A New Beginning

4/1/2025

my beautiful sister and handsome brother

Hello, blog friends...

Hubby and I had a wonderful trip to my childhood home of Brawley, CA. We visited some of my siblings and spent time with the incredible Shroud of Turin Exhibit.

The trip was a journey through time. As the eldest of nine (seven living), I walked back through the decades with family memories.

Then with the holy Exhibit, I experienced the centuries from 33AD to the present. Visitors of all faiths and ethnicities spent time with the images, the research, and the historical data. There was no attempt to convince viewers of one truth or another. Each person was invited to come to his or her own conclusion. My lovely sister was one of the guides.

Once home, I discovered Colleen Chesebro's poetry prompt - a Tarot card called The Fool. It represents adventure and new beginnings. My first thought was my brothers, because each of them is adventuresome. If there is a physical challenge, they'll pursue it.

The brother in the above photo is adventuresome in a special way. He is a farmer and has developed new ways of growing/harvesting crops. Every life hurdle he's faced has pushed him forward. New beginnings is something he knows well.

My response to today's #TankaTuesday was inspired by my brother.

I hope you like it.

May your week is full of sunshine! 🌞

28 Comments

Jacqui Murray link

4/1/2025 18:28:49

How wonderful to see your family. They both look so happy.

Gwen M. Plano

4/1/2025 19:09:38

Time with family is precious. We laughed, shared memories, and enjoyed catching up with one another. Thank you, Jacqui. 😊

Balroop Singh link

4/1/2025 22:29:34

Lovely Tanka, Gwen. This fool seems to enjoy his adventures!

Gwen M. Plano

4/2/2025 05:39:02

Thank you, Balroop. I think he does - the more the merrier. 😊

Timothy W. Dittmer link

4/2/2025 06:56:16

It is wonderful that you had such a wonderful time at your childhood home, Gwen. Your poem is beautiful! A new beginning can be risky.

Gwen M. Plano

4/2/2025 09:48:45

Thank you, Tim. Yep, new beginnings can be risky. 😊

Priscilla Bettis link

4/2/2025 08:03:19

How cool that you got to go to the Shroud of Turin exhibit. I bet is was moving.

Wonderful poem. Your brother sounds like an awesome man.

Gwen M. Plano

4/2/2025 09:51:17

The exhibit was truly amazing, Priscilla. I've always wanted to go to Turin, but that is an unlikely journey. Seeing this exhibit brought there through images. And my brother, yep, he's awesome. 😊

Liz Gauffreau link

4/2/2025 08:05:31

This post brought such a smile to my face! I'm so happy you had a good visit with your brothers and sisters. The Shroud of Tourin Exhibit must have been a real thrill.

Gwen M. Plano

4/2/2025 09:53:59

Ahh, how sweet, Liz. It was a wonderful visit. The Exhibit travels across the U.S., so maybe you'll see it someday. It's remarkable - no matter what one's faith or interpretation might be. 😊

D. L. Finn

4/2/2025 09:33:08

I am so happy you got good family time and saw the Shroud of Turin exhibit. If it wasn't so far I'd drive there and see it too love your take on the card too. Xo

Gwen M. Plano

4/2/2025 09:55:39

Thank you, Denise. It's a traveling exhibit, so it may come to your area. I wouldn't have known about it, if my sister hadn't told me. Truly remarkable. 😊

John Howell link

4/2/2025 09:38:49

A lovely photo and poem, Gwen. Family trips are the best. Coupled with the Turin exhibit, there have to be memories galore.

Gwen M. Plano

4/2/2025 09:56:38

Thank you, John. Yes -- memories galore. It was a wonderful trip. Very heart-filling. 😊

Jan Sikes

4/2/2025 13:21:32

It sounds like a wonderful reunion with family, Gwen. I absolutely love your poem about The Fool. You captured it!

Gwen M. Plano

4/2/2025 14:05:37

Thanks so much, Jan. You know Tarot well, and I don't at all, so your assessment makes me very happy! 😊

violet link

4/2/2025 14:56:59

Makes me want to set out on a foolish adventure.

Gwen M. Plano

4/2/2025 16:19:45

Wouldn't it be fun? If you do, please share the excitement with all of us. 😊

Thomas Wikman link

4/2/2025 21:42:24

It seems like a wonderful time with family and a great photo.

Gwen M. Plano

4/3/2025 07:02:23

Thank you, Thomas. It was a great trip. 😊

Pete Springer link

4/2/2025 22:17:48

How great to spend time woith your siblings at such a historical site. Love your piece, Gwen. The beauty of a new day is we get a fresh chance to do better than the day before.

Gwen M. Plano

4/3/2025 07:05:37

Thank you, Pete. I love your comment about "fresh chance" -- beautiful. 😊

Sandra Cox link

4/3/2025 13:57:42

Wow, Gwen. That's a healthy amount of sibs.
Good on your bro for finding new ways of growing crops.
Loved the tanka, of course:)

Gwen M. Plano

4/3/2025 17:18:35

Yep, there are lots of us. And, Mom was an identical twin. Her sister had 9 kids. Mom's older sister had 12. Imagine the size of our family reunions -- and the fun! 😊

Miriam Hurdle link

4/4/2025 23:04:52

Your visit to your childhood home sounds wonderful, Gwen! I love to see your photo with your brother. Your poem inspired by your brother shows his optimistic nature. It's beautiful.

You have a large family of nine. Me too. My mom gave birth to 13 children and seven survived. I'm #7 by birth but #2 by survived ones. My older sister was 11 years older and wasn't living at home when she worked. I was literally raised as the eldest as far as assuming responsibilities. Anyway, my older sister passed away in old age and the sister next to me passed away with congested heart failure. We now have five remain.

Gwen M. Plano

4/6/2025 04:43:12

Thank you, dear Miriam, for sharing about your family. Those of us coming from large families grew up in a tiny city of its own. We were shaped by the experience, don't you agree? Bless you. 🤗

Colleen link

4/6/2025 17:41:43

Gwen, you have a lovely family. I like how you picked up the adventurous side of the fool card. How interesting that your brother has found some sustainable farming techniques. He sounds like a true pioneer, forging his way!

Gwen M. Plano

4/7/2025 05:49:47

This was a fun prompt, Colleen. Thank you. And you are right about my brother, he's a pioneer. 😊

A New Beginning

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