When
replaces if
in words written
and words said
with some facility.
When
replaces if
not as a certainty
nor as a guarantee,
no fait accompli.
When
replaces if
as a sign of hope
a challenge,
a possibility.
But when,
oh when,
will when
replace if
in reality.
16 August 2012
SW 782 CLE-BWI
Filed under Poem
On the right hand side of my Facebook page, there now appear links to previous posts. I had not noticed them before – or if I did, I ignored them.
Today I noticed one about going to the gym – and for some reason, I followed.
One year ago today, I marked 11 consecutive days of going to the gym. I don’t know when that streak ended – how many more days, if any followed.
Part of me, the avoidance part, wants to wonder – are the links always exactly a year old. Another part wonders reading this post be a challenge to get started again.
See you along the Trail.
Harry Potter and Ron Weasley are visiting Professor Slughorn’s room as Harry Potter 6 continues. This seems an appropriate picture at the moment. Perhaps I will sometime find something profound to say. But for now, I think this can stand on its own.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Movie
Surfing through images,
electronically stored on my computer,
an image –
slightly more than a year old –
of a friend whose song ended too soon,
surprised me.
Sadness tugged my heart,
sorrow filled me;
thanksgiving surged,
gratitude flowed;
a tear and smile
as feelings and memories intermingled,
contradicting,
enhancing,
playing off each other.
Surprise is hard.
Surprise is good.
Surprise is life.
12 August 2011
Cleveland Heights, OH
with thanks to Kathy Lueckert
Filed under Poem
Love wins.
Love always wins.
Do the people
watching their friends perish,
wasting away from hunger,
leaving their children by roadside
unable to carry them,
deciding who will eat
and who will die,
on the Horn of Africa
experience that affirmation?
12 August 2011
Cleveland Heights, OH 44121
Filed under Poem
Eric and I went to the local Blockbusters early in the week. Amazingly enough, it was still open. We picked up a number of used videos.
We had some challenges – the DVD player downstairs in Cleveland Heights is definitely deceased – it is not pining for fjords or anywhere else – it is definitely an ex-DVD player.
We started trying to watch The King’s Speech. It skipped and finally froze about 40 minutes into the movie. Then we tried Pirates of the Caribbean 2. It too skipped. Shortly after we decided that we now had two DVDs to return, Eric remembered that the problem was most likely with the player. Tricia came downstairs shortly after that and, in response to our whining, said, “Yes, it has been broken for some time. I never use it.”
Eric then brought down his DVD player – which he will take to Bowling Green and the marathon began in earnest.
We doubled back to The King’s Speech and Pirates 2. True Grit (Coen brothers version) started yesterday, followed by Stalag 17 with The A-Team next in line. Today began with The Visitor. A break followed during which I listened to a rather pathetic effort by the Steelers – they lost their first preseason game – and the score could have been worse. Harry Potter 6 is now being viewed.
An interesting mix of classics, newbies, and fluff along with some incredible performances.
Tomorrow I head to Louisville and will need to take some with me to watch while I hang out at the Shire near the Ohio.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Movie
Nothing captures my interest
as I surf through channels,
more than I can count;
The King’s Speech,
Pirates of the Caribbean,
and other new to me used DVDs sit useless:
the player is dead –
it must be time for bed.
11 August 2011
Cleveland Heights, OH
Filed under Movie
Today I sent a 9-11 “Ribbon of Hope” to Ground Zero to mark the tenth anniversary of September 11. I used the online option.
To commemorate the anniversary, Prepare New York and partner groups are sponsoring the Ribbons of Hope project. People are invited to bring a ribbon to Battery Park in New York City between the hours of noon on Friday, September 9 and dusk on Sunday, September 11. On the ribbon, write a thought or prayer or hope for the healing of the city and for the whole world. In Battery Park, ribbons of all colors, shapes, sizes and textures will be joined to form a large tapestry symbolic of the marvelous mosaic that is New York.
How can I participate?
Individuals, families, groups and organizations can gather ribbons in neighborhood settings, in clubs and congregations and can then designate a messenger to come to lower Manhattan and afix the ribbons to the tapestry. People of all ages can participate. There is no fixed size or shape or width or length. The diversity of ribbons received is a large part of the point. This walk of healing to downtown Manhattan is symbolic in that it reverses the fear-filled path that so many experienced as they fled Ground Zero a decade ago.
I don’t live in New York, how can I participate?
People from across the country and around the world are invited to also collect ribbons in the weeks leading up to 9/11 and send them to Intersections International. They will be included in the tapestry as well. Send ribbons to:
Intersections International
274 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10001
Be sure they arrive at Intersections by September 7. Include your name and contact information, the name of your organization and any interesting story about making your ribbons that you’d like to share with others.
You can also participate by “sending” ribbons online through Groundswell.
Find additional ideas for observing the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Current Events, New York
Friends once commented that I have some amazing pictures of sunrises at Ghost Ranch. I had to correct them.
I have no amazing pictures of Ghost Ranch sunrises – no drab pictures of Ghost Ranch sunrises – I simply have no pictures of any sort of Ghost Ranch sunrises.
I do have a number of pictures of sunsets at Ghost Ranch including this one from the summer of 2008 – some folks may think some of them are nice pictures.
I post this picture today because Eric is on his way home from the ranch. He has completed his fourth year on the College Staff. He and friends drove to Tulsa yesterday; he flies to Cleveland tomorrow.
The summers at the ranch have been times of great joy and a good, good learning experience for him. I was able to get to see him three of the years he was there – actually I was able to be there for two weeks during two of those summers.
However, since he is scheduled to graduate in December, this will be his last summer – at least as a member of the college staff. And that brings some tugging at my heart strings. I am sure I will be back to the ranch – it seems likely that Eric will be back to the ranch – there are possibilities that we may be there together sometime.
But . . . an era has ended . . . life, as life always does, moves on. And as the sun sets on this part of life, I dab a tear, give thanks for what was, cherish the memories, and look forward to what the next sunrise brings (even though it will be well into the sky before this night owl sees it).
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Photo
Headed on the road again. This time to Cleveland to hang out with Tricia and Eric. A trip to Louisville may prove necessary to deal with some issues at the Shire near the Ohio – also known as the original Shire. Yet another demonstration that while we may own things, things definitely own us.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Cleveland Heights, Louisville
