when i say good-bye

i say good-bye

after joyful times

a family get together

dinner out on the town

a celebration amongst friends

hugs

kisses

till i see you again

*

good-bye

*

i said good-bye

not by choice

i wonder if you knew

our last good-bye

would be our last good-bye

tears in my eyes

a broken heart

*

good-bye

*

i say good-bye

once more

a peaceful wish

knowing the end is near

tears i’ve swallowed

smiles i’ve faked

as each good-bye

brings a heavy heart

*

when i say good-bye,

in good spirits

or

despairing times

a good-bye

is a good-bye

~~~~~

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Everybody Knows

Everybody knows…

Maddie is her mother’s daughter.

It’s her petite frame,

the pointy nose,

and a mouth that mirrors her mother’s smile.

Everybody knows…

Maddie is her daddy’s daughter.

Those hazel eyes,

her fair skin that easily burns in the sun,

expensive taste that enjoys the finest life has to offer.

Everybody knows…

Maddie is her gram’s girl.

A knack for decorating cakes,

kindness that spills from the heart,

or the sizable purse she carries over her shoulder.

Everybody knows…

Maddie is her pa’s granddaughter.

There’s the fierce sense of determination,

her ability to assist others in need,

an everlasting love for man’s best friend.

Everybody knows…

Maddie is her nana’s girl.

The creativity that flows,

an artistic niche that proves amazing abilities,

an eye for all that is unique.

Everybody knows…

Maddie is her pappy’s granddaughter.

Always on time,

if not a bit early,

or impatient waiting for others.

Everybody knows,

everybody knows,

everybody knows,

twenty-one years have flown by!

You’ve captured the best of the best,

a perfect blend,

a shining star,

the Maddie we all love!

Cheers to 21 years! Maddie’s 21st birthday, April 16, 2017

~~~~~

Ode to Lynne for sharing the “Everybody Says” Dorothy Aldis in Songs of Myself compiled by Georgia Heard.

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This & That

March was the month of

writing

    publishing,

writing,

    reading,

writing,

    commenting

all on the BLOG!

Then it came to a sudden halt, STOP! And April arrived.

No longer am I wondering what do I write. No longer I am wondering which rough draft do I dust off. No longer am I wondering what post to publish. No longer am I frequenting my favorite blogs or discovering new ones. What to do with my time, what to do! Then I realized I missed a little of this and a little of that!

I missed this One Line a Day journal.

In theory, I am to add one little line a day in the journal over a period of five years. In March, did this happen? Not so much. My line a day turned into 15 lines on one day to make up for the deficit. ~sigh!

I missed these training journals.

This cute little Fit Happens journal is where I jot down what I eat and how my regiment of cross training is going. So, how’s that working for me? It’s not. I’ve been eating way more junk than I should and my cross training has drifted away. On a good note, I have been tracking my training runs in this Believe Training Journal, but I haven’t been filling in any of the other areas of the journal. ~sigh!

I missed this catch-all journal, my personal journal.

During March I only used this journal for planning blog posts for the Slice of Life Story Challenge. It was a dumping zone of randomness that captured my ideas for the blog. I’m ready to resurrect this journal and get back into my daily writing and doodling.

I missed that reading I would do at the end of the day.

Two books have been somewhat patiently waiting for me. One Amazing Elephant has been quietly slumbering on my night stand while The Sun Is Also a Star was summoned back to the public library. I’m happy to report that the latter is back in my hands.

April is here and I’m finding a new balance. I’m learning, however, this is how we roll in life. A little of this, a little of that, and everything in between.

~~~~~

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#MustReadin2017 {Update 4.6.17}

The books just kept piling up. The stack grew higher and higher. New releases, older releases, books for my students to enjoy, and a sprinkling of some adult titles for me.

Sixteen books in all!

“You need to stop,” I told myself. “You’ll never have time to read all of these books.”

I needed, I craved a focus.

A plan, or perhaps a challenge! No, not another challenge!

In January of 2017 I joined fellow readers and created a #MustReadin2017 book list. You can read the initial post here.

Initially, I was a bit hesitant to participate, but today I am certainly glad that I am here, participating. I’m accomplishing much more than I thought I would, even though my reading took a back seat to my daily writing during the Slice of Life Story Challenge in March. In case you missed it, here is my #MustReadin2017 list:

 

There are sixteen books on my list and here is what I have read so far:

1. small great things by Jodi Picoult
2. The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Llody
3. How to Live a Good Life by Jonathan Fields
4. The Playbook: 52 Lessons to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life by Kwame Alexander
5. Flying Lessons & Other Stories edited by Ellen Oh
6. Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
7. Maxi’s Secrets by Lynn Plourde

They were all EXCELLENT! (Yes, I am shouting.) You must read them now, share them now! It’s also time to throw some confetti and do a happy dance! I’ve read seven out of the sixteen books on my list!  🙂

Here’s what I’m currently reading:

• One Amazing Elephant by Linda Oatman High
• The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Oh no! Books, books, books! I’ve added more to my #MustReadin2017 list:

• Out of Wonder by Kwame Alexander
• The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
• The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
• Written In the Stars by Aisha Saeed
• Night by Elie Wiesel

Well, it’s about time I wrap up this post so I can get back to my reading. I’d like to send a special thank you and hats off to Carrie at There’s a Book for That for uniting us. And of course, I’m wondering what you have recently read or what you plan to read soon.

Please share!

I (heart) comments!

Just Because

 

Showing I care, it can be a challenge for me at times. The words are there, on the tip of my tongue – words that parade caring, concern, or sympathy. But somehow I’m not able to articulate them, fear perhaps? I don’t know what to say or what to do, especially if I hope to send some cheer and uplift someone’s spirits. I want to express that I care, just because.

Then there are times when I simply wish to celebrate – a special friendship. It’s not a birthday. It’s not a holiday. It’s merely sprinkling around some kindness, just because.

So I sit down with my journal in tow, and to my amazement my writing, my words they parade across the page.

I smile when I see you

just because…

I keep you in my thoughts

just because…

I tell you I’m hear to listen

just because…

I give you a hug

just because…

I offer you some chocolate,

just because…

I wrote you this poem,

just because

I don’t have the words

to let you know

how much I care.

~~~~~

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