During and After

On December 9, 2025December 9, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry79 Comments

branches
weighed
down
like
shoulders
from
burdens

leaves
chilled
from
air
that
bites

frost-filled
ponderings
surrender
to
the
freezing

How much mettle
is needed to push
against the bulk?

a
defeated
soul
shivers
from
trickles
of
a
chill

but the weight
eventually eases

anguish doesn’t live
in an endless state

breathing always
finds its place

with reasoning

for reassessing

during and after the mess.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for dropping in, and if you’re struggling during
this holiday season, I hope you find comfort from my words. ❤️

We miss Copper this holiday season, but
we’ll find comfort in the photos of him by the tree,
wearing a Santa hat, or snoozing by the fire.
If you’d like to order a copy, or know someone
who would find comfort in this special collection,
please click on the link. Thank you. xo

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
Author and poet, Lauren Scott, enjoys small-town living in the Bay Area with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Their adult son and daughter live out of state, and with frequent visits and technology, the family of four remains close. Lauren has published four poetry collections, a memoir, and her first children’s book. Her latest poetry collection is a tribute to her family’s Chocolate Labrador who crossed over the Rainbow Bridge in spring 2025. Lauren is a recent Pushcart Nominee and has been a guest on several podcasts. Her writing is featured on Spillwords Press where she was voted Author of the Month and garnered Publication of the Month awards. She is a contributing author in several anthologies, and her work is also shared on Gobblers and Masticadores. Her muse discovers inspiration from her family, spending time outdoors, reveling in simple things, and marveling at the mysteries of life.

Rock ‘n’ Roll, Snow & Irish Cream ♥

On December 5, 2013 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Discussion52 Comments

Today, my hubby and I celebrate our 26th First Date Anniversary! 🙂 Yep, we remember these silly dates and though it sounds cliche, it still feels like yesterday. He was 27; I was 26. We lived in so. Calif. at the time and he took me to the Sycamore Inn for a very nice dinner, then dancing at Mt. Baldy Lodge & Restaurant! An awesome setting in the mountains! He chose this same place 6 months later when he proposed (after a ski lift ride to the top)…We then spent 3 New Year’s Eves here, dancing our socks off with a bunch of friends! I remember drinking Irish Cream Coffees (yum) and cooling off on the deck overlooking the snowy view, after dancing! Truly romantic and magical. ♥

Next month, we’ll celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary. I don’t think either of us can believe the time we’ve spent together is now wrapped up in photographs and not so current. Our relationship hasn’t been perfect. As far as I know, no relationship is…along with the laughs, we’ve shed tears for different reasons. However, we’ve managed to, instead of stumbling over the bumps, step over them and move forward…

I know of several couples who have divorced after 20 some years of marriage and it breaks my heart. I don’t want to be a statistic and so I have a vision of us rocking together on the front porch when we’re older, watching our grandchildren play. Since our kids aren’t “there” yet, for having children, our vision is “way” into the future! This vision, though, will remain our anchor and strength to persevere anything thrown in our path that is not welcomed! God willing, we’ll have the chance to rock ‘n” roll in rocking chairs! 🙂

Living together for many, many years, married or not, takes work. It’s not a piece of cake. Well, sometimes, it is, but other times, it’s not so sweet. Fortunately, Matt and I are both talkers…we have no trouble communicating, which I think is the key. Holding things in only gives trouble fuel to smolder.

So after almost 25 years of marriage, our kids aren’t little and precious anymore. They’re both in college and luckily, responsible young adults. Whether they like it or not, they’ll always be our “precious babies!” I don’t know what we’ve done right, but we must have done something because we are so blessed. And I mean this with all sincerity and the least bit of boasting…

A dark (health) cloud still insists on looming over us (one of the bumps), but with and through our lasting love for each other and our son and daughter, we’ll get through it, no matter what!

So…Happy “First Date” Anniversary, Honey!
You were my best friend in the late 80’s when we met.
You still are to this day and always will be.

I Love You.

L xo ♥

Childhood Cabin Haiku

On June 14, 2012June 14, 2012 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Family, Haiku32 Comments

Behind the dark boards
a roaring fire warmed us
those days long ago

Generations played
cards; ante up, fifteen cents
while lasagna baked

The haunted cabin
around the corner scared us
entering our dreams

A snow packed staircase
made it easy for our dog
A view from the roof

I have fond memories of our cabin
from my childhood.
It wasn’t fancy or huge, but very, very cozy.
The best of times were spent playing games indoors,
hiking, tobogganing and sledding.
The last time I saw it, the windows were boarded
and I don’t have any old photos.
It was sad to see it that way,
but it’s good to have the wonderful memories
in mind of our fun mountain get-a-ways
that included family and friends. ♥