Rain. (really?)

Sometimes
I just want to paint myself
Out
of a dark dark day
Red and pink myself into
Another
Picture
Where life is
Easy
for just one
moment
And if my hard is someone else's fantasy
Then give me someone else's hard.
Because I
Could
Use
Some
Inspiration
and some
Soulful Peace -
for
a
good
long
while
.

Cousin Love & Blues

Lily's Cousins breezed into town.
Their dad in tow,
our house was instantly full
Blankets, pillows, sheets carpeted the floors
For a week our tiny home was crowded with family
The
Best
Kind

Never imagined my brother and I would get to see our children play
Siblings For a Week,
Lily got her fix
Though she could never get enough of those two,
Ever.

Addison!
and
Simone!

Like adjectives, those two.
Names always spoken with revelatory urgency.

Hugs and more hugs,
tubs and more tubs.
One More Minute! 
The-Visit-Motto-Every-Evening-Plea.
Meals, dance, play and gospel
Indian and Harlem, playgrounds, streets and grass
So much for us all to take in.

Got to show them off at school,
My Cousins she calls them.
Shared them with our East Coast Half

Brought them by our Bench.
Uncle Alan's Bench.
And as I walked away with my brother,
arms wrapped around each others' backs
Jesus, he said,
You've been through a lot.

Nodded. Half smile.

I have, but we both have.
And we've never left each others' sides.

All knowing feeling we both share.
Lives like music -
Up and ups and way down downs
though now it wafts and floats.
Our tunes are better these days.

But this morning's gusts have flown them away
taking them home
to the Other Coast.
A slightly blue morning,
for me and my girl.
Full full hearts with a touch of tug.

Happily we will see them again.
Can't help but return again to this feel good song,
from our wedding day some time ago,
Always feels so right.
Because
this is
Our 
Family.

Full Speed Ahead.

Spring is nearly here.
Tried yesterday but got pummeled by pushy cold winds still fighting for Winter.
But the sun is strong and my girl and I are ready,
like horses on a steady gallop,
still feeling fresh out of January's gate.
Goodbye, March, Fleeting Spring is on its way with Summer close behind.

Got some warmth on a family trip to the DR,
Where Lily's beloved Tia and all of her family have their roots.
Beautiful, deep roots.
Young and old they took us in, embraced us, cooked for us, hosted us.
Lily doted on a baby, ran circles in the garden with Andrea and Javi -
Happily conversing in English and Spanish -
Communication always easy, simple delight in running together,
shared smiles, all knowing laughs - no words needed.
We beached, swam, fed horses, rode donkeys,
relished in warm sun, balmy breezes,
Refueled as a family,
a much needed respite.

Then back we came, and I had a quick escape,
a test for both me and my babe-no-more.
Took a brief trip with Another Love,
a new one,
a
first
for me
in a
long
time.

Very long time.

And a day that I thought might never come again.

Lily and I did just fine -
though the pangs were felt from far away.
Growing pains for the two of us,
we're both still reeling.

But in this life,
Change is Good.

So off together we go, on an unfamiliar yet inspiring road.
I think we can,
I
Know
We
Can.
But it's a test for the two of us,
attached at the hip
and
heart.

So this weekend, we're regrouping.
And we're doing OK.
I think we're both ready for New York's
Two
Week
Bloom
when the trees are in their glory for one short, deep breath.

Hibernation days are over.

So
bring
on
the
pink,

please.