Author: nananoyz

I'm a semi-retired crazy person with one husband and two cats.

Skating 

A future prepared

Frozen smooth, without ripples

Skating on thin ice.

Cracks form and widen

Water seeps through, threatening

Surface gives quarter.

They all then fall down.

  

Peace, people!

Salvation

Finally she knew
no one could ever save her
neither knight nor prince.

Armed with this knowledge
she sallied forth, unafraid,
searching for dragons.

  
Empowered woman
whole and unafraid of strength
could not be distressed.

For lo and behold
no dragon needed slaying;
fear had been man made.

  

Saint Helen and the Wrecked Car

My mother-in-law, Saint Helen, who I love dearly, celebrated her birthday on the 26th of May. Even though she’s officially retired from the workforce she continues working on an occasional basis in the office of her church.

Saint Helen happened to be working on Tuesday, so the priest and a co-worker offered to take her to lunch for her birthday. Just as their food arrived her co-worker, the office manager, got a phone call from the local police saying that a car had been hit by an apparently drunk driver in front of the church office. Yep, it was my mother-in-law’s car. Wrecked. On her birthday.

She hadn’t had the car long, but she loved it. And she is pretty bummed out. Saint Helen just doesn’t get bummed out. This woman has faced head on more troubles than most of us can imagine, all while holding her head high and pouring out blessings on all around her. 

This is one of those times I wish desperately that we lived closer so Studly Doright could help his mom negotiate the trials of dealing with insurance companies. But Saint Helen has other wonderful children who live near her and will gladly be there for her.

If my readers have a couple of good thoughts to spare, please send them her way. I love her very much and she deserves good things.

Peace, people!

Purrsday Poetry: The Cat Whisperer (Case of the Oh So Cute Kitten)

I loved this poem I found at Katzenworld.co.uk

Ballad of the Battle of the Mold

Armed only with grit and determination
(and a brush, rubber gloves and a tonic for mold eradication)
Fair maiden set forth one morning in May
to for once end this harbinger of death and decay.
Pandora (the music, not the lady of myth)
Heralded maiden’s approach as she addressed the green filth.
“Begone!” she cried and the mold did not budge.
“I gave you good warning, now perish you sludge!”
Fair maid sprayed and scrubbed, her back bent at odd angles
She swept sweat from her eyes and made her old arms jangle.
After hours of labor she rose from tired knees
Expecting to see a sight which surely would please.
Instead a difference she could not discern
“Dammit,” she muttered. “Let Studly have a turn.”

   

One small section of our wall taken before and after. I guess I made a bit of a difference.

Is it too early for a glass of wine?

Peace, people!

Words

rampant emotions
storm the brain, wreaking havoc
let my tongue stay calm

dueling friction
using words as our weapons
exhausts my spirit

grant me five minutes
I’ll get myself together
now I’m in pieces.

and my opponent,
we’ve not changed the other’s views
sparring for nothing.

Photo from “The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss

Scraping Mold

I’ve got an important job to do. It involves mold and a scrub brush. I cannot believe I’ve agreed to take on this task. 

Define Reality

If I were asked to star in a reality tv show I’d instantly do two things:

  1. Say “no!”
  2. Examine my life and change whatever it is about it that made them ask me in the first place.

I might consider being part of something like American Pickers or Amazing Race otherwise, just don’t ask me.

Really! And no autographs, please.  

 Producers wanted me to be on Little Women as the world’s tallest little person. I declined. 
  
I turned down an offer from Mob Wives because Studly Doright is so not a mobster.

 

I still haven’t figured out what’s real about the women on these shows.

Studly and I sometimes discuss what a reality show featuring us would look like. He works hard, plays golf, rides a motorcycle. I write my little blog posts, read, cook poorly, and drink wine. We could star in “Extremely Boring People of Gadsden County.” Again, no autographs.

Peace, people!

Dark

would you clap in delight
when the lights go out,
or would you cower in darkness
afraid to take a single step?

would you cry in despair
believing all was lost,
or pass the time in reflection
recalling the blessings of night?

would you dance in place
swaying with abandon
or collapse in a heap of despair
forever changed by the absolute?

 

After I published this post a friend and fellow writer, Janie Christie Heniford, pointed out that the quote attributed to Galileo is instead from a poem (below) by Sara Williams. Thanks Janie! 

Though my soul may set in darkness,
It will rise in perfect light.
For I have loved the stars too fondly
To be fearful of the night.–Sara Williams

Watching Rain

swift darkness descends
in the middle of the day
thunder follows hush.

deep in the forest
lightning scorches mighty oak
searing stricken arms.

once thunder crashes
still silence pulsates with rage
nature’s violence

anticipation,
exhilaration, and fear
fill glorious storm

tapering rainfall
arrhythmic beats signal end
skies lightening soon.