Subtract Expectations, Open to Possibility

January 19, 2020.Reading time 2 minutes.

The snow has been falling all day, filling in the roads behind the plow’s efforts. I am a bit of wreck as I write this. Tomorrow, I am planning a surprise party for Ric’s 70th birthday. The hall is booked, and I’ve delegated all the pieces, but the guest list is shrinking as people are […]

Midwinter Tease

January 18, 2020.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Vibrant red,sweet pinks The joy of birdsong Oh, how I long for Spring. (For Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Spring Scenes)

Could you just…

January 16, 2020.Reading time less than 1 minute.

…wait for Grandma? How about a cheese? …get your finger out of the cake and say cheese? (for Cee’s On The Hunt for Joy challenge: say cheese. Grateful, as always, for family.)

A Passenger’s View

January 14, 2020.Reading time less than 1 minute.

I reconcile this passenger imposed lifethrough a photographer’s lens Record the road ahead, the passagesfind resonance in what lies outside my window. (For Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: A window with a view)

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #79 – subtraction

January 13, 2020.Reading time 2 minutes.

I adopted my father’s rage at a young age, and learned to wrestle with the best of them, typically boys, ’cause Father said never hit a girl. Most days, I’d return from school with debris in matted hair and torn stockings. Mother would shake her head, muttering: “No one will ever love you.” I heard: […]

Decisive Action

January 12, 2020.Reading time 3 minutes.

Life presents challenges and I stumble to keep up. Chronic illness continues to form the backdrop of my life, so it becomes the baseline for any actions I take. Ric and I made a commitment to our health and our community this year, and that means that I have been more physically active than usual. […]

Scenes From Ontario Winter

January 9, 2020.Reading time 1 minute.

I cast my shadow over white banksassert my presence, proud, defiant Will find beauty in deserted golf coursesand colour in a monochrome season I am haunted by a Winter state of mindresolved to stretch myself despite creeping chill. (Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge is winter scenes. This Winter I am challenging myself to endure a season […]

Summer Buzz

January 7, 2020.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Summer, I hold you in my hearteven as the trees stand barehaving shed their Autumn garbs The glow of green still buzzescarries me through the colda promise worth the wait. (Nancy Merrill’s A Photo a Week Challenge: opposite weather.)

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #78: action

January 6, 2020.Reading time 2 minutes.

Rumination is one of my fortes. I get something stuck in my head and it will spin there nonstop if I let it, even disrupting sleep. It happened recently with one of our daughters. I took something she did personally, and blew it out of proportion, convincing myself that there was no hope for our […]

Sculpting

January 2, 2020.Reading time 1 minute.

The best openings are the one’s we carve for ourselves. We spent New Year’s Eve reminiscing about eighteen years of togetherness. Stayed up past midnight, and talked about our future. Hope coloured our words. Sculpting has been on my mind – not literally, but in the sense of chipping away at the outer facade to […]

Back Seat Only

I can’t remember a timewhen elegance chose meto sit in the front seatride along in style She’d be clad in whiteand I’m ever too messycan’t control myselfmight tarnish the upholstery She’d want to go shoppingrings and jewels flashinglike Pretty Womanafter the haul I’m second-handtypically slink in and outgrabbing what I need and goinglest anyone see […]

Having a Why

(This is found poem, previously posted on OneWoman’s Quest II)

Over It!

One day it’s so mild that I don’t bother with a coat, the next we wake up to snow on the ground. The plants pushing up through the soil seem a little more patient than me – as if they are humouring nature’s fickleness. I’m ready for clear change. A pair of finches just flew […]