Stain-glass Eyes

Small Decorations for Easter I'm feeling relaxed, as Easter day winds down.  It was a beautiful day, with sunshine, birds singing and people out walking.  On the lawn, next to my apartment were two people sitting on the hill, reading, with their backs against their book bags.  I felt like tiptoeing past them, so I wouldn't disturb their serenity.  They obviously were a smart man and woman, taking advantage of the warmth and the fresh, spring air. Earlier this morning it was rainy and dark.  There were several umbrellas moving along the sidewalks.  I made a plan to be early for the St. Mary Student Parish Mass.  Being new,  I didn't predict "How" early was early.  There was no seating left, a half hour before the service.  I did find a place along the wall with several other people.  I looked around and decided I didn't need to stay and stand throughout the service.  I walked out and gave the money I was go...

As I'm getting ready to write for my blog, I think about the position my hands and shoulders are in, so I can relieve any unneeded pressure on my wrists and shoulders.  They've been getting extra workout time playing the guitar, so I don't need any self-inflicted strain on my body. I want it to get stronger, not more compromised. I was also thinking about my other lazy body positions.  The ones I don't often think about. They cause problems, as I age.  I can't just "snap" them back to attention when I need them to cooperate.  One of the hardest for me to re-train has been the habit of leaning on one hip when I stand in line, wait on the phone, or wash dishes.  I don't need any more gravity pulling my body to one side, making the weight uneven.  When I want to move quickly after being in this position, my body has to realign and compensate for the unnatural posture.  Then it argues with me, (like a teenager),  "Just a minute, I'm comi...

I found this poem Elizabeth had written when she was in her teens.  There was no date on it.   I fell in love with it.  She never showed it to me.  I came across it yesterday, when I was putting some of her things away.  I asked her if it was okay for me to post it on my blog.  She didn't want to me to read it to her or give her a chance to edit it. (It didn't need editting, anyway) She just said, "Sure, go ahead."  I added these pictures I thought would fit.  Thank you, Elizabeth for sharing your gift. Instant-Forever           by Elizabeth DeLuca I've often wanted to live in a moment.                                                                      Lock it up tight and be in it forever. And when forever is done, ...

Sevastopol, Ukraine-Port of Russian Navy  A few times this week, I've had this strong feeling of "What if..."  As I'm walking, exploring new streets in Ann Arbor, I question.  As I'm driving, getting lost in Ann Arbor, I question more.  What if my move from Northern Michigan has created an impact?  Is there a physical void where I once took up space there?  Is the space I'm taking up now, changed by me being here?  I'm truly talking about my body taking up space.  My belongings taking up space, where it was once empty.  Is my presence causing a domino affect on others, who have to move aside (just enough for me to be here) to make space? What if my being here, is the reason another person jumps off a cliff? (referring to the nature of lemmings)  Is there limited room in a community?  Or is it the nature of the community I joined, to step aside, embrace, and adjust, in order for me to be here. I...

Baby! You're okay. When the doctor opened your covering,  it took my breath away. You look like yourself again.  Smooth, healthy and alive. Unveiling of Repaired Baby at Elderly Instruments Did you miss me? I'm sorry if the doctors had to handle you so roughly. It was for the best. You needed repairs. Washington Ave, Lansing, Michigan I'm sure they must have held you gently and played with you. Talked to you in sweet, comforting words. Did their best to make you sound like yourself, again. I want you to know, there is no replacement for you. You are my baby. Only you help me sing from my heart. You know me. You've shared my life. My Baby You blend with my voice, but you insist I weave myself inside your clear tones. I have to be honest with you. I used another guitar while you were away. It didn't feel right, but I had to keep practicin...

My Temporary Computer Stand Being the visual learner I am,  I like stories.  Stories with pictures created by words.  There's a child in me, who still needs to be told fairy tales once in awhile, in order to make sense of the world. This morning, I woke up sad, after having a long, recurring dream. After I sat down with a cup of hot coffee, my mind settled on a picture from a story.  This story was told by a young teacher, to help a little girl cope with all the misfortune she had in her short life.  I heard it in a Korean movie I watched, a few days ago, called "The Crescent Moon." In the movie, the teacher took the child for a walk through a field of tall, green grass.  The little girl struggled, the wet grass pulling at her little legs as she followed her teacher. When they stopped by a small stream, the teacher said to the girl, "See this heavy rock? I can hardly move it.  But, look.  Look under here." The teacher held the ro...

Celtic Cross in Ireland Thatched Cottage on Aran Island Eet's St. Patrick's Day.  So, aye decided to use a wee bit o' fauncy writin'.  It dos mack a beeg deefferece, I theenk.   Enough of pretending I can speak with an Irish accent.  It is fun.  I love how some of the dialects in Ireland say their O.  I hear a similar O sound when I'm up in Iron Mountain and I hear people talking in the grocery store.  I can't help but repeat it over in my mind and try it out to myself.  I don't make fun of the dialects, I'm fascinated by them. I wasn't so fascinated by dialects when I first went to college at eighteen.  I took a lot of teasing over my accent and I didn't even know I had one, at the time.  I worked hard at dropping the "Eh?"  from my sentences and the "You guys".   I took a walk downtown Ann Arbor this afternoon, to explore and enjoy the sunshine.  I could hear the music from the pubs coming t...

Ideals are like stars: you will not succeed in touching them with your hands, but like the seafaring man on the ocean desert of water, you choose them as your guides, and following them, you reach your destiny.   Carl Schurz  Small Boat Ready to Dock at Besiktas There are no mistakes.  There are choices.   Sometimes, I'm careful about making choices.  I still try to squint my eyes and strain my shoulders toward my ears, hoping to see through the swirling crystal ball.  Hoping, I will see consequences I may have not thought through.  Stumbling blocks I could have avoided, by seeing the future.   Goose Footprints, Frozen in the Snow I can tell you it's impossible.  I know from experience.  Plotting and calculating is more a waste of time, than a guarantee.  Still, I find myself caught up in the frenzy of old habits.  I should have realized years ago, when I had to drop out of a "Logi...

Sailor, Comtemplating Reality (found in Sault Ste. Marie) Fears are tricky.  They can have a solid base for gnawing at me.  The gnawing can come from my personality traits, my childhood upbringing or real experiences.  They all can radiate fear. I have to admit, I'm a little jumpy.  But, I excuse it as part of my personality.  It's the alert and observant part of me.  I hate scary movies.  I still vividly remember crawling out of my skin when watching "The Indian in the Cupboard" when the main character jumped out of the floorboards.  This is a children's movie.  There have been so many movies I wish I hadn't seen. Two that immediately come to mind, "The Birds" and "Jaws".   Growing up with so many brothers and sisters,  I developed a natural fear of being shouted at behind a door, snuck up on in the closet (there was one connecting the the boys' and girls' rooms), left behind when I couldn't keep u...

New Album, Hand-Stamped Cover My first week as a resident of Ann Arbor and I'm walking on icy sidewalks, in the dark, toward a club called Blind Pig, to hear a band.  None of those things were on any of my lists of things to do, once I got to Ann Arbor.  Or on my "Bucket List".  So, I guess I'd have to say a Bucket List can limit, as much as expand, a world of experiences.  When I was listening to Heidi's, Friday morning show at WCBN, I heard this wonderful blend of music, accompanying this smooth, relaxed voice, singing original songs.  Heidi was interviewing Chris Dupont and his band, Anxious Animal.  When I turned it on, on WCBN, the band was playing live from the station.  After I heard the music, I heard them talking about his first album being completed and the upcoming event at the Blind Pig, celebrating his new album and his tour for the next few months. I'm honestly not easily impressed by many bands.  My ear lik...