I heard my mother’s voice today
An echo faintly heard
In conversation
It was the strangest thing to say
I don’t know where it came from
It was a word of caution
Not my usual style
It brought Mama to my mind
Some things seem universal
A mother’s concern for her child
Somehow expressions of that love
Be they caution’s tale
Trump even fear of censure
My daughter so sure
And in her prime
Looks askance at me
Just Mama speaking through me
An echo cross the void
Was what I thought
But didn’t say!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Tangy Odor
Darker dimples on the bright orange rind
Of a succulent naval orange
And how the oil sprays out
When the rind is pinched
Between a child’s finger and thumb
And the fragrance,
That sharp tangy odor
A child’s delight
Such a simple fascination
Over and over the repetition
And each time it never fails to bring a smile
And carries me back
That orangey scent
When I was that delighted child.
Fran Rossano April 2011
Of a succulent naval orange
And how the oil sprays out
When the rind is pinched
Between a child’s finger and thumb
And the fragrance,
That sharp tangy odor
A child’s delight
Such a simple fascination
Over and over the repetition
And each time it never fails to bring a smile
And carries me back
That orangey scent
When I was that delighted child.
Fran Rossano April 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Watching Oprah today I realized her spa adventure with Gail King is a sumptuous idea for a lady friends or girls reunion/getaway. Then Oprah went over the top, as she’s done frequently this last season, and sent the entire audience to the spa. How fabulous is that! Wonder how many women I could get signed up for a similar outing. Also wonder how it could be done on a budget.
Lots of wondering…..Of course there’s no way I would ever do anything so indulgent as that! Just a momentary diversion from my planning our porch addition. Then I can bargain spa at my own house on the lake! Just a few more hot days and I’ll be back in the lake. Do I ever need it! My plan to stay in the pool at Lake Area Physical Therapy until warm weather was scotched due to the temperature of the pool. 100 degrees isn’t conducive to activity. I had asked the management if something could be done several times and their response was always that the other clients really liked the high temperatures. I know when I’m fighting a losing battle. All the little old ladies who go into shock from 90 degree water win this one.
Water aerobics will be starting soon and I will probably go at least a day or two a week just to keep up my technique. Doing a shared exercise program helps pattern you for the days you go it alone. I’ll miss the bar along the side of the pool. It was great for doing pool sit ups. Pool sit ups? That’s where you hook your toes under the bar that runs along the side and do buoyant sit ups. Much easier than regular sit ups. I really like that bar. I don’t think I’ve ever been to another pool that had a bar running down the side as that pool had. I’ve been racking my brain to think how I can duplicate it in the lake.
I am just about finished with my lurid sunset lake picture. I’m learning how to handle the acrylic paints better. The quick drying time is wonderful but makes doing any kind of blending a challenge. The sun was the hardest part. I wanted a molten glowing sun and to get it I had to float yellow paint into wet orange paint and pounce it a little with a stiff brush. My sun is glowing and very three dimensional.
Well tomorrow is Friday and hopefully son Bill is coming to finish my desk top in my work room. I’ll get to hear how his nursing assistant course is going and help him take vital signs. Sunday Emily has invited us to their house to visit, see the kids, have dinner. A busy few days coming up.
It will be interesting to see which way this boat drifts.
Lots of wondering…..Of course there’s no way I would ever do anything so indulgent as that! Just a momentary diversion from my planning our porch addition. Then I can bargain spa at my own house on the lake! Just a few more hot days and I’ll be back in the lake. Do I ever need it! My plan to stay in the pool at Lake Area Physical Therapy until warm weather was scotched due to the temperature of the pool. 100 degrees isn’t conducive to activity. I had asked the management if something could be done several times and their response was always that the other clients really liked the high temperatures. I know when I’m fighting a losing battle. All the little old ladies who go into shock from 90 degree water win this one.
Water aerobics will be starting soon and I will probably go at least a day or two a week just to keep up my technique. Doing a shared exercise program helps pattern you for the days you go it alone. I’ll miss the bar along the side of the pool. It was great for doing pool sit ups. Pool sit ups? That’s where you hook your toes under the bar that runs along the side and do buoyant sit ups. Much easier than regular sit ups. I really like that bar. I don’t think I’ve ever been to another pool that had a bar running down the side as that pool had. I’ve been racking my brain to think how I can duplicate it in the lake.
I am just about finished with my lurid sunset lake picture. I’m learning how to handle the acrylic paints better. The quick drying time is wonderful but makes doing any kind of blending a challenge. The sun was the hardest part. I wanted a molten glowing sun and to get it I had to float yellow paint into wet orange paint and pounce it a little with a stiff brush. My sun is glowing and very three dimensional.
Well tomorrow is Friday and hopefully son Bill is coming to finish my desk top in my work room. I’ll get to hear how his nursing assistant course is going and help him take vital signs. Sunday Emily has invited us to their house to visit, see the kids, have dinner. A busy few days coming up.
It will be interesting to see which way this boat drifts.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Frustrated Musing
I deleted the first line I was going to write about the BP oil spill of one year ago.
The frustration I feel about that situation is compounded by the feeling of total impotence when confronting the abuses of big oil abetted by government. It’s a matter of picking your battles, I guess. My concerns are closer to home and I’m sure much more self-serving. After all it is all about me! However, having said that, the condition of the environment should be close to us all. The environment is the legacy we all pass on to the next generation equally.
Our local news here in North Florida extols the pristine quality of our beaches and seafood. However the marshes and wetlands of the coastal states are still victims of the spill with globs of oil soaked bottom easily demonstrable. Even though the beaches are clean there is a huge increase in dead sea animals washing ashore. I cannot help but believe there are even greater losses to sustain in future years as our planet becomes more brittle from our abuses compounded by Ma Nature. I’m thinking now of the recent nuclear disaster in Japan. These two events are too recent to assess their impact.
My husband and I own three vehicles and a pontoon boat. The cars are definitely in an ascending scale on the consumption meter. We’ve got a very thrifty Honda that is our “daily driver”. We cannot seem to break our dependence on our truck. We also have a vintage convertible we take out a couple of times a year. We won’t be cruising around much in it this year with gas prices at $4 a gallon. I think it would be a capital idea if Americans would take a few days and boycott the gas and oil and auto industries in a blanket show of disapproval over this whole stinking mess. The gas and oil part is self evident and the auto industry for failing to be responsive to our need for affordable fuel efficient vehicles.
How about July 4th as a boycott day, or the week of July 4th?
The frustration I feel about that situation is compounded by the feeling of total impotence when confronting the abuses of big oil abetted by government. It’s a matter of picking your battles, I guess. My concerns are closer to home and I’m sure much more self-serving. After all it is all about me! However, having said that, the condition of the environment should be close to us all. The environment is the legacy we all pass on to the next generation equally.
Our local news here in North Florida extols the pristine quality of our beaches and seafood. However the marshes and wetlands of the coastal states are still victims of the spill with globs of oil soaked bottom easily demonstrable. Even though the beaches are clean there is a huge increase in dead sea animals washing ashore. I cannot help but believe there are even greater losses to sustain in future years as our planet becomes more brittle from our abuses compounded by Ma Nature. I’m thinking now of the recent nuclear disaster in Japan. These two events are too recent to assess their impact.
My husband and I own three vehicles and a pontoon boat. The cars are definitely in an ascending scale on the consumption meter. We’ve got a very thrifty Honda that is our “daily driver”. We cannot seem to break our dependence on our truck. We also have a vintage convertible we take out a couple of times a year. We won’t be cruising around much in it this year with gas prices at $4 a gallon. I think it would be a capital idea if Americans would take a few days and boycott the gas and oil and auto industries in a blanket show of disapproval over this whole stinking mess. The gas and oil part is self evident and the auto industry for failing to be responsive to our need for affordable fuel efficient vehicles.
How about July 4th as a boycott day, or the week of July 4th?
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
About "Carrot Sticks"
At sunset on Monday night is poetry night in Melrose where I live. When I arrive the sun is going down behind the oncoming traffic. Sometimes I have to just stop for a few moments and watch the late commuters slowing down as they come into town. A group of folks, quite the mixed bag, meet in a big old house that is currently an art gallery. I’m not exactly sure how this group came about because I am the newest addition. A couple of locals decided it would be a good idea to meet and try their hand at poetry, and this fabulous location was secured as locale. The rest of them have been showing up a while. I was asked on several occasions to come but demurred on the basis of never seriously having written poetry. Well, as it turns out, I needn’t have been intimidated.
The first night I showed up was unusual in the large number of attendees. There were about 15 people there. Eight to ten is the more common turnout. Our moderator is Don , although this job falls to others as necessary. We sometimes have dogs in attendance, the last little canine cutie, all of two pounds, would signify his approval by barking at the end of each poem. We quickly adopted it as our rating system. The more barks the better.
Acceptance is the overriding principle at work in this group. Every contribution is applauded. In the short time I have been attending I cannot tell you how much this unequivocal support has meant to me. I know my contributions are trite and amateurish; but I have been moved to actually study this literary form and I’m looking forward to a time when I’m able to create a thoughtful work.
So, that brings us to “carrot sticks” or “No Carrot Sticks” the title of the poem I submitted to this blog last. Our stand-in moderator, Laurie, in trying to be democratic allowed the group members to come up with words on which to base poems and Debra, sitting next to me submitted “carrot sticks.” So for ten minutes we all composed a poem using the words “carrot sticks.” Now, I gotta tell you, I am not now or will I ever be (that’s a whole ‘nother blog) a “carrot stick” kind of girl. However, Debra is the kind of girl who can wax poetic over carrot sticks. Go figure! I mean no disparagement whatsoever to my fellow poet! Honest! Who would have thought of carrot sticks as poetic inspiration? Well, such is this group.
Now, in addition to poetry group, some of the members are involved in another enterprise called The Shakerag Players. Next month they will perform at Shakerag Coffee Talk. Its inspiration is our community Melrose, Florida, and features prominently one of our iconic local businesses, Chiappini’s Gulf Station. No visit to Melrose is complete without a trip to Chiappini’s to hobnob with the locals and stand around drinking beer in the service station. Or your beverage of choice, but no hard liquor. Many years ago, I thought of printing and selling t-shirts with the slogan “Melrose, where the beer tastes better and the necks are redder. “ This thought was largely inspired by the activities in and around Melrose and Chiappini’s Gulf Station. Back in those days the beer was fifty cent drafts of Budweiser. Francis Chiappini, a charming, cheerful , gentle man was still alive and running things.
So the plan is to recognize and promote what is unique to our little hamlet and although Chiappini’s is arguably not the most outstanding feature , it is as good a starting place as any.
Oh, and if you haven't read "No Carrot Sticks" scroll down and read it and let me
know what you think.
The first night I showed up was unusual in the large number of attendees. There were about 15 people there. Eight to ten is the more common turnout. Our moderator is Don , although this job falls to others as necessary. We sometimes have dogs in attendance, the last little canine cutie, all of two pounds, would signify his approval by barking at the end of each poem. We quickly adopted it as our rating system. The more barks the better.
Acceptance is the overriding principle at work in this group. Every contribution is applauded. In the short time I have been attending I cannot tell you how much this unequivocal support has meant to me. I know my contributions are trite and amateurish; but I have been moved to actually study this literary form and I’m looking forward to a time when I’m able to create a thoughtful work.
So, that brings us to “carrot sticks” or “No Carrot Sticks” the title of the poem I submitted to this blog last. Our stand-in moderator, Laurie, in trying to be democratic allowed the group members to come up with words on which to base poems and Debra, sitting next to me submitted “carrot sticks.” So for ten minutes we all composed a poem using the words “carrot sticks.” Now, I gotta tell you, I am not now or will I ever be (that’s a whole ‘nother blog) a “carrot stick” kind of girl. However, Debra is the kind of girl who can wax poetic over carrot sticks. Go figure! I mean no disparagement whatsoever to my fellow poet! Honest! Who would have thought of carrot sticks as poetic inspiration? Well, such is this group.
Now, in addition to poetry group, some of the members are involved in another enterprise called The Shakerag Players. Next month they will perform at Shakerag Coffee Talk. Its inspiration is our community Melrose, Florida, and features prominently one of our iconic local businesses, Chiappini’s Gulf Station. No visit to Melrose is complete without a trip to Chiappini’s to hobnob with the locals and stand around drinking beer in the service station. Or your beverage of choice, but no hard liquor. Many years ago, I thought of printing and selling t-shirts with the slogan “Melrose, where the beer tastes better and the necks are redder. “ This thought was largely inspired by the activities in and around Melrose and Chiappini’s Gulf Station. Back in those days the beer was fifty cent drafts of Budweiser. Francis Chiappini, a charming, cheerful , gentle man was still alive and running things.
So the plan is to recognize and promote what is unique to our little hamlet and although Chiappini’s is arguably not the most outstanding feature , it is as good a starting place as any.
Oh, and if you haven't read "No Carrot Sticks" scroll down and read it and let me
know what you think.
Monday, April 4, 2011
No Carrot Sticks!
No Carrot Sticks!
That gnawing hunger inside
That need knows no fulfillment
Takes me along on its wild ride
Fingers flying with the pen
Words riding high but struggling
To stay on the saddle of my thoughts
The beast pauses, paws the ground
Looks around with fiery eyes
Then gallops off………
No carrot sticks these ideas here!
Something with some savory meat
Is needed in this stew!
Nourishment for distance...
Hang on!
Hang on!
The idea will come…
In a stealthy quiet moment
Then mount that beast and ride
My brain a bubbling foment!
That gnawing hunger inside
That need knows no fulfillment
Takes me along on its wild ride
Fingers flying with the pen
Words riding high but struggling
To stay on the saddle of my thoughts
The beast pauses, paws the ground
Looks around with fiery eyes
Then gallops off………
No carrot sticks these ideas here!
Something with some savory meat
Is needed in this stew!
Nourishment for distance...
Hang on!
Hang on!
The idea will come…
In a stealthy quiet moment
Then mount that beast and ride
My brain a bubbling foment!
Hello, Again
Well hello! I know it’s been a long time , but I have so much to tell you.
Last blog was about the dear lady at the Department of Labor who was so helpful to me in getting the COBRA reduction for my insurance. Now I’m about to run out of COBRA altogether and looking to get insurance again and that’s no cheap prospect either. About $880.00 a month I don’t have. Could be back to the work force for me in some limited capacity. I’m not crossing over there until more consideration.
Since I haven’t corresponded in a while you don’t know I had back surgery and I’m as much recovered from that as possible. I’ve done months of water exercise in a pool and now I’m looking forward to getting back in the lake. It has been beautiful here lately and I’m sure the water is going to be tolerable soon. My friend Jean and I got some swim belts and some support seats for the water for walking and exercising , so my anticipation level is quite high. The only thing I’m going to miss about the pool was the nice bar it had that I liked to curl my feet around to do water sit-ups.
I’ve got poetry meeting tomorrow night and a little Melrose “Lake Wobegone’ meeting before that. Poetry has settled into the same group of people showing up most nights. It’s hard to know how much they are really interested in poetry because I’m not seeing much progress. Maybe it’s just me! I know when we try to incorporate a concept or rule it sure makes it a lot harder to come up with something you’re not embarrassed to read. We tried Haikus last meeting. I don’t know what we’ll discuss this time, maybe rhyme. I am not the person in charge. This group was going long before I showed up and they seem to enjoy just getting together. The gathering spot is congenial and easy to get to so that adds to the overall social effect but a moderator keeps things moving along and tosses out words for us to use as inspiration for our poems. So we write about 5 poems a night and read them aloud. But there is no criticism of the poems. I think some constructive criticism would be good. Unfortunately, before we can do that we need to learn more about the good elements of poetry and how to use them effectively.
I’ve been to two family weddings so far this year, an extraordinary feat for us. We go for so long without a real reason to dress up out here in the country and them BAM! Two weddings in a month! Amazing. Well it’s all good! I think reunions in general are a good thing and I’ve been trying to effect as many as I can.
I’ve recently reunited, electronically at least, with cousins I haven’t seen in 50 years. I also have made contact with members of my grandmother’s family I’ve never met! I have really enjoyed the little glimpse I’ve gotten of their lives and I hope to get to know them better.
Next post: a poem
Next post: a poem
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