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.

Modern Bride

 


Modern Bride

The groom’s family was titled and a bit anachronistic.
So when they saw the bride, I fear they went a bit ballistic.
Instead of white she wore a dress of scarlet oddly draped.
The mother of the groom grew faint. Her husband merely gaped.
She wore something archaic instead of merely old—
her grandma’s feather boa—a bridal statement bold.
Around her neck, a python, and her arms were densely bangled.
Her veil pinned to a tractor hat of satin, oddly-angled.
The brim turned back as though she were an umpire at a game.
In short, the bride’s ensemble was anything but lame.

As she hip-hopped down the aisle to a tune by Kanye West,
the groom stood fondly watching her in morning coat and vest.
Her lipstick blue, her bustier was borrowed and conditional
on return to its owner in a manner most traditional.
To complete her fashion statement, her combat boots were blue,
and if you’ve paid attention, you could guess that they were new!
Her bouquet was fresh dandelions bound up with some chives.
She held it in one hand and with the other, gave high fives
to friends all up the aisle as she jerked her way on by.
The groom’s mom gave a shudder and his father gave a sigh.

So did this modern wedding  forsake the antiquated
with customs much less stuffy, less predictable and dated.
The wedding fare was tacos, Cuban sandwiches and chips,
jelly beans and donuts, crudites and dips.
No caviar or salmon. Just ribs and Tater Tots.
The toasts to bride and groom were made with jello shots.
The wedding cake was chocolate with custard between layers.
Good wishes  voiced by ministers, gurus and namaste’ers.
In place of rice the bride and groom were showered with quinoa.
In short, it was a wedding to rival mardi gras!

 

The prompt today is archaic.

Bar the Doors, May 24, 2018

 

click on photos to enlarge.

Morrie and Diego visiting Mom in jail!

For Norm’s Thursday Doors.

Golden Bougainvillea: Flower of the Day, May 25, 2018

 

For Cee’s Flower of the Day.

Bleached Flowers

Click on any flower to enlarge all and view as slide series.

For Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge.

Saturated with Color

Click on any photo to enlarge all three and view as a slide series.

What do these super- color-saturated photos have in common?  All were taken from a table— one at a friend’s house where we gathered for a meeting of our writing group, the other two from the outside patio of a restaurant in Chapala named “Delicias.”  Can you spot the bird in the third photo?

For the Thursday Special prompt: Saturation

Playing With the Moon

Please click on the first photo to enlarge all and really see the difference between these shots of the moon all taken within two minutes of each other.


These photos, although all different shots, all appeared alike in the beginning.  Their differences came about through changes in cropping, exposures, brightness, sharpness, edges, saturation and color in my Mac Photos app that came with my computer.  The thing that amazes me most is all the stars that can be seen in some of the photos that were not noticeable by means of the human eye before I started sharpening the photos.  The red in the first photo is tall palm trees.  They should have been evident in the other photos as well, but they weren’t.  I think I used a flash in that photo only. I was in the pool around midnight, using my waterproof Nikon camera. Please note, also, the photo where the moon appears to be heart-shaped.  Love that one. And the one where the moon appears to have its own moon.  I don’t know what that was.  Perhaps a star?

Guilty as Charged

Guilty As Charged

Yes, I’m guilty of all charges. I fear I must confess.
It’s true I bought a purse and shoes, then bought the matching dress.
What credit card I charged them on, I can only guess,
but I know what I have spent. Sort of. More or less.
It does no good haranguing me. It does not help to press,
asking if I’ve found the bills, hoping I’ll say yes.


You’re making me feel guilty. Inflicting much duress.
Would it make you happier if I went fashionless?

It’s not like I bought golf clubs, a sports car or a yacht.
Just these paltry fashions are all that I have got.
Yes, the dress is Vera Wang. The shoes are Jimmy Choo.
The diamond bangles matched so well, I really needed two.

When the clerk at Tiffany’s asked what he should do,
charge them on my credit card or just charge them to you,
I asked to see your charge account, and, dear, it was a shock
to see the balance on it. That must have been some rock
you purchased just last fortnight. Might I suggest cash-and-carry
the next time that you buy a gift for your secretary?

 

The WordPress prompt today is guilty.

Bougainvillia: Flower of the Day, May 24, 2018

 

For Cee’s Flower of the Day prompt.

Showing up Late for Happy Hour at the Corner Cantina

Click on first photo to open slide show and enlarge all photos.

Showing Up Late for Happy Hour at the Corner Cantina

I’m late because of accidents and countless little slips
like toothpaste down my shirt front, hair caught in my zips
and a seat belt that was caught and wouldn’t span my hips.

So bring out all your arsenal—your bludgeons and your whips.
I deserve your censure, your curses and your yips.
Perhaps it is my fault that you’re in tequila’s grips!

By looking at the tablecloth and counting all the drips,
It seems that all the salsa’s not contacting your lips,
and all your margaritas aren’t winding up as sips.

I’m making the assumption you might need more chips,
and more salsa fresca and guacamole dips,

which means our busy waiter must make some extra trips.

He doesn’t seem amused by all your clever quips
which increase with the frequency of your little nips,

so I’m hoping the aforementioned will earn him larger tips!

The WordPress prompt today is assumption.

Flower of the Day, May 22, 2018

IMG_0903

Obelisco (Hibiscus) in Profile.

For Cee’s Daily Flower Prompt.