Author Archives: lifelessons

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About lifelessons

My blog, which started out to be about overcoming grief, quickly grew into a blog about celebrating life. I post daily: poems, photographs, essays or stories. I've lived in countries all around the globe but have finally come to rest in Mexico, where I've lived since 2001. My books may be found on Amazon in Kindle and print format, my art in local Ajijic galleries. Hope to see you at my blog.

Solo Saturday Night (For the “S” Word Prompt)

I am starting a new prompt named The “S” Word Prompt. Today’s “S” word is Solo. Please send your own story, poem or photo that shows your response to the word. Here is mine:

Solo Saturday Night

Half lonely, half happy I have no agenda,
I doctor my coffee with creamer and Splenda.
Tapping the keys to put letters together
with fingertips pressing as light as a feather,
I confront my computer and I never fail
to pound out a poem in my own brand of Braille.

I empty my heart of all of its ills––
better than pot or liquor or pills.
It is the prescription I write on my own
to relieve my regrets and stifle each moan.
I confide in myself, then type out what I think––
therapy with no recourse to a shrink.

A Little Twilight Exercise

I think I should leave it to their eventual families to name these girls, but in the meantime, any idea what we should call them?

 

One Down, Two to Go

These two have a TALENT for inviting attention and have actually worn themselves out for the time being.  Their “keeper” actually looks a bit the same right now. I’m lying in bed, having given all the puppy attention I’m capable of at the time.  Their sister Bonita is happily ensconced in a new family, as demonstrated by the video I posted yesterday. These two are awaiting their futures. They are wanting ever more attention, and inviting yours!!! My phone is 331-860-5304 if you’d like to come make their acquaintance and live close enough to the San Juan Cosala Raquet Club  to do so..

(If you haven’t read an earlier post about these two and their sister pup, they were abandoned in front of my house a few days ago and have taken up residence in mine until we can find a home for them. I’ve had a few further leads and suggestions for shelters or economical paid residence facilities, but I’d rather they go to private homes if possible.) Go HERE for more information.

Here is a video of their sister who has been named “Bonita” by her new family that adopted her yesterday:

 

For RDP the prompt is “Talent.”

For Fibbing Friday, Apr 10, 2026

For Fibbing Friday, Apr 10, 2026 the task is: What Fibs or Wannabees can you come with for these ‘Heroes’ ?

1. Who were the Dynamic Duo? Sonny Bono and Cher.
2. Who was Peter Parker? Peter Lawford’s Chauffeur.
3. Who was Diana Prince? Charles III
4. Who were The Fantastic Four? Groucho’s brothers: Chico  Harpo , Gummo & Zeppo 
5. Who was Robert Bruce Banner? An actor, a singer and a flag.
6. Who was Linda Lang? The prettiest Lang sister.
7. Who was Selina Kyle? A woman in the 11th aisle up from the stage. 
8. Who was Kent Allard? His brother, his cousin and his uncle.
9. Who was Cliff Secord? The lowest and thickest string on his guitar. 
10. Who was Matt Murdoch? The man my home town was named after. (Murdo, South Dakota)

Three New Houseguests

Someone abandoned these 3 three-month-old female puppies in the street outside my house in the San Juan Cosala Raquet Club. When I took food out to them and tried to steer them into my garage, another woman came out from up the street with food and water for them. She said she’d been feeding them for two days but couldn’t take them in. They are now residing with me while I try to find them homes. I have a vet coming in an hour to give them vaccinations and to deworm and check for fleas. Hopefully Oscar will help me bathe them tomorrow when he comes to walk my other three dogs.They have comfy beds and a little dog house and space to run and play in to tide them over while they wait for their new people. (I want to keep them separate from my other dogs until the vet gives them a clean bill of health.)  I am willing to pay for more vaccinations and even their eventual spaying, but can’t give them a permanent home. I know most who read this blog are far away, but if you happen to live near Lake Chapala and could give them a home, my phone is 331-860-5304.

Update: on Friday, April 10, 9:00 AM. The vet came yesterday and gave them their initial vaccinations and deworming and flea meds. He says they do need to be isolated from my other dogs for two weeks. I would very much like to find other homes for them before that. I would be willing to arrange for them to be brought to you if you live a distance from Ajijic. I have them in an outdoor protected and gated stone-paved terrace 12X21 feet with a padded doghouse big enough for them all to sleep in, but still would like to see them relocated to a more comfortable place  asap. Please call me if you have any solutions. 

Speaks for Itself.

A Reunion Imperative for dVerse Poets


Upon Running into a Former Best Friend

Don’t give me cause to regret our reunion.
Don’t bring back to mind our former disunion.
Don’t lament my career or cuss at my kids—
those actions that once put us into the skids—
dissolving our friendship and our former ties
when I’d had enough of your conniving lies.
Don’t inveigle or bemoan your lack of a pension.
Past times I’ve come through I won’t bother to mention.
And if you’ve a reaction and want to explode,
do me a favor. Take it on the road!!!

For dVerse Poets...an Imperative Poem

Just Me for dVerse Poets

 

 

Just Me
Inside my skin, around my bone,
I am me and me alone.
Wherever I choose to abide,
it is just me tucked here inside.
And if you find you’re in a bind,
you’re welcome to explore my mind
and pass on anything you find.

For the dVerse Poets Quadrille challenge, the prompt is “Bone.” Illustration created with AI. (Best I could do.)

Last-Minute Menu Changes

Last-Minute Menu Changes

My ravenous cats lurk up on the roof
while my dogs all remind me in language of woof
that they’re hollow with hunger and rattled by need
of kibble and catfood to fulfill their greed
for something to fill up space found in their tummies:
chicken or beef or those jerky stick yummies.
Now the dogs rush the door in their need to be seen,
push open the glass door  and rattle the screen.
With a flicker of tail, they crash once and again
into the door screen ’til they have slipped in,
and both dogs and cats leap onto my bed,
shaming their mom, whose face has turned red
with embarrassment over the fact she forgot
to go shopping for food for the whole furry lot!
So I leap from my bed and run down the hall,
pursued by my dogs and my cats, one and all.
Run into the kitchen and throw open the door
of the fridge, then I spread out all over the floor
the food I’d intended to feed to a guest
whom I had invited with all of the rest
of his family to dine–the roast and the cheese
I had purchased because I knew it would please
all my guests–the potatoes and veggies and flan
and I watched all my animals lick every pan
until it was empty of every food scrap,
then they lay on the floor for an after-meal nap
while I wandered in and climbed into my bed
to try to decide what I’d feed instead
to those guests who’d arrive in just 4 hours more.
Then I dressed and departed to drive to the store
to buy frozen pizzas and ice cream and cake
out of which a quick meal I’d return home and make,
shooing out of the kitchen those pets now sedated
once their fierce hunger was finally  abated.
The floor now licked clean, it was one task the less
I’d have to complete. They’d cleaned up their own mess!
So I mixed up a salad and set a fine table
and completed the meal as best I was able.
Poured tequila, cooked pizza and uncorked the wine.
The guests were well-pleased and my pets lay supine
both on terrace and roof or snug in their beds
while visions of roast beef careened through their heads.
And lest you wonder, I’ll say one thing more.
I bought kibble and cat food while there at the store!

 

For the Sunday Whirl Wordle 751, the prompt words are: ravenous lurked shame space found glass hollow flicker rattled slip red crash

“Showing Off Their Locks” for Cellpic Sunday

Kristina and Isidro showing off their long locks at Fren & Norma’s on the San Juan Cosala Malecon. Fun times and no hair in the soup!!!

for Cellpic Sunday