When Kristen retired, we thought to take an adventure. We went to Yosemite, where Dad had taken me and I had been a Dad to mine. One of the rituals was to take the walk to the viewpoint for Nevada Falls. Vernal  and Nevada. With…

Every morning I walk along the river. To get there, first I must walk through the city, past houses of people still sleeping, sometimes encountering a raccoon or skunk, finishing its night of roaming and looking for home. I must pass through the bar district,…

Summer is June July August. Barbecues and water ice. The flowers of purple, red, yellow. A slight breeze. The measured steps. The humidity that seeps through the pores. The smells of hickory or charcoal. The steak. The sweat beads. The thirst. Lying in a hammock…

Was it three or four years ago that the drought first dried up the creek? It was the summer that the okra blossoms burned up and dropped off, when my harvest was nothing but peppers and eggplant. I don’t like eggplant. Last summer, it was…

I have a ton of goals running through my head, I feel overwhelmed and would rather watch TV instead. I always want more and am never content, I push myself more and more, but it doesn’t seem to make a dent. New goals come and…

My little baby, you must sleep now, Your Mommy tries to complete a challenge, wow! But you only cry when I look to the paper, that’s fine, You want my pen to be in your hands, not in mine. 😊  

I spend my days wandering I spend my nights in fear Wondering and pondering How it is that I got here Living without shelter Is more than no roof overhead It’s the loss of safety and security And sometimes wishing I were dead Every day…

Mahogany trees Tropical forest birdsong Obscured ocean view

When I’m not reflected in mirrored glass To myself I have to ask Do I think it’s right Perhaps I should be a bit concerned The moment that my back is turned I forget what I look like Is my nose thin or is it…

I am the amazing woman Life challenged me to be, The beauty walking past For ambitious, classy men to see, Embraced with the love Mom and dad gave me, Filled with respect, Ambitions, and stability, I long to be the greatest Of the greatness I…