i am curious about who bought this plate.
a parent as a gift to a child?
a child as a gift to him/her self?
a spouse?
a sibling?
or….?
interesting message whatever the backstory.
—
“i am often asked which picture is my favorite.
this is like asking a mother
which child she likes the most.”
-phillipe halsman
my daughter was given a small box
filled with items
from her great grandfather/great grandmother
on her father’s side.
it contained such an interesting mix
with no one to explain
the meaning
the importance
the story
of the items inside.
some of them were:
a pocket knife,
a key to a city in louisiana,
one heart-shaped earring,
and a piece of paper with
‘hamlet, act 1, scene 3’
handwritten on it.
i wish we knew the story of
why each was significant in their lives.
why was each item worth saving in a special box?
—
‘we all belong to an ancient identity.
stories are the rivers that take us there.’
-frank delaney
an encore can only last so long
eventually the stage is empty.
after an up and down week
bob seger, in today’s paper,
had just the right message.
glenn frey the rocker, (r.i.p.) and the eagles returning for one of many expected encores. 
glenn frey the cat has returned for a very unexpected encore.
his doctor gave him a last minute reprieve
offered him another chance
with new protocols and fingers crossed.
it may not last long
he’s not in pain
and is purring again
so we’ll take it one encore at a time.
he and i were both equally surprised
olive took it all in stride.
glenn still has no idea how big he really is
the lumbering giant
thinks he’s a kitten
knocking over everything in his way
he’s lived at least 3 lives since i’ve known him
that means 6ish still to go
and he’s still not ready to leave the stage for good, just yet.
—
“the encore is the short piece after the program has finished,
where the performer brings out something the audience doesn’t expect.”
-hillary hahn
we spent our last day together
glenn frey the cat, not the rocker
olive the cat, not the oil
and me.
glenn has taken a turn for the worse
and is quickly slowing down
resting in his favorite place
with olive refusing to leave his side
the three of us
sit in the quiet
just breathing
looking out at the signs
of the seasons changing
taking in the breezes.
i think back to his multiple rescues
his funny, crazy ways
his very loud voice
how i often spelled his name wrong
how he acted tough at first
but was really such a gentle giant
how he tried to camouflage himself in the vines and flowers
how he welcomed another rescue, tiny olive
into our little family.
in the morning
there will be
just two of us left
when we return to this room
as we say farewell
to our sweet friend, glenn frey.
even the flowers are sad.
four swings
divided by
six cousins
equals
one each
with
a
remainder of two
and
many
seems like forever
wait times.
and with the return of the aussies
my band of grandies are back together
all on one continent
in one time and one place
sharing some mischief and one tiny space.
—
Jake: We’re putting the band back together.
Mr. Fabulous: Forget it. No way.
Elwood: We’re on a mission from God.
(The Blues Brothers)
—
last summer’s tiny space
the first time
they were ever all together
meeting in one big box.
—
