We do not remember days
We remember moments
Cesare Pavese
July has been my staycation month, which has been great!
From beaches to garden spaces
From tourist spots, to less known beautiful locations
From bustling to quiet…
Sharing time with a friend is a gift.
The moments of the last few days have provided many memories.
Time spent with friends is refreshing to the soul.
Summer is running,
already running away
It just arrived…
We spent a day at the county fair,
what a day it was
On a whim
we entered the Butterfly Farm exhibit
Enclosed environment filled with
beautiful
fragil
graceful
free
curios
butterflies
And people
All captivated or standing in awe
Numerous varieties of butterflies
each with their own colors and markings,
different species were drawn to various colors
They were emboldened and landed on whatever drew their attention.
The people moved among these winged creatures.
Enchanted by their movement,
their color,
their beauty.
We left the butterflies
Enjoyed other exhibits
Went out to dinner with friends
Returned home, contented
Reflection afterwards
brought the realization
most were smiling in this butterfly environment.
Leaving one wondering
when and where was the last time so many people were visibly happy?
why does it not happen more frequently?
Yes, we left the butterflies
yet a part of their spirit remains within me.
I say,
Bring on the butterflies!
Finally
Sitting in a quiet space
My senses are settling down
Sifting through the exposure of this trip.
After landing in the historic, multi-cultural metropolitan area
Sights, sounds, smells and flavors all came together at one time.
In one place…
Constantly
Traffic never stops
Sirens punctuate the air
Music blares, escaping various doorways
Colliding with the sound of those performing in the street.
People walk these streets
Holding hands
Carrying drinks
Smoking
The smell of marijuana hangs heavy in the outside air.
Honing my senses to look beyond the surface
I find buildings designed in days gone by.
Some proudly display hanging baskets and planters overflowing with flowers
Set against decorative metalwork balconies and entrance ways.
Others, covered with graffiti often host for-sale signs
Hoping to lure someone into the neighborhood.
Many small shops emit strong fragrances from within
Tobacco from the cigar shop
Conflicted florals from candle shops or body works shops
Rivaling savory or smoky fragrances from the plethora of eateries
All compete against the backdrop scent of overflowing garbage bins and pot wafting through the air.
Cuisine is as varied as everything else in this city
Showcasing the multiple cultures that settled and blended here.
Surprising
Delightful
And, so enjoyable!
I ate my way through the city with each meal awaking different taste buds.
The people who lived or worked within the city were friendly
They genuinely wanted you to enjoy your stay in their city.
They were proud of their heritage
Sharing stories of their history and the culture’s survival through time.
A few more days removed
I recognize how much new historical knowledge I gained while there.
Given the opportunity, The Big Easy could awaken something in you too.
Daffodils make me smile and remind me another season is coming. This piece was first published in Clouds, Dreams and Fantasy Copyright © 2023. (available on Amazon).
I seldom date my pieces. However, the spring of 2020 was the beginning of the Covid Pandemic and all the changes it brought to the world.
Happy Spring! Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section.
Between Life and Death
Spring 2020
by Linda L. Flynn
I cut my first
bunch of daffodils
before Easter.
It snowed during the night.
The blooms left for later
bent under the weight.
Buds not yet open
succumbed to the
morning snow.
My bunch of daffodils
in the living room
brought sunshine and the promise
of spring to come.
I’ve enjoyed this
bundle of blooms.
I’ve watched
the petals on these beautiful blooms
first become paper thin.
Still beautiful,
but the truth
of their fragility
is now evident.
A few more days
and the edges of those paper blooms
are dry and wrinkled,
some have turned a darker color,
others just became more fragile.
How like us.
We bud and bloom,
bringing sunshine and promise
to those around us.
Our lives bring beauty to some.
Like these blossoms,
we don’t even recognize
the gradual process
of becoming more fragile.
Our bones are
more brittle,
muscle strength
steadily disappears,
our skin becomes
more translucent,
and our hair thins.
Like my daffodils,
we often fail
to recognize
these changes until
something happens.
Last night brought one
of those happenings.
I feel like
I should howl
and be in dissent.
Today, I’m weary and wonder,
what is this time all about?
March was a whirlwind.
Weather changes
Time adjustments
Traveling adventures
House projects
Some quiet downtime
Midwest adventures.
Just a few photos…
Traveling is fun, but so is returning home.
Last night we went to the theatre to see Tartuffe.
It has been years since I’ve seen a Moliere play.
What a treat!
I’d forgotten how timeless his work is.
Kudos to North Coast Repertory Theatre for doing such outstanding work with this masterpiece.
A weekend at the shore
Seemingly at the very edge of the world,
Steps from the deck descend the rocks
Then end.
High tide rolls in
Obliterating the bottom steps
And sand below.
Waves crash upon the rocks
Spraying high into the air
Then dropping on the deck
before returning to the sea.
Other waves role in splashing against the house.
The tide recedes
and the ever-constant cycle repeats.
The sun comes up and then,
The sun goes down with
God’s majesty on full display…
As his hand stamp sunset ends each blue day.
Here’s a peek
at what’s to come
after the storm…
During the day’s reflection, I pondered the completion of another trip around the sun and found myself standing on the threshold to another decade. It’s unfathomable I’ve moved through so many years. Yet, here I am.
…and the adventure continues!
Taking chances
Isn’t that what life is about?
Another journey around the sun.
Out with the old, In with the new
What does it mean to you?
The sun is shining, lighting up the land around me
Blue sky intensifying the colors of the day
A light breeze blows beckoning me outdoors
Just as the new year beckons me to throw aside caution
And enter with wild abandon into the unknown future
The future –
…another year older
…deeper understanding
…new challenges and adventures await
…refining or honing skills
…giving up unrealistic expectations
…savoring the gift of another day
…tenderly holding precious memories
…valuing relationships
…acknowledging more, the power of God’s love
…and learning how to walk more in this love
It is all a chance.
A chance I take willingly.
Out with the old, In with the new
What does it mean to you?
Traditions
Just the word evokes many thoughts
Different for each of us
Impact of these thoughts is equally dissimilar
Some individuals become melancholy
Others upbeat and joyful
The word suggests something one can count on
Yet in truth, traditions reflect change
My granny baked an abundant assortment of cookies
Enjoyed by all, with each of us having our favorites
I took my favorite and ensured it was made every year
Thus, my children were introduced to my favorite for the Christmas season
Then their children delighted in these same little delicate sweets
Each of these children have carried some traditions from my home to their own
Adding new twists and turns creating something unique for their families
No littles at my house for the holidays
Yet these little green trees still get pulled from the oven to be enjoyed by others
An adult grandchild, with children of her own
Requested her gift be a box of these cookies for her family
I smile
How my granny would be honored to know
These little gems she so readily baked
Are still being enjoyed five generations later
A tradition continues.
Journey to the Heights 