Democratic vice-presidential candidate, Tim Kaine speaking about Gabby Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly.
A Thor in My Side
I’ve developed a new pattern of sleeping. Studly Doright and I get into bed around 8:30 (don’t judge; we’re old) and he watches tv while I read for a few minutes. We kiss good night, I say my prayers, and then bam, I’m sound asleep.
Around 2 a.m. I wake up with some weird worry on my mind: Did one of the cats just puke beside my side of the bed? Am I going to put my foot in puke if I get up to use the restroom? Do I even need to use the restroom? What if there’s a snake in the toilet? Seriously, these are my 2 a.m. concerns.
The great thing is that once I determine if I need to use the restroom, and the answer is always a resounding “YES!” I return to bed and fall immediately back to sleep where lately I’ve had the most vivid dreams.
Last night Thor, (played by Chris Hemsworth) was trying to seduce me. He kept showing up in my house, in my shower, and against my feeble protests, in my bed. I tried to tell him I was a married woman and old enough to be his mum, but he promised he just wanted to snuggle.
“Well, in that case,”I thought, “What’s the harm?”
And we were snuggling so sweetly, so innocently, until we heard Studly Doright open the front door. In one smooth move, Thor rolled off the bed and underneath it before my husband reached the master bedroom door. The sound of Thor rolling off the bed awakened me, and I patted Studly on the arm.
“Did you hear that?” I asked.
“Huh? What?” he mumbled.
“Oh, nothing,” I giggled. “I just thought I heard thunder.”
After Studly left to play golf early this morning I couldn’t resist the urge to peek under the bed. No Thor. I did find a bedroom slipper I thought I’d left in Clearwater Beach, though.
Peace, and sweet dreams, people.
Stumped
I knew the answer
Right on the tip of my brain
When in doubt, picked C
Tests aren’t for wussies
Open book, a blatant trap
Trust your own judgement.
I’ve been stumped before,
No answers to the questions
Conjecture, my friend
Sheng-yu’s Lament (after Mei Yao-ch’en)
This is beautiful and so poignant. Robert Okaji.com.
Sheng-yu’s Lament (after Mei Yao-ch’en)
First heaven took my wife,
and now, my son.
These eyes will never dry
and my heart slowly turns to ash.
Rain seeps far into the earth
like a pearl dropped into the sea.
Swim deep and you’ll see the pearl,
dig in the earth and you’ll find water.
But when people return to the source,
we know they’re gone forever.
I touch my empty chest and ask, who
is that withered ghost in the mirror?
* * *
“Sheng-yu’s Lament” is included in my micro-chapbook, No Eye But The Moon’s, available via free download at Origami Poems Project.
The transliteration on Chinese-poems.com reads:
Heaven already take my wife
Again again take my son
Two eyes although not dry
(Disc) heart will want die
Rain fall enter earth in
Pearl sink enter sea deep
Enter sea can seek pearl
Dig earth can see…
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Rally Sign
Great things were happening in Tallahassee today.
Tim Kaine came to rally Florida voters to vote early.
Tim is a great speaker and immensely likable. The crowd was huge, so I didn’t get very close. Thank goodness for zoom lenses!
The most moving part of the afternoon, though, was seeing Gabby Giffords and hearing her say she couldn’t wait to speak the words, “Madame President.”
Speaking clearly is still a struggle for former representative Giffords, who was shot and nearly killed by a gunman at an event in her home state of Arizona in 2011. The woman is an inspiration and a tireless fighter for common sense gun regulations.
Below, Giffords and her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly.
The energy at the rally was inspiring. Since it was held on the campus of Florida State University a great many of those in attendance were college students who were excited about casting their first votes ever.
Loved this young woman’s shirt.
Pre-rally college students discussed their plans to go vote after the rally.
The line went on and on. Everyone was pumped up. Fired up; ready to vote.
I stood in line with these three adorable students. They thought I was in my 40’s.
I’ve already voted. I’m always overcome by emotion when I realize what a privilege it is to cast a vote in this country. Even if you are a Republican, even if we disagree, I hope you exercise your right to vote. And then we all need to be prepared to accept the results.
This has been a divisive campaign. Harsh words have been exchanged–I’ve certainly not minced any syllables. But for my part, if Trump wins this election I will accept his presidency as the voice of a majority of the people. I would hope that he and his supporters will be as gracious if Hillary wins.
Peace, people. Really.
Apologies
The paper, blurry.
Angry marks on a white space;
Ill-defined slashes
Emotions stripped bare
From teary accusations
And gut clenching guilt.
Insistent regret,
Sorry, so insufficient
Apologies fail.
Snapshot #48 or 49, I’m Not Sure
Ask Siri what you should be for Halloween. I call this one, “Be Careful What You Ask For.”
Twenty-four Hours
Days aren’t as long as they used to be. Back when our two children were feisty toddlers and my
Husband worked revolving shifts, twenty-four hours lasted twenty-four years and nobody
Cared that I was drowning in every single second. Nurturing was a foreign concept peddled
By well-meaning matrons and judgemental church ladies. What in hell was wrong with me
That I didn’t gush over every milestone, each budding tooth, too exhausted to care that my babies
Wouldn’t be babies forever and that someday twenty-four hours would feel like twenty-four
Minutes, and a year reduced to a week and my babies grown and out on their own. Too soon.
My daughter celebrates her 36th birthday today. Even though I love her fiercely I wasn’t a patient mommy. The days of her infancy passed as slowly as liquid concrete, and I wish with all my heart we could have a do-over.
But she’s grown into an amazing, beautiful woman, and I’m so very proud of my Ashley. I love her, like her, care about her. Every day.
Peace, people.
Why I Am Thankful for Donald Trump
Ha!
“The worst enemy you can meet will always be yourself.” ~ Nietzsche
In an effort to prove Friedrich wrong, I have decided to exact my own metamorphosis by befriending myself, and in so doing transform myself from cynical stink bug to thankful praying mantis. In order to achieve this goal, I will list only ten of the uge number of reasons
I am thankful…for Donald Trump:
- His indiscriminate, erratic and often illegal behavior, his lack of experience, his absence of ability, and his deficient mental capacity have inspired me to enter into the next presidential election myself.
- In the past I blamed only myself for my failings, but now I realize I am responsible for nothing.
- I have never declared bankruptcy, so even if I were to file five times, I’d still be one down on Mr Trump.
- There are not 3,500 lawsuits filed against me– ranging from sexual misconduct…
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The Elephant in the Room
(Caution–some strong language)
Picture if you will Mr. and Mrs. Republican. We’ll call her Jane and him Dick. The two have gathered with their 2.5 children (Dick Jr., Little Mary and a player to be named later) ’round the dinner table.
Dick: Look at this fine dinner your mother has prepared! Little Dick, why don’t you ask the blessing?
Dick Jr.: Ok, Daddy. Dear God, thank you for this meal, and please don’t let that bitch Hillary Clinton become the president. Amen.
Jane: Little Dick! That was hardly a Christian prayer!
Dick: Son, you can’t just say that word in a prayer. Er, (looking at Jane) or about a woman.
Dick Jr.: But Daddy, I heard you call her a bitch.
Dick: Yes, but I’m a grown up. Pass the roast.
Little Mary: Mommy, what’s a bitch?
Jane: (sternly looking at big Dick) Sweetheart, that’s what a female dog is called.
Little Mary: Bitch! Bitch! Bitch!
Jane: Sweetheart, let’s not say that.
Dick: I’m sick of political correctness! Call a spic a spic, a coon a coon and a bitch a bitch. You know that dear. That’s why we’re voting for Donald Trump.
Jane: (covering Little Mary’s ears) Well, about that. Well, hmmm, I’m not sure I can support Trump.
Dick: (slams hand on table) For heaven’s sake Jane! We’ve always voted Republican, and we’ll continue to vote Republican. Now, pass the potatoes. Did I tell you Rev. Johnson stopped by work today?
Jane: Oh? What was he doing?
Dick: Well, he’s in charge of the county’s “Baptists for Trump” rally and he asked if I’d introduce him.
Jane: I don’t know why our church endorsed Trump. Shouldn’t the church stay out of politics?
Dick: Not with that Hillary knocking on the door of the White House.
Dick Jr.: Trump that bitch!!
Dick: (ruffling son’s hair) Now, Little Dick….
Jane: Little Dick, if you say that word one more time you’ll go to your room without dinner.
Dick: (winks at son) Best mind your mom, son.
Jane: (frowning) Maybe I just won’t vote this year.
Dick: (turning red in the face) Now Jane, remember the good book says you must submit to your husband. Your husband says you’ll vote for Trump and that’s the end of this conversation.
Little Mary: But Mommy!
Jane: What sweetheart?
Little Mary: Didn’t preacher say we need to be like Jesus?
Jane: Yes. Yes he did.
Little Mary: Did Jesus say it was ok to grab women by their pussies?
Jane: Oh! Little Mary! We just don’t say things like that, and Jesus would never have done such a thing.
Little Mary: Then why does Daddy like Mr. Trump?
Jane: I’m beginning to wonder.
Note: I started this piece months ago, but just felt it was too dark and too cynical to publish. Then Trump went there, boasting of having groped women against their will, bragging that they let him because he was a celebrity. Still, I thought, surely this will give those evangelical Christians who’d thus far supported him time to reflect and realize that Trump really is the antithesis of Christian love, respect, and humility.
Then last night I came across a video post on Facebook that shook me. A supposedly good Christian man was exhorting people to put their trust in Trump. Most alarming, though were the comments of people I know, groupie-like in their pleas for Donald Trump to avoid some trap the media had set for him–the trap of telling the truth.
Jesus loves Trump, but I’m pretty sure he would drive him from the temple with whips and chains given the chance. God help us all if Trump wins this election. Can I get an amen?
Praying for Eyebrowz 