Respectfully Yours

You see, for me, it seems So. Incredibly. Easy. because it's all about respect.
Respect for our flag.
Respect for our country.
Respect for you.
For me.
For each other.

Respect for us.

US.

& I often wonder, what happened to Us ?

But here we are, thisclose to the 4th of July weekend
&
YaY holidays !!

We are happy and giddy !
We're proud and patriotic.
All for one and one for all.
United we stand, divided we fall.
Stronger together.
America baby !!

Oh, America.
I hope we are, I hope we can, I hope we do.

But you see, anger and hate have their ways of uniting We The People too
& sometimes it seems we are becoming THAT.
Taken over by ugly noise and awful words.
Divided hearts and anger.
So. Much. Anger.

But, um, here's a thought.
How's about LOVE.
Can we maybe try a little bit of love ?
& if that seems undoable,
compassion, kindness, understanding and/or cooperation just might work too.

I'll listen to your views.
You listen to mine.
I'll be nice to you.
You be nice to me.
We'll gather.
We'll talk.
We'll figure things out
&
We will respect.

RESPECT.

Naive ?
Maybe.
But, as I sit on the verge of America's Birthday, I am wanting and very willing to give it a try.

For You.
For Me.
For US.

I will simply TRY.
It's easy if you try.

:)

I Am My Feelings

That Chair

Yeah.
I know.

She's weathered and worn.
She's seen better days.
She could use a new look
& ugh.
UGH you STILL have that chair ??

Yep
I still have that chair
& yep
I have heard every complaint,
every comment
& every year, I swear to myself and to my others that this, THIS !! will be the year.

I'll paint her orange, I say.
Chicago Bears' orange.
I'll freshen her up.
I'll make her modern.
I'll ....
I'll ...

No, I won't.
I won't.
Because something deep inside says to leave her be, she's fine
& truth be told, I think she's rather pretty.

She's been in this family for year upon year upon year.
First a Granny and Grandpa's, in her hunter green youth.
Next at Mom and Dad's in her Purdue University heyday
& now, with me.
For as long as I can remember, with me.
Somewhere down the line I called !! first dibs !! and somehow she just ended up on my back porch.

She's my summertime chair
& she's rather cozy, actually.
She's got this certain, little tilt to her so as I'm sitting there, I can rock back and forth, if I choose
& I choose.
I've had many a conversation, read many a book, viewed many an eastern evening sky with that gentle, casual, rocking tilt

& the reason that I love her so much is because of the history that surrounds her.
It's the picnics and the pool times.
The have a seat, grab a beer.
The quiet and the noisy.
The difficult, the easy.
The heartache and joy.

It's the generational thing of it all.
The been there, done that.
The uh huh, I know what you're feeling because I felt it too.
The every-things of life.

ahhhhh, Life.

So, no.
I'll never change her, no matter what they say, no matter what I say.
She's absolutely perfect.

Perfectly old.
Perfectly weathered.
Perfectly worn
& yes,
oh yes,
 I STILL have that chair.

:)

I Am My Feelings

Hey ! Dragonfly

I've never, ever paid attention to dragonflies before.
Alllll these years and they've just been there,
a summertime thing,
a hey ! there's a dragonfly.

Until recently

& I don't know if it's me finally opening my eyeballs to them
or the dragonflies wanting to be noticed but, I'm seeing them everywhere.
Every. Where.
& yep
I am very much enjoying this experience.

They are quite beautiful, these little creatures
& such a unique shade of blue.
It's a fluorescent like no other
& it is truly gorgeous.

So I'm thinking, what's up dragonflies ?
Why do I keep spotting you on my walks and throughout my days ?
& why does it seem as if you are trying to tell me something ?

You hover, you lead and you wait
& then you hover, you lead and you wait.

You're guiding
& I'm following.

hmmmm.

& so, as I do with everything in life, I googled
& among other things, Google said ....

"The dragonfly, in almost every part of the world symbolizes change and change in the perspective of self realization; and the kind of change that has it's source in mental and emotional maturity and the understanding of the deeper meaning of life. "

WoW.

That's pretty cool
& dare I say, it's a sign ??
It is.
I know it is !
& we all know how much I adore signs, right ??!?

!! right !!

So Hey ! Dragonfly.
Where you lead, I will definitely follow !! so have at it, little buddy !

& no worries, my peeps.
I mean that figuratively

although ...
hmmmm

Literally would be kinda fun too.

weeeee.

:)

I Am My Feelings

The dragonfly, in almost every part of the world symbolizes change and change in the perspective of self realization; and the kind of change that has its source in mental and emotional maturity and the understanding of the deeper meaning of life.

The traditional association of Dragonflies with water also gives rise to this meaning to this amazing insect. The Dragonfly’s scurrying flight across water represents an act of going beyond what’s on the surface and looking into the deeper implications and aspects of life.

The dragonfly, in almost every part of the world symbolizes change and change in the perspective of self realization; and the kind of change that has its source in mental and emotional maturity and the understanding of the deeper meaning of life.

The traditional association of Dragonflies with water also gives rise to this meaning to this amazing insect. The Dragonfly’s scurrying flight across water represents an act of going beyond what’s on the surface and looking into the deeper implications and aspects of life.

The dragonfly, in almost every part of the world symbolizes change and change in the perspective of self realization; and the kind of change that has its source in mental and emotional maturity and the understanding of the deeper meaning of life.

The traditional association of Dragonflies with water also gives rise to this meaning to this amazing insect. The Dragonfly’s scurrying flight across water represents an act of going beyond what’s on the surface and looking into the deeper implications and aspects of life.

Veranda

It started as a joke when Sister one day asked if anyone would like to join her on the veranda in the morning.
We each exclaimed "why YES ! Yes, we would !"
& we've been coffee-ing there ever since.

ooooooh veranda.
How I adore that word !

Google tells me: chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. a large, open porch, usually roofed and partly enclosed, as by a railing, often extending across the front and sides of a house; gallery,

Well YaY, Google
& thanks for the info but, you want to know my definition ?

It's nothing fancy.
Just a couple of lawn chairs,
a brew of choice,
a sunrise or sunset or anywhere in between.
It's sweet souls to sit beside,
linked hearts
& lots of yappin.

It's slowed down moments of shared thoughts
& reconnects.
It's love and trust and sincerity.

It's joy.
Pure, warm, wonderful joy.

hmmm.
uh
I'm just wondering if maybe You would like to join me on the veranda this delightfully bright, brand new, today ???

Please say ! yes ! because I think you'll enjoy
& I KNOW, you'll want to share this priceless beautiful-ness from now until forever because it is truly that amazing.

Veranda.
How I adore that word.

:)

I Am My Feelings

Alrighty Then

That is my 'go to' phrase
or so says the person that pays attention to these little idiosyncrasies of mine.

Alrighty then.

Husband claims I say these words when I'm walking out the door ready.
Ready to go to that appointment.
Ready to catch that flight.
Ready to jump in the car.
Ready to go....!....
sooooooo 
What's the holdup, man ?!?
Let's GO.

Apparently, I pace too.

hmmmm.
I did not know this about myself.
I'll have to remember to thank Mr Lollygagger for that update.

Oh, words.
Sometimes you just slip right out of my mouth and set yourself free without a single thought from me 
& the older I get, the easier the escape.

oooops.

I actually said "They can BITE. MY. #!!%$&#!!!!!!"  to my Father yesterday.
TO MY FATHER.
I was worked up about something or another and it just popped out.
Twice.

As far as I know, that is the very first time I've ever cussed in front of Dad.
errrr.
At least I think it's the first.
hmmmm.
Maybe not.

oy.

Dad didn't care though.
He knows I don't get lathered up into a tizzy all that often.
Chalk one up to tizzy.

umm.
Maybe I should start paying attention to what is tumbling out of my mouth.

I remember nudging Mom a time or two back in the day.
"shhhh!"
"MA !!"
"you can't say that !!"
She'd just laughhhhhhh
& say it again
And I would think to myself  ..."never ! I will NEVER ! ..."

Hey Mom ...
Never say Never.

hahahahahahaha

:)

I Am My Feelings

Gentle Reminders

I'm finding it hard to concentrate this a.m. because they are visiting again
& I'd rather remain in my trance.

Such gorgeous creations.
So stealth, so peaceful.

Every once in awhile one of them cautiously glances my way but, they have seen this orange sweatshirt many times before.
I mean no harm.

I stare.
I cannot stop staring 
I'm fascinated and comforted.
I find a simple form of majestic in their presence.

I think what intrigues me most about these creatures, is their quietly sudden appearance.
I look up and wow.

WOW

They are my reminders, my cue.
My tranquil confidence.

I may not see,
I might not realize
& quite often, it's impossible to comprehend but,
I believe
so shhhhh.

Just shhhhh.

Off they go back into the harbor of the trees, the noises of the morning becoming too busy
& what they will do throughout this today remains something I will never know.
Ooooooh ! but, I know
&
I thank you Nature, for revealing yet another reason why,
I know.

:)

I Am My Feelings

   

YaY Summer

You're HERE.
You're officially here !
& along with your blue sky and gorgeous sunshine, you bring ...

Open windows.
Fresh air.
Warm breezes.

Birds tweetin'.
Lawnmowers mowing.
Barbecues grilling

! ! ! ! !

Picnic tables, lawn chairs.
Shade trees
& ice cold beer.

Baseball, volleyball.
Beach balls
& sandy toes

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Backyards, belly flops.
Floats
& friends.

Campfires, tents.
S'mores
& stars

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Biking, walking.
Running
& hiking.

Fests, parades.
Sparklers
& U.S.A. ! 

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 

Thunderstorms, lightning.
Showers
& scents.

Fireflies, crickets.
Locusts
& cicadas

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Concerts and music and vacations and and and

Summer !
You're HERE.
You're officially here !

 ! ! ! ! !

! ! Enjoy ! !

:)


I Am My Feelings