windows

it’s crazy how

when you’re packing

whether to leave for a day

or for a week

you look at the bags

at your feet

seeming numerous

and non-necessary

for so few days.

yet, before walking

down to our car

i peered through our house

looking–

figuring if we needed

anything else.

walking past so much:

lamps

books

chairs

shoes

rugs

magazines.

the things in life we

grow accustomed

to having near us.

without them

we would survive

but not until you

have to pack for

the weekend

do you realize

how little you

really need

to survive.

 

p.s. i think the windows look a bit like butterfly wings

jessica

my friend jessica wanted to explore some bloomington nature after finishing her last class at IU up. she is a lovely soul and i have been enjoying getting to know her better. even though she is moving, we’re going to try to keep up. here are a few pictures from our walk.

life up to 2001 (or my mind’s nonsensical bridges)

life has been good.

real good.

a relief

with no work.

or at least

not the everyday

dread

of working

at my old job.

work is good

but other things

are filling my

time.

i have

watched

people’s children

on quick notice.

helped out more

with ruf

our church plant.

so many things

i could

have never

dreamed of taking on.

for bible study

we’re supposed to

write our life story.

it’s been a

great

hard project.

for me to

look at my

life

in a fresh perspective:

spy the twists

and turns

begin collecting

the patterns.

the project took

off.

ideas

flying to mind

webbing images

together.

words

creating pages.

so far i have 12 pages.

only leading

to 2001.

loose poetry

like this.

i will not share it

with my

group

but i am going to

keep moving.

ma said perhaps

i will be able to

share it

with my children

or at least

an edited

version.

our pastor’s wife

just cut her hair

she went for

anne hathaway

at the oscars.

she looks ravishing.

chemo starts perhaps

next week.

16 weeks of chemo.

8 of radiation.

she’ll be done

by early october.

the harsh schedule

caused by

the unknown

reasons

the cancer started.

 

please keep her and her family in your prayers.

saint louis

nourishing snacks for the drive to st. louis.

on the way to lincoln, we stopped at the k.j. b+b for the night in st. louis. they have the comfiest futons.

saturday morning it was pouring.

we had dinner with the expecting roys and tremendous k.j.

our morning walk

in the morning we drove to get coffee, since it was raining. it was a beautiful district.

driving away in the rain.

we drove the rest of the way to lincoln with only one windshield wiper working at full capacity.