Poetry and Prose by #1 Amazon Bestselling Author of Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, Co-Author of #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women, and Jan/Feb 2022 Spillwords Press Author of the Month
Last week, I went to visit my mom and sisters in Los Angeles, and had a wonderful time. It was so good to spend quality time with my mom, and to see my sisters and their beautiful families. We also went up to Camarillo and visited my niece who is studying at California State Channel Islands. A lovely University in the hills of Camarillo.
While trips are nice, it was also lovely to be home, and to visit all of you today. I missed reading and interacting with all of you last week. Because I chose to forgo posting last weekend, I am posting twice this week (tonight, and tomorrow morning, as usual).
I am excited to announce that my poem, You, Seedling, is now available at Spillwords Press. A big thank you to Dagmara K., and the whole team at Spillwords for publishing this piece, and for their continued support.
You, Seedling like a seed growing up through the ground
you were born, and the mystery continued to confound
me, relating to the breeze was always so easy and, yet
the little one cradling my finger was our seedling, beautiful
with an air…
I would be honored if you would go here, and read the rest of my poem. Thank you!
I would also like to acknowledge Gabriela Marie Milton’spoem, You, Night, the title of which was the inspiration for how I titled this piece.
I am so pleased to announce that my poem, Blue Shoes, is now available at MasticadoresIndia. Thank you to Terveen Gill, and the team at MasticadoresIndia for their continued support, and for publishing this piece.
Blue Shoes
shadows trace my fingers, a space of wonder filled with lace
as other contexts make haste
sending to my heart delicate fabrics, my mind’s eye reminds me…
I would be honored if you would go here, and read the rest of my poem. Thank you!
Well, as you all know, this past week, I traveled to Los Angeles (LA) to see my family. First time in an airport and on an airplane in over 15 months. It was, well, amazing.
I flew out of the Eugene airport, which is a small airport about 45 miles south of Corvallis, where I live, and is super easy to fly out of and into. The airport was not crowded at all. In fact, it was super slow, and the plane was only about half full. However….
Upon landing in Los Angeles, that all changed. LAX was super busy. In fact, when I finally made it to the rental car company, there were about 30 people ahead of me in line.
Now, I had two meetings that afternoon, yes, working while on my trip, so after waiting in the line for about 25 minutes, I chose to call an Uber and cancel my reservation. Was a good idea, as the line didn’t move much as I waited for the Uber driver.
It was great to see my mom, sisters, and nieces and nephews. Here are a couple things we did, while I was in LA.
Griffith Observatory and Hollywood
In the hills of LA there is the Griffith Observatory, which looks out over the city. Beautiful. Though the Observatory wasn’t open, you could walk around the grounds and take in all of the views. Here are some pics from our time at the Observatory, and our drive through Hollywood.
A High School Graduation
It was wonderful to see my niece graduate High School on my trip. I was surprised to see so many people, and, well, not surprised. It was a lovely ceremony. Here are some pics of the graduation.
After graduation, we went to the Lazy Dog restaurant, which I had never been to. The food was excellent, and the service was outstanding.
Seal Beach and Taco Surf
On my last day in LA, we took my niece and nephew to the beach in Seal Beach. It was a lovely day, sunny, yet cool. The beach was not overcrowded, and the water was, well, rather cold, yet felt lovely. Here are some pics of the beach.
After spending some time at the beach, we went to a local restaurant I loved to patronize when I was living in LA and working in Seal Beach, Taco Surf; and then stopped in a local bakery, Sweet Jill’s, delicious. Excellent food.
Utmost Feelings, Coming Soon!
About two months ago now, I learned that Astha, of Writing feels good, passed away. I learned of this very sad news from our dear friend Cindy, of Unique Times. Cindy’s post talked about Astha’s Anthology that was being carried forward by Navin, of Navin’s Poetry.
I immediately visited Navin’s blog, and left a message. Navin responded very quickly, and asked for a poem, and said he would speak with the publishers, True Dreamster, about the possibility of making a late addition.
I was astonished and honored when they accepted the poem I shared with Navin. I am so honored to be a part of the beautiful Utmost FeelingsAnthology. The Anthology is full of wonderfully inspirational poets, and is a beautiful tribute to Astha.
Thanks again, to Navin, True Dreamster, and all of the poets in Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings.
Please visit the True Dreamster Instagram page, when you have a moment, and share the news about Utmost Feelings. Thank you.
Here are all of the co-authors of Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings.
Beauty exists in a vacuum of space and time, and is all around us, beckoning us on a heart’s journey toward fulfillment of all that’s sublime.
Purpose and destiny, bundled up with tender loving care, and sealed with a kiss from all those we’ve touched
and shared
moments with, like these.
Just reading or writing a little before we drift off to sleep, and dream dreams of a land so deep and rich, we’ve wondered where it’s been while we were out in search of all that bliss.
Right here, right now, present to humanity within, and all those family, friends and kin.
Time to come together, and talk about the weather, nay politics, isn’t it rich?
I reminisce.
Times at the table, the sun shining outside, cascading inside filtered light, a delight.
Grandparents in the kitchen, one hovering over a pot, beans of some kind, a roast in the oven, and kids running back and forth, such fun.
All didn’t fit at the tiny table, 9 kids in all, with another, oh, 20 plus or so, cousins, ourselves, we did call.
Though we didn’t all fit at the tiny table, a much larger one could be found on the patio, crafted and created by my dear grandfather, so long ago.
Memories like this are so rich and full of life, it’s like I can taste the food, and feel the conversation, at times, yes, full of strife; and, yet love was at the center, through tons of stormy weather.
Connections like this are rare indeed.
My invitation?
Hug and love those closest to you, when you feel the need.
In response to the WDYS #78 prompt from Keep it Alive, by Sadje.
Sitting on the porch, rocking back and forth, I reflect upon the birth of my sons. It feels like yesterday. Just a moment ago. And, then, flash, I am 46, they are 20, and 16. What happened?
Life happened.
Growing up in Los Angeles was for a long time something that I took for granted. I remember the first time I traveled across the country, via car. I said something to my buddy like, wow, it all looks like San Bernardino.
If you’ve been to Southern California, and spent anytime at all in the desert areas, of which San Bernadino is a part, you will get that reference. If not. Well, let’s just say that I had an idea in my head that all places looked like Los Angeles. Not so.
I digress.
Justin was born in 2000. I was 26. At the time, I remember thinking, jeez, I’m old, better hurry up and have kids, buy a house, live that American Dream everyone’s talking about. Really. WOW. I was young, not old.
We lived in two different apartments when Justin was little. First halloweens, first christmas, first-time parents. Phew. At that time, I worked close. I did work long hours, however, the work was very flexible.
I remember when I got the call. I was on my delivery truck, called my boss and said, Justin’s coming. I’ve got to go. They covered me.
So excited, nervous, anxious, joyful. All at the same time. Justin was born quick. Very, quick.
Bringing him home was so nerve racking. What if I do something wrong? What if something happens? Well, my mother-in-law stayed with us for a week or two, and I called my mom regularly. Drawing upon the support we had. Very lucky to have it.
Anyway, we did end up purchasing a house when Justin was 4. Jason was born shortly thereafter. Only 4 years separate the two boys, and yet, we were completely caught off guard by having another child. Not prepared at all. Phew.
We did like many people do. We moved forward, did the best we could, and loved them both unconditionally.
I loved when they were little. Though I worked a lot, it was so much fun to see them play in the yard, play with our dog.
Though we only lived in that house for 4 years, we did so many things together there. My memories of that time are so vivid. Possibly those memories are so vivid, as we were building a life.
Just starting out. Knew very little about what we were doing, yet we drew upon what we were taught, and created the rest. Filled the gaps.
First house, first backyard, first garage, first-time having neighbors in a house. All so new. The house was so small, yet had a huge lot. Was so great for the boys. Tons of space to roam and play.
That house was quite a ways from our extended family. 46 miles. Which, at the time, was like 5,000 miles.
You have to understand that, especially for me, we grew up in families where most people stayed very local.
All good. We took the boys to LA regularly to see their grandparents. We even sent Jenn and the boys to AZ, where her parents lived, so they could also visit them.
I remember the first time I took the Amtrak. What a different experience. Was fun. Back then you could actually smoke on a train. In a smoking car. Yep, they had those then.
When Justin was 5 or so, and Jason was 1 or 2, we decided to sell and move to AZ. It was right before the housing crash. Really. Within two years that house we bought for $150,000 and sold for $370,000, was once again worth $150,000. Crazy.
We bought a house in Surprise AZ, and I went to work for US Foodservice. Huge company. Good training program, lots of work. During this time, Justin was in third grade, and Jason was spending portions of his day at a babysitter. We both worked, did, and still do. Normal.
Third grade was a difficult one for Justin. New school, new kids, new context, new State. Very different from where we were from. As with most things, there were those things we liked about AZ, and those we did not.
Beautiful winters, HOT summers. Still, there is something quite majestic about the desert. Really. If you’ve not spent a lot of time in the desert, check it out.
We were only in that house for 1.5 years. Housing crash. Foreclosure. Emotionally trying. Actually, in every way that time was challenging mentally, physically, and emotionally.
What does it mean to “lose” a home? Difficult. We were, of course, not alone. Many, many, people were in the same position in 2007 and 2008.
The home we ended up renting was only around the corner. Helped, in that Justin could stay in the same school. They both played outside a lot with the neighborhood kids. Fun, and fun to watch.
Next?
Well, let’s save that for Part 2. I’ll end with saying that being a father to two beautiful boys has been and is one of the greatest experiences of my life. And, I wouldn’t have shared it with anyone other than Jenn.
Being a father. Beautiful, wonderful, lovely, and hard, frustrating, and scary. Still is. More on that later. 🙂
Develop. Inspire. Transform. 