cold, Poetic Bloomings, Panama 23

 

There’s Cold and There’s COLD

 

I remember

December 28^th 1981,

when my daughter

birthed into a frigid world

of 16 below in Craig Colorado.

 

And then it got really cold,

40 below for two weeks running.

 

That’s when my carpenter husband

jumped into his truck

and the seat cracked,

and he could break off his beard.

 

When the heater malfunctioned

and our baby wore a snowsuit indoors.

 

When a washcloth froze in our sink.

 

When it made it up to 18 degrees,

and I told my mom on the phone

that it felt warm.

 

It’s hard to imagine, now,

sailing on the Caribbean Sea

after two weeks of taking in the sun

at the beach, kayaking and tubing,

and climbing waterfalls in shorts and tee.

 

It’s hard to imagine

as I head to Florida,

then Arizona, then back to Colorado

what it’s going to be like

working at the Nature Center

where sometimes the snow

is measured in feet, not inches.

 

 

 

Panama 22

 Cozumel, Mexico

 

Island

Mayan ruins

Two iguanas upstaged the ruins

Painting class, psychedelic Owl

Shopping,

Games of Splendor,

and, of course eating, eating,

and more eating.

How will I ever get accustomed

to life back home?

Panama 21

 

Along in Belize

 

Long tender ride from ship

Long ride in bus

Long walk

Long kayaking through long river caves

Long float down river in innertubes

Long ride back in bus

Long tender ride back to ship

It will be a long-time memory.

Panama 20

 

Roatan

 

Today was our beach trip to Roatan.

We bumped a long in a rattle trap bus.

Of this white beach, Judy was a big fan.

Though disappointed, she made not a fuss.

Though it was windy, it was fun for us.

We bobbed in the sea and cooled off a bit.

Then went to the chaise lounges just to sit.

We met some friends and had lunch together.

Then went shopping and hoped the gifts will fit.

The day was great, regardless of weather.

Panama 19 b

 

Cruis’n

 

We are sailing the Caribbean Sea.

The water now has a blue cast to it.

Today, the wind was blowing forcefully.

I started walking, but I had to quit,

So we rested in our stateroom a bit.

We played Trivia and we washed our clothes.

We played some Splendor till I had to doze.

We ate dinner till our bellies were full.

Tomorrow’s excursion--the beach we chose.

Cruising the Caribbean is so cool.

Panama 19

 

Predictions Just for Fun

 

Climbing the falls in Jamaica,

watching the locks in Panama,

a bus tour through Panama City,

a walk in the jungles of Costa Rica,

playing many games with Sis

and other entertainment

while sailing the seas.

 

I predict we will have a lot of fun

in Honduras, Belize and Mexico,

but only the Lord knows.

 

I didn’t predict the choppy waves

night before last that kept me

in bed all evening, nor Sis’s

feeling puny, and leaving me

to go on an excursion alone.

 

But I still predict a lot of fun,

before I head home to Colorado.

Panama 18

 

Costa Rica

 

We went to Lyon Costa Rica

Sis was still feeling a little puny

I took a tour through the jungle

In a giant home-built ATV

 

The number of plants

Was beyond imagination

And we even went by

A banana plantation

 

The group saw a sloth,

A poison dart frog and a monkey

But though I looked hard

It was difficult for me to see

 

We did some souvenir shopping

But I needed more time

And we ate plantain chips

All in all the day was fine