Rising to drizzle

and its staccato drippings,

I return to bed

~

And I took Knox for

a meandering walk on

this peaceful, drizzly morn.

Sunny Saturday

is icing on the weekend

cake. We pause and eat.

~

And, although it’s brief,

it serves a welcome repast;

a break-fast from what’s to come.

In the days after

Thanksgiving, may we practice

both gratitude and giving.

~

There’s no better gift.

The practice of gratitude

is the pearl that’s beyond price.

Traditionally,

Thanksgiving is the time when

families sharpen all dull knives.

~

May we hope for sharp

knives and unsharp tongues as we

gather together this day.

Sometimes I wonder

if the kids are louder now

or I’m just older.

~

Young people believe

volume will drive their point home

elders value brevity.

Unexpected calls

from aged childhood friend

sharpens fading memories.

~

Catching up after

all those many years – we ride

backwards across time.

Knox indicated

life would be perfect if it weren’t

for that pesky leash.

~

An unrestrained life

may seem rather heavenly

but most likely, sadly, brief.

An alleged day

of rest, suddenly becomes

filled with imperative tasks.

~

Wouldn’t it be great

if we were to take refuge

in different imperatives?

~

Easy does it on days

like this. Why knock yourself out

when you can pause and enjoy?

~

Alternatively,

You could run from one practice

to another, breathlessly.

Knox was not impressed

with my subtle singing hint

of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”.

~

Driven by his nose,

he is anxious to explore

a world of frosty leaf mold.

Sometimes sleeping in

is less a sign of illness,

and more a simple blessing

~

May we treasure such

small moments as these that bless

our overly busy days.

Coming together

but falling apart – common

holiday occurrences

~

Nothing spells chaos,

dysfunction, and frustration

like holiday gatherings,

Would you prefer snow

to this bitter, frigid rain

even now, in November?

~

Snowy Thanksgivings

beat cold, rainy Christmases

each and every time.

You turn fifty-eight

today, but for me you will

always be my fair-haired boy.

~

Grey haired boy, more like!

With all associated

aches and pains and longing.

Deceptive practice,

far from making one perfect,

makes one just untrustworthy.

~

These days it seems some

folks aren’t even trying for

perfection, just deception.

Wind and stillness, rain

and sunshine – yesterday we

were offered it all.

~

That’s Virginia, friends.

If y’all don’t like the weather,

just sit tight a spell.

Any offered hand,

extended in compassion,

is a noble gift, indeed.

~

Just to know that we

matter, that our needs are seen

and help’s offered warms our hearts.

We must not despair.

Sometimes it turns out we’re

better than they or we think.

~

Interesting the mix;

pride, astonishment, dismay,

engendered by our children.

~

And don’t forget our

grandchildren as I suspect

both feel the same about us.

Knox and the cats aren’t

moved by the time change. They’re just

glad I’m still moving.

~

Neither does, it seem,

Mondo programmed posting times

without some intercession.

Winter wheat applies

a vibrant vernal verdure

averting autumn’s auburns.

~

In spite of winter

wheat’s alliterative appeal,

autumn’s auburns still persist.

~

Alas, for in time’s fullness,

even valiant verdant seas

must mature to amber waves.

Sometimes what’s unplanned

brings us more satisfaction

than our best laid plans.

~

Planning’s overblown!

The stunning often appears

around unexpected bends.

Duties owed the dead

trump actions for the living,

but is this how it should be?

~

Only the heart knows

when and why such duties have

greater precedence.

All along our walk,

Knox selects sticks and carries

them home, holding them aloft.

~

He knows winter comes

and possessing a warm heart

wants to assure yours won’t freeze.

Maybe the problem

is really just the season

in which we hold elections?

~

The problem is more

likely how reality

is seasoned with lies.

Rushing to do good,

we focus on arrival

rather than the path.

~

Thus the legacy

of ill-thought acts of kindness

drown in unplanned consequence.

When past indifference

wings it’s way back home to roost,

the bird’s not the one to blame.

~

When the nest is filled

with indifference, only

necessity brings us back.

Fall is pulled in two

directions- back toward Summer,

forward to Winter.

~

With all that tension

ripping the season apart,

is it surprising leaves fall?

Riotous colors

Splatter the mountain landscape;

Jackson Pollack run amok

~

And he can keep on

running as long as he leaves

so much beauty in his wake.

It seems the sun snuck

into our hearts this chilly

day and took our words away.

~

A trip to NoVa

to see a new student play

left me speechless and starstruck.