Gemma looked at the cards in her hands as she played bid whist with her friends in the Bridge Club on Fifth Street. There were few events in her life more satisfying than "running a Boston" on her opponents. She lived for each time she and her partner won every hand. She would jump up... Continue Reading →
Ode to Single Mothers: You Are True Winners
Art from the GIANTS exhibition at the High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia The jury has deliberated. I can confidently say That you are winners, Because of the things you do each day. You juggle jobs, kids, and friendships, Showing your love for others. It’s no jest that you are queens, The kindest people and... Continue Reading →
Surviving in Wonky Times
Rodin Museum, Paris, France, May 2023 I am feeling a bit wonky today, As if everything in my life is askew. It's enough to make me nuts or bonkers, But there are things I know to be true. Seeing the world through eyes of faith Turns our doubts into determination, and our obstacles into opportunities,... Continue Reading →
Your Anger Wins the Gold!
The Rodin Museum, Paris, France, June, 2024 Your belligerent attitude is more than we can bear. Your anger at the world makes your presence unwanted. Your non-compliance to accepting the empathy offered Leaves loved ones feeling scared, upset, and daunted. You win the gold in the emotional Olympics. Move past the hurt and try to... Continue Reading →
Traveling Means Finding Places Where We Can Be Who We Are
Image Credit Sarah Whiley I am in the liminal state of wanting to stay and needing to go. I want to hit the road and find new out-of-the-way places. There is no substitute for traveling the road less taken, To do new things and see a few unfamiliar faces. I want to go where there... Continue Reading →
Travel Intensifies Our Courage and Self-Esteem: Photo Challenge
Image Credit: Masahiro Miyagi via Unsplash Embarking on a journey of over a thousand miles, The intensity of my anticipation never stops growing. But the thought of going solo triggers my anxieties, And overcoming the panic means courage showing. So, like a caterpillar bursting forth into a butterfly, I board the plane and take my... Continue Reading →
Nature is Good for Our Health
James had a peculiar feeling to venture outside. But he had so much work to do! Yet, he would find no peace until he obeyed. As he walked toward the beauty of the lake, his body relaxed anew, and his muscles unknotted. He realized that being in nature was germane to his good health, physical... Continue Reading →
Amazing Love, Forever Love, A Mother’s Love
Photo Credit: Alisa Dyson@ Pixabay They placed him in my arms, and I immediately knew Nothing would ever reduce my love for that child. I held him with sturdy hands, for to me, he was royalty. And my black knight, majestic in his brown skin, just smiled. On Mother's Day each year, I try to... Continue Reading →
Carrying the Needs of Others on Our Backs: What Do You See #184
Long past the summer of her life, With hands thickened by the constant water trips, The grandmother still carries the filled buckets Around her sturdy neck, never letting them slip. It is not sporadic work, for it's a daily necessity. So, she does the hard work once done by beasts. The rich who partake of... Continue Reading →
An Abrupt Ending to the Wedding
How Sue and Charles ever made it to the altar was a surprise! Each time I had dined with them, Charles had seemed to create a new vernacular, having a preoccupation with appearing smarter than everyone else. It made for tense moments, when Sue would ask him to repeat the word or if he meant... Continue Reading →
Help from Heaven 