8.6.14 They predicted rain, but the sun held, and we put together a picnic for two birthdays

They predicted rain, but the sun held, 

and we put together a picnic for two birthdays, 

and made our way down to where 

two of the three offspring and two partners

 met us at the beach, and laughed

and made strange sandwiches

 and talked about lives

 and had wonderful gifts 

that made everyone smile; 

and then wandered down the boardwalk

to gaze at that distant ocean 

so vast and remarkable; 

and the island whose path 

appears at low tide only, 

and we linked arms

and talked quietly in two's 

and embraced the day.

8.7.14 A Morning Walk Beneath A Forested Canopy

On the way back, early this morning, we stopped and walked along the shaded path of the local Kestrel Trust land. Nestled between two fields, ending in deep woods,we found the air cool and fresh in early August here.
     So many types of ferns flourished in this tiny ecosystem: tender small ferns, and clusters of large stalwart ferns- the latter standing firm and tall, beneath the small row of forested canopy. 

     The dirt road begins with a stand of Maples and varied native berry bushes, transitioning into neighborhoods of elegantly flickering, silver-backed leaves of Aspens, as they respond to the very subtlest of breeze.   

     Puddles remain here, reflecting the true blue sky high overhead, seen through the thick cover; the small waters reminiscent of the last rainy night, that pounded into town with the drama of vast and colorful heat lightning racing across the skies, bellowing thunder; all delicious things that summer weather brings.

     Of course, we saw no Kestrels, as we were noisily bungling along the quiet grassy road.Tossing long and longer branches to the delight of a stick-infatuated pup.

     I spotted one lone Goldenrod basking in a moment of sunlight that slipped intermittently through tall overhead branches, which moved, languorous, in the smallest morning wind.

     And, you know, I did happen upon the land where all the mosquitoes have been quietly hiding away.

8.7.14 Just Another Groggily Neighborly Summer's Day

  

     Yesterday we were up early, groggily, preparing to bring a birthday picnic to CT, where all 3 of my kids, and assorted partners,would be meeting us at a park I'd selected, of course, from the internet.
I stumbled about doing some quick garden watering and dog-taking-outing in my nightgown and flip flops; then wandered over to my neighbors. "Come in! Come in!" they called, and the oldest kid grabbed the delicious cat who doesn't get to go out anymore as she is a killer of many things, fast.
And they were all in their pj's, he sautéing beautiful mushrooms he had gathered, the tiny new babe asleep.
    No, they couldn't bring little old Shiva Louisa out to pee while we went to picnic at the ocean, because they were picnicking at the ocean.
     I was so delighted they all got to go do something nice, for a new job was looming, as well as school and other work and the end of paternity and maternity leaves.
     The kid grabbed the cat once more so I could sneak out the door, us all wishing each other a wonderful day at the ocean.
     And I finished finding all the thirsty ones and giving them a good drink, thinking of how perfect it is to live in the woods and country where anyone gets to meander in their pj"s and pop over next door to borrow something .
     Sometimes I'll be watering and one of the kids will come up...with that pleading look on their face, and I'll say "Sure, go ahead!" and they'll dance about the spray and run through the spray and we'll experiment with different settings or they'll karate kick while I laugh and laugh and suggest new moves.
     Or the parents will be busy and the kid will be doing something questionable with a bug and I'll go on over and watch the tiny tree frogs with them, us all hunkered down, and both of us wonder what it's like to be them,and then I'll ferret out a ball I got for the two older ones at the store and we'll play kick ball and laugh and press sticks into the backyard for games and make a goal and then......the ball sails far into the thick, impenetrable blackberry patch. Oh,and we try with the snow shovel but there is no getting that ball , til winter, I tell him.
     "Aw heck", I say, "Go grab the one I got for your sister: (and I'll get another one later) and he lights up again and we move away from the blackberries and drop kick it back and forth, HIGH in the air in the hot hot summer sun.
     Til I say I'm about cooked, and let's see if we can throw/kick it to each other...oh....15 times, before it hits the ground, before I go in and rest.
     So we try and try and laugh and loosen the rules more and more, til I'm done, tongue dragging on the ground like an old fashioned cartoon done.
     But he's bouncing and smiling and we talk about stuff he likes to make by himself in the house while the baby is sleeping and off he bounces, to our huge box of legos he's borrowed for the summer, to create something wicked cool, the way my big grown kids did constantly.
     Sometimes in my small quiet life I will be writing or dog walking or gardening or cleaning things or sitting out or out with my camera, and they'll come back satiated from going canoeing on the Connecticut, with me just filling with pleasure just from the idea.
     The oldest kid going on and on about what they saw and how they swam and what it was like, on our beloved river here.
     There are so many kinds of community that knit us together, into our selves; into each other; into a life in the world, each of them vital and complex and nourishment.

8.5.14 As

As  forgotten northern islands

As new kitten toes

As falling stars

As  mating butterflies

As drifting snowflakes in the darkest night

As chorale refrains

As frenzied kid soccer games

As the secret talents of an old one that no one remembers

As broken ballerinas

As fog strewn beaches

As inevitable lingering dying

As the denouement of a passing gaze

As magnificent kisses

As denounceable liars

As cheesecake films

As broken  repetitive dreams

As piles of liability

As old, remembered heartbreaks

As cold dog noses nuzzling your neck

As colorful rock strewn shores 

As inimitable comforting embraces

As deep and lasting regrets

As the thundering passing of the train in the night

As mercurial parents

As true blue friendships

As dew-wetted sleeping bees

As patient mother bears

As birth marks

As litigating opponents

 As your face in  sleep

As birth slick new babes

As sleep strewn lovers 

As cogent gathering crones

As hot air balloons scattered across a sunset

As times you hand has been in mine 

As sudden brash love

 As incessant traffic

As growing beauty as wrinkles multiply

As bone aching early morning walks to the subway

As gales of laughter at family gatherings 

As whispering children under sheet tents

As crabby husbands sleepily shaving

As exhausted children flopping on the floor like so many fish

As your eyelashes, fallen, over a lifetime

As love that comes and stays in your heart

As a broken friendship grips

As a group of excited children twitter and wiggle

As the exhausted new parents of small hungry birds

As the first flight of a moth

As the last moment of your life

As it was in the beginning, is now, and everymore shall be