How Has Travel Affected Me? Easy - Serendipitously.

I know just enough
of the great wide world to see
I've seen quite little. 

I have met so many 
people of different types
but still, small a sample. 

I've lived broadly enough
to understand how narrow 
my experience. 

Traveling expands
the eyes, the mind, and the heart - 
Infinitely open. 

This is #Day18 of the NaBloPoMo, a writing challenge I have joined along with loads of others. You can find them all by checking out the blogrolls at the NanoPoblano and BlogHer buttons below. 

I have but one regret: I used to be called Sissy

My mama called me
Sissy in a Southern way
to this day, I miss. 

I protested once: 
Mommy, please don't call me that - 
I spat - I hate it!

In her eyes I saw
She took my words literally 
to heart - like a knife. 

No salve could I find. 
The wound - too deep - persisted
Still pained when she tried. 

My mama called me 
Sissy in a lovely way
I'll forever miss. 

I honestly don't believe in regret, and as I've written, it is my practice not to collect them. 

But if there were one moment in my life I could change, it would be this one. The careless, harsh words of my angsty teenage self could be apologized for. They could be forgiven, but they could never be forgotten.

Perhaps, given another 15 years to work on her, Mom might have been able to call me "Sissy" again without it catching in her throat, half-spoken.

Instead, over a decade after her death, I console myself with my own voice as I call my own daughter "Sissy" nearly every day. 

This is Day 11 of the
National Blog Posting Month challenge.  

Clearly, I have but One Way to Answer

When in NYC - thou shalt not #fangirl.

Living in the Big Apple, I'm no stranger to celebrity sightings, not that I have pictures and autographs to prove it. Part of becoming a New Yorker is adhering to the unspoken rule against acknowledging any celebrity who is just trying to get on with daily life. 

I've bumped into Phil Donahue in the Post Office, exchanged holiday greetings with Alan Alda, and Kate McKinnon veered off the sidewalk last week to avoid crashing into my crazy Boy. 

All that said, the prompt for today's #NaBloPoMo piece is "who is your ideal celebrity neighbor," and in my neck of the internet, #OnFridaysWeHaiku. So, without further ado... 

Julia Roberts? 

Emma Stone? Totes adorbs! So cool

if they lived next door.

Still, the right answer

(regardless of the question):

*RDJ. Always. 

My ideal celeb, 

BFF in my head - YOU

Be my neighbor please? 

*RDJ = Robert Downey Jr., obvi. 

Join me every day in November for a new post. And be sure to visit my internet neighbors at NanoPoblano and BlogHer (click the pics below for instant access!) 

SaveSave

somewhere i have never travelled, old chum, you are the best

are your companions 
"in real life" or "virtual?"
grown ups need labels. 


just met? never seen?
children understand a friend
is anyone you love. 

With a more than a nod to my favorite poem by e.e. cummings, I was inspired by my Girl, the friends she makes everywhere with every-thing, as well as this week's prompt from Haiku Horizons. 

Dedicated to all my friends - Many of whom I love dearly, but who might as well live in Narnia for as often as I will see them. 

Who can blame the rose its compulsion to make thorns?

The weary blossoms 

bow their heads to the rain drops,

welcoming the rest. 

The leaves remember 

hopeful buds, bursting with life,

eager in the Sun. 

These fragile beauties

captivate, intoxicate.

They're seasonal hires.

Suffering cut backs,

the greens dig deep to survive

perennially. 

Inspired by numerous photos of these rain soaked rosebushes as well as the last two prompts from Haiku Horizons. 

The Most Important Thing About Raising a Fashion Butterfly

Carefree, style to spare:

match Betsey Johnson's fun frills

to Marc Jacobs' street.

Plaids need stripes, prints too. 

Always rock your leopard spots!

With Love, all things match. 

Inspired by this fearless beauty, who has been making bold style choices since she was (just barely) able to vocalize her strong opinions about the clothes she would certainly would NOT be wearing. As well as this week's prompt from Haiku Horizons. 

Does a Clock Worry When it's Time to Unwind?

Motherhood clockworks:
the balanced pendulum swings 
in constant motion. 

Tug the weights too much
- pendulum energy shifts - 
wrecking ball mood swings. 

Inspired by all the mothers we celebrate this month, the amazing women of Mommitment, as well as this week's prompt from Haiku Horizons. 

Destination: Anywhere in the Middle of Nowhere

Running for the sake 

of wind in my hair, laughing,
like the child I chase.

Pure, simple pleasure:

Able body and free will. 

Such is liberty.

Genie wished for legs
Not only to be his own 
Master, but to run. 

Inspired by my rebellious children, who run away from me with ever-so-much glee, as well as this week's prompt from Haiku Horizons. 

Previously, I mused about running in an entirely different direction. You can read that HERE. 

Mix Equal Parts Faith to Trust, and a Dash of Pixie Dust

Clouds of words floating. 
Thoughts mysteriously joined.
Poem, form thyself.

Ideas in flight! 
Flitting toward bright star light;
Poems are word sprites.

Inspired by these clouds I spotted on Tuesday, as well as this week's prompt from Haiku Horizons. 

Is that a Butterfly in Your Tummy?

“You must face the fear!

First delve deep and then expound," 

Dug down: Hurled on ground.

Inspired by my quest for inner peace, as well as this week's prompt from Haiku Horizons. 

one for my babies & one more for the road

Give me another. 

Slice of cake? Coffee? Wine? No. 

Hug mom - one last time. 

Inspired by my dear friend The Shy Poet, as well as this week's prompt from Haiku Horizons. 

Life in the Big Apple: A Feline Perspective

urban cat watches world
perched in relative safety 
on the window ledge

Inspired by this portrait of my Kitty I took on Tuesday, as well as this week's prompt from Haiku Horizons.