Musings at 50

She was nervous, almost to the point of inertia, how would she do it? It would require leaving all that she knew - her sisters, they were so close and her job, she loved teaching the students in the one room schoolhouse. Just a few of the neighbor kids on the surrounding farms. She loved seeing their bright and shining faces each morning. Those cold mornings with the rosy cheeks as they stumbled up the small hill - sometimes slogging through knee deep snow - stopping to throw one or two snowballs before finally coming in to warm up. Take off all of the layers and settle in. She was so used to getting up early, finishing up a few of her own morning chores then starting to walk to the school house to fire up the stove - so once the students arrived it would be warm - which reminded her - would the new teacher know how to do this? She’d heard on her last visit to town that it was a city girl taking her place - coming from Des Moines. Lots of rumor about - why here? In Exira, such a small ...

 Late Afternoon shadows appear The smell of rain is in the air Pungent and soft the dry grass appears to stir First falling lightly Then picking up momentum The drops fall First on the stones of the patio Then on the blueberry bushes Small droplets Leaves seem to reach out to catch them As I rummage through looking for  Blue dark sweet ripe blueberries Drops falling on my clothes Drops falling in my hair The yard looks brighter The plants seems to say YES! The first summer rain is here.

Sensory - Coffee Beans Small round slightly creased on one side smooth on the other the smell bitter earthy pungent smoky sweet ah - coffee So many thoughts start to surface my first taste made my mouth pucker slightly watery but dark like tar? My mother drank it black in styrofoam cups at Tupperware parties My grandmother drank it with a splash of cream or milk at Tea time but in fact it was coffee time every day at 3pm the kids got pepsi or mountain dew and snicker bars cold from the fridge in the garage or snickerdoodles cinnamon sugar sweet slightly warm from the oven the sugar of the carbonated  beverage mingling with the sweet of the candy bar  or cookie  in a magical mixture of sweetness we didn’t often get to experience in a sugar free household biting into the bean the taste is both intense and pleasurable my palate has changed  over the years try it with creamer my friends said wow - how amazing the creaminess and the bitter flavor combined try it with suga...

Written in June 2019 - funny I cannot recall the quote for the prompt - but here is what came forth. The wooden screen door smacks the side of the house as I rush out the door.  I hear a yell behind me but I cannot make it out as I am already moving to the next thing. Playing outside. I can see my cousins already starting to take their places in the sand box.  I cannot decide if I should join them or take up my search for the farm cat who just had kittens.  I choose kittens. I start walking towards the corn crib - the worn wood planks with paint flaking and the dirt path that will take me into its sanctuary. My cousin yells for me to join her and I yell a no - and ask if anyone wants to help me find the kittens. She decides to come along and I tell her it is really important that she be quiet. She looks at me.  I am always amazed that we are two years apart - she is younger, and yet when I ask for silence, she begins to chatter just as we get close to any of the cats...

She looks in the mirror through dim light as she opens the top left drawer for her face cream - she can see herself in spite of the dim light - her hair, which was once a dark brown, is now peppered with grey - she has stopped using the dye - and is thinking of lightening her hair - before she applies the face creme, she reaches for her scarf - to tie those flyaway hairs back so she can get all the way to her hair line.  As she rubs in the creme she slowly rubs the area above her right eye - that scar, that took her eyebrow hairs away - it is easier to just pluck whatever odd hairs grow in…which reminds her - she needs a new eyebrow pencil next time she drives to town. When did she start to look so old.  Thankfully her nightly ritual of applying face cream, and Mentholatum keeps most of the wrinkles away - she draws the top lip down as she applies some vaseline to the base of her nose - which was broken and reset the same time she got the scar on her face. Her eyes stare back ...

This was a prompt from a writing workshop I was in a year or so ago - I came up with the first 5 then, and added the rest while thinking about it today... Two sisters decide to take a trip around the world - but end up never leaving the physical space they are in because they are both in a coma A man in Spokane collects arrowheads and is contacted by a collector from Colorado that wants him to buy his collection so he can save a rubber farm in Mexico In the 1940s just before the War a young woman and her best friend set out to drive from Iowa to Bremerton Washington where she will marry her true love A young boy in Iowa dreams of big places and spaces and grows to never leave his farm - but has many wonderful adventures A girl growing up in a conservative christian household - how she navigates growing up and wanting to set out on her own - differences from those around her, experiences and types of jobs The oldest sister takes care of her siblings but never quite gets a life of ...

Prompt - It’s my 100th Birthday Celebration Who is there What am I wearing Where are we Who is speaking #onbeinghuman815 So interesting as I do not think I want to live to 100 - but I will play along. I’m wearing a comfortable loose fitting dress, I just finished a hike outside the cabin at the base of Mt Tahoma (Rainier) walking in the old trees and feeling my bare feet on the pine needled ground. I am in this cabin with a few close friends and relatives who rented out this space for all of us to gather. I am not as steady on my feet - but I can still walk into the woods and gaze up at the trees. I’m not sure who is speaking because I am spending a lot more time in my head. But, here is the speech. Today we are here to honor and reflect on Tracy’s life. She has spent so much time walking in these woods and surrounding area, it seems fitting to be here at the base of this mountain which has called to her time and time again to remember to spend quiet time in nature. She enjoyed a ...

 Today I am attending an online yoga/writing retreat online. There have been so many technical difficulties and it has been hard to not be frustrated. First, I was late - which was super frustrating. I hate being late.  When I arrived, things were just beginning, so no big deal, right? Yesterday I had a hair appointment and my hairdresser was running late - yesterday I really did not mind her being late - as in I realize life happens. There are things that are BEYOND my control. Wow - just to write those words - THERE ARE THINGS BEYOND MY CONTROL. That is huge for me - realizing that I cannot control situations, people, places, plans, things. But, if I am late - the story I tell myself includes things like - I am less of a person, I am disrespecting someone else, I am irresponsible, just to name a few. Why can I give my hairdresser a pass but not me?  I remember the saying about patience - whose roots are very bitter but fruit is very sweet. My father telling me this time...

Round, slightly bumpy Stem tall Smooth skin Pale green with just the suggestion of rose So many memories Peeling them for pie Cutting them up for snack Peanut butter for a dip Applesauce boiling in a pan Gathering them in the orchard Dicing them into a snicker salad putting chunks in cast iron over a campfire Sprinkled with cinnamon and cloves Crisp and delicious More for eating, less for decor Sauce into jars Pop pop popping of canning lid tops Sweet and tart Mealy and just about to turn  Fragrant yet not so overpowering Helping mom or grandma Boxing them up for storing in the root cellar finding the bruised ones in the yard Giving those to the cows Cows were not interested Curious about how to coat with caramel Giving them out at Halloween instead of candy So many different varieties Rome, Jonathon Honey Crisp Macintosh Jonagold Pink Lady my favorite golden delicious Why are red delicious called that, so not delicious Granny Smith with salt Pairs nicely with cheese Bleu cheese sp...