tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9698335203353763902024-03-04T21:56:05.025-08:00Sandra MasonSandra Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08888013890080628003noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-969833520335376390.post-66726767160891087952023-01-12T20:18:00.001-08:002023-01-12T20:31:48.078-08:00A Place In My Heart<p>This week our son Andrew arrived for a short visit. I tell myself, no matter how short, any visit from him is a treasure, as it also is for our oldest son and his family. </p><p>I feel gratitude for the time they give us and understand their busy lives and know that this is part of the long goodbye. We feel less important. Their lives, families, and work takes precedence. </p><p>I haven't been closely involved with our sons and their families for years, yet I miss them every time they leave. And look forward to the next visit.</p><p>I am proud of them.</p><p>Andrew is a composer. He gave me permission to share one of of his songs in this blog. I have included the link for it at the end of this message. Click on it or if that doesn't work, copy and paste the link into your browser to listen. As I was listening to his music, I jotted down these thoughts:</p><p><b>Minstrel</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">He sits across the table from me,</div><div style="text-align: left;">our son,</div><div style="text-align: left;">strumming his guitar.</div><div style="text-align: left;">minstrel</div><div style="text-align: left;">wordsmith</div><div style="text-align: left;">troubadour</div><div style="text-align: left;">creative genius</div><div style="text-align: left;">lost in his craft.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>LOVED!</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">He sings,</div><div style="text-align: left;">unaware of the effect</div><div style="text-align: left;">of his music on me.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It touches my heart in ways</div><div style="text-align: left;">too deep to express.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We see him infrequently these days,</div><div style="text-align: left;">each time is a gift</div><div style="text-align: left;">beyond measure.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sandy Mason</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://www.reverbnation.com/andrewleemason/song/33630678-a-place-in-my-heart" target="_blank">A Place In My Heart</a><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">(full link: https://www.reverbnation.com/andrewleemason/song/33630678-a-place-in-my-heart)</div>Sandra Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08888013890080628003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-969833520335376390.post-51666973748056976462022-11-24T17:53:00.001-08:002022-11-24T17:55:19.620-08:00Thanksgiving<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">W</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">hen I think
of Thanksgiving I think of family together in multigenerational joy. Children
playing with cousins they seldom see. Siblings reunited, jokes
and games played, laughter, shared memories, and love.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Travel was involved,
sometimes great distances covered for the joy of time together. And oh the
storytelling. When I was small, nothing pleased me more than my father regaling
us with tales of his boyhood. Of him and his sister Pearl, sharing memories. We’d
heard the stories before but we enjoyed hearing them again and laughing right
along as they told them. We sat in rapt attention listening as they reminisced. My father’s laugh, oh his laugh was something to experience. His
sense of humor was legendary.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Then there was the food. I’d
wake Thanksgiving morning to the smell of turkey roasting in the oven, and
my mother singing in the kitchen. I did not think I could make it all the way
to the Thanksgiving dinner. Sure there were other less interesting and less tasty
things to eat before the Thanksgiving meal, but everything paled in comparison
to the feast.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My mother set a small
table for the kids. I used to look and listen to the conversations at the big
table where all the adults were swapping stories and wish I could be there.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Each child in our family was
involved in helping in some way. My job was to polish the silver, my brothers
had to climb to the high cupboards and bring down the best china. We set the
table and then got out of the way of the adults preparing food.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The years have rolled by
and I hope that we have made equally special memories for our sons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems that we are all involved in making
memories for our children and grandchildren.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">May you make joyful
memories for your children and grandchildren to cherish.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Happy Thanksgiving and may
your blessings be great.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span style="font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In
Thanksgiving</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For sunny skies,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
mountain peaks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For woodland deer,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
snowy streets.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For smiles from loved ones<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>far
and near.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Thank you LORD,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
glad I’m here.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sandra
Mason<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Sandra Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08888013890080628003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-969833520335376390.post-64510876798248906762022-10-31T20:08:00.000-07:002022-10-31T20:08:58.610-07:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt;"> </span></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwIZxF6SvMKjW_YtgBGd6r2hTiZ_jiSFJu2DXLzGvEz2skTV0eagbguM_Po3xMFA7edzCcuYvyOLvj9J4H13QUVKZhoaGeMqs6-8Mdf8BilYNfrSXjDo4XQPGBua8tX0pCfzpsVZNLe2VNLB3r0Lx-sdYjJS2mEhEQ3dvhWveckLOgcAKLs_siSrdT3Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwIZxF6SvMKjW_YtgBGd6r2hTiZ_jiSFJu2DXLzGvEz2skTV0eagbguM_Po3xMFA7edzCcuYvyOLvj9J4H13QUVKZhoaGeMqs6-8Mdf8BilYNfrSXjDo4XQPGBua8tX0pCfzpsVZNLe2VNLB3r0Lx-sdYjJS2mEhEQ3dvhWveckLOgcAKLs_siSrdT3Q=w111-h148" width="111" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhv9jaPe-9x2TorJJhMpY0AGieunQhrhWcB7kJ-N9B2cmGHfRveJQ-BJ_YOLCa27jR-GsbZmLMBaEgmJNBQwNOb2KSxtbZ_h3llTgq8KoBSbxpBzm-YY05pfmN4D4gE_x8zGQHpJ5UpCfg1c3sYAVb2cMCVD-Nxt9ty_nsq-JZXHzc4eOI0T2FkzV0SQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1656" data-original-width="2000" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhv9jaPe-9x2TorJJhMpY0AGieunQhrhWcB7kJ-N9B2cmGHfRveJQ-BJ_YOLCa27jR-GsbZmLMBaEgmJNBQwNOb2KSxtbZ_h3llTgq8KoBSbxpBzm-YY05pfmN4D4gE_x8zGQHpJ5UpCfg1c3sYAVb2cMCVD-Nxt9ty_nsq-JZXHzc4eOI0T2FkzV0SQ=w178-h147" width="178" /></a></div> </div><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">Pumpkin Time</span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>F</b>or c</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">h</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">ildren,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">the
most joyous time of fall<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">is
Halloween,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">and
pumpkin carving.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our
granddaughters, under the tutelage<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">of
their father and uncle,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">carved the largest pumpkins <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">from
their garden.</span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Magnificent
grand, hefty pumpkins, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">gigantic,
gargantuan, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">full
of large seeds,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">spectacular
beauties.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
girls cut out the tops, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">scooped the seeds,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">and
carefully smoothed<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">the
inside.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Online, their
father and uncle<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">found spectacular jack-o-lanterns.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Each
reproduced, with help,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">the
pattern they chose.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
carving begins,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">they
handle the carving knife,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">carefully
supervised by a loving<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">adult.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">What
joy to watch them<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">create works of art.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
children smile as they work.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">And
bask <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">In
the love of their elders.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p>Sandra Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08888013890080628003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-969833520335376390.post-36950516551787890012022-08-31T19:56:00.000-07:002022-08-31T19:56:44.085-07:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaq5WkLrZI2NO4TPgbvcgXjDbfaQC-kgeb_MKLFPzGjcWxcK2yGB83_8w7buhlTTeYZd4LvPJEX6uIZMaV3nfbgoxzhCutrwQ4G1gfuaraWRkE3tfHrGEKD8QVdFlRq9ZI23ILZoyXa8vk9yGqyzLIqq9Wrnt6TzFh2hrxHysaiIi0KMd1AN-pztPsYg/s3264/Fall%20Petunias.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaq5WkLrZI2NO4TPgbvcgXjDbfaQC-kgeb_MKLFPzGjcWxcK2yGB83_8w7buhlTTeYZd4LvPJEX6uIZMaV3nfbgoxzhCutrwQ4G1gfuaraWRkE3tfHrGEKD8QVdFlRq9ZI23ILZoyXa8vk9yGqyzLIqq9Wrnt6TzFh2hrxHysaiIi0KMd1AN-pztPsYg/s320/Fall%20Petunias.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />It looks as if I’ve taken
a vacation from blogging. Here I am, the last day of August. It is time to post
for this month. In case you haven’t noticed, I completely missed July. The
truth of the matter is; I’ve not had one creative writing thought for the
majority of this summer. I’ve been lost in the garden. That is a nice place to
be, watching plants grow. There is the flower garden to attend to as well. I snapped the picture of some of my petunias this evening. <p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It
amazes me how much time a garden takes. There’s the early morning watering and
harvesting. You must pick before it gets too hot. Then there is processing,
either by canning or freezing. My satisfaction is well stocked fruit on the
pantry shelves and a full freezer. I am also rewarded by the variety of colors
of the flowers that have blossomed all summer long.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">September arrives tomorrow
and I look forward to the geese returning to our field. Truth is, they have
already made an appearance here. They gather in small flocks at first and later
in the fall they appear in greater numbers on our field eating grain left
behind by the farmer after his harvest is complete. I’ve attached a poem below
about the geese:</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Geese on the Field<span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">They
stand, sentinels of Fall,</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">resting
and feeding on their journey southward<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">ahead
of the gales of Winter. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Sometimes
in large flocks,</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">but
today two small family groups.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">The
first seven, watch quietly as the last four<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">sail
in like graceful jets.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">I
never tire of watching them.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">I
looked again, and their flock has grown to eighteen.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Soon,
they like Fall, will be a distant memory.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">I
embrace them knowing this is for but a moment,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">and
pray the Lord of all will guide them on their journey.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">
</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><b>Sandra Mason</b>, 9/25/21</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p>Sandra Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08888013890080628003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-969833520335376390.post-9153984325141217242022-06-29T18:52:00.001-07:002022-06-29T18:52:30.076-07:00<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">The Art of Finishing</span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
this world of instant gratification, packaged meals delivered to your door, the
just heat-an-eat generation is upon us. Where is the joy in that? Are there any
out there who remember waking on Thanksgiving morning to the smell of a baking
turkey? Or the smell of bread or rolls hot from the oven? How about the smell
of apple pie hot from the oven? Speed seems to be the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">way it is now.</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
have been weeding my blueberry patch. It is a slow process, no Weed Wacker<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>in use here. It is the old fashioned,
crawl-on-the-ground version of weeding, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">my</b>
version. What do I get out of this besides sore knees, dirty clothes, and sore
hands? I get the literal joy of watching the berries appear, tiny at first. I
get to watch them grow. This is not in the same category as watching grass grow.
No, believe it or not, it’s actually fun to watch a crop grow, be it corn,
tomatoes, or blueberries. There is excitement in seeing something you’ve
planted grow.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">My
neighbor commented on how good the blueberry patch looks, she said that I
should have taken a before and after picture. I had not thought at all about
taking a picture. I was just happy to see the progress I make as I get the job
done. Slow for sure. I don’t do very many things quickly these days.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">What
is the writing lesson hidden in this post? First, you have to start. Then you
have to keep at it. When it is finished, you may think it looks great, but you
should get other eyes on it. Others may see things you’ve missed. It isn’t time
for harvest or celebration, for sure there is more work to do. My blueberry
patch looks a lot better than when I started, and the weeds aren’t sucking
nutrients from my plants. Is it done? No, it’s done when you have a
great crop of blueberries to share or freeze. As in writing, it seems to me
that finishing, completing what you started is a pleasant experience.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Author
Stephen Pyne once wrote. “Many start, few finish.” Let’s be among the few!<o:p></o:p></span></p>Sandra Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08888013890080628003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-969833520335376390.post-73302057354295046472022-05-30T20:49:00.001-07:002022-05-30T20:52:37.743-07:00<p>I noticed a quail similar to the one below when I looked out the window during a mighty wind storm. There he was trying to keep from toppling over. As soon as he disappeared from view I ran for my computer. He didn't seem worried, but seemed a bit puzzled, as the wind nearly toppled him several times. He inspired this poem.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Quail<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div>The young cock quail</div><div>huddles in the wind</div><div>Tipping like a tottery</div><div>old man, seeking balance.</div><div> </div><div>His crest flutters like</div><div>a flag in the stiff gale.</div><div>Huddled near a small</div><div>Japanese maple,</div><div>he turns like a</div><div>weather vane.</div><div> </div><div>His beauty is stunning,</div><div>with iridescent stripes</div><div>that glow on his sides. His</div><div>gray-blue feathers</div><div>sparkle.</div><div><br /></div><div>He sports a</div><div>stunning rich brown</div><div>apron.</div><div><br /></div><div>I’ve never seen one</div><div>so close before. I peer</div><div>from the window, and</div><div>marvel at his beauty.</div><div><br /></div><div>And wonder at</div><div>his solitude.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Sandy Mason</b> </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>May 19, 2022</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZS25ihoqQiAia47V1XnO2h-TRKYFLUQDqIrAgTuav8RnAYSAVrzYSbeg2ZVX-7JQ_hyQyev-B4EDyfILLarxuqfZiyumIu7ABCpwiCbeHEjeK_5-M36HkSwc0ATz5ZVGdM8ek9ZL2dvJmkgUb1zG_Wiys7RKkh02Jw1t6lsCHsqAB05jP387BYPEkzQ/s3264/PIXNIO-34194-2448x3264.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZS25ihoqQiAia47V1XnO2h-TRKYFLUQDqIrAgTuav8RnAYSAVrzYSbeg2ZVX-7JQ_hyQyev-B4EDyfILLarxuqfZiyumIu7ABCpwiCbeHEjeK_5-M36HkSwc0ATz5ZVGdM8ek9ZL2dvJmkgUb1zG_Wiys7RKkh02Jw1t6lsCHsqAB05jP387BYPEkzQ/s320/PIXNIO-34194-2448x3264.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></div>Sandra Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08888013890080628003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-969833520335376390.post-56384332393844001822022-04-25T22:20:00.000-07:002022-04-25T22:20:14.282-07:00<p> </p><p><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">A</span></b>pril is National Poetry Month and Writers Digest challenged us to write a poem a day. I stuck my toe in the stream and wrote a few, but not every day, oh no, I wasn’t brave enough for that. <br /><br /> I admire those who took the challenge and jumped right in. Here is my shaky step to one of the challenges: <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"> How to Write a Poem </span></b><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> P</span></b>oetry is<br />conservation of thought<br />and words.<br /><br />Each word must say MORE than <br />narrative, which can go on <br />and on <br />and ON, <br />traveling <br />to a grand finale. <br /><br />Poems need not go far, <br />they are sparse <br />fierce, pithy, <br />and pierce <br />the heart <br />and conscience <br />saying more <br />with less.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>
Sandra Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08888013890080628003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-969833520335376390.post-52724120609459021002022-03-30T20:04:00.002-07:002022-03-30T20:04:59.559-07:00<p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">The Barn<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">There
it stood tall and gray, covered with cracked barn wood. It touched the sky. I
had never seen anything like it or more wonderful. A huge door stretched high.
My big brother Jon, pulled the door open and swung it wide. We crept inside and
explored. There was a roomy place, for what we didn’t know. I immediately
pictured a horse or pony for me in that spot. It was dusty, still and filled
with possibility. I wondered what had lived there.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
fenced-in chicken coop with wooden nesting boxes, now empty and silent,
completed the back of this barn. Beside it was an open shelter with an ancient
metal bowl. We decided it gave water to a cow. It stood empty, full of dust and
rust. A large sturdy manger completed the space. It was so tall that my three-year-old
self could barely peek over it. I imagined it filled to the brim with fragrant
hay to feed the long-gone bovine. A slanted ramp made entry possible for this
cow.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">My
brother looked above us, was that a hay loft? Could we access it? I certainly couldn’t,
I was too small. My brother, quick and lithe, scrambled up there. I looked
longingly after but couldn’t follow. Ever industrious he scooted down, found a
hammer, nails and some old boards. He pounded in the boards, standing on the
lowest to complete the upper and wow, ACCESS!</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Oh
the joy of such a space. Nine years later, my father would build a board fence
corral, to house a horse I cared for while her owner attended college. He cut
that huge barn door in half and made a split door so I could open the top and
keep a horse inside, although she preferred to stay outside. Four years later
my father enlarged the corral with posts and wire for the horse I had so longed
for. My very own precious gelding, a high school graduation gift that I found
and requested, instead of a car. But that is a story for another time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As I think of this story from so long ago, I also think of my brother. He, always so strong and sure nearly succumbed to Covid a few weeks ago. He is much better now and on the mend. When I think of how close we came to the unimaginable pain of loss, I think of the pain of those who did lose loved ones. My heart bleeds for them. We hope and pray and carry on as best we can. We find joy in family, friends, and creating beauty where we can. And we look for better days. </span></p><br /><p></p>Sandra Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08888013890080628003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-969833520335376390.post-25565746160527661202022-02-23T18:09:00.001-08:002022-02-23T18:17:11.421-08:00HARD LESSONS<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I was trying to think
of something to blog about this month and you can see that I’ve let nearly the
whole month tick by without writing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">A memory blazed its
way into my brain. I was a busy high school student, with a job, homework, and other
interests. The last thing on my “to do list” was practicing the piano for my
weekly lesson. Sometimes I’d sit down at the piano at 10:00 or 11:00 p.m. and,
of course, the rest of the family was NOT PLEASED! It makes me laugh to think
about it. No, I never was even a good pianist, although I could chord and accompany
fiddle tunes for my sons. I did that by ear, not by note, as my piano teacher
tried to stop my bent for playing by ear.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">I am sure I was a
terrible disappointment to her. I think at this particular lesson she had had
enough of my faulty playing. She had been <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">more
</i>than patient with me. And I, as usual, failed to meet her expectations. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">She sat beside me on
the piano bench and said, “You know, you will never be good at anything,
because you like to do too many things.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">I was shocked and
sad. Then I thought <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wait a minute, I’m
going to prove her wrong!” </i>I did not respond to her words, but they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">NEVER </i>left me. I set out to be the best
I could be in each of my interests. Those interests gave me great joy and
satisfaction over the years, art, music, particularly singing, horses, gymnastics.
Later my partner and I had a very successful gymnastics school in Sandpoint. I
had a bent for drama and, as an adult, was involved in children’s theater. I
found joy in all of my interests. I still have many interests, too many other
things to mention in this blog. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">I truly am sorry I
did not manage my time effectively enough to practice well for my piano teacher. I finally
quit piano lessons. I am pretty sure she was relieved.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Right now I <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">want </b>to be good at writing. And it,
like everything else, takes time to develop the right skills. I now have many
experiences under my belt and memories to share.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">The beauty of written
expression calls to me. I love beautifully crafted sentences whether I or
someone else has written them. Oh, the joy and power of well-crafted words!
Don’t we all want to inspire? Whether it is poetry or prose. I can’t get enough
of the written word, and hopefully, I will leave behind some of my own
well-crafted words for others to enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Here is a poem I’d
like to share this month. I looked at the crescent moon last October and saw a
dark line of geese float across it. It was too beautiful to miss, so I headed
inside and wrote the following:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> <span><br /></span></o:p></span></b></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2JQTq2o5qowmr1z40xOrYNs0teC7rE_Yhpon3kXk2j7JDqWk-Av3bhMeyTf_n9HU4ttnx7uMgHQAqkuq9Adb7qfXJHZYBfPanFjZsDTXJ1sEDnXF6-_YZFrhzoP0DeYFbZkNJPAX9HGJu3y-UNmjhaKyvionjiA2idNzphS2WTCqDxIWBkL5p2uhCGg=s3795" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2531" data-original-width="3795" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2JQTq2o5qowmr1z40xOrYNs0teC7rE_Yhpon3kXk2j7JDqWk-Av3bhMeyTf_n9HU4ttnx7uMgHQAqkuq9Adb7qfXJHZYBfPanFjZsDTXJ1sEDnXF6-_YZFrhzoP0DeYFbZkNJPAX9HGJu3y-UNmjhaKyvionjiA2idNzphS2WTCqDxIWBkL5p2uhCGg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Crescent Moon</span></b></div>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">A crescent moon</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">hangs in the dim turquoise<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">sky.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Night has come, and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">geese fly in shadowy lines,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">calling to one another as they<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">float across the bright lunar glow. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">They hurry to water seeking <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">a safe sleeping place<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">on a lake or pond<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">far from predators.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Sleep safely <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">feathered friends.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Sandra Mason<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">October 11, 2021<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Sandra Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08888013890080628003noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-969833520335376390.post-32614875826440782762022-01-23T21:24:00.000-08:002022-01-23T21:24:24.132-08:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here
it is, nearly the end of January and I have not yet written my blog. January,
with its gray days, has been difficult this year. I decided to introduce a bit
of light humor. Sometimes my musings take me to odd places and this is the
result. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">ODE TO THE EYEBROW</span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dear eyebrow,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">You used to be so <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">lush and thick.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I thought that you
were<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">just the trick, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">always there<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">so nice and slick.</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I plucked and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">thinned you,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">tried to train
you.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">You would not cooperate,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">and now I fear <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">that you decide <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">to disappear.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 26.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">What is it with
eyebrows?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As men age their
eyebrows get<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">bushy and unruly,
wildly going where <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">no eyebrow hairs
should go.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">They angle outward<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">and upward<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">in spectacular
manner.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">While women’s brows<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">take a different
tack,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">they simply refuse
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">to grow back.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thinner thinner <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">they become <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">until there’s just
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">a single one.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Sandra Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08888013890080628003noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-969833520335376390.post-40690109408594419522021-12-07T21:43:00.000-08:002021-12-07T21:43:11.694-08:00<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Encounter at FedEx<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">After
several wrong turns I found the FedEx store in downtown Spokane. I took a
metered parking spot around the corner from the store. I approached the
blinking meter and inserted my credit card, “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Card</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not accepted</b>.” I
tried another card, same message. I reinserted the first card, flipping it
over, SAME MESSAGE! I tried it with the second card, no success! Giving up I
rushed inside to see if I could find someone who would help me. Everyone in the
store seemed occupied. I finally approached a young man making copies and
explained my situation, and asked. “Can you help me figure out how to use my
credit card in that meter?” I pictured a $15.00 parking ticket in my future for
a $1.29, meter fee. He reached into his pocket and produced a quarter. “This
will give you 12 minutes,” he said. I gratefully accepted the quarter, rushed
outside and boom, 13 minutes appeared on the screen. I dug into my purse and
pulled out a dollar bill and offered to get change and return his quarter. He
smiled, shook his head and said, “If we can’t help our neighbors, we are in
pretty sad shape.” His small kindness brightened my day in a big way. I felt
the glow of that unexpected kindness for the rest of the day. In fact, it has
been three days and I still feel the glow. What a ripple effect small
kindnesses have. I have a renewed sense of looking for opportunities to make a
difference for others. The gift truly <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">does
</i>go on!<o:p></o:p></span></p>Sandra Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08888013890080628003noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-969833520335376390.post-76266604297958242962021-10-29T10:36:00.002-07:002021-10-29T10:36:50.287-07:00<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Glorious Fall!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
seems to me that God has painted this Fall in spectacular fashion. What a
blessing after a burning summer that killed raspberries on the vine and stunted
the garden. Smoke from fires hundreds of miles away kept me shut inside. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
is as if this Fall is consolation for lost summer enjoyments, picnics, family
outings, ice cream socials. Oh yes, we still have pandemic restrictions, but
the beauty of this fall is free to everyone. We can step outside and enjoy our
neighbor’s colorful trees, and even enjoy our own.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Two
days ago I made a wrong turn onto a glorious tree-lined lane on the South Hill.
Huge trees lined both sides of the road with a center green area with more trees
on each side. It was like a mini-park right in the middle of the street. Two
women walked slowly examining giant fallen maple leaves, placing some in their
cloth bags for art projects or decorating their porches for fall. I was
delighted to see them using cloth bags rather than plastic bags. It made me
feel as if we are making some progress in reducing the use of plastic in our
community. Small things can add up to big progress.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fall
is, hands down, my favorite time of year. The sun shines on lovely colors, the
sky is painted in various hues of blue with friendly clouds. It is like there
is a pause before cold winter winds and inclement weather descend.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
am learning to take time to enjoy small moments of beauty and delight in each
one. May we all take a breath, and take the time to thank others for their
kindnesses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Sandra Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08888013890080628003noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-969833520335376390.post-67272595910340424952021-09-06T20:46:00.000-07:002021-09-06T20:46:38.371-07:00<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Self-Conversation</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
sat in the waiting room wishing I had brought my book. Other times I had been
there, I never had time to even open my book, so I left it at home. As I looked
around the room for something of interest I spotted a thin circle of plastic sitting
in the middle of the area rug on the waiting room floor. I studied it for a few
moments wondering how it could sit in middle of the floor without anyone
noticing it.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pick up that piece of trash</i>,” said a
voice in my head.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No!” </i>I responded<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. “It’s probably full of germs!” </i>My voice warned.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Voice one</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Do the right thing, be a good citizen. Pick it up!”</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
noticed a box of Kleenex on the receptionist’s counter.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You can use a piece of Kleenex to keep from
touching it.”</i> Said <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Voice one</b>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Voice two</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> replied. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That person across from me will think I’m
NUTS!”</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Voice one:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Who cares
what anyone thinks. Do the right thing!</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
looked at the receptionist’s counter and noted the LARGE container of hand
sanitizer.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Voice one</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You’ve seen the sanitizer. No more excuses! Pick up the trash, throw it
away and USE the sanitizer for Pete’s sake!</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
picked up the trash, threw it in the can, used the sanitizer and returned to my
seat. The person sitting across the room never once looked up from his phone.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">THAT
started my reflection. Why am I so worried about what others think? Why not
just jump in and do what’s right? Take chances? Make a difference, even if it
is something as miniscule as picking up trash that the rest of the world ignores.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">How
can I apply this to writing?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whether
it is big or small, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">do</b> the thing
that makes you uncomfortable, because it is the right thing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Have
a little faith in yourself. Step out there, do the work of writing and research.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Don’t
expect <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">easy. </i>Writing isn’t easy. It
takes dedication and hard work. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Don’t
just sit there thinking about it, do it!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Start
and success will follow.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Sandra Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08888013890080628003noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-969833520335376390.post-24346776225955998662021-08-07T21:59:00.000-07:002021-08-07T21:59:57.776-07:00<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dog Days of Summer</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Until this year I have never given the <i>Dog
Days of Summer </i>much thought. That is because although I grew up in a
sunny hot climate, I never experienced a true <i>Dog Day.</i> I was a
child when air conditioning was rare and certainly not used in our family.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My mother<i> </i>provided cooling by
opening all curtains and windows after the sun slipped below the western
horizon. In those days, no one locked their houses at night or any time. We
would have laughed at the thought of locking the door. We lived in a quiet
village of friendly people. Though we were an hour or more from the ocean, we
were blessed by breezes coming off the Pacific, which cooled our homes every
night. At times we had thick fog that <i>watered</i> redwoods that
grew nearby. The fog dissipated as the sun warmed the earth and brilliant blue
skies reigned through spring, summer and fall. Our seasonal creek dried up as
summer progressed, but not before we had watched pollywogs become frogs and
played in the creek to our heart’s content.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Global warming was unheard of in those days.
My whole world seemed safe and friendly. It seems that a lot has dried up since
that time, the forest, woods, lush fields, unlocked doors. I don’t know about
you, but I don’t feel as safe or content as I did back then. What I DO feel is
a sense of urgency to turn this Global Warming around. What can we do
individually to make a difference for us all? There are many things we can
do to reduce our carbon footprint. Here are three to start.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> 1. </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Consider reducing red meat and dairy in your
diet. Red meat has the largest environmental impact. A plant based diet has
positive health benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> 2. </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Eat locally produced seasonal fruits and
veggies. This saves on transportation cost and fuel</span>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> 3. </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fly less Zoom meetings are the smart way to
save money and still get important work done, with less cost, fatigue and
travel frustration. It’s a win/win!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are many simple things we can do. If you
have ideas, please share them. Together we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">can
</i>make a difference.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Sandra Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08888013890080628003noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-969833520335376390.post-35631695137135863722021-07-14T07:07:00.000-07:002021-07-14T07:07:38.476-07:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dKJfc7XzAP02xsopI6Hgv6plmmM5WgXpYQazFWth2-RR61QjcdMl7oowGkPOSfe8GshbI2RLw7Us-rZH64q4xhJezY0vSAsSs-bUcWHiAq-McTy6KVg5e6wQ6xVQb1PX0MdhnIk7vaRB/s2035/Beach+Picture+Into+the+Fire%2521.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2035" data-original-width="1526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dKJfc7XzAP02xsopI6Hgv6plmmM5WgXpYQazFWth2-RR61QjcdMl7oowGkPOSfe8GshbI2RLw7Us-rZH64q4xhJezY0vSAsSs-bUcWHiAq-McTy6KVg5e6wQ6xVQb1PX0MdhnIk7vaRB/s320/Beach+Picture+Into+the+Fire%2521.jpg" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">A Step Into Marketing</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Independent
writers must figure a way to get the word out about their books. My first stab
at marketing was to tell all my friends. I know that I need more than friends
to make this book a success. Hence my venture into marketing to other venues. I
took a few baby steps last week.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I
began by contacting two museums in Wallace, Idaho where the Big Burn occurred
in 1910. I made appointments by phone with the directors of the Wallace Mining
Museum and the Northern Pacific Railroad Depot Museum. When I arrived I had
success with the director of the mining museum. She kept 12 of my books and
said she would contact me if she wanted me to collect them, if she felt they
were unsuitable. I have not had any messages from her to come get them. So I
assume she likes what she read.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The
director of the railroad museum was not in so I will check back with them. I
left a book for them to review. I plan to contact them next week. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">So
the adventure continues.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The
picture above shows how far my book has traveled this summer. This was taken by my
son on Chincoteague Island, Virginia, a great place for a summer read.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">If you have marketing ideas to share, I'm listening!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I'd
be interested to see where the book has traveled. So if you’ve traveled and
happened to take <i>Into the FIRE!</i> along for the ride, please let me know.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> K</o:p></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">eep following your dreams!</span></p>Sandra Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08888013890080628003noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-969833520335376390.post-6706168923540463372021-06-19T21:05:00.013-07:002021-06-24T09:48:10.524-07:00FOR FATHER'S DAY<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">As I sit here listening to old hymns, played in country style, I am reminded of how much I miss my father. His kindness, humor, sensitivity, and his music. <br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "New serif", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">He had a
wonderful talent for country music, and played the guitar with ease. He sang,
and after extended begging, yodeled occasionally for us. At that time, I did
not know my mother didn’t care for country music. Oh to hear him play those
tunes again! He also played the harmonica and the electric guitar Hawaiian
style. I watched as he moved the metal bar up and down the frets making such
magical sounds. We children wanted him to play on and on.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "New serif",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My father was
a country boy stuck in Detroit. My aunt said that on summer evenings he would
come to her house, sit on the porch, play his guitar and sing. The whole family
came outside to enjoy his music.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "New serif",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are many
questions I <i>wish </i>I had asked. Questions about his boyhood, his
youth, his dreams and goals. Questions about his World War II experiences. How
he met my mother.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "New serif",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sometimes I wish I could time travel, see him and ask my adult
questions. It is a shame that my younger self wasn’t that interested or
curious. When you are young, you think nothing is ever going to change. It
does!</span><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "New serif", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "New serif",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’ve learned that if you want to know something, you have to
ask. When you take the time and have the interest to <i>ask,</i> oh
the joy! You create connections of caring.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "New serif",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He and I had a
special relationship, I was his only daughter. We shared a sense of humor, and
a delight in reading. We enjoyed being together. It was hilarious to play board
or card games with him. He cheated so badly, and we laughed ‘til we cried. I
can still hear his laugh.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "New serif",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He did not put
pen to paper often, in my whole life I received one card and one letter from him. They are treasures
I love.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "New serif",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you still
have your father, it is a great time to let him know how much he is loved.</span><span style="background: white; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "New serif",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Happy Father's Day</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #26282a; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #500050; font-family: "New serif",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #500050; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Sandra Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08888013890080628003noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-969833520335376390.post-30871775336704412032021-06-01T16:45:00.000-07:002021-06-01T16:45:03.192-07:00June Beginnings . . . <p> Welcome to my brand new blog!</p>Thank you for dropping by. You'll find information about my writing to answer that burning question -- What's next? -- and an occasional poem or story about whatever my passion for writing brings me.<div><br /></div><div>This wonderful picture of the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho (shown in my banner above) comes from Jacob Nordby at <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/sawtooth-mountains-wilderness-4907031/" target="_blank">Pixabay</a>. Thank you, Jacob.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WUSf_qQiTQXrwA_56RnPkT54PfKyKjCqlSU71jVgs_YFIuT4JpzpBUR89uCN1JCE4Dz6HmxOBmrIqLJjisLPNcqPwG-BuEQuYo2Y7gSYdwWjpkyCpGE9qo1bhkgEydk3cCs-3MyzkqZr/s1920/sawtooth-mountains-4907031_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="1920" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WUSf_qQiTQXrwA_56RnPkT54PfKyKjCqlSU71jVgs_YFIuT4JpzpBUR89uCN1JCE4Dz6HmxOBmrIqLJjisLPNcqPwG-BuEQuYo2Y7gSYdwWjpkyCpGE9qo1bhkgEydk3cCs-3MyzkqZr/w485-h150/sawtooth-mountains-4907031_1920.jpg" width="485" /></a></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;">May this summer bring you joy!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Sandra Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08888013890080628003noreply@blogger.com0