Birthday Bulletin: 60 and Counting!

Send flowers. It's my birthday.

I'm sixty years, all told.

Some call me wise and wonderful,

but I just call me old.

The wrinkles that once graced my brow

are marching down, by threes.

Confined to brow, they charmed me...

but en masse, they're enemies.

(And things I should not mention here

are dropping to my knees.)




And yet, I'm stoic as can be,

though hair escapes my head.

Some follicles I have are frail,

while others are quite dead.

What's more, "dark blond" has turned "bright white."

(Does that give me age cred?)

If so, I'm credible indeed.

But what a price to pay!

I'm sixty and I know it.

(My hips tell me every day.)

They still move when I get my groove on,

but they creak! Oy vey.

So step right up; let's party down.

(I'm old, not DOA!)


©2012 Susan Noyes Anderson


;)


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Family Photo Fest

The Anderson gang arrived early to grab a good seat! 

 It was a beautiful setting to begin a lifetime of wedded bliss.

 Afterwards, I strong-armed my kids into posing.

 Then the whole gang jumped into the mix.

And finally, the two who started it all...Yep, Dave and me.

A great day together at our family wedding!

=)

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The Way (I Wish) We Were

The Way (I Wish) We Were

©2012 Susan Noyes Anderson

In days gone by the town turned out,

dressed up in Sunday best,

to decorate the graves of men

who’d gone on to their rest.

They made us proud, our fighting men.

They blessed us, kept us free.

With flags and flowers, we embraced them

in sweet memory.

We honored them by closing Main Street

for the big parade.

We picnicked on their favorite foods

and drank sweet lemonade.

We sang Star Spangled Banner,

watched the boy scouts raise her high,

and pledged allegiance to this land

with nary a dry eye.

 Hands over hearts and hats removed,

we heard the bugle blow

and bowed our heads for soldiers slain

that day and long ago.

At home, we flew the colors––stars

and stripes––red, white, and blue.

We reverenced every sacrifice,

made sure our kids did, too.

We took nothing for granted, not

our freedom, not our pain.

We lived the lives they fought for, swore

their death was not in vain.

We loved our country freely then

and weren’t afraid to pray.

We sought (and taught) good character,

sent scoundrels on their way.

Ideals were hopeful, not naïve,

and dreams were goals worth setting.

Integrity and virtue were esteemed.

Are we forgetting?

Our symbols and our ceremonies

tell us what we treasure.

The things we celebrate reveal

more truth than we can measure.

 A nation that holds little dear

can find no solid ground.

Today I pray that some of what

we’ve lost may yet be found.

 

Remembering is everything.

Remember who we are:

one people, joined in liberty

by every stripe and star.

Stone Cold Foxette

Our Saturday Centus is a picture prompt again today, so Jenny must have enjoyed last week's offerings. To change things up, I've used considerably fewer than the 100 words we're allotted. (Does this make up for all those times I've been two or three words over??) heehee

∞§∞

Stone Cold Foxette

©2012 Susan Noyes Anderson

I’m steppin’ out. Yo, I got style.

Just look at me. Ya gotta smile.

I got my swing; I got my swag.

That whole glam thing? Snap. In the bag.

I really got it goin’ on.

Wassup? Just call me Donna Juan.

I got the name. I got the game.

But one thing’s puttin’ me to shame.

Check it––the golden slipper blues.

(My feet are too short for my shoes.)

∞§∞

Arrow of Light

Moving from Webelos to Boy Scouts is an exciting time, and the Arrow of Light ceremony (below) that took place in our grandson's cub scout troop was pretty spectacular. 

 Talk about going all out! These guys really did it up right, didn't they?

Here's a pic of our favorite scout at his final pinewood derby.


I freely admit that the uniform is kind of old-fashioned...

and probably not cool with most young guys...

but I hope the words and principles of this oath will be preserved

for the good of our nation and the people who will determine its future.

In our home, scouting was pretty much a family affair

(the boys and their dad with a bit o' mom behind the scenes),

and we're happy to see the tradition continue

with our grandchildren.

Did you know that a boy who has been a scout for five years is twice as likely to earn a college degree?

110 million Americans have been Boy Scouts, including eleven of the twelve men who have walked on the moon.  Famous Boy Scouts include John F. Kennedy, Walt Disney, John Wayne, Bill Gates, Hank Aaron, Bill Clinton, Sam Walton, Harrison Ford, Paul McCartney, Bob Hope, Norman Rockwell, Gerald Ford, John Glenn, Walter Cronkite, Jimmy Stewart, Nolan Ryan, Michael Bloomberg, Henry Fonda, Joe Theisman, Mark Spitz, and Rick Perry—just to name a few.

“The Boy Scouts of America stands for a set of principles. These principles have a lot of staying power. The values you learn as a Scout are like a compass. They can help you find your way through difficult and sometimes unchartered terrain. The principles of Scouting give you a sense of what’s important. I feel I owe the Boy Scouts a great deal, both personally and professionally.” 

–Bill Bradley, former U.S. senator, New Jersey

I also credit scouting with my boys' love for nature and the great outdoors.

=)

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FROM

TO

IN ONE EASY LISTEN. . .

I've got lots going on today...lots to do before spending a weekend with my parents, intersected by a family wedding on my husband's side. It looks to be a great weekend, and I've even managed to find a fairly flattering outfit for the black-tie reception, miracle of miracles. (My body needs some overhauling lately...)

Soooo, before I set off on a breakneck-paced day that includes cleaning my house from top to bottom, getting my hair cut, and running a list of errands as long as my arm, I thought I would share a moment's respite with you from my favorite respite-giver, James Taylor. If that man can't take a person from rattled to relaxed, I don't know who can, so be sure to turn up your volume and embrace him via my playlist.

And isn't this just the prettiest picture ever? (I'm even going to honor you with the lyrics!)

The water is wide, I can't cross over. 

And neither have I wings to fly. 

Give me a boat that can carry two, 

and both shall row, my love and I.

=)

PS. I always like knowing that my love is rowing with me. Pretty soon, he'll be doing that full-time! (Retirement clock now reads 38 days and counting.)

High Places

The quest for height is inborn.

Our eyes reach for the sky.

We love to climb up and look down

as all the world goes by.

But do we seek high places when
it comes to sacred things?

If we would fly like eagles,

 we must find our spirit wings.

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings 

as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31


photos of children by tendershootz
poem by Susan Noyes Anderson ©2012
All Rights Reserved


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The Clown Speaks...

Chagall

The Clown Speaks

©2012 Susan Noyes Anderson

If I should wake up and be free

of all the people watching me

and say good-bye to tightrope walking,

big top, and calliope––

then would I search the silence deep,

embrace the parts of me that sleep,

let go of cotton candy dreams,

and hold to truth that I can keep.

Le cirque makes life a bagatelle,

a hanging-by-your-knees trapeze.

(But still I crave the salty smell

of peanuts roasted in the shell.)

What is this tent that holds me fast,

this ringmaster that paints my face?

If I sign on, the die is cast.

The shell game has its way at last.

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Smoke Gets in your Eyes

Jenny's changing it up for our Saturday Centus today with a picture prompt in lieu of words. I always like it when she throws a curve ball! Today, we're supposed to make some sense of it in 100 words flat.

∞§∞

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

©2012 Susan Noyes Anderson

It was more than a hobby.

She used her camera to control life.

If she could catch it on paper,

maybe she wouldn’t have to run away from it.

And maybe she could believe there was magic there.

Mystery and magic, both.

And not just mischief. Or malevolence.

It was all revealed. The good, the bad, the ugly.

(Her kids would say the “fugly,” but she was above that.)

A smile crossed her lips and touched her eyes.

Click. Click. Got it.

Proof.

{smoke clouds hide sunny skies}

∞§∞

It's a Good Day!

This is our good-looking son, Todd, the over-worked med student who is jumping into his thirties today. Can't believe the Andersons are fresh out of twenty-somethings. Kinda scary!

Todd is taking a little break this weekend to visit his old undergrad stomping grounds in Arizona. He will be a groomsman for his good friend, who is tying the knot tomorrow. I hope they make a little bit of a fuss over the birthday boy at the rehearsal dinner tonight! (Of course, he hopes they make no fuss at all!!)

At any rate, I did want to make a little fuss here, and I know that all of you will be good enough to indulge me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TODD!

WE LOVE YOU!!

=)

Zada: The Lucky One

Paul Gauguin, The Meal


Zada: (def.) "The Lucky One"
©2012 Susan Noyes Anderson


Zada was woman, "the lucky one."
She fed them from her rich, round bowl---
the milk of human kindness, poi of pain.


The young men waited---watched her shyly---
ate till she was hungry. Slyly
sliced her sweet fruit---supped again, again.

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