In Memory

In memory, I think of how things use to be, how life has changed and not necessarily for the best.  I think of the laughter we shared, tears we dried and the periodic fights we had to enrich our lives in order for us to blossom.  To know love, to feel your hand in mine when letting it hang to the side wasn’t enough to deal with hardship.

In memory, your discipline and criticism didn’t go unnoticed as well as the care you gave to me.  When in doubt, your voice rang true and that smile let the wrong choices seem less disheartening.  Emotions ran rapid during certain periods in our lives, and in others, we simply coasted.  We laughed at each other's blunders yet sympathized with defeat in life.

In memory, your presence was like a coat of armor while you shared wisdom with everyone dear to you.  I heard you when you said I’ll be able to take care of myself, and you were right.  From all the memories, I now know why you said and did the things you did.  The sacrifices you made for others, and the pain you buried deep so no one else had to worry.

You all played your parts well, and I thank you for playing them out in my life.  Your voices have not faded, your laughter still is heard, and the wonderful memories held in my heart’s treasure chest.

Someday we will meet again, Ann Renee, Uncle John and Grandma, but until then your lives still plays out in memory. 

Chocolate Therapy

It’s always a delicious, warm fantasy,

the kind that melts other notions.

This remedy is called chocolate therapy

captivates, like lover’s potions.

Recline to enjoy an oral eruption

dark Ganache, or a white delight.

Close eyes, swim in bliss without interruption

stirs, then increases toward excite.

Sugar dusted on top of velvet Truffle

tongue enrobed, forget depression.

Nutty or cream fill, requires a shuffle

to devour my chocolaty obsession.

What's Your Secret?

When I’m waiting for a call from you…

Can you picture this... ?

Can you picture an isolated white, sandy beach adorned with sporadic long greenery sprouting out of the ground and a few large boulders for you to kick back and relax? You flick your shoes off to dig your toes into the sand then slowly lift as the granules seep between your toes. The smell of the ocean and its voice expressing a calm summer morning close your eyes for a few moments before opening.

Your warm feet sink into the cool sand walking towards the waves for a more private conversation. The heaviness of passed days no longer exists as your body gently lowers to the moist shore. Your eyes lookout onto an endless mirror while listening to the stillness around you. Shy smile inches its way on display as you reflect on how much heartache and happiness brought you to this point. A point where life as a whole leaves you content and regrets fade with every lesson learned. So you sit with your eyes closed, a smile on your face, wondering if everyone else is as happy as you at this moment.

Can you picture this in your mind? If so, that’s how I feel when I write to you. I’m comforted knowing you’re here, content that you keep coming back, and wondering what effect my words have on you.

I wrote this yesterday from a prompt.

Have a white, sandy beach day!

Why Do I Love You?

How Do I Love Thee?

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, -- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! -- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Why Do I Love You?

Why do I love you?  For you often slip away. 

I love you with each piece of core I possess

Impregnated by your attention and precious caress

Though poignantly cry when ‘us’ gets delayed.

I love you like an angel’s kiss before sleep

bringing dreams to life, and wakening amid hope

to another day of obstacles, yet comfort to cope

through our separation moving towards complete.

I love you openly, as a book reveals its true worth,

comforted by words, move forward toward a gentle soul

who I will love even after I become part of this earth.

I’ll fight to the depths of this world to reach my goal,

In keeping the man I’ve searched for since birth,

hold hands towards the Pearly Gates in our final stroll.

Bea Sempere

That's your Secret?!

I wasn’t expecting to see…

Happy Mother's Day

I didn’t top last year’s gifts for Mother’s Day, but it will be a nice day.  I’m doing a Mother’s Day Breast Cancer walk with my sister, and then going over to her house later to hang out with my mom too.  I’ll give them their gifts and get dinner.  Notice I said ‘get’ and not ‘make.’  

Below are the gifts I got last year for my sister-in-law, mom and sister.  The two below are my niece and nephews.  I wrote a poem and put it on a canvas with their pictures.   

I wish all my family, friends and bloggers a wonderful Mother’s Day!  Stay safe and enjoy.

Dear Self

Dear Self,

Ten years from now I might not remember what I did today, so I decided to fill you in.  At the present time in my life, I’m struggling with weight and it’s been discouraging.  I lost two sizes and put some of it back on since the beginning of the year.  It’s been a juggling act to say the least.  You’d think looking at pictures where my face looks like a blowfish and my body resembles a linebacker’s would be enough to flush out the fat.  So far, it hasn’t been.  I’ll admit, I miss my cigarettes in my fat moments, they gave me options.  Maybe in the future, I’ll be thin and healthy.  *lifts coffee cup* Here’s to hoping.

Right now, I’m sitting in my living room watching the tree in my courtyard move with fury as leaves hang on for dear life.  It isn’t just the weather here I’m anxious about, but the weather in Europe.  The love of my life is on his way here except he’s been delayed by the volcanic ash.  Yes, there was a volcanic disruption in Iceland several weeks back and continues to interfere with flights.  As I look out my window excited for his arrival, he sits in Heathrow waiting for his plane’s turn in the diversion process.

Change- it’s the big word these days for me.  Ever since meeting my love, I signed up for an online program to get a Certificate in Web Design, taken some teaching tests, all to add to my resume.  My condo is up for sale and once my love finds a job, I plan to move where he finds work.

Along with these changes, I hope to find a home for my poetry.  There are plenty of Grants and Awards for collections of unpublished poets.  I’ve slowly been doing revisions on my 2008 thriller novel.  My writing, as writing goes, has progressed in a positive manner.  When I started writing, I was cursed with the ‘tell’ syndrome until I read examples and practiced ‘show.’  I thought I’d provide a sample of my ‘show’ to show the improvement.  “Swollen flakes fell slow and aimlessly like fire ash accumulating on the ground.” and “Global strength to submit to while dark roasted eyes sear into my soul, stealing anything left of independence.”

So self, in ten years I hope to be thinner, have a different job, living with my Love, and have a collection of poetry published along with my novel.  Do you think that’s asking too much?  I’ll find out in ten years when I look back at this post to remind me of what was going on, what I wanted and where I wanted to end up.   It all starts with invented dreams, work them into reality, and let the touch of love plant and blossom them to fulfillment. 

Bea

Have you ever written a letter to yourself?  Try it sometime, put it in a box and read it years from now.   You can share something with us now about what’s going on with you.  *smiles*

Pssst… I Got a Secret!

I left a piece of paper with my name and number on it...

Totally Awesome!

“She is the only evidence of God I have seen with the exception of the mysterious force that removes one sock from the dryer every time I do my laundry.”  St. Elmo’s Fire (1985)

“There are several quintessential moments in a man's life: losing his virginity, getting married, becoming a father, and having the right girl smile at you.”  St. Elmo’s Fire (1985)

“Loosen up, have some fun! Yes, sleep when you feel like it, not when you think you should. Eat food that is bad for you - at least once in a while. Have conversations with people whose clothes are not color coordinated. Make love in a hammock! Life is the ultimate experience, and you have to live it to write about it.”  The Sure Thing (1985)

“Walter (Gib) Gibson: Elliot? You're gonna name the kid Elliot? No, you can't name the kid Elliot. Elliot is a fat kid with glasses who eats paste. You're not gonna name the kid Elliot. You gotta give him a real name. Give him a name. Like Nick.
Alison Bradbury: Nick?
Walter (Gib) Gibson: Yeah, Nick. Nick's a real name. Nick's your buddy. Nick's the kind of guy you can trust, the kind of guy you can drink a beer with, the kind of guy who doesn't mind if you puke in his car, Nick!”  The Sure Thing (1985)

“Chris Knight: So, if there's anything I can do for you, or, more to the point, to you, you just let me know.
Susan: Can you hammer a six-inch spike through a board with your penis?
Chris Knight: Not right now.
Susan: A girl's gotta have her standards.”  Real Genius (1985)

“Nancy: I hate my fuckin' life.
Sid: This is just a rough patch. Things'll be much better when we get to America, I promise.
Nancy: We're in America. We've been here a week. New York is in America, you fuck.”  Sid and Nancy (1986)

“John Bender: You're right. It's wrong to destroy literature. It's such fun to read. And
John Bender: Moe-Lay really pumps my nads.
Claire Standish: Moliere.”  The Breakfast Club (1985)

“Sam Emerson: Look at your reflection in the mirror. You're a creature of the night Michael, just like out of a comic book! You're a vampire Michael! My own brother, a goddamn, shit-sucking vampire. You wait 'till mom finds out, buddy!”  The Lost Boy (1987)

“Inigo Montoya: Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”  The Princess Bride (1987)

“Dark Helmet: What's the matter, Colonel Sandurz? CHICKEN?”  Spaceballs (1987)

“Dark Helmet: Before you die there is something you should know about us, Lone Star.

Lone Starr: What?
Dark Helmet: I am your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate.
Lone Starr: What's that make us?
Dark Helmet: Absolutely nothing! Which is what you are about to become.”  Spaceballs (1987)

What quotes make you laugh, think, smile, etc.?