I Picture You Painting

I picture you painting

in new colors now

your brush hesitating

on blues and browns.
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I picture you drawing

your family closer

like a shawl for warmth

when the fire gets low.
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I picture you always

with your smile

outstretched like

a lily at Easter, like

a bird in happy flight.

I wrote that in an email to Kim the other day.

Kim, better known in the blogging world as “Talon,” has been my faithful buddy since my very first weeks of this blog, over 3 years ago now.

She is truly a lily that cheers, and a sweet bird flitting about our hearts.

One of the very best people I know.

Kim’s mom recently died unexpectedly, and my thoughts are with her. I can’t imagine how she feels.

I miss her beautiful poetry / photography posts and uplifting comments.

Hopefully one day her heart will feel up to blogging again.

With love to Kim, now and always.

— Jannie

xoxooxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxooxoxoxooxoxxoxoxo

Credits for the 3 paintings… Bottom, Middle, Top

The Girl Who Dreams Of Paris — in 55 words

The girl who dreams of Paris,

she with poems and the Eiffel Tower

shooting out the top of her head,

needs only bread, cheese

oranges, pencil and paper

to survivingly thrive.

Green trees and

cafe afternoons

feed her too.

But really, just a

white room with

words to lay her

heart on will do.

My European Tour 1999 — 11 penpals in 7 countries in 30 days. Me with Christine in Paris.

Remember my blonde “panpal” Jo in England? The one I love to BITS!!??

There she is with Andy in London during that same trip.

And speaking of “a Trip,” for more Flash Fiction 55s…

please visit G-Man in his  land of happy ass-kicking.

xoxoxooxox

Oh — and TODAY marks my 3-year blogging anniversary, whoooohoooo.

Excellent Peeps, Batch 6

I make them with pink…

I make them with blue…

I go for the green…

And floral ones too…

Music. Dancing. Laughter. Light.

25 new buttons, a cute little sight?

____________

I wonder if  this latest batch

Has  new peeps thinking “Hey, what’s the catch?”

____________

But verily Jannie says unto y’all.

Nope, really no catch at all.

____________

Making sidebar buttons is fun for me.

(I like things artsy, as you can see.)

____________

Do the “old” buttons then disappear?

Heck no! You’ll find those puppies here.

____________

If you’re new here, it’s just a matter of time

Til  YOU  get a button, bloggin’ buddy of mine.

_____________

xoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Mary, I’m Thinking

There will be many more photos to find, of course.

And find them I will on winter afternoons when this house is quiet.

Or on spring mornings when the birds are too happy and I’m least expecting your face.

But there you’ll be.

And I’ll cry. Or smile. Or both.

“Further Along” we sang at your mother’s piano. And at my mother’s piano.

Further along we’ll understand why.

Do the pictures tell how special you were?

Because you were, tho you may not have known it, or chosen to believe.

Sorry I was not in touch so much the past year or so.

And sorry for the pain you must’ve suffered to keep drinking so much so young, your liver failing 2 nights ago.

EDIT — I just learned she bled internally from an ulcer. But she did have cirrhosis too. Poor Mary.

We all loved you. How could we not??

Knowing you knew I loved you gives me a bit of comfort now. 

I’ve started writing you a song.

The chorus might begin…  “Mary, I’m thinking it’s all about loving the ones still here…”

Rest with the angels, my dear dear sweet friend. And dance with them too.

Maryellen Murphy, October 1967 — July 2011.

Love, Jannie.

(All but the photo of Mary and me in Florida are from Jim and my Canadian wedding reception, Nova Scotia, 1992.

The gal in the flowery dress is my sister, Rosie, then only 15.  Still extra super-cute. And sweet.

The gal in the black blazer, Marlene, and I lost touch years ago. I think she dumped me because I laughed when my dog chased her cat. If ever you read this, please forgive me, Marleni-Bandini. And can we try again? We have 2 cats now and I’m a True Believer, just got a new kitten 4 days ago.)

Three Margarita Moms – a poem

Let’s hear it for Three Margarita Moms
today taking the spotlight away from their
daughters featured here, here & here,

the Margarita Moms who laughed in
the cool of the pool, then floated 37 steps
to a table in the soon-to-be sunset scene,
the kids off doing things kids in lakes do.

Let’s also hear it for friends everywhere
who make time to get together and laugh.

~~~ end of poem.

both photos snapped by a lovely beer-ing stranger at the next table.

Please come join us at the lake!! ANYTIME!!

And a shot of the pool with lake in the background…

xoxoxo from…

Summertime Jannie, who is going now to do her dishes, then rehearse with Mardi for an Open Mike tomorrow.

This will be my third Open Mike Week in a row! My plan is 52 a year.

Then Letterman and Leno!

whoooohooooo.