winters past

As the predictions became increasingly dire

and winter storm watches

snowballed

into winter storm warnings,

Boston's snow plows used to

line up, engines rumbling,

like star players on the varsity team,

waiting for the starting whistle

of the championship game.

 

They'd descend on the thickly covered streets,

hungry for action,

unflagging in their quest

to defeat the latest nor'easter

and emerge, once again,

local heroes.

 

Now they're permanently benched,

the hype of each forecasted blizzard

fizzling

into the latest disappointment.

Made obsolete,

left only with memories

of past glory days.

Completed August 1, 2024.

to isabel

I am not ready to let you go.

 

I realize that if this were a movie, I would

at some point

need to start the graceful acceptance.

 

But I am not ready.

 

I cannot even end that sentence in “yet” because that would imply

that someday, eventually, I would be ready.

 

But I am not, and I cannot even imagine it.

 

If the mother of one of my patients expressed these feelings,

perhaps I would think,

“She is not yet ready to accept reality.”

 

Or perhaps, because I have you, and I cannot imagine not having you,

and the simple act of writing these words is making me cry,

I would understand

and wordlessly agree with her that reality is now, is what you make it.

Completed March 27, 2014.

stray

I stroke your head

and scratch your chin,

each touch saying,

Trust me, trust me.

But when you are

relaxed,

no longer on guard,

I push the syringe tip

quickly

into your mouth

and dispense

the (apparently) awful-tasting medication.

As you rear back

I wish I could

somehow communicate

that this betrayal was motivated

by tenderness,

by a heartfelt wish

for your well-being.

Completed May 9, 2021.

mornings

Mornings are still hard,

no question.

The call of warm sheets, drowsy cat,

the soft oblivion of sleep

can be downright irresistible

(and are often not resisted).

 

But I've learned

that if I manage to push through the temptation,

rinse the sleep from my eyes,

and settle at my desk

in the warm glow of lamplight,

a mug of strong black tea at my elbow,

seemingly complex tasks

(say, writing)

unspool themselves,

falling into an orderly string of

first one step

then

another.

 

With a mind still untroubled

by the clamor of the coming day,

I find space

and quiet

and clarity.

 

Two or three hours later,

I look up to the brightening day,

filled with the satisfying weariness

of good work accomplished,

and think that surely

the memory of this feeling

will carry me easily out of bed

tomorrow.

 

A conviction that lasts

all the way through

the next morning's

alarm.

Completed July 31, 2024.

first knitting project

Pattern: First Clutch

Designer: Amy Blake Baldwin

Yarn: Manos del Uruguay Maxima in Foil

Started 2.8.15; completed 1.6.16.

First project (finished at last)

This clutch, my first knitting project ever, was our first project in my beginning knitting class at JP Knit and Stitch.  I finished knitting the clutch and mattress-stitching one side in about a week or so . . . and then took another 10 months to stitch up the other side and sew on the button.  Ridiculous!

I was inspired to finally finish the poor thing because my sister asked me to teach her to knit, chose this as her first pattern—and finished in about two days!  Afterward, she said, “I just want to do the knitting and someone else can do the finishing.”  Ah, you’re not alone, girlie.

Pattern by my teacher, Amy!

strawberry fields

Strawberry picking 1
Strawberry picking 2
Strawberry picking 3
Strawberry picking 6
Strawberry picking 6

After a bumpy, dusty ride on a tractor-drawn cart (the kids loved it), we picked two flats of strawberries.  I always feel like the farm owners are secretly amused by we city- and suburb-dwellers, but it was fun, and I love strawberries.  The day was dry and sunny but not too warm.  Later, Sachi made freezer jam!

marian-hued

Pattern: Amerie

Designer: Lucy Hague

Yarn: Handspun "Marshmallow & Chocolate" by Alexandra McKenzie Mason of Spinning and Stitching

Started 4.7.15; completed 5.25.15.

Maisie modeling Marian-hued cowl 1
Maisie modeling Marian-hued cowl 2
Maisie modeling Marian-hued cowl 3
Marian-hued cowl, blocked

My first attempt at a lace pattern (and a provisional cast-on and a three-needle bind-off; and blocking).  I bought the yarn without a particular purpose in mind, then wanted to work on a new project on my birthday.  Searched by yarn weight and yardage and voila--found this great pattern.

Maisie showed an unexpected aptitude for knitwear modeling!

flopsy, mopsy, cotton-tail

Pattern: Catnip Bunny

Designer: Selina Kyle

Yarn: Quince & Co Chickadee in Delft, Dogwood, Goldfinch, and Snap Pea

Completed 4.5.15.

Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail - Easter 2015

Every Easter, I go out for brunch with a group of about 10 friends, and we exchange small gifts.  Many of the attendees are cat owners, so my gift this year was these catnip-filled bunnies (plus gummy candies shaped like carrots).  I made 18 of them!