Category: Tournesol dans un jardin

Dear Emma (haibun)

Dear Emma,

It is 7:20 AM and I am waiting at the airport. Of course I got here 2 hours ago. I know, I know, I get here way too early but I probably saved $10.00 in taxi fare due to no traffic at 5:00 AM, it gave me time to have a nice breakfast (Fritatta and fresh fruit) and of course I brought my coffee a blend of decaf and espresso. So getting here that early, I can do my thing before going through security since I cannot bring my coffee (liquids).I brought a small water bottle this time so if I get stuck at security and notice there is a bit left, I can chug it down so they don’t confiscate another water bottle! [Do I sound still bitter from my March trip? Well, I am!]

The ride here was amazing…the moon looked so full and it was still very bright at 5AM! I tried to catch a photo but it did not do it justice so just imagine a pale blue and pink sky and a pale round moon with splotches of grey.

I am headed West and apparently it is almost 10 degrees cooler! Who would have guessed. As we say here in Québec, “C’est le monde viré en enver”. In San Diego, forecasting 16C and 24C in Montreal…weird!

I have not slept all night as I started packing at 10pm. And of course I packed and unpacked 3 times to make sure I was bringing ONLY what I needed. I had started out packing my new capri pants but with the weather that cool, may as well stick to jeans, leggings and long skirt.

Poor Bette knew I was leaving…I had set out 5 bowls of food in a larger bowl with water to prevent ants from climbing in. Water bowls placed here and there and two fans in the dining room and living room to circulate the air. I had reserved the taxi at 4am, so I could sit with my cuppa and comb Bette, then pet her over and over and over. She soaked it all up since she knows I will be leaving. I did feel a bit guilty but fortunately, my son will be passing by almost every day. He teaches 5 minutes form my home, so Bette should be thrilled since she does prefer men!

I look forward to my trip this year…relaxing, spiritual and peaceful. Hopefully being by the ocean, will reenergize me for six weeks until my next vacation.

Checking a list
Making sure to bring
Necessities
Check, check and double check
Just bordering O.C.D.

Emerald eyes
Study with scrutiny
Pleading not to leave

© Tournesol ‘18/05/29

Mother Nature’s whim (tanka)

Nature’s fancy
Clouds make way for golden star
After the rainfall
Day ends like a renaissance
Gentle breeze on my cheek

(c) Tournesol’18/05/27

Daily Moments – May 27, 2018. Mother Nature’s whim (tanka)

Dear Emma, May 21/18 ( haibun)

(c) clr’18

Dear Emma,

I finally got off my fanny and went out to do a few errands today. After three days of resting, icing several parts of my body, it was time to move or else it will be worse for me. I found 5 fun exercises to strengthen my calves, knees and thighs. I did a few today but have to check that video since I don’t know them by heart yet.

I walked to my pharmacie first but when I approached and noticed not ONE car in the parking lot, I realized that it is a holiday today. But of course [she slips her forehead with her hand] it is la Fete des Patriotes or for outside of Quebec it is May 24 or Victoria weekend. Regardless on what you want to call it, it is the first long weekend where many people drive out to cottage country. Some go camping and I remember in Toronto there were amazing fireworks but there are none here in Quebec. Since Quebec changed the name of the holiday to Patriots Day, you would think they could celebrate that at least…but what do I know.

I decided to walk over to Super C which is a much cheaper grocery store than Metro and picked up more than a few things since they are finally getting a good selection of organic food as well as gluten free products as about 30% cheaper than Metro. So I will walk that extra 1 km for sure now. I had to stop piling things in my basket figuring. How much would fit in my 2 bags and backpack.

Walking a bit slower back, I stopped in front of Mikes Restaurant thinking they would be closing soon as in the winter they often closed at 8pm due to lack of customers. Well, to my delight it is busy and so here I am typing a little message to Emma, sipping my Belgian Moon and waiting for my seafood poutine! Okay, so it is not too healthy but it IS gluten free [she chuckles to herself].

Tomorrow I have an appointment with my podiatrist for my achy toe and feet, then off downtown Montreal to my first appointment with a new chiropractor. I am told she has a holistic approach and I am praying she can treat me for my knees and perhaps my shoulders and neck too. Anything is better than what my GP is doing …which is nothing.

Gotta go now and finish my savoury dinner. Thanks for listening, Emma

twilight dinner
savouring seafood delights
sipping Belgian Moon

(c) Tournesol’ ‘18/05/21

P S for you newbies who do not know who Emma is, she is my personal journal I have been writing to for the past five years on another blog.

weary night (troiku) Daily Moments – May 17/18

Image may contain: plant, tree, flower, outdoor and nature
©Clr`18

 

hobbling home
stars lost in clouds
still – lilacs greet me

hobbling home
thumbing pensively
my mala beads

stars lost in clouds
darkness fills the air
spilling weariness

still – lilacs greet me
scents that send me faraway
in my childhood

© Tournesol ‘18/05/17

©Clr`18

 

A troiku is a new haiku form created by Chevrefeuille at CarpDiemHaikuKai

A Cherita – early rise – daily moments May 17 2018

it’s midnight and still not home

early rise at seven in the morning but well worth the effort
starting a new chapter in our work history

Communication is key
open to hear each other, essential
there is no “I” in team

(c) Cheryl-Lynn ‘18/05/17

 

Indian Journeys

A gifted writer, poet, artist and traveller sharing tidbits of your journeys.

Mister Postman (troibun)

 

Last night she went on a journey into the past. She had discovered her late mother’s old love letter from 1969.  She felt she was there next her mom, waiting for her to stop writing so she could go to bed. She was in her last year of high school. She slept with her mother in Grandmaman’s bedroom. Since her older sister was now living and working in Montreal, she no longer had to share the furnace…her old bedroom.

She remembers how her mother fell in love so quickly with her first lover after her parents’ separation…and she fell hard too! She recalls how part of her was worried and did not want her mother hurt; she was so fragile. Another part was jealous…well just a little since it had been her mother, her sister and her sister braving the world for so long. She remembers falling under his spell six months later because he was so good to her mother and treated her like a princess. Soon he became a proud father to her as well.

She read another set of letters mailed to her mother…all from her new lover. Such declarations of pure love. It warmed her heart. The last letter was dated April 30, 1969. Was this a coincidence to be reading these later exactly 49 years later to the day?

She wished she had kept her old  letters from her first crush. She was only 13 and he was 17. It was so exciting waiting day after day for the mail to come. She also wrote letters to her best friend who spent the summer at her cottage by the lake. Time moved slower then. You had time to write five, six or ten pages to a friend. Not many could phone even of it was just 20 kilometres  away. In those days long distance bills were very expensive and her mother and grandmother could not afford such luxuries! But still, it was a more romantic time…spending hours by the turntable listening to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

Sitting on the porch
Waiting patiently
Mister Postman

Sitting on the porch
Watching butterflies
Kissing daffodils

Waiting patiently
Cat hides behind the bush
Eyeing his prey

Mister Postman
Carrying a bag of joy
P.S. I Love You

(c) Tournesol’18/04/30

Daily Moments April 10 2018   Possessive Winter (troiku)

©lr

blue skies tell a lie
holding us hostage
winter won’t let go

blue skies tell a lie
disillusion of springtime
still on the hope shelf

holding us hostage
like pride and prejudice
human failings

winter won’t let go
like a jilted lover
living in the past

(c) Tournesol ‘18/04/10 Daily Moments

time flies (haibun)

©Clr’18 Tristan et Nana

Last week I was at the dentist and I overheard a little 3 yr old refusing to let the dental hygienist clean her teeth and it brought me back to times I would let my grandson brush my teeth so I could brush his…seems like yesterday!

time.
it all depends on who you asks
Is it slow or fast?

©Tournesol’18/03/31

City streets ( a cherita)

Staggers on city streets dilated pupils

Leaning on folks pleading for twonies
Women and seniors look away warily

Begging turns to taunting
Pedestrians shrink away
Looking for a peaceful place

Today I was walking downtown on St Catherine Street in Montreal and a panhandler was harassing people on the sidewalk, leaning in close to them, blocking their way so they could not walk and I started walking a bit slower to be closer to other pedestrians. Then I noticed he was harassing an elderly man walking with a cane. The man lifted his cane out of desperation and froze a moment telling the man to stop bothering him. I stopped walking and watched to make sure the man was safe,cell in hand ready to call 911. [I was kicking myself for not having a can of hair spray or pepper spray in my pocket]. Finally the panhandler went onto another pedestrian.

I went into the Eaton Centre and walked towards the food court and crossed the man with the cane. I told him I was happy he was able to get away from that man who was bothering him. “Oh, you saw that, did you?” He seemed pleased that he was actually not alone for those tense moments. I felt an immediate bond…older folks feeling a bit intimidated with situations due to our age and inability to run away fast enough.

(C) Tournesol’18-03-29