Tuesday, November 28, 2017

PAD 27 blank of blank

The Year of 2017

So many ups and downs
Back-and-forths
Leaping over hurdles
Getting smacked by circumstances
I feel like a ping pong ball

Sunday, November 26, 2017

PAD 26 Shine


Sometimes the sun will shine in all its brilliance
Sometime the sun will hide behind the clouds
The sun’s still the sun despite its disappearance
Sometimes the sun will shine in all its brilliance
So though I may seem in incompliance
I’m still me though I avoid the crowds
Sometimes the sun will shine in all its brilliance
Sometimes the sun will hide behind the clouds

November 25, 2017 PAD 25 remix

One More to Go

So far I’ve traveled to forty-nine states
All but Hawaii left to discover
I’m glad to say we have reserved the dates
I’ll go with sisters, but not my lover
And my daughter, too, but not her brother
We will swim at the beach at Waikiki
There will be so much to do and to see
Touring and luaus will be so thrilling
I might even buy a ukulele
I sure do hope that the Lord is willing


Zero to Go

At last, I’ve traveled to all fifty states
Lovely Hawaii, last to discover
We went in October, those reserved dates
I with my sisters, but not my lover
And my daughter, too, but not her brother
We all swam at the beach at Waikiki
There was so much to do, enjoy, and see
Touring and luaus were all so thrilling
And I even bought a ukulele
I am so glad that the Lord was willing

Friday, November 24, 2017

PAD 24 How I'll be remembered


Here Lies Connie

A little smart
A little dumb
A little cheerful
A little glum

A little kind
A little mean
A little pro
A little green

A little humble
A little proud
A little quiet
A little loud

A little helpful
A little lazy
A little wise
A little crazy

A little funny
A little sad
A little good
A little bad

A lot of a little
Seems to fit
I guess I’ll miss her
A little bit. 

Thursday, November 23, 2017

PAD 23 Preface

Hawaii Eve

Similar to Christmas Eve
Anticipation
Final acts of preparation
And you know how ever great it is,
you’ll be looking back at it
before you know it.

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

PAD 22 New Day

New Day

You can’t start from where you were.
You must begin right where you’re at.
Even if do-overs you’d prefer.
You can’t start from where you were.
Simple logic must concur.
You can’t step back into the past.
You can’t start from where you were.
You must begin right where you’re at.





Tuesday, November 21, 2017

PAD 21 construction

This is me
trying to construct a poem.
Never mind the foundation
I can’t get past
the hole in the ground.

PAD 20 What I Learned

I learned something,
but whatever I learned
I forgot.

PAD 19 Abundant

Oahu

A mple supply of pineapple
B ountiful plant life
U nlimited ocean
N ever ending aloha spirit
D iverse people groups
A lot of dancing
N umerous luaus
T remendous fun

Saturday, November 18, 2017

PAD 18 Good for Nothing

Treasures

I found my boarding pass
to go to Hawaii. Seems odd
that something I paid so much for
and had guarded carefully on the trip
is now good for nothing.
I tossed it into the trash
with greater appreciation
for those things unseen.

Friday, November 17, 2017

PAD 17 What I Meant to Say

Thoughtless

What I meant to say
to the doorman
of our Oahu hotel
was thank you, we
had a great time and
tip him for his troubles.
But an invisible barrier
materialized between us
and feeling awkward
I said and did nothing.

Thursday, November 16, 2017

PAD 16 A poem to the world

Dear World,

They call Hawaii Paradise
and I’m sure it bears a resemblance.
But dear world, even Hawaii,
is a far cry from Heaven.

World, you give us comforts and joys.
Exciting things to see and do.
In you, we have feelings of purpose
as we go about our work.

We have friends and family
we don’t want to ever leave.

When I was dating my, then, boyfriend
long distance, I busied myself
in Pennsylvania while he was in Wyoming.
I made the best of it, but I belonged with him.

And that’s how it is with you, World.
You are not my home. Heaven is.
I belong with Jesus
and everyone there.

Two thousand miles separated me
 from my husband-to-be.
The distance between Heaven and Earth
can’t be measured.

But it’s only a heartbeat away.
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

PAD 15 Stranger

Hawaii
Aloha spirit
Ohana
Family
Treat strangers as if they’re friends
Love and compassion

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

PAD Day 14 sonnet

Fifty Before Sixty

Was Pennsylvania-born, one autumn night.
Remained until a little less than eight.
The seven of us packed in car so tight
To Delaware, a flat and sandy state.

A choir tour then took me down the coast,  
Through Alabama and up Tennessee.
Then later added Northeast to my boast.
Wyoming! There I met my groom to be.

Moved to Nebraska for a year two.
And then in Colorado where I’m now.
From there, the western half I have gone through,
And cruised Alaska, so keeping a vow.

Then, visiting Hawaii, I made fifty.
And so, I met my goal at not yet sixty. 

Monday, November 13, 2017

PAD Day 13 City

Honolulu

Leis
Luaus
Hula dancers
Lost tourists
Relaxing beaches
Sunshine, showers, rainbows
Palms, banyan and monkey trees
King Kamehameha Statue
Tall hotels, busy streets, tempting shops
Swimming, surfing, paddle boarding in waves 

Sunday, November 12, 2017

PAD 12 transformation

Polynesian Culture Center

We were transformed
into a brightly-colored
walking flower patch
wearing red, blue, or
yellow plastic ponchos
padding in the rain
like a bunch of ducks
as we learned about
Polynesian culture.
We absorbed a lot
of facts, watched
many hula dancers,
tried poi and games,
but I remember
the rain the most,
good to the last drip. 

Saturday, November 11, 2017

PAD 11 unlucky


Beyond Luck

It’s hard to feel unlucky
lying on a sandy beach
listening to the waves roll in
and laughter as people play.

It’s hard to feel unlucky
when everything is going right.
But eventually, like sand in an hour glass,
Luck runs out.

Better to be blessed than lucky.
Blessing goes beyond luck.
Blessing carries you
through unlucky times. 

Friday, November 10, 2017

PAD Day 10

Going Somewhere

G randiose expectations
O pen dreaming
I magining the best
N ever thinking the worst
G oing

S omewhere
O nline scheming
M ay be the best trip yet        
E ntering numbers
W ardrobe lacking
H aving fun shopping
E merging with bargains
R eservations, tickets, schedule
E verything is in place. Hawaii, here we come.

Thursday, November 9, 2017

PAD Day 9 blank if blank


Take the Road to Hana if you Dare

Tourist info claimed majestic views,
curves, twists and cliffs.
So we dared take the Road to Hana Tour,
but the driver made the shuttle crawl.
Stopped a lot.
Vegetation blocked views of the drops.
We remembered mountain roads
in Colorado and Arizona.
Now, they will curl your hair.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Day 8 thing

Ukulele

Ukulele on the stand
I hoped we’d play and sing with him
But now his singing’s not so grand
Ukulele on the stand
Some things go not as planned
His brain won’t speak to voice or limb
Ukulele on the stand
I hoped we’d play and sing with him

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

PAD Day 7 Days of the week

A Week in Hawaii

Six hour flight 
Sandwiched between two
Daughter and sis
Snapped pictures
Met other sis and nephew
Dinner and fireworks

Waikiki
Beach chairs, umbrella
Bob in waves
Evening
Paid eight dollars for French fries
Very loud restaurant

Swap meet fun
Shopped and ate shaved ice
Taxi ride
The Bus ride
Dinner cruise, pinkish sunset
Watched hula dancers

One long day
Polynesian Place
Rained whole time
Tasted poi
Watched lots of hula dancers
Bought ukulele

Pearl Harbor
White memorial
Heard stories
Felt sorrow
Then ate at Hard Rock Cafe
Kathy tried poke

My birthday
At Hanamau Bay
Beautiful
We snorkeled
At dinner heard “Brown-eyed girl”
I had steak and shrimp

Maui Day
Road to Hana tour
Lots of curves
Lots of plants
Got to see a rainbow tree
Airport-great burgers 

Monday, November 6, 2017

PAD Day 6 Praise

In Praise of Hawaii

Lush vegetation, banyan and palms
Rugged mountains, we ooh and we ahh
Inviting beaches, we relax on a whim
Sparkling waters, we go in for a swim
Colorful fish darting about
Various sands, without a doubt
Balmy fresh air, so nice in the fall
Exotic dishes, we’d like to eat all
Expressive dancers sharing the joy
Warm smiles, they often employ
Welcoming hosts, eager to please
Aloha spirit, feeling at ease

Sunday, November 5, 2017

PAD Day 5 self destruct

Post-vacation

With my feet back in the Rockies,
no more hula dancers, waterfalls,
black, white and red sand beaches,
exotic food, luxurious hotel room,
I return to caregiving, housekeeping,
cooking, errand running and shopping
through Wal-Mart and the old lady
at the checkout moves like a sloth
and bumps a shirt hanging beside
her and shuffles over to pick it up,
and I’m beginning to self-destruct,
determined, I put on a brave smile
and cross over to life as I know it.

Saturday, November 4, 2017

PAD 4 Whosoever


Whosoever Wants to Fly

Whosever forks over the money
Dares take off their belt and shoes
Give up their laptop and cell phone
Raise their hands in a plexiglass tube
Stand stocking-footed on printed feet
Allow themselves to be patted down
May pass to fly to wonderlands

Friday, November 3, 2017

PAD Day 3 Triangle

Hanauma Bay

Being of hearty stock,
I, well into women’s plus sizes,
am the most petite of the five
that headed to Hanauma Bay.

As we waddled to the water
wearing our large triangular footwear,
I worried when we’d go bottoms up
we’d be mistaken for a pod of whales.

But worries were forgotten
when we glided along underwater
breathing like a group of Darth Vaders
spying on the colorful inhabitants.

I tried not to think of
the creature the tour guide
referred to as the “S word.”
as I followed my daughter.

When she pointed, I realized
I was seeing only the large fish;
about as blind as cave creatures,
 I missed the smaller ones.

Out of the water, with my glasses on,
seeing her sparkly-eyed enthusiasm
I knew she had found something
that made her feel alive.

I sat on my beach chair and pondered
why we go through life like automatons
when there’s such amazing wonders  
as fins, snorkels and Hanauma Bay.