From Parag

"Young Priestess" (1873) Adolphe William Bouguerea

To my Dear,
If I were to light a candle
for every reason I love you,
the brightness and warmth
would fill a room,
the way thoughts of you
fill my world..
There would be candles
for your eyes
as they sparkle with delight,
and another for each
of your interests
and the pleasure I get
as you share them with me.
There'd be candles
for the way you talk,
the way you look,
and the way I feel
when I'm with you...
If I were to light a candle
for every reason I love you,
there would be more
than you could count,
and the light they'd give
would be lovelier
than anything I know.

I love you.
from Parag.

One more...

From Court:

5-17-98 

this is for you, my love.... 

Two hearts inexorably entwined;
Reminds me of two others,
Whose love is of the same kind..
Why can’t I let go of you ?
You pervade my every dream..
It is your generous, loving demeanor,
That enthralls my consciousness stream !

I try to dissolve your power…
But my heart says: “It’s not to be…”
You are just a lovely spirit…
Whose life I know so well;
My darling, my lovely,
In whom my consciousness dwells!

Another one from Court...

...written while on a hunting trip with a couple of his friends:

This is for you, Goldie! High in the mountains, Over the pass, Down in the lush valley, Filled with tall grass..... East River ranch, The meadow unfolds... Mountains on both sides, We tremble with cold. Up on the hillside, We view the bald peaks; High above timberline, It's elk that we seek.... The beauty is breath taking The sky is turning gray.... We three hunters stand waiting, "Scoping" their prey. In rolls the snowstory.. Down the meadow, from the West, The hunters all shudder, And zip up their vests... Wind and snow, hail and sleet, We trudge back to the cabin... To warm frozen feet. My thoughts turn to spirits; And those that are by my side... I'm warmed by the feelings, That there YOU abide! The incredible beauty, Of all I survey... Reminds me of your spirit, Just a heartbeat away! I'm sad and I'm happy; Beguiled by the bliss... Of spiritual proximity, In moments like this... Two spirits enraptured; Two spirits entwined; Two destinies unfolding; ... a feeling sublime! Affectionately, C.

From Court, my kindred spirit, in San Antonio, Texas

"The Shepherdess" by Adolphe William Bouguerea

"The Shepherdess" by Adolphe William Bouguerea

this is for you:
I took a trip through cyber space, ...
and found a kindred spirit; ...
She told me of her life and times, ...
Of courage without limit
My heart was touched, my soul enlarged ...
with thoughts and admiration;
Her brightness shone, like stars above; ...
my mind filled with adulation;
So, K. my dear, ...
one thought is clear; ...
as our spirits mix together:
Were it not for chance and happenstance, ...
we might have missed forever...
But, happily, you came along, ...
within my spirits reach!
And now we commune, ...
in time and space;
Forever affecting each.....

Song for a Princess

Many years ago, I wrote poems for my friend's birthdays as my personal gift to them.  Then it was put as part of a webpage, also personalized, for them to share with their friends.  This particular poem was requested and written for the daughter (shown on the left, Kakku) of one such friend, and after being shared (or found), became quite popular for many fathers to give to their own daughters.   It has been been translated into other languages, engraved into wood, written on parchment and framed, and many other things I am probably not aware of.  I wanted to include it here, so it doesn't get "lost" and is still available for someone else to share with their daughter.

Dark haired beauty in blue silk

With a world of possibilities.
Is she a butterfly?
With beautiful wings spread,
Waiting to fly?
Or a nightingale?
With voice of lovely song,
Waiting to sing?
Or a rose of blue,
Petals soft and covered with dew,
Waiting to bloom? 
Is she the sun? 
Bright and warm,
Waiting to shine? 
Or the moon,
With her mystery in darkness,
Waiting to unfold?

But she is not just one of these things,
She is all of them, and much more.
Truly a princess.
The butterflies bow at her feet,
And the nightingales sing chorus to her pureness.
Roses climb in through the window
To bloom in her glowing presence.
The sun and moon shine for her,
Lighting the way for her to smile.
Sweet princess of the morning.
Dear princess of the night.
Your song...
It echoes through the ages
A constant reminder
for those who love you.

May all your days be as happy as a birthday for you Kakku.

Just things I want to remember - Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving 2011

This morning, as I was putting a spiral ham in the oven. Shaun came in and observed the process with great interest, noting each detail as I wrapped it in aluminum foil and glazed it. I usually use my toaster oven for baking, but this dude just wouldn't fit inside it (I tried several positions with no luck), so, into the BIG oven (that I seldom use) it went. Later, Shaun came back in the kitchen to check out what was smelling so good, looked into an empty toaster oven and asked, "Mommy, where'd the big chicken go? What did you do with it?" So, if anyone asks what did we have for T-giving, I answer, with a big smile, "A spiral cut BIG CHICKEN."  

Later, I asked Shaun if he'd gotten enough to eat and he answered, "Oh yeahhhh, but the big chicken was the bestest."

Shaun has been quite curious about various types of relationships and people's ages, and well - people in general. It's as if he is trying to sort it all out in his mind somehow. After dinner, everyone was sitting around discussing this and that, catching up on time and distances. Shaun decided to contribute to the conversation, and asked, "Uncle Stanley, do you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend or anything like that?" We all giggled, but not to be outdone, Uncle Stanley answered, "Yep, got two of each." Shaun stopped to look bewildered for a moment before continuing, "Where do you keep them?"

And to think, with all this live entertainment, we still pay for cable.

...

Just things I want to remember

I've always heard that kids say the darnedest things and have found that to be true, especially in the last few weeks.  Many of them seem to be from the backseat when Shree or I am driving.  For example, we were coming back from McDonald's the other night and I hear this question from the back seat, "Mommy, what are you going to be when you grow up?"  Of course, he was a bit confused when we ripped out in a fit of giggles.  But in his defense, it shows he is thinking, and that's a good thing.

The state fair is here this week, and we went this past Saturday.  It was more crowded than last year, so after a while, we decided we'd had enough of trying to get here and there around all those people and left.  We pass Arby's on the way home from the fairgrounds and Daddy decides it's as good a place as any to stop for lunch.  Fine with me, that's for sure.  As we were leaving, I noticed the ad sign on the wall for the chocolate turn-overs and remembered that I'd meant to get one.  Shree asked if I wanted him to go back and get me one for later, but I decided I'd wait until next time.  I didn't think Shaun was even paying attention.

We get Shaun loaded up in the car and pull out of the parking lot.  This is the conversation that happened next:

Shaun:  "Daddy, how 'bout we do this?"  Pause for affect.  "Let's take Mommy and pour chocolate syrup all over her.  Then we'll turn her over and that way Mommy can be a chocolate turn-over."

Muffled giggles from me and Shree as I am visualizing myself covered in chocolate syrup at the hands of my six-year-old.  Then one last comment:

Shaun: "Oh yeah, and Daddy, you can put a cherry on top if you wanted to."

So there you have it.  In my career as Shaun's "Super-Hero Moo-Moo," I am now a chocolate turn-over too.  Yumm.

And in the meantime, I will ponder on what it is that I want to be when I grow up.

Signing out, at least for now, as Super-Hero Moo-Moo Chocolate Turn-Over.