll be able to visit a few of my siblings.❤️

]]><![CDATA[Two poems and a reflection]]>Sat, 08 Nov 2025 17:06:06 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/two-poems-and-a-reflectionHello, dear blog friends...

What a busy, crazy week it's been, right?! Regrettably, I've missed many of your posts, but I will be visiting this week. Sometimes Life interrupts our routine, forcing us to pause and reflect on the big questions of life. We humans need these reminders now and then, even though we tend to resist. ❤️

I've two poems to share. The first is a response to last week's Tanka Tuesday prompt led by Yvette Calleiro. She asked participants to reflect on and/or use the word veil. I had just listened to an update on North Carolina's recovery from Hurricane Helene and was deeply moved by the Amish people's selfless work. My poem:

This week, Colleen Chesebro invited participants to reflect on one of Judy Mastrangelo's oracle cards. The one that caught my attention focused on nature. In the Northern Hemisphere, we are surrounded by shades of yellow. It is an extraordinarily beautiful time of the year. My poem tries to capture that beauty.

Today, November 11th, we pause to consider all those who have served in the Armed Forces through the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and the Coast Guard. Many in my family have served, including my father, my husband, my brother, and other relatives. To all of you who have given precious years on our collective behalf, you have my deep respect and gratitude. You've walked a path most of us will never fully understand. We only glimpse your journey through movies or stories, but we've not walked in your shoes. God Bless You.

]]><![CDATA[Dancing Across The Heavens]]>Mon, 27 Oct 2025 22:05:29 GMThttps://www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections/dancing-across-the-heavens

Hello, blog friends ~

This past weekend, my sister visited from upstate California. We had hours upon hours of chats, walks, as well as a wonderful trip to the Red Rocks of Sedona. I'm the eldest of my six sibs, so sharing stories is always fun.

Melissa is the lead for Tanka Tuesday this week. She introduces a poetry form called Tan-Ku, which is written by two people in alternating haiku and tanka.

In the poem below, you'll notice Melissa's poems on the left, and my response Tanka on the right. My poem is inspired by the Sedona trip. I hope you enjoy it.

Dancing Across the Heavens

Have a great week, and let's all find time to dance across the heavens in our imaginations... ❤️

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