September 25, 2026, Alaska Trip

 

In Seattle, Day Before Cruise

 

Uneventful flight

Not much to write a poem about

But that’s the kind we pray for

 

Sis had a surprise for me.

I would have never guessed.

An unusual can opener

 

No computer

Writing by hand

Fingers start to cramp

 

Sis and I

New adventure

Alaska, here we come.

 

Fourth time in Seattle

Once on road trip with daughter

Once to go to Alaska with oldest sister

Once for family reunion.

Once to go to Alaska with second oldest sister

Maybe I’ll take two more to Alaska

Since I have two more sisters.

 

September 24, 2026, Alaska Trip

 

Two More Days Till Alaska Cruise

 

With Lori it was Zumba time

And dancing to the tunes

Went home and played Canasta some

Like most afternoons

 

I checked in for tomorrow’s flight

Excitement starts to mount

And Lori helped repack my bags

She’s good without a doubt

October 3, 2026, Alaska Trip

Transporting to Another World

 

From being fed a bountiful supply

To cooking three meals a day.

From having someone clean for me,

To doing housework every day.

From handwriting in my journal

To working on my computer.

From a gentle rocking ship

to a sleepy small town.

From fun with Sis

To life with Hubby.

From new spaces, faces, and activities

To same places, people and tasks.

From adventure

To routine.

From no pressure to do anything,

To a long to-do list.

Thankful for both worlds.

September 23, 2026, Alaska Trip, Autumn, Poetic asides

 

Variegated Autumn

 

Autumn begins a bit jumbled this year,

In Arizona’s 100 degrees.

I may miss Colorado gold, I fear,

Here in the desert, not too many trees.

 

Down here with silver-haired snowbirds, they say,

When license plates change colors, it is fall.

But this traveling bird’s not here to stay.

I’ll fly to Seattle, but that’s not all.

 

Seattle might still be rainy and green,

Then Sis and I will board a massive ship.

Then great Alaska comes scene after scene.

I’ll bring a winter jacket for this trip.

 

I’ll see all types of autumns when I roam,

Then I’ll go to my Colorado home.

 

 

 

September 23, 2026, Alaska Trip

 

Three More Days Till Alaska Cruise 

 

The second day in Mesa, now.

YMCA again

We made rounds of exercises

A wonder we’re not thin

 

We played Canasta yet again

I wrote my Wednesday poem

Redid my backpack and my bag

Did dishes just like home

September 22, 2026, Alaska trip

 Four More Days Till Cruise

First day in Mesa with the kids

Swam at YMCA

It was Lori’s aerobics class

Got groceries that day

 

Was feeling tired from the long drive

And so I took a nap

Then went and got some groceries

Canasta fills the gap

September 21, 2026, Alaska trip

 

The Drive to Mesa

 

At 9:30, were on our way.

We drove for eight hours.

It is a drive we often take,

With no thunder showers.

 

At a rest stop, I parked too close.

Hubby scratched a car door.

The man was none too delighted,

But he didn’t ask for more.

 

At another stop, a woman

Spotted a stolen car.

We didn’t stick around to watch.

We had yet to go far.

 

We got into Mesa at five.

Had dinner with tofu.

Lori and I played Canasta.

That’s always fun to do.