At Dusk by Sylvia

at dusk

at dusk, i leave,

just as the lightning bugs arrive,

the warm glow of yellow lights

softly pulsing…

tapping out a unique version

of Morse code…

the white, billowy clouds

of a summer day,

lose dimension

and become shadowy silhouettes

pasted flatly against a twilight sky…

a yard ablaze

with colorful flowerbeds,

earlier awed over

and envied for their beauty,

recedes into the blossoming darkness

it was a day of laughter

and happy, smiling faces…

of chatter and camaraderie

and the ignorant bliss of childhood

then comes the leaving…

the driving away…

the honking of horns…

the waving of hands

and yelling of goodbyes

from a chorus of voices…

a steady stream of raw emotions

flows back and forth

between those who leave

and those who stay…

until the voices trail away

and the faces in the car windows

have long disappeared,

and this, another day,

has already found its place

in our memories

Sylvia L. Mattingly

July 30, 2020

Photo by Mike

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Words to Live By

“We . . . would like to start a petition that all teachers get paid $1.71 million . . . per day.”  John Kransinski, after homeschooling.

“Use this time to spread kindness, check in on your family and friends, and, of course, no biting.” Arnold Schwarzenegger

“We’re realizing how much we need each other, how we’re all in this together. Don’t you hope we remember that on the other side?” Alfre Woodard

“Laughter is a symbol of hope, and it becomes one of our greatest needs of life, right up there with toilet Paper.” Erica Rhodes

“Just a reminder that when Shakespeare was quarantined because of the plague, he wrote King Lear.” Rosanne Cash

 

SOURCE: AARP May 2020

Graphics by Pixabay

Can We Still Laugh?

All the world is experiencing unprecedented challenges. We are in a state of shock at what is happening and we have no idea what is next. Global pandemics like the one we are dealing with today are once in a lifetime phenomenon.

Even though people are losing their jobs and lifetime savings; Even though people are dying is it okay to still laugh? I say we must. Laughter is good medicine and right now we need some good medicine. As we are restricted in our movements and activities we need to see humor wherever it exists and I believe it is good to manufacture it, too.

We are a family of huggers. We give big hearty hugs when getting together and when saying goodbye. A week ago before things were quite as strict, we got together to celebrate my daughters’ birthdays. Via text Dianne, the oldest reminded us that we needed to keep more distance and not hug. I thought no more about it until Allison, the younger, arrived. She got out of their car and walked to the front door like this:

Silly? Yes, but her isolation get-up produced howls of laughter that partially took the place of our usual hugs.

Maintaining our ability to laugh at life and at ourselves in no way minimizes the seriousness of our time. COVID-19 is not funny, but life still is. Let’s smile each day and laugh when given the opportunity.

 

“Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.” Mark Twain

 

Title Photo by Pixabay