Category Archives: Poetry In Motion

Words ‘n stuff

In the thick of it….

So last night the power went out as a result of the ice storm blowing through our area.

This morning, power was restored. A large branch broke off the tree in the back yard and crunched the neighbors fence.

The world is ice, and we are all popsicles.

It brings to mind the fact that things invariably change.

Whether we want them too, or not, the tides of time and reality shift and flow over us and upon us that we can’t help but be swept forward and adapt.

The natural world is our best example. Wind blows. Rain falls. Ice forms. Snow melts.

All the world is new.

And try as we might, be it John, Peter, or Malcolm, furrowing our brows dramatically upwards towards the camera of life, we can only shrug, chuckle and accept the inevitable.

We are in the thick of it. And there is no better place to be.

Ice Ice, Baby….

There’s a storm coming.

And I mean that in most sincere, literal and figurative way.

Also, I can see it. It’s right outside the window.

Fortunately, I have the appropriate kind of footwear.

Its kind of important – appropriate footwear.

Having the right kind can determine the quality of the experience you have while going from Tab A to Slot B.

Footwear can also say a lot about a persons outlook as well. Each one is unique. You might prefer flip flops. I enjoy the snug, manly fit of a well-tailored boot.

You see, we humans are a fascinating, frustrating, magnificent and idiotic lot.

Lumbering, wibbly-wobbly bags of meat and drama that pout, party and poop, swayed by the whims of pop cultural significance, desires of the flesh and most importantly, by the slings and arrows of outrageous misfortune.

We are tragic. And so much bigger on the inside.

We are all variations on a theme.  Yet we cool the jets of discontent towards each other.

Our spiteful words breeds frostbite into our hearts. We build bridges with anger and insensitivity that keep us apart, and set them alight with fires of indifference.

We freeze each other out. We rain on each others parades.

We really need to chill out.

How about we put aside the pretext of me versus you.

And acknowledge that it’s just US.

Arm in arm. Back to back. Together against the Universe.

We dont have to agree on everything. But we can accept each other, unconditionally.

Yes. It’s frustrating. It’s hard work. But I have an idea.

If I try on your flip flops, then you can try on my boots.

And then, if we can manage that, maybe we can go for a walk.

Not far. Maybe a mile or two.

Together.

In the wind. Or the rain. Or the ice. Or the snow.

Because if we are together, it doesn’t matter the weather.

Yes. I realize I said previously I don’t like the cold. It’s called an analogy.

Jeez. Have some perspective.

See what I did there?

I see what you did there.

Perspective.

It’s kind of a big deal.

Everyone has the innate ability to perceive. What they choose to do with it, is part of the challenge.

Everyday now, I read or hear about stories where people express their dismay or frustration over a news item, or a celebrity interview.

This is a wonderful thing. The communal sharing of thoughts. A brilliant side effect to the advent of human civilization.

What sucks, is our still-paralyzing inability to just accept another’s perspective without the need to erase, change or deride it.

We do not need to agree. We do not need to convert.

What we need is compassion. And a little perspective.

Rounding the corner past Seven Billion passengers on Starship Earth, in 2013, we really have very little to fallback on as an excuse for why we struggle with something so simple as communication.

We share the space. There’s no one else. At least as far as we know.

Remember kindergarten?

We’re still there. If you have something to say, raise your hand, wait your turn, and be respectful of the other kids.

Guess what? It still applies. It always applies.

Or else just shut up forever. That works too.

Time is a many-feathered bitch….

Whirlwind couple of days.

Snow fell like dandruff from the chafing scalp of a less fortunate man.

There were filet mignon whispers with cabernet sauvignon dreams. And whip cream.

Aggregated sinuses and busy-bodied mall walkers.

A mere eight days dangle before our noses like hopeful morsels of holiday baking. Its December, and Christmas beckons.

Perhaps I’ve been time travelling. Maybe this was always the way it happened.

I digress. But not all it once. Slowly, like melting cheese.

The words are escaping me at the moment. To be fair, the cool-ranch adventures of Axel Foley are quite distracting.

Maybe tomorrow, there will come softer, more enticing rains.

Besides, the cornflakes are screaming again. And this time, its personal.

Words, Words, Words….

I got a present today from my wife.

I wasnt quite prepared for how it made me feel.

Everyday or so, I try to jot down a few witty phrases or discombobulated strings of words to highlight where my brain has been.

Apparently, my wife thinks I’m funny.

I appreciate her (check earlier blogpost re: this) for her appreciation of my humour.

I’m not that funny, IMO. Moderately giggle-worth, perhaps. Occasionally haw haw-ish.

But the gift was a collection of my words,  peppered with hilarious quotes by my children, accented here and there in coloured text.

It is pretty fantastic.

There is also a frame.

Which means she wants to see it up on the wall for others to see, snicker at, chuckle upon and enjoy.

As I said – I wasnt prepared.

The gift was wonderful.

My wife, however, is irreplaceable.

Lotto 649 can suck it.

2. 4. 6. 8…..

Life is tricky. It is often more work than you are expecting.

Just when you think you have a handle on things, you don’t.

Try not to be uncertain.

Don’t give in to fear.

Avoid arm wrestling the green-eyed monster in the corner of your mind.

Follow your gut.

Listen to your heart.

Trust your instincts.

And always, ALWAYS tell her you appreciate her.

You are nowhere and no one without her.

Baby Steps

In the beginning, there are big ideas. Big hopes. Big dreams.

We don’t quite know how it will all play out, but we step forward bravely. Tentative, cautious, curious.

Sometimes, it doesn’t go our way. We learn from these missteps. We try again.

This is where we take our baby steps.

Short. Uncertain steps.

But they don’t last forever.

Because as we go along, taking our baby steps, we become more sure, more confident.  More certain.

And soon, we don’t take any steps at all.

We fly.

Pitter patter. Let’s get at ‘er.

Happy Anniversary, Babe.

So no post last night, several the day before.

Today is a simple, straightforward message.

Happy Anniversary to my beautiful wife Samantha.

I love you more than anything, and am so fortunate to share my life with you.

I thought for sure that after the chlorophyll wore off, and you’d figured out the locking mechanism to the shed in the back yard, that you would have run away. Screaming.

But you stayed. Admittedly, the electric fence helped. We worked it out. We built a life. Had amazing children, and each day gets better and better.

Ours is a relationship built on honesty. On friendship, and on trust.

So in light of that, I think its time I take the ankle restraint off. One of them, anyways.

Sorry. That was for my personal diary. I digress.

I love you Babe. You have given me more than just love and purpose. You have given me a home for my heart. Also, you laugh at my jokes, which I really appreciate.

Thank you, Samantha, for being with me, and for being a part of me.

I couldn’t bear to be apart from you.

But its our kids, Sam. Somethings got to be done about our kids!!!!

Adventures In Space and Time

This weekend is about remembering.

Today, we mark the anniversary of the day the world lost a complicated man of will and vision.

Tomorrow, we celebrate the anniversary of an iconic television show that has inspired generations.

Both occurred 50 years ago.

Just stop and think about that for a moment.

Half a century.

Today we enjoy a diverse political landscape, forseen by the likes of President Kennedy and the brave men and women of his age. And our sights are set upon bright and brilliant possibilities only dreamt of in the vast, glowing universes traversed by The Doctor in the T.A.R.D.I.S.

So take a moment to reflect. Just a pause.

Remember well where we have been.

In 50 years, it will all feel like yesterday.