shooting stars

With stars for a pillow
   and the moon to wrap you warm
You creep away from me, my love
   slip quiet away from harm.

I cannot walk beside you.
   I cannot stand at all.
Your wandering ways
   and silken days,
they just don't heed my call.

Wherefore are you lost again,
  to wither round the moon.
with crows for friend
   are you on the mend?
or crashing all too soon.

So speak to all that find you
   and fall for the gypsy path,
but know that I stand at garden's gate
   unable to go beyond your wrath.

No more can we sing.
No more can we dance.
Memory is ours to girdle the stars,
   but the moon drops out with a glance.

Tomorrow may the sun rise
    and glisten away the dew.
The Fairy's ways
   enchant my days,
but no more than with visions of you.

*****

Just going to add the link to the poet's rally, since I already seem to be there. Thanks Jingle.

And the winner is...

Drum roll please!

dadadadadadadada dummm...

drum, de, drum, de, drummmm...

Taa-daaahhhh!

And the winner is,

Congratulations to you  Jingle for winning a copy of "Someone Will Be With You Shortly". Thank you to everyone who came by to visit and contribute your two cents worth during my premiere contest. As you can see, I put my best people on the project of decision making to select a contest winner. I did not want to have any concerns that the staff at A New Day would be found cheating. I hope that assuages any fears you may have. I have to say, I found the process fun. I wish you all well and good luck in whatever other ventures you may have going on. If you could please email me with your address Jingle, I will send you your copy of the  new book post haste. Consider your book in the mail :) And to all of you, stay beautiful!

It's Christmas time...

I fell into my aunt and uncle’s arms exhausted, as the bus that had tortured my posterior completed its epic 14-hour journey across the country. I was back in Brackenfell, a little worse for wear, but ready to face the rest of my African adventure with gusto. I had conquered the wilds of Botswana and touched on a little corner of Zimbabwe. The impressions were worn into my psyche and I wore them like a badge of honour. I gushed to my kin about the animals I had seen and the adventures I had survived, trying to give the PG-13 version, but with flair. I am sure they saw a very different niece than had left them three weeks previous, but they were happy to see me return with such excitement. They let me prattle on, as was my wont.  When I paused for breath, they announced a surprise for me as well. I had had visitors! My brush with Miki, in what felt like a previous life time, had not been forgotten.  She had arrived in Cape Town herself and had called after me. In fact, upon us arriving back to my aunt and uncle’s house, a note had been stuffed in the door. She had popped by, knowing I was to return that day. She immediately shot up to the top of my list of priority people to call and see, but first bed and a shower called.

The following days seemed to fly by faster than I could process. It was a week before Christmas, but being South of the Equator, felt nothing like the Christmases I knew. Not a speck of snow was visible except in television commercials. I wandered in shorts, when not swimming outside. I visited the Waterfront in Cape Town with a cousin and her friend. We took in the touristy sights to my delight and ended the day by checking out the Christmas lights in Sommerset West. On a subsequent day, a wine tour was enjoyed. With all the renowned wineries in the area, we made a day of it with yet other cousins escorting me along for the fun. And of course, I reconnected with Miki. Just as her South African friend had noted, he lived mere minutes from my home base. We caught up on the adventures the two of us had experienced since seeing each other last and made plans for an evening out.

And with that it was Christmas. The first I had ever been away from my mother and sister. While I could have been melancholy and sad over their presence being missed, I was instead slightly hung over.  Christmas Eve, Miki showed up on my uncle’s doorstep to take me out for a glass of Christmas cheer. She returned me back to his doorstep closer to the 4 AM point and my morning at church was a little painful, but weathered. Christmas day was set poolside at my cousin Marianne and Weppie’s home. We dined on a cold buffet lunch, which was a far cry from the turkey dinners I knew and loved. The heat was not conducive to oven roasted fare though and I knew that while I piled my plate high. My best Christmas present of the day was a treat from my cousin Naude though. He surprised the family by coming down from Johannesburg for Christmas and he brought me some leftover turkey with stuffing from a previous Christmas feast he had attended. It was a very sweet offering and it made my day. We laughed and cheered, ate and swam. I survived my first Christmas without my closest kin, but instead was surrounded by the kin of my father and surrounded by love. It was a very special day, not to be forgotten. 

Bloomin Fun

I am pooped from a weekend away. I piled the children and myself into the van and pointed us in the direction of...

The plan was to go and visit an old  friend of mine for the weekend. Despite an extraordinarily long wait at the border (I mean really, what is the point of an hour and a half wait!), we finally arrived with warm hugs aplenty offered all around. We were out of the van for maybe fifteen minutes, before jumping back into it to head to destination BBQ by the lake. 

The kids all had wonderful fun testing the waters. A little on the cold side yet for swimming, as the ice was not that distant a memory, but it did not deter them. They splashed and giggled until burgers and dogs disappeared along with the sun. We thanked our hosts and departed for the night to tuck little ones into bed. A gathering was already planned for the next evening, and much visiting needed to be done. The day passed in welcome comfort and soon enough the sun bid good day again. New faces entered the scene with more kids in tow.  Food and drinks flowed along with much  laughter. Too soon it was time to head for home though (we stretched our visiting hours to the max staying up until the very wee hours ~4am). More hugs and waves goodbye.

Michigan did not want to relinquish its hold too fast though (the border killed me this weekend with another hour wait on the way home. Geez!). I made it though. And I look forward to crawling into my own bed for a good night's sleep back in Canada. Welcome home to me. 

We had Babies!

Momma perches on her charges

The passing of the guard.

Momma off to forage for more.

Now it's time for lunch!

Go, Daddy Go!

 

Wonder

at a special thing.

Love is beautiful ...