Hiatus      
    It's a fine feeling
       to wake without an alarm,
          no plans, just being.
                                              Sally

Dessert Sampler

Last night
we went
to the
restaurant
where my
oldest son
works.
We ordered the
Dessert Sampler
and a
Butterscotch shake,
because he told us
they are
hard to make.
Everything was
so delicious
that we
completely forgot
about harassing
Desmond,
and truly
enjoyed
the meal.
Respect!
We paid
our bill,
left a big tip,
and skedaddled
with humbled
appreciation.

Sally 

     Shalom

As I drove away
with my second
truck load,
I knew it was over.
I gave them
three years,
and a little
piece of me
that will remain
in that building
forever.
Between the boxes
and silk flowers,
I packed
many wonderful
memories.
I took home a
goody bag
full of
delicious friends.
I left the dirt
in the
trash can.
The garbage truck
will come tomorrow
to take it away
for eternity.
Leaving behind
only what was
worth saving.
 
     Sally

Thursday, 27 June 2013

       Hello Friends, Family, Followers... I hope I didn't worry you with my absence. I ventured out to reconnect with friends in Langley (Yechopetzville or The Boonies to most). I ended up spending the night on my friend's farm, and when the power went out 4:45 pm, and of course she has no WiFi, I knew that blogging was not a possibility. I still wrote a poem (as my goal is to write one a day) so forgive me... I will be posting them both!


              Powerless

               It's dark
           without power
       I love the candle light
The shadows that flicker around
       but I wish I could Blog
         and post my poem
                tonight

                  Sally

                      Bedtime Stories

The lies they spin are endless and encumber.
Perhaps they are spiders, not human, I wonder.

                              Sally

Commuting

People often wonder
how I tolerate
my lengthy commute
into work each day.
Audiobooks.
I listen to
audiobooks.
Over the past
ten years,
I have listened
to over
250 books,
averaging one
every two weeks.
The Harry Potter Series,
(Although sometimes
I've had to pull over
when things are getting
hairy...)
Charles Dickens,
The Girl with the_____
(fill in the blank)
John Irving,
Animal Farm,
Milan Kundera,
Catch 22,
Tony Morrison,
The Taliban Cricket Club,
Susan Wittig Albert,
The Wandering Ways Quilt,
Dan Brown
To Kill a Mockingbird...
I could list
them all,
but I believe
that I have
made my point.
I love
listening to
audiobooks.
They make me feel
like I'm using my
time wisely,
instead of
wasting it
polluting the
environment.
So,
that is how
I put up with
my commute.
I get lost
in a narrative
paradise. 

Sally

                            Sincerely  

As we practiced for Grad, the great end to this race,
I could feel the tears flow, engulfing my face.

                              Sally

The Unknown

Edward,
The Earl of
Oxford,
is said
to be
the hand
behind
the man.
Far more likely
than the man
known as
Shaksper.
Either way,
regardless of
what we behold
as truth,
I love
the words.
I love the
stories.
I recognize
how they
have maintained
their relevance
over time.
They still
hold true
as recognizable
stories
of humanity.
So although
I am curious,
and crave
the certitude,
I shall
remain
satisfied
to savour
the words of
the man
known as
Sir William
Shakespeare,
and be patient
for the accuracy
to reveal itself.

Sally

A Week With Sir Will

I expected there to be
a little eye rolling.
Sighs in frustrated
confusion.
I thought you may
wish for modern
adventures,
and shake your heads
at my nostalgic enthusiasm.
I was wrong.
You embraced it.
Every story,
every explanation,
every theme.
You took it away with you
and practiced.
You asked questions,
and inquired.
You were engaged
with joy
and curiosity for
the history.
You made me proud.
Sir William Shakespeare
would have been impressed
with your ardor.
A now is the end, as far as this poem goes,
to bring this week with Shakespeare to a final close.

Sally

  Baggage

He lays waste
to his surroundings,
uttering the most
unthinkable atrocities.
He huffs
and hollers,
and slams a few doors.
He paces.

He pulls out the latest
DSM IV and
attempts to define
his insanity.
Non existent self-esteem
Emaciated self-image
Self doubt
Self loathing
Self hatred.
He is certain
there is an adequate
medical term
that can delineate him
in a sentence,
but he comes up
with his own
terminology.
He has a definition
tattooed on his heart
that suffices.
Absent of arrogance,
and prohibitive language.
Simple enough for a
six year old.

His parents don't
value him,
support him,
understand him,
or seem to see
all that he offers.
They never loved
all that he his,
so he never learned
to love himself.

He throws the
DSM IV into
the fireplace
and curls up
on the couch
with the cat.
He hopes
his family will
forgive him as he
struggles to abandon
the sad kid
inside.
He really hopes
they'll let him store
his baggage,
in the front
hall closet
again.

Sally

                                      Final Stretch
Just barely hanging in, the kids and adults are jittery with anticipation.
Unable to contain their excitement for the upcoming freedom of summer.
Needless to say it is time to pull out all the tricks to keep everyone content.
Every June I hold a Shakespeare festival, and we bide our time recalling the stories of the past.

                                             Sally

        Easier?   

 When I die I wish
 to be reincarnated
   as a Tabby cat

         Sally

                 Anyone? Anyone?   

Why is it so difficult to find a smooth road?
Why does life insist on a relentless plethora of demands?
Why does the existence of peace have to be as sudden and fleeting as blinking?
Why does serenity seem to be a concept, rather than a possibility?
Why does the insatiable thirst for escape and repose get stronger over time?
Why do there appear to be so many more questions than answers?
Why is it so hard? Why can't it just be easier?

                             Sally

                          Cease Fire

               Hot, naughty, slobbery sex,
obliterates the conflict like a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

                               Sally

                      Cyclical

As of yet no apology, it's shocking to say,
yet I still went all out on your double celebration day.

                        Sally

        Girls

A few weeks ago
I chaperoned my son
and three of his friends
to my husband's
family's cabin.
Granted, we left at
7:30 in the morning.
They were quiet as mice.
They smelled funny,
they ate a lot,
but they were calm
and hushed.

Last night I drove
with my daughter and
two of her friends to
my parent's house
for dinner.
During the entire
car ride,
it sounded like
twenty women
in intense labour.
I thought they might
be quieter
on the way home.
That was not the case,
and they continued
to scream into the
early hours of the morning.

Anyone who has ever
suggested that
girls,
are quieter and more
complacent than boys,
must never have spent
any time with them.

Sally

         Mazel Tov!

To The Graduating Class of 2013
You have changed me.
With your inquiring eyes.
With your excitement for learning.
With your needs and your wants.
With your bottomless gratitude.
With your stops and your starts.
With the challenges you offered me.
With every single, last entity of your being.
You have made me feel privileged to have worked with you.
Like the luckiest teacher on Earth.
I WILL NEVER FORGET OUR TIME TOGETHER!
I will talk about your MVP Program to anyone who will listen
in hopes of spreading the word.
Philanthropy is where it's at.
Together we impacted our own lives.
Together we'll change the world.

Sally

          Glue

We're all bound together
with intermingling connectors:
Blood
History
Friendship
Religion
Hobbies
Teams
Geography
Whatever it may be.
They unite us,
and unravel us
into forlorn
isolation
in their absence.

         Sally

                    Flip a Coin

There once was a job hog named Sally,
    who took on a new job each day.
             Until she was wary
          and found it quite scary
   to see five bosses coming her way!
                          Sally

                   STANK

     The stifling scent is in the air,
of young teens growing armpit hair.

                      Sally

Channeling Jackie

What I wanted
to say
took up a whole
page of
ranting and raging,
pointing fingers
and pouting.
What I said
was all that
was necessary.
I was gracious,
thankful and
concise.

What you should
have said was
nothing.
In line with
your cool
demeanor,
you should have
ignored me.
Left me wondering
if you knew,
if you cared.
Instead you
surprised me.
You came in
and congratulated me.
You were warm
and understanding.
It was perfect closure.
Thank You.

It seems we
were both
channeling Jackie
Kennedy Onassis.
We both took
the high road.
We both chose
to behave
like adults.
We both
would have made
Jackie proud.

Sally

Johnny's Best

One of the best
gifts I received from
Tim Burton,
was the introduction
to the unfathomable
art of Johnny Depp.
From Edward Scissorhands,
to Sweeney Todd,
their work together
has created magic
beyond compare.
Although I have
been religiously
devoted to their
joint projects,
I have been drawn to
Johnny's brilliance
at other hands.
I believe that his
most undervalued,
under-appreciated,
under celebrated
performance is in,
The Libertine.
He so relentlessly
commits to the
story of
The Earl of Rochester,
that he awakens
the spirit
of John Wilmot,
and embodies
his libretto
with bone chilling
truth.
He guides
the audience into
a transcendence
in time, as they
allow themselves
to be engulfed
in the England
of the past.
Johnny is
remarkable in it.
Solid evidence
of his ability
to tell a story.
To repeatedly
conjure escapist
enchantment,
that is harmless,
yet entirely
satiating.
Thanks for sharing,
Tim!

        Sally

  Substantiation 

The frustration I feel
when you claim
that you don't
trust me,
is equivalent to
the absurdity of
trying to prove that
I am a girl.
To know me,
IS to trust me.
Just as
to recognize me,
undoubtedly reveals
my femininity.
It's obvious.
There is nothing
to prove,
and yet you
doubt me,
AGAIN.
No authentication,
evidence or
documentation,
can convince you
that you're wrong.
AND,
I know why.
YOU are the thief.
YOU are the liar,
the fabricator
of truth.
You steal
and pilfer
in your guise of
Robin Hood.
Taking from one
to give to
what you deem
more worthy.
It is still THEFT!
Then you project your
bad behaviour
on me!?!?!
I would NEVER
behave that way.
Never have...
   Never will...
Don't you DARE
tarnish my dignity
by EVER saying
it again!

Sally

                           Buddy Books

You wrote your hearts out for your little friends,
now I get to read them before the weekend ends!

                                Sally

       LOSER

You judged the book
by it's cover.
You thought that
you could tell
everything about him
just by his outer shell.
You made his choice
your business,
though you had no way
of knowing
what he planned to do,
where his trash was going.
You hollered
and you yelled,
you shamed him
and you swore.
You made the others
stop and look
when you held on to the doors.
You totally mistook my son
for someone who he's not.
Just because his hair is long
does not mean his future is wrought
with failure and misdirection
which seems to be YOUR plot.
Chastising a 17 year old
is really a cheap shot.
He didn't deserve your
harsh words,
he's such a great kid
who tries.
He is so kind
and gentle,
environmentally wise.
You mind your own
damn business friend,
and go serve up some fries.

Sally

Fickle

Are you serious?
I am trying to make a right turn.
I have somewhere that I need to be.
Take your time now grandma and grandpa.
Do you think you're walking down the aisle? Or what?
Pick up the pace!
Did you just wave?
Oh my, grandma just waved too!
They are so cute.
They're smiling and pointing at my shiny black car.
They are so sweet.
Take your time guys.
I have nowhere to go.

Sally

Tuesday

HATE
is a very
strong word.
For this reason,
it is only
after much
deliberation,
thought and
articulation,
that I say...
If you
had guts,
I'd
HATE
them!

Sally

Polar Puddling

Polar Puddling
is when one
loses control
of  bodily fluids,
and finds oneself
crying and
'tinkling'
at the
same time.

It is a
condition
that afflicts
millions of
women
every year.
It can
happen in
ANY
country,
to women of
ANY
race
religion
height
weight
age, or
sexual orientation. 

There are some
very specific
environmental
characteristics
that are more likely 
to entice
Polar Puddling.
1. When three or more good friends are in one room, at the same time.
2. When the combination of music, chocolate, and alcohol are present.
3. When watching "Whose Line is it Anyway?"
4. When holding on for dear life on an amusement park ride.
5. Any other activity that may provoke extreme, uncontrolled laughter and emotion, resulting in an inability to hold everything together.

If this affliction
does arise,
immediately
cross legs,
and remove oneself
from the activity
that has set off
the 'sprinkler system'
until the fit
passes.

As this disorder
most often transpires
in happy people,
who love life,
and feel
comfortable in
their surroundings,
there is no
recommended treatment
for Polar Puddling.

However, if
you drink too much
or suffer from
general incontinence,
please see your
doctor immediately!

It is recommended that
those who experience
this ailment,
carefully schedule
first dates
job interviews
examinations
and driver's tests,
being mindful
of the P2
Danger Zones! 

Other than that,
they may continue
to live their damp lives
in peace.


      Sally

     Mercy

For three months
you diligently
prepared.
Practicing
and practicing.
We got the right
tights,
and the clips
for your hair.
The last thing
you ever
expected,
was to be
paralyzed
with the
stomach flu.
Crouched over
the toilet bowl,
instead of
putting up
your hair,
and welcoming
your grandmother
and cousins
who all came
to watch
you dance.
Instead you
trembled in
your bed,
and wept
with gilt and
disappointment.
I'm sorry you
had to discover
the unpredictability
of life
this way.
I'm sorry that
I didn't get to
see your Ballet
show.
There will be
others,
my love.
There is nothing
to be done
when you
are at the
mercy
of your
body,
but to
succumb to
its will.

Sally

                    The Big Show

We're off to your yearly recital of dance,
excited to have this phenomenal chance!

                          Sally