Sunshine

Sunshine, you magician,adding sparkle to my view Painting the cloudless skya dazzling shade of blue Favoured by your golden rays,we all take on a glowing hue. (Submitted for Nancy Merrill’s A Photo a Week Challenge: sunshine.)

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V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #43: Rain

Raindrops, not tears,blur my vision –the line of trees before mea glistening blur.The pounding in my templesis just the steady rhythmof watery drip, drip, drip,not the incessant roarof my blood pounding –discordant is this day. I wrote this piece while stranded in Mississippi, with eighteen hours of driving still ahead of us, and no idea […]

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Farewell to Farewells

Total exhaustion has taken hold. Brain is fried, emotions taut, body shot. Monday as we prepared to pull out, my right leg collapsed and as I reached out to stop the fall, I grasped with my left arm, wrenching an already torn shoulder. It did not bode well for the trip home. With a dead […]

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If Not For The Stairs

I could live by the ocean,if not for the stairs… or linger amongst ancient ruins,although climbing, I daren’t… and seaside dining is best, I agree,if not for those lofty flights The only up these legs can dois resting on the sofa most nights. (Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge is stairs or steps. I added a fun […]

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Hello April

April means farewell, for we winter Texans. Not fated to be a quick journey, as problems keep arising, grounding travel, and interfering with our plans. Nevertheless, April means Spring and everywhere we look the birds are twittering with extra fervency – is that romance in the air? And even though we’ve encountered setbacks – breakdowns […]

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Ducks in a Row

Lining up our blended ducks on our wedding day. Many years later, ducks old and new, line up with our ‘baatis’ – Somali pyjamas. Featured image is Whistling Ducks. Submitted for Nancy Merrill’s A Photo a Week challenge: getting your ducks in a row.

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V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #42: farewell

As you read this, Ric and I will be saying farewell to Texas and our cozy home on the canal. We leave behind new friends, the countless birds who have so entertained us, and the beautiful Gulf Coast. I am both excited to be home, and sad to end our time here. But isn’t that […]

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It’s All Perspective, Really

The year my father turned 75, I decided to gift him with a letter of gratitude. We’d had a difficult go, and while I sometimes hated him, I always loved him, and I wasn’t sure I’d expressed the latter enough. I acknowledged his personal struggles, and apologized for any heartache I’d caused him, choosing to […]

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Roads

This life, a road –the way prepared for me,signs to guide my way,and yet, I get lost. Construction, distraction,disobedience – throw me off,I’ve chosen tougher routes,broken down and been sidelined. And yet, the road still beckons,invites progression, thrills.A rolling stone gathers no moss,my father liked to say, and so… I push ahead, keep motoring,trust the […]

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