Thinking smarter; Being impactful

We must think smarter….
To get our messages heard louder…
As those who seem to present us with challenges…
With less funding.

We must think smarter….
To continue reaching out to others….
As the domestic violence still seems to approaches….
With same stats of every 1 in 4.

We must think smarter….
To share our voices…
As we all continue on journeys…
With thriving in mind.

We must think smarter…
We must think smarter…
We must think smarter…

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Sunday School Lesson at the Ranch

While growing up in the city of San Anton’,

we taking lessons of piano playin’

and learning lots from school

with our friends that were so cool.

 

But when it came to the summertime,

I took upon going to the “ranch”  where you could hear a dime

drop for miles further than one can see

and spent time with my Grandma and Grandpa with glee.

 

During the days we would wake up to smells of eggs, homemade biscuits and bacon

before taking off to the garden to pick out some fresh veggies we’d be cookin’

later that day.  We’d pack it up to go visiting relatives and friends

and run errands in the town six miles around the bends.

 

During the heat of the day though,

we would make sure that we were bourough’d

in the cool of the home and tell tales of the news

that was certain to be the town’s mews.

 

We would cook and sew

practice Spanish and learn about the makings of the afghan throw.

At the end of the Saturday day, we would pick out our late night snack

be it a bowl of cereal or ice  cream, we would begin to attack

the lesson for the students for Sunday School,

after our baths and change of clothes for bed that night.

 

My Grandma would be with her snack and the Bible

and the next day’s lesson layed out before her on the table

across from me where I sat and listened to her

practice the lesson’s lecture,

with extreme delight.

 

Once done with that, we would wash the dishes with the well water

available there, and smells of well water and the sink scrubbed down with the Ajax cleanser,

we went off to bed knowing that we were prepared

for the next day and all lessons learned.

 

At the end of each summer, too, I would never forget

the talks we had at that table and the garden and bet

who would be up first the next morning

and start planning for the day I would be returning.

 

To this day, long after she has gone,

I hold in my memories and smells of those days past done.

At the end of each summer, I could never forget the smells

of fresh daisies and roses, country air, sizzling bacon and fresh biscuits, and the swells

of the fresh veggies and the life lessons I would learn through her lessons on Saturday evenings.

 

 

While I do miss those days, I’m grateful to have the memories and smells that remind me of those days; and, no one could ever take that from me. 🙂

 

 

 

 

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Summertime Bicycles

Summertime brings to mind the outdoors

and sunshine radiating through our pores,

as we find ways to recreate and play

all the long day,

or as long as we can manage to do so.

 

With the sunshine in the Texas heat

can have you beat

before you know it, if you don’t drink

plenty of water, sometimes more is needed than you think.

 

Yearning to exercise to lose the weight

and finding the pool not open throughout the late

night hours, we bought ourselves some bikes

so that we can no more say, “yikes!”

 

Right now, mastering the timing is essential

so that we can certainly lift the pencil

to schedule ourselves around the heat

to ride in the street.

 

Now, you might say that the best way to

schedule ourselves is to leave off the pencil and just do

it, and take our bikes

outdoors for before the clock strikes

with yet another day done.

 

I definitely wish cooler days

that were in the month of Mays;

yet, we just got the bikes

recently – before that we would have to just settle for hikes!

 

 

 

 

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Security for Cats

Moobaby and Little Moo are our guard cats

and that is that!

They are celebrities just

because their video was posted on YouTube and was robust!

 

We treasure them each day

as we work and play,

We love them dearly

as they proceed with walking around barely

with any sound.

 

They reach and scratch on our chairs,

which now need repairs,

but they make us laugh up a storm

when they do funny things as they transform

from guard cats to cats needing our love.

 

Lately, as walking to the bathroom,

I looked down to see the cat groom

himself with a wash rag

dragged from the laundry bag.

 

Then, as if he were a sphinx,

but not as wild as a maynx,

he stretched out on this rag

dragged from the bag.

 

Laying there contently,

he looked at me bluntly,

as if he said to me,

that even he needed to be

with security!

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Late at night…dear House

The tv murmurs with redundant sounds,

but nothing else be it abounds.

The world around me seem to sleep

yet I know there is another world which

works while our sleep is deep.

 

Know this to be true as I have worked it myself

just like Santa’s best elf.

The phone would ring with a new crisis

for this advocate to have no biases

and help the victim in tears

to ward off their fears.

 

Each call would be different

each call would be afferent.

A lifeline beats fast at one end of the phone

and dependent upon the advocate alone

for guidance and suggestions of hope to help them be safe and as strong as one.

 

Resources facing funding issues

and more victims than the shelters can uphold.

Where are the tissues

for those lost among the fold?

 

More funding is needed

as folks in the House pleaded

in 2012; the House ante up their votes

with a reworded Bill 4970  in hopes that no one would notice

while they honed in upon not protecting certain folks and all that it denotes.

 

Why leave out groups like the Native Americans

and immigrants who would like to be someday Americans?

Who is to say that one victim isn’t worthy to be protected

or that another deserves more detected?

 

When is it really going to be about the human being as a victim

so that they never need feel alone

and so that they can learn to trust once again

and believe that we are truly one

Nation interested in the dictum

of our judicial system?

 

Late at night,

I’m sitting in my chair

whilst the hum of the tv is the only noise I hear

and hoping that the House takes heart

and reconsider leaving out that part

which makes us Nations among Nations

and no longer rings as one.

 

It’s about the everyone,

dear House, all for all, and all for one.

 

 

#DVWarrior; #VAWA; #re-victimization; #House 4970; #2012

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No Fat Cats Here!

Between he and I,

our New Year’s Resolution was made,

on New Year’s Eve

that neither he nor me

will be considered two fat cats in the shade.

 

Between he and I,

we created salads galore

so that we could think lean

and no longer mean

that we’ll be fat forever more.

 

Between he and I,

we thought about proteins

and balancing carbs and fats

fibers and all that

so that we can be lean t’weens.

 

Between he and I,

we’ve lost almost 80 pounds

since January

which brings us quite cheery

and we’re only 5 months down.

 

Between he and I,

we’ve got to know the grocery store very well

learning to read the labels

so that our plans will be no fables

and we’ll boldly have something to tell.

 

 

(this is a work in the making)

 

 

Between he and I,

no matter the outcome,

the only fat cat

may well be Moobaby, the cat thinking he’s a hat

in our home!

 

Between he and I,

we may never live the life of two rich cats

like Zuckerberg and Chan,

but maybe we will be better off than

living with all those fats!

 

 

 

 

 

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What I Did On My Summer Vacation

As a child,

there were many vacations,

but no so important as the time spent

at my Grandma’s & Grandpa’s “ranch”.

 

250 acres to romp and run,

250 acres of fresh air and starry skies

250 acres of freedom from the city life in Ol’ San Anton’.

 

Grandma’s home smelled like homemade biscuits, fresh fig preserves, and eggs and bacon early in the morning

We would talk and talk and talk and talk (hence where I got the name of Chatty Cathy),

go pick out veggies we would eat that day with our bonnets on,

play scrabble,

see if we could call our relatives when other folks weren’t on the party line,

cut out squares for quilts that she and Big Mama made,

shopped in town (6 miles away) for more fabric and yarn and visited with other folks,

chain stitched yarn for miles and miles (or so it seemed),

created my own floppy hats from my own design for me and my sister,

rode the cowboy my Uncle would bring over from his Veterinary Clinic,

drank ice cream floats in the heat of the day,

learned to speak Spanish (something new every day),

and when the day came to close late at night,

we would get out the cereal and milk, and had a gabby gals moment,

just before we would put on our gowns and go to our beds.

 

Grandpa lived next door to the main house in a mini-apartment with a big porch

Because he had been sick for years.

He would sit in his rocker on the porch and smoke his pipe,

and tell me tall tales of Pecos Bill and Hondo Crouch.

When he went to feed the cattle,

I would ride along with him in the Ol’ Chevy Sidestep Pickup

To the tank we would go,

he would jump in the bed of the truck and gently toss out the feed

sometimes allowing me to jump in there too and mimic his every move.

Occasionally, we would stop at the tank and fish for catfish

and we would talk for hours until he’d have to drive back and take me to Grandma.

Before he got too sick, we would drive into town

and sat and talked to the guys at the lumber yard.

 

Saturday nights were extra special

Because we would eat our cereal and milk late at night

While Grandma prepared for the next day’s Sunday School lesson.

She would practice what she would be telling the class so much

By the time we got there on Sunday, I knew all the answers!

lol…

 

When my family came to pick me up, my cousins would come over too,

and we’d watch the 8mm movies under the dark starlit skies

with the moon that looked like a cooking pot on a clear night.

I would share the pies and cookies we had made,

and all the creations I had made while being there.

 

While I don’t live near there any more,

I sure miss the both of them,

however, this I know,

nothing could ever compare

to the days of yore and

to the memories cherished forever more.

The Cat Became My Hat

There once was a cat,

so tiny as a mitten,

he was called a kitten.

When brought to his new home with me,

he would cling to my knee,

or climb a fake ficus tree.

When I laid down,

I slept with a frown,

so on top of my head he became my hat!

 

My, what a funny looking hat,

he did make,

and curled up like some crazy looking snake.

When he too fell asleep,

he didn’t let out a peep,

not even one little meep.

As I awoke,

I thought I felt a poke,

but it was only, on my nose, a light paw touching pat.

Strong, but Gentle

He’s

strong as an ox and can lift a long sofa with one finger,

very tall like looking up at a Redwood tree,

with broad shoulders perfect for leaning the head upon,

can lift my heavy body with little effort,

very doting and caring soul,

exercises extreme patience,

confident enough to cry when needed,

conversationalist and sociable,

learning to cook lean and light for the two of us,

had it hard growing up with an extra large family,

dresses up with the smiling  Tall Texan cowboy look,

comfortable with soft pajamas,

loving to fish and be in the outdoors,

generous and loving,

with a mind of his own,

creative and daring to be different,

survivor in many aspects,

centered his life around God,

athletic with muscles of steel,

calmer than the calm before a storm with no storm to follow,

snuggle bunny cuddlier than a teddy bear,

and I thank God that our paths crossed

with plenty of fish.

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Joy in June

Walking through lavender fields,

Cats purring on my lap,

Writing poems,

Ice cream dribbling on a hot day,

White dresses flowing,

Children laughing,

Splashes heard in bubbling brooks,

all bring joy in my mind.

 

Memories of yesterday,

Great Uncle playing the fiddle at the Texas Folklife Festival each year,

Cousins floating with me and my siblings on river late at night,

Daughter being born on a new fallen day,

Playing the John Phillip Sousa duet with my sister in matching 4th of July outfits,

Country air with my Grandma preparing for next day Sunday School lessons,

Talking with my Grandpa on the steps of his porch while he told stories of Pecos Bill and Hondo Crouch,

Watching 8mm reels of family under the stars at night,

Peeling away husks from the sweet corn picked that day from the fields,

all bring joy in my mind.

 

Memories of working,

Internship at the City of Austin Law Department and saving the day on an arbitration,

Holding CPS accountable for not supervising when they should have and the family disappeared,

Finding a match for one of my cases into a new home,

Solving mysterious cases,

Saving a victim, consoling a victim, helping a victim,

all bring joy in my mind.

 

Dancing after midnight under the moonlight on the shores of the lake,

Buzz of the bees flying around while protected by a bee keeper,

The nudging of a bull in a window of old chevy with Grandpa saying “no worries”,

Sound of the last keys being played in my recital or audition contests,

The kiss after a prom date,

Holding my little brother and singing Frere Jacques while he fell asleep,

Fishing for cat-fish out of the tank,

all bring joy in my mind.

 

Traveling to San Angelo with my Mother,

Eating Gandy’s ice cream in West Texas, and

Eating Blue Bell ice cream in East Texas,

Genealogical trees and layered maps,

Hiking in Estes,

California tour with distant family to Disneyland, Knot’s Berry Farm and more,

Walking across the Royal Gorge and remembering that as  I crossed the bridge at Mo Ranch,

Angel’s Attic, riding horses, playing golf, swimming and peanut butter with ice cream at Camp Mystic,

Girl Scout camping and scorpions – yuck! – but still

all bring joy in my mind.

 

Sunday school taught by Big Mama and Grandma,

Mother playing the ukelele at night,

Daddy consoling me and believing in me,

Cousins and my siblings chasing each other around Grandma’s house,

Picking vegetables out of the garden,

My dog Puff playing fetch with me in the yard,

My finding my cat Rumplestilskin at my kindergarten yard,

all bring joy in my mind.

 

Trimming trees,

Planting flowers,

Feeling the dirt in between fingers while weeding the gardens,

Smelling the roses and daisies in Grandma’s garden,

Sipping iced tea after all the work is done in the cool night breezes,

all bring joy in my mind.

 

Hearing music, laughter, the sound of the buzz on the tv,

welcoming my memories as they appear

while passing the tradition of storytelling

to my granddaughter.

Holding her tightly and telling her that all will be alright,

and kissing her Good Night as I gently place her in her bed,

placing the cover over her stuffed animals and keeping her safe,

always will bring joy forever in my mind.