Monday Morning Musings:
Well, Here We Are, It’s August Again
Every day opens with possibility,
every story flows from what if,
each second is a mysterious connection
from what was to what is
next passes, too, in a stream like
the luscious light of the sun,
outside of time,
both ancient and new
like memories,
the past remembered is reborn,
perhaps re-written, or embroidered upon,
added stitches to a tapestry, patches placed
over the tears in the fabric,
until we can’t tell what was the original
and what was added,
and so, we guess, living between shadows,
and walking down paths
we imagine, we ask, “what if?”
and “what happened next?”
This is fiction and science,
this is every story ever told,
our fates and faults, “not in our stars,”*
and we, not star-crossed—yet,
dependent on them for our existence,
each of us carrying traces of stardust,
holding an infinitesimal speck of before time–
and each of us an answer to what happened next.
This past week we had high heat and humidity and normal summer heat with less humidity. Elsewhere there have been huge wildfires and floods. We got a little bit of rain, but not enough.
While we wait to see if our nation is destroyed by authoritarian rule and our Earth dies, we go on living.
My daughter and I visited Kennedy Cellars in Hammonton, NJ for some mother-daughter bonding time. My husband kindly served as DD while we sampled wine flights and nibbled at the delicious cheese board. It was a very hot day, but bearable in the shade, as we really didn’t want to sit inside in the small space with rising Covid numbers.
Kennedy Cellars
On Saturday with the lower humidity my husband and I took a morning walk in Ceres Park in Mantua/Pitman, NJ. It was very quiet and peaceful, except one section of the trail goes under an overpass, but even there the light was beautiful. Then later in the afternoon, we visited Auburn Road Winery for wine and pizza.
Ceres Park
One night this week, we watched a play from our video backlog. It was The Merry Wives, performed last August when plays in Central Park in NYC were permitted again and televised this past spring. Perhaps Shakespeare purists would not approve, but I think it was just what we needed. It was a streamlined version of The Merry Wives of Windsor set in Harlem. Shakespeare’s plays were of the moment and appealed to common people as well as the educated and aristocracy, so I think of this as sort of the same thing. Here’s how it looked. If you have PBS Passport you may still be able to stream it.
We’re also watching For All Mankind (Apple TV), a series based around what if the Soviet Union landed on the Moon first? In this series, it changes history, and each change changes something else.
These two shows gave me the idea for my musings. Also, both of my parents, now gone, were born in August, which has me thinking of August, what was, what is, what might have been. . .
I’m hosting dVerse Haibun Monday today, so I will be back later.
*”The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.”
–William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Strange (but true) we both wrote about the same thing this morning. The past is something intangible. Maybe that’s why we embroider on it, so we have something to look at.
That is strange (not), but true. 🙂
Yes, I don’t think we can help it.
Some things just happen. Strange or not 🙂
True! 🙂
I like Jane’s thought about embroidering the past, which is what we often do in our recollection of what’s in our rear-view mirror. We do it even as we write memoir, which I’m doing – Again, in July, August, and so on.
And I did enjoy the video clip of the “Merry Wives of Windsor.” Shakespeare may approve even though a Shakespearean purist may not, as you remark.
Thank you, Marian. Yes, like I wrote, stitches added to a tapestry. And of course, written in memoir, as our memories are not necessarily the truth.
You may be able to find the play online. 🙂
Thanks!
Oh these photos! Just luscious! Looks like you had a lovely time with your daughter. I need to do that with mine.
Thank you very much, Luanne!
Yes, it was fun to get together just the two of us for a bit. 💙
One of my favorite things to do!
Mine, too!
Our older child lives in MA, so it’s more difficult to get together.
But at least not on opposite sides of the country. That would be really rough.
So true!
Beautiful musings today, Merril. I love the basket reflection shot! It’s gorgeous! Also, the photo of you and your daughter is lovely. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you very much, Jill! 😊
I love your Monday Musings, Merril. Great photos, poetry and of course I love keeping up with your busy lives. “…we live in the shadows… really struck me today as in the passage of time and how we move through our own existences. 💜
Thank you very much, Colleen. 💙
I added that living between shadows line–I’m pleased it resonated with you.
Wonderful photos and a very reflective poem.
Thank you so much!
This is the perfect description of how I write fiction based on either personal experience or observation:
like memories,
the past remembered is reborn,
perhaps re-written, or embroidered upon,
added stitches to a tapestry, patches placed
over the tears in the fabric,
until we can’t tell what was the original
and what was added,
I’m glad you and you daughter had a chance to spend the day together just relaxing and enjoying each other’s company.
Thank you so much, Liz! It is true, that sometimes it’s hard to tell what really happened. I was thinking that about family history the other day–how stories have been repeated over generations that aren’t necessarily true.
It was fun getting together with her!
You’re welcome, Merril. There are plenty of apocryphal stories handed down in my family as well.
😊
Superb photography to accompany your moving musings – and ifs in your prose, too
Thank you, Derrick.
Sometimes the ifs slip in. 😏
🙂
I love the notion of embroidering the new over the old and faded, keeping it all alive. What a lovely couple of outings you had, to boot.
Thank you so much, Dale. I was fortunate last week to have a few lovely outings!
That you did! 🙂
😊
I always wonder about those paths not taken, decisions which split the universe…thank you for getting me thinking Merril!
Thank you and you’re welcome, Ingrid. That’s so lovely that I got you thinking. 😊
Love your Monday musings.
It seems the more Covid numbers go up, the restrictions are loosened. I feel like we are sacrificial lambs for corporations, industry and government.
Not sure why, but I thought today is Monday, even though last night was Thursday garbage night.
They say Monkey-Pox is spread/shed by skin contact. Yet, what about shaking hands? Skin to skin?
Your comments are so funny, Resa. We put our garbage and recycling out on Thursday nights, too. I heard our Covid numbers are starting to go back down again. I’m not sure what will happen once the weather gets cold though.
I’m not a Monkey Pox expert. I imagine it’s not only skin to skin, but also fluids/ contact with lesions.
At least I’m funny! A good chuckle is required at least every day!
You’re right! 😊