Thought for The Day - Breeze

Many mornings and days

I start my journey headed east

Another day of repeated tasks

And familiar greetings

They drag from day-to-day

And though you are a bright spot in my day

Your clouds seem to be gathering

Like August hurricanes

I watch you becoming restless

Troubled as your feet repeat each step 

Hoping each day brings a distraction

A moment of release

But the dawn seems to bring more of the same

And each adventure

More storms and weight

There is a storm brewing

Greater than you and I

It’s disturbing the very atmosphere of this old world

Troubling life as we know it

It’s more than a change

It is a rockin’ shakin’ tremblin’ force

Sure to disturb

Anchored

We wont blow away

Steady

We’re held fast in hope

Though all around us seems blown away

And every wind seems to rule

Darkness surrounds

Light dissipates

But… 

Thought for The Day - It's Raining today, I thought of you...

Standing at the window, looking down on the street, people walking underneath umbrellas and cars easing down the street; I thought of you. I leaned against the window sill, coffee mug held at my chest, steam and aroma to rising to my nose and I wondered where you were. Knowing I had plenty of work to do and little time to do it, I shook off the effects of the rain and walked back to my desk and my chair. I sat my mug on the floor and turned my eyes back to the monitor. "Back to it," I said to the air. And yet a whiff of the coffee and something else, stirred my mind.

An hour later, typing away, pausing every now and then to stretch my hands, I turned around in my chair to stretch my arms. Just then, a bolt of lightning, crack of thunder and sudden rush of rain distracted me. In that minute, my mind filled with memories. So many rainstorms, so often having to pause in the rain and allow it to pour down on us. And I remembered the first time we met, when you stood under that awning, back against the wall, mesmerized by the rain coming down. You looked happy, but as if you were off in a far away land. Umbrella in hand I ran across the street to where you stood...

Thought for The Day - Breaking Winter

Elastic 18 x 24 pastels

Many years ago, I worked briefly with a lady who moved here from Alabama. She said to me: "you all complain about your winters here in Chicago; it gets this cold back in Birmingham!" I quickly defended "my home" and told her: "this isn't a Chicago winter! A 'normal Chicago winter doesn't have any warm days and there's always snow!" Well after nearly 30 years, it seems we may be returning to the winters I knew and tolerated/appreciated!

It's April 23rd and the high for today is expected to reach 48. I will leave the house wearing the same winter coat I've worn all winter and a knitted cap. This is a Chicago winter; one that carries well into spring. You will see people in short sleeves and shorts; personally I think they're crazy because this is the type of cold that finds a good home in your limbs and joints and long before you're old, you wish you had enough sense to dress properly and respect a "cool breeze off the lake!"

One good thing about our strange weather: it teaches you to appreciate 90 degree days, at least it taught me to do that! Another thing that occurs, you learn to make plans and as soon as the weather breaks, implement them. That's a life lesson I think I've grown into. A couple days of warm and sunny days, I'm in the yard trimming and clipping and raking. And like life, the stubborn winter winds come howling down again, just so you don't think you're in paradise! I slow my pace, put on my protective outer layer and wait for the next break.

Life has been that way for me; on my way to the life I hope for, the road can be extremely smooth. Friends and family are kind and considerate. But suddenly, out of nowhere, the road cuts off and I find myself on a detour not on the map. I spend days, weeks, months and years trying to find my way back to the path and I learn to tolerate/appreciate a few sunny days and peaceful nights. But all the while, I'm looking for the "break"; the dissolving of winter's icy grip.