October 2025 Not Enough Juice

I was working on 

The mental list even before 

I got out of bed to begin my busy day.

The schedule as I showered, washing my hair 

There would not be time later.

The logistics as I aquacised

Grateful for the sweat, yet focused

On a busy day ahead.

The timing as I dressed,

Commiserated, blew dry my hair, again.

The plan as I stopped to visit a friend

With far more going on in her life than me

Who was squeezing me in moments before 

Heading to an important appointment.

I was reminded 

My plans are not THE plans 

My car was dead when I went to leave

Requiring a call to AAA

Where an ECT sat waiting in a

Rescue vehicle for me

Who had plans, but not enough juice!

Reminders:

Schedules always are subject to change.

Emergency Car Technicians are underrated, 

Absolutely essential workers who come 

To the rescue, again, and again, and again.

SOLOctober 7 2025 Numbers Do Not Add Up

 

It was just one bag, albeit a full bag, but the tab was 5 digits, enough to make me stop in my tracks. 

I live alone, visit farmer's markets, and shop sales. I'm not in the thick of buying groceries and preparing family meals, but the tab in Shop Rite was alarming. Broccoli and lemons, on sale for $2.99 a pound and a pork loin for $5.99 a pound. A tiny, one person bag of frozen veggies was $2.39, on sale. I splurged on Ben and Jerry, on sale, but passed by healthier cereal, $7 a box, and skipped English Muffins, for $6.99. I splurged on a box of spinach that should last all week, but the $6 price had me longing for the days, last year, when it came in a bag for half the price. 

Supposedly, the economy is booming and the stock market soaring.

Yet, eating fresh ingredients and healthy meals is not feasible for many.

Supposedly, there is negligible inflation and low unemployment.

Yet, businesses around me are closing like flies and houses are not selling.

Supposedly, we do no need clean air, renewable energy sources, or unprocessed foods.

Yet, something is very wrong, as the numbers do not add up.

October 2025 Another Trip Around the Sun

 

I had no idea what was ahead when I headed out of the hospital with my bundle that fall morning. I had sort-of-prepared by embroidering a wall hanging and purchasing some diapers. I had a car seat, and a couple of books. If they even gave some instructions-advice on discharge, I was too excited-nervous-scared-worried to remember. I suspect they were just eager to have the space available for the crowd that followed the blizzard that previous winter.

Somehow, we survived. She figured out how to get food and tell us when she needed changing and life settled into a new normal as she became part of every journey and adventure that followed.  She told us what she needed and guided us through bikes, schools, and adventures we could never have imagined when that striped bundle joined our family.  There were journeys into worlds I did not know existed like field hockey and crew and many times we clashed and clanged on the way to adulthood where I now have the privilege of watching, from afar, a confident, competent, and courageous mom and engineer guide her own ship through the choppy waters of life. She'll have hardly a moment to reflect on her life, like all moms in the thick of living. Thus, I will take a moment to be grateful we survived those first days, even though our nursery was bare-boned and her onsie was white. I will be thankful we survived the many firsts that followed and grateful for the miracle of her and another trip around the sun. 

October 2025 Compassion

 My writing world friend Kim got me thinking about compassion 

early this morning and as I walked I thought about how.........

SOL25 September30 Need: Friends

Thank you to the Two Writing Teachers for hosting

This year-long reason for writing, reading and sharing.

Thank you also to my dear friend, Tracey, 

For her images of life.

Tracey often share memorable sunrises and sunsets on social media.  These days, I (many of us) appreciate the reminder that nature provides peace and happiness even in tough times. But today I am sharing her image that captures the feelings we all have when we find ourselves alone and feeling lonely.

There is a gaga pit at Tracey's school where children shout "Ga" and throw balls at each other. Everyone is a friend in the pit. The other day a local moose, found himself alone in the pit while the children were inside doing reading, writing, and math! While moose are typically solitary animals, except during mating and raising calves, the look on his face as he stood in the empty pit all by himself is a reminder that even he (or she) could use friends every once in a while.

The look on his face-oh my! 

Where did all the other moose go?  

Why can't someone come out to play? 

We all to be cared about.

We all need friends.

September 2025 Need: Immigrants

I had to skip swimming, aquacise and coffee this morning because they were coming, but in the end I got more than attic access.  Let me explain.

"They are from Ukraine," he offered proudly as he introduced his colleagues who were installing a way into my attic other than the very-warped-sort-of-door installed many years ago by a do-it-yourself homeowner who likely also installed side-flowing plumbing in the kitchen. 

I wanted to say, "I am so sorry for the lack of support from America and the ongoing pressure from Russia," but instead said sincerely, "I am glad you are here."  I meant it.   

While they worked, efficiently, neatly, and carefully, I had time to wonder about their: immigration status; family losses; concerns in America while feeling a bit guilty about my clearly first world wants/needs. I was initially connected with this attic-stair company through a website that was informative, something I rarely find when searching for people to help me make and keep my old house safe and warm. Yet, real innovation and hard work is what I got from this renovation.  

I will not likely store anything in this old attic, but I do plan to get some insulation up there to help with the rising heating bills. The real perk of this home-owner-project was time to think about the crucial role of and need for immigrants to this country. 

September 2025 Our Country Needs: Front Porches

 

I noticed the front porch before I moved into my house; but, it was not something I thought I needed. I had memories of sharing afternoons and evenings on the porch at my grandparents' home. Sadie and Fanny would stop by to talk, cousins would rock on the squeaky bench, and my grandmother would snap beans or mend, and talk. 

I have no adult memories of a front porch close to neighbors as I always lived in modern houses with back decks where families gather away from neighbors. Somewhere, post WWII, American homes and people, in my opinion, started to become isolated even as foreign policy had us more involved than ever in supporting and defending others. 

What I have deduced, since moving here, is that with a front porch, it's hard/impossible to avoid your neighbors. We are a diverse group in age, careers, and political opinions. On my little corner of the block we are families and singles, liberals and conservatives, followers and leaders, from 2 to 85. Some have beach houses and know the Pottery Barn Delivery driver 's name, while others mow their lawns and watch expenses. Yet, we talk and for the most part, are respectful and kind, because if you have a front porch, you cannot avoid at least acknowledging your neighbors.  

All this leaves me to the sort of poem, loosely borrowed from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie that rumbled through my mind after my neighbor circled by to ask about my electrician, and we talked about their tree, and then we moved onto who might become governor, and the annual town yard sale, and reading instruction today, and good books, and even the President.......because that is what you do if you have a front porch and your neighbors are just a few feet away! 

If you have a front porch, 

Your neighbors will see you leave and enter.

If they see you leave and enter, 

They will stop and ask how you are, or

Inquire about your comings and goings. 

If they ask, you might tell them about 

Teaching, swimming, volunteering.

They might tell you about 

Jobs, kids, politics, may seep in, too.

Even if you are hesitant to go there

You might talk about perspectives

UN induced traffic, immigration, taxes,

New car costs, American cars with foreign made parts,

Reading and writing instruction, teacher salaries,

Greek/Turkish/Asian take out food, taxes,

Local fall festivals, garage sales, dogs,

If you (and this is the plural you) talk and share points of view,

You (and this is the plural you) may just find that you (and this is the plural you) 

Agree on way more than you (and this is the plural you) disagree.

You (and this is the plural you) may see how family history, experiences,

Children, dogs, friends, colleagues drive perspectives.

You (and this is the plural you) may agree to disagree 

On means and ends, political parties, religion.

You (and this is the plural you) might sigh and

Look beyond yard signs that are clearly red or blue.

You (and this is the plural you) may say, 

"I hope you are right," and mean it,

You (and this is the plural you) may just learn to 

Talk and listen respectfully

I do realize this is a stretch, but perhaps, I pondered on the porch, if there was a way for Congress, the Supreme Court, White House, Immigrant groups, Medicare Groups, Social Security recipients, Veteran groups, Civil Servants, diverse ethnic and religious groups, and................to find front porches where they must pay common bills, walk past each other and look each other in the eye every day? It's easier to boast and bluster, moan and complain, Tik Toc and tweet, and when you (and this is the plural you) do not look your (and this is the plural your) neighbor in the eye.

September 2025 Holding the Future in My Heart

I am reflecting on a busy week exactly one decade ago when a tiny miracle was anxious to join the party. I was exhausted-excited-energized and in awe of the miracle of and promise of your existence. If there is still an internet and blogger when this beloved one is floating through cyberspace some day and find this, I hope they know I love them more than words can say. I really do.

Honestly, I could not have imagined

That you would send my heart

Into a total frenzy, I was seasoned,

I had already held a tiny burrito that week, yet 

You took my breath away

Even before my baby so proudly placed you

In my arms and into my heart.  

I knew at that moment

I was holding the future,

An already adored miracle

Although I could not imagine

Watching you grow. so anxious 

To crawl, walk, explore, so busy with 

Boxes, blocks, living, and loving.

Sometimes, you still lean in

Accepting a side-hug briefly

Acknowledging I am still 

Taller, for now,

Sometimes, you still share

Thinking, worries, concerns,

As I reflect on how you've grown

From toddler to gasp, ten,

Knowing there are no boundaries

To my love for you.

Sometimes, I forget and refer

To you by that toddler name

Remembering the

Damp curls permanently 

Burrowed into my heart while

Sharing Snuggle Puppy, Little Blue Truck

On repeat.

These days, I pray for this not-so-little one 

Loved today and every day

As the journey becomes

More complex and exciting

Options, opportunities, 

Beyond my wildest imagination, 

The future 

In your hands

But also 

In my heart.

 

Ethical ELA September 22 Hell's Kitchen: A Fib

Today's Ethical ELA host, Barbar Edler, asks us to delve into a writer’s thinking to deepen understanding of a text and then write a poem about it. 

I decided to write a "fib" poem using the mathematical sequence in which each line is determined by the sum of the previous two lines. 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, …| I chose to write about the Alicia Keys' play Hell's Kitchen which is a semi-autobiographical depiction of life in NYC in the federally supported artist-musician complex known as Manhattan Plaza. Alicia's mom in real life, as well as in the play, had moved to the city to pursue acting; however, she left acting when she became a single mom. In the '90's, she was a single mom with a teenager in facing violence and discrimination an era was shaped by crackdowns on crime as well as racial profiling. Keys describes it as the "quintessential New York story."

She

Did 

Not have

A Dad's presence

Yet, he planted musical genes

Fueled by a wise teacher, a brilliant mentor

Notes, chords, tempos, beats, music

Shaped Superwoman

Beautiful

Noise

September 21 Ethical ELA Letters to and from Goldilocks

Today's Ethical ELA prompt asked us to turn nursery rhymes into Haikus or other poems.  I went with with notes from and to Goldilocks. 

 

A Nonet from Goldilocks to her Mom

I saw this house, went inside and then

Had oatmeal, it was amazing,

Broke a flimsy little chair,

Looked everywhere I could

Sat on a hard bed,

Tried a pink one,

Furious

Bears on

Way

A Haiku from her Mom to Goldilocks

You do not enter

Eat, break, nap, snoop, you are 

Lucky and grounded.