coats ‘n kids go separate ways
as they hope for spring
on these sunny days.
—
“it’s spring fever. that is what the name of it is. and when you’ve got it,
you want -oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want,
but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!”
-mark twain
warmth and soul-seeking
winter below the surface
life continues on.
—
“and don’t think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. it’s quiet down there but the roots are riotous.”
-rumi
—
photo credit: science hub (nodules on the roots of the white clover)
walking around
on halloween night
cold
with a bit of snow flying
coming upon
a briliant idea
a very large pumpkin
transformed into a driveway bonfire
trick or treaters
chilled to the bone
gathered ’round
like moths to the flame.
—
“fire is our first form of technology.”
-ridley scott
here’s to staying warm and safe during these, the coldest days.
—
“i don’t take naps, i accidentally hibernate.”
-wordporn
—
image credit: ‘martha rabbit and tabitha cat,’ by shirley barber
when in london many years ago
i happened upon these two in a park
struck by the natural warmth between them
i took this picture without their knowing
hoping i could somehow capture
the closeness
the easy comfort
between them
in that moment in time
it was simply impossible to do so
but every time i look at this
it makes me feel that warmth again
just for a moment.
—
“there is a certain phase in the life of the aged
when the warmth of the heart seems to increase in direct proportion with the years.”
-john phillips marquand
musician’s outdoor snowman promo –
‘playing guitars for your warmth’
tonight at the ann arbor distilling company
—
“music brings a warm glow to my vision,
thawing mind and muscle from their endless wintering.”
– haruki murakami , author – hard boiled wonderland and the end of the world
—
february, 2019 – ann arbor, michigan, use
each year
i happily take part
in a wonderful program
to help warm the children.
through the generosity of the local community
money and time are donated
to provide new warm clothing for children in need.
children are referred
by school counselors and social workers.
these families meet with volunteer shoppers
to help with the process.
all of the money raised
goes directly to purchasing clothing,
with no administrative costs
subtracted from the donations.
i am one of the volunteers who take the families shopping
and never fail to be amazed by the people i meet.
on my shopping trip this year
i met a single mother whose husband had died
raising sons, 12 and 16
supporting them by working at mcdonald’s,
her oldest son works at taco bell
she’s had a rough time of things lately
extra money has been harder to come by
both sons are in school, play football, and do chores at home.
when i asked how she was able to do it all
she told me, “life goes up and down. you just do what you have to do.”
after we shopped for her sons’ winter clothing
we made our way to the register.
just ahead of us in line
another family was checking out
who were also program recipients.
after being rung up, it was discovered
that they had gone just a bit over their allotted budget
and were going to have to put something back.
immediately
the mother i had shopped with
reached into her purse
and gave them the $1.89 they needed.
what an incredibly generous act of compassion
from someone who had so little herself
as she helped someone else to warm their children
when we checked out and went to leave
she hugged me and said,
“thank you so much, i always pay it forward.”
—
“to keep a warm heart in winter is the real victory.”
-marty rubin
participating partners: kiwanis club of ann arbor, washtenaw county, walmart, mlive, old national bank, ann arbor news
I didn't have my glasses on.... 