Oct. 10/12 Creative Retirement: Reinventing Yourself at Midlife and Beyond
I am a member of Creative Retirement Collaborative! I’m the only non therapist but the other four members like to have me with them because they say, you’ve done it,
Rosewood, SMA
you’ve changed and they have me as an example that anyone can change and better prepare themselves for a creative retirement.
It is lovely not to be shy. Lots has been happening in my life and I can compare now, can see life from the perspective of the non-shy. I have been writing poetry, have some coming out soon in an anthology, am gearing up to do a second publication of Brave, and am doing talks, workshops and panel presentations. Lot’s more to come.
I will try to add another photo before I forget how. Well, I did it.
July 6/12 Summer Glory
From my window huge Monarch butterflies sally around and a large red Cardinal flew into the woods followed by a blue jay. The sun is sparkling on everything, even a little on me! Next Sunday I am giving a talk on shyness at the UU Church in Kennebunk, my church. Please come if you’re around, it’s a casual affair.
Book
June 13/12 A Dog
A Dog
Well, I don’t mean just any dog.
I had Peter, Jingles and Rex, then during my first marriage
An Alaskan Malamute, a Siberian Husky and a Samoyed.
My Venezuelan husband preferred anything from the north,
Including me, but maybe I wasn’t from far enough up north.
He didn’t bring those dogs indoors and I don’t think real affection passed between them.
Brutus and Jasper lived with me during my second
Marriage. That husband didn’t bond with dogs either.
These days memories of my dogs are held dear,
Adding animal dimensions of devotion, patience and humility
To my peopleness.
We people are good much of the time, but my dogs were great always.
May 26/12 Awash in Beauty
Awash in Beauty
From my peaceful deck on sunny days,
Touched by
Rosa rugosa, oaks, birch,
Hawks, Canadian geese, phoebes,
Cardinals, squirrels, deer.
I absorb, I am absorbed
They absorb me, I am theirs,
Like nova cane, penetrating my aesthetics
They overcome me with
adoration into oblivion.
There’s more. Sounds
From the Atlantic, owl talk,
And baritone chimes mingle
With syncopated thoughts
Bordering the sublime.
This is my bed rock and my blanket.
A world of expanse, color, grace,
Interdependency too, the strong
Surviving. We are wonders,
Wonderful Wonders.
Kennebunk, 2012