Sages, Greek, surmised that happiness can’t be controlled
Mere random acts of favor from the gods on us bestowed.
But current thought has turned a page
Pursuit of bliss is all the rage
Where legislators wield the power once held by gods of old.
kat ~ 3 January 2016
“Happy” is the prompt for this week’s Limerick Challenge. Join the fun by reading other Limericks or adding your own by clicking HERE.
Happy 2016! This week’s review is balanced on the cusp of the past and the future…2015 and 2016…out with the old and in with the new! I found myself feeling ever mindful of the present moment. To pause, to breathe and to savor the bliss and happiness to be found in the messiness of life. What a ride! Fasten your seat belts kiddos! Here we go! 🙂
Sunday’s Week in Verse – 3 January 2016
It’s all vanity
Live a life of much less stress
fading petals left there hanging.
Now, I’m not so sure…
like tender kisses
find bliss.
I’m so happy for you…
I think you’re gonna want to see this!
Forget your plans and silly lists
Did you know that is a thing?!
I think I’ll call it “Purple Haze!”
Free souls will spill out.
Jars of savory, sweet spice
The best containers…
life, precious, messy life, is so worth living!
kat ~ 3 January 2016
If you’re new to this blog, a bit of background to explain the verse above. It is a line from each poem or prose from the previous week. Lifted and placed in the order written. A snapshot review of the week. It helps me to prepare for the upcoming week with a clean slate.
When I grow up, I want to be like Lucy. Not the famous red-haired comedienne or the freckle-faced know-it-all, thorn in Charlie Brown’s side. The Lucy I’m referring to is my 16 year old Shitzu rescue dog, aka TC, the name given her by the sad people who surrendered her to a high-kill shelter when she became a burden.
Lucky for us, the rescue angels were on it, intervening before that final, fateful transaction that would transfer the “burden” to the county. The adorable little love bug in the photo above was unrecognizable then. (I’m including a “before” photo for you below.) She most certainly would have been swiftly put out of her misery. But despite her horribly matted fur covered in feces, over-grown nails, rotting teeth, fading eyesight and limited hearing, Lucy wasn’t miserable at all!
How many times have I looked at a messy, hopeless, miserable situation and simply decided it’s not worth the effort, only to give up or walk away? How many times have I looked in the mirror and thought, “You are a mess!”
By all appearances life is messy. I do my best to mask that inconvenient fact. What I present to the world is the result of exhaustive intervention, good lighting, smoke and mirrors.
Then I consider Lucy and realize I’ve got it all wrong! Making myself presentable is about as effective as it would have been to put a pink bow on the top of the matted mess that was TC! Until I am willing to peel away the layers, no one, including myself, will ever get to the real me and I’ll certainly not know what true freedom is!
It can be scary getting to the bottom of what’s hidden. We had no idea that there was a delightful little sprite of a dog with a fierce will to live under all that fur. Of course there were a few raw spots that needed healing too. And the revelation that despite clearing the guck from her eyes and the matted fur from her ears, she was indeed almost completely blind and deaf. Not that any of that has stopped her!
After scoping out the lay the the land, she prances about from room to room like the precious princess that she is! And this gives me immense joy and hope.
Yep. I want to be just like Lucy when I grow up. She has shown me that the best is just waiting to be discovered. As long as my heart is beating there is so much life yet to live and that life, precious, messy life, is so worth living!
kat – 2 January 2016
One more thing. I would be remiss if I did not encourage you to find your own Lucy to love! Senior pets are especially vulnerable. After devoting a lifetime of love and loyalty they find themselves abandoned because….well, there is no because…and no excuse…but they are no less deserving of love and a home! Of course you will also find bundles of puppies and kittens this time of year if you prefer a younger pet. For some the blush and excitement of their Christmas surprise will have worn off by now. At any rate, if you have room in your home and heart, there is nothing like the lovely mess of a pet to school us in what is most important in life. 🙂
Photo Credit: kat 2015
It’s wise not to try
Containing life in a box
Free souls will spill out.
More than eye candy
Jars of savory, sweet spice
Fancy a tongue tryst.
The best containers…
Boxes, jars, pottery, skin
Keep things out…or in?
kat ~ 2 January 2016
A few haiku based on the prompt: container. You can read more or enter your own haiku by clicking HERE.
Recently, I made the mistake of leaving an open bottle of wine on the table. Soft-hearted sap that I am, I decided not to pen the dogs while I did some last minute Christmas shopping for snow ski’s for my grandson.
As you might imagine I came home to a royal mess, no doubt masterminded by the cat. Fluffy, that’s his name, don’t judge, managed to tip the wine bottle over the edge of the table sending a flow of purple drink into the waiting chops of my pups. (By pups, I am talking about 150 pounds plus of rowdy mastiff energy EACH…but I digress.)
Maxwell and Winston got slightly whizzed and started feverishly spinning the bottle like a toy. The wine that was still in the bottle left lovely impressionistic smatterings on the walls of my parlor as well as giving our Sun Conure, Mr. Bean a lavender makeover.
Of course these clueless blokes had no idea that they had just been duped by the cat, who sat smugly aloft on the mantle watching the whole scene as I entered the house.
I was greeted by Maxwell and Winston’s usual slobbery kisses and machete-like tails bashing my thighs…and the indignant bobbing and squawking of Mr. Bean. I had to smile. It WAS my fault after all.
Back to the store for more wine…for me this time. Dogs penned, everything in its place. I may decide to keep the artwork in my parlor. It’s growing on me. I think I’ll call it “Purple Haze!”
kat ~ 1 January 2016
(260 Words/Flash Fiction/Genre: Humor)
And…if you believe that this little flash of a story is true…then I have done my job! 🙂 Thank you Ronovan for kicking off the New Year with a wonderful challenge. I managed to use ALL of your prompt words. And I do hope the result has been a fun read for everyone. If you would like to read other stories or enter your own using the prompt words: dog, cat, toy, fever, ski, fluffy, machete, and purple drink, click HERE. Have a great Friday!
like mercury colliding... 