Through the day

Eyes forward, moving

the sounds of silence broken

by wayward thoughts and a song

that plays quietly like a hum

I never knew was there.

The sounds of bells in the distance

taking me back to days spent

in tiny shoes and jackets bundled,

the breath visible on the air

but I’m no longer there

or am I.

Parallel universe of yesterday and today

flashes of memory haunt

and I welcome them in as I open the door,

gazing around to see what once was so large,

now so distant and small

but I know these walls and the window view

as I gaze ahead moving forward

to drifting back once more.

I linger in these thoughts like a paper doll,

trying on the different dresses

folding the tab over then off once more,

settling on the princess mode

how lovely is she

and I smile for I know she is me

and the young girl who always sought to become

has finally found the right fit

and tabs in place moves on down the road

and the bells are ringing round her wrist

as she sparkles and shines like fresh snow,

moving through the day she goes

new and whole.

She shone in glitter

I never like my smile. It’s not a bad smile, it’s just not one of those award-winning ones that you see everyone else possess. But I have been coming to conclusions recently, taking time to do what is necessary for me, time to ponder the deeper things in life that matter. This image was taken on our anniversary coming out of the restaurant where we had our wedding dinner. It was snowing, which for Western New York in February is not a rare occurrence at all and now that I live where it seems to be hot and sunny every day, I know that images like these will now also be a rare occurrence. I had my picture taken today sitting next to Santa Claus.

The town I reside in was doing a Christmas in July thing today and tomorrow and I found him sans red shirt cooling down holding his bucket of candy canes (and showing his tattoos…who knew?). I smiled and had so much fun just talking with these “transplants” from Wisconsin (Santa and Mrs C) and I felt wonderful just being amongst these people, not caring if I took a good pic or not. Hubby took the pic of course as I’m obviously not a fan of selfies…When we got home I perused the images on the card and downloaded a few and thought, what the hell, why not. I like this picture. It is a reminder of happy days, not that I don’t have a lot of happy days but to see my smile, well, it made me smile. I felt glittery there, almost and if not as good as I felt today. Why the change? I think it’s perspective. To stop caring what others may think, to start doing what I choose to do and not what is expected. I feel as if lately a load has been lifted off of me and it feels amazing. Oh, and I was a mermaid too today.

Darn, that was just too fun. Now you won’t catch me posting these on FB as I refuse to be one of “those” people, but here at WP where my friends are just so caring and loving, I thought I would present myself to you. (Get it, present? Christmas in July) okay, enough. I think what I really want to say is I don’t want to go out of this world ever worrying about what I should have done, what I would do differently. So damn people, I choose to be a mermaid, a Christmas kid at heart and a girl who shines like glitter. And I’m not sorry…perhaps a poem tomorrow but for today, lots of me, me wonderful me….God I’m having fun. Join me, won’t you? Let’s see your happy post of your award-winning smiles and fun caught on film. Trust me, you won’t be sorry (at least I hope not) plus you know I’m gonna like it of course. Because you are beautiful! Yeah, lets spread more of that now okay? Post a link in the comments with your favorite selfie….I dare you, I double dog dare you! I’ll be waiting.

Memories of a moment

Small child sits upon a downed tree below a sign,

His sister sits beside him under a sleepy fall sun

And I drive by slowly watching beyond the glass.

A parent takes a photo,

A woman moves backwards,

Camera raised to catch the scene

And the boy looks up to the birds that fly

There on a dirt road.

Precious mountain it is called,

A place I’ve never been

Yet the image keeps returning to me,

The moment forever captured in a strangers memory keeping box

And I wonder if as the years pass by,

Will those children remember that very moment,

Will happy memories of a day in the warm morning

Come flooding back to bring joy.

I am here though in a separate place

Far from that gentle beauty of nature,

The snow falls around me

Showering down like asteroids in a game I recall,

I imagine my car as the blaster

Shooting particulate to dissipate these huge orbs

And they cover me and I watch alert

Remembering days of no school

But grown now and expected to be

In places that need to keep moving

And my car barrels through

As my mind drifts away

To that snapshot I had taken in time

Remembered so far away.

Thoughts on coming home from Florida a few months ago and a family taking photos, capturing memories….the snow races two inches an hour and to work I move, lost in thoughts of a yesterday.