Look Out World

 

I now clutch my brand new passport in my sweaty grip...

Empty pages beg for stamps; it's time to take a trip.

If he had his druthers, Mr. S. would rather stay

Here at home. He doesn't like to go too far away.

Luckily, my younger siblings have the travel bug...

When I start to feel the pull of distant places tug

One of them is sure to also want to come along;

Nice to be with those you love if anything goes wrong.

So, the only question left is where we ought'a go.

Brother wants Oktoberfest in Gemany, although

I've heard that it's crowded; filled with drunken college kids.

I think that I'd rather go and see the pyramids...

Or go on safari or to Italy or Spain -

See if rain is really falling mainly on the plain.

Maybe I can talk my younger brother into Rome.

We can find drunk college students staying here at home.

Goodbye Adam

 (The McCarthy Middle School talent contest version, Adam in a kilt, was better.)

I spent this year's Mother's Day at Adam Gregoire's wake.

It felt like a nightmare and I thought my heart would break

At the pictures of the boy who used to hang around...

Ate and slept here.  Yet, today, they'll lay him in the ground.

He was such a lovely boy; so funny but so sweet.

Taught our son to play guitar and how to keep a beat.

I can still remember them - in triumph on the stage.

Such a talent gone from us at far too young an age.

Both my sons attended with me and they made me proud

As we stood in line and waited with the massive crowd

Come to say goodbye and offer useless sympathy

And, like all but Adam's mom, thank God she wasn't me.

Journeying to The Tower

 

I am on a journey to The Tower; it's my third...

Which, you'd think, would mean I'd stop and savor every word;

Slow it down. No need to rush - I know how this all ends.

But, that's not the way that I'm re-reading them, my friends.

Once again, these tales of Roland's quest swept me away.

Right now I'm in Mejis but I'll finish there today.

I expect to reach the Calla later on tonight.

I can't seem to pace myself; I've given up the fight.

I'm all in. Absorbed (again) by Sai King's masterpiece.

Not until the journey's end will my obsession cease.

Therefore, you may not hear from me for a week or so.

Hope that you and yours stay well, but now I gotta go.

Play-off Beards

Last night, Boston's Bruins beat Toronto's Maple Leafs.

Mr. S., who often mocks my own sports gods beliefs,

Has got his own superstition which is pretty weird;

He, like many hockey fans, has grown a play-offs beard.

I think it looks kinda sexy but could use a trim.

"You can't touch a play-offs beard," he scoffed when I asked him.

Which is rather problematic, since our eldest son

Starts his new job Monday and he's also growing one.

Will his new employers understand or will they think;

"This guy looks like he could not be bothered?" That would stink.

Boston's first game against Tampa's not 'til Saturday...

My guys may not shave 'til June if we go all the way!

Mr. S., who is the boss, can get away with that

But our son might find himself in H.R. for a chat.

If he's lucky, his new boss will be a Bruins' fan -

One who's understanding of the play-offs shaving ban.

Pretty Lies

 

I just bought new clothes... They're in a size I haven't worn

Since the days of long ago; before our sons were born.

It's the size I wore before I dated Mr. S.

Clothing sizes changed a lot in 30 years, I guess.

Please don't get me wrong!  I must admit, it was a thrill

When the zipper on the khakis zipped... But, even still!

This is not the body that I had when this size fit

Even if you factor in the saggy, aging bit.

Clothing manufacturers tell us a fairy tale

Easily disproven by the household's bathroom scale.

30 years ago, this size would not get past these hips.

('though that fact may not prevent some future shopping trips.)

Which, of course, is why they do it - tell us pretty lies.

It's more fun to purchase clothing in a smaller size.

But, I'll bet you anything, if I had vintage pants

In this size, the zipper on them wouldn't stand a chance.

Dear Mother Nature... Really?

 

More than half way through the month of April and it's cold!

We had snow this morning...  Winter's getting pretty old.

Don't know how much more of cold and rainy I can take.

I've  grown really sick of it.  I need a little break.

Somewhere warm and sunny - near an ocean - would be nice.

Margaritas on the beach?  Don't need to ask me twice.

It's not gonna happen but a girl can always dream...

Still, if I don't see the sun tomorrow I will scream.

The Boston Red Sox Home Opener - 2018

(A more appropriate sport for current conditions at Fenway Park.)

Red Sox' Opener's today...  They're home at Fenway Park,

Where the wind chill feels like it's below the freezing mark.

Fans will bundle up in layers and make a joyous sound

When the Red Sox take the field and Price steps on the mound.

I refuse to make predictions about who will win;

('though we've started 5 and 1) it's still a sports gods' sin.

It is much too early to risk jinxing anything...

Up here, where the Red Sox play, it isn't even spring.

They're predicting snow tomorrow - Saturday, as well.

After that they say we'll have a lengthy, chilly spell.

At the rate that temps are falling down on Yawkey Way

We should just delay the Red Sox. Let the Bruins play.