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.

Blog Awards: My Answer to Fandango’s Provocative Question

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Fandango asks what we think about blog awards that direct us to answer questions and then select ten more people for awards, which in short order leads to a million blog awards.

I think they can be a good incentive for and introduction to new blogs, but most veteran bloggers adopt an “Award-free” stance after a year or so. By, then, they have acquired followers and leave the device to those who need a means to meet other bloggers. On the rare occasion when I am nominated in spite of my “Award-free Blog” notice, I just give sincere thanks but I don’t answer the questions or nominate other blogs.

 

 

For Fandango’s Provocative Question.

Moss Roses: FOTD Oct 7, 2020

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For Cee’s FOTD

Well Worth Watching: Wake Up Call

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Monster Mash

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Halloween was in the air

Monster Mash

When wind howls like a banshee to fill the dark night air
and monsters lurk in closets or in creakings up the stair,
when your brother knows they’re out there––these creatures he can’t see,
when nightmares wake you up at night and you have to pee
but daren’t leave your bed in fear those creatures will come “getcha”
(all those night-born monsters that come out at night to fetch ya,)
or when sister wets the bed again and seeks a drier nest,
for lying on her soggy sheets, she knows she’ll never rest––
it’s times like these when all the kids form a small tribunal
and determine that their parents’ bed should be declared communal.

 

For Tangerine’s Halloween Challenge.–Monster

Better Off Friends

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Better Off Friends

A study of your phenotype reveals that something’s missing—
a fact that I have noticed in our hugging and our kissing.
You seem not to be happy while following desire.
If you were a crematorium, they’d have to stoke your fire.
So although you are not lacking in gaiety or fun,
when it comes to sex appeal, I fear, my dear, you’ve none.

Prompt words for today are phenotype, study, crematorium, gaiety and following desire.

 

 

the set of observable characteristics of an indiv. resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment

The State of the Lot: FOTD, Oct 6, 2020

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When I decided to clear the lot next to me that had been a repository of all of the junk and building debris of the neighborhood for the nineteen years I have lived here as well as many years before, I had no idea how much it would take to try to make a garden out of that lot. After six months which consisted of weeks of cutting the plants that had overtaken it, then 5 hours of bulldozing and leveling, then another week to put up a fence to repel further efforts to repel passing cows as well as those accustomed to dumping junk on it. Since then, we’ve moved plants from my own gardens and purchased different exotic grasses from a local vivero. A new  super weed-whacker has assisted Pasiano with his efforts to keep the grass at an acceptable level. Yolanda’s family’s efforts to grow a small field of corn in one corner was thwarted by moles and rats and squirrels, who promptly dug up all the corn that was planted. Well, most of it. Twelve plants remain. These pictures represent our efforts so far, which look feeble, but represent a lot of work and an accumulation of dreams which will, I hope, swell over the coming years.  Next will be a large arbor to furnish relief from the sun for Pasiano and a place to sit to observe the view.

As usual, click on photos to enlarge.

This is what the lot looked like after removing truckloads of weeds and during the bulldozing process.
This is my present view of the lot from my studio.
What is left of Yolanda’s crop of corn.
The pampas grass has survived its transplant and plumed out
The agave from my garden has accepted its new place and decided to bloom and the palm tree whose leaves were cropped off by marauding cows before the fence went up, has put out new branches.
The hearty many-branched zinnia volunteered to join the garden and Paciano has plans to use the seed to spread its bounty.
Now I just need to decide where to put the arbor so it will provide both shade from the afternoon sun for Paciano and a good view for whomever else decides to sit under it.

For Cee’s FOTD

An Interview with Judy Dykstra-Brown, Teacher, Artist, Poet, Part I

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If you’d like to read Andrea Huelsenbeck’s interview with me, click on the link at the bottom of this lead-in.

Harvest Moon

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Harvest Moon

Peeking in the window,
blanketing our dreams,
It is a welcome harvest moon
whose straight and narrow beams
filter through our window blinds,
bathing us with light,
coming once again
to fulfill its yearly rite—
a calm and soothing presence
that  mitigates the night.

For the dVerse Poets Quadrille Challenge: blanket.

Death of a Senator

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While walking down the street one day a corrupt Senator was hit by an automobile and tragically died.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

“Welcome to heaven,” says St. Peter. “Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you.”

“No problem, just let me in,” says the Senator.

“Well, I’d like to, but I have orders from the higher ups. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.”

“Really?, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,” says the Senator.

“I’m sorry, but we have our rules.”

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.
They played a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and the finest champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes.

They are all having such a good time that before the Senator realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises.

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him, “Now it’s time to visit heaven…

So, 24 hours passed with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

“Well, then, you’ve spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.”

The Senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: “Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.”

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell…

Now the doors of the elevator open and he’s in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders.

“I don’t understand,” stammers the Senator. “Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there’s just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?”

The devil smiles at him and says,

“Yesterday we were campaigning, Today, you voted..”

Vote wisely in November 2020

 

Thanks to my friend Joan for sending me this joke!

 

Creepy-crawlies in the Moon’s Eclipse

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Creepy-crawlies in the Moon’s Eclipse

They congregate at night, they do—the newts and snakes and frogs—
to discuss the art of slithering and their new pollywogs.
But if the night is moonless and the stars covered with cloud,
They start to think of evil things that can’t be voiced aloud.
And if the night gets dark enough, they’ll probably conspire
to wiggle in through door cracks, ooze in on router wire.
They’ll squirm across your carpets and right up to your bed
to snuggle down in armpits or to circle round your head.
The snake will peek into your ears and travel up your nose,
investigating your insides as he comes and goes. 
The frog will croak accompaniment to echo in your dreams.
The world when we’re asleep, you see, is not quite what it seems.
And if you dream about it during the next eclipse,
It’s just your memory of the truth you heard from these two lips.

 

 

 

My prompt from Tourmaline’s Halloween Challenge is frog.