Dear Emma, and a Cherita

Dear Emma,

When I was a child, I remember picking up my bellbottom pants at the dressmaker one time. In the early 60’s I could not find any kind of long pants or jeans that were long enough and slim enough. In those days, Marilyn Monroe was the fashionable shape. Although Twiggy was slowly becoming a trend, in my part of the world, it was still more common for women to be shorter and curvier. Alas, I was pretty much a straight line more like Olive Oil at between twelve and fourteen.

Another client was just leaving the dressmaker as I was entering and she asked me how my mother and grandmother were doing. Of course, I shared the latest updates on my newly divorced mother and lifesaver grandmother who had taken us in not realizing I may have been a bit too open. Being naïve, then, was just assuming that people always inquired about you because they cared.

I remember trying on the charcoal grey bellbottoms and was so excited they fit like a glove and were long enough to wear with a boot or higher healed show. That was the beauty of tailor made clothes. Fortunately, her fees were very reasonable and in fact, less expensive than going to a designer shop to purchase clothes.

As I was leaving, the dressmaker looked at me seriously and said, “You must be careful. You are such an open book and you never know the true intentions of people when inquiring about you and your family.” I could tell she was concerned for me and I always tried to remember her wise words, but still, it is still difficult for me to think anyone would want to hurt me intentionally. And so years went by and I learned the hard way. I find learning through life experience teaches more, don’t you? What have you learned better through experience rather than through teachings of another person?

( a cherita)

a child runs freely through the woods

Stumbling on hidden roots and branches
Scraping arms and knees along the way

Fastforward several decades
Walking through the woods, listening to the birds singing
Leaves rustling, she leans on her walking stick

Daily Moments with Emma – August 9th, 2018

How I wish that I could sing (free verse)

How I wish that I could sing
Deep feelings that I hold
Find the lyrics that rhyme
With the rhythm in my soul

But I cannot keep a tune
Without making someone cringe
Eardrums might just ruin
I am here on the fringe
Writing words that I’ve rehearsed
Forms of poetry and free verse

How I wish that I could draw
Images of my dreams
Thoughts uncensored and raw
In my mind I can hear them scream
But I cannot draw a straight line
only drawings like a toddler’s
shaky hand sketches of no design

I’d never even make a dollar
But for some words that I’ve rehearsed
Forms of poetry and free verse.
How I wish that I could sing
The thoughts echo in my heart
Images float inside my mind
But only words can share the part
Of how I truly feel inside,
The love, the sadness
The joy, the solitude
The suffering ,then the gratitude
Everything life has taught me

How I wish that I could sing
Deep feelings that I hold
Find the lyrics that rhyme
Wih the rhythm in my soul

But I cannot keep a tune
Without making someone cringe
Eardrums might just ruin
I am here on the fringe
Writing words that I’ve rehearsed
Forms of poetry and free verse

How I wish that I could draw
Images of my dreams
Thoughts uncensored and raw
In my mind I hear them scream

But I cannot draw a straight line
only drawings like a toddler’s
shaky hand sketches of no design
I’d never even make a dollar
But for some words that I’ve rehearsed
Of micro poetry and free verse.

How I wish that I could sing
The thoughts echo in my heart
Images float inside my mind
But only words can share the part
Of how I truly feel inside
The love, the sadness
The joy, the solitude
The suffering , but then the gratitude
Everything life has taught me
How I wish that I could sing.
How I wish that I could sing

Daily Moments – August 6/18 sleepless summer nights (troiku)

Mid-summer night

Only weeping willows sleep

lulled by cicadas

Mid-summer night

On stars feel a breeze

Little Prince smiles

Only weeping willows sleep

Still, like their tenants

Mother’s resting ground

Lulled by cicadas

Nature’s lullaby

Hoot of an owl

Daily Moments – August 6/18 sleepless summer nights (troiku)

mile high ride (haibun)

Sitting in the back of the plane, they held tight during take off. As soon as the light went on to unbuckle the seat-belt, they both lit up their Mark Ten cigarettes. It was 1977 and people could still smoke in the back rows of a plane in those days.

It was their first trip overseas. Heck, it was their first time in a plane. They had booked a tour of England, Scotland and Wales for two weeks. The wife’s ulterior motive was to conceive their first child in the UK, the birthplace of her paternal grandparents.

After a few hours, the plane felt like it was going over pot holes on Quebec roads. The couple were scared and did not realize that turbulence can do that but does not mean there was any danger. The woman seated next to them on the aisle tried to reassure the couple who looked out the window with doe eyes. One could not mistake it was their very trip in the air.

By the time they arrived at Heathrow Airport, they were so relieved they had landed! They still had to take the train into London, then a taxi to their hotel. They were staying at the Green Park Hotel just across the park that brings you to Buckingham Palace. But they didn’t know that yet.

They looked like typical tourists walking on the streets of London, hesitating crossing the the street, not knowing which side to look in their matching bright yellow and green hoodies.

Cotton candy ride
Bumper cars, roller-coasters
Crossing overseas

Sunday Brunch – Troiku

They met for brunch at Ricardo’s Café. It was a new place for both of them. How she felt her mother’s presence when they walked into the kitchen store part. All the dishes, bowls, table clothes and special accessories to decorate a table. Mom loves walking around in a store like this. For a moment, she felt she was in Knowlton just shopping unitl they would sit at a café for a light lunch and coffee…maybe even a beer or a glass of wine!

Now she was experiencing this new place with a friend. They talked like they knew each other for years…laughed a bit, cried a bit like women who get to the heart of things and truly communicate, then giggled like excited teenagers. A perfect afternoon.

Good food
Excellent company
Brunch with a friend

Good food
Heals what ails you
Topped with fudge sauce

Excellent company
Being present when it counts
Then giggling like teens

Brunch with a friend

Fills the tummy,
Warms the heart

Daily Moments August 5, 2018

In search of Beirut’s collective memory

via In search of Beirut’s collective memory

Silent Sunday

invisible people (haibun) Daily Moments July 31/18

It was a perfect day. The sky was blue, the sun was warm and there was a lovely breeze. It was perfect if you were not walking too fast, of course, since at 30C one must walk casually not strutting and certainly not in a run.

She left for the city at 7 :30 am to pass some tests at the hospital which took 3 hours and then walked slowly to the closest mall near her next doctor’s appointment, The Alexis Nixon Plaza. Walking around from store to store was just to pass the time and NOT fall asleep sitting anywhere. She had about 3 hours sleep last night, since she is so unaccustomed to getting up early in the morning.

Her first doctor’s appointment was only about 30 mins wait and she chatted with the woman next to her. Her doctor noticed she chats with everyone and she told her, ‘’Well, that’s what we do in small towns!’’ Again the woman sitting next to her was from Chile just like the woman who sat next to her two weeks ago!! She has been meeting people from Chile …her son’s bride is from Chile too.

Her doctor adjusted her medications and the secretary told her to go for a walk and relax and come back in an hour or so since the next appointment was not for another 2 hours. She hesitated at first, not wanting to face the hot humid air but decided she had p,entry of time to walk very slowly and be back I. time.

She sat at the coffee shop facing her old university. How she had spent hours here before classes and especially after classes years ago! She listened to a young man play the piano outside…he seemed to be improvising and he was really into it! It is nice that the city has these pianos placed all over the city near subway stations.

Her eyes were getting heavy and she wished she could just lie down for a few minutes. After her doctor’s appointment she was meeting her friend for dinner. She had not seen her in months and they were well overdue for this get together. Just thinking about it was waking her up now….time to walk back slowly to the Doctor’s office.

Watching commuters
Office workers, summer students
Regulars too

Regulars too
Fill the day people watching
Calling out, « Spare change? »

Calling out, « Spare change? »
Meet-ups and group hugs
A homeless man naps

Daily Moments July 31st 2018 –