whose shoes

yesterday

in the woods

i met

walking shoes

not walking

just right there

under a tree

empty shoes

someone stepped out of

to keep walking…

without shoes

 

*from the files of very bad poetry by bia

in remembrance

a length of cloth

a whispering zephyr

together, the music of a country

ideals, hope, patriotism

of the people, for the people

 

a length of cloth

a stirring west wind

at odds with one another

love and hate, peace and war

our story

a length of cloth

a gale force wind

an echo of orders given

missions launched

boots marching left, right, left

 

a length of cloth

a dark tempest

through the perilous night

of wars and battles

chaos and bloodshed

 

a length of cloth

still winds

o’er the land of the free

and the home of the brave

silence.

 

heads bowed

in remembrance

*from the files of very bad poetry by bia

Paying it forward (and backward) (and every which way)

This is a true story.

This morning I decided to stop at Starbucks. It was mid-morning, so there were only three cars: Car #1 (a stranger) was at the window, Car #2 (a police car) was next, and then Car #3 (me).

As Car #1(the stranger) drove away I wished I could have been IN FRONT of the police car because I would have paid for his order to show a little appreciation for their hard work.

When Car #2 (the police car) drove away I pulled up to the window.

"There's no charge," said the Starbucks employee. "The friendly police officer paid for your order. The car in front paid for his, so he wanted to pay for yours. It's a happy day."

How about that? Three complete strangers in a Starbucks drive-thru had the SAME EXACT THOUGHT to do something kind for a stranger. 

Despite everything going on lately, there is hope. And kindness. And charity. And thoughtfulness.

A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, 

and the roots spring up and make new trees. 

~Amelia Earhart

Be kind whenever possible.

It is always possible.

Dalai Lama

Life Lately: Granted Wishes, Kitchen Art, Talking about Books, A Stupid Funny Conversation, a Talking Bear, All Grown Up

-1- Fingers Crossed

Last night as I was cleaning up the kitchen Timothy asked, "Do you need any help?"

He was standing behind me, and when I turned around I saw his eyes were closed, he was holding his breath, and his fingers were crossed.

Uh-huh. He was graciously offering to help but fervently hoping I'd say no.

And so I did. 

Because he made me laugh. 

-2- Focaccia Art is a Thing. 

I clearly need to up my game.

-3- Book Lovers' Book Club 

Three years of books, friends, wine, animated discussion. Is there anything better? The very first book we discussed (which we all loved) was Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman.

August book selection

September book selection

-4- Stupid Funny

This is a perfect example of a conversation my sister and I could have (minus the curse word) when it is past our bedtime and we are stupidly sleep deprived to the point where everything is funny.

-5- The Bear Talks

"Take me home," whispered the Bear. "Timothy likes me."

And so we did.  

The Bear lasted three days. 

-6- Bookends

To provide clarity that little boys with active imaginations do, in fact, grow up ... here are senior photos of the same little boy featured in No. 1 above. Little boys who grow to be big boys clean up nicely. 

Video Highlight: 2019 Girls' Trip to Italy

 

Postcards from Nonna

At the heart of my book are the decades of letters my Nonna sent us from Italy. But she also sent postcards, and here’s one she sent me when I was a student at the University of Georgia.

A Little Melodrama the Day Before the First Day of School

WHEN does school start? Tomorrow.

WHEN did we go shopping for some back-to-school clothes? Today.

We (and by "we" I mean Timothy) put this off until the last possible moment, but this morning I insisted we go to the mall for some clothes because last year (the Pandemic school year) we did not bother, and so it's been two years and it's Timothy's senior year and by golly he needs a little wardrobe update.

What is it about boys? In high school I would have been OVER THE MOON if my mom had taken me to the mall and said, "Go for it. Pick out some outfits. Whatever you want."

But with Timothy, his eyes just glaze over. 

Torture with a capital "T". 

I finally gave him an ultimatum: he had ten minutes to find five things to try on. 

Sometimes our little darlings just need a little push shove to get going because once he started to try on clothes he suddenly developed an OPINION, which basically meant he liked what he liked and didn't like whatever I showed him. 

Whatever. 

He also became very focused. A yellow long sleeve t-shirt on a mannequin caught his eye, and since it was the ONLY one left the associate disassembled the mannequin (i.e. removed its arms) in order to remove the shirt.

An hour later we left the mall with a shopping bag of new clothes and lunch from the Food Court. Things were looking up: he liked his new clothes and he received an email with the number of his personal parking space in the senior lot at school. 

After dinner, though, reality came crashing down. Timothy packed his school backpack while Joe, who is off tomorrow, packed his golf bag.

"This is the last night before I descend into Hell," said Timothy despondently.

He's very melodramatic, is our Timothy.

And just to go back in time, here was Timothy on his first day of first grade. Some things never change. Whether a first grader or high school senior, the first day of school is always a thing of DOOM, but by day two things aren't so bad.  

The Bad Word (You Know the One)

Texts from Folly Beach where Timothy (and all the groomsmen) were invited to participate in Nicholas' bachelor weekend:  

Timothy: "Having a great time with everyone. Had like a four hour talk with XXX about life. He is so funny."

Me: Knowing the young man in question, I texted back an eye roll emoji ;-)

Texts from Folly Beach that mention a bad word:

Me: Are you relaxing? No Publix, no mom or dad, and I won't even mention the bad word. You know the one. Starts with the letter 'S' and rhymes with pool. 

Timothy: No comment. 

Conversation about Folly Beach Bachelor Weekend after they returned:

Timothy, between yawns: "I wish every day was a Bachelor Weekend day. It was so fun. No rules about bedtime or meals. I had goldfish and lemonade for lunch."

Me: "Hmmm."

Conversation about Beowulf (summer reading):

"So, what did you think about Beowulf?" I asked, expecting a litany of complaints.

"I actually liked it," Timothy said. "It's interesting and kind of gives off Harry Potter vibes."

And there you have it. A summer of Publix shifts, beach trips, a bachelor weekend, and Beowulf. I think he's ready for you-know-what. Your know, the first letter is 'S' and rhymes with pool. 

Speak to Me Sunday: What if ...

In life, we are always presented with what if scenarios. What if I do this, instead of that? What if I go here, instead of there? What if I study this, instead of that?

Sometimes we have time to ponder and consider the what if; other times we must decide on the spot.

Last week I was in Publix (the one in Evans, not the one where Timothy works) when a middle-aged woman approached and asked to speak with me. She was wearing a mask, and because she was speaking very, very softly I had to lean in to hear her. I didn’t catch every word, but I got the gist: she was out of work, she was embarrassed to ask for help, but could I help her out with a few dollars.

This scenario has happened before, except last time it was in the parking lot of Hobby Lobby where family approached me for lunch money. I wrote a guest column about the incident for the Columbia County News Times, and it generated some angry responses. People wrote me and said I was gullible and that I had perpetuated a societal problem of people asking for handouts instead of getting a job. At the time, I was a little surprised at the vehemence of these letters.

If I am being honest, my first reaction that day in Publix was one of annoyance. Seriously? Again? For some reason strangers come up to me all the time, and while the requests are usually simple—asking for directions, help in reaching an item on the top shelf, needing help to get out of a seated scooter—others, like this instance, are a little more complicated.

It was a classic what if scenario.

What if this woman used the money to buy a loaf of bread for her children? OR, what if she bought a bottle of cheap wine instead?

What if she really needed the money? OR, what if I was being conned.

What if she thanks me? OR, what if she laughs behind my back?

All these things were running through my mind as the woman quietly spoke. Then I looked at her shopping cart (which contained two items) and mine (which was filled). And just like that my what ifs changed.

What if God saw her need and guided her in my direction?

What if God was giving me an opportunity to do His will?

What if I was being called to be the face of Christ to this unknown woman in, of all places, a grocery store?

I did not know this woman’s history; I did not know her story. I was simply faced with the fact that, for some reason, we crossed paths and maybe this meant something. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said that faith was taking the first step when you don’t see the whole staircase, and so I reached in my wallet and quietly handed her some money.

Because what if ...

What if I was being asked to act on faith?