Canada 6

 

Niagara Falls

 

Very dismal weather,

cold, foggy, a bit of rain.

Glad for my winter coat, gloves, hood.

Prof, our guide, very knowledgeable,

gave us some of Canada’s history,

of which I know precious little.

 

We snapped smiling pictures

in front of the Toronto sign,

and at a LOVE sign made of locks

in the red brick distillery region,

and ate pizza and shopped for souvenirs

at St. Lawrence Market.

 

We rode on our roomy bus

to the Niagara Falls.

We walked about

and found a good overlook,

one which Gordon Ramsey

and entourage didn’t block.

 

The three sets of falls,

shrouded in fog and mist,

still beautiful. More photos,

then a long ride back

and a nice dinner split

between us two sisters.

 

Tomorrow the train.

 

 

 

Canada 5

Arriving Toronto

 

The scenery from the airport

to downtown Toronto

looked like a black and white photo.

Rain painted everything in shades of gray.

The buildings tall.

The streets busy.

People everywhere.

It made me a bit dizzy.

After a long travel day,

with little food and little sleep,

I devoured my salmon dinner

and half of my sister’s beef.

Added ice cream on top of that.

I’m afraid our little tour group

thought, Wow that lady can eat!

Now it’s time to snuggle up

in this luxury hotel

and sleep,

and hope to be ready for a day of

exploration and adventure in Toronto. 

But don’t pronounce the second “t”.

Theory Poetic Asides, Canada 4

March 4^th

 

Today I will march forth

on my way to Canada.

“You’re going on a trip AGAIN!”

Yes, I have a theory:

when the travel bug has bitten

and is given opportunity,

it will do a happy dance

that makes you feel alive.

So travel away!

So I’ll travel away

to Canada today.

But first stop in Durango,

Sleep at the Super 8,

To avoid driving in the dark.

Canada 3

 One More Day

 

To see the blood moon,

I got up at four.

I would have preferred

To stay home and snore.

 

But I had to work

At the nature center,

With sixteen children

With Kathie a mentor.

 

And then home again,

Almost in a stupor,

Wanting to do nothing,

A real party pooper.

 

But I aim mentally

To get in gear,

As Sis and I head

For the second trip this year.

 

So we’re off to Canada.

Perhaps there will be snow.

Less than 24 hours,

We’ll be on the go.

Canada 2

 

Two More Days

 

I’m suffering from overwhelm.

Jesus, would You take the helm?

There’s too much to do.

My brain’s turned to goo.

I need my life to be in Your realm.

Canada Poem 1

 Three More Days

 

Some friends tend to flip

When I’m off on another trip,

But the time seems right

To take train or flight,

Since I just got back from a ship.

cause and effect Poetic Bloomings

 

There once was a cat named Sledge

Who spied a glass on the ledge

He couldn’t resist it

And boldly did fist it

Glass smashed since it fell over edge

Initialism Poetic Asides

 

LOL

 

Laughing out loud from your spirit.

Humor abounds if you hear it.

Through trial, toil and trouble,

Let laughter so bubble.

Just let loose and do not fear it.

Silver

 Matthew 26:15

 

For silver pieces, three time ten.

Our Lord was sold to die and then

He bled and died as sacrifice

In our place

In our place

In our place

Amazing that we’re worth that price  

 

Gold Poetic Bloomings

 I Peter 1:7

 

First Peter says though gold is great,

It’s not so great as our pure faith—

The hope we hold to be with Him.

He promised.

He promised.

He promised.

Let’s not let faith in Christ grow dim.

Clean, Poetic Asides, Panama 31

 Clean Start to Life as Usual

 

In Mesa, early church and pray,

Packed up our things and headed north.

A pleasant sunny drive that day,

As we made three stops going forth.

To me vacay is of great worth.

Monday, faced a long to-do list,

Shopping, laundry, you get the gist.

Tuesday, back to work, did my part  

Today, I’m tired my mind’s a-fizz.

Took a nap, now, for a clean start.

Heart, Poetic Bloomings, Panama 30

 

Day 3 in Mesa, Return Trip

 

Family of four

Valentine’s celebration

Take out of chicken, burgers and fries

 

Preparing

Packing

Parting

 

See you in four months, Lord willing.

Till then you’re in our hearts.

Panama 29

 

Day Two in Mesa Return Trip

 

We could never imagine

when we met when our kids were small

that forty years later,

we’d plan to travel to Scotland together.

What a fun conversation we had this afternoon,

neither one of us wanting to end the phone call

Long-time friendships-- Sustenance for the soul.

Panama 28

 

Day One in Mesa Return Trip

 

Sleep

Cook, eat

Do dishes

Play Canasta

Do some groceries

Reorganize luggage

Write a poem and post online

Buy needed electronic cords

Watch TV till two in the morning

Blank Again, Poetic Asides, Panama 27

 Delayed Again

 

Sat in the Pheonix airport,

Delayed for three hours.

Arrived in Fort Lauderdale.

Had a wonderful cruise in Central America.

Back in Fort Lauderdale.

Delayed again.

Missed connection in Dallas.

Delayed again.

No flight till morning.

Counted the hours.

Dozed off with my backpack as a pillow.

Seven AM finally came around.

On the plane, pilot announces,

“Maintenance Issue.”

Delayed again.

Finally in Mesa with my kids.

Going home this weekend.

Next trip, three weeks later.

I hope I’m not delayed again.

Panama 26

 Sitting in Ft Lauderdale Airport

 

We had an early start

The ship to disembark

And now I sit and sit and sit

And I’ll eat in just a bit

Then it will be time to sit some more

I can’t wait to go out the door

And to Phoenix I will fly

And be picked up by my son Eli

And then Hubby will be waiting

And greet me as if we’re dating

And Lori in I will play Canasta

It’s fun even though she’s the mast’ah

Panama 25

 

Last Day

 

Packing, eating, resting

Trivia, art gallery, Splendor

Bye to Matthew the Chef

Our last day aboard the ship.

 

Then Sis is off to Lincoln

And I’m off to Phoenix

As kids, could we ever imagine

traveling the world together?

 

Panama 24

 

Winding Down

 

Penultimate day on the Viking Mars

Splendor is a favorite pastime of ours

We also learned to paint cute toucans

And we fit doing laundry into our plans

It was Sunday and church service was great

And we heard that the Sea Hawks can celebrate

We ate meals late because I had slept in

Nine hours of sleep, what a way to begin!

Now we’re headed for our last day of vacay

We’ve got to do some packing on our last day.

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