Consistency breeds comfort. It feels familiar when repeated at the same time over and over, like a mother’s lullaby soothing her baby. After the first snowstorm of the season, nature seems to produce a steady snowfall every other day…sometimes a heavy flurry that often tapers to a slow constant flutter.
She hears a humming in the middle of the night a drone that calms her back to sleep. Bu,t this morning she awakens just before sunrise and watches the snow fall gently. It’s a light snow at first …just enough to veil the outlines of the droning machinery outside her window.
She looks at the trees, fitted with sweaters of pure white and the cedars hide bashfully under stoles of pure fresh powder.
It’s Sunday morning and the sun is rising somewhere in the east far above snow clouds. The sky is a pearly grey, not threatening in the least but rather like a dome hovering over her home. It feels like a shower of white poppies…nature suggesting Sabbath’s day of rest.
She hears another snowplough clearing a shopping centre’s lot across the street; those eager patrons will be checking the last day of Boxing Day week hoping to find another deal, the right size, and right colour… the real deal! If not, they’ll just sit in the mall with a Laura Secord ice cream cone and watch the tired faces of adults being pulled by their offspring s chanting, “Just one more, just one more!” Comfortable armchairs are strategically placed in the centre hallway of the mall where tired fathers and husbands wait patiently and people watch.
A smug smile forms on her lips as she relishes the warmth and calm of her home, not inclined in the least to go out unless she needs something. She sighs, relieved at the thought of not having to brush half a foot of snow off the hood of a car and scrape the windows of melted snow turned to ice and sits back relishing the sound of her furry friend purr.
arresting snow – falls,
manmade humming stills,
settles on a branch
Happy New Year ! I sit here, thinking of the possibilities of this year and hope I can fill at least a tiny part of these inspired opportunities I do have.
We are well into three hours of 2016 and I am high on life, my beliefs and my hopes. I just finished watching Patch Adams and Robin Williams made me laugh out loud and weep with happiness at the compassion he shows to patients. The only bad words in the entire movie for me was “transference” and “class above patients”. Yes, well, this movie just confirmed what I have felt, lived and believed most of my career in the helping profession. Oh, I know I am not a medical expert but the message in this film goes beyond that. I am not an expert, people who come for support are the experts and I simply try to help them recognize that.
This film renewed my faith in my goal in life. To strive for compassion even when things look bleak for me, to not judge, and to expect nothing more than a will to try to to remember the times I have been low on life and simply show empathy. We’ve all been there. Sometimes the only thing we can say is, “Man that sucks! I’m sorry you are going through that.”
I don’t believe in making a list of resolutions for the New Year because that just leads to causing stress and fear of not succeeding. The only resolve I do want to carry over every year is to strive to be the best person I can be, forgive myself when I slip up and keep my heart open at all times even if it hurts sometimes. The benefits are worth the pain.
This past year was a year of healing and I don’t think I would have managed as well (with my sanity) without your support and encouragement. Bless you and thank you.
Writing here in this amazing community at WordPress has enabled me to grow in my writing…I have learned through your comments and through your creative gems you have shared here.
Onward to 2016 with as much inspiration and soulful promise in writing and sharing.
a brand new year
fresh snow glistens
snowflake on my cheek
Such weakness of body pulled her down throughout the day; she tried to read to no avail; writing a line or two would have been a paramount success but with feeble mind the words were lost in a fog; she completely lost track of time.
cruising in sleep
around the clock and then some,
sailing through time
Sits by the window looking at the white blanket covering Mother Earth. Snow banks form hills tempting eager children. Cars hidden under mounds of whiteness; their owners deciding to forgo driving today and dig out their vehicles later…tomorrow is another day.
bemused and rapt
looks out at sheer whiteness
dreams of snow angels
There is an image printed in my mind, I have seen so often walking home late at night in the winter. The snow falls, and sounds almost like muffled thunder. It can be so easily mistaken for my breathing or sounds of traffic from highways outside of the city.
I remember living in my condo on the 20th floor how difficult it was to decipher sounds in the building. One could not tell if there was running water, if it was coming from the 10th floor or the 6th floor. Noise traveled through the pipes and could easily mislead the human ear.
I am reminded of that fact when I hear sounds in the winter night. I live in a suburbia yet I can see the bridge from my home that reaches the island of Montreal. I am surrounded by three majour highways and so when I hear a rumble in the nigh, I cannot always point out if it is from the sky or a huge truck bouncing on the highway kilometres away.
As I walk along the street leading to my home, I feel privileged seeing the untouched beauty along the way. The evergreens look like royalty with pristine snow sprinkled on their branches; barren trees now have white shawls loosely hanging on each limb. And as I look at the walkway to my home, I am royalty leaving my footprints on virgin snow.
(c) Clr ’15
flurries in the night
trees decked out as we sleep
paw prints on the snow
La luminosité des étoiles ainsi une pleine lune livrent une magie la nuit de Noël. Cette merveille compensa l’absence de neige. Le grondement du chasse-neige sur le pavé dégagea un son acceuillant. En regardant par la fenêtre, ce sens de l’émerveillement enfantin la baigna.
pelouse vêtu en blanc
conifères parsemé de neige
les merveilles d’hiver
(c) Clr’15
A clear night under shimmering stars and full moon added Christmas magic. It almost compensated for no snow. Early morning groan of the mega snow plow scraping pavement was a welcome sound. Looking out the window, that childlike sense of wonder washed all over her.
white covered lawns
snow sprinkled evergreens
winter wonderland
Contemplating on life, she looks for answers. So many missed opportunities throughout his life; family struggling yet still reaching out urging him to climb out of dark depths. Finally, crawling out he feels the warmth of light and smiles knowing not what’s next to come.
A tear rolls down her cheek …word of his grave illness pounding at the gate. The universe decides when to change one’s course in life.
ailing child
witness to declining health
a mother’s nightmare
Sometimes, life doesn’t seem fair when one looks solely as one struggles through the muck of life, taking longer to reach any light of day. And yet, those who struggle most, seem to have been offered multiple opportunities, various paths to take, to finally reach the summit…light in all its essence.
shy beginnings lateral search in quagmire seeking light
downy coverlet
swaddling nature’s crib
glistens in the night
Seven days before Christmas #2 “silent Night
eyelids quiver
toss and turn ’til morning
dreaming of reindeer
~
singing in the night
herald the newborn King
Silent Night
Seven days before Christmas #3 “decorations”
popcorn garlands
cinnamon and eggnog
Christmas long ago
~
scent of pine cones
tinsel and candy canes
holiday’s hope chest
Seven Days Before Christmas 2015 #4 presents
As young children, they started their list after Halloween. Mother would eavesdrop on their conversations of hopes and wishes. Watching her children stare at toy commercials, she’d revise the list over and over. Finally they posted each their list on the fridge door, checking it every day trying not to pout and do everything right.
On Christmas Eve, they set a plate of carrots and lettuce for Santa’s reindeer by the patio door and cookies for Santa with a glass a milk. The night before Christmas, they were tucked in early, promising to not get up even if they heard bells jingle, thumping in the living room or any long baritone mirth. The rule was to wait after the sun was up and tip toe carefully in the living room, if there was a late delivery. If they even saw a shadow of a burly man in a red suit, they were to dash back into their beds under the covers.
Since excitement made them rise early, the children were given permission to look at their Christmas stockings but wait for Mommy and Daddy before opening any other presents Santa left under the tree.
candy canes and mints
children’s Christmas kisses
sweetest treats
Mother would wake up, lying in bed and smile, listening to the children whispering exclamations on their new finds; then they’d tiptoe in the bedroom wishing their parents a Merry Christmas and pleading to get up so they could open their presents.
gift of love
open hearts, compassion reigns
the newborn King
Seven days before Christmas #5 Peace
(Troiku)
heavenly feast at the altar midnight mass
heavenly feast
fills each soul with grace
fit for a King
at the altar
nativity scene glows
babe in a manger
midnight mass
children’s choir sing with joy
divine child is born
Il est né le divin enfant (heavenly child is born)
Chorus: Il est ne, le divin Enfant, Jouez, hautbois, resonnez, musettes; Il est ne, le divin Enfant; Chantons tous son avenement!
1. Depuis plus de quatre mille ans,
Nous le promettaient les Prophetes;
Depuis plus de quatre mille ans,
Nous attendions cet heureux temps. Chorus
2. Ah! qu’il est beau, qu’il est charmant,
Que ses graces sont parfaites!
Ah! qu’il est beau, qu’il est charmant,
Qu’il est doux le divin Enfant! Chorus
3. Une etable est son logement,
Un peu de paille, sa couchette,
Une etable est son logement,
Pour un Dieu, quel abaissement! Chorus
4. O Jesus! O Roi tout puissant!
Tout petit enfant que vous etes,
O Jesus! O Roi tout puissant!
Regnez sur nous entierement! Chorus
Translation:
Refrain He is born, the Heav’nly Child, Oboes play; set bagpipes sounding He is born, the Heav’nly Child. Let all sing his nativity.
1. ‘Tis four thousand years and more,
Prophets have foretold His coming,
‘Tis four thousand years and more,
Have we waited this happy hour. Refrain
2. Ah, how lovely, Ah, how fair,
What perfection is his graces,
Ah, how lovely, Ah, how fair.
Child divine, so gentle there. Refrain
3. In a stable lodged is he,
Straw is all he has for cradle.
In a stable lodged is he,
Oh how great humility! Refrain
4. Jesus Lord, O King with power,
Though a little babe you come here,
Jesus Lord, O King with power,
Rule o’er us from this glad hour. Refrain
peace of mind snow covered highways last guests – home safe
last guest – home safe bearing gift of mirth contented souls
~ rain slick highways cloud mists from the sky showering peace
Seven days before Christmas #6 Mistletoe
Her parents had given her that first record player. It looked like an old portable typewriter case. How she loved it, carrying it over to her friends for sleepovers. She remembers her godmother giving her the single record, by Teresa Brewer. She played it so often, it skipped.
under the mistletoe a smile is planted on her lips, dreams of her first kiss
Something nudged me so early in the morning. It was pitch black outside and my mind was in a fog. I looked at the time and wondered why I was so wide awake at 5:45 am, since I’d been sleeping barely three hours. Well now, I thought, lying in bed trying to get back to my dream that was a bit of a mystery. Lots of running around like cat and mouse. Must be the detective flics I had been watching on Law & Order again. But sleep would not greet me and I realized then, it must be the spirit that was excited like a child. Things to do still on this Christmas Eve morning.
A bit of shopping and cooking today and Christmas dinner tomorrow with the most important people in my life, my children and grandchildren. Then I will be working a night shift at midnight; our manager invited us all to come in to work in our PJ’s…yes, that is another item I need to pick up…something funny and outrageous!
When I think about it, a whole 24 hours will be spent in love and compassion…the first half with my children and the second half,at our youth line with amazing caring colleagues.
It’s a privilege for me to take those calls…a window opens on holidays like this where I get to enter the world of other families who, for some, may be struggling this holiday season. Many youths wishing the two weeks off were over already so they can get some sense of normalcy in school with their friends. Time off can be entering a festive time, family and friends celebrating, holiday cheer; it can also be walking on a mine field trying to avoid explosions and turmoil. So yes, I feel privileged to be there.
The grey skies are an exception this time of year and I noticed at the Métro, these past few days there are less homeless people seeking warmth in the subways. The warmer weather is certainly a blessing to many who normally are out in the cold as we sit in the comfort of our homes with family and friends.
shimmering light spirit of compassion glows, hearts blossom
Last year a few days before Christmas something inexplicable happened. It had been only a few weeks since her mother passed; suddenly, the coffee maker turned on by itself in the middle of the night. She sat straight on the antique wooden chair in the kitchen, and then, she felt cold air approaching her. She closed her eyes, willing herself to remain as still as possible and that is when she felt a wave of love pass through her whole being. Never had she experienced such a feeling.
mystical meeting
mother’s love touched her soul
swathed in downy peace
Tournesol dans un Jardin 