Flash Friday 55: The Death

Six months ago

I held your hand

as you cried,

tearfully pleading

for a gun

so that you

could take your life

for your pain was

unbearable

Last week

I held your hand

as you cried,

accepting fate…

an example

of courage

faith and strength

Today

God holds my hand

as I cry…

asking why

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Monday Musings: September 26, 2011

Dear Munchie-Boy,

Next time, let's try to finish school projects the night before rather than beginning them at 6:00am the day they are due. Okay? Great. Glad to get that settled.

Your Mama 5th

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Dear Carolina Panthers,

I am crazy happy about your win, especially through adverse conditions such as the torrential downpour, flooded field, and all. My wish is that I could have been there to enjoy the win with you and the fans! I was able, however, to catch bits and pieces of the game. The only one watching the game where I work was a sweet little old lady who excitedly told me all about the touchback that occurred early in the 1st quarter.

A purrfectly contented 5th

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Dear Employer,

I thank you for giving me 3 months notice that I will no longer be benefit eligible come January 1, 2012. I absolutely love what I do but I expect a fair exchange for my services. Hopefully I'll be able to slide into any future benefit eligible position that becomes available. Until then I will need to seriously consider any and all options available. I've been with you all from the very start, the very 1st day you opened your doors to the public. I have been one of your strongest cheerleaders ever since. That is why this is difficult for me. With that said, I accept that the economy has been the determining factor surrounding this decision, that it is not personal. I firmly believe that as one door closes, another shall open. Hopefully it will be the employee entrance at the back of the hospital.

Your faithful 5th

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Dear Bursitis,

I've had enough. You can go now. Bye bye!

A gimpy 5th

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Dear Morning Run,

Okay, let's see if these new orthotic inserts will do the trick. See you in 5!

A running 5th

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Dear Housework,

Can you wait until tomorrow? Please? Thanks.

An ever procrastinating 5th

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Flash Friday 55: G-Man Made Me Do It!

Careful.

He’s out there.

He knows where you’ve been blogging.

He knows where you social network.

You stay gone too long, he’ll come find you,

drag you back,

kicking, screaming,

ready or not.

Guilted into writing:

stringing words ,

parsing phrases,

until you’ve penned

a perfect 55

for G-Man.

(Adding a “foot-photo” wouldn’t hurt, either) 

 (from Google Images)

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I don't think, however, this is what he meant!

Happy 55 Galen, my friend! 

Happy Birthday Munchie-Boy!

Today is Munchie Boy's 13th Birthday. 

You know what that means?

That means Mr. Sister and I are now parents of 2 teenagers. 

Are we ready for this?

I dunno.

But all I can say is that the past 13 years have been one grand adventure after another. Munch has worked so very hard to overcome some difficult obstacles due to his prematurity. He approaches life with the same zeal. He sees things as challenges, not problems. He has a wonderful attitude and outlook. For example, yesterday, when I picked Munch up from school, he says to me, "Mom! A lot of 7th and 8th graders are excited about my birthday!" I asked him, "How so?". Munch replies, "Oh! Because they LOVE me!" 

Well there you go! With a confident attitude like that, he'll do okay for himself. 

Happy Birthday to my one and only Munchie-Boy! I love you and am so very proud of the young man you are becoming! I'll show up at lunch with the Big Mac birthday lunch as requested! 

Sensational Haiku Wednesday: Anticipation

Ah…expectations

Give rise to disappointments

Acceptance is key

Haiku Wednesday is always a joy to participate in. This week’s theme was ANTICIPATION. I equate anticipation with expectations. When I EXPECT something, I am bound to get hurt, or upset that things don’t quite go the way I had envisioned. In my spiritual quest I have found to live in the reality of the here and now. To accept people and situations for whom and they are, not what I want them to be. It truly is freeing.

If you would like to view some silly expectations vs. reality images, please click here.

To participate or view other entries, please click on the link below.

Just Write: And so I Run

Just write.

That is just about the only rule of this writing exercise sponsored by Heather of The Extraordinary Ordinary. I adore Heather’s blog. Her honesty, open mindedness, and willingness to share her life, her struggles, her fears, her joys, and her view of the world. Her blog was an integral part of my being able to admit to myself things that I longed to shut the door on. She planted the seed. It just took me a little while to catch up. She truly is “extraordinary” and I will forever cherish her.

For a more detailed explanation of this exercise please visit here.

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And so I run.

I was born a sensitive soul into the chaos of the world around me. I felt things deeply, cried easily, and so I run...into hiding when comfort could not be found. There I bury the pain.

As I grew older the sense of being not quite like others began to take hold. Everyone knows, being different is a big NO-NO as a teen amongst one’s peers.  And so I run...towards those things that helped me forget myself, to feel good, and to feel a sense of belonging to the “crowd” that I so wanted to be a part of.

Graduation came. Chaos turned to crisis at the death of my younger brother. I couldn’t cope. I couldn’t stay home. And so I run...on a spur of the moment, poorly thought out decision to attend a different college that would take me to the big city.

These were the dark days. I got pretty good at being what others wanted me to be but at the expense of being true to my self. Those caged emotions, memories, heartaches, and hurts began rattling within their confines. And so I run...at the 1^st opportunity to remove myself, geographically, from what I assumed was the cause of my misery.

Ten years ago I began running. Literally. It was an on-again, off-again love affair. I reveled in the accolades that I received when I began to place in the races I ran. My ego and my pride grew. But there came a time, just a little over a year ago that I stopped running. Both figuratively and literally. I took those keys to the holding cell of all the pain and turmoil of my past and summoned the courage to turn the lock. So there I stood...fearlessly facing come what may (well, to be perfectly honest, there was tremendous, deeply rooted fear. I had no choice but to turn it over to God and be willing to receive His help).

It has been a wild, crazy, rollercoaster of a year but I wouldn’t change a thing. My running became metaphorical. And so I run...towards the freedom from self, selfish will, and towards service to others. And so I run...grabbing that hope, those promises, and the miracles that are coming true each and every day.

A couple of months ago, I put back on my jogging shoes and began to run physically, as well, after my self imposed hiatus. Some old behaviors began to insert themselves…I had to get faster, if I don’t how will I ever place in the upcoming race events I am attending. But God has a unique sense of humor. Because I was going after this for all the WRONG reasons (pride, ego, accolades) he decided to sideline me with a minor injury. I can still run, but now realize that I must do so with a different purpose: spiritual and physical health. I am using my runs as a private meditation time with my God. I am discovering that speed isn’t important anymore. It’s the journey, not the destination, that counts. And so I shall continue to run...to build the endurance necessary to travel God’s chosen path.  

And so I run. 

Monday Musings: September 19, 2011

Dear Cam Newton,

Um, our team was the one wearing the WHITE jerseys. Just thought maybe you had forgotten.

A concerned 5^th

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Dear Steve Smith,

What was that all about? Were you showing off? I thought rule #1 in NFL football is to ALWAYS protect the ball. Oh, and next game…leave the Teflon gloves at home, ‘kay?

An exasperated 5^th

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Dear Carolina Panthers,

In all seriousness, I witnessed moments of greatness in Sunday’s game. It’s obvious we lost on turnovers, but the fact that these past 2 games were both lost by only a touchdown is a remarkable improvement from last year. This was actually an enjoyable game to watch. Even Mr. Sister had a good time. 

A hopeful 5^th

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Dear Procrastination,

I do believe it’s about time we part ways. Although we’ve been extremely close these past 5 decades, I’m ready to be a woman of action. It is very difficult to be that woman with you standing in the way. I’m thinking sometime next week or next month would be a good time to make that split. I’ll get back to you.

A delaying 5^th

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Dear Munchie Boy,

Now that you are about to exceed mama’s height, the answer is NO! You cannot use my shoulder as an arm rest.

Your vertically challenged Mama 5^th

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Dear Daisy,

I know you love me. Now that you have access to more of the house I realize you want to be with me every moment of every day. But seriously, could you quit following me into the bathroom? I promise I’ll come back out. How about you guard the door for me instead? Deal?

A Daisy lovin’ 5^th

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Dear Clinical Foundations,

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Without you I don’t know how I would have achieved the CEU’s necessary to maintain my license to practice in this state. The only thing left to do is to pay my renewal fee. If I can get my friend Procrastination to back off a bit, I should be able to do that later today. Or tomorrow.

A grateful and still delaying 5^th

PS…thank goodness I have until the end of the month!

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 That's all for this week's edition of Monday Musings. It feels good to be writing again! I've missed all of you.

Saturday Centus: Hunting Season

Oh dear. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! Our beloved Ms. Jenny has decided that this was the week to test our lyric writing skills. She gave us the melody (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star). She gave us the prompt: In the autumn. And she gave us the limitation of up to 32 words INCLUDING the prompt. At this, I take issue...I have always counted the prompt in every single centus limit Ms. Jenny has imposed and kept to the imposed word count exactly. In order to keep true with the notes and rhythm of "Twinkle", I had no choice but to cheat and use 34! Forgive me, Ms. Jenny!

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(image courtesy of Total-Wallpapers.com and Google Images)

In the autumn’s cool, crisp air

Mums abloom with vibrant flair

Leaves hitch ride on fall’s brisk breeze

Bare are now embarrassed trees

Time has come for season’s change

Watch out turkeys! Shooting range!

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Fall is my favorite time of year. Time to break free those sweaters and boots from summer's hiding place. Long morning runs, in the cooler weather, with leaves crunching beneath the feet. Time for harvests and a myriad of fall festivals. And, of course, hunting season commences. It was tradition for my father, along with my brother, and my sister's husbands to go hunting at this time of year. Often times we'd feast on pheasant and quail, invariably biting into a wayward pellet or two. I do miss that (well except for the time my dad took me out hunting and suggested I be the "bird dog" and retrieve the "kill"...ewwww, ick!) Oh, the memories! Hee hee hee!

I'm Back...But Not Quite

I've returned from a wonderful mini-vacation along the salt marsh near Isle of Palms in South Carolina. It truly was a splendid trip. (Thank you, Mr. Sister, for finding such a phenomenal place!) Unfortunately, it is now that time of year I must work on finishing up the CEU's required to maintain my license (to practice Respiratory Therapy in the state of North Carolina). Until next week I will be hunkering down reading, learning, studying, taking proficiency tests and the like. I plan to return next week in full blogging mode. In the meantime please enjoy a few photos from our weekend. 

 

 

I'm Leaving

Just for a few days.

I hope to be taking in sights such as these:

Eating food similar to this:

Relaxing:

Kayaking:

 Fishing:

Taking in a run or two

And enjoying every bit of this 50th birthday gift from Mr. Sister!

See you all next week! 

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All photos courtesy of Google Images