Category Archives: Life

wisdom and kindness.

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what a lovely afternoon spent

with a family whose three daughters

 each of us have taught and loved in our turn over the years

as they gave thanks to all of their teachers

by cooking and serving us an amazing brunch

at a beautiful table

complete with many homemade delights

main courses, sweets, desserts, coffee, and fruit prosecos

dad and daughters prepare our meal

while mom finalizes the drinks and details in the dining room

such an amazing and generous gesture

as their last daughter leaves the familiar comfort

of our elementary school

and moves on to her next chapter

in the middle school division

along with her lovely family

who we will miss

and who have taught their daughters

the wisdom of gratitude and kindness.

“what wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?”

-jean-jacques rousseau

other worlds.

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while watching the little league game

i caught a glimmer of shiny blue movement

out of the corner of my eye

 and suddenly there appeared

a shimmery mermaid

all scales and tails

coming from far away

skipping onto the field

staying safe in the background

to see just what

this other world was all about

and in an instant

she was skipping off again

returning to the safe world she knew

in the great bathtub sea

“it’s fun to peek into other people’s worlds

and see how they go about doing things.”

-norah jones

banned.

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when visiting the detroit public library

m is shocked to find that books

 have been banned in the past

and learns a huge lesson.

“censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance.” 

-laurie halse anderson, Speak

empathy.

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photo credit: herika martinez/afp/getty images

summer begins.

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summer begins

up north

with joyful grandie

up late

catching the sunset

in his net. 

 

“summertime is a period for youthful explorations,

a joyful time when we learn lessons

without grand expectations or harsh consequences.” 

-kilroy j. oldster

 

 

sleeping bear dunes national lakeshore, glen lake, empire, michigan, usa

when danger knocks.

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World Refugee Day 

In a world where violence forces thousands of families to flee for their lives each day, the time is now to show that the global public stands with refugees. On World Refugee Day, held every year on June 20th, the United Nations commemorates the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees. This year, World Refugee Day also marks a key moment for the public to show support for families forced to flee and to stand for their right to stay together as a family unit.

“it is the obligation of every person born in a safer room

to open the door when someone in danger knocks.”

— dina nayeri

 

credits: american relief fund, save the children, united nations

bands.

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happy birthday paul mccartney

and thinking back to when i announced

in no uncertain terms

that my sisters’ choices of favorite bands:

the beatles and the doors

were stupid bands that would never last

and were nowhere near the level of greatness

of my favorite band

the monkees

they really should have listened to me

i know pure talent when i see it.


“most bands don’t work out.

a small unit democracy is very, very difficult. very, very difficult.”

-bruce springsteen

 

 

image credits: apple records, elekrtra records, rhino records

no regrets.

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ah, the choices –

to play it safe

 and go for the fudge, chocolate chips, or mint

or to venture into something

a little more adventurous perhaps

like playdough or potholes?

 

“fear is stupid. so are regrets.”

-marilyn monroe

who he was.

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i remember my dad standing right here 

when i was 2 years old

 we lived in chicago

 he was so young

just starting out in his career

i remember the bar in our basement 

climbing up into the stools

the candle wrapped in netting

the straw hats on the wall

and i remember 

he loved to be the life of the party. 

“it doesn’t matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was.”

-anne sexton

happy father’s day to all 

torpedo.

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what do you get

when you combine every kid in the city who is now out of school

with a very hot day and a community pool?

lots of squeals, water fights, slides, splashes, and snacks

everyone so happy to be free

all summer ahead of them

 has the festive feel of adults

celebrating with a long night of cocktails

but the kids are hopped up on nothing but pure sunshine and water.

 

‘i feel like a torpedo.’

-michael phelps (u.s.a. olympic gold medalist in swimming)

 

 

 

image credit: New York July 12, 1937 McCarren Park Pool- vintage photo