In the Margins--Words of L. Phillips Thune

Gifts

(This poem is for my mother-in-law, Margaret A. Thune, who passed away this Easter.  She was a calm and caring influence in my life; she gave me these words often when the going was so hard so long ago.  With all my love to you, Mimi--)

If there are jewels in my crown
it is because you put them there
over the many years
one by one
they may be sapphires and topaz
rubies or pearls or something so rare
yet unnamed
they may be set in the purest gold
but none shine more brightly
more richly
than those with which you placed them
beauty
patience
grace
hope
love.

                         For Margaret
                         April 23, 2011

"Menopot"

Now, I was hoping this new term I've become more and more familiar with was something either very relaxing or medicinally necessary.  But no, it is a strange addition to my body that doesn't end with a prize at the end of nine months!  Yikes. Another surprise fifty-something just got harder. 
Found a site: "National Body Challenge."  It's actually fun and interesting, and I'm learning a lot about being more health-conscious.   Found out my new something-index is a little high (apparently I've been buying the wrong size underwear for five years). The exercise and meal plan pops up, with recipes, tips, support messages, all suggesting that with a few healthy lifestyle changes, I could see relief with fatigue, pain, depression, and lose a few pounds!  I feel better already! 
First things first:
1)  Must try to do 30 minutes of cardio a day.  From what I gather, chasing my little dog so it's not eaten by the big dog, doesn't count; neither does being late to pick up my daughter from babysitting causing me to attempt running across campus with two bags, a rolling-case, cell phone, and bad knees, and neither does deep coughing...which truly is just not fair.  I say there should be handicap points like in--golf, is it?--and any running down stairs or climbing over the "@%#&-ing" gate at the bottom of the stairs to keep Cujo from Princess counts as a half-hour right off the top.  So by default, I'll have already put in my 30 minutes and now anything I do is actually a plus!  But I have a daughter who's offered to help me swim laps...after I learn how to swim.
2)  There are some very tasty-looking recipes to transition from a processed, pre-packaged, high calorie, high fat meal to one in which my heart might actually keep pumping a few more years.  My concern, however, is they all still look like Martha Stewart made them or Rachel Ray (whom I LOVE) but honestly, those pictures take  a private garden, a major grocery budget increase, and way more than 30 minutes to make.  But I have a daughter for that, too.  Our Food Mood blog may soon show how we're going to get mom to go more nuts, couscous, and veggies and less vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup and...well, maybe I can keep the cashews?
3)  Now off to call daughter number 4 to see how she feels about being phone support! And an orange.

Haiku Deux

(On dedication day-4-5-11)

I hear you in each
dragonfly blue wingbeat,
jay call, and hawk flight.

 

 

               ***

(For Annie and Lee)

Once a part of us
as we them--before, right now,
until timelessness.

    

Happy Thoughts

"Think happy thoughts...and you will fly."  Hook
____________________________________

My happy thoughts:

Asha licking her sisters' faces--an expression of intense love, of course!
Asha's biggest smile--rare and wonderful, like my dad's.  Also, her addiction to frozen yogurt or gelato.

Merete when she says "Ya dig?" or "Stat!"  I guess her EMT days are never forgotten.
Merete shopping:  buy one of everything at any price, take it home, try it on, take back what doesn't fit.  Or ask Asha.

Tiera and mom at a poetry slam.
Tiera's "Thanksgiving To Go"
Tiera's surprise visits from the north country.

Halla's observations:
"I like the way the driveway looks after it rains."
"That dress, Mom, is never okay."
"Aw Mom, that man is digging in the trash..." (only happy because it shows her compassion that is sometimes hidden.)
"I had a good day, today!  I feel good."

Annie's profanity in sign language.
Annie's excellent imitation of Donald Trump saying, "You're fired!" including his hairstyle, too.

Peter when he actually wants me to go shopping with him!!!
Peter making my garden.
Peter letting me be in charge even when it makes him really, really, really nervous.

My Ellie when she doesn't attack the squirrels or knock over our neighbors.
Annie's little Princess tipping around me in the night and curling up into a ball and getting right next to my back to sleep.
Princess looking at me like, "I do love this family, but please put me on my pillow--Now!"

The way the front of my house looks from across the street when the evening sun lights up its facade of white rock, red door, tile house numbers that I found in Santa Fe, and the gigantic oak that was a sapling when we had the house built over twenty years ago.

How I made my wedding dress.

To be continued...
 

Year One of Gone

For Annie and the Girls

Locked Away

Locked away in my safe
are papers I found not so long ago,
but written decades earlier,
papers that held my most noble wish
to write to each of my children
something about their babydom,
about their minutes and hours and days
in my arms, in Daddy's arms, in my dreams
first words, first steps, first outings in life--
Merete watched the sun rise on the red rocks
of Boulder with the sound of music on the light
wrapped and nursed and calm and loved;
Asha rushed into the world on the March wind
born to be best and blessed with the will
to live when laid at the threshold.
Annie, a father's life returned,
crossed over into silence
and beautiful as the rest
to test the strength of love and the spoken word.
Tiera deep and long and the poet's child
always on the search for place
yet it is right below her smile.
Time allowed one last great gift--
a Halla-lu-jah choir of fire and ice,
miracles of the ages.
Although this writer had other roads to follow,
those papers hold a snapshot of sisters playing
and loving and giving and best of all, laughing...
so the most important picture was caught
and is locked safely away in metal and heart
waiting to be shared
when this day is no longer so hard.
 
                                      Linda Phillips Thune

(Andreanna Irene
Whose middle name means peace
rest in it, Annie, until we bring our laughter to you again...)