Month: April 2023

Milli

I’m so proud of my granddaughter, Milli. She’s such a happy, healthy little ball of energy, in spite of all she’s gone through so early in life.

Her father abandoned her at birth, and she was quite sick for a few months, so I moved in with my daughter to help. Even then, I noticed something special about her: she could do things beyond her years. When she was barely three, she showed up riding a bicycle like a pro one day.

But then my daughter got involved with a meth-head loser, and everything started falling apart. He moved in with her (I moved out) and they started fighting. Finally, both Milli and her older sister Maddi were taken away and moved to a foster home. (Maddi’s father died of a drug overdose about the same time.)

It breaks my heart that she can’t be with her mom, but both girls are doing so well now, it’s truly amazing. They have piano lessons, trips other states, and so much more they would have never known otherwise.

And that’s why she’s running a 5k race today. That girl is going places.

–photo by foster mom

Mixed Feelings

My feelings today are as mixed up as this April weather; on one hand, it’s Earth Day, and you know I’m all about that, but on the other, it would’ve been my 45th wedding anniversary, had Jody not been taken from us 12 years ago.

Sometimes it’s hard, just looking on at all the others with their mates, but on a brighter note, being alone (and retired) gives me the time and opportunity to get out there and beat the bush for wildlife photos to share with you.

Happy Earth Day!!

–Photo by me

humble pie

while sketching

a fetching young dancer,

i was asked

how i came

by my art.

“with oodles

of doodles,” i answered–

while wishing

i’d said

something smart.

she smiled

a while and related

that she learned

how to dance

in a hall:

her mama

and papa had 8 kids,

and only

1 bathroom

for all.

–sketch and photo by me