Fine white sand, boundless
Stretching to the sea, yearning
Blue unknown, hopeful
Haiku Friday is hosted by Lou at LouCeeL
Horizons
Tag Archives: photography
You are my sunshine
You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are grey
You’ll never know dear
How much I love you
Please, don’t take
My sunshine
Away
I was never “That Mom,” the one who had an extensive playlist of lullabies to sing to my babies. When my daughter was a newborn, the only kid’s song I could remember all the words to was the ABCs.
When she went to pre-school, whenever her class worked on the alphabet, she’d doze off. Her teacher worried that she wasn’t getting adequate sleep at home. Once we figured out the problem, I didn’t know whether to laugh (which I did, to the point of snorting) or feel guilty for having such a lame grasp of sleep inducing songs (which I did.)
My son was born four years later. You’d think I would’ve put the time to good use and learn some more songs. Nope… I sang this little ditty, or “Away in the Manger.”
At least, I learned my lesson (see what I did there? ABCs… school… lessons?) and didn’t interfere with my son’s education… but I may have given him a God-complex.
Submitted to Skywatch Friday, Season 6: Episode 42
Past imperfect
If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.” – Buddha
Confess your imperfections, write them on a wall for all the world to see. Use big, bold strokes, in brutal black paint, where it cannot be ignored. Admit to every flaw, every shortcoming. Reveal your darkest lies and faults.
Yet… leave it unsigned.
Watch as the world passes by, watch as they read your words and see your images. Listen as they speculate about who is the author of these admissions, listen as they speak the names of those they believe are guilty.
Yet… you are not among the accused.
No one recognizes you. Only you see these perceived failings.
The 100 Word Challenge is to tell a story in only 100 words. This week’s theme is ‘Wall’
Inspired by the Studio30 Plus prompt “Imperfect“
Parallel parking like a boss
Every time I take a long road trip, and I mean every single time, I think of my high school Driver’s Education teacher, Mr. Brown.
Mr. Brown was from Mississippi, and couldn’t pronounce his Rs. He was a tad difficult to understand. Lucky for us, he spoke with a sloooow southern drawl, so we had plenty of time to figure out what he was trying to tell us.
One of the exercises he had us do, during our on-the-road classes, was to change lanes without hitting the reflectors that ran between the lanes… the ‘fump, fumps” he called them.
That’s why road trips take me down memory lane. I still try to stealthily veer around the “fump, fumps.” It’s one of the very few maneuvers I managed to master during Driver’s Ed. Which was good, because I was the first student who ever received an F in backing up.
We were supposed to navigate through a dog-leg course, in reverse. Mr. Brown made me abandon my car when I ran over one of the course traffic cones and got it irretrievably stuck up in a rear wheel well.
“Jus’ get outta da caw!”
The only thing that saved me from failing the class entirely was that I was the only student in my class who could parallel park. And, I did it like a boss. None of this multiple attempts parking, I mean I could tuck my car into that tiny space, first try, every time… still can. It was like I entered a self-transcendent state of ecstasy, my moment of zen.
I was the parking space…
I may not be able to drive backwards through a narrow zig-zag shaped alley, but if you have to park on the street, or deftly avoid small plastic objects stuck on the road, I’m your go-to gal.
The Trifecta challenge this week is: Ecstasy [noun \ˈekstəsē\] 3: trance; especially a mystic or prophetic trance
Musical Echoes
This weekend I attended a Native American music festival, taking in the beauty and majesty of the culture…. as well as enjoying great food.
Throughout the day exceptionally talented flutists performed, some bringing a dozen or more different instruments on stage during their session. The songs were moving and achingly beautiful.
Each performer would also offer stories about their music, either telling folktales about the first flutes, or about what the songs were saying. A few of the performers also sang in their native language… it was amazing.
Seems that I can’t find enough superlatives to describe the event, but suffice to say I stayed the whole day.
And the dancers, in full regalia… I was literally on the edge of my chair watching.
One of the dancers explained that their regalia was like a family photo album. With different pieces handed down through generations or given as gifts from friends. He said that the dances also told a story.
The Hoop Dance, performed by two different dancers, using anywhere from one to 24 hoops, showed the connection between every one and every thing. We all play an integral part in this world, he said, and we have to work together to conquer hate.
Wearing a long skirt, adorned with 365 sliver cones, the Jingle Dancer performed a healing dance. Her movements adding a soft chiming sound to the music.
Traditional men and women’s dance were also performed, both somber and exciting to watch.
If you ever have a chance to attend such a festival, go! The dancers and musicians love sharing their talents and culture, and you will be richer for it.
You can click on any image to see a larger photo, or the series as a slideshow.
(Photos shot with a Nikon D60, using an 18-55mm, 55-200mm, 20mm f/2.8 wide-angle, 50mm f/1.8 prime lens, Nikon CoolPix S205 and/or iPhone4)
For more photos, please visit my Flickr photostream.
Submitted to Unknown Mami’s Sundays in My City
Forgotten bayou
Haiku Friday is hosted by Lou at LouCeeL
Sun also rises
I can’t stand it to think my life is going so fast and I’m not really living it.” ~ Ernest Hemmingway, “The Sun Also Rises.”
Submitted to Skywatch Friday, Season 6: Episode 41
