The much-loved patio welcomes with its rustic warmth and strands of string lights, the bar stools invite us to get comfortable for a visual feast of rolling hills and redwoods.
His hand finds mine; his words express that I’m most important, in three months, glasses will clink to celebrate 37 years – the 26-year-old girl who met a 27-year-old guy. My words echo his, but of course, our daughter and son are the center of our life…
And the weather? Short sleeve temperature, sublime, serene. October brings a summer night’s dream. Silence flows in with its special kind of conversation.
Fleeting minutes like these aren’t taken for granted because it’s not every day our perfect dance partner comes our way, and although we grow older and flaws become bolder, our melody continues to play.
Light neighborhood chatter drifts through the trees with an occasional hummingbird on its tail and a slight breeze. The moon elegantly hangs in her dazzling formal attire, vying for our attention, and she succeeds because we are devoted fans. Her glow mesmerizes – our focus on her alone. What a beautiful moment to call our own.
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Thanks so much for stopping by, and I wish you 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
I’m excited to share that my poem “Fade the Shadow” is featured on Gobblers by Masticadores! I want to offer a huge thank you, as always, to Editor, Manuela Timofte, for featuring my writing.I am grateful to have my work showcased among so many talented authors. 🙏
Fade the Shadow
The world is beautiful, proof dances all around… leaves fluttering in a breeze, butterflies floating by with grace, but the world is more beautiful with him. Even if the sky unfolds, and a storm rages, his presence adds a glow to fade the shadows and quiet the fear. If the universe has stolen my spirit and descent is imminent…
To read the full poem, please visit Gobblers by Masticadores by clicking on the link below. If you’re unfamiliar with this site, take some time to peruse. You’ll discover beautiful and profound pieces of writing from some of your friends and authors you’d like to know.
The world is beautiful, proof dances all around… leaves fluttering in a breeze, butterflies floating by with grace, but the world is more beautiful with him. Even if the sky unfolds, and a storm rages, his presence adds a glow to fade the shadows and quiet the fear. If the universe has stolen my spirit and descent is imminent, his arms catch me before the landing. He comprises the tones in my tapestry, rebirth in my rain, fire in my winter. He is everything around in between within the world I reside.
I can reach her. She waits for me, gently hanging in the sky as black as the ink bleeding from my pen. But not so high that I can’t stretch and acquire, placing her in the palm of my hand. Now that I am in possession, I offer him the moon because he’s given me his heart from the very first date. We sat across from each other – only a white silky tablecloth separated us. December brought a magical evening. The moon had a hunch the night would become the foundation, so she illuminated for us, a couple whose lives were about to change in a magnificent way. But we knew, didn’t we? Young, yet old enough to know.
And I’ll leave the stars as they are, because even in the dark sky, he brings light to everything I learn, everything I know, and everything I touch. What is love without sappy sentiments? Language flows from my heart for only him to hear. A love back then before our eyes met that I wasn’t sure possible, and yet here we are, decades later, still feeling the fire. I can’t imagine the planets aligning without his soul. I can’t envision a forest without him as my redwood. I can’t picture sunshine without his laugh. I can’t imagine the calming of rain without him beside me. He says I’m the best thing that ever happened, but the same words tumble from my lips for him.
Into the future moving forward hand in hand love deepens with age
This haibun was inspired by our fast-approaching engagement anniversary. It’s been a while since I’ve written romance, so I hope you enjoyed. Thanks for gracing me with your presence in my corner of blogland, and have a wonderful day! 💖
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For those of you who have followed me through this series, I’m so grateful. But what makes me happy is that you’ve enjoyed the journey with Clay the Camper van at our favorite lake in the Sierra Mountains. I’m sure you can tell that each piece of writing is different from the last because I don’t want your eyes glazing over from repetition. 😁 And if you’ve missed the prior posts, you can click below:
On one of our hikes, as I made myself comfortable on a smooth slab of granite (Part 3), I fell deep into a lovely reflection about the man who I’m sharing this camper van journey with, not to mention, the phenomenal journey of life. And so, the poem below evolved. I hope you enjoythis touch of romance for a Monday…
Stunning marriage of lake and clouds.
Marinate
Let my words marinate… Did you feel unworthy of being loved? Maybe I felt the same. Perhaps, everyone does at some turn of the sun and waxing of the moon.
But you, my love, are deserving of all constellations. I’d reach high in the velvet sky and gently cup the brilliance in my hands, devoting all to you. The light in you coupled with their luminescence would be a spectacular collaboration.
We are not perfect. We are imperfectly perfect for each other. We ‘see’ each other. Never are we dismissed by words or actions. Never are we invisible like shade in the night.
Did you realize that together we have witnessed 13,140 sunrises and sunsets? It’s wild to envision the abundance of colors in our life!
Oh, gray managed to seep into some chapters, but our arms saved each of us from falling and surrendering. Why give darkness the spotlight when the light wishes to shine?
So, let my words marinate… I love you! Our love is as timeless as the pairing of wine and cheese. And I’m excited to witness by your side the wonder of more magic from the sun!
For with you, I have everything I need. I have no need to look beyond. For with you, I have won the golden ticket. ❤️
The tempest held its vigil on the horizon but continued to fool her. Devotion in his eyes mesmerized her whole being, awakened every pulse in her body. Eyes that spoke the language of love where their future glowed like an apricot dawn. She bestowed her heart permission to be swept into his pools of blue…
And yet, every day she anticipates the sting from his hand – the palm or back, makes no difference. The sting smarts like hell, but her heart secures the brunt of the damage. The slaps begin early each morning if she doesn’t move fast enough to appease his caffeine demands. And it’s ironic that he chose ‘chalet’ for his cell alarm because the calming tone contrasts to his horrific demeanor. After he walks through the front door following a day’s work, if she so much as smiles unknowingly to his disliking, his hand finds her cheek, and she feels the strike of skin even before impact. 5 p.m. on the mantel clock makes her heart pound as though trying to make a getaway.
They found their beautiful house together in a quiet neighborhood without sidewalks. Neighbors walk in the middle of the road, usually with leash in hand and their dogs beside them. Light traffic allows them to do this. Theirs is a ranch style with four bedrooms for their future children, he used to say. He told her that he couldn’t wait to be a father, which warmed her heart because becoming a mom in a year or two was her wish. A huge oak tree stands in the front yard covered in a lush lawn. Orange, yellow, and red marigolds decorate the walkway, and lavender hydrangeas and pink roses lean against the front of the house. But now the house that once was a home mirrors a prison. Cameras keep their eyes on her as he watches from his downtown office. Claustrophobia slithers down her spine. She struggles to quell the panic attacks. And her cell is meant only to reach him or to answer his calls. He tracks her like a wild animal. The ring on her finger stole all contact from the outside world – lost like a loved one’s passing. Grieving has no end, but she doesn’t dare misbehave because the pain is relentless.
She recalls the beautiful moments when his hands would send tingles from her neck down the map of her body. What did I do wrong? consumed her every thought when he transformed from loving husband to beast. Thoughts that became so tangled, she couldn’t ruminate until the truth stared her in the face. Her cheeks grew hot like asphalt in August from the realization that the monster had always existed.
Before the perfect couple whispered those two celebrated words on that breezy afternoon, signifying “You are my forever person,” he wore charm impeccably like a well-pressed dress shirt – his kisses intoxicating as jasmine, gentle like summer rain – respect enfolded in each embrace. Then donning satin and lace, the solitaire sparkled like her heart and soul, but true personas can take cover behind convincing eyes and smiles.
How could she have missed the signs? She ponders over and over.
Time – revelations, decisions, and strategies always take time. Her defense, submission, though she loathes appearing weak, and the agony tests her strength. But the path will wend its way, leading her to a door for a fresh start, caressing her bruised face and her body, his punching bag.
Gazing out the window, she watches courage whirl among the cottony clouds. Around the corner, freedom waits with intensity, as though motioning for her to come closer, excited for her new, safe beginning. She witnesses a glimpse of hope in the pink daisy pushing through the crack in the sidewalk.
But biding her time means life, and staying alive is her objective. She must bleed toughly. Resilience is her saving grace and not meant to be scattered on the floor, anymore. She must be smart to be free.
A collection of poems that speaks of nature’s healing touch, howlove shapes our lives, and the mysteries of life. Click on the image to purchase your copy. Thank you! 💚
The constellations the moon the sun the whispers in the trees the breeze around our faces the waves kissing the shore They all knew before we did…
When we first met, the future gave no intimation as to what it held for us, but what evolved was a love without a finish line, deepening as we basked in each moment spent together.
Thirty-five years ago, I gave my heart to him – He gave his heart to me, trusting, knowing something exceptional was happening.
Whatever path we chose in the past, whatever path we choose in the present, we walk hand in hand facing the unknown, facing the adventures.
His life is built around mine. My life is built around his.
I wrote about how we met here. But how we’ve stayed together is an entirely different chapter in our book. Of course, love is the key component, but the other significant elements that follow love are friendship, unselfishness, wanting each other to be happy, communication, and listening. And though we’ve had disagreements, we’ve never had turbulent fights, nor have we stooped to name-calling. My mother-in-law gave us a card that had sage advice for newly married couples. One piece of advice was never to go to bed angry. We never have. So, we feel proud to reach 35 years, but we also feel fortunate to have found each other to share our lives with, and we hope to celebrate many more anniversaries to come. ❤️
He and I became us.
Thank you for joining in the celebration of our35th wedding anniversary! Have a wonderful week ahead! ❤️
After more than three decades, my husband and I still recall and celebrate the events leading up to the “I do’s” that we said in Southern California on January 21, 1989. Today is one of those events…our first date 36 years ago. We were 26 & 27, and while some fine details have faded with the years…many stay rooted as little nuggets of ‘the start of us’. The amazing restaurant for dinner, Sycamore Inn, then driving up the mountain to The Lodge for dancing.
If you’ve followed me for awhile, you know I’m a romantic, and this night was pure magic. There was an aura of romance embracing us throughout the evening: over light conversation at the restaurant, on the slow drive up the mountain to the lodge, sipping delicious “Michelle’s Climactic Adventures.” Well, let’s face it, anything with Baileys Irish Cream is sinful and delectable! Then the dancing…we ‘rocked out’ when the beat demanded and held each other close (as if never to let go) when the tune slowed. We danced all night, taking a few breathers, stepping out onto the large balcony. The chill in the air felt good on our hot skin, and the view of the surrounding snow-capped mountains pulled us deeper into the enchantment.
December 5, 1987 turned out to be ‘our beginning’ because six months following, Matt drove me back to the lodge on a sunny June afternoon, and after riding the ski lift to the top of that mountain, he popped the question. Then six months after that romantic proposal, I walked down the aisle wearing satin and lace as he stood waiting for me, looking handsome as ever. And here we are nearing the end of 2023…grateful to still have each other and our two amazing children, who are now32 & 28 years old.
And of course, inspiration over the years found its niche:
Simple Existence
I stare at this page, milk white as the blanketed ground in winter’s staging.
Where are the syllables to create a mixture of magic?
I fear they have flown to faraway places, across desert dunes and boundless oceans and might not return so that I may tell him (again) how irreplaceable he is.
Instead, I’ll touch his lips with mine and steady myself in the arms of a man satisfied with my simple existence.
Love Note across a backdrop one star-studded evening a love note lingers
Belonging
Do you trust me? Will you take my hand and let me lead the way to a place transcending boundaries of our reality? Let us get lost in tranquility – dancing to the majesty of the surroundings, feeling rhythm vibrate through our bones. For as long as our hearts desire, this is our destination. Time is but a memory. Its existence leaves no trace on the path where we tread. There is only you, me, and the intensity of our belonging to each other.
Thanks for stopping by today, and let’s continue to celebrate the dates and events that remain joyful and significant in our personal stories! ~ Lauren ❤️
Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author 