GIVING UP IS NOT AN OPTION

Giving up is not an option.

You just “have to” keep on going.

Life doesn’t get much easier however;

it does get more predictable, smoother rolling.

So relax …more frequently … and keep on!!

Breathe in the daily … special … moments.

The signs are all around us

Giving direction, and prompting our inner Spirit ….

Listen and hear, and Set aside your fear!

Daydream. Go to the ocean and look over the seas.

Re-evaluate previous events & recreate your experience.

Groom … the dog, the car, your job, your little ones,

        and groom “you” most importantly!!

Giving up is not an option.

Whither we have others to care for, or are all alone.

Being the best that you & I can be,

fulfills the Unspoken Agreement.

So my wishes for you, as you keep onward in your journey,

Is that you will be happy, hopeful, and content;

Exploring life and its’ events.

As you keep on going, keep positive!

                                                                        ZCMI

                                                                        7/5/2016

ONLY TIME WILL SHOW

Everything is wearing out and getting old.
But sometimes old takes on a different quality.
Perhaps old to me represents a time in history
Where things were whimsical, elementary, even primitive.
Some old things are more valuable now, because they’re antiques.

When my grandson Levi says “Grandma, everything in your yard is old”
As if to imply it’s junk ... and needs a new home ... at the dump,
I sigh and say … “Levi, I am old ... and I like old things …
The wear and tear over the years softens the body and smooths rough edges
Like the old men when they finally become “mellow fellows”.

Old is not trash, but I agree, often it is broken.
Still new is sometimes .… not as strong!
Grant it, it’s easier to tear up and break old things,
But even then they are often transformed into
another level of possible meaning, beauty, and usefulness.

“Levi, you can’t help that you are young,
and I can’t change that I am old and my time is nearly done.
We both lack in power and foresight, (the ability to predict
what will happen in the future), however, our time will come,
And we’ll each get to enjoy the experience
of being and seeing …. both ends of the spectrum.

                                               ZCMI
                                               September 10, 2013

 MYSTERIOUS RUN THROUGH VENICE

(A short story by Grandma Claudia, AKA ZCMI)

The full moon captured the moment in this strange place where we were to meet, with columns reaching.

The hazing sky set the tone for the mysterious run through the streets & alleys of Venice racing against time.

Crossing the bridges over the watery streets with many steps up, over, across and down, while turning here & there served only by our memories of things we saw or noticed, during the original tour of the backstreets of this ancient city.

We were racing as quickly as possible to catch up with the group ahead who were ready to go aboard their water taxis heading ashore and possibly leaving us behind.

Each wrong turn cost us moments of precious time but increased our senses of where we had gone earlier with our escort, each of us remembered things we saw in the windows, or thoughts we had along the dark alley, or open courtyards.

Hoping for good fortune to find our way among the maze, we went across yet another bridge and counted, with two more yet ahead. Each bridge representing success in our decisions, hoping we weren’t too late, and fearing we had many more walkways to go, while leaving the Byzantine Cathedral behind.

All the while the 16th century buildings surrounded us in darkness, with some faint light playing tricks on our memories.

No shops open, and no one around as we crossed the 3rd bridge where three hooligans sat at the bottom wondering if they could take advantage of our demise. Because of our difference in languages, we rushed quickly by, with only Luke's extended umbrella for a possible defense.

Upon moving on to the fourth bridge, came a rush of hope and excitement!

Knowing we had finally come through to the last section of streets & alleys with having had to only turn back and correct our mistakes twice.

The spirit of Saint Mark displayed the colorful “Glory of God” above the arched door reminding us once again of His protection & guidance while we busted through the last strange, narrow alley, onto the shore with our boat of people cheering!

Yeah!! Luke & grandma have arrived!!

Once aboard we had rest at last, with memories of the danger and excitement of Venice, and with pictures of the gold inlaid Byzantine architecture that was still standing, for all who wanted to see, and feel; an intriguing piece from the past, from a wondrous and ancient time.

                                                                      ZCMI
                                                                     6/11/2012
Luke wrote....
I like it! I wrote a little haiku about that night too.....

Walking through the streets

This island is confusing

It's Luke and Grandma!

I DREAM TO HAVE A DAUGHTER LIKE YOU SOME DAY!

I dream to have a daughter like you some day

Someone who shares with me and cares with me.

A dark haired beauty with deep, beautiful eyes

A good child with tuned in awareness of all that’s around her.

I dream to have a daughter like you someday

To play together, work together, to see the release of sadness.

Even a moment or two … of trust and hope and surrender

With each of us, doing our part to keep the play alittle longer.

I dream to have you for a daughter some day

To love you and not feel your love is tragic for me

To want to share your burdens and do things that delight you.

To have what God gave me ... a son whose bride has arrived.

I dream to have you for a daughter someday

My other daughters don’t mind. They’re not jealous

Don’t mind about your other mothers, they understand

To give to one another is rich and good and God’s plan.

I dream to have my granddaughters grow up to be like you someday

Less the sadness and disappointments, but with depth and strength.

I dream to have my granddaughters grow up to know ... us as wonderful

Women who honor the Lord, can be trusted, and provide a safe harbor.

I dream today that God will soon have His way.

As I continue to struggle with this void in my heart,

I know I can trust He’ll take it all away.

And I’ll end up having a son once again, 2 precious grand-daughters,               

   and a grandson I have yet to truly get acquainted with.

But most importantly, I’ll end up with a beautiful, wonderful

Daughter-in-law…  And she’ll be my only one!

                                                                             ZCMI

                                                                             March 11, 2013

CONCERNING THE WAR

Who can explain the knawing pain
Tucked deep in the pit of the stomach.
In Viet Nam the day is clear
With temperature at seventy.
Approaching Christmas Day,
One hundred and sixty-five passengers delivered,
Much to much traffic on the runway.

War is a big time game!
Big fighters with green & beige paint
Waiting in line to leave
like sheep being lead to the slaughter,
Helicopters floating by -
Look to the sky and you'll see,
It's hard to distinquish the birds from
The planes - wonder who will remain -

Now we in our bird are pounding
Down the pavement, watching the yellow line
  in time with the others
Who are waiting to descend and rest -
Repairs, sparks - fly as they lite -
Not easily though,
Parachute jumpers off to the right -
Now that we're in the sky - you can see,
Reflections of the clouds in the rice patties,
Waters and fields and stripes of green
  and blue
And buildings spotting the many towns around,
While leaving the men behind
To fight and die.
                                  ZCMI
                                 12/1967

THE SHADOW BECOMES YOU

The shadow becomes me
A poem about my own transformation
Less glare on the face & stress on the eyes
More mystery & interest, lurking in shaded places.

No responsibility to reply or respond, unless prompted
A quiet time, until action is activated, with intent
Yet, back to the shadows once again
Learning & listening instead of leading, inquiring!

Yet, "letting go" feels like I'm slipping back
Back into patterns from the past
Reliving guilt & failure ... going deeper to the darker places 
Causing me to reach out, surrender, only do my small part.

Giving to others is important to me
The time to teach is rapidly approaching
My hearts desire is once again the driving force
For my ambition … take control of my mind's direction

The shadow becomes me, as age changes my attributes
As amenities & priorities direct my heart & mind to the place
I slow down & relax more. Laugh more. Watch others more.
I find time .. to choose .. which path .. to take.

                                           ZCMI
                                           September 27, 2012

"It's Just To Provide Us A Change"

                              (lyrics to a song I wrote)
Rain we know
Though not the same
Is falling down
On our window panes
And I can tell
By the cool moist air -
It's just to provide us a change.

So you can feel
Anyway you'd care,
With stimulated
Thoughts so there,
Like memories
Or dreams you've seen,
It's just to provide you a change.

Chorus:  The rapid changing of the times
               Leaves lost a many minds and miles,
               But lost their not -
               For life is all gain -
               And what would the sunshine be
               Without the rain?

I don't know joy
With every rain
When those times happen
I'm the one to blame.
But I suppose
That it's quite alright,
It's just to provide me a change.

Things we know
But can't explain
Keep roving through
My mind today,
And as I watch
The raindrops stop -
I feel it's just to provide us a change.

Chorus: The rapid changing of the times

             Leaves lost a many minds and miles,
             But lost their not -
             For life has a way -
             Of making amends with each
                 new dawning day. 

                                      ZCMI
                                      7/70