Agreeable Monday

 

I had a restless night because Hope kept coming up and licking my face. I woke up several times before I got up at 7:45. I may have been restless because I forgot to take my Risperdal last night. I ate a brownie and drank a Caffeine Free Diet Sam’s Cola for breakfast.

 

Mom felt worse this morning so I called her doctor and scheduled an appointment for 3:45.

 

I called in Mom’s medicine. She had six prescriptions to order.

 

Hope would not leave Penny alone so I tied her up. She was very energetic and anxious. I read in Writing Tools by Roy Peter Clark. This book has some good reminders of lessons I have learned. I checked email and wrote some replies. I let Hope go because she seemed calmer.

 

Alex called. He was very excited because he ran three miles in twenty-two minutes and twenty-five seconds. He wanted to share his happiness with me. I am proud of him and very glad he called.

 

I had a bologna and cheese sandwich for lunch. Mom ate a pineapple and cheese sandwich.

 

Alex called again. He was still excited and celebrating. We talked about thirty minutes. I congratulated him on a year as a Marine. He is happy he is a Marine. He said he might start a real hobby since he is quitting World of Warcraft. I do not think he realized how much time he spent on the game. I suggested he participate in National Novel Writing Month, but he said he did not think he would have time. He is writing stories though.

 

I read some more. The doctor’s office called at 2:00 and said Mom could come in. I packed a cooler, tied Hope, and we left. We waited about twenty minutes in the office. Mom has bronchitis and congestion causing her throat soreness and dizziness. The doctor gave her some samples and a prescription for an antibiotic.

 

We stopped at Arby’s for a Jamocha Shake for Mom. We went by Lowe’s and picked up Miracle Gro. At Sam’s we ate hot dogs and picked up Mom’s prescriptions. When we got home, I let Hope go, but immediately tied her back up because she attacked Penny. Penny was left outside on the front porch while we were gone. I am glad the weather was mild.

 

Hope and I drove to the mailbox and picked up the day’s mail. The cashback bonus Borders gift cards came. Mom gave me $50.00 worth of gift cards. Her DirecTv bill charged her for the service call that was supposed to be a courtesy call. I called DirecTv and they credited the charge. I wonder if they thought we would pay that amount without question. The check from Alex for the truck payment arrived.

 

I took my shower because my television shows come on tonight. I look forward to watching Chuck, Heroes, and Journeyman.

 

Always,

Jo Ann Wink

Sublime Sunday…

 

I woke to Hope licking my face at 7:15 this morning. I ate a brownie and drank a Caffeine Free Diet Sam’s Cola for breakfast. Mom went to church with June.

 

I checked my email and wrote some replies. I decided to read in Writing Poetry From the Inside Out by Sandford Lyne. I did a poem sketch with the words: tribe, riverbank, ghosts, names. It actually turned into a poem and I posted it here.

 

I vacuumed the house. I really resisted this today. I wanted to read and write instead, but I vacuumed anyway. The Kirby did an excellent job.

 

While I was vacuuming, James and Alicia came looking for tools. Penny barked so that I knew Alicia was at the door. She needed a flashlight so I brought her mine. She brought it back to me and I finished vacuuming.

 

Hope and I walked up to Highway 5 and back. I was hoping the walk would take a little of her energy and calm her so I could turn her loose. It did not work that way. When I turned her loose she started gnawing on Penny’s ears. I had to tie her up again.

 

I finished reading Writing Poetry From the Inside Out by Sandford Lyne. This book is excellent. I will be going back to do the exercises I have not completed yet. I have written three poems using the poem sketch idea the book suggests. This is a huge improvement over the creative block I have experienced for the past year or more. I think writing in this blog every day and using writing books that inspire me have helped me become more productive.

 

I ate salmon patties for lunch. Even though these were leftovers they were very good.

 

Mom came home from church. She had been out to eat, to two flea markets, and to Wal-Mart. I let Hope loose for a while, but she bothered Penny so I tied her again.

 

Alex came online and spoke to me. We chatted for a few minutes. He is doing well. His online girlfriend La Tes is coming to visit him next Sunday. I hope he acts responsibly because he has never had a girlfriend in real life. The inspection of his squadron is October 29. He left his uniforms with a tailor to be altered because he has lost a lot of weight since he went into the Marine Corps. He said he had mailed his truck payment and that the truck was getting good gas mileage. He said he thought he was quitting World of Warcraft. I doubt he will do it though. He is addicted to that game. I told him I was sorry I had bugged him before and he said it was okay. He explained that he had been busy this week. I am so glad we chatted. I told him I love him and he told me he loves me. That means so much. I had missed him very much.

 

I ate a Lean Cuisine meal of roasted potatoes, broccoli, and cheese sauce for supper. I am glad our Wal-Mart finally started carrying these again. For months, I could not buy them.

 

Hope and I walked up to Highway 5 and back as it was getting dark. She seems a little more relaxed since we got back. I am hoping she can stay loose the rest of the evening. I hate tying her up so much of the time. When I got her, I thought she would be like Penny, but she cannot behave like Penny does. She is a terrorist dog.

 

I wrote the following poem using these words: hallway, doorways, whispers, stop.

 

Finding Meaning

 

Life is a hallway

With doorways leading

Into rooms of experience.

 

I stop along the way

Listening to whispers of wisdom

That guide me on my path.

 

Each doorway is an invitation

To adventure leading me further

Along the hallway that is my life.

 

The whispers stop me;

Taking time to cherish

The insight sent my way.

 

The rooms beyond the doorways

Beckon me from the hallway

To find the value of my life.

 

Whispers of knowledge come and go;

I stop, but then advance

Into experiences that nourish me.

 

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

© October 14, 2007

 

I hope everyone has had a good weekend. May the new week be filled with good experiences for each of you.

 

Always,

Jo Ann Wink

Another Poem

 

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

A Productive Day

 

I woke up at 7:20. Hope and I got out of bed and started our day. Mom was not up. I ate the last frosted brownie and drank a Caffeine Free Diet Sam’s Cola. Mom got up around 8:15. I was surprised she slept later than I did. She usually wakes before I do.

 

Mom wanted to bathe the dogs. She bathed Hope first and I blew her dry. After she finished bathing Penny, she wanted to dress the dogs in clothes. I put on Hope’s newest dress and she put on Penny’s Old Navy tee shirt.

 

I wrote a card for Sam’s Mom last night including the poem about missing Sam. Hope and I walked to the mailbox to put the card in the mail. The dogs at our neighbor’s house came out and ran around Hope. She did not bark or act out in any way.

 

I checked email and played Spider Solitaire. I actually won the game I played.

 

I finished reading Coaching the Artist Within by Eric Maisel. It was a very good book and helped me move a little past my creative block. I think it will be a good book to come back to again. There was so much to learn in it.

 

Mom cooked salmon patties for lunch. They were very good. I was glad I decided to eat them instead of a Lean Cuisine meal.

 

Hope and I walked to the mailbox again to collect the day’s mail. The neighbor’s dogs came out and barked at Hope again. She was good and did not bark.

 

I started reading Writing Poetry From the Inside Out by Sandford Lyne. He suggests making poem sketches from lists of four words. I did one of these and came up with the poem I posted earlier. The list from which I made it was: mother, folds, twilight, hands. I thought it turned out well and shared it with my Mom. She said it was very deep. I think this book is going to be very inspirational. I was lucky to get a full-blown poem from the first sketch I tried.

 

I have sunburn from my day in the country. I should have worn sunscreen, but with the cool temperature, I did not think about it. I am so light skinned that I burn easily anyway. My bruise on my back still looks nasty. I am so fortunate I was not hurt more seriously.

 

I ate salmon patties and field peas for supper. I shared a few bites with the dogs and they acted like it was so good.

 

I washed a load of whites with towels. I wanted to wash my socks before I ran out of good pairs. We do not do near as much laundry with Alex gone. A box of detergent lasts much longer now, as does a bottle of Downy.

 

James is going to have his biopsy on Wednesday. He has no one else to drive him so Mom and I will be taking him to the hospital. I hope everything goes well. I am very worried about my brother. Mom said James expects it to take six hours. There are stores around the hospital so we will not have to sit in the waiting room all that time. We will probably go to Hobby Lobby and Borders. I can always find something to interest me in those two stores. I wish we did not have to leave the dogs alone so long, but they will be fine.

 

Existential Perspective

 

Sometimes it feels like

I am standing on a pier

Surrounded by waves

Of loneliness and despair

Where all my tomorrows

Seem shrouded in gray.

 

I can lift myself

Above this existential fog

By seeing the truth

That there is loveliness

In the everyday moments

Which light my pathway.

 

The pier I stand on

Is a launching place

From which I can dive

Into waves that carry me

Toward bright tomorrows

Devoid of loneliness.

 

It is all a matter

Of the perspective

I am looking from

And the meaning

I intend to make

Of my daily life.

 

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

© October 13, 2007

 

This is another poem sketch inspired by the words: pier, loneliness, tomorrows, waves. I am very impressed by the poems this new book has inspired me to write. I needed something to jump-start my muse and this seems to do it.

 

I still have not communicated with Alex. I hope he is doing well. I miss him so much.

 

Always,

Jo Ann Wink

A True Poem

 

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

Yesterday and Today

 

I set my alarm clock to wake me at 6:00 Thursday morning, but Mom called me at 5:45 so I got an early start. I packed out the car and left at 6:30. The sun came up while I was on the highway, but it was not spectacular. I ate a sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit at Mc Donald’s for breakfast. I managed to get grease on my shirt. I made a two and a half hour drive to my destination. Once I got there, I was so busy that I did not take any pictures. I ate a bologna and cheese sandwich, chips, and a brownie for lunch. I rode on a four-wheeler and got a huge bruise on my back because I almost fell off. I had a wonderful time. I got home about 10:20 last night and took a shower. I ate a snack type supper. I got to bed a little after 12:00.

 

This morning Mom called me at 8:15. I really was not ready to get up, but knew I should not argue. Hope was happy to get up. I wish I had as much energy as Hope does. She is always peppy.

 

I ate a frosted brownie and a Caffeine Free Diet Sam’s Cola for breakfast.

 

I checked my email and had a huge amount to go through. One day is not long to be offline, but email piles up.

 

Hope and I walked to the mailbox because Mom did not check the mail yesterday. Hope pulls so hard against her harness that it is hard to control her on the leash. I wish I could teach her to walk without pulling.

 

Mom wanted to go to town, so we left shortly after lunch. I paid my AT&T bill before we left so that I would know how much money I had to spend.

 

We went to the bank where Mom cashed a check, and then we went to PetSmart and purchased dog food and a couple of dog toys. We went to Sam’s to get my medicine, but that was not all we wound up getting. I found a Cross pen and pencil set, Be The Pack Leader by Cesar Millan, and a boxed set of glass beads. I really should not have gotten any of this, but I excused my purchases by saying I deserve some things I want. Mom bought several things including two watermelons. When we got to the Explorer Mom realized one of the watermelons was rotten. She and I returned it to the service desk and got a good one. Mom did not want to stand in line to get a new receipt for the return, so she just walked out of the store with the employees arguing with her. Mom is not feeling well and did not want the hassle. I just hope that we still are allowed in Sam’s. We went to Wal-Mart and did the remainder of our grocery shopping.

 

When we got home the house was hot because I had not turned on the air conditioner this morning. I switched the thermostat to heat last night and just did not change it back to air. I was tired after going to town and bringing the groceries and purchases inside. I sat down and rested a while, then ate supper.

 

Hope and I walked to the mailbox and got today’s mail. She pulled on the leash so hard it made my hand hurt. I hope maybe I will learn something to do about her pulling from my new book.

 

Alex has not communicated with me. I am hoping he will decide to chat with me soon. I want to tell him congratulations for being a Marine a year. I miss him.

 

I am grateful:

  1. For the time I spend walking Hope.
  2. For the bead set I found at Sam’s today.
  3. For the pens I collect.
  4. For my Social Security benefits.
  5. For my brother’s girlfriend, Alicia.
  6. For the time I spent away from the house yesterday.
  7. That I was not hurt more seriously on the four-wheeler.
  8. For my blog.
  9. For friends I have made online.
  10. For my health.

 

The weather is getting cooler. At night, I am turning on the heater, just in case it needs to run to keep the house warm. I do not want Mom to get cold. I actually like the house cooler when I sleep, but Mom has arthritis and right now she has a cold, so I want her warm enough.

 

I need to write and send some more cards. People love getting cards. It is personal mail and there is so little of that these days. It brightens a person’s day to get a card and I love to make people smile. I have many cards I have bought over the years. I collect blank cards. Writing is something I can do that does not cost a lot. Maybe I will do this tomorrow. I am still debating sending Sam’s Mom the poem I wrote about him. I am leaning toward doing it.

 

Hope is lying on my pillow. I am glad she is a small dog. Otherwise, I would not want her to sleep with me. I would not be able to hold her and carry her around if she was much bigger. I like giving her the attention she demands. She means a lot to me. I am so glad my Mom encouraged me to get her. Hope fills up my life with a little taste of joy each day. Even though she is a terrorist dog I love her very much.

 

Always,

Jo Ann Wink

Typical Wednesday

 

I woke up at 8:15 this morning. Hope licked my face to wake me up. She is an excellent alarm clock. I am so glad she sleeps with me now instead of sleeping in the crate.

 

I had a brownie and a Caffeine Free Diet Sam’s Cola for breakfast.

 

Mom got a phone call from her friend June to confirm they were going out together. She left before 9:00.

 

I checked my email and my blog. I wrote some replies. I got a call from one of Mom’s friends who had been given a computer. The computer was asking for XP discs. She wanted to know if I knew anything to do for it. Mom’s friends consider me a computer guru. I told her she needed the XP discs. I could not do anything to help because it was asking for original discs. I had a Service Pack 2 disc and a XP Professional Upgrade disc, but she needed the original operating system discs. My computer guru confirmed my diagnosis.

 

I ate White Castle hamburgers for lunch. They were good. It was nice to have something prepared.

 

Hope and I walked to the mailbox and Mom passed us on the way. She found a yard sale today and bought some blankets and an outfit. The things she got were very nice. She needed the blankets because the ones she had for her bed were too small. She bought a advent truck for my brother for Christmas. I told her she had to put something in all the little drawers. She did not know that. I do not know what she should use, but suggested candy. I really know very little about these things.

 

I called Sears Parts today to find out when the darn defrost heater is coming. They still do not have any idea when it will get here. I am so disgusted. It is a good thing we have two refrigerators in the house or I would be irate.

 

I called Sam’s Mom today. She sounded good although her car had been stolen and recovered. She also had a wreck in the rental car, but it was not her fault. Sam’s ex-wife is buying his house, so that gets his parents out from under that bill. I am still not sure whether to send her the poem I wrote about missing Sam. I think she would like it, but I do not want to add to her sorrow.

 

The mail had not run when we went to the mailbox the first time. Hope and I walked to the mailbox again and retrieved the mail. Most of it was junk. That is how it usually is. Junk mail; just like the spam on my computer. Hope is calmer and less apt to bother Penny after we walk. I probably should walk her every day. I put her harness on today so she did not choke herself while we walked.

 

I am taking some food along on my trip tomorrow. Mom wanted to cook brownies for me, so she did that. I am excited that I am going to spend the day in the country taking pictures. I hope to see some wild animals. It will be fun. I am not looking forward to getting up so early. I am leaving here at 6:30 so that I will see the sunrise. It is supposed to be cooler tomorrow and Mom is suggesting I take a jacket, but I do not think I will need one. The day is supposed to be sunny, so it should be nice.

 

I hope I do not get a headache tomorrow. I usually drink four to eight cups of coffee in the morning and I will miss that because I will be traveling. The caffeine I take in before noon usually keeps me from getting a headache. The days I miss my coffee I sometimes have terrible headaches. I guess I am addicted to the caffeine, but I do not drink it after noon so that I can sleep at night.

 

I had Ravioli for supper. I had not eaten a can of those in a while and they were excellent.

 

Alex still has not communicated with me. I am mostly over being upset and angry. I sure would like to know what is going on with him. I miss him. Everyone tells me he is just growing up, but he is my best friend and we are not supposed to stop communicating with one another. I am glad I have Hope to spend my affection on. She helps me be less lonely.

 

I probably will not write tomorrow because I am spending all day away from home. I expect I will have an interesting entry on Friday though.

 

Always,

Jo Ann Wink

Late Start

 

I watched Chuck, Heroes, and Journeyman and went to bed around 11:30 last night. I woke up at 8:45 this morning. Hope was licking my face and ready to get up for the day.

 

I had a brownie and Caffeine Free Diet Sam’s Cola for breakfast. I am glad we have brownies because our milk spoiled and I do not eat Lucky Charms without milk.

 

I called and renewed my library books. I have not been reading much. Computer time limits reading time.

 

I checked my email and Mom asked me to take her Discover payment to the mailbox. Hope and I walked to the mailbox. Hope pulls so hard against her collar that she chokes herself. I guess I will have to start using her harness when we go for walks. The weather is finally nice for walking.

 

It sprinkled just a little while we were out looking at the garden. James came down on the four-wheeler while we were outside. He and I talked a little. The rain did not last long, but it drove us all inside.

 

Mom cooked salmon patties for lunch. They were very good.

 

I did my lessons on Leonardo’s Notebooks and Corel DRAW 12. I am glad I signed up for these classes. I will probably take the intermediate course on Corel DRAW 12. I know most of the things this course is covering so far. The lesson on Leonardo’s Notebooks was inspiring. He was such a gifted person. If I apply myself, I can accomplish things like he did. I think of my blog as sort of like his notebooks. I can record thoughts and experiences here.

 

Hope and I walked to the mailbox and retrieved today’s mail. There was nothing for me. Mom got a catalog and a notice to renew our Sam’s membership.

 

Mom and I cleaned off the bar in the kitchen. It is a catch all area and has to be straightened out periodically.

 

Alex still is not communicating with me. He was not online again today. I hope he is not staying off the computer to avoid me. I will leave him alone without him having to do that. I can give him his space. I only wanted to talk to him because I love and miss him. My niece, Leigh, suggested that he might have been told to distance himself some to prepare for being deployed. I think he could have told me if this were the case, instead of being rude.

 

I am going to the country Thursday. I may not be able to post an entry here that day. I will be leaving about 6:30 in the morning and may not get back until late evening. I think I will take my camera along so I can take some pictures.

 

I wish I had a program that allowed me to make greeting cards with my pictures. I used to have Print Shop and you could do that with it, but I have not had that program in years. Maybe I could do it with Corel DRAW 12. I just have to explore the program more. I guess I am not too interested in doing it or I would find out.

 

I miss Sam, my friend, who died in June. We would have talked about the television shows I am watching and so many other things that are going on. He was always interested in what I did and how my life was going.

 

Missing Sam

 

Empty spaces where you were,

No words to console me

For the loss of you.

 

No more long conversations

To fill up empty afternoons

With telephone confidences.

 

No more speculation

Over what will come out

In the coming TV season.

 

No more recommending books

That I have read

Or reading what you recommend.

 

Empty silence without your voice

No words to comfort me

Through the loss of you.

 

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

© October 9, 2007

 

I wonder if I should send this to Sam’s mother. I know she misses him even more than I do. I cannot imagine what I would do if I lost Alex. I think it would kill me. I know I would wish I were dead.

 

Always,

Jo Ann Wink

Monday, Monday…

 

I woke up at 7:15 and Hope and I got up out of bed. I had a brownie and Caffeine Free Diet Sam’s Cola for breakfast.

 

I called Discover and set up for Mom to receive Borders gift cards for her cash back bonus. She will be getting $125.00 in gift cards. Probably she will give some of them to me for Christmas. I called Sears Parts to find out when the darn defrost heater for the stupid Magic Chef refrigerator would be coming. They said they would send a request to their research department and I should get a reply within forty-eight hours. I am quite disgusted. I ordered my medicine at Sam’s Pharmacy.

 

I spent some time following Mom around. She was doing things and I was keeping her company. She went to James’ and I read some email. Hope and I walked to the mailbox to put Mom’s Discover payment in the mail. Walking to the mailbox and back is half a mile.

 

I did the lesson on Outlook 2003 from HP Learning Center. It was about Contacts and I knew most of it already. I learned how to create rules to sort my email into folders in the first lesson. This was something I had wanted to know for a while. I guess I could have learned it from help, but I did not know what to call it.

 

I ate leftover lasagna for lunch. It was good.

 

I painted the letters on the Pond George sign for Mom. The outlines were already there because the sign had them burnt into it, but that had faded.

 

Mom added extra dirt around the collards. I helped by hooking the trailer up for her and by turning the water on and off.

 

Hope and I walked to the mailbox to check the mail. It was after 3:00 and the payment was not gone so I brought it back to the house. We do not leave checks in the mailbox overnight for fear of someone getting them.

 

I am still very disappointed in Alex. It hurts to have him tell me to leave him alone. I hope he will relent soon. He has not been online since Saturday when he was rude to me. He may just be appearing offline when he is on. I keep trying to tell myself I do not care, but it is not working well.

 

I read an article on www.salon.com that says diet soda probably causes cancer. I have heard this from various people for years. I am not giving up my diet colas. I guess I have to die of something anyway. I am down to only drinking around three diet colas a day, from twenty-four a day. I think this is a significant improvement. I drink water now instead of diet colas. I have been doing this for about two or three years. I just do not think I can give up diet cola completely. I like it too much.

 

I quit smoking in 2000. I still miss cigarettes. I wish I could have them, but my Mom would have a fit, and I know they are bad for me. I did that for my health. I do not think I can give up diet cola. It would mean missing something else I enjoy. I deserve some small pleasures.

 

I am really enjoying being a part of JournalWriting@yahoogroups.com. I have made a few posts and many replies. The people in the group are friendly.

 

Mom cooked scrambled eggs and toast for supper. She asked me why I did not cook more. I told her that her cooking tasted better. I am not much of a cook. I never have been good at it.

 

I renewed my domain name at Godaddy.com. I do not know why I am keeping OriginalCreationsOnline.com but for now, I am. I guess I still hope I will do something with it. I would love to get the magazine going again as an online enterprise this time, but I do not know if I am up to all the work it would entail. It would be a work of love, not for money. I shall think about it. I enjoyed it when I did it before, but that was years ago. I had more energy back then and I was writing more so my skills were up to editing.

 

I am writing this entry early because I am looking forward to my television shows tonight.

 

Always,

Jo Ann Wink

Anger and Disappointment

 

Mom got home from the reunion a little after 9:00 last night. She had a good day and enjoyed seeing the family.

 

I am very disappointed because when I tried to chat with Alex, my son, last night he told me to leave him alone. He evidently wants to talk only when he wants to do so. I know there will come a time when we cannot communicate, so I like to communicate with him as often as I can. I will leave him alone though. He can get in touch with me. I do not have to talk to him anyway. I am very angry about this because he was rude to me and it was not necessary.

 

I went to bed about 11:30. I woke up this morning at 6:15, but decided it was too early and went back to sleep. I got up at 8:45. Hope was very happy to get up. She licked all over my face. I had a brownie with my Caffeine Free Diet Sam’s Cola for breakfast.

 

I came back and sat down at the computer. Mom called me and said shouldn’t I do something other than be on the computer. I got up, went to the kitchen, picked up Hope, and held her for a few minutes.

 

Mom said she was going up to James’ to clean up the Pond George sign. When she left, I picked up all the dog toys and put them in the boxes. I plugged in the Kirby and vacuumed the house. Mom came back and took her bath. I finished vacuuming and took my shower.

 

After I dressed in a nice outfit to go to the party, I wrote out the birthday cards. I cooked lasagna for lunch. Mom said it was the best lasagna she had eaten.

 

We went to the party. My cousin, Jim, was surprised. The party went very well. We stayed about an hour. When we arrived home, I accidentally shut the door on Hope’s foot. She is okay, she just cried out when it happened. I changed out of the nice clothes into shorts and a tee shirt.

 

I read some email and wrote a couple of replies. Mom left to go to James’ house again. I fixed her medicine for the next two weeks, which takes about an hour to do. She is on so many medications and they have to go in the right dosing containers. I keep track of the list on the computer.

 

Hope has been sitting in my lap while I typed this, but she is getting restless. Actually, she has been restless the whole time. I think I will let her be loose a little while.

 

Grown Up

 

He does not like it

Anymore when I tell him

Something he should do.

 

He does not want me

To know what he does

Or who he is with.

 

He does not like

To talk to me

Unless it is at his bidding.

 

He does not think

I know anything

That he does not.

 

He does not want

Any advice from me,

He will do things his way.

 

He does not realize

How much it hurts me

To be discarded by him.

 

He does not care

If I feel sad because

He has left me behind.

 

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

© October 7, 2007

 

The poem just came to me. It started and I came to the computer and the rest came out. I do not think it is very good, but it expresses my life. That is the main thing I have to write about, my experience. Sometimes it is worth sharing and sometimes it is only navel gazing. I have not the intelligence always to know the difference.

 

Mom cut up her watermelon and I took the rinds outside where the crows can eat them.

 

Always,

Jo Ann