I’m thrilled to announce that I’m a guest for a second time on the wonderful and warm podcast Sharing the Heart of the Matter with Wynne and Vicki, and it’s live today! These amazing women are a dynamic duo. They create a relaxing environment, and even when the topic is an emotional one, they make the chat a fun experience. Another huge thanks to Vicki and Wynne! ❤️
Thanks to you who have read King Copper, allowing our beloved Copper to touch your hearts. And I hope our conversation touches your hearts as well, if you have time to listen. 🧡🌈
Click on my daughter’s image to order your copy! 🧡
Lauren Scott Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book) Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology Co-Author – This Is How We Grow Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023 Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024 Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025
From the hugs, cuddles, and games of fetch, Copper learned he could trust us. And so, he became family. For thirteen years, he gave us unconditional love. He crossed over the rainbow bridge this past March. It is serendipitous to know that he came into our lives in March and left our earthly world also in March – the month of new beginnings. He was a bright light in our lives that will shine eternally. This is the power of our dogs or any pet. They leave a positive, long-lasting imprint on our souls. (Part of the Preface)
Available on Amazon (click on the image above to purchase from Amazon) Click on the links below for B&N and Kobo: Barnes & Noble, e-book only on Kobo, or if you’re local, you can find a copy at Copperfield’s Books on 4th Street in San Rafael.
On the same shelf with Mary Oliver!
He Carries On
A copper-colored coat he dons Looking handsome as a celebrity icon A senior now Gray on his brow Even with pains, he carries on.
My Shadow
Feeling empty in my bones walking from room to room, where is my shadow?
I hope you’ll let Copper touch your heart like he’s touched so many already. Or perhaps, you have a friend or family member who would find comfort in reading my book. A Huge Thanks to You who have read this special poetry collection and left beautiful, heartfelt reviews. ❤️🤎🧡
I remember when the pink lines on white stood out brilliantly like pink peppermint candy. Those lines said it all, spoke the truth – my life with my husband was about to change, slowly like pouring molasses. We had been married for two years, so we were ready to start a family. In less than nine months, we would receive a gift, a tiny human who would depend on us, the adults, to highlight the beauty that life offers and to protect her or him from harm.
When I thought deeply about what it would feel like to be pregnant and what was to come, the notion of pain grabbed my attention! I assumed that I had a low tolerance, but soon enough, I would learn more about my capabilities. Little did I know that in less than forty weeks, I would give birth naturally without medication, and then a second time a few years later, again without medication. I learned so much about myself.
Then my brain started working overtime, and you know what trouble that can cause. I was nervous about becoming a mom. Will I know what to do in each circumstance? Will my reactions be intuitive? What if I fail at the most important career in my opinion, being a parent?
The insecurities huddled together creating a force that couldn’t be accessed. They hurled at me like hurricane winds. Then the momentous day arrived; our baby was ready for the meet and greet. We had decided to let the gender remain concealed until we saw our precious bundle. After a 6 ½ hour labor, she entered our world with rosebud lips, and those insecurities scattered like ants.
My husband stood by the bed, comforting me in any way he could, and then he felt privileged to cut the umbilical cord. What an experience for him! It was his out-of-body moment just like giving birth to a little human was mine. In that instance of time, I became a mom, and he became a dad. New hats were immediately added to our wardrobes, along with new responsibilities. We would do our best so that our little girl would know how much her parents love her, so that she would feel safe.
Almost four years later, our family of four was complete when our son came into our world, bringing the same out-of-body experience for my husband and me. For the second time, we let the gender stay unknown. So when we saw our little boy, elation flowed through our hearts. We had a daughter and son; two tiny bundles of cuteness blessed our lives.
Looking back, watching decades soar by, flipping through memories in our photo albums remind us of how special it was to witness our daughter and son grow and learn, and turn into kind, hard working adults, making us proud a million times over. The laughs, the scary moments, the tears, even the minimal tantrums when they were young, I’d live them all over again, and so would my husband. And worrying about them doesn’t end just because they’re adults. They’ll always be our ‘babies’ regardless of their age.
The most rewarding though is the realization that we did something right because in their adulthood, we have strong relationships with them both. We’ve entered our mid-sixties, so the ‘kids’ are in their thirties. We talk and text all the time, the communication line remains open that travels in both directions. And since they live out of state, pursuing their dreams, paving their paths, we all fly east and west to visit as often as we can.
As I grow older, life seems to become shorter, so the love of my husband and children are the greatest, most priceless gifts. These three amazing people are my everything. Anything else that comes my way in the form of a blessing is a bonus.
First Breath
With every new miracle of life answers aren’t scripted in the stars, but I knew since your very first breath my life would become yours.
Through innocent eyes and curious touch each new discovery you shared, your smile grew bigger than the sun, your heart’s elation declared.
You stowed dreams in the clouds, imaginings rose higher than the heavens. Cuddling you in that first euphoric light made me fall in love with you in seconds.
Life has blossomed into delight and wonder in every part of its glowing greatness, and with each ounce of my being, my enduring love for you is ageless.
(Published in my book, Ever So Gently)
our little girl at 6 monthsour little boy at 7 months
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I took a walk down memory lane, and though this is my story and my husband’s, I hope you enjoyed the stroll.
Thanks for visiting, and have a beautiful week ahead.🩷
Click on my daughter’s image to order your copy! 🧡
Lauren Scott
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book) Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology Co-Author – This Is How We Grow Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023 Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024 Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025
This weekend, I was surprised to find more touching reviews for King Copper. I’m beyond grateful to my friends, Selma, Lori, and Marie. I appreciate the support from these lovely ladies and also from you who have read and reviewed this special book for my family. I’m repeating myself, but my heart is fuller each time I read about how my poetry collection of Copper’s life affects another reader. I am in awe of every review, how everyone discovers something unique that stirs their emotions. Simply put, it’s profound and heartwarming…
The back cover of my book.
Below are portions of each lovely review, but I invite you to click on the blog links that will gently carry you to these beautiful sites to read the reviews in their entirety.And while you’re there, I hope you’ll spend some time to get to know these talented women if you haven’t met them already. ❤️
I felt this author’s immense grief in King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry by Lauren Scott, but I also saw her light flicker on. Here’s a quote I want to include and my honest thoughts:
“My candle burns, not to dispel the darkness, but to put forth the Light.” ~ Charlie Siegel. Like Charlie Siegel’s quote, this book might help you put forth the light.
The setup of the two parts works well, as do the color photographs. This short 70-page book (digital) is for anyone who has ever loved another person or pet—“love” being the keyword here— and has to go on living without them. How, you ask? Trust me, this book will help you discern the light that resides inside. And bring you comfort too.
The words in King Copper are heartwarming and lulling like whispered confidences in a comforting tone, like a messenger of the holy. Yes, the best I’ve heard this year. Just when you feel leafless and stark like a bare tree in winter from a recent loss, the bird in your soul will open its eyes, and locate the light; open its beak, and be encouraged to sing again. In your “house of silence” and you will “find your shadow”. That’s what this book will do…
Lauren Scott’s love of her family’s beautiful chocolate lab, Copper, shines in this sweet little volume of photographs and poems that follow their lives together from adoption day on. In her words, King Copper is “a poetic account of the joy that arises when a lovable chocolate lab walks into your life and changes it forever. And the eventual heartache you feel when he crosses over the rainbow bridge thirteen years later and still too soon.”
What a touching account, and what a testament to the glorious impact our beloved pets have on our lives. If only all dogs—all pets—were as well loved and appreciated as the delightful lab Lauren writes so poetically about, the world would truly be a better place. Brava to Lauren for giving her beloved Copper a tribute worthy of his beauty and goodness!
Did it make me cry a bit? Absolutely. But tears shed over the loss of a dear dog are never wrong. There is nothing purer than a dog’s affection and devotion.
Copper wasn’t my dog, but I, too, have loved wonderful dogs. Like Lauren and her family, I know our animal companions deserve our deepest affection in return for the many gifts they give us. Part of the price for that gift is the same as it is for anything we open up our hearts to fully—the possibility, even the probability that one day there will be pain and loss…
Not so long ago, Lauren had to say goodbye to their lovable chocolate lab Copper and as a way of soothing her grief, she wrote a book about the welcoming of Copper into their family, his sweet temper, the joys shared on the road and the terrible decision they had to make, as Copper couldn’t keep going, suffering.
In the past 3 months, two of my friends lost their beloved pets. I was the witness of their pain, of the emptiness they felt, tears flowing down as they recalled the time they met, the “love at first sight ” feeling , fond memories. Nobody is ever prepared for any loss. It’s always a heart-breaking story.
In her book, Lauren shares Copper’s Story with her readers, via sweet photos and her wonderful poetry! We can even feel at times Copper’s presence as we unravel the fantastic relation they shared as a family. I liked the way she mixed poems from her point of view and some from Copper’s viewpoint. We understand how much love they both got from this special bond.
Some people come to your life at times to change it forever. It’s what happened to Lauren and her family – for 13 years Copper brought happiness, unconditional love, affection and much more, as they gave him a safe place to grow and simply be. I feel that Lauren’s recollection of moments can be a great gift for anyone going through such a bereavement…
Thanks again, Selma, Lori, and Marie for sharing how my book made you feel! I am deeply touched!❤️🌈
And thanks so much for visiting! I appreciate you! Have a wonderful week! ❤️
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book) Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology Co-Author – This Is How We Grow Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023 Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024 Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025
Writing reviews may be ‘snail’ slow, but I’m getting there after finishing two more:Endangered Species by Jacqui Murray and The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Lowenhohle by Thomas Wikman!These are two very different books, but they’re both very good! So, here we go…
My 5-star review:
Endangered Species is my first glimpse into Jacqui Murray’s incredible storytelling and is book one in the trilogy, Savage Land. After reading many reviews on blogs, I was intrigued and immediately bought my paperback. The story takes place 75,000 years ago in the Altai Mountains of Siberia. Survival is key for two bands of prehistoric humans: the Neanderthals known as the People, and Homo Sapiens known as the Tall Ones. Yet in the midst of hunting to simply exist, Mother Nature has her way of disrupting their normal routines. So, it will take cleverness and problem solving to navigate around ‘her’ temper.
Murray’s characters find themselves in similar situations as humans today and have comparable traits such as kindness and hard-working. The first character I met was Shanadar aka Jun, a young man who was banished by his tribe. His self-confidence needed a boost, and then he began seeing Xhosa in visions, a spiritual advisor who chose him to save Yu’ung, the Alpha in the People’s tribe. Yu’ung wasn’t afraid to be unique, but she wasn’t sure if she had the courage needed to be the Alpha. I was fascinated by Jun’s character development and hers, and this was only the beginning.
From the first page to the end, I was captivated. I loved the Canis (canines as in wolves), Ump and White Streak, who protected Jun on his journey, and essentially became family because they made him feel like he belonged. Doesn’t everyone long for this feeling? Empathy, dislike, and fear are a handful of emotions I felt while on this prehistoric adventure – a riveting race with Mother Nature.
The research Murray invested is quite evident. Not only did I gain knowledge, but I appreciated the discussion questions at the end. The character list in the beginning was also helpful. Reading this book reminded me of today’s world consisting of different cultures and races, which can result in harmony but also in disagreements. Honestly, this book was a fascinating read that I highly recommend for you who enjoy prehistoric fiction, adventure, and adding to your knowledge bank of neanderthals. I love books that I ‘can’t put down’ and Endangered Species automatically fell into this category.
My 5-star review:
My chocolate lab, Copper, had just crossed over the Rainbow Bridge in March, so when I saw The Life and Times of Le Bronco by Thomas Wikman come across many blogs, I knew it would resonate. Bronco was part of Wikman’s family for thirteen years, and Copper was part of my family for the same amount of time. Timing for me to read this wonderful book was serendipitous. The opening paragraphs are delightful. I could feel Bronco’s paws on my shoulders, and I could see the look in his beautiful eyes wanting that delicious ham sandwich. I also love how he became the hero in a story, and the details of how his name came to be. The way Bronco hugged by leaning and snuggling evoked sweet, cuddly memories of Copper’s hugs.
Wikman writes about Leonbergers, how to prepare to welcome one of these gorgeous, big dogs into your home, the food they eat, and the many costs involved. He shares humorous Bronco antics that made me smile. He includes his family’s other adorable dogs: Baby, Ryu, and Daisy. Wikman compiled this book to be both informational and entertaining. I was impressed with the organization. I laughed, and I felt tears pushing for freedom. I discovered joy and felt heartbreak. The drawings are fantastic and a bonus. One fact I remember is that Bronco wore a gentle leader and so did Copper. We opposed shock collars just like Wikman and his family did. Speaking of walking dogs, below is a snippet from “The Joys of Walking” Page 15.
“I often find myself amazed by how keenly perceptive and curious dogs are. Sometimes when Bronco saw a squirrel, he would watch it intently until it disappeared up a tree. Then he would turn around and look at me as if asking, “Where did it go?” I would point to the squirrel up in the tree, and he would look to the place where I was pointing, seeming to say, “Oh, never mind.” Then we would continue walking.” This moment reminds me of Copper because his fascination with squirrels matched Bronco’s. He never caught one but always tried. Though I’m not sure what he would’ve done if he caught one. He was a gentle 80 pound giant, so I think he just wanted to play!
There is more to reveal, but I’ll let you flip through the pages. I highly recommend this book if you’re a parent of a Leonberger, or if you’re considering bringing this breed into your home. If you’re simply a dog lover, or you truly enjoy endearing books about family, this book is for you. I found comfort throughout the pages as my grief remains for my family’s Copper Boy. Thank you, Thomas!
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Jacqui and Thomas have so much to offer on their wonderful blogs, so please pay them a visit if you haven’t met them yet. Simply click on their names, and I hope you won’t leave here empty-handed!
Happy Reading, Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you a fabulous weekend! ❤️
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book) Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology Co-Author – This Is How We Grow Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023 Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024 Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025
We had a fabulous time with our son as he played tour guide, showing us incredible sights in Colorado. It was a long weekend that went by fast. But while I was offline, Manuela at Gobblers by Masticadores published “Almost Fall-ing” and this morning, Dagmara at Spillwords Press published “Spider on a Hand.” I hadn’t planned to do a post today, but I chose to combine both to honor Dagmara and Manuela’s generosity.
Thanks again to Manuela for sharing my writing each month, and to Dagmara and her team for accepting my recent submission. It is always a great honor to have my writing featured on both of these literary sites, and to be in the company of many talented authors, some of whom I consider friends in this online community.
First, here are a few photos from Colorado, and we were thrilled to see autumn’s stunning presence:
Rocky Mountain National ParkBear Lake in Rocky Mountain National ParkBreckenridge, COBreckenridge, CO
Now, I offer you my poems:
Gobblers by Masticadores
A sample haiku:
crisp mornings join late summer afternoons to greet fall’s cozy prelude
Trust doesn’t come easily. She can’t be bought like dropping quarters in a gumball machine, and she doesn’t hand out trust as if distributing flyers for an open house. It takes time and discernment, the emotion that comes with falling in love, you just feel it. You know it’s been earned – the intuition, a tattoo on your heart. What happened then? Conversations sharing pure joy, utter anguish spilled like oil in the sea. Suddenly, she’s a spider on a hand that gets brushed off…
To read the the full “Almost Fall-ing” post, please click here.
To read the full “Spider on a Hand” poem, please click here.
If you feel it in your heart to ‘like’ each post, and even have the time to leave a comment, I would greatly appreciate it.
As always, thanks for stopping by, and I’ll catch up with your posts today too. I’ve missed you all, but it was wonderful to see our son. These visits are gold when children live out of state. Please know your support on Spillwords and Gobblers means the world to me.
Have a wonderful week ahead. 🧡🍁 p.s. more Colorado photos to come.
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book) Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology Co-Author – This Is How We Grow Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023 Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024 Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025
Matt and I are flying out tomorrow to visit our son, so I’ll be offline until sometime next week. Visiting our daughter and son is by far the best vacation. I don’t like missing posts, but there are times like this that it’s unavoidable. Please know that I appreciate you and your wonderful support throughout my Copper journey, and blogging journey, in general. WordPress tells me it’s been 15 years! But that’ll be another post! 🙂 Anyway, stay safe, and keep your creativity flowing. I’ve turned off comments, but I’ll see you next week!
I thought it would be nice to leave you with a few calming visuals…
I hope you enjoyed. Inhale, exhale, and be well! ❤️
Click on my daughter’s image to order your copy! 🧡
Lauren Scott
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book) Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology Co-Author – This Is How We Grow Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023 Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024 Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025
Clinking of pots and pans echoes throughout the house. I sit on my bed, leaning against the pine headboard while Mom’s busy in the kitchen getting dinner ready. Dad will walk through the door any minute sporting his huge smile, happy to see his family after a long day’s work. I miss my brother, Jack, who moved out last August for his first year in college. The house is quiet without him pushing my buttons. He was really good at teasing his younger sister! Now that he’s not here, my heart has a big hole in it, and the void triggers my negative head space. My back slides down the headboard, taking my mood with it. Suddenly, I can hear my grandma say, “You shouldn’t slouch, dear.” My mind drifts about life: everything I love and hate. I know hate is a strong word, but it’s the word that fits. I love my family; it’s me I have a problem with. When I first heard the Taylor Swift song, “The Outside” I felt as though she wrote the lyrics for me.
Dad recently accepted a job in this small town. He told Mom that it would benefit his banking career and would be a good change from the big city for all of us. She supported him, so I had to move. After all, I’m a minor. The bummer is that I’m a new student at the high school in the middle of my junior year. Not easy for a sixteen-year-old, but I forgive my parents. Maybe I’m more mature than other teenagers. Sometimes parents have their reasons for doing things and kids will never get it. Most of the time, mine are cool, so I try to understand their decision – even if this move has been awkward for me.
When I’m on campus, I feel like a weed in a garden of roses. Acne is so annoying, and my body is the bane of my existence. My parents thought I was cute when I was a chubby, little girl. But cute isn’t what I see staring at me in the mirror. My long, auburn hair, and blue eyes that change to green are the only things I like about myself. I need to lose a few pounds too. The current culture is no body-shaming, but kids do it anyway because some kids are jerks, boys and girls!
I’m just not a pretty girl on campus, and I don’t care if I’m pretty or not, but being judged makes me feel uncomfortable. I turn a corner in the hall and there’s another model-thin girl strolling past me. It’s not like they didn’t exist back home in the big city, and pretty girls come in all shapes and sizes. Thin doesn’t mean perfect and thin doesn’t always mean healthy.
So why do I feel unsure about myself? One thing I’m sure of is that I miss the bright lights and energy buzzing through the streets of the big city, horns honking, and people walking fast in every direction with someplace important they need to be. I had three girlfriends back home, and a couple of boys who weren’t crushes, but cool to hang out with. All the kids in my inner circle accepted each other for who they were. The same insecurities lived with me, but the friends I made were more accepting. We’ve stayed in touch through texts, emails, and talking on the phone, but I wonder if our friendships will eventually fade. It’s hard when you can’t see each other in person. On campus, the perfect kids stare and laugh behind my back. Are these assumptions in my head? No, I couldn’t make up the staring and laughing. I know the difference between reality and imagination.
I tap on the calendar in my cell phone…three months, two weeks, and four days have passed since the big move across the state. Funny how it feels like a year! My finger hovers above the Facebook app, and I know it’s the wrong move. Stay away, I warn myself, but I don’t listen. I scroll through photos of my friends hanging out with other friends; they seem to mock me. Why don’t I delete my account? I really hate social media, which alone puts me in a different circle than most teens. I’m not one of those girls who likes to share meals, clothes, and fingernail polish. It’s so stupid!
“Emma, you need to just be yourself,” Mom reminds me. She and Dad drill the point across to not worry about what others think. “Try to put yourself out there to make friends, Em,” Dad says. Sure. No problem…in a new high school and new town. Easier said than done. I wonder if they’ve forgotten what it’s like to be young.
I close out the Facebook app as quickly as I opened it. If you ask me about popularity, it’s never been important. But I need to find my own group of friends. I want to belong. I want to find my own corner on campus. A patch of grass where I can park myself and talk with other girls or boys who like the things I do…cats, dogs, hiking, reading, writing, and listening to music. Can my peers overlook what my mirror shows me? Are my insecurities confusing my perspective? Time plays an important role in life – more wisdom from my parents. So, after more time passes, I may like this town. I may like the school. I may fit in. It’s hard to imagine, but I don’t feel it’s impossible.
Mom’s voice travels up the stairs like a pop song melody, telling me that dinner’s on the table. I can smell her spaghetti sauce. She is the best cook! The Italian aroma lifts my spirits as my stomach growls. I slide off my bed and hit the stairs running. Dad got home twenty minutes earlier, giving him and Mom time to catch up before I join them. We sit down at our oak dining table and they ask about my highs and lows. It’s a good way for them to understand what I’m going through. I can talk to them about anything. They have an open door policy, but there’s one thing I haven’t shared…
After dinner, I offer to do the dishes, but mom gives me the night off. I take the stairs two at a time back to my room. I pull my cat journal out of my desk drawer and slide into my usual spot on the bed, pushing my pillow up against the headboard and scooting back into it. My thoughts wander on the lined pages. It’s amazing how time flies when I’m reading a great book or writing. The sun begins to set. Darkness slowly falls outside my window. The bright moon winks at me through my shutters, and it’s comforting. Tomorrow is Friday. One more day at school before the weekend. I can make it. Wow, I feel tired, but my thoughts won’t sleep.
I think about how we used to go to church as a family. It’s been a few years since my parents became frustrated with some people in the congregation. Disheartened enough that they decided to step away from organized religion. I still say prayers though. Does God listen? I don’t know, but I always feel better afterwards. I’m sure it helps just getting the words out. Telling the universe about what makes me happy and anxious. And I always say what I’m grateful for – Mom and Dad who love me and who try their best, and Jack who I miss so much. I know how lucky I am.
Tonight is different though. I close my eyes, and I pray for something that I’ve never talked about. I didn’t want Mom and Dad to worry about me or feel bad about moving. So, tonight I pray for a friend, someone to laugh with. Someone to calm the negative thoughts spinning inside my mind. Parents can only help to a certain point. A friend will ease the awkwardness of moving to a strange town in the middle of high school. A friend will make me feel accepted. Just one friend. Can you hear me, God? Am I asking for too much? It’s not like I’m asking for two.
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Click on my daughter’s image to order your copy! 🧡
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book) Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology Co-Author – This Is How We Grow Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships Bi-Monthly Contributor at Gobblers by Masticadores Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023 Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024 Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025
Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author 