Month: December 2014

Silver Alert

Electronic highway signs in Florida often flash the message “Silver Alert” followed by the color, make, and license plate information of a car being driven by a lost and/or confused elderly person. Today the message said,

Silver Alert
’94 Bronze LeSabre
FL Lic. #A98LMG

Of course every time I spot one of these alerts I begin scanning the traffic around me. And today I thought how great it was that the confused person was driving a bronze car. White, black, silver, and even red are too common; whereas, bronze would perhaps catch the eye of someone looking for this wandering senior.

My next thought, logically enough, was why don’t we create car colors especially for senior citizens? Once one hits the age of 60 (that’s me in less than two years) one’s car gets a colorful makeover for a nominal fee.

How about this one?:

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Or this little number?:

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Personally, I think I’ll go for the rainbow motif. Try to ignore me in this baby:

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A Family Was Born

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December 20, 2014, marks the 4th Anniversary of the birth of the Stephen and Ashley Houzenga family, the day when Stephen formally adopted Garrett and McKayla and forever changed all of our lives for the better. We love Stephen like a son for many reasons–the way he cares for and respects our daughter and the love he has for our grandchildren top the list.

Happy Family Day to Stephen, Ashley, Garrett, and McKayla. (And to Harper who joined the fray some time later)!

Weekend To-Do List

My weekends are so stressful.

Sleep in (way past eight)

Snuggle with cats (won’t that be great?)

Feed cats (tuna flavored treats)

Shower (scrub my feets)

Eat (the most important meal)

Do Laundry (regardless of how I feel)

Drive (to the nearest town)

Shop (time to lose that frown)

Eat (wherever I want)

Nap (wait! I forgot to drive home!)

Movie (am I still asleep?)

Eat (I’m so confused)

Feed cats (again?)

Read (did I ever undress?)

Sleep (finally.)

Repeat (with less stress)

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Memory of You

One of my favorite bloggers/poets. Doubleupoet.wordpress.com

John White's avatarDoubleU = W

I.

It’s been years

since our last pleasantries,

since we last fellowship’d.

II.

How you were,

remains steadfast in my mind,

frozen in neural time capsule.

III.

It is my hope,

that you have changed very little.

I’ve used this memory of you for years.

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Anniversary

Mom and Dad married on this date,
I’m not sure of the year.
1958 or 59? Maybe ’60?
I wasn’t very old when Daddy said he did
and my mom said she would
and the three of us became a family,
A trio bonded
By vows and a ring.

Happily ever after was in their hearts,
and they did their best to make it so.
I remember fights and make ups.
Tears and kisses.
Two people
who weren’t sure they were
worthy of being loved,
trying desperately to love.

My brothers connected us
Gave Daddy his boys
And me, my co-conspirators
My victims, too.
Sometimes
Jealously overshadowed love
But love won out
Over and over again.

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Sinusitis?

Achy, throbbing sinus cavities

Got you down?

Same here.

Well, suffer no more!

Now,

For a limited time only

You can have a

Head-ectomy.

I’ve booked mine and

It

Cannot

Come

Soon

Enough.

I’ll probably miss my head now and again, but

I won’t miss the headaches and congestion.

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I Wish

For as long as I remember
I wish has been part of the
Vocabulary shaping me
Shaking me time and again.

I wish I were cuter
Smarter, funnier
I wish I were shorter,
Sported a prettier smile.

I wish I were less awkward
Around members of the
Opposite sex and sales
Clerks in upscale stores.

I wish I’d been a more
Patient mother, less
Cranky, more careful and
Aware of the special times.

I wish I’d been a better
Daughter, sister, wife
Less selfish, open to the
Needs of others.

I wish I’d paid attention
All those times some
Everyday miracle occurred
Right here, right now.

From now on
I wish is
I will and
I am and will be.

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The Serpent Between Us

I’m not sure where this one came from. For some reason I had a vision of Adam and Eve discussing their peculiar predicament, but it made me think about all relationships. A successful one incorporates a lot of giving and taking. Of course, one should be careful when taking what has been forbidden, eh?

The Serpent Between Us

Oh, Eve,
Said Adam,
Laying a firm hand
On her shoulder,
What have you
Done now, my love?

Adam,
She replied,
I fell into
A lust for
Knowing and
Shadowy desire
When offered
Much more
Than a
Plump
Red
Apple
By the
Serpent sliding
Soullessly into the
Arbor.

Eve,
What will become of us?
Asked Adam,
Looking longingly at
The proffered fruit
Perched in his
Lover’s small hand.

I suppose
Said Eve,
After Adam took
His deep bite,
We will
Look for fruit
Together,
Out there
Past the boundaries
Of our
Paradise.

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