SUE ( "MRS. COACH") HOGLAND'S 80TH B'DAY

WELCOME, AND THANK-YOU FOR GOING TO THE TROUBLE TO SEARCH OUT THIS INFORMATION!

IF YOU ARE READING THIS, YOU HAVE BEEN A PRECIOUS PART OF MY MOM'S 

( AND MY) LIFE, NOW OR IN THE PAST AND YOU ARE PART OF WHAT HAS MADE THE HOGLANDS.....WELL.......THE HOGLANDS ! MEMORIES OF YOU AND YOURS ARE THE THINGS THAT HAVE HELPED MAKE UP THE WILD, WACKY, WONDERFUL 

WORLD OF OUR FAMILY.........AND  HELPED SEE US THROUGH SOME OF LIFE'S GREATEST LOSSES.

ON AUGUST 16TH, MOM WILL BE CELEBRATING HER 80TH BIRTHDAY.

IF YOU ARE SO INCLINED, I ASK YOUR HELP IN SHOWERING MOM WITH WITH THOSE HAPPY MEMORIES ALONG WITH BIRTHDAY GREETINGS FOR THIS MILESTONE BIRTHDAY. 

BELOW, YOU WILL FIND HER CONTACT INFORMATION AND SOME SMALL IDEAS IF YOU DESIRE TO DO MORE THAN DROP HER A NOTE.

THERE IS NOT A TIME THAT WE ARE TOGETHER THAT ONE OR MORE OF YOU OR YOUR FAMILIES DOESN'T COME UP IN OUR CONVERSATIONS---MANY TIMES RESULTING IN HYSTERICAL LAUGHTER OR SWEET TEARS, BUT ALWAYS SMILES AND GRATITUDE FOR BEING ABLE TO RECALL SO MANY GREAT MOMENTS OF A WORLD GONE BY.

TIME HAS BEEN GRACIOUS AND DEALING WITH FUZ'S DEATH IS FINALLY EASIER  FOR HER; BUT SHE WILL BE FACING A LIFE CHANGING SURGERY IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING BETTER TO ENCOURAGE HER AND BRING MORE JOY INTO HER LIFE THAN HEARING FROM ANY ONE OF YOU.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PASS ON THIS INFORMATION TO OTHERS WHO MIGHT LIKE TO BE PART OF THIS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION.

AND I WOULD WELCOME A CALL FROM ANYONE THAT MIGHT LIKE MORE INFORMATION.

MY SINCERE THANKS,

GIN (HOGLAND) MATHEWS

PH.# 360-353-3382

                         SUE HOGLAND'S 80TH BIRTHDAY-------AUGUST 16TH

                              29388 S. Elisha Road; Canby, Ore. 97013   ph.# 503-263-3497

                         *** there's nothing better than going to the mail box and finding a hand addressed envelope complete with a good ol' fashioned stamp affixed.(or so I've been told :})

                         ***mom loves to go out for coffee or lunch and nothing would please her more than an invite for dinner or dessert with any of you and/or your families.

                         ***she really enjoys the simple luxury of a manicure or pedicure.

                         ***she enjoys shopping on QVC.

THANKS, AGAIN, FOR HELPING MAKE "A LITTLE MAGIC" !  LOVE, GIN 

GIFTS...........

WEBSTER'S DEFINES THE WORD SIMPLY...........'SOMETHING THAT IS GIVEN'.

WITH THE HOLIDAY SEASON JUST PASSED, IT SEEMS AN TOPIC EASILY BROUGHT TO MIND.
OURS WAS A SWEET CHRISTMAS.
AFTER MANY SPENT FAR FROM HOME AND/OR IN ILL HEALTH, WHAT JOY WAS MINE IN HAVING MOST OF MY BROOD PILED UNDER OUR SMALL ROOF. THERE IS NOTHING SWEETER TO THESE EARS THAN THE BUSY SOUNDS, BAWDY JOKES, AND FAMILIAR LAUGHTER OF THOSE I HELPED BRING INTO THIS WORLD. WITH OUR BEDROOM JUST OF THE KITCHEN, MY RESTING TIMES WERE FILLED WITH SUCH MUSIC. THESE ARE THE CAROLS OF THE SEASON THAT FILL MY REMEMBERINGS.

GIFTS WERE PLENTY AND HEART FELT. TOOLS AND CLOTHING FOR WORK, LONGED FOR  HOBBY MATERIALS,  FUN STUFF DESIGNED TO REMIND US ALL THAT  'YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD'........AND THE LOVINGLY CRAFTED, HAND-MADE GIFTS THAT ARE PART OF WHO WE ARE AS A FAMILY.
...................AND TWO SIMPLE CANDY CANES.

THE EARLY MORNING ACTIVITIES HAD DIED DOWN.....AND A LAST MINUTE TRIP TO THE STORE WAS NEEDED TO PREPARE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.
AS I FINISHED PULLING ON MY SHOES AND THROUGH A JACKET ON OVER MY P.J.S,   I GRABBED A COUPLE OF CANDY CANES,  TIED WITH RED RIBBONS, FROM THE CHRISTMAS TREE.  " A SNACK FOR THE ROAD?"  SOMEONE ASKED.  NO, I TOLD THEM BUT I FIGURED ANYONE WORKING A CONVENIENCE STORE ON CHRISTMAS MORNING DESERVED A 'LITTLE SOMETHING'.......AND HEADED OUT THE DOOR.
THE CLOSEST LITTLE STORE WAS CLOSED, SO I CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD KNOWING I WOULD FIND SOMETHING OPEN.
SEVERAL BLOCKS LATER, I FOUND MY DESTINATION BUT TOO LATE TO MAKE THE TURN INTO THEIR LOT SO I PULLED UP TO THE NEXT LIGHT TO CIRCLE BACK.
AS I SAT WAITING FOR THE LIGHT,  I NOTICED TWO MEN PASSING ON  THE SIDEWALK.....THEN,   THE CANDY CANES ON THE CAR SEAT.  I ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOW AND MOTIONED THEM OVER.
RETICENT AT FIRST, THEY EVENTUALLY WHEELED THEIR GROCERY CART AND BICYCLE  OVER TO THE CAR.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS, GENTLEMEN !" I SAID WITH A SMILE, HOLDING THE RIBBONED TREATS OUT TO THEM.
"MAM, YOU ARE OUR ANGEL SENT FROM HEAVEN.." ONE SAID WITH A TOOTHLESS GRIN, "AND AN ANSWER TO PRAYER." SAID THE OTHER.
I WAS TAKEN ABACK......... THEY EXPLAINED THEIR WORDS
.
THEY HAD JUST BEEN DISCUSSING HOW HARD IT WAS AT CHRISTMAS TIME NOT TO BE REMEMBERED BY SOMEONE WHO CARED. ONE HAD REMINDED THE OTHER THAT GOD WAS FAITHFUL AND, NOT TO FEAR, THERE WOULD BE A GIFT FOR EACH OF THEM BEFORE THE DAY WAS OVER................JUST THEN, I HAD HONKED AND WAIVED THEM OVER.

FOR A MOMENT... MY ORIGINAL MISSION WAS FORGOTTEN.  MY HEART SWELLED, TEARS FILLED MY EYES AND WITH ALL THE WARM CELEBRATION AND IT'S TRAPPINGS THAT WAITED FOR ME AT HOME, I KNEW, THAT FOR THAT MOMENT IN TIME, I WAS IN EXACTLY THE RIGHT PLACE.....WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE
.
TWO STRANGERS, TWO CANDY CANES, AND THREE LIVES.......TOUCHED FOREVER.
THE SIMPLEST OF 'GIFTS' WITH ONE SIMPLE MESSAGE-----YOU ARE OF VALUE.

THE GIVING OF GIFTS HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE TIME BEGAN. IT COMES SO NATURALLY TO YOUNG CHILDREN. MOST OF US  HAVE KNOWN THE JOY OF A HANDPICKED BOUQUET PRESENTED BY GRUBBY HANDS--- TOPPED WITH A SWEET SMILE AND BUTTON NOSE SMUDGED WITH 'DANDELION BUTTER'.

SOMETIMES THE PROCESS OF GIFT GIVING TAKES TIME, SOMETIMES, THE SAVING OF HARD EARNED MONEY. BUT SOMETIMES... ONLY A SPLIT SECOND DECISION TO LISTEN TO ONES HEART AND TAKE ACTION.................
ONE THING IS CERTAIN.  WE ALL LIVE  LIVES OF ABUNDANCE OF ONE KIND OR ANOTHER AND THE RESULTS OF A LIFE WILLING TO 'GIFT' FROM SUCH ABUNDANCE SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
___________________________________________________________________________

MORE GIFTS...........

IT SNOWED LAST NIGHT .....

NOT A HEAVY BLANKET

LIKE HEAVY WINTERS DO.

MORE LIKE A LAMB JUST AFTER BIRTH

OR NEWLY SHORN EWE.

MID-WINTER GRASS LAYS STRUGGLING

TO PEAK IT'S SKINNY HEAD

THROUGH THE CRUST OF FALLEN SNOW

LIKE CHILD'S EYES FROM A BED.

ALL'S NOT WHITE, LIKE SOMETIMES IS 

WHEN SNOW HAS COME TO CALL,

BUT MORE PRECISE, LIKE ARTISAN

APPLIED A BRUSH OR AWL.

PLACING EDGES ON THE YARD

AND MARKING ASPHALT'S PLAN.

ALL QUITE CLEAR AND VISIBLE-

DONE BY QUICK, DEFT HAND.

SOMETIMES MY HEART LONGS FOR SNOW

-IT USUALLY COMES AS RAIN.

BUT TAKE IT, I DO WILLINGLY

KNOWING ONCE AGAIN......

WHAT I LONG FOR MOST OF ALL

DOESN'T ALWAYS COME

JUST WHEN I THINK IT'S NEEDED MOST

BUT WHEN NEEDED WORK IS DONE.

ONLY THEN THESE HEART'S DESIRES

ARE GENEROUSLY GIVEN

BY ONE WHO KNOWS WHAT'S BEST FOR ME

TO LIVE THIS LIFE I'M GIVEN.

GIFTS........THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING .

G.H.M.

CHANGES

LIFE  NEVER TURNS OUT THE WAY WE PLAN.

THIS FACT WAS REINFORCED IN A RECENT CONVERSATION WITH A LIFE-LONG FRIEND.

THIS FRIEND AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER SINCE WE WERE FIVE AND ATTENDED ALL 13 YEARS OF SCHOOL TOGETHER IN A SMALL TIMBER TOWN -POPULATION-1,500.
BOTH OF OUR FATHERS TAUGHT AND COACHED AT THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL AND BOTH OF OUR MOTHERS WORKED IN DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES. WE BOTH  HAD BIG BROTHERS AND WE DANCED TOGETHER FOR OVER 12 YEARS.
SHE STOOD WITH ME AS I SAID MY WEDDING VOWS.
THE RARE KIND OF  FRIEND THAT CAN  SAY 'I KNEW YOU WHEN.....'  AND CAN REMIND YOU WHO YOU REALLY ARE WHEN LIFE HAS A TENDENCY TO BLUR THE IMAGE.

HOW DID  THIS HAPPEN !?!............I ASKED RECENTLY.
I WAS THE ONE THAT HAD DECIDED TO GET MARRIED 8 MOS. OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND ESTABLISH MY HOME AND YOUNG, GROWING FAMILY AS CLOSE TO "HOME" AS POSSIBLE. SHE WAS THE ONE THAT WAS OFF TO COLLEGE AND AFTER GRADUATION ? ... ON TO WHATEVER ADVENTURES LIFE HAD TO OFFER.
35 YEARS LATER, I AM THE ONE WHO HAS LIVED IN 9 DIFFERENT PLACES.....INCLUDING HALF WAY AROUND THE WORLD.
SINCE THE MID-80'S, SHE HAS LIVED ONLY MILES FROM OUR CHILDHOOD HOME,  RAISING AND EDUCATING HER 4 CHILDREN HERSELF WITH THE HELP AND SUPPORT A GREAT HUSBAND... A GUY WE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH.
WHO'D A THUNK IT !?!

OH, I HAD MY SHARE OF ADVENTURES BEFORE I GOT MARRIED. MY FAMILY FOSTERED SUCH THINGS.
MY BROTHER SPENT HIS JR. YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL IN SOUTH AFRICA. MY SISTER SPENT HERS IN TASMANIA. I TURNED DOWN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND A YEAR IN JAPAN AND INSTEAD I DANCED SEMI-PROFESSIONALLY MY JR. AND SR. YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL.    CRAZY, FUN,  EXCITING TIMES----ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE LOVE, SUPPORT, AND TRUST OF PARENTS THAT GAVE ME THE FREEDOM TO SPEND WEEK-ENDS AND A GOOD PART OF EACH WEEK IN THE BIG CITY--- REHEARSING, PERFORMING AND PLAYING IN THE MAGICAL WORLD OF THE 'STAGE'.

SINCE THEN, I HAVE LIVED THREE LIVES THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD GIVE ONE FOR.
I'VE HAD THE LUXURY OF RAISING 3 CHILDREN AS A STAY-AT-HOME MOM AT A TIME IN MY LIFE WHEN I WAS YOUNG, ENERGETIC AND BLISSFULLY NAIVE.  WE ALL GREW UP TOGETHER.
I'VE LIVED AND TRAVELED  THE CORPORATE LIFE STYLE  LONG ENOUGH TO BE PUBLISHED AND AWARDED  MAJOR AWARDS AND THE RECOGNITION OF MY INDUSTRY.
AND I HAVE LIVED ABROAD FOR 5 YEARS.

OUR LAST MOVE WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO. THE 2ND SINCE RETURNING TO THE U.S.
STILL WITHIN THE SAME STATE BUT CLOSER TO FAMILY.
IT HAS NOT BEEN WITHOUT MAJOR ADJUSTMENTS.   FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR LIVES, THESE TWO COUNTRY KIDS, RAISED IN SMALL TIMBER TOWNS, NOW LIVE IN A CITY . A SMALL CITY OF SORTS, BUT A CITY NONE THE LESS.
GETTING USED TO SEEING PEOPLE  EVERY TIME WE STEP OUTSIDE, SECURITY FENCES AND STREET LIGHTS THAT HAVE MADE IT DIFFICULT TO FIND THE DARK PEACE AND QUIET THAT SHOULD BE FOUND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
OUR COCKER SPANIEL NO LONGER HAS 10 ACRES TO ROAM AND MUST NOW FIND A SMALL FRONT AND BACK YARD AN ACCEPTABLE PLACE TO CHASE BALLS AND DO HER 'DOGLY' DUTY.
WITH TIME AND HARD WORK, IT HAS BECOME HOME. COMPLETE WITH NEIGHBORS WE CALL FRIENDS AND THE SOUNDS OF TRAINS, TRAFFIC, AND SIRENS ALL JUST PART OF THE 'BACKGROUND' OF OUR LIVES.............................UNTIL JAN, 2ND- 2012.
AS A RESULT OF CHANGES IN HIS JOB, MY HUSBANDS  IS NOW LIVING IN L.A. ALMOST HALF OF HIS LIFE........AND MINE.
35 YEARS OF MARRIAGE AND I NOW LIVE ON MY OWN FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS OUT OF EVERY MONTH.

CHANGE ............. ONE OF THE ONLY CONSTANTS OF LIFE.
      _____________________________________________________________________


THE FOLLOWING WAS WRITTEN LAST SPRING.  A " VICTORY LAP" OF SORTS AFTER THE GRUELING PROCESS OF 'SETTLING IN'.

IT'S EARLY MORN, I JUST WOKE UP.

TIME: 3  A.M. AND MORE.

MY PUP HAS HAD HER MORNING FEAST,

MY MAN HAS CEASED TO SNORE.

I'M SITTING IN THE BIG, BROWN CHAIR,

COFFEE NOT YET STARTED.

IT'S QUIET STILL,THE AIR IS COOL,

DAY 'BOUT TO BE IMPARTED.

WITH ALL THE THINGS A NEW DAY BRINGS,

IT'S BUSINESS AND STRIFE-

BILLS TO PAY AND CHORES TO DO...

A PRETTY SIMPLE LIFE.

BUT PEN AND PAPER BECKON ME,

WITH FINGER CURLED THEY CALL

TO PLACE THE WORDS THAT FILL MY HEAD,

NOW EASY TO RECALL.

MY LAURALI HAS JUST JOINED ME.

THIS DOG OF NOBLE DEED.

SHE JUST CURLS UP AND SIGHS A BIT,

CHIN RESTING ON MY FEET.

I HEAR THE POT, NOW BUBBLING,

PREPARING DAYS FIRST BREW.

IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE MY MAN

BEGINS HIS NEW DAY, TOO.

I  MUST ATTEND MY CANINE CHARGE-

PRESENTING URGENT NEED.

SHE PAWS HER NOSE AND SNORTS A BIT,

AS IF A NOBLE STEED.

I WILLINGLY CHECK HER EYES,

MY ATTENTION THEY REQUIRE.

SO I ATTEND, LIKE LOYAL PAGE,

ATTENDS TO WILLING SQUIRE.

I AM HER SLAVE, THOUGH WILLINGLY,

MY SERVICES DISCHARGE.

MY "PAWS" HAVE THUMBS - HERS DO NOT,

MINE ON HUMAN ARMS.

NOW ALL IS WELL, MY MAN IS UP.

I'M MET WITH BRISTLY KISS.

HE UNDERSTANDS, ( I THINK HE DOES)

MY NEED TO SCRIBBLE THIS.

HE PULLS ON SWEATS, HIS GLASSES FOUND-

ALL PLACED THE NIGHT BEFORE.

(WE ALL HAVE OUR FUNNY WAYS)

HE LEAVES THROUGH KITCHEN DOOR.

BUT NOT BEFORE HE DRAWS A CUP

OF FRESH DRIPPED COFFEE DEW

POURED IN HIS CUP I'VE PLACED NEARBY-

DOING WHAT I DO.

THIS MORNING DANCE, I'VE LEARNED TO LOVE-

THOUGH DIFFICULT AT TIMES......

BUT WITH SIMPLE LIVES, LIKE SIMPLE WORDS

-IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME

TO TAKE THEM ALL, AND LOVINGLY........

MAKE A SIMPLE RHYME.

THE MUSIC HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO CHANGE.

AS THE DYED IN THE WOOL "HOOFER" THAT I AM, I 'SPOSE THE ONLY LOGICAL THING TO DO IS REACH INTO MY DANCE BAG AND CHANGE INTO THE APPROPRIATE SHOES.

SHALL WE DANCE ?

G.H.M

MEMORIES

MEMORIES..........WHAT EXACTLY ARE THEY ?

AN AWE INSPIRING INTERACTION OF CHEMICALS, COMPOUNDS AND ELECTRICAL IMPULSES FOUND  IN THE HUMAN BRAIN  DESIGNED TO CATALOG EVEN THE MOST MINUTE DETAILS OF A PERSON'S LIFE.
IS IT THAT CUT AND DRIED ?

VERY EARLY MEMORIES,(BEGINNING ABOUT 18 MOS. OF AGE), AS WELL AS SENSORY MEMORIES --- THOSE OF SMELLS, COLORS, TEXTURES, SIGHTS AND SOUNDS, EVEN INTENSE EMOTIONS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF MY MEMORY WORLD.

I HAVE EVEN DEVELOPED AN AMATEUR HYPOTHESIS REGARDING ADOLESCENCE.

BECAUSE OF  THE DRAMATIC IMPACT THAT THOSE YEARS AND THEIR REMEMBERINGS HAVE HAD ON THE REST OF MY LIFE.   I WONDER..... COULD IT BE THAT BECAUSE OF THE INTENSE BATHING OF THE BRAIN WITH HORMONES DURING  THIS TIME OF LIFE, THESE EXPERIENCES (THUS MEMORIES) ARE IMPRINTED MORE INTENSELY ON OUR DEVELOPING PSYCHE ?

I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER.....BUT I FIND IT AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

SOMETHING HAPPENED ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO THAT STARTED ME THINKING EVEN MORE  ABOUT MEMORIES. A PROCESS THAT HAS LED ME TO THIS PAGE TODAY.

WE HAVE A GREAT FAMILY REUNION, ON MY FATHERS SIDE, EVERY SUMMER. A GATHERING OF PLUS OR MINUS 50 SOULS, BOUND BY BLOOD AND ENCOMPASSING AT LEAST 4 GENERATIONS---SOMETIMES 5.      IT WAS  HERE IT HAPPENED.
AS A SATURDAY NIGHT ACTIVITY, I 'HOSTED' A GAME-SHOW OF SORTS, DESIGNED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH OTHER.   AND LEARN WE DID !     IT WAS A BLAST!
QUESTIONNAIRES WERE SENT OUT IN ADVANCE ASKING EACH INDIVIDUAL ABOUT 15  QUESTIONS. THAT NIGHT, I WOULD READ 3 CORRESPONDING ANSWERS TO EACH QUESTION AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY WAS TO PUT THE RIGHT ANSWER WITH THE CORRECT FAMILY MEMBER.
LEARNING THINGS THAT WE COULD HAVE NEVER ANTICIPATED, WE LAUGHED UNTIL WE CRIED.... OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND RETIRED THAT NIGHT EDUCATED, ENLIGHTENED AND ENAMOURED OF THOSE WE CALL FAMILY.

ONE OF THE SIMPLEST QUESTIONS---"WHAT DO YOU COLLECT?"---SEEMED A NO BRAINER AS SEVERAL OF THE FAMILY ENJOY AND/OR  DEAL IN COLLECTIBLES AND ANTIQUES.
BUT IT WAS ONE UNEXPECTED ANSWER THAT TOOK MY BREATH AWAY....."MEMORIES".
MEMORIES WERE WHAT THIS FAMILY MEMBER COLLECTED.  A CONCEPT WORTH PONDERING...AND HAS LED  ME TO BE MUCH MORE AWARE OF EVERYDAY, AS WELL AS SPECIAL OCCASIONS AND HOW I 'FILE THEM AWAY' SINCE THEN.

THIS PAST HOLIDAY SEASON, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A CARE PACKAGE TO AN ELDERLY NEIGHBOR WHO'S WIFE HAD DIED ABOUT 10 MOS. AGO. AS ALWAYS, I INCLUDED A NOTE.  AS I READ IT BEFORE SEALING, I WONDERED IF I MIGHT HAVE CROSSED SOME BOUNDS OF NEIGHBORLY PROPRIETY. (I HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO SUFFER 'PEN IN MOUTH' SYNDROME IF I DON'T SELF EDIT APPROPRIATELY.)
BUT I DID SEAL IT AND SHARED THESE WORDS WITH ED AND HIS FAMILY:
"....PLEASE DON'T BE AFRAID TO LET THOSE PRECIOUS MEMORIES CREEP FROM YOUR HEARTS BACKROOM SHELF. THOUGH PAINFUL AT FIRST, THEY ARE TRUE GIFTS TO BE TREASURED AND WHAT CONNECT US TO THOSE WE LOVE MOST IN THIS LIFE."
OUR NEXT ENCOUNTER WAS FILLED WITH TEARS,  LAUGHTER AND TENTATIVE HUGS ALL 'ROUND.
MEMORIES.....THE ONLY THINGS I KNOW OF THAT COMBINE OUR HEARTS, SOULS AND MINDS AND COLLECTIVELY, CONTAIN SO MUCH OF WHO AND WHAT WE ARE...WHETHER WE ARE CONSCIENCE OF THEM OR NOT.
                             ____________________________________________________

THE FOLLOWING, WRITTEN FOR MY DAUGHTER, COMES FROM A HOT SUMMER NIGHT OF HER CHILDHOOD. THE SWEET SOUNDS OF GIRLISH PLAY AND LAUGHTER
FLOATED IN THOUGH OUR OPEN WINDOW.  I WENT TO INVESTIGATE.

LET ME TAKE YOU THERE.....

THERE'S A COOL, QUIET PLACE IN THE EVENING SHADE-

I THINK IT'S A PLACE THAT THE FAIRIES MADE.

A PLACE WHERE ALL THINGS TURN BLACK AND WHITE,

THE END OF THE DAY, THE BEGINNING OF NIGHT.

YOU CAN SIT PEACEFULLY, ALL BY YOURSELF

OR USHER SWEET TREASURES FROM HEART'S BACKROOM SHELF.

THINK OF TOMORROW..... CONSIDER TODAY

OR  JUST QUIETLY SIT AND FLOAT GENTLY AWAY.

SWEET, FRAGRANT FLOWERS BLOOM IN DAMP SOIL

GIVING SCENT TO THE BALM FOR DAYS HEAVY TOIL.

GRASS TICKLES FANCY, MEMORY AND TOES

JUST WHAT ONE CRAVES FOR LIFE AND IT'S WOES.

A CAT SLIPS AWAY THROUGH A BREAK IN THE WALL.

TREE CANOPY COVERS...PROTECTION FOR ALL.

SHEER COMPLETE COMFORT, RESPITE...CONTENT;

GLIMPSING THE SHIFTING OF GOD'S FIRMAMENT.

LIGHT FINALLY FADES, PAVING THE WAY

FOR DAWNS EARLY COMING---EVENTUALLY DAY.

IT'S COOL......AND IT'S QUIET

IN THE EVENING SHADE.

I THINK IT'S A PLACE THAT THE FAIRIES MADE.

TO "COLLECTING" MEMORIES.      THANK-YOU, SCOTT.

G.H.M.

Words.............

   WORDS, SIMPLE WORDS---HOW I LOVE THEM.
THE WAY THEY FEEL IN THE MOUTH BEFORE THEY CROSS THE LIPS TO BE HEARD BY THE INTENDED RECEIVER.
AND THE WRITTEN WORD......ORIGINATING IN THE HEART AND MIND, FLOWING FROM ARM TO HAND TO PEN;  CULMINATING IN THE GENTLY ROLLING LINES AND LOOPS TO ULTIMATELY CAPTURE THOUGHTS THAT CAN REVEAL THE INNER MOST ESSENCE OF A PERSON.
........AND THE WAY THEY SOUND.
COULD A BUBBLE BE  REPRESENTED BY ANY MORE FITTING LETTERS, OR THE IMAGE CONGERED BY THE WORD 'SCENT' BE ANY OTHER THAN THAT OF A SWEET SMELL WAFTING THROUGH THE AIR YOU BREATH ?
WHEN THE EXCLAMATION "SHIT!" IS HEARD, IT IS EASILY  IMAGINED WHAT MAY NOW BE ATTACHED TO THE CRIERS FOOT !?!

    I GREW UP IN A HOME WITH A GREAT RESPECT FOR WORDS AND THEIR USE. WITH  AN EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT MOTHER THAT GREW UP IN A DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND A FATHER THAT TAUGHT HIGH SCHOOL---WORDS AND THEIR USAGE WERE NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.
IT COULD BE SAID THAT MOM WAS THE EXPERT ON COMMUNICATION  USING WORDS AND POP'S FORTE WAS IN NOT USING THEM, HAVING LEARNED THROUGHOUT HIS REMARKABLE LIFE THAT A WELL APPLIED SILENCE CAN SPEAK VOLUMES.   (BOTH EXPERTS IN THE ART OF A WELL DIRECTED EXPLATIVE !)
OVER THE PAST 35 YEARS, MY  WORD SKILLS  HAVE BEEN EXQUISTLY HONED BY A LOVING, SELF-TAUGHT WORDSMITH WHO SAW ENOUGH IN ME AS AN 18 YEAR OLD WOMAN-CHILD TO MARRY ME AND WATCH ME GROW UP THE REST OF THE WAY AS WE STARTED AND GREW OUR YOUNG FAMILY. (THERE IS NO GREATER LEARNING EXPERIENCE THAN TO BE IN THE MIDST OF A 'HEATED DISCUSSION', ABOUT TO MAKE A POIGNANT REMARK,  AND HAVE YOUR GRAMMER CORRECTED!)

THE FOLLOWING WAS BEGUN YEARS AGO. ORIGINALY AS AN EXPRESSION OF INDESCRIBABLE PAIN AND FRUSTRATION. TODAY I  SHARE IT WITH YOU AS A DECLARATION OF PEACE, RECONCILIATION AND JOY.  JOY IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT,  IF I NEVER LEARN ANOTHER THING IN THIS LIFE I HAVE BEEN GIVEN, I KNOW THAT THESE THINGS ARE TRUE.

SOMEKIND OF SOME DAYS,

THEYR'E NOT HARD TO KNOW-

I CAN FEEL MY HEART RACING

WITH NO PLACE TO GO.

CHILDHOOD DREAMS 

 HAVE ALL PASSED, LIKE THEIR TOYS

WITHOUT ANY FANFARE 

OR WHIMPER OF NOISE.

I PONDER THE BATTLES OF LIFE

THAT HAVE COME-

SOME JUST ENDURED,

OTHER ONES WON.....

HAVE THE MOUNTAINS TO CLIMB BEEN HIGH ENOUGH ?

THE RIVERS TO CROSS TRULY DEEP ?

THE TREASURES I'VE FOUND REALLY  TREASURES AT ALL ?

THE TRUES TRUE ENOUGH TO KEEP ?

I KNOW THAT THERE'S MAGIC

IN LAUGHTER AND TEARS

AND THE WISEST OF ALL

MAY NOT HAVE THE MOST YEARS.

LILACS & BUBBLES

AND MOONLIGHT ON SNOW,

NOT MEANT TO BE EATEN

BUT FOOD FOR THE SOUL.

I KNOW LOVE CAN HURT

AND THAT HURT CAN FELL GOOD,

AND THERE'S NOT ALWAYS PEACE

WHEN YOU DO AS YOU SHOULD.

I'VE KNOWN GRAND APPLAUSE,

ANGUISH AND STRIFE;

THE EARTHLY HEAVEN AND HELL

IN THE WORDS  "MOTHER" & "WIFE".

THEN, SOMEKIND OF SOME DAYS,

THE SUMMIT IS CLEAR,

NO IMMINENT DANGER...

NO SHADOWS..... NO FEAR.

THE SUNSHINE FEELS WARM

ON MY FACE AND MY HAND

BUT THE WEIGHT OF MY LIFE

MAKES IT TOO HARD TO STAND.

AS LIFE'S BRUISING BATTLES 

FADE IN THE HEAT,

I'M BATHED IN COOL COMFORT;

SATED, REPLETE.

MAY THE TREASURES OF THIS DAY BE YOURS.

G.H.M.