Welcome to my corner of this wonderful community where I share my poetry, short stories, and occasional photos. My husband and I have been married for thirty-seven years, and we have two adult children. I have published four collections of poetry, a memoir, and a children’s picture book. I am working on another poetry collection and an early chapter children’s book. When you visit, I hope you find something to take with you, but that you also find something enticing enough to keep bringing you back. I truly appreciate your visit. Cheers, Lauren ❤️
Even though the sky was a stunning canvas of vibrancy yesterday morning, my mind was in a funk. Worries flooded each thought, and each worry got stuck like gum under a school desk. But I had to get on with the day – first stop was the post office. I was happy to see that street parking was ample. As I pulled up to the curb, I noticed the truck in front of me was about to leave, so I waited. When the truck pulled out, I pulled up, leaving room for parking behind me. I’ve done this a million times before, and sometimes finding a parking spot feels like winning the lottery. Plus, it’s nice to be able to park with lots of room rather than attempting to squeeze in between two cars. Why not make things easy for the next person?
After I finished inside, I headed for my car. As I sat with my foot on the break, hands on the wheel about to leave, a woman pulled up beside me, motioning for me to roll down my window, which I did. She said, “I just want to thank you for pulling up so that the lady behind me and I could pull in right behind you. There’s a lot of rudeness nowadays, so we found your gesture to be very kind.”
“Of course, I was happy to do that.” I replied, a bit surprised by her kind gesture for the same reason. Then we both went on our merry way. However, the funk that dominated my thoughts earlier had dissipated because I brought a smile to two women from a little bit of kindness. What could have been a frustrating undertaking for them was made a little easier – the gift of a parking space!
This moment yesterday may seem unimportant, but my experience proves that not only does a simple act of kindness brighten the recipient’s day, but it does the same for the ‘kindness provider.’
Overwhelmed jubilantly by your Radiance relieving uncertainty Along the path of unknowns Not once drifting off-course Giving unselfishly of your essence Emotions shift in your presence
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Oh, how you delight with your happy state Reliable in your everlasting contribution Awe is a natural reaction Never taken for granted Growing from your vibrant message Effervescent way of spirit-lifting
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I…
Observe soft petals that grin Raining positivity on passersby Ambience to daily reside in Noise silenced so peace becomes the Glue for a healthy well-being Elixir from nature’s gift basket of magic
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Do you have a favorite? The 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, or all 3? 😊 Does ‘orange’ make you feel the same? If not, what is your spirit-lifting color? 🧡
Thanks for gifting me with your presence today, and please keep the families affected by the Texas tragedy in your hearts. ❤️
This 4th of July carried a less celebratory tone, although freedom isn’t to be taken for granted. Consequently, we continue to honor those who serve in the U.S. military, both in the past and present, in order to protect our freedoms. I don’t normally ‘talk’ politics here, so I’ll leave out the gory details of our emotions. But if you felt the same this weekend, then you’re able to read between the lines. With this being said…
Fun at the county fair deflected unsettling thoughts as we immersed our minds into the ‘bug-tastic’ theme. Ladybugs, bees, butterflies – a terrific trio that does good for the ecosystem – deserved to be in the spotlight. A beautiful butterfly landed on my husband’s sleeve, such a remarkable moment that it brought tears of joy. And there are no words to describe what it feels like when one of these graceful insects rests on your finger. One thing for sure though, breathing is paused. Our early arrival meant a short Ferris-wheel line. Pod #1 was our ride in the sky. I held my hat for fear of the sun-protecting accessory flying into the wild blue yonder. My hair blew every which way, but miles of smiles also took flight. The views were spectacular, a painter’s masterpiece of an annual county fair with humans looking like armies of ants. Once on solid ground, the animals called. How could we not feel love? Tiny, cuddly, furry babies to ooh and ahh over. A sheep got a haircut, “baa-ing” because maybe he didn’t like the experience. But he probably felt relief in the summer sun once that thick layer of wool was removed. Dollars evaporated as we supported cool vendors. Bonsai trees received our admiration – lovely in their miniature forms, especially, two gorgeous bougainvillea. Once a year fair food entices, a savory and sweet indulgence for the palate. We even bought a funnel cake to go so that smaller portions would be possible. Just a taste is all it takes. A summer strawberry sinfully delicious delight! The sun watched over the crowd that would grow later in the day, but the golden orb complied, didn’t smother with intense heat. A little breeze shadowed us from here to there, keeping pleasant company. A margarita and rum punch hit the spot when the sun sat higher. Picnic tables with a sea of umbrellas in lime greens, petunia pinks, and turquoise invited us to sit, enjoy, and people watch. Time mystifies, because hours later, all the desired stops were checked off, so it was time to walk through the exit gate, no hand stamp. We were good for the day.
county fairs welcome all ages one to beyond free your inner child
My souvenir, a Henna tattoo. I love butterflies, so it fit with the theme. 🦋
We didn’t stay for the fireworks show, but we have many times in the past. So, the fireworks photo is from a July 4th show on TV. 😊.I hope you enjoyed this haibun/prose, along with the photos from our 4th festivities. And if you live in the USA, I hope you had a fun and safe celebration. 🎆 As always, thanks for popping in to my corner of blogland. Have a wonderful week ahead! 💙🤍❤️
Blue sky whispers words of tranquility Each syllable falls like a leaf in autumn Open your hands to the wisdom, cold-shoulder the noise whirling around, causing a bottleneck of worry Let the sun’s rays seep into your soul flowing gently on its journey, pulling you from edges of despair Let the warmth calm the chill that strives to take possession
If your heart is broken, take time in picking up the pieces just tap into the strength deep inside – the jagged edges are dull to your skin, you’ve been cut before so now you’re tough, the sight of red doesn’t shock you into paralysis
Each fragment tells your story, and you matter The pieces in all their perfect imperfection will fit perfectly again
Remember to follow the blue keep your eyes looking upward because the blue holds hope, and moving forward is impossible without even a glimmer…
Happy July! I am excited to announce that my poem “I Am From!” was voted Publication of the Month for June at Spillwords Press!!! 🎉
I am so excited to receive this award and recognition! Thank you to Dagmara K. and her team for providing a welcoming literary site for authors to share their emotions through words. It is truly an honor to be a part of the Spillwords Press community!
I offer my deepest gratitude to YOU for your ongoing support and vote, and for initially visiting Spillwords to read my poem, “https://spillwords.com/i-am-from/!”I am also humbled that my version of George Ella Lyon’s “Where I’m From” resonated with so many. And I’m grateful to Lori and Vicki for providing the writing inspiration. Please visit their beautiful blogs if you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting them yet. They are amazingand talented women, whom I call friends in this warm community!
Reflections
“I Am From” is displayed on the sidebar at Spillwords.com for the month of July if you’d like to take a peek!
A little more mush, thanks again from the bottom of my heart! And I wish you a happy and peaceful month of July! ❤️
I had a hunch this potato with a playful personality did some traveling, but now it’s obvious! He’s spending time with Manuela Timofte over at Gobblers by Masticadores! I’m thrilled because this cute little guy spreads smiles and joy, and we all could use more, wouldn’t you agree? Thank you, Manuela, for continuing to feature my writing, whether my words offer food for thought or entertain. I’m honored, as always. ❤️
Comments are closed because I hope you’ll visit Gobblers and give some love to Manuela! It’s so easy! Simply click on the link below. And I also invite you to leave a comment if you feel joyfully compelled. 🥰
I recently spent a few hours at one of our county parks located in a cove off of San Pablo Bay. A beautiful day, but a little windy. Regardless, I enjoyed a deli lunch, a walk on the pier, the tranquil scenery, reading beautiful poetry by D.L. Finn, and of course, writing some haiku. Hope you enjoy the pics and poems:
a gaggle playing sunbathing and conversing year-long residents
sun comes out to play wind joins in summer respite hooded walk on pier
Observations
(a)
pickle ball on court tennis in shorter version healthy exercise
(b)
lost in the repose boats floating on bay look like dots in the distance
(c)
water entices let’s take a refreshing dip cold down to the bones
(d)
children dig in sand for shells, stones, and crustaceans treasures for their hearts
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An older photo courtesy of my son.
By the way, today is the last day to vote if you haven’t already. My poem “I Am From” is a nominee for Publication of the Month at Spillwords Press. Please click here to read the full poem from my last post.
So, if you have time, you may vote here. A Huge thanks to you who have already cast your vote. I’m honoredby your support. ❤️
Image courtesy of Spillwords
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Thank you for stopping by, and I wish you a fabulous week ahead! Can’t believe July is just around the corner! 💖