Blue’s birthday cake that the people ate after singing “Happy Birthday” to the dog.
September 26, 2013
Family
memories of Elizabethtown
I am watching the movie, “Elizabethtown.” We stayed there, in Kentucky, for several nights more than a few years ago now, on a family vacation. We went to the Patton Museum, Fort Duffield (an earthen fort…don’t ask) and toured a bunch of caves. My husband carried our youngest son through the whole tour of Mammoth Cave. That day we literally climbed 1,000 steps. We bookended the trip at the Children’s Museum and zoo in Indianapolis. After we returned home, the boys said that vacation was better than Disney World. It was A Good One. There are pictures too.
September 12, 2013
I just woke up Snuggles, the sleeping cat, because I need to relocate her to her safe spot on the top floor of the house before picking Blue up from boarding in 10 minutes and counting. It’s been fun having her on the main floor with us again since our return yesterday. If only the fuzzballs could get along… Since they can’t, my cat relocation program will somewhat reduce the commotion once Blue walks in the door. Then we’ll all be home. =^.^=
August 13, 2013
“pink glow on the horizon”
the sun rose over the mountains
but my eyes were on the ocean
our day is just beginning
August 6, 2013
Boarding is scheduled to begin at 9:15am
The flight is full, so we hear and from the looks of it waiting at the gate
Departure is scheduled for close to 10:00am
Soon we’ll be flying above those puffy clouds so white
I’m traveling with a quiet crew
Maybe ‘cause I’m the only one who started the day with coffee?
…and I stopped after my usual, number of cups, just two
Getting excited
Still can’t believe it’s real
August 4, 2013
now it is today
Wednesday today
All day
July 31, 2013
I have to do that
Say it aloud
Because now I’m on today
4-H judging at the fair
Living one day at a time
We have enough
We have each other
We are thankful, blessed and loved
We are buoyed by all your prayers
Thank you
July 31, 2013
doggone dog I love
woofed before 5:30am today
he hasn’t done that for awhile
he’s learned to sleep in, my Blue
today he barked and fussed a bit
to let me know he really meant it
up and at ‘em
put summer clothes on
enough to hit the sidewalk
and be decent
we set off for the park
on our usual morning route
I quickly realized
the beauty of his timing
for Blue knew
it was a special morning
the moon so full and luminous
glowing o’er our heads last night
twas even more lovely
in the early morning light
with pale blue sky
behind the glowing sphere
wisps of pink clouds surrounding
to keep her from feeling bare, exposed
she shows her lovely luminescence
as a new day dawns
a morning moon lit the sky before us
as the sun rose to our backs
Blue and I kept moving forward
looping through the park
circling back toward home
always
home
July 23, 2013
“When your life appears to be the most stable and calm, unexpected changes will occur.”
~ quote from the book, “Understanding and Sharing” chapter 7, page 141
I’ve just begun to sort through the boxes that hold the remnants from my childhood bedroom. It was February of 1994 when I packed up my basement bedroom at 21 Jones Place. I remember the date because that’s when my parents moved to their dream house, a new construction built just for them. Today I removed a slim spiral bound notebook from one of the boxes. It’s an odd size, 7 3/4” x 5”. On the cardboard cover I’d written, “Ceramics” and my maiden name, “Janean Thompson.” On page one, opposite from the quote shared above, the upper right hand corner of my notes declare, “1-30-90.” That’d be from second semester of my freshman year in college. Eons ago. Light years. More than two decades in calendar reality, not based on dramatic storytelling time. Of course I found this quote today, “6-16-13.” One of many notes I’ve uncovered this morning that I left for my future self. That’d be me. The woman I am now. The mother of two boys, ages 13 and so close to 10, who sees photographs of that teenage girl with the mane of long brown hair and smile so bright, and wonders, “Who was she? Where did she go? What were her dreams?” My soul whispers in reply, “I’m still here. Look inside.” I’m trying to. My sister’s wise advice is, “Just be you.”
June 16, 2013
the morning report
Dog walked.
Breakfast next.
Quiet house.
Oldest son is away visiting family.
Youngest son still sleeping.
Wind chimes chime just so.
8:20am
May 30, 2013
Western Wisdom
I’m in the midst of typesettin’ two more of my grandfather’s Western Tales. Yesterday I caught myself readin’ instead of movin’ fast, flowin’ type, applyin’ style sheets, and fixin’ up his wonderful words for bein’ self published and bound into yet another family and friends book. Perhaps his last, as at 97, we know his body is wearin’ out.
Certain phrases and plot twist moments, keep jumping off my computer screen as I work, that make me grin and guffaw. Then there are others that make my heart squeeze in empathy.
The line of dialogue speaking to me right now is after the sheriff received a letter from concerned parents, asking after their hastily married off daughter who was sent away, “in trouble.” Instead of replying that she’d had her baby, and a few days later her worthless, no good varmint, rat of a husband was dead – murdered – Sheriff Wells simply said where they could reach their daughter. His mentor, John Wade, replied after readin’ the communique in progress, “Good shot. Let her tell her own story.”
Indeed. Yes. The other bit of advice I keep readin’ is to keep your head up high, no matter what the circumstances in your life. Lots of horse talk too. How I love that!
I’m completely charmed by my grandfather’s writing. Stories. Songs. Poetry. I have been since childhood. It’s more poignant now. Readin’ with a woman’s heart.
He’s a marvel. Still alive and kickin’, atop a bluff overlookin’ the mighty Mississippi River where he’s lived since he was nine months old, other than those years he was needed to serve his country in WWII. He began writing stories while recovering from night patrol injuries in a hospital in England. The Red Cross gave him paper. He mailed the stories home. All because he’d read everything he could get his hands on, and figured he could do as well or better. Once he started writing, he never stopped. That is a lesson for me, and all the aspiring authors I know. Writers write. A lot.
~ Janean Marie Thompson Baird
April 10, 2013
Quote from, “The Invincible Three” by Erwin A. Thompson.
Turquoise Tangles 