My Life...

A hundred thousand people,

Through my life have marched.

Some assuaged my thirst,

And some left me parched.

All have left their mark,

On my soul, in some strange way,

Some by their actions,

Others by what they say.

The ones I felt drawn to,

Those who meant the most,

Have always been the humble ones,

Not given to ever boast.

Some have told me lies,

And hurt me, or made me mad.

But all in all, the goodness,

Far outweighs the bad.

Those who share my joy

At dancing in the rain,

Are the ones who are always

Welcome to come back again.

Lemonade...

I’ve been here and I‘ve been there

In and out and everywhere

Up sometimes, and then, down too.

Sometimes red and sometimes blue.

I’ve had the urge to scream and shout,

I’ve stuck out my lip and tried to pout.

I’ve folded my arms across my chest,

And told my kids: “Mom knows best.”

I’ve lived through things that were a test,

And always paid my dues—with interest.

Took up the gauntlet, and fought the fight,

Tried to always do whatever was right.

Turned my cheek, gave life another chance,

Went out in the rain and smiled and danced.

Whistled a happy tune when I was scared,

Offered thanks for all the blessings I shared.

Tried to just put one foot in front of the other,

And set a good example, since I was the mother.

Smiled at the good, cried through all the sorrows,

And always hoped for much better tomorrows.

And somehow, in going from here to there,

In and out and everywhere..

I’ve been lucky: on a steady course I’ve stayed,

When life hands me lemons, I make lemonade.

The Meaning of Life........(mine anyway)

I have been a member of the social network site, "Eons", for over a year now. I have made a lot of friends, joined a few groups, written over two hundred blogs and, most importantly, I have learned a lot. My online friends and acquaintances have generously shared their wisdom with me, either on purpose, or accidentally.

In that time, I have learned of the dangers inherent in “female upset”, the pleasures of jelly beans, the joy of hearing the sounds of nature, the pain of trying to find love again, and the most important lesson in my life, so far. In "talking" to a friend, quite accidentally, she shared the Meaning of Life with me. Well, at least the Meaning of My Life:

All a real woman needs is the right Tool…..

I had my first Tool several years ago. It was a necessity: I had a screw loose and needed to fix it. I needed a Tool. I went online to one of “those sites” and did my research. Found out what size would be best for me, how much power I needed, and whether or not it needed batteries.

With this important information grasped firmly in my trembling hand, I drove to “that store”. As I looked around, somewhat embarrassed to even be there, a salesman walked up and asked: “may I help you?” I turned beet red!!

Now, I happen to know a good salesman: he knows how to make his customers feel important and how to determine what they are looking for, and how to get the right part for the right job. He makes the world a better place, one part at a time!

This salesman was NOT that salesman! This one just looked at me blankly and said: “that Tool is too big for you, you need this little one.” But I didn’t want the little tool, I wanted the Big Tool. As he was talking, and rolling his eyes, I glanced next to him and saw exactly what I wanted on the shelf. “Thank you!” I said as he walked off in a huff.

Tool in hand, I headed victoriously to the check-out. I was so excited that I couldn’t drive fast enough to get home and fix that loose screw! Naturally, I had to wait for the batteries to charge but, it was worth it! When my wait was over, I used my Tool to fix my loose screw!

I have purchased several Tools since then. Now that I know how to use them, I just can’t get enough! Sometimes I make up excuses to use them. And, when I do use them, it is never disappointing! I am, however, longing for another Tool. It is the one I cannot live without yet, here I am, living without it.

I first saw the Tool awhile back. I was helping Frazier put up crown molding in my living room. I don’t know what Frazier’s first name is, I just call him Frazier. He has a problem with his eyes: one is looking up and out while the other is looking sort of straight ahead. I never know when we are looking “eye-to-eye.”

We were both standing on ladders; he was nailing the crown molding into the wall, and I was about 8 feet away, holding the other end. He looked at me; I’m not sure but, I think we were looking eye-to-eye. He saw the desire in my eyes; he grinned. “Would you like to use my Tool?” “Yes!” I fairly shouted back at him.

Gently, he placed the Tool in my hand. It was heavy but, it felt good to hold it! He moved his ladder closer so he could show me how to hold it just right and press the trigger. Chnk! Chnk again! And again, and again! I was in heaven!

“Whoa! Slow down, little lady! That’s too close together!” he said. But it was no use: I was unstoppable! I had found My Tool and I was gonna use it! And use it! I was trying to think of other things that needed to be nailed……..anything……..anything at all! Just please, please don’t make me give up My Tool, okay??

Well, he did make me stop, and, when he left, he took My Tool with him. And the cute little “baby” air compressor that ran it. I was heartbroken! I finally found my True Love, and lost it, all in one day! It didn’t matter that I didn’t have anything else to nail; all I could think about was how good it felt to hold it!

I know what you’re thinking: either this woman is incredibly naïve, or she knows how to use a double entendre! Let me give you a hint: I hang out with the Toe, ya know!

A woman and her Tool,

It’s a beautiful sight.

Think I’ll hang out

With my Tool tonight.

We’ll screw something together

Or maybe, take it apart.

Or saw it in a thousand pieces,

That would surely warm my heart!

But as I use these Tools

And have my evening fun,

I know they’re just a substitute

For my beloved Nail Gun!

Someday I will have my Tool,

You know, the Real One,

He and I will nail away,

And have a lot of fun!

Why??

They come to me at inopportune times,

Taunting me with their quickness and light.

Swirling about in my head so easily,

I try to remember them, with all my might.

And when I finally find a better time,

A time to remember them and contemplate,

They have flitted right out of my head,

Always in a hurry, never willing to wait.

And so, I sit here, empty-headed

Not knowing what clever thing to say.

Why, Oh Why, dear enlightened words,

Did you have to jump up and go away?

Still in Ode Mode: My Favorite Place

Oh, how I love your softness!

Tis thee I wish I could wed….

But who ever heard of marrying

Your very own queen-size bed?

Every night, you comfort me,

When I lay me down to rest.

Cots may come, and bunks may go,

But it’s you I love the best!

Not too soft, and not too hard,

Your mattress is just perfect!

I go to bed so very weary,

And wake up feeling terrific!

You know how much I love you,

There’s little about which to complain,

But why, oh why, Sweet Bed O’Mine,

Do you make me get up in the rain?

Why don’t you just let me stay,

And get some serious sleep?

Why do you make me go out in the storm,

When, your company, I’d rather keep?

Love letters tucked under my pillow,

Soft blankets are covering me,

Why, oh why do you send me away,

When it is here, I’d rather be!

No matter where I wander,

No matter where I roam….

There’s no place like my own bed,

In my very own Home Sweet Home!

The Comforters....

They are everywhere, in every land,

Their numbers are legion.

Living in every city, in every town,

In every village and every region.

They do good works so quietly,

Not wasting their time on praise,

Good thoughts, kind gestures, a touch

Fill many moments of their days.

They are The Comforters of this world,

Helping others with their giving,

Bringing comfort to those who need it,

And giving Life back to the living.

The Comforters know, in their hearts,

That the deed is in the doing,

No need to publicize or share,

Good deeds are not for viewing.

The joy is in the giving to others,

The peace is in knowing who you are,

And The Comforters shine brightly,

Like each quiet and brilliant star.

For every kind and caring gesture,

To every heart that is battered and torn,

The Comforter can only hope,

That a new Comforter has been born.

And, if that dream comes to fruition,

And each inner Comforter is released,

This world will be a much different one,

Full of quiet, and comforting, peace.

Ode to My Blond Guys!!

Here’s to you,

Blond, gnarly dudes!

With golden voices,

And attitudes.

You asked for help,

From Dear Little Rhonda,

Drove around in a woody,

And not a Honda.

You asked me to

Be true to my school,

And wore Hawaiian shirts,

How very cool!

You hung ten

And rode the curl,

Then asked me to be

Your Surfer Girl.

You never sang

About Doom and Gloom

Even when you spent time

In your room.

And once, you jammed

With Dean and Jan

Sang and laughed

Through “Barbara Ann.”

My teenage years

Were full of joys,

Thanks to you,

Dear Beach Boys!

Cali-Surf's Up!-fornia Blonde

Sweet Summer Memories..

Sometimes it’s fun to look back at places and times and things that made life special when I was young. Was it really as great as I remember it? Or has my mind “edited” out the parts that don’t fit in the memory I want to keep?

During the summer, we ate outside more often than we ate in the house. We played until it was almost dark, and then gathered on Daddy’s Marine Corps blanket, in the middle of the back lawn, to live the classics, as Daddy read them to us.

Slowly, gently the earth has warmed,

No chilling wind on this summer day.

Gone is the snow, gone are the clouds,

Sprinklers sprinkle, and children play.

Butterflies, with their regal wings,

Flitter among the pretty flowers.

In the shade of a tree, is a good place to be,

And the children play there for hours.

Daddy pulls out the rusty old barbeque

And, with a wire brush, cleans the grill.

The charcoal is lit, in the dark old pit,

Pleasant summer memories linger still.

Mama’s gone back in the kitchen,

She’s making homemade ice cream.

Summer’s more sublime, Most of the time,

Or that’s just the way it would seem.

Running around in the backyard at dark,

The grass feels velvety between our toes,

Mismatched shirts, over ragged shorts,

Oh, how I loved those summer clothes.

Sitting down to a pleasant summer meal,

Under a blanket of bright, heavenly stars,

Grilled hamburger patties, toasted buns,

And mustard and mayo, right from the jars.

Corn on the cob, with melted butter,

A fresh green salad and olives, too.

It’s all so delicious, but remember:

Save room for lots of ice cream, too!

After supper, when the dishes are cleared,

Gathered on the blanket, it’s time to read,

Daddy’s voice brings alive “Gulliver’s Travels”

What more perfect evening could I conceive?

For My Best, Best Friend

Long ago, and far away,
This sweet little boy stood in a park.
A pensive look
And deep, brown eyes,
On his journey, barely embarked.

As he traveled on his appointed path,
It seemed that it would never end.
In the school of Life
He picked up titles:
Student, soldier, husband, father, friend.

And life went on in a normal fashion
Still seeming as if it would never end.
Then things changed,
And rearranged,
And his star began to descend.

He began to fear, for his Twilight Years,
Was this descent to be his fate?
Trying one last dance,
He took a chance
And asked his Somebody for a date.

The evening was like magic,
As if a Genie opened up a jar.
Their love revealed
And, with a kiss, sealed
By the light of a shooting star.

No more doubts or uncertainties,
No need to wonder how it might end,
No more fears,
For his Twilight Years
Will be spent with his best, Best Friend.