Monday Morning Musings:
Measure by measure—
in hope and despair
from winter bare to sun-charged air
Geese 
Egrets? Cranes? 
Crow 
Geese flying over the Delaware River
we smile through tears
with spirits brightened, but still the fears
of what comes next?
Another crisis, another text
of sorrow or disaster.
Can we master
moving from the passing of this year?
Too many lost, but we’re still here–
and so, we live as we’re able,
finally meet across a table
to eat and laugh, while those who’ve passed
remain within our memories, clasped
in synapsed snapshots, held fast,
until all is faded, at last,
everything balanced, a measure
of sadness, a finding of treasure
in the remembrance of what she said,
those words, like a thread
linking us, a connection
a form of resurrection
in “do you remember?” Phrases bright—
like the promise, with shadows, there’s light.
April is a strange month all over, it seems—one day cold, one day warm, full of storms, and also flowers. A bunch of tulips that we didn’t plant have popped up in our garden.
Yesterday was the first anniversary of my mother’s death. Now that we’ve all been vaccinated, we went to our younger daughter and son-in-law’s house—and for the first time in over a year, hugged and ate inside. She made us a tapas feast, and I baked a chocolate cake in my mom’s memory.
Someone likes the center 
My husband and I both got haircuts for the first time in over a year, too. Woo hoo! We celebrated with a date night at home and streamed the excellent production of the Lantern Theater’s production of Measure for Measure. It was a filmed production from a few years ago. The play is very timely. We watched the movie, Promising Young Woman, (rental from Amazon), which my husband and I both enjoyed and thought was very good—great acting, direction, and soundtrack. Both play and movie will inspire discussion.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
I do see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.
Your Ripples photo is stunning.
Thank you so much, Ken!
Both of your haircuts look great! I’m happy you were able to celebrate with your family. Beautiful photographs!
Thanks so much, Jill!
How loss has blended in with being. A thoughtful post.
Thank you very much. 💙
You are welcome.
It must have been a difficult anniversary Merril, but how wonderful that you were able to see your family again. It does feel as though the world, much like the flowers, is cautiously opening up again…
Thank you, Ingrid. Yes, it was wonderful to see and actually hug one of our daughters. We’re still being cautious, but yes. 💙
The photos, the flowers, and Doug’s clowning around are special.
But especially so, the family festivities in honor of your mother. At long last!
Thanks so much, Marian.
We really didn’t talk about my mom much, but it was nice to get together with one of our daughters and her husband.
so beautiful photos!
Thank you!
It must have been such a comfort to be able to spend the anniversary of your mother’s death with family, to eat good food and share your memories of her.
Thank you, Liz. It was strange at first, but wonderful to be with our daughter and her husband. We actually didn’t talk much about my mom.
You’re welcome, Merril. Just being together is often enough . . .
Yes, that’s so true.
Oh how beautifully done. I cannot tell you how happy I am that you finally got to hang out for real with your daughter. I had the thought “Doug got his hair cut”… kept reading and lo! so did you! 🙂
Wonderful musings as per.
By the way, saw Mank… meh. 😉
Thank you so much, Dale. 😀
I think Mank was worth seeing, but I didn’t love it. I hesitated watching Promising Young Woman, but it was very good.
It was worth seeing but a wrong choice for us for a Friday night. It was more a Sunday night type 😉. Plus, he had never even seen Citizen Kane! (though knew the story)
We didn’t hate it but we didn’t adore it.
I understand. But really, he needs to see Citizen Kane! (That might be a Sunday afternoon type movie.) 😀
I told him so! 🤣
🤣
A timely reunion with signs of recovery. Stay well
Thank you, Derrick. You, as well.
Ripples (photo)….. almost says it all.
Lovely prose, Merril.
I’m a bit envious that you got a second vaccination.
I’m due now for my second shot, but the govt won’t let any of us get second shots until everyone has 1 shot.
I should have my second shot in late July. I have not faith that the first one will still be active… and ready and able to boost.
Thank you very much, Resa. I’m glad you like the photos and poem.
After my mom died last April, I was throwing a stone in the river every day for a while and watching the ripples. She had lived across the river in Philadelphia.
That’s sad about the second shots. It’s too bad you can’t have the ones that some people here won’t take.
We lived right along the Red River bank.
I have a sense of across the river.
Ant people would wave from the world on the other side.
I so want a second shot now, at this prescribed time.
Sending hugs, Resa!
{{hugs))
Yay for haircuts … I’m holding off on my mine since it’s still pretty short 😉 How wonderful you finally got to be with your daughter and son-in-law. A step in the right direction. These lines — but still the fears
of what comes next?
Another crisis, another text
of sorrow or disaster. —
got me a bit choked up. As much as we’re looking forward to the light, there’s still darkness. My sister and her husband tested positive for COVID a few weeks ago. They’ve both been vaccinated but apparently got exposed and infected somewhere along that process. They never had to be admitted to hospital although Al had to have an “infusion” when his symptoms got worse. They are both getting better now, and my sister sounds strong when I talk to her. (She’s in NY.) Sadly, my brother-in-law’s sister also became infected about the same time, but she died. She was hospitalized along with her husband (I think he is improving but still in hospital). I was high school friends with her daughter and am flooded with memories whenever I think of her. I felt so much rage at the news (“This isn’t suppose to happen now!”) but have to let that go. I am so sad for her daughter and the rest of the family.
Sorry to be a downer here. Your poem and photos are wonderful and fill me with hope. I just have to accept that the path ahead is still rather rocky.
Oh, Marie! I’m so sorry about your relatives. That’s so awful they got Covid after being vaccinated, and even worse that your brother-n-law’s sister died.
Over the weekend, my daughter–the one we saw on Sunday–learned that a friend of hers who she met when in a summer theater camp had died. It was actually three weeks ago, but she had just found out. I’m FB friends with him, but I hadn’t known about it either. He was a school music teacher and performer, a very exuberant person, and we’re not sure what happened. There just seems to be so much death around.
But yes–still trying to stay hopeful. I’m glad you liked the poem and photos. 😀
Thank you, Merril. You can imagine my fear when my sister told me about her and her husband and how relieved I was when they started getting better. My sister is being quite matter-of-fact about it ;). Death is never easy, regardless of the age of the decedent but it seems particularly cruel when it happens to young people. Definitely seems to be way too much death around, within our families, our social circles and in the news. So we look for hope so we can experience it. Your morning photos always do that for me 🙂
Aww–thanks! I hope you and your loved ones stay well.
Cautiously hopeful is where we are right now I think. I’m glad you got to see family again, even if the anniversary of your mother’s death tinged it with sadness. (K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe. Yes, cautiously hopeful–though so discouraging to hear about so many who won’t get a vaccine.
Looks like fun! We ought to be able to get vaccinated now. It still seems unreal though.
Sorry to have got so behind with reading. My email is so messed up I’ve had to turn off all email notifications and so I don’t get any from you at all.
Thank you. I hope you can get vaccinated soon. I have Canadian blogger friends who have received their first shots, but have to wait months for the second. I feel fortunate that we’ve had both our shots.
I appreciate that you went back to read posts!💙
They’re doing vaccinations here now. At the fire station. We’ll see if it’s our turn yet.
Getting my computer sorted out is going to be a pain. The repair place is out of range for the moment as we have a 10km travel restriction. Mail is non-existant except for my gmail account. Ah well, there are worse problems in the world!
It’s not the worst thing, but it’s still frustrating. And, for us at least, it’s important to have email for work and other important things.
Also, my daughter-in-law pointed out that during these times, people take comfort in routine things–like having email. We still get a daily paper delivered. It was very reliable all last year, even during lockdown. But we must have a new delivery person who doesn’t deliver. It’s frustrating and it messes up our morning routine. 😀
Such little things 🙂 You’re right though, it’s scary not to have email working properly. I’ve started new things from gmail but most contacts are through my usual address and I can’t use it. As soon as things get back to normal I’ll let husband take it in to Bordeaux to get it sorted out.