Fiction and life . . . from the desk of Gwen M. Plano
  • Home
  • Blog Reflections
  • REDEMPTION THRILLER
  • THE CONTRACT Series
  • My Memoir
  • Poetry
  • About

Charting Our Way

11/18/2025

36 Comments

 
Hello, 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. 
Picture

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.❤️ 
Picture
36 Comments

Two poems and a reflection

11/8/2025

38 Comments

 
​Hello, 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:
Picture

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.
Picture


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.
Picture
38 Comments
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    For blog updates, please subscribe below. 
    * indicates required

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    March 2026
    February 2026
    January 2026
    December 2025
    November 2025
    October 2025
    September 2025
    August 2025
    July 2025
    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    June 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. ―Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning


Plano Enterprises, LLC
Photos from Kevin M. Gill, Joel Bedford, qthomasbower, crosescribe, Juho Holmi, diana_robinson, W Presley & B Kunce Photography......WI. USA, U.S. Geological Survey, Ian Sane, florianric, NikoMC, van Van Es, Yen Chao 趙彥, MissMessie, Yuriy Kuzin, Ben Zvan, Bichuas (E. Carton), Nina Matthews Photography, hehaden, alexdecarvalho, Tim RT, Kurdistan Photo كوردستان, Candida.Performa, peddhapati (Thanks for 1M Views!!!), Jhong Dizon | Photography, Waheed Akhtar Photography, lawmurray, USFWS Pacific, JalilArfaoui, SurFeRGiRL30, Lauren Finkel Photography, maf04, SantaRosa OLD SKOOL, Dakiny, vauvau, Zanastardust, Monica's Dad, timpeartrice, marumeganechan, Rafael Acorsi, seyed mostafa zamani, Jorge Franganillo, Irene Grassi (sun sand & sea), The National Guard, D.Fletcher, nada abdalla, Ted LaBar, alison.mckellar, Infomastern, Elvert Barnes, m01229, theglobalpanorama, Sumarie Slabber, denisbin, Go-tea 郭天