Ccchhhaannggees…

My son, Alex, who is an adult, has been visiting since mid-December, except for some weekends he went to visit others. He is making a move back here to Georgia from out West.

Things are different when your child is an adult, it seems I get corrected more than ever. It is bearable, well, we are still speaking to one another.

One thing we had discussed accomplishing while he was here with me was dealing with all the things Mom left behind and other clutter I am so adept at accumulating. Picture border-line hoarder, here. I collect things and collect things and more things. I can admit I run amok.

We got Mom’s room under enough control that he can sleep back there, and we carried off an Explorer load of clothes to GoodWill. There is still so much.

If you are a person like me or are dealing with someone like me, strap on your patience good and tight and stay hydrated. This declutter crap is harrowing and no wimps need apply. I can only take it in spurts and even then I have rip-roaring headaches. Most things he sees as just junk, I know all the history about and could spend significant time explaining. Yeah, cue the Eagles, “Get Over It!”

I worked part of the kitchen today. It has not been a blue-ribbon day. I did make admirable progress in my estimation, clearing some counters, moving things, rearranging others. The really dismal thing is I am not a fast person, I am meticulous. Not exactly the best trait when trying to throw away a lifetime of collected stuff (for you enlightened beings, that probably translates as JUNK.)

Dishes that are of the original or close to that pattern of Corelleware can probably leave. The stuff Mom brought home from yard sales that I wished she had never seen, those go too. Where did all these margarine tubs and lids come from? Mom never met one she did not like. The bowls with all the pretty colors and patterns, we are not doing so good over. Ever heard, “I might need it someday?”

The worst of it is he wants me to get rid of some books. To say I am attached to ALL my books would not be overstating my situation.

Anyway, I think I raised a drill sergeant in disguise, recruiter duty did that set of pipes no justice, none at all.

He is working on his novel when I am not on his radar for repudiation. I am working on this when I can get to it. I need to HideAway as Mick Jagger sings about so well.

Things are looking better. I have to admit that, just the process is so painful I would like to get the heck out of dodge.

I hope all of you are meeting your goals, beginning 2020 right. I have high expectations for everything we can accomplish in the coming weeks. Life is such a blessing and flees from us so soon. Every day is precious and we should spend our time improving lives with love and being who we wish.

A river running
Throughout space and time, all us
Loving, living, wise.
As a prompt, look at the poem above. It is my favorite type of poem, a Haiku. It is syllabic, where you count syllables, first-line – five syllables, second-line – seven syllables, final line – five syllables. Write some of your own, they are excellent creativity warm-up exercises.

Gratitude is a balm to the soul. If you will regularly make lists of the things for which you are thankful more happiness and blessings will find you.

I am grateful:

It was not raining so much today.
I made progress in the kitchen.
I have adequate medications.
My son is visiting.
I came into this year without being alone.

Thank you for the time you have taken to visit Haphazard Creative. I hope you found something to inspire, entertain, or just make you think. There is a follow button or come back at your whim. God Bless You and Yours, Always!

Site Blunders, Mistaken Communication

I was checking in on the tablet because I turned the computer off. Scrolling through themes, I found one more attractive to my sensitivities. So, sorry, but we are now revamped. This theme is Publication 2. It has my sidebars and widgets, which were sadly missing in SAGA. I am old school, having blogged since 2005. (See Chronicles should you be interested in that history. It has lots on it.) I like as much detail on pages as artificial intelligence can afford me. I am still not paying for the website, though I did keep my domain. (It will happen, just at the appropriate time.)

School has begun in a lot of places. Those of you with kids, (and our crowd of creatives), I recommend you institute a period of gratitude each day. I find this gives a perspective that sometimes slips into the busy oblivion of day following day. Just have a few minutes to write or simply verbally share some things that went well during your limit of hours.

I am thankful:

The Wookie (Marbles) did not injure me while we walked. This being an ongoing problem I am praying about, I would much appreciate an improvement.
My stomach seems to be recovering, I, unfortunately, forgot I cannot eat foods with heavy concentrations of MSG. Mongolian Chicken should be prohibited.
I found a much more appropriate and loveable theme.
I completed reading Ink and Bone by Lisa Unger. An excellent book with some paranormal emphasis and well-developed characters. Missing it. Somewhat adrift trying to find something new. Oh, it was 5 stars, highly recommend it.
Music; brings me through the days when I am straying and finding the way hard to navigate. (We Believe – Newsboys) (Time Waits For Noone – Freddie Mercury) (Anything by the most esteemed Dr. Brian May) (Gangsters Are Running the World – Roger Taylor) ( Hide Away – What can I say, Mick Jagger)

If you can, pull your youngsters (and yourselves) away from screens long enough to do a minimum of ten minutes of creative work, whether art, writing, photography or whatever the penchant. These things will enrich your days and add joy to your lives.

I know many of you are more successful social media mavens than I am. Should you feel inclined and you find my communications of efficacy, please share as you may. I thank you for visiting Haphazard Creative today. I hope you will explore and wander about a bit. There is a follow button, or you may simply return as appeals to you. I think my links are now available again without having to search as much.

As a prompt, if you have a blog or site, which you have not refreshed in some time. Consider what a change might do. I know it takes some investment of time and effort, but the payoffs are sometimes higher than we expect.

Had to share the Tribble, just for the cuteness factor. My buddy.

Love, it may come late, but when it shows up, the world rocks…

Hands touching across
A divide longstanding wide,
Could grow side by side.

I Might Write Songs, No…

You Know

I have seen the sun come up
On days, maybe, like tomorrow,
The moonlight bow to the sea,
But I will never live another love
Like ours was, no matter how old,
Separate, we both grow to be,
There is a pain, I have well hidden,
Such deep joy, which, I again will
Unlikely, have a chance to see,
I shall forever remember,
Letting it not slip into oblivion
But the magic lives in me.

Staying up all night might be a hazard. Retrospectively speaking, it might. Then again, what is a singer without a song, a poet without her poem?

Time to Time… And All Times

A day like today, one can feel awash in time, especially me, cause my relationship with time is tenuous. Alex, my son, asked me this morning if I thought I would live to be 56. There have been times when I came close to checking out. Only by the grace of God am I here.

I think we do not know how often the Lord keeps some tragedy from happening, maybe that walk back to check the door, or having to change a little one’s clothes, or the misplaced article is actually the Savior at work.

I am thankful for both the bad and the good because the trouble taught me to be stronger and keep fighting to thrive. There are times maybe I just survive, but I am so grateful for the people and relationships that grace(d) my life. I enjoy so many blessings.

Life’s struggles are constant, but to overcome, oh, how sweet is the victory. Jesus is near to those who need Him and will in no wise desert His people who are called by His name.

I am touched by the people who say I make a difference, having so often felt inconsequential. When you spend a lot of time alone, doubt can invade your mind and inhibit your productivity. Positive words are so precious.

I try to encourage and inspire, but sometimes I can wallow in the mire. I appreciate those who throw me a life float when I am sinking into the quicksand. I know sometimes it takes a monster truck and chains to rescue me; I am grateful to you all too.

I am not sure exactly where this was going. I just want to thank all of you who have sent me well-wishes today. I am so glad I got to the church because I got some kind words and hugs, hugs are so special. Sunday School and Worship were terrific as well. Jesus was present.

I sincerely hope I make better use of the coming years than I have the past ones, but I would not miss what has gone before because the Lord has woven a tapestry of identity from all I have experienced and it was worth it all.

I was going to affix Freddie Mercury singing Time Waits For No One to this, but maybe not. You can find it on YouTube, the Offical video is best.

Time does, however, rush away like the water going over the falls. Live every moment to the fullest, never give up, remember happiness is an internal thing, you create it. Do your best to avoid wasting all that is given to you. If there are things, you dream of doing, to the best of your ability, do those. Find your creativity and employ it to enhance the world.

You are so very precious. God loves you, and God makes no junk. I love you, too, all of you mean so much. I think I should probably stop now. Sorry for running long.

This was posted to Facebook first.

I want to add a few things here. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I have been given to have some poetry published. The social media communities in which I have been active have been supportive, and I am thankful for each person who has commented or liked or further interacted with my work and myself. I have been on the web since 1991 and put a lot of work out here.

I encourage you if you are creative, to invest sufficient time and effort in your work to hone your skills. Do not let negative thoughts stop you. Do not fear. Make it happen, cause happening is why you are here.

There are so many things, but it will wait. More than anything, know you matter. The world would be a lesser place without you. You are wonderfully made and specially fashioned for this, your time.

I need to be on here more. Sometimes I lose the belief that I make a difference. We are all liable to feel unworthy at times, we are though. We are here, and we belong.

As a quick prompt, explore your feelings about the passage of time and create an original work around your discovery.

The day comes running
Full of gifts, activities;
Freely, we grasp them.

Thank you for visiting Haphazard Creative. If you enjoyed what you read, please share, if you like follow the site or come back again. There is plenty to explore, and there is also my site at Chronicles, which contains my Creativity Project, which I did daily for a year and a half.

Inspired by a Rolling Stone

I caught myself saying I do not want to go see them live because I want to remember them as last I observed them. Then I thought is it the stars I fear to see or is it that they reflect who I have become?

Do I want to face that I am growing older, that the glory days are past? My idea of myself, it does not connect with the image in the mirror. I am unwilling to give in to infirmity, to recognize any decrepitness, I imagine myself strong enough to face anything for I have overcome so much.

I like to think the days are still outstretched in perpetuity, but I know, I know chronologically that more hours are passed than reach into the future.

This is hard to admit, to accept, that death is any breath away, and my tenure here will cease. However, it also imbues every moment with a priceless preciousness that I cannot escape or deny. If I am to do what I am purposed to do, I must get on about doing it. There is no time to waste in frivolities or procrastination.

Life is a limited engagement. The show does not employ the same cast forever, and the show must go on. I, like everyone, want to do all the good I can, love as much as possible, create more happiness than grief, and leave memories that will be treasured, but I realize I should do those things in the now. Now does not for anyone last indefinitely.

So, maybe I should see the stars as they are and let their talent and charm take my breath away again. Each of us is a universe of life, and we should celebrate the beauty of our existence for God made each of us a Masterpiece, one of a kind, with no duplicate in eternity.

So thank you, as so often, to Sir Mick Jagger for challenging me, inspiring me, and providing food for thought. I am so indebted to you and the many others who have given a soundtrack for my life.

Maybe my small contribution will touch someone who needs to remember we are all here for only a brief while and should expend our time wisely. Blessed be.