Hello, blog friends...

Autumn is a nostalgic season for me, and perhaps it is for you as well. Chilly mornings and cool evenings evoke memories that travel through the decades.  

When I read Selma's poetry prompt for this week, to write a haiku poem, my memories took me to Japan, where I lived for five years. Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry. 

During my time in Japan, I taught English and practiced Zazen meditation. I was captivated by the natural beauty of the country and the kindness (and patience) of the people. I learned Japanese Tea Ceremony, flower arrangement, and other Zen-related arts, while studying the language. 

Zen is not a religion; rather, it is a way of life. It teaches one to be present, a state of mind that most of us struggle to maintain. This sense of presence is a way of seeing that frees us from judgment. I mention this because of a recent dream. 

In this dream, I saw 6 or 7 monks standing in front of me. They did not speak. They just stared at me with kindness. I immediately understood why. I have been very troubled by the conflicts erupting across the world. When I saw the monks, however, I felt a deep sense of calm and peace. And I knew that I needed to bring that peace into my interactions. 

I've never had a dream like this before. Usually, I don't even remember my dreams. But now, I'm trying to carry peace rather than worry and kindness rather than judgment. ❤️ 

My simple haiku is a response to the double rainbow that appeared over our backyard.

Have a wonderful week! Let's all find ways to laugh--and play. 😊

Hello, dear blog friends.

What a week, right?! Given the tragic events, I suspect all of us are heavy-hearted, and though I wish I could make it all better, I'm not a miracle worker. None of us are. So today I'll share a memory and a poem that takes us back in time.

​Yvette Calleiro took the lead for this week's Tanka Tuesday prompt and invited folks to write a syllabic poem about a particularly impactful day. There have been a number of memorable events in my life, but I've chosen to write about one that was life-changing.

In November of 1963, I sat in a high school math class waiting for the teacher to arrive. He was usually very prompt, but not that day. Tommy sat in front of me and abruptly turned around and said, "Did you hear? President Kennedy is dead. Someone shot him!" He rattled on, but I don't remember what he said, as I was in shock. I got up and walked out of the class. Somehow, I ended up in the counselor's office. I don't know how I got there, but a short time after this, my mom arrived and took me home.

I knew very little about politics as a teenager, but I greatly admired JFK's work with Civil Rights. I couldn't fathom that he may have lost his life for standing firmly on the Constitutional principle that "All men are created equal." 

I grew up in the Imperial Valley, the southernmost tip of California, where more than 90% of the population was and is Hispanic. As a child, I longed to be brown-skinned with dark hair, like my friends. Instead, I was white with freckles and red hair. I never thought of my friends as less than me. In fact, I never thought of anyone as less than me. 

When President Kennedy was assassinated, my world turned upside down. That fatal bullet awakened me to the nasty world of politics. 

Given the recent assassination, I realize that not much has changed since the 1960s. People (and countries) still settle their disagreements through violence, and that is a crushing realization. These days, I listen, say little, and try to love my neighbor, no matter who he or she might be. As my mom used to say, "there are two sides to every story," and finally, I think I understand what she meant.  

Here's my simple poem:

​I hope our collective week is one of healing. I also hope that you realize how what a gift you are. We may have never met, but through blogs, books, and personal shares, we've developed a  friendship, and I'm ever so grateful to know you. May this week be one of blessings on you and yours! ❤️

Hello, blog friends ~

Today's #TankaTuesday is extra special for me. It's my mom's birthday, and she would have been 99 years old today. She passed away quietly 8 years ago. She loved the desert and her goldenrod, so when I read the instructions for this week's poem, I was excited to write with her in mind. 

A bit about my mom. Inspired by Rosie the Riveter, during WWII she helped build B-24 Liberator bombers at Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego. That is where she met my dad, as he had been released from the Navy to teach welding to the women at Consolidated. The first time they met was on the wing of a B-24 bomber. The two married and had nine children, seven reached adulthood. Mom was a quiet woman, always busy with the farm and the kids, but she was also always praying. If the measure of a life is Love, surely Mom is one of the saints. 

Here's a photo of her. Mom is on the right. Her twin sister is on the left.   

Colleen Chesebro's instructions this week were for participants to select a Japanese kigo word or phrase focused on this season. My word is goldenrod. I hope you enjoy it.  ​

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. 

Hello, blog friends...

Autumn is upon us in the northern hemisphere--leaves have begun to change, nights are cooler, and gardens are at their fullest. It's my favorite time of the year, and I've a poem to share. 🍂

This week, Willow hosts Tanka Tuesday, and she invites participants to imagine "a colour, smell, sound, or image that triggers a memory" and then write a poem. This season always makes me think of football.

With three sons, I remember darting back and forth between football practices and games. My youngest son, seen below, loved the sport. A much younger me stands with my eldest son, and of course, my little football player. Wow, what a happy memory! Thank you, Willow.

I've written a simple haiku this week with syllables of 5-7-5. I hope you enjoy it.

Have a great week, dear friends. Against all odds, we've much to be grateful for, and sometimes that gratitude is evoked through old photos. 😊

I hope you have a wonderful week. Be well, laugh much, and cuddle with the little creatures of life - two or four legged. ❤️