Sara Bareilles - Brave (Official Video)

2 + 24 Together

 

Photo by Luis Zambrano

We've twenty-six years

together, we weathered the

storms that came our way

(Originally published 2024/10/22 at 3:39 pm)

55

 

Photo by Ray Bilcliff

Looking out through the rain drizzled window in March

I see April approaching with my birthday in tow.

55

Over half a century, fifty years since I was in kindergarten,

thankful that I am past the decades of awkwardness and

not being comfortable in my own skin.

Thankful that I am past the years of searching.

I am capable and competent, comfortable in who and what I am, 

confident with where I am.

55

I am.

I have arrived.

Every moment is lived in peace and to its fullness with acceptance.

55

No dreams have I, but I greet the the future with curiosity

and excitement. Yes, there are goals.

Practicality requires that I meet goals to tend to my needs

for who will care for me in my years to come?

An ageless spirit necessitates seeking experiences

-moments-

with family, friends, the forests of Oregon,

my cats, myself, my imagination.

55

I welcome it with open arms!

I am old and I am young.

I am the middle child of Longevity.

I am alive.  I have conquered

myself.

(Originally published 2024/03/31 at 5:52 pm)

Gratitude

 

Photo by Kampus Production: https://www.pexels.comom

Joy robbed her of melancholy
and robbed her of words.

The novel stalled,
the blog posts stopped.

In this season of gratitude she had abundance.

Without loss,
the page remained blank.

She did not want to pick at the old wounds.

Love extinguished pain.

“I have all that I need and I have no wants.”

“He’s changed, I’ve changed, we’ve changed together.”

There is peace,
there is love,
there is joy.

There is a future together.
“‘Til death do us part.”

And they remained that way.

Not ‘The end.’
The beginning.

Blessings to all this Thanksgiving.

(Originally published 2022/11/13 at 12:23 pm)

Love

 

Silver Falls, Oregon – Photo credit: Lisa Barker

Love like dappled light
intermittently blinds then clarifies
as my heart drives the back roads of my mind.

I don’t remember the pain, but
briefly it surprises me with bursts of sunlight that
quickly vanish into shades of clarity.

I follow the road with confidence, knowing well
the curves that wind deeper into dense, lush forests of noble fir.

A new stretch of certainty emerges and
I coast through the present road conditions
with eyes wide open.

When the road unwinds through quiet, tawny pastures,
the sun sets in my rear view mirror and twilight greets me;
the stars guide my way
reflecting the illumination of my intuition and
the draft of wind through the open window
catches my breath.

(Originally published 2022/08/03 at 1:06 am)

America - Sister Golden Hair (Official Audio)

You speak truth, Ms. O'Connor