The little girl stared at the display as her mother shopped. Intricate carvings, stones smooth as glass, gleaned under bright lights. A nice lady smiled at her. "You like the #jade? It is good luck for you." One day, I'll buy lots of pretty luck, she promised herself.
#vss365
Curiosity
Prods at me
To visit the world
Of the #undersea
A need to know
Also drives
My yearning to feel
The rush of sky dives
Yet I'm still timid
And frightened me
So I turn to books
That let me see
The thrills that otherwise
Will not be
#vss365
I get that, too.
Thank you, Kate.
What #trickery is this?
I used to have a tender heart
Cried at commercials
For goodness sake
Mourned endings that
Didn't matter
Yet now when faced with
Death and separation
I shed no tears
I look beyond
To what will inevitably
Be peaceful and better
Am I wiser or broken?
#vss365
Thinking back
Upon that day
My #investiture
As the other half
Of what became
An Us
The happiness
And nervousness
But surety
That all was right
Had I known
How it would end
Would I still
Have gone through
The laughter and tears
Bless me but
I know I would've
#vss365
In a tiny room
Of #seafoam green
I came of age
Mostly unseen
Just 9 x 10
That little space
Where I could pause
Try to erase
Each little slight
Each perceived flaw
Reflect on who
I was at all
I learned my mind
Lived out my teens
In a tiny room
Of seafoam green
#vss365
They say when the only tool you have is a #hammer, every problem looks like a nail. But when the problem really is a nail, nothing matches that hammer. We all need options in our toolboxes, literally and metaphorically. Education is key.
#vss365
They circled the artisans' #loop in search of something beautiful. It might be a piece of pottery, handmade furniture, textile, or candle. The what was less important than the search. In the end, they came away with peppermint-scented goats milk lotion, a sensory treat.
#vss365
When long-distance calls were prohibitively expensive, we communicated by #letters. For the price of a postage stamp, much less than a quarter in my memory, we could pour our hearts out to each other, uninterrupted. Delivery was often the next day. It seemed remarkable.
#vss365
I feel the pull again
The ocean calling to me
#Water and sand
Between my toes
The salt that sticks
To everything
Riding waves
By body or boat
Though I'm prone
To seasickness
I just can't help myself
I hear the roar
Of waves and wind
And know that I
Am home at last
#vss365
It would be so easy to #sink back into despair, but this time, I say "No". I let myself be vulnerable in all the wrong ways before. Now, I take a stand, claim my worth, and do what I can with the reality presented to me.
#vss365
Memories of youth came to her, days that seemed to last forever. Always, at her low points, there was music. Songs to cry to, songs that offered up a hug, songs that coaxed a grudging smile... there were there for her. She took a deep breath and began to #sing.
#vss365
Flying #blind
Having to navigate
By instinct alone
Outdated maps
Well-meaning wishes
Though appreciated
Do not point
My way through
So I trust
In my gut feelings
And point myself
To my own north star
#vss365
She used to group her errands together: #bank, pharmacy, grocery store. It saved time. Now time is the one thing she has in abundance, day to day. Her years continue to grow shorter, however, to culminate in the ultimate mystery. Still, life must be lived.
#vss365
Thank you, Rachel!
Is this going to cost me an #arm and a leg?
Nah... two fingers, tops.
You know that's just a figure of speech, right?
Perhaps in your realm, human.
#vss365
Ah... you wish to have your palm read. Give me your #hand, then. I see you are very smart. Of course you are... this line tells me so. Someone said you weren't and you believed it, but that is a lie. You are very smart.
The girl aced her spelling tests after that.
#vss365
The feel of #sand between my toes
The warmth of sunshine on my skin
That tell-tale burn upon my nose
Will tell them all where I have been
Well-salted and well-cooked I'll be
Life at a saunter, not to run
Just do not stick a fork in me
For I'll be days away from done
#vss365
Well, you see now,
Here's the thing:
He just last month
Bought me a #ring.
It's nothing fancy,
No gems or bling,
Just sterling silver
From traveling.
He won't want it.
I'm sure of that.
Still, should I offer
To give it back?
#vss365
With #pen in hand,
I set my thoughts
On fine-milled paper,
As I was taught.
To journal is
A sacred thing.
Record the goodness.
Write down the stings.
Allow the brain
To run at speed
Of flowing ink.
No need for screed
Or overly floral
Words that bleed
#vss365
You see that #man? He has a tale to tell, one of sin and redemption, foolish youth and the wisdom of maturity. He has dodged death more than once and been forgiven more times than he should. Go on... ask him. But don't expect to like what you hear.
#vss365
Thank you, Robert!
My path to mindfulness
After falling apart
Combined with carefully-dosed
Medication
Has led me down
A more even path
I do not #exalt
But nor do I cry
Finding commonality
In each emotion
And knowing that
The soul of me
Is untouched, safe
Ready to ride
What life may bring
#vss365
She always would
#Conduct herself
In a manner
Befitting a lady,
Until she didn't.
Knowing when
The time was right
Was a point
Of personal pride.
Sliding from
Prim to wild
And back again
Caused whiplash
In some friends,
Delight in those
Who mattered.
#vss365
My daughter was such a tiny child. She was playful or serious by turns. As a baby, she would stare in fascination at her own fist. Her preschool self loved stories, whether read to her or made-up. I miss that little #sprite, but I'm proud of who she's become.
#vss365
My world is turning
Upside-down
Right steps become
#Illusive
A judgment error
Made in haste
Leads to an end
Conclusive
And yet I cannot say
That I regret
The joy effusive
That came to me
While in the grip
Of madness
Most intrusive
#vss365
Do you remember
Carefully setting the vinyl disk
Adding the plastic spacer
If it was a 45
Letting the turntable #revolve
As the needle was placed just so
Then listening to magic
Filling the room
As many times as you liked
Or until somebody complained
#vss365
Allow me to articulate
On things of which I #fascinate.
It's hard for me to just walk by
When shiny somethings catch my eye.
I do not lust for gemstones bold,
But silver filigree, or gold,
Can part me from my money fast.
I'm fortunate they're made to last.
#vss365