Two words randomly paired: youth and scissors So many stories of childrenSneaking into the bathroom drawerFinding the scissors, and having at itOn their head of hairBangs crooked, jagged edgesHunks cut right out behind earsOr on the top or backTransforming a little angel into a spikey-haired impThis hair massacre is a ritual of childhood The chance…
Month: May 2024
Our Flight from LA to Texas: A Lesson in Waiting
Ray and I flew to Texas yesterday from Los Angeles. Normally, this is easy: drive to LAX, get on the plane, fly to DFW, pick up our rental car, and drive to Sherman. No biggie. However, yesterday, we had a slightly different experience. Okay, not slightly. Let’s call it a significantly different experience. Where to…
Only in LA: Listen to Our Lyft Driver’s Excellent Song
Today, Ray and I took a Lyft across town in LA. As we headed off to our destination, we soon were in a lively conversation with our Lyft driver. He was a 20-something young man who told us he was born in Amarillo, Texas and lived there until he was 7. He then moved with…
Poem: Death Comes in Threes
This is my first attempt at a villanelle poem. Its complicated rhyming scheme makes it quite challenging. I will do my best, which may not be very impressive. However I fare, I can already see that this type of poetry is a good workout for the brain. Death Comes in ThreesSuperstition suggests death comes in…
Poem: The Pond Turtle
Floating in the pondGlad to feel the sunMy brown shell is warmLife is full of funHow happy I amTo have turtle thoughtsI feast on green leaves and insectsWhatever I’ve caughtI live many yearsMate in spring and fallLounge with friends on logsGive swimming my allWhose life is this good?Even with my foesBig fish, snakes, bull frogsCount…
Granddaughter Luna as American Revolution Hero, Patrick Henry
Granddaughter Luna (age 11) joined her 5th grade class yesterday in rehearsals for a Revolutionary War reenactment. She was playing Patrick Henry. Apparently, her team came in 1st Place in the official event following this rehearsal. When I first saw this video, I didn’t even recognize Luna. I was impressed with this clearly”older” student’s charming…
Our Rose Garden Today
A Visit to the Rose Garden A glorious day A multitude of roses The air full of fragrance Toddler Ethan tries to eat a rose His method of smelling I take him from rose to rose A taste treat
Successful Ojai Nature Writing and Crafting Workshop!
Today, I held a nature writing workshop in Ojai in collaboration with Footprints in the Soil (FITS), an environmental nonprofit. My daughter Rachael led a crafting workshop on the back patio of Move Sanctuary, where the event was held. My other daughter, Liz, helped with the event’s planning, participated in the writing workshop, and snapped…
The Gift of New Glasses
Today, I picked up my new glasses, the first after my cataract surgery. For the first time in 3 or 4 years, I could see clearly out of my left eye, which was miraculous. I was struck with two things: 1) the ability of the brain to compensate so well that I had no idea…
The Lessons We Learn from Our Children
Here is a photo of our 17-month-old grandson Ethan at Disneyland yesterday with his new friend, Jack. Liz said that since Jack is a year older, it took a little while for the two boys to warm up. Clearly, by the time this photo was taken, they were buddies. Just looking at this picture makes…
20 Minutes a Day 