I OBSERVE HER

I OBSERVE HER

She wakes customarily with a smile

Her early morning pattern begins an easy pace, 

Turning the shades, as light fills space she prepares her morning coffee.

She sits in one of two window seats savouring her brew and thinking

Private contemplations as well as those I will hear later. 

Those quiet morning moments eventually lead to action and to prayer.

Short time passes, now she sits with her journal as she has for years

Filing anecdotes and disquiets, joys and prayers that I have never seen.

I have respected her so much that in all these fifty-two years together

I have never peeked. I probably never will, even if she leaves first.

I’m too afraid of what I’d find, perhaps ways I have disappointed.

And yet I reason we’ve made treasured memories,

They must be in there too. Perhaps I’ll never know. 

Her Bible, companion to her journal, informs her as she reads,

Helps her to interpret and assess what’s happening in her world.

Confidently now she unfolds her day, chores and phone calls, 

Grandchildren to pick up, friends to meet, shopping and meals.

Her schedule rapidly fills and tests her managed health.

Limitless ideas and lavish energy have been her trademarks

Ideas now must cope with more limited supplies. 

© Ron Unruh, March 2019

ARE MORE BOOKS COMING ... MAYBE

Amazon displays the titles I have written ... who knows, perhaps this year I can put 2 or 3 new titles up ... it was 4 books in 2016 ... nothing since, but plugging away. Heh, painting & golfing take time.

If you take a peek at this Amazon page you will view and read about the following book contents, https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=RON+UNRUH&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

8 YEARS AGO ... AND TODAY

ARE YOU IN THERE PAPA?

I walked Kady to school again today ... Grade 6 ... I remember fondly her affection 8 yrs ago as a small girl. Her affection continues, just a more mature demonstration ... no more nose rubs. Doesn’t matter. I love who she is.

A LONG YESTERDAY

A long yesterday are my years.
I’m frequently going back. I’m in a groove
reopening memories, revisiting friendships, re-entering scenes,
rethinking decisions, reflecting with satisfaction
on my lifetime spent suitably, but not done.
Yet going forward is a bullet train.
Only a few stops remain
and I, with so many dreams to fulfill maybe
or maybe not before times up,
here at least, and then, my faith’s assurance, eternity.
I think of it, my life a vapour in contrast with forever
and whatever that can mean in company with the One
who birthed my being to reflect Him.
Have I done that well, I wonder? I still have time.

© Ron Unruh, March 3, 2019

ICE CREAM CONE DAY

On March 8, 2019 I wrote this note on my Facebook Page. "My Dad, Edward, has been gone 11 years. My brothers & I, Murray and Neale miss him. So do our families. He loved Ice Cream. What better way to remember him than to have an Official Ice Cream Cone Day? We have done that on his birthday each year. His kids and grandchildren and great grandchildren did that today. Diversified this year, with Ice Cream Bowls & made our own sundaes. All you can eat! He’d be OK with that."

TRUMP LOVES THE BIBLE MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE? - that’s what he said

Let’s be clear. Trump said it. “Nobody loves the Bible more than I do.” I should not be surprised. Trump’s artless trifling comments are as frequent as his chaotic tweets. I have dutifully withheld from trash-talking Trump but today, while unsurprised, I am repelled by this man’s bumptiousness. Since we began listening to him three years ago, he has told us, “No one is more conservative than me.” “No one is stronger on the Second Amendment than me.” “No one respects women more than me. No one reads the Bible more than me.” “There’s nobody who feels more strongly about women’s health issues than I do.” “There’s nobody more pro-Israel than I am.” “There’s nobody that’s done so much for equality as I have.” “Nobody knows more about taxes than me, maybe in the history of the world.” “I know more about infrastructure than anyone, maybe in the history of this country.” “I have studied the Iran deal in great detail, greater by far than anyone else.” “Nobody’s ever been more successful than me.” “Nobody knows banking better than I do.” “Nobody knows more about debt than I do.” “Nobody’s bigger or better at the military than I am.” “I am the least racist person you’ll ever meet.” “Nobody knows the system better than me.” “Nobody knows politicians better than me.” “Nobody builds better walls than me.”  “Nobody knows more about trade than me.” “There is nobody more against Obamacare than me.” “No one is more pro-veterans than I am.” – So, you’ll excuse me won’t you when I tell you that I don’t believe his first statement. 

IT JUST HAPPENED

IT JUST HAPPENED. Ten years ago I wrote this: “As Christine and I were saying goodnight to one another, she with her head resting on her pillow and me reclining on mine, with one hand she stroked the side of my face, silly little beard. As she moved her hand against me I could see in her eyes a look of pathos, viewing the different me she saw from the one she knew when we each were young new lovers. Her expression was so clear to me that I said, “I’m sorry.” Looking into her eyes, still so stunningly dark and alluring I said, “I tried not to change.” And then her understanding eyes began to tear up as she replied, “Me too.” “I know” I offered, “we tried for so long not to let it happen to us.” And here we were, both happy with one another. Both complete with memories made together; both nostalgic and yet realistic. I said, “We’ll go the rest of the way together.” At which time, we both wiped some tears and then Christine said, “Oh stop it, you can talk like that when we are eighty.” – And now I am soon there.

KADENCE TURNS TWELVE TODAY

10,11,12. She turns Twelve today, my youngest grand-girl. And I do marvel at the sensation of speed for the passing of years, since on Kadence’s second birthday I wrote this … “She is a cuddler. She comes to me with ease and climbs aboard my lap, lays her head on my chest and loves me. We will walk for long times together, her head on my shoulder as I sing nonsensical songs while she tucks into my warmth and the reverb of my voice. It’s a good match.”

I reprise a poem that I composed shortly after she was born. It has turned out suitably descriptive of the young woman celebrating today. 

DAYS OLD, SHE SLEEPS
Long awaited she came, first a wife for a son
Then a daughter for them both
A sister for their boy.

A new sight for older eyes
Another life to love and nurture.
And now on one of those following days
The two girls sleep
Gina and her child.
'Kadence' meaning “with rhythm”
Is rarely given
So Kadence with a K she is
A strident girl, a girl with a voice
A girl who will be heard
A girl who will sing and laugh
And make parents proud
And give grandparents joy.
They sleep now, one only days old
But soon we will wonder where the years went. 

And today, March 13, 2019, Kadence will fully possess each moment, posing, smiling and filling everyone around her with cheerfulness. Happy Big Birthday sweet girl, Kadence.