This happened

We got our picnic after all...

Nu and I got At to smile by asking about Mark Fisher 🤣...

Look!

An emoji for people like me...

Big A went in to work early (extended Fourth schedule) and the human kids went to the DSA Pride potluck (rescheduled due to rain last weekend), so I hung out with the puppy kids, ate leftovers, and read all evening.

Accidental celebration protest, I guess? The more American history one learns, the harder it is to celebrate.

our times

I felt like I was in a real live Yelp review. 

I had just invited At to go to the farmers' market with me over breakfast. 

He turned to Nu and asked: "What's it like going to the farmers' market with mama these days?" 

Nu said (and I quote in full): "It's ok." 

At turned back to me and agreed to go.

Is that even one star? I mean...

turn, turn, turn

I carry my words across continents

with their accidents, impermanence

bees feverish in the heat of their sting

do things so sweetly distant from pain 

a bird cleans its beak on moss again

and I try not to scare them into flight

we're "ok;" alighting on what it takes 

to make the planet spin another day

[Pic: MSU Horticultural Garden; I love this bed, which seems so effortless.]

Summer again

 

Finally, another summer day. I took advantage of our first no-rain day in over a week to putter around the garden and prep for a picnic with Nu and AC--a wonderful former student who babysat Nu years ago. I was so surprised to learn that AC is turning 30. They grow up so soon!

One of this year's WGS guest speakers (KH) mentioned how they were doing social work because as a WGS student they'd been inspired by AC's presentation as a guest speaker--I loved that so much and enjoyed passing it on to AC. 

This last year has been tough.

[Pic: Robin with cherries]

child

"Guess what I am," says the child

snuggling next to me

fists under their chin

trying to--"look cute."

And so I guess: A baby bunny rabbit?

A kitten? A puppy?

Nope. Nope. Nope.

I'm so wrong.

They are, "A Baby Praying Mantis."

I guess I've always 

known they'd keep  

making me smile.

Words: Nu; July 31, 2012. 

Pic: The trans-flag kandi Nu made today.

cloudburst

There's not much to do 
in the rain, today seems 

so small, so tight, blue...

these trees, drip, shake

drops of rain off--as if 

they're puppies. I ache... 

from rain. I know I want

sunshine in clusters, stars 

writing days in happy font...

instead here's a slight salute 

--to bent sky, clasped desires,

clouds heave, heavy in pursuit 

[Pic: Made it to Ted Black Woods with L this morning--before the downpour.)