mermaidcamp
Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
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Paradox Passage
November 8, 2017
narrow passage
metallic angel
Between the walls of the ruined buildings plants grew wild
Some metallic angels flew over the houses and smiled
Merry pranksters fell down laughing long after the joke
Any resentment or anger had long ago gone up in smoke
Vintage remnants of times that will not be remembered
Scatter over the narrow path like a fire burned down to embers
Night Riders
November 7, 2017
Stagecoach
The coach pulls out at midnight to fly around the hills
The riders are invisible and the driver feels the chill
Of the howling wind as it whips through his bare bones
The stagecoach is a spirit vehicle with a will of its own
The destination is always kept secret until the horses stop
Then passengers are invited to the free store to shop
They rummage through the past, the deeds they left behind
The burden of past mistakes is magically lifted from the mind
They leave the area on foot with new paths to discover
Each one has witnessed transformation from which they will never recover
Free store
Arizona Highways Halloween Edition
October 26, 2017
— 3 Comments
Halloween car
I love living in Arizona. I used to travel around the world all the time. In fact, I was a travel agent for years, living the good life on the gravy train of the travel industry. The market has changed significantly and the service on airlines is not as great as it was in the past. I used miles to upgrade my international flights to business class back in the day, but those seats are never available with miles now. The super gold elite platinum members suck those all down for themselves. I no longer fly or collect airline miles for the future. I am happy as a tourist in my own spectacular state. We have it all, including the Grand Canyon.
I recently downsized my possessions and bought a Mini Cooper to drive. The change brings money into my budget and a fun tiny car that meets my needs perfectly. I drove the car recently to Phoenix for the Cannabis Expo weekend. It is super easy to park and easy to drive. My wanderlust for the open road has been revived by my new wheels. When I first saw the car I did not like it because it is orange and black. I have come to adore the colors, and think it is a snazzy sporty look. I will drive it down to Tombstone and Bisbee tomorrow for a Halloween weekend visit. Bisbee is all about haunting and history. Tombstone is all about gunslinging, Doc and Wyatt.
The drive is an easy two hours, about the same as Phoenix, from home. I will stop in Tombstone on the way down then take a day trip to Douglas on Saturday. Douglas was once a very wealthy smelter town for the Bisbee copper mine. The Louis Comfort Tiffany Window in the Hotel Gadsden is a remnant of those high rolling times. It is worth the drive to Douglas to see that window. Tombstone, Bisbee, and Douglas grew up around mines. The history of the wild west is still celebrated, particularly around Halloween. It will be a fantastic retreat, as well as a bargain for the cost. I feel lucky to have so many excellent and varied destinations to discover by a short drive.
#WritePhoto Tower Of Power
October 12, 2017
— 9 Comments
Tower Of Power
The Roman army built the arches, aqueducts, and city streets
Then conscripted the local constabulary, farmers and priests
They marched off to conquer and manage all humans and beasts
The emperor demanded tribute in service, and taxes paid in gold.
The able bodied were enslaved and abducted to serve the will of Rome
It is hard to say which one issue caused the empire to crumble and fall
Maybe that imperial power concentrated in one place was never real at all
The ruins of foundations laid down long ago are remnants from the past
Mighty political forces appear and disappear, never meant to last
#writephoto
This poem is in response to this week’s photo prompt on Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo. Join us each week to read, comment, or submit your own take on the photo. I think this poem is also inspired by today’s political climate.
Ghost In The Glade
October 5, 2017
— 11 Comments
Glade
They slipped away during the end of the ceremony to look outside
When they saw the movement on the forrest floor little sister cried
Where is father now that his soul has gone to heaven and his body has died?
The strong scent of cedar and pine, paternal memories in gusts of wind
The light shot down from a hazy sky with a spiritual message to send
Everything that is the father’s is mine, the connection will never end
#writephoto
The poem this week is a response to Sue Vincent’s Thursday photo prompt on her Daily Echo. Join us each week to be inspired by her images to read, write, and comment. Check out the hashtag #writephoto on twitter.
Tom Petty’s Last Show
October 3, 2017
— 4 Comments
Tom Petty had some final words for his audience in Los Angeles, California as he closed out the last concert of a world tour. “I wanna thank you for 40 years of a really great time,” he said. One week later the rock legend would be dead, after suffering cardiac arrest in the early morning…
via Watch the Final Moments of Tom Petty’s Last Ever Live Show — TIME
#WritePhoto Skulls And Shadows
September 29, 2017
— 8 Comments
skull sign
They looked down on the path with hollow eye sockets
Warning visitors to the woods that not all who enter leave
Some are murdered, skinned and eaten during dinner parties
Others are made into shoes or caps for theater troops
Life in this place must be a precarious race with survival
Assumptions made before entering will warp and strengthen
Turning everyone into either hunter or desperate prey
The shadows cast by the skulls grow long in the afternoon
The darkness grows deeper, the silence is discomforting
The sign is an omen of impending doom from which there is no escape
#writephoto
This gloomy little poem was inspired by Sue Vincent’s Echo. The photo prompt each Thursday is food for thought and for writing. Please join the group to read, comment, or submit your own version.
#WeekendCoffeeShare Shift Change
September 24, 2017
— 3 Comments
When You Are Engulfed In Flames
If we were having coffee in Tucson this weekend I would invite you to sit down in the living room with a cold iced tea. It is lovely weather now, with a little bit of chill at night. You probably think of this as summer weather, but for us it is a big deal to have highs below 100. We get all excited when “sweater weather” arrives, sometime in October. I have switched my hours at work in order to be there early to harvest outside. This is a fun change of pace. I am, however, having an issue with lack of ambition when I arrive home. I was finishing all my fitness activity and writing before going to work in the morning. That way I can relax when I get home. Now I am all about relaxing when I get home, but have not finished my own daily tasks. I must apply some discipline to make this shift change work. I am slacking on everything but my job.
The clearing out of the barn across the street is going very well, with only a few more personal items to move and review. I have thrown away loads more useless, outdated paper files. Just this morning, I found something I really wanted to find. I bought some amazing double sided cashmere fabric in Paris about 15 years ago. It has been in a plastic box for the last 10 years, with a couple of little pieces of cedar wood to repel moths. Lo and behold, the cedar works and the fabric is much more than I thought it was. I am lucky it is all still in perfect condition. Now that I have kept it so long I must find the perfect use for it, but not so perfect that it takes another 10 years to decide. I am thinking of a long reversible wrap skirt. I have one in silk, and think it is classy. My new motto is use it or ditch it for a clutter free life. It is time for this heavily hoarded fabric to get to work clothing me.
If we were having tea I would tell you I am behind on all my office work, which includes blogging. I excuse myself during this time because closing my real estate deal and finding space for all the stuff I want to keep is the most important task I will complete all year. I think once this job is done I will gratefully return to by diligent practice of writing. My financial load will be lighter, and my office will be better organized. The one task I have completed ahead of schedule is the payment of my real estate taxes. I am delighted to be paying about half of the tax bill I have had for the last 10 years. This makes me feel super happy and free. In 3 weeks my erstwhile tax burden will be another family’s future home. Everyone is a winner in this deal.
If we were on our second glass of iced tea I would ask how life and writing is going in your world. I hope you are more focused and productive then I am these days. I am listening to David Sedaris read his book, “When You Are Engulfed In Flames”. This does inspire me to try creating memoir again. His stories make me laugh out loud. When I finish his book I will dive into an eighteen hour course on the history of ancient Rome. Listening to different kinds of books on my audible account makes my work day zip by quickly. I get a lot of “reading” done while doing my job. There is a contest to produce a 30 second promotional video for audible telling how you use it. The winners will be awarded new Volvos. I am seriously considering entering this contest. Have you tried audio books? They are my new favorite thing.
#WeekendCoffeeShare
Thanks for joining us for this digital beverage party. Join us to read, comment, or share your own week with the crew. Follow the hashtag #weekendcoffeeshare on twitter to join the party.
#WritePhoto Dream Flow
September 21, 2017
— 7 Comments
Flowing River
The edges of the stones were mossy and slick. When we tried to climb on them we slipped into the rushing current of the river. We were carried swiftly downstream, looking for a jetty or an overhanging branch on which to cling. There were no helpful signs. The river had run away with us, and in our folly we had lost our way deep in the forrest. The adventure had turned into a nightmare without a map or a plan.
This little hike started out with innocent curiosity about where the source of this river . Some said the tributaries trickled down from the whole mountain range, naturally seeking the sea. Others told stories of a hidden artesian spring deep in a cave, which was the main source of all the water we found in between the river’s banks. It had been said in ancient times a hermit guarded the source of the spring, to keep the enemies from polluting it. The folk tales of the valley mention healing powers, even miraculous restoration of wealth and status, attributed to bathing in the river water. The hermits and the shamans kept the secret of the waters for themselves. They stopped healing the sick, and started selling miracles to those in power at the time. After a time the spring ran dry, and the flow of the river was diminished.
We found shelter under tall trees on the shore where we finally landed. We sat at the edge of the water and watched for the others. Our voyage of discovery had been ill-advised to say the least. We now found ourselves miles from our intended destination, wet and without a plan. As the afternoon shadows grew long we heard voices coming from the woods. Our shouts for help were finally met with the sound of our companions calling our names. Once reunited we felt better, but still had no idea where we were. We built a fire and told our individual stories of falling into the current and finding our way to this place until we all fell asleep.
After a long heavy sleep we awoke to find ourselves safe and sound on the shore where we had started our day. We all had strange dreams about the river which we recounted to each other on the way home. It was surprising how similar our dreams had been.
#writephoto
This story is in response to Sue Vincent’s photo prompt in her Echo. Each week writers interpret a photo to share. Join us to read, comment, or write your own piece.
#WeekendCoffeeShare Harvest Time
September 17, 2017
— 3 Comments
reaping what you clone
If we were having coffee this weekend in Tucson I would still be pouring iced beverages for both of us. We finally have a bit of a cold front easing us into the fall season. We had a wacky weather year, and many of the plants are confused. One of my jasmines is blooming again, but my lemon tree dropped all the fruit. I am selling my most productive trees, grapefruit and calamondin, in the lot across the street. I am sure I can strike a deal to buy some of the citrus crop because there are way too many for one family to handle. The sale is taking place before real estate taxes are due, which is a fabulous financial bonus. The family buying it are interesting and cool. They seem like they will make great neighbors.
If we were having iced tea I would try to persuade you to take home a few books, or some art work. The emptying of the barn is taking place for real now. I have a month to do it, but hope to finish before schedule because I have a trip to Phoenix planned for October. I will attend my first cannabis conference and expo at the convention center up there. There are two days of speakers and trade show displays. Vicente Fox, former president of Mexico, will be the keynote speaker. I am sure I will learn a lot about the state of the industry.
Our outdoor crop is being harvested now at the grow. I think it is really fun to work outside for a while. I get tired of the fluorescent lighting indoors. It is nice to have fresh air and natural light for a change. We have a shade cover to protect our skin. The flowers are big and tight, so the growers can take pride in the final product. It is a happy time for all participants. The harvest will continue for months, I think. Perhaps the best news about work is that a tortilla company has bought the building next door to ours. They will set up a tortilla factory there. We will soon be the best smelling neighborhood in the world.
Please allow me to pour you another glass of iced tea while you tell me how your writing is going. I have little to say about my own. My excuse for low levels of production is that I have to focus on the barn cleaning before all else. I have done it for a couple of hours today, and will return to the task later this afternoon. I believe when it is all finished my muse will be happy and inspired to create. I have been listening to books on audible more than writing anything myself. Are you feeling inspired lately?
The linky is down in New Orleans this week. Our hostess Diana at PartTimeMonster graciously holds the party when her internet is working. Use the hashtag #WeekendCoffeeShare on twitter to find the action this week.
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