A military mom

I had the honor to hang out with my MOMS group and be part of the Petaluma Veterans Day parade. I dedicate the following to those wonderful women who I'm pretty sure, like myself didn't ever think they would be the mother of someone in the military. MOMS, you rock!

The Thing About Fear

The thing about fear is
you are looking down
at your newborn
and are terrified that
you will be bad at mothering
The thing about fear is
that you have brought
another being into the world
who is dependent
on you for everything
The thing about fear is
new found independance
starts with the training wheels
coming off the bike
you think he doesn't need you
The thing about fear is
he has signed enlistment papers
in one month he'll be
halfway across the country
at Navy bootcamp
The thing about fear is
you brought up this boy
to become a man
step away from mom
and begin a life on his own
The thing about fear is
you found that maternal instinct
and did the best you could
so that one day he will tell you
he still needs you

The page that follows 4

Having a weekend of wine and writing with best friend wasn't really a literary festival but it was the next best thing.

Lit Fest

I'm drawn
Like a moth
To a flame
Authors
Being presented
A fan giddy
With anticipation
Printed page
Beneath book cover
Novelist groupie
Poet devotee
Words absorbed
By my soul
Inspired to write
Of life, love
Dreams
Black ink
White paper
Hand to pen
Evening without end

Page 4 of Fridge Magnet Chronicles

You might see a few poems or stories that will seem as though the scenery is similar. That would be from the place that makes me feel grounded and recharged in the redwoods of Mendocino County. Join me there now and please, stay for lunch.

Boonie Lunch

strawberries, brie
and iced tea
a better boonie lunch
there'll never be
rock and roll radio
rings through the trees
the babbling brook
rambles to the sea
I made a poem
that rhymes
well sometimes
you just have to...

Crab Cakes

Here's story of first serious boyfriend, it's pretty romantic...

The Lido restaurant was a classy place to go for dinner in my hometown. Jimmy and I were on our second date. I was having a cocktail for the first time, a vodka collins. I felt so sneaky, they didn't even check my i.d.
The soup was french onion in a little brown bowl that had a handle on the side, pretty fancy. A small slice of french bread with very tasty white cheese was melted on top. I burnt my mouth on the first spoonful. For our entree we were served the most amazing crab cakes. I had never had crab cakes before and would have eaten an endless platter of them. So amazingly delicious, small oblong balls rolled in bread crumbs then fried to just the right crunchy consistency. Then after what I'm sure were several more vodka collins, the evening became a blur. The fabulous meal of seafood was consumed and as I waited for my dessert of chocolate mousse I knew I had fallen in love, with crab cakes.

Page 2 of Fridge Magnet Chronicles

Ok, you are all getting where I'm going with this. Adventure Boy was page one, today's entry will be page two...

IN A SMALL BOX

In a small box
A silver charm
Lavender petals
Bay leaf
River pebble
All to return
To my place
Of inspiration
Remembrance
Of friendship
Past and present

Adventure Boy

I look from the deck
And remember the time
You were floating
Sure that the river current
Would sweep you
Away to the sea
Now you float on a boat
Larger than I can imagine
Pushing you across oceans
I'll only see on my maps

Chap-O-Wrimo

I have friends who during November write 30,000 words hoping it will be the next great American novel. It's a worldwide sensation called NanoWrimo (national novel writing month). I tried that once and got as far into the plot as follows: girl from the burbs meets boy from the farm and when she can't find cologne at the nearest cosmetic counter that has notes of alfalfa the affair is doomed. I think I made it to 1500 words. I'm a short story writer which I guess is what happens when your teenage brain starts you out writing poems and the gradual progression then becomes mini memoir. I've decided that in the month of November as a birthday present to myself I will post some of my writings that make up my chapbook collection, The Fridge Magnet Chronicles. So as the month unfolds watch for an assortment of very eclectic prose and poems. Maybe one or two get you to smile or shake your head. Have them be what they will, I'm not expecting to become the next Erma Bombeck. Oh wait, yes I am...