Fall 2018

Fall 2018

The dark is what I hate most.
Unable to see I fumble lost.
Damp cool air
In the lair.
Most do not care.
Their thumbs move over
Maybe hover.
The keyboard
Oh Lord
There is death
Anywhere.
Still the petty care.
What to wear.
Want my steak rare.
You realize child
Even if you are mild
You are in harms way
Everyday.
Stop your thumbs.
Step over the bums.
Come with me
To be
A fighter
For righteousness
For loving kindness.
Burn the bullets.
Burn the bombs.
Let them in
Amidst the din
Just like your kin.

These words stumbled out. I know very little about poetry.
I have never liked fall. I try to appreciate the colors, but this year the fall is dull, grey green, dried up leaves. Nothing to like for me. My inner state matches nature this year. The air is cool and it is dark early. The wind blows all the time. And then there is senseless death. As if it isn't enough that people die of disease and accidents everyday. Someone has to make it worse.

October 21, 2018




Eve Ensler and Anne Lamott

     I had the pleasure of hearing these two women speak last night at the Strathmore Arts Center. They are both gifted writers and speakers. Eve and Anne are the angels that have stepped into our world to inspire us and keep us moving forward. I do not give this accolade to just anyone. Both women have trudged through the muck, more than once, to reappear renewed and cleansed, after a shower, of course. Each word they speak is wrought with meaning. There is no extra verbiage--no uhs, yeahs, you see's. Eve and Anne speak honestly and openly. Not only do they speak, write and act to present their views, they also give tirelessly of themselves to other women around the world or in their neighborhood.
     Some highlights for me:
     l. Our mothers did not have the knowledge and vocabulary we have today to identify and act
     when abuse occurred. Just like the generation of today has tools--awareness, confidence, 
     knowledge-- we did not have.
    2. Women who refuse to hear women who have been abused and/or support Trump--the Predator-        In-Chief"--most probably were abused themselves and have not seriously worked through their
    own trauma regarding abuse.
    It was a pleasant evening and time well spent.

Why Do Middle Aged and Older Females Think Little Girl Hair Styles Look Good?

I know I am being trivial and many women will disagree. But this is my opinion.
What is with women who wear their hair in messy pony tails or very tight pony tails? Why do women with grey hair think they should still have long hair? Do women who pull part of their hair up with a clip or barette really think this looks good? Buns are fine and can be very elegant; but, ladies, leave the messy buns for the very young. Leave pony tails for the young. The youthful hair style does not work, especially with grey hair. Be sophisticated, elegant, chic, edgy but not a little girl. We were little girls, but we aren't any more. Let's be realistic, sensible, graceful. We can be liberated women who persist in all we do and still carry our age with confidence and beauty.
The same goes for leggings; that type of pants belongs in the gym, as lounging wear, or with a tunic. But that's it. Leggings do not substitute for pants. Again, what a little girl can wear is not what we can wear. Thankfully, there are so many stretchy jeans and pants now that finding comfortable pants is not a problem.
By the way, I am guilty of wearing leggings too frequently and workout clothes everywhere. I have changed my habits. Now that I am showing my age, it is time to dress the part. Otherwise, I, too, will look like a "little old lady" in teenager's clothing. Not a pretty sight.

L'Shana Tova--2018

I met three little girls on my walk today. One was fair with freckles on her nose and blond. She celebrated Christmas. One was biracial with many braids in her hair, light brown, and celebrated Christmas. And one was dark brown with black hair and celebrated Chanukah. That is our country now. It is browning and one never knows who is what religion or ethnic background  or actual race. I could have met a redhead who is Muslim. But that is whom I met today. When I approached the bench, I thought that the blonde girl was Jewish and the dark skinned girl was Muslim or Sikh or Hindu. See what I know? It is how it is and should be now in the waning days of 2016. No orange haired charlatan who is a snake oil salesman can change our reality. We have been great. The people are strong. And those that are afraid will have to change. After pondering and reading and thinking, I still believe that this is the crux of the matter at hand. 

So my grown-up holiday wish is for those who are afraid to see that we are actually all right. And to stop being afraid and to stop listening to scary people. Change is never ending. Best of everything and let there be light, in the dark places. Karen

August 31, 2012
I am still learning this site. I always feel sad at the end of August. Summer is over and I really cherish the mild nights and longer days. Soon, it will be dark and cool and then cold. Today, I learned an important lesson. Don't make appointments with government agencies the day before a holiday weekend. No one should laugh at what goes on in third world countries. The U.S. is not far behind. Today is not a holiday, but yet the Department of Motor Vehicles was closed and the passport office at the Post Office was essentially closed. And we had an appointment!
It is certainly too bad that we have become such a polarized nation. I don't understand the origin of this strong religious conservative segment of our country. Who are these people, trying to take away the rights of women and the middle class and the needy? What is unfathomable is that most of the people on the religious right are not wealthy, so why would they favor a candidate who wants to make life more difficult for them. And why this misogyny? Pro-life when it comes to protecting a life inside a woman's body; but certainly pro-war and pro-guns. Pro-family when it is a white, nuclear, traditional family, but not pro-family if the configuration looks different. I know that religion has always been a strong element in our country's make-up, but certainly there was not this tone of ugliness that now seems to permeate the land. How have the "liberals" and the "conservatives" become such enemies? How have Democrats and Republicans become such enemies? What has happened to the moderate Republicans? How have Democrats become characterized in one way? Is this just the result of the press and the politicians? Or are we really a country divided? Why are people so threatened? Is this just a cycle during which rapid change is resisted? Are we all amazed because we are living through this conflict rather than reading about it?

First Entry, August 28, 2012

I am not sure how to do this. All I know is that I love to write and express myself. It is 10 a.m. and I have to get ready. I have had my espresso and fruit. I have a singing lesson today, and I am taking Gabriel food shopping. Hopefully, I will go swimming in the afternoon if the weather holds out. That is it for now. I sound like I am 12 years old.  At least, I finally set this up....