Dear Sports Gods; Definitely Not Gloating!

 

I am being very careful as regards my Sox

Because I am superstitious, which my husband mocks.

He does not believe in sports gods; said they're just a joke.

I bet that his Yankees wish he'd thought before he spoke.

Red Sox are so far in front of other baseball teams

They've exceeded even Fenway Faithful's wildest dreams...

But, I'm trying not to gloat before the play-offs start

Knowing that it risks the sports gods breaking Boston's heart.

Go ahead and laugh it up! Feel free to talk some trash...

Don't believe me! Then, when all your sports dreams turn to ash,

I won't say I told you so (that makes the sports gods mad)

But I will be thinking it...  And gloating, just a tad.

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.

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.

Making King Converts

 

I love it when people say they don't like Stephen King;

That a "scary monster" story ain't their kinda thing.

I just smile and - maybe - ask which novels that they've read

And I recommend his mainstream books to them instead.

In the past, Shawshank Redemption always changed their mind.

Now (although I much prefer the scary monster kind)

Stephen's latest trilogy is what I recommend...

Where you don't discover there are monsters 'til the end.

My mom is a recent convert... Working on my spouse

But he's kind of busy doing work around the house.

After he's retired though, and has some time to spare

I suspect my love of Stephen King is one we'll share.

PyeongChang 2018

Mr. S. can hardly wait until tomorrow night;

He loves the Olympics and has threatened that he might

DVR the whole darn thing and watch it night and day.

Doesn't want to miss a second of the Games they'll play.

After years of living with him, I no longer grouse

Even though the Winter Games, which so enchant my spouse,

Strike me as insanity...  A bunch of crazy kids

Hurtling down mountainsides on greased and fragile skids.

I feel for their mothers, holding their collective breath,

Fearing their beloved off-spring might be courting death

Flipping, flying, floating, freezing out there in the cold

Pushing past their limits in a quest to win the Gold.

I hope all the athletes who participate have fun;

Just the fact they're all in South Korea means they've won.

I'll be watching - cheering - warm and safely in my chair,

Wishing all the best of luck to everyone who's there.

Happy 23rd Beloved

 

Sunday we will celebrate our anniversary,

'though it's not a major milestone year at 23.

Didn't know back then, when I became my best friend's wife,

It was the beginning of the best years of my life.

Thanks to him, I haven't had to worry.  Life is good.

Raised two sons together in our lovely neighborhood.

Nowadays, I love him more than on the day we wed...

I don't even mind he hogs the blankets in our bed.

If I started counting blessings rather than the years

It would take forever and I'd bore you all to tears.

But, if he is half as happy as the man's made me,

He is also hoping for another 23.

Never Again

 

Our son's moving to the condo that my husband's had

Since before the days he ever dreamed he'd be a dad.

We lived there together later (when we lived in sin.)

Then we bought a house and married...  My sister moved in.

After she moved out, my brother rented for a while.

Now the place could used fresh paint, a rug, some flooring tile.

But, because the rent is low, our darlin' eldest son

Volunteered to get the needed renovations done.

We just finished our house and, although I like to paint,

I've discovered that I lack the patience of a saint

Which is a requirement for those who'd renovate -

Waiting on a phone call from the flooring guy...  Who's late.

I have learned my lesson from our first reno-go-round,

When the building contractor is nowhere to be found,

I'm too old to deal with that again.  The kid is young.

But, I'm there for painting walls or getting pictures hung.

In the Dark for Game of Thrones

 

We watched Game of Thrones last night, at home, on HBO.

It was strange not knowing where the story-line would go.

In the past, because I'd read the books, I - mostly- knew

What would happen well before my husband had a clue.

Now I don't know anything about what's coming next

For, although the series didn't always match the text,

I still had an inkling of which characters would die...

Now I worry that they're gonna kill my favorite guy.

It's said Martin kills a Stark whenever any fans

Dare to ask about upcoming publication plans...

HBO stopped waiting for him; now I'm in the dark

Only knowing that I wouldn't wanna be a Stark.

Like Watching Real Housewives

 

Mr. S. refuses to watch any more debates:

Says it won't affect his choice between the candidates,

Thinks it's ugly spectacle and his last nerve is frayed,

Doesn't have the will to listen. His decision's made.

We don't watch Survivor or Big Brother on TV,

Neither of us fans of that so-called "reality."

This election's started feeling very much like those,

Sorta like the worst of our least favorite kinda shows.

I can see my husband's point about tonight, I guess.

Still, I've set the DVR's record to PBS.

Just because I wouldn't vote for Donald on a bet

Doesn't mean I want to miss how bad this thing could get.

Happy 19th Birthday Darlin'

My handsome, smart, funny, youngest son and his dad.

 

This birthday's the last one I'm the mother of a teen;

19 years ago our son arrived upon the scene...

We thought he was perfect then and, frequently, still do.

I cannot believe - next year - his age will start with 2.

Our poor son will always be my little boy to me,

Never mind the fact that he's already 6 foot 3

(Plus, I swear, the boy's still growing taller everyday)

And the brownish hair I had is now completely gray.

Evidence the years are quickly passing I ignore

Even as I wish our son a happy hundred more.

But, if I should live to see that, hope it won't annoy

Him to learn that, even then, he'll be my little boy.

Walt Disney Made Me Cry, Again

(I actually started weeping about 5 minutes before this scene.)

 

Saturday our youngest graduated Chelmsford High.

Band played Pomp and Circumstance and I began to cry,

Watching as his friends and he processed across the floor,

Got diplomas, tossed their caps...  And then I cried some more.

I've been very weepy lately. Watched Toy Story 3;

Mr. S. came in and caught the movie's end with me.

I was sobbing openly; he shed a tear or two.

We're both happy for our son but, still, I'm feeling blue.

He'll be heading off to college and can hardly wait,

Looking forward to his future life at Worcester State;

Making plans and saying his good-byes to all his friends...

While I sit and wonder at how quickly childhood ends.

I've been looking backward to when both our boys were young;

When their Buzz and Woody toys were casually flung

Into corners, under beds... The hours that I spent

Picking up those toys but, now, I wonder where they went.

I know I must look ahead because we can't go back;

Need to force a smile and help my college student pack,

Give him love and confidence so he can seize the day...

Then I might go look for Buzz and make sure he's okay.

Decision Made

Youngest son has picked a college; he chose Worcester State.

We just took the tour with him and thought the school was great.

It's the perfect place for him; somewhere he can excel...

If he puts the effort in, which only time will tell.

This bright apple of our eye fell not far from the tree.
 I know our son's really smart but he's a lot like me;

I am a procrastinator... Lazier than hell.

I'm afraid he may have those genetic traits, as well.

If so, I don't envy him.  His major, unlike mine,

Takes a lot of planning, work, and math but he'll be fine

If he got a single gene for logic from his dad

He will be the brightest star that Worcester State has had.