Joy For Our Tomorrows
Our Creator must pity us
When winds of misfortune
Sweep through our lives
Jeopardizing our tomorrows.
I am sure that our Creator
Wishes us the best
Of all things today
Moreover, in our tomorrows.
It is a terrible pity
That the winds of change
Sometimes leave us wondering
About our tomorrows.
Our Creator wants us
To find happiness not pity
Even when ill winds come
Threatening our tomorrows.
Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
© December 3, 2007 
I wrote the following poem using the words: poet, pour, courage, page.
Sensitivity of a Poet
It takes courage to be a poet
And pour your soul out
Onto the blank page.
Not many have the spirit
Or the courage to become
A poet and pour all
Their experience out on the page.
A poet pours life
Into each page written
And gives courage to those
Who read the well-wrought words.
Not every page is perfect
However, courage makes a poet
Pour heart into the work.
Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
© November 29, 2007
I used these words to write the following poem: reason, imagine, weak, strong.
Strength of Imagination
Imagine the weak become strong
There is no reason this cannot be true
For even the weak have the strength
To imagine wonderful things
And this ability to go beyond reason
Can make a person strong.
With weak reason to sustain them
People forfeit the ability to use
Strong imagination to bolster
Their creativity in all aspects
Of their everyday lives
And they lose much that enlivens them.
The strong must not despise
The weak for there is no reason
To imagine that their positions
Might fail to be reversed
At some time in the future
Where fortune sees fit.
The strong have every reason
To help the weak imagine a time
When their strength increases
For by helping the weak
The strong grow more able
To reason and imagine for themselves.
Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
© November 28, 2007
The following poem comes from these words: voice, whence, truth, light, forgive, accept, continue, be.
Lasting Belief
There are numerous voices
From whence I expect truth
To come to light.
However, when it does not
I can forgive and accept
That people sometimes
Fall short of what
I expect them to be.
I continue with faith
In the marvelous promise
Of my fellow human beings.
Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
© October 17, 2007
Reverence
We are a varied tribe
That meets on this riverbank
We call existence or life.
Our names are often forgotten
And we travel like ghosts
Through the moments of our days.
The importance of our names
Does not outshine the tribe.
We strive to navigate the riverbank,
But we are worth less than the ghosts
That have gone before us
Because we have sacrificed our meaning.
We must recapture the splendor
Of our names to make the tribe
More than a gathering of ghosts
Huddled on the riverbank
Without any direction to guide us
Into our purpose and significance.
We are a blessed tribe
That lives with sacred names
Honoring the ghosts from our past
Who have departed the riverbank
Leaving us to experience
Life and sustain our essence.
Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
© October 14, 2007
The Blessings of My Mother
The image of my mother,
The folds of skin
That crease her face and hands
In the twilight of her years
Bring me to treasure more
Each day we spend
In living together,
In being together.
So much of life to share,
A bond so precious;
Not a day goes by
Without I am thankful
That I still have a mother
Who folds her hands
At twilight to whisper
Quiet prayers that I know
Are heard by a God
Who cares for her and me.
She is an inspiration
For every day I spend
Trying to make meaning
Out of life’s myriad
Experiences that sometimes
Seem less than meaningful
Because my perspective
Is not wise enough
To reach the depths
Contained in the mundane.
My mother is a person
Who enfolds me in her love
Using her gentle hands
To ease the passage of my days
So that I can celebrate my life
Even at twilight
When the shadows haunt me
And cause me to doubt my meaning.
Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
© October 13, 2007
Alex left for the Marine Corps on June 4, 2006. I wrote this poem while he was in boot camp. I am glad that we are in touch with each other more often now. I do not miss him quite as much as I did then.
Son Away
You have left your place
Emptiness fills the space.
I miss your voice, your face.
You are brave and true.
I am very proud of you,
But fearful too.
No other person can
Touch me as you can
Because you are my young man.
My mother’s heart
Is torn apart,
But it’s your life’s start.
Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
© Sunday, August 20, 2006
After the university shooting in April, I wrote this poem. I titled it Massacre because I wanted it to have universality. I thought about what had happened and thought there were so many other situations to which the poem could apply.
Massacre
Quiet broken
Cries terror
Shots blasting
Blood ripped bone.
Unknown reason
Thoughts in shambles
Desperate mind
Ruthless evil.
Terrible waste
Sweet innocence
Lost forever
Senseless destruction, death.
Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
© Wednesday, April 18, 2007
That is the last time I wrote a poem. In fact, I had not written anything until I posted on the blog Friday. I hope writing here will make it easier to write creatively elsewhere.
Today is Round Up at my church, where I do not go, so my Mom dressed up as a cowgirl. I may post a picture of her later. I did not have good light to take one before she left this morning.
Church is too political for me to feel comfortable there. I still love God and pray, but the organized religion thing is a little much for me. There are so many things the Baptist Church is against that I am not at ease with it anymore. I sometimes miss the fellowship, but so many of the people believe things I disagree with that it is better not to be around them. I guess I am too liberal to be a good Southern Baptist now. I am a member of Humanity’s Team and that resonates with me. I would like to see all people embrace one another as One. I think peace could be achieved if we could lay aside fundamentalist ideologies.
I am just hanging out today. I sleep on a regular schedule nowadays, so I got up at about 7:20am. Penny, my mother’s dog, was barking at my bedroom door and Hope got so excited she was pouncing all over the bed and me. Hope has only been sleeping in the bed with me for a week. She slept in the crate before because I thought she would tear up things if she were left loose. Sleeping with me seems to be working out though. Oh, you should look at Hope’s pictures in the album Hope, My Puppy Dog. She is a real cutie.
Mom stayed out until 8:00 last night. She went to yard sales, visited a friend, went to JC Penny Outlet, and just had an awesome time with her friend June. I am so glad she has such a good friend. Since Mom cannot drive, she would not get to do near as many things if she did not have someone who cares about her. She brought me home some clothes from the yard sales. I am not big on used clothes, but these look nice and I can at least wear them around here. The long sleeved pajamas will come in handy this winter… if we have a winter. Things have gotten so warm that we hardly have any cold in Georgia anymore. It is like living in the Tropics.
Speaking of pajamas, I am still in mine. I better get dressed and do some housework. I do all that around here these days. Mom works outdoors, but I take care of the indoors. I should do a better job of it, but there is so much clutter in the house that it is hard to clean. It is not dirty anyway, just not spotless like my Mom likes things.
Please read the two previous entries to catch up with what is going on if you have not been here in a while or are new.
I hope you have a good day.
Always,
Jo Ann 
Things here have been rocking along. My Mom made a trip to Thomasville to visit my aunt and came home Monday, February 27. When she got home, she was standing at the top of the steps on the porch and next thing she remembers she was fallen on the ground. She would not let me take her to the hospital, but last Friday I took her to her primary care physician because she was in a lot of pain. He thought she had fractured her tailbone. I am surprised he did not order an x-ray to find out for sure. Today I took her to the neurologist and he is ordering tests to see what happened to her. He thinks it may have been a stroke or a seizure. I wish I could have prevented her getting hurt, but I had just gone inside to carry in some of her luggage. Life is so fragile.
Mom’s acid reflux is much better since her digestive care specialist put her back on Reglan. I am so glad that she is more comfortable in that way now. Her tremors do not seem any worse so it should not be detrimental to continue this medicinal regimen.
My MRI and sonogram results came back and they were normal. That was a relief. If only I could get over my chronic fatigue syndrome and schizoaffective disorder, I would be fine… but that is only wishful thinking. I saw some people today at Mom’s doctor’s office that made me very grateful that things with us are as good as they are. You do not have to look too far to find things to be thankful for, there is so much suffering in the world.
I have been doing some buying on eBay. I bought a camera bag, some shoes for Alex, a calendar for Mom, and a computer game for Alex. I have only bought two other items on eBay and one of those I had to dispute because the person sold me OEM software as the complete item. I am thinking of trying to sell some stuff, even got a book on how to do business on eBay.
My love finally got back from his trip and I saw him on Saturday. We had a long day together and it was wonderful. He cooked for me again and it was delicious. We rewired the mast on his sail boat. It was sunny enough I got a touch of sunburn from being out on his deck.
Alex went to regional competition for JROTC color guard on Saturday. He leads his team and they placed third so they are going to state competition.
I had a very unpleasant experience with my psychiatrist’s office yesterday. They called Monday afternoon to confirm my appointment. Then yesterday morning they called to tell me they needed to reschedule my appointment to Thursday because my doctor would be out of the office yesterday. I was not happy because I also had an appointment to see my new counselor and it is an hour drive to their office. So I tried to reschedule the appointment with the counselor. She said if I did not come to the appointment as scheduled, I would have to pay anyway. This made me livid. I called the office back and asked if I could see my doctor’s nurse and they would not answer me. I went to the appointment with the counselor with the full intention of telling her to f**k off. Luckily the drive gave me some time to calm down. I was still mad as hell when I got to the office, but I was in control of my anger. I think if doctors can cancel appointments at the last minute without being charged for it by their customers that the same should be fair for patients. I told the counselor that I was angry and that I did not feel I had been treated fairly. I told her that I had come to see her with intent to curse her out and tell her off. She said she could understand why I was angry. I am probably going to see her again even though I am not happy about the way she handled the situation. I feel our session yesterday was mostly a waste of time because we spent so much time on my anger over how I had been treated. I stayed in the office after my appointment hoping to see the nurse and imagine my rage when I learned the doctor was in the office and could have seen me. I saw the nurse after a two hour wait. I will take the situation up with the doctor next time I do see him. I am sick and tired of his office staff handling things without an ounce of respect for me. If I were not a long time patient and did I not really like my doctor I would find another place to go, in fact I am thinking of it anyway. I am very proud that I did not go ballistic on everybody in the place yesterday. Anger is not an emotion I handle well, but I was neither loud nor impolite to anyone even though I was enraged.
Life Is
Life is more fragile
Than an egg shell,
More fleeting
Than a glimpse,
More precious
Than crown jewels.
Life is only
Temporary,
Without guarantee,
A passing breath,
Fickle as
A spring breeze.
Life is just
An hour given
To treasure,
Or to waste,
So little time
Gone in haste.
Life is glorious,
A celebration
With dazzling
Displays,
And tearful
Moments.
Life is
For each of us
To live in fullness,
Giving our best,
Thankful for
Our blessings.
Life is a gift,
A wonder
Never to be
Squandered,
A time to be
Valued above riches.
Life is
All we have,
And all that
Is important
Passes between
Its open and close.
© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Hope all of you have a good week.
Smiles,
Jo Ann
I am doing fine, just staying busy. Last week I had three days off but those were frantic with errands and appointments. I guess I should try to write more, but somehow rest seems more important.
I had a fast change artist try to take me for twenty dollars at work, but I knew I gave him correct change so he did not get by with his act.
I ordered Alex’s cap and gown and a few invitations to his graduation. The cost of that amazed me. It is a good thing I am working.
I find myself wishing I had never purchased the Jeep. It does not get as good gas mileage as the Eclipse did and the payments are very high. If I did not have the Jeep I would not have to work at K-Mart. I am worried that I may not be able to afford the Jeep after Alex leaves next May.
I met with the supportive employment person Friday and filled out paperwork for that program. I really do not know what they can do for me, but hopefully with their help I will find a better job. One with hours that are more regular and accommodate my being home in the evening and that also pays better than part-time at K-Mart.
I have not been feeling very creative. Seems like there is not enough time for such luxury in my days right now. I am a person who has to have time to create, it is not fast work for me. I miss the times when I could sit here at the computer for hours without worrying about everything else I should be doing at the time. Now computer time is a rare thing. Some days I don’t even turn the machine on at all.
I’m Dreaming
I’m dreaming of unfettered days
When you are the only person
On my schedule and my only task
Is to give you unending pleasure.
I’m dreaming of moments when
Kisses are the most important thing
That I have on my to do list
And you are my only customer.
I’m dreaming of a time that
We can spend more than a few hours
In one another’s company
Without worry of repercussions.
I’m dreaming of truly being yours
Basking in the pleasure of our love
With no need of secrecy or deception
Because we can live our truth.
I’m dreaming of you and I
Joined in a love that has stood
The test of time and adversity
And still leaves us breathless with longing.
© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Monday, September 26, 2005
Well that is all I have to say right now. I have to go to work in a little while and should probably get something to eat before I go. Hope all is well where you are and that you have wonderful days.
Smiles,
Jo Ann
I am working over thirty hours a week and staying busy on my off time with chores or trying to rest. I did not expect a job to take up so much of my time. I guess I had forgotten what it is like to be in the workaday world. I am not sure I like the change. My hours are eliminating my time with Alex and I do not like that at all.
The only upside to working is the money, but now that gas prices have skyrocketed there is not so much money being made. Part-time work at an entry level wage just covers transportation costs with a little left over.
I signed my petition for bankruptcy yesterday afternoon and it was filed electronically. I am not happy that I had to do this, but it was the only way I could see out of a truly terrible situation. I hope to reaffirm the debt on the Jeep so that I get to keep it.
Today I received a call from the company I was seeking supportive employment through. I am to meet with one of their representatives Tuesday just to get acquainted. Hopefully they will be able to help me find a job that has a better schedule and possibly better pay.
Alex has all next week off from school, but my schedule is such that I will have very little time with him. I wish I had known in advance that he was to have the week off. I would have asked for some off days to spend with him.
We got a new dog, but the people who gave her to us decided after a week that they wanted her back so we do not have her anymore. Maybe it is for the best because I did not have much time to spend with her anyway.
Life Intervenes
There are so many moments
I wish to spend with you
But life intervenes
Leaving only very little time
For stolen minutes alone.
You are my guilty pleasure
The one I hide
Just to keep the peace…
I wish I could revel in our love
But am disallowed by others dear.
Maybe I will grow brave
Enough to stand the censure
Of disapproving relatives,
Until then you are my secret
The one that makes me smile.
© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Friday, September 2, 2005
I hope my blog gets no more attention than usual from Alex. He is my main critic in relationship issues these days.
Smiles,
Jo Ann
Chronicles 