Life as it Unfolds

Dear Dad, Rest In Peace

Last Sunday I made an unplanned visit to the memorial gardens in Ramona California where my dad was laid to rest almost five years ago. I brought a pretty folded flower to place on his marker ready and willing to say a proper goodbye. It was early, and the caretaker was not in the office to tell me where his plot was, so I walked around stepping carefully around the stone markers on the wet grass looking at all the names of loved ones who had passed on over the years. I could not find his grave after traversing all of the sections and was a little disappointed. Then, I thought to myself "well, at least I am in the neighborhood." I stood in the middle of the quiet cemetery and shouted " Hi Dad it's me! Wherever you are, rest in peace, and all of you other folks too!" Then I placed the flower right at my feet and walked away feeling grateful to be part of the living.

Redneck Crafts

It's a dry heat after all!

It's so hot in Arizona that...

• the birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.
• the potatoes cook underground, and all you have to do to have lunch is to pull one out and add butter, salt and pepper.
• farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying hard-boiled eggs.
• the cows are giving evaporated milk.
• the trees are whistling for the dogs.
• you no longer associate bridges (or rivers) with water.
• you can say 113 degrees without fainting.
• you eat hot chilies to cool your mouth off.
• you can make instant sun tea.
• you learn that a seat belt makes a pretty good branding iron.
• the temperature drops below 95, you feel a bit chilly.
• you've experienced condensation on your butt from the hot water in the toilet bowl.
• you would give anything to be able to splash cold water on your face.
• you can attend any function wearing shorts and a tank top.
• The 4 seasons are: tolerable, hot, really hot, and ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!!
• you discover that in July, it takes only 2 fingers to drive your car.
• you discover that you can get a sunburn through your car window.
• you notice the best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.
• hot water now comes out of both taps.
• it's noon in July, kids are on summer vacation, and not one person is out on the streets.
• you actually burn your hand opening the car door.
• you break a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 a.m. before work.
• no one would dream of putting vinyl upholstery in a car or not having air conditioning.
• your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?"
• you realize that asphalt has a liquid state.

Good News

Yesterday, I arrived at the Verde Valley Medical center for a mammogram and ultrasound. Pat the technician, cheerfully assisted me with applying cute little colorful sticker pasties that go on my tender spots before the test. Then, the massive boob squishing machine takes pictures and the images are immediately up on the computer screen in the room. "It's all digital now" she said. Pat left the room several times to talk to the radiologist who reads the images in a room downstairs and I start getting a little nervous. My heart skipped a beat and I stopped breathing for a moment when she brought the young doctor into the room. I never see these guys unless there is something bad going on. He asked me to sit down which is always a bad sign in my mind. I took a deep breath, sat on my hands and looked straight up in his eyes ready for anything. He asked me a couple of questions about the ultrasound and said he wouldn't recommend the test because of the scar tissue on my left side. He told me if my mammo was not clear, he would advise another scan or test but not an ultrasound. He said my mammogram was clear! That was good news.

To My Mom

I thought a lot about my Mom today. She brought me life, was my biggest cheerleader, and sometimes she drove me nuts. She was always my dearest friend. This is one of her poems, published by the International Library of Poetry.
Today, I am fifty four and I celebrate her life as well as my own.

Last Nights Kiss

I held you so close
I could feel your breath
sweep across my cheek,
like a soft warm breeze
melting the first fragile frost
of nightfall.
I begged permission from your eyes
and absorbed the memory
of your face that last night
and tucked it warmly around
my shivering soul.
Slowly, I softly pressed
my lips on yours
as the howling wind scattered
the fluttering leaves
and a quivering snowflake
floated it's way to heaven.

~Joanne Elaine Denton
1936-2004