Stain-glass Eyes

Maybe They're Just Waiting to Take a Rowboat For a Ride in the Bay Thank you, readers.   My time spent grieving yesterday, was well spent.  Very well spent. This morning I felt a lot lighter.  I had taken the dragon by the neck and spun it around a few times so I could prove to myself I wasn't afraid of the beast! I'm writing this morning before I Skype my friend, Birim, in Istanbul, go to my voice lesson (with Kate) at the U of M Music Department, and start packing for my visit, with the DeSelms, in Nashville. Picture of Rowboat in Istanbul I read an excellent book called "First You Have to Row a Little Boat", by Richard Bode recently.  I was at my brother Tim's house,  last week, and found it in his glass case bookshelf, facing me.  I was up at 5 a.m. and thought there must be a reason that book was staring me in the face, so I opened the oak-framed glass door.  I took the small book out, sat down and started a unexpected jo...

Today is the date of my husband, Harry's, passing.  It is the fourth year, since he walked on. I know his ashes are at the Landslide, near Alba, Michigan.  I put them there myself.  I'm familiar with the spot where I left them, because it was difficult for me, to even let go of the ashes. The Landslide, Alba, Michigan (from the top) I have just admitted to myself how angry I still am, for Harry leaving.  Sure, there's the weight of sadness along with the anger, but anger still surfaces, if I even allow myself to enter the place of grief at all. Harry, how could you just up and die?  What were you thinking?  You taught jungle survival for God's sake! Couldn't you have handled a mass of cancer wrapped around your heart?   You went into the jungles of Vietnam to rescue downed pilots, in the Air Force. You got them to where they had to be so they could get "Snatched up" and safe from being a prisoner and yo...

This is a link to see what 826 Michigan is all about, in short form. (you have to really visit to get a sense of how AWESOME it is) This news broadcast was on Detroit News, just this month. (July) http://www.clickondetroit.com/ community/education/robot- shop-in-ann-arbor-teaches- children-vital-skill/-/ 2318820/21146920/-/avmxpuz/-/ index.html Poster Sold in Non-Profit Robot Store on Liberty Displaying Published Work With Joy Many People Enter as Curious..... Last Window Display at 826 Michigan Another of Many Posters Sold for Non-Profit 826 Michigan

I realize I don’t need my feelings validated by others for them to have value. My feelings are uniquely mine.  I am the accountant.  The one responsible.  I've lived half a century without realizing, I am the bookkeeper.  I’m in charge of this vital account. Many of my feelings, in this enormous account, I didn’t even know were there.  There was no record of them.  Some have been increasing in value in my lifetime and many have been spent or have decreased in value. Taking on the job of accountant after years of repression, neglect, misuse and ignorance, about how this account should be handled, is not an easy job to tackle.  I have to say, it would be easier, in theory, to just let the vines and weeds continue to grow over it, put my pencil and erasure down and close the book.  But…..it’s just a theory.  In reality, if I don’t continue to work on managing this account, I’ll be in trouble in the future.  I have a...

You step off a plane and fall. Death wants its piece of you. But, death doesn't know a stranger will appear, do CPR, bring you back. To keep you from "Death's Door". Family stand by you. To be by your side, Voices with their soothing, their loving. Life through them, touching you. Death comes in its mask by digging a hole for us. Love doesn't disguise itself.                                                 It shines with clarity and healing.                    Your breath embraces life. To crawl out of the hole of death. Knowing family is there to reach out for you, and pull you out. I wrote this poem because my thoughts have been with Elizabeth and the DeLuca family.  It's tough to sit by a loved one's bedside, not knowing what the outcome will be.  Knowing the only mom...

This overcast morning makes me happy.  I have all my blinds open and I can look up to the sky and watch the morning birds flit around the trees and vines outside my apartment windows.  My eyes seem to be in the "resting" mode.   Ann Arbor has just been through its week of Ann Arbor Art Fair.  I made sure I was here to see it for myself.  I've heard so much about it and wanted to see what was so " Amazing " about it.  I have to admit, I was amazed.  Especially the Original Section of the Show.  THere were 200 hand-picked artists showcased in the center of the U of M campus.  There were 3 other sections of art fairs, too, in the city of blocked-off streets.  An average of 500,000 people show for the fair. Colorful People, Too I like to use my creativity.  I crave it and feel an emptiness inside me, if I shut it down and don't use it, for very long.  I visited the Ann Arbor show four times during the week.  It...

Downtown Petoskey I made a trip to Pellston this morning for the early flight departure from Pellston.  My sister, Jeannie, was leaving for Tennesse after vacationing in Michigan awhile.  We arrived at the small town airport at 5:30 a.m. By the time I got to Petoskey, (after dropping Jeannie off for her flight) the only thing I could find open, for a nice cup of coffee, was the Big Boy.  Now, I sit in my favorite coffee shop, in Petoskey, after taking a walk and getting some exercise and pictures. Coffee Stop in Petoskey Add caption It is cool, stormy and VERY Northern Michigan.  The wind was even giving me a few goose-bumps as I drove across the Mackinac Bridge.  The wind made theTrailblazer feel like a little kite when it caught the sides of the vehicle.  The same stormy wind that was pushing the whitecaps against the St. Ignace shore.    While I was walking, I thought of all ...