Month: May 2016 (page 1 of 1)

Twelve

East Enders Kissing

Variation on the Word Sleep

I would like to watch you sleeping.
I would like to watch you,
sleeping. I would like to sleep
with you, to enter
your sleep as its smooth dark wave
slides over my head

and walk with you through that lucent
wavering forest of bluegreen leaves
with its watery sun & three moons
towards the cave where you must descend,
towards your worst fear

I would like to give you the silver
branch, the small white flower, the one
word that will protect you
from the grief at the center
of your dream, from the grief
at the center. I would like to follow
you up the long stairway
again & become
the boat that would row you back
carefully, a flame
in two cupped hands
to where your body lies
beside me, and you enter
it as easily as breathing in

I would like to be the air
that inhabits you for a moment
only. I would like to be that unnoticed
& that necessary.

℘ Margaret Atwood

Twelve years ago today, in the church where my parents and my grandparents before them were married, I walked down the aisle to become Mr. Michie’s wife. Here’s to the next twelve, I love you!

{Image from the NY Times}

I Miss the South!

Jennifer Michie Queen Anne's Lace

As I headed out for my walk this morning, the sun was glistening in the sky and there was a nice breeze going, that was offsetting the warmth of the sun. It was a walk that started out full of optimism and excitement over what discoveries I would make along the way.

Half way through my walk, I was already down trodden and it wasn’t the heat, or the fact that I was tired from not sleeping that great last night or that a blister on my heel was rubbing against my sneaker. No, I can deal with all of that and still stay upbeat. It was the people I was passing! In the 50 or so other walkers, joggers and strollers I passed, I said “Good Morning!” to every single one and in all of those, “Good Morning’s!” only two people responded, TWO!

One man only responded because the path narrowed and there was no way for him to get out it, I guess? But he didn’t look at me and just mumbled a gruff reply. The other was from a gentleman who like me, was smiling. He cheerfully replied while his cute little fluffy white dog ran down the path. Everyone else pretended they didn’t hear me.

I have to tell you, this morning my walk left me disheartened and terribly missing the South. There is no way I could do the walk I do in the time I do it in if I was in the South. Because, everyone stops everyone else to comment on the weather, the gardens, the seasons, a simple “Hello!” to a neighbour turns into a catch up on family news and life. I miss the South where gentleman hold doors open for you instead of rushing past you. Where people are simply polite to one another. I miss being everyone’s, Sweetie, Honey, Lil’ Miss, Ma’m and Shuga. Where no one is a stranger.

Now, I’m not saying I’m after the other walkers, joggers and strollers life stories. But if someone offers you salutations the polite and basic human kindness thing to do is to reply.

Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better walk! Here’s to the weekend, long may it last!

A Walk in the Woods

I was up early this morning and went for a walk in the woods. It was breezy. Last night it rained and the air this morning was so clean. The forest smelt of earth. The sun was dappling my path, the birds were singing and every time the wind blew the raindrops pitter-pattered down. It was magical. What a wonderful way to start a day.

Jennifer Michie A Walk in the Woods 1 Jennifer Michie A Walk in the Woods 2 Jennifer Michie A Walk in the Woods 3 Jennifer Michie A Walk in the Woods 4

Playing in the Garden

Jennifer Michie Garden 1 Jennifer Michie Garden 2 Jennifer Michie Garden 3 Jennifer Michie Garden 4 Jennifer Michie Garden 5

It was cool on Tuesday and when evening came the heavens opened and it rained all night! We woke up yesterday to an emerald green world. My mom and I threw on shoes and went out to play in the garden in our pyjamas. Weeding, cleaning up and looking in amazement at all the beauty that seemed to spring forth from the dirt in a single night.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Jennifer Michie Mom in Charleston

That’s my mom in the above photo, in Charleston, South Carolina when she was a teenager. Isn’t she beautiful? She still has that same sweet face and gorgeous smile!

Happy Mother’s Day to grandmothers, mothers and sisters too! This year I am getting to celebrate Mother’s Day in a very special way, for the first time in a very, very, very long time, I am not only in the same country as my Mom, but I get to spend Mother’s Day with her!

She is not only my Mom, but a soulmate in life.

Happy Mother’s day, I love you!

Rain

Spring Duck

It rained most of yesterday and was still raining this morning when we woke up. We used the rainy day to clean up a few things around the house and feast on homemade pimento cheese sandwiches, fried chicken and bread & butter pickles. With sweet tea and banana pudding for dessert of course!

The pitter patter of raindrops have stopped now and we are ushering in the first day of May with a cloudy grey sky and lush green grass and foliage. Almost over night everything has started to come into bloom. It truly feels “spring like”!

{Found HERE // Pinned HERE}