open PAD 3

 

In celebration

We give praise and thanksgiving

For an open tomb

For Regina's birthday

 

Regina

 

Reaching out with a smile

Even going the extra mile

Grace flowing thru generations

Interceding for the nations

Now and always, a true friend

And on her kindness, we depend.

Express PAD 2

 Of Expressions and Hearing

 

A favorite time of the nature program,

for children and teachers alike—

sharing at the morning circle

the highlights of the week,

or maybe even lowlights.

 

We hear about awards,

baseball, wrestling, gymnastics.

We hear about accidents,

falling out of trees, scraped knees.

We hear about vacations and visits.

Play dates among friends.

Pet news of cats, dogs, rabbits,

horses and even one special turkey

that, like a dog, insists on being petted.

 

But I don’t always hear what’s going on.

My hearing aids aren’t doing the job.

Just one little reason of many little reasons

why this third year of the nature program

will be my last one.

It’s hard to express what I’m feeling—

Restlessness, frustration, sadness, 

wariness, relief, peace, excitement.

Yes! Excitement for a new life chapter.

seed PAD 1

 

Words:

particularly potent seeds

when planted

in the fertile ground

of young minds.

Who I Am, Poetic Bloomings

 Of Lava Lights and Jigsaw Puzzles

 

At times I feel

like a blob in a lava light,

constantly shifting and changing shapes,

bumping into glass walls

and other blobs.

 

At times I feel

like a 2,000-piece jigsaw puzzle,

no, not just one,

several dumped out into one big pile

and I’m still trying to sort myself out.

 

At times I feel

like a treasured child of God

and when I feel like a blob or a jigsaw puzzle,

He reassures me that He is the light

and He puts me together one piece at a time.

Spring, Poetic Asides

 

Spring 2026

 

Winter has been lazy

in southwest Colorado.

Snow appeared on mountain peaks,

but content to stay up there.

In lower elevations,

we haven’t even had to shovel drives.

What snow we had melted by noon.

 

Now, trees and bushes are greening up early.

The sun’s shining us into the 70s and 80s.

Spring flowers are making their debut.

But I expect at least one last winter blast

will cause robins, tulips and daffodils

to shiver where they stand.

But for now, I’ll welcome this early guest.

Let's Blank, Poetic Asides, Canada 14

 

Let’s Stay Put

 

Even though I like to be on the move,

Let’s stay put in our homes at least till June.

Let us play catch up on housework and such,

Though May is such a good traveling month.

Let’s remember why we live in our homes,

Before we take time to wander and roam.

Let’s breathe in fresh air at entrance of spring,

And stay here until we’re back in routine.

So I’ll stay put, my resolve will not slip

Unless you convince me of a spring trip.

Landmark, Poetic Bloomings, Canada 13

 

The Sleeping Ute

 

Toronto with its new sky scrapers

mixed with old buildings and CN tower,

Niagara Falls shrouded in mist and fog,

Montreal, lovely park with city overlook,

Quebec City, a slice of France

with cobble stone streets, quaint shops

and leftover Christmas decorations.

 

Then fly over Colorado mountain ridges.

When I see the Sleeping Ute,

the mountain they say

is a wounded warrior

arms across his chest,

feather at his head,

and even his knees and toes,

then I’ll know I’m home.

More to the Story, Poetic Bloomings, Canada 12

 Maybe There’s More to the Story

 

There was nothing I could do.

Rules are rules.

The retirement-age lady stared at me with icy eyes,

“You can’t give me MY suitcase?”

“I work for American,” I explained,

“You fly with United.

“A United worker should come by soon.”

 

The lady breathed out her frustration

and stormed off.

How rude and quick tempered, I thought.

I had met all kinds

Working at this small Durango, Colorado airport

these twenty-some years.

But maybe there’s more to the story.

 

Maybe two days earlier she started in Quebec City

when there was an ice storm.

Maybe she sat on the plane with her traveling companion

for hours as workers tried to de-ice the plane.

Maybe they taxied to the runway,

but the pilot waited out reported turbulence,

then the plane needed de-iced again.

Maybe it was too windy for the sprayer,

so the flight was cancelled.

 

Maybe she and her traveling partner

dished out money for a taxi and hotel.

Maybe they had to get up at three AM

and then stand in a long line at the airport.

Then maybe they made it through security

and waited some more

as the second plane was delayed,

as authorities decided

if it was safe enough to fly in the blizzard.

 

And then, maybe they finally made it to Newark

where she and her traveling partner went their own ways.

And maybe this lady went through the long process

of rechecking her bag, going through customs,

taking the sky train to the right terminal,

and taking a shuttle to the right place in the terminal.

Maybe by the time she got there she missed her flight to Denver

and was told she’d have to wait till six AM to get the next flight out.

 

Maybe she wandered around for hours, passing the time,

eating, dozing off and in her wandering

learned another plane was leaving for Denver in the evening.

Maybe with a prayer and fingers crossed,

 she signed up for standby.

Then maybe she got on the plane and it was delayed again.

Maybe there was bad turbulence a good part of the flight,

bouncing up and down like an old pickup on a dirt road.

Maybe by the time she made it to Denver,

she missed the plane to Durango.

Maybe the next available flight wasn’t till three PM the next day.

Maybe she got on standby again for the eight AM flight.

 

Maybe she tried to sleep all night

on a small couch in the Denver airport

next to a moving sidewalk that went clackety clack,

with the loud speaker blaring reminding people

to watch their luggage and not accept anyone’s else’s,

and the janitorial staff operating their noisy equipment.

Maybe the lights were bright and the air was cold.

 

Maybe she got up early, hoping and praying

she’d make the flight to Durango at eight AM.

 Maybe her blood pressure meds had run out

and she was feeling headachy.

Maybe she did make it on the flight

and by the time she got to me,

she had one more hour to drive 

over the mountain to the next town

to make it home.

 

Maybe when I couldn’t give her luggage,

it was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.

When the United personnel finally came

maybe the traveler tried to apologize

as she explained she’d been trying to get home

for over fifty hours.

 

Maybe she made it home okay,

happily reunited with her husband,

had a good meal,

and took a nap.

Maybe her behavior

was understandable.

Jackpot, Poetic Asides, Canada 11

 

Somewhere in the World

 

As our trip nears the end,

And we say goodbye to friends,

We vow to meet again

Somewhere in the world.

 

We took a long train ride,

With friends side by side.

We explored near and wide

Somewhere in the world.

 

We ate a fancy meal

And laughed and talked with zeal

With a win-the-jackpot feel,

Somewhere in the world.

 

We did fun things like paint

And walked till we felt faint.

Someday we’ll reacquaint,

Somewhere in the world.

Canada 10

 

Quebec City

 

We took a tour of the city

And were told of its history.

We wandered in a citadel 

And looked out in a battlefield.

 

We shopped a street of cobble stones.

We felt France in our bones.

We ate a lunch of sandwich and fries,

Chatted and laughed, a joyful surprise.

 

We discovered a wood carver’s shop,

Amazing carvings that did not stop.

He showed his work bench amidst saw dust.

To see work in progress was a must.

 

The next adventure was a steep hill.

To ride the toboggan was a thrill.

A long, slow trudge up to the top,

Then lickety-split we came to a stop.

 

We topped the evening

With a Michelin Star dinner,

A six-course meal,

A real award winner.

 

We said our good byes.

I saw some tears.

Imagined we’d meet again

Through the years.

 

We packed up our things

And went to bed that night,

Not knowing what awaited

In the morning light.

Canada 9

 

On to Quebec

 

From Montreal to Quebec by train,

A little snow, a little sun, fog and rain.

Settled into a castle on a high hill top.

The fun and adventures seem not to stop.

 

We took a tour which started outside.

We bought tickets for a toboggan ride.

We viewed the mountains and the river,

A beautiful gift from the ultimate Giver.

 

We toured inside the castle with a dapper man.

To tell us of its history was his plan.

We went to the ball room, now divided by three.

On the stairs, a wish, a kiss, and Karen kissed me.

 

We painted pictures for a lark.

I liked the one I did of the park.

We ate till our bellies were full.

For vacation, that’s a golden rule.

Canada 8

 

Montreal

 

Tall buildings, old and new

A lovely park with a view

A whole city under ground

Sis and I found our way around.

 

Walking to strengthen the heart

To a museum of modern art.

A pasta dinner along with jazz.

Some of the wonders Montreal has.

 

Iranians dancing in the street,

May their oppressors know defeat.

Some games of Splendor to settle in.

How does Judy always win?

 

Had a short sleep, but no pity.

Tomorrow a train to Quebec City.

Canada 7

 Train Ride

 

Chugging along on the train

Amidst fog, snow and rain.

And then a five-star hotel

Add dinner and all is well.

Only four days remain.

 

Malory told us her tale

Of hiking the Pacific Trail.

“I would love to do that,” I said,

“However, I might end up dead.”

At this stage, I’d surely fail.

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.