Love

The only true gift in life is love.

You can give it away and find yourself blessed with more than you gave away. 

Amazingly your heart can hold an immeasurable amount of love, too!

So, spend it freely and spread it far and wide. It's the one thing that is contagious that you will feel great being expose to.

Get caught up in it's fever.

Feel drenched and exhausted from

It's fire.

Sunrises and sunsets are the color of love as it throws it's warm hues as far as you can see.

It's the deepest blue of the ocean and the whitest of sand under toes.

Love is the top of the mountain with breathtaking vistas in all directions.

It's the softness of the cheek being kissed. 

A finger holds a gold band of love.

You hold a newborn's head.

Keep love alive in your life and you

will feel at the epicenter of your world that revolves with a purpose.

Cathy

Pink Pasture

Pink Pasture

As the sun is setting behind the trees of the  distant pasture, the thought of you crosses my mind. The sky is pink and the outline of the trees is dark in contrast.  Many nights I lay awake and try to remember the first time I went to your home town.  It was a small place but very cute. I had never been in the South before that day. I suppose in my mind I always thought that living in the country was something that I would never experience. The house was clean and neat. Lunch was ready and made to look like a buffet. It was some of the best food I have ever eaten. Your parents were especially kind to me. They asked me some questions about where I was from and about my family. They made me feel very much at home. After helping with the dishes from lunch, we went on a drive.  In in the fields there was cotton growing and also peanuts. Some other farms had corn in long rows. As we drove along, you pointed out your high school and other places in town that were of interest. You used to have a house that was built quite a long time ago that was a mansion complete with big columns out front. It had burned down just a few years earlier. There was a similar house directly across on the corner from where it used to stand. You described the home you lived in and I could only imagine what it was like to live in such a fine place.  Later on I was able to see the inside of that other house and it made me fall in love with the old antebellum homes even more.

We drove along some narrow roads out to your grandmother's  house. When we got there, she was in the garden. There were beautiful flowers of all kinds around her. Some of my favorite where the tiger lilies and the black eyed Susan's along the fence. You could see for many miles across the pasture land. Gentle rolling hills of grass with some cows and horses grazing leisurely. I remember sitting in one of the chairs just outside the back door and drinking some sweet tea. It was the most pleasant afternoon I had spent in quite a while. I went inside to use the restroom and noticed how small and sweet the place was. It consisted of two bedrooms, a livingroom and kitchen combination and to the side of the house there was a screened porch. On that porch there was a bed that  was surrounded by windows. They were cracked open and a gentle breeze was making the was curtains billow.  I  knew someday I would love to take a nap on that bed. I noticed the quilt on the bed. The pattern was called Dresden plate. To this day it is one of my most favorite patterns. The bathroom is small and functional really nothing to describe - do your business and get out. On my way outside, I saw another bedspread on the master bed. It was white chenille. On it there was a pattern of lilacs that  had been stitched. I thought it looked so beautiful.

When we left her house we drove a little further and stopped at a corner church. Across the road was a cemetery. You showed me where several of your relatives were buried. I felt as though I could live with this family if ever I had the chance. The week went quickly and I met many friends that you had grown up with and felt very comfortable around them. I flew home to Virginia and was busy with nursing school. You came to visit me every month and we spoke every week on Sundays. In December I said yes when asked to marry you. Your mother gave you her first diamond. You had it reset and in a new ring for me. I never felt so loved in all my life. Several months passed and we grew closer and more excited about our wedding on June 16. 

I saw our photograph again tonight.  Both of us are smiling and looking-very happy to be married.

When I think about those early days together,

it seems like yesterday.

The pink streaked sunset on the pasture will always make me smile and remember you. 

At This Moment

I often think of how blessed I am to be who I am.

I just read two stories in a magazine. One was of a famous person and one was of a woman like me. Both stories had their ups and disappointing downs. The common thread was that they stuck close with their family to make it work. Now I'm not saying you can't strike out on your own and achieve the same satisfaction. 

I'm just sharing who I am right now. 

I'm looking out the windows of my sister's home in Atlanta. The level of the windows is at mid tree height. The view is like a nature portrait of leaves in many shades of transition. Some are green, some yellow and some are brown. Bare limbs are prominent, too. 

A dog is barking in the distance. There is soft guitar music being played downstairs.

It's comforting with the sun shining through the stairwell window behind me and hitting my shoulders. Leaves flutter outside.

An old clock ticks it's metronome reminding me that time marches on second by second. I'll easily use up 3600 of them taking this all in.

I'm older. Not who I used to be yet the same as always. I can easily let my mind wander backwards. 

A hand made hammered silver cuff bracelet and three bangles glisten in the suns rays. I go back further to a time when the maker of those beautiful items, my brother-in-law, was gravely ill. I can not explain it other than being a miracle. The happiness I feel today in this moment of my life came as a result of many sad moments I have survived in the past. Just like that famous person and that woman like me.

Busted

Mom went out the door!

Curious cat as I am, I wanted to know where she went. I pushed on the kitchen door and it opened to my delight! She doesn't see that I'm out so I'll have to act quickly! I love this garage, man. There are so many things to check out. I've caught a few lizards in here. I've brought them inside and left them in the bedroom for mom to find. She must like them because she looks at me and says "thanks!" I crawl under the car. It feels warm under there so I sort of like that and lay down a minute looking out from underneath. She went next door a minute. She had a bag in her hand but now she doesn't have it any more.

I smelled something good in there earlier but she would not let me have any. Mom said it was a surprise for her neighbor. Hey, I kind of like it out here in the dark. I ran out into the yard and then faster to the next yard. I don't think she wants me out here and is calling my name. Gotta go!

I try hiding behind the rocker on the front porch. She sees me. The pumpkin is lit and gives me away. I give up and let her catch me. 

I get to sit on the soft chair next to her now. She looks at me and says I should not go out. "But, mom!"

Guess I'm grounded now. Think I'll take a cat nap.

Kiwi Windham

Like Me

Like Me

I leaned in close and whispered 

I didn't  know if you could hear

But every word I said to you sounded perfectly clear

Remember the day we walked along 

The hill was steep and wet

You held my hand tight in yours

Saying there was nothing to fret 

The stories you told 

were when you were young

Of things I needed to see

Important tips

to try and avoid

So you won't grow up

like me

I smoothed the hair on your brow

Each wrinkle I'll never forget

I held your hand tight in mine

Shh now, there is nothing to fret

Cathy

Peach Skies

Are there days of peach hued sunsets that you dream of?
Leaning on the railing of the sailboat and feeling the evening breeze on your face might remind you of those days.
It's such a short window of time when the sun starts to get tired and needs a rest for the night.
It sizzles on the fluid horizon.
Pink, orange and yellow streaks intermingle with the impatient moon hovering close by.
These are the moments of days promises. Just before you lose the light shining on water ripples like diamonds.
Make your wish.
One future tomorrow it will come true.
Cathy

The Sea Is Calling

Remember when you were first aware of the phone?

I do!  We got a new phone in our kitchen. It was mounted on the wall, dark yellow and push button. So neat not to have to dial a number by sticking your finger in a hole and pulling the dial around the circle.

Seemed so futuristic. Like we were finally entering the twentieth century. Wow.

I remember not being allowed on the phone very long. Maybe a few minutes at the most. 

Sometimes we would get a late night long distance call after 11pm because those rates were cheaper. 

Sometimes it was sad news and I would hear my mother crying. 

Other times we were called to the phone one by one to tell a relative we loved them.

Later on, we'd get s call to into invite us to a sleepover or birthday party. We'd always call before showing up. "Are you home, is it ok to come over?" We were taught phone etiquette. How to answer the phone courteously. You knew you better lest you were overheard by a parent!

A boy called!!

OMG, he actually called!

We lived for those calls.

We waited for those calls.

We can still hear their voices in our heads so many years later. 

Today we stare at a screen and type on it. 

How crazy the technology of communication has changed! 

I'm the world oldest geek grandma! I love this stuff.

But, I still wish my phone would ring. 

I hear myself yet my voice is not used. 

I think sometimes I can not hear because there is nothing said.

My eyes read what you want to say but do not want to say.  It's just not the same.

Further behind I seem to slip. Until one day someone says, I knew her. She had a nice smile and loved to talk. Anyone hear from her lately?

I used to have her phone number. Last I heard she was in Florida. 

 Excuse me, the sea is calling....