Monday Morning Musings:
“None of us can change the things we’ve done. But we can all change what we do next.”
— Col. Frederick Lucius Johnson (Chad L. Coleman), The Expanse, Season 1: Critical Mass
A celebration not for leaders alive or dead
(and certainly not for one who hasn’t led)
a birthday lunch on Presidents’ Day
where it was light inside, though outside grey,
a changeable week of sun, rain, clouds, and snow
February going fast and slow
confusing my mind and making me too tired
to do what’s required—but in bursts, I am inspired
to work, to create, to navigate
through life—though nothing is straight
as we contemplate past, future, and our fate,
we watch sci-fi and hope there’s more
that people heed, not ignore, the ocean,
with its glorious waves and motion.
Here and now, the constant wars, the hate–
I wonder if it’s all too late–
but still, we live and love–and cook,
even as we ponder roads we took,
and where they’ve led us, where we are
still above, there, the moon, the morning star
So, I bake–homage to heritage, his and mine,
birthday treats–food and life intertwine
memories from childhood, I think his cookies bring,
but mine have chocolate, cinnamon, scents that sing
to me in sensory bliss of crunch, scent, taste
that also trace a path from past—and thicker waist—
but celebrations make us feel good, or so they should,
a time to laugh, love, and remember the good.
Here’s our family in the car again
remembering journeys of long ago, the rain
tapping on windows and misting about us
as we bring up song snippets to discuss–
“Remember that one?” someone queries.
and we’re off discussing songs, or TV series
the things they watched when they were young,
the things they said, the words that were sung
by all of us in house and car
as we traveled to places both near and far
the games we played, before tablets or phone–
a different world, and a different tone.

Over the Cool Bridge (in the rain), to grandmother’s house we go.
And now we gather on a February day
when we can be together, if only a short stay
to catch up with one another, share some time
over pizza and cake—this time, no wine.
We watch a movie about forgery
a desperate woman, unhappy, too, we see
the movie is also about creation
and discrimination
the AIDS crisis and writers’ lives–
as it takes money and time to visit archives—
something I’ve done first hand,
and the rush of finding something grand.
But it’s fine, and we’re okay,
here and now on this windy day,
as moon sets and sun rises,
I’m ready for the day’s surprises
wondering what fortune brings–
and hoping that without strings
good things come to us all
without deceit, without a wall
or barriers to conquer or climb–
a gift of peace within our time.
And so, a birthday wish for those I love,
the song of the moon, the shimmer of stars above.
Our older daughter is visiting us, so we got together for an extended family February birthday celebration–something we haven’t done in a few years. My husband and I are caught up in the sci-fi series The Expanse. It’s on Amazon Prime now. We had seen the first two seasons before, but it’s complicated, so we’re re-watching them. It’s an excellent series. Catching up on movies–we watched Can you Ever Forgive Me? last night. Wonderful performance by Melissa McCarthy and the rest of the cast.
Ties that bind, “food and life intertwine.” It’s nice to begin Monday morn on a positive note, Merril!
Good morning, Marian. Thank you. I’m glad you saw the positive.
Thanks for inviting us to the birthday celebration, Merril. I love to see all of the smiling faces!
Aww–thank you, Jill!
Our weekend was a catch-up weekend too, two daughters, one son and one partner-almost-son. The rhymes give this a lovely meandering flow (as usual) and you remind me that once again I didn’t think to take any pictures.
Thank you very much, Jane. It was nice that we got to see both daughters and son-in-law on Saturday, and then my girls went out for their own “sister time.” Then yesterday we went to my mother-in-laws and saw my husband’s family. Daughter is giving a talk tonight, so we have her for one more day. 🙂
A real family weekend. We still have the youngest for keeps, so we’re making the most of it. She was in Bordeaux for a couple of weeks on a course, and it’s nice to have her back.
Oh, how nice! Enjoy! Younger daughter lives nearby, but our older daughter lives in Boston.
If it means you look forward to seeing them, it”s worth the separation. Some families live next door and hate the sight of one another.
That’s true. 🙂
🙂
Beautifully crafted verses contemplating a celebrating a lovely event
Thank you very much, Derrick.
You always give a thoughtful start to my week, with connections everywhere (and moons and stars too). Always so much warmth in your family gatherings–a necessity to get through these draggy February days…I’m feeling that too, no energy at all. But March awaits! (K)
Thank you for your lovely comment, Kerfe. I’ve been so mixed-up in my days lately–and so much work to do, too. It was nice getting together with family.
Sometimes we just need a break like that to put us to rights…
So true
What a wonderful recap of your week.
I have to say, I was shocked to see Melissa McCarthy nominated for a movie I had not even heard about! Bloody hell…Looking forward to seeing it.
It was fun to watch the awards had have seen a good 6-7 of the movies nominated 😉 Some, thanks to your suggestions!
Thank you very much, Dale!
She finally got to do a serious role, and she was very good. I wouldn’t say the movie was best picture, but I didn’t think Green Book was either. I’m still catching up on some of the popular movies–though I saw all but Shoplifters in the Foreign Films category. 🙂
I didn’t think Green Book deserved it either… but I do want to see her in this.
So am I! So far behind with this blasted house taking up so much of it. or rather, forcing me to be home when I want to be out playing 😉
🙂
February is a good time for a week of past, present and future – reflection and the promise of those bulbs.
Thank you very much, Ken.
Your poem is comforting and hopeful, twining family, celebrations, weather, and politics. I sense movement with this poem, like we’re on a car trip, traveling over rolling hills. Odd, but it could also be the floaters in my eyes 😉 I love the photos of food, family and your lovely house. So inviting!
That is so sweet. Thank you, Marie. 🙂
I hope it’s not floaters!
Well, I do have floaters … the joy of aging eyes 😉
One more joy of getting older. 😉
So wonderful to have extra time with company and family, with catching up, memories and laughter! Wonderful summary with serious mixed with fun as life is quite a balance of those among other emotions, Merril. I heard rhymes, too! 😄 🤗
Thank you very much, Robin. Yes, it was fun to have both daughters together, and then to go see my husband’s family. Older daughter is flying back to Boston today.
Yes, rhyming couplets. 🙂
I just an doing my seasonal checking on comments from Winter, as it is now Spring. I enjoyed seeing your family members, Merril!
Hi Robin! Thanks for checking in. 🙂
You’re welcome, Merril! I like juggling just FB and Instagram. Less comments needed (and reading white screens! 😄) I’m back to reading books.
Oh, pure joy, pure joy. Birthday greetings and thank you so much for letting us be a part of the radiance you all give out. Always enchanted. And Melissa rocked the roll! But Olivia Colman’s acceptance speech alone was worthy of another Oscar. Also loved her in The Favourite! Here’s to more shimmering stars above us and around us.
Oh, thank you so much, Damien!
I only saw a few bits from the Oscars, but did see Olivia Coleman’s speech. I still have to see The Favourite.
What a wonderful birthday celebration. And putting your two heritages together into your cooking (and daughters haha) is just marvelous! XO
Thanks so much, Luanne! We haven’t been able to do a group February birthday with all of them for a while–husband, both daughters, and his mom–so it was nice.
So wonderful! It feels good, I’m sure!
A birthday full of family joy, it’s great. You also describe it, which makes us actively participate in it.
Thank you very much!