While I Waited, Life Happened

As fall approaches, this poem comes to mind. It is in my poetry book and was published on Your Daily Poem. 

While I Waited, Life Happened by Glenda Council Beall Next

In the waning days of fall vacation, leaves fly like goldfinches, poplars' jeweled showers rain upon the mountains of West Virginia. Temperatures plummet to freezing after dark, but mornings crisp as caramel apples draw us outside where cows seek sustenance burrowing beneath tall weeds bronzed by season's cold. Three horses clip remaining blades from pasture overgrazed in the drought. Smoke plumes from burning brush cut to make the raw road, drifts across the pond's mosaic surface. I find myself nostalgic for my own country roots; Soft sounds of mourning doves and lost calves calling for their mothers; riding horseback in the woods, quail flush and scare my pony; crows caw from stands of willows. Boundless days stretched before me; days of wasted youth; Hours of restless yearning, wanting always what I did not have, waiting to learn what I would become, waiting to live, oblivious to the riches I already possessed. Given a second chance, I'd hold that gift of time cupped tightly in my hands. I'd breathe, taste and savor every second I have squandered — not fritter it away, but hoard each precious minute, clutched firmly against my breast. From Now Might As Well Be Then (Finishing Line Press. 2009) Used with the author's permission.

Your Daily Poem accepts Carroll Taylor's Poem

Today I am happy for my friend and volunteer PC assistant, Carroll Taylor, whose poem was recently published in an online journal, Your Daily Poem. Click on the link below to read this short poem.

http://yourdailypoem.com/

Jayne Jaudon Ferrer is owner and editor of Your Daily Poem. She and I have been friends for many years. Jayne is also a poet. I enjoy reading and giving copies of Jayne's books as gifts. They are hard copy, traditionally published books. You can find them on her website.

Jayne Jaudon Ferrer

She began this online journal so that people who  had to read poetry in school and found it boring and complicated can see that poetry can be fun, touching and inspiring, She makes sure the poetry on her site makes you feel something. She does not want readers to be left wondering what the poet was trying to say.

Jayne says this about Your Daily Poem.

"This site exists for one purpose only: to help dispel the ugly myth that poetry is boring. Granted, a lot of poetry is boring, but you won't find it here. At Your Daily Poem, you'll find poetry that is touching, funny, provocative, inspiring, and surprising. It may punch you in the gut, it may bring tears to your eyes, it may make you laugh out loud, but it most assuredly will not bore you."

I and other poets from my region have poems published on the site. Go to the Authors list and put in the name of a published poet and see if he/she is in Your Daily Poem Archives. I am proud to be there.

Doing new things and planning for 2020

 I was recently home all day and had the time to submit some of my writing for publication. Thanks to my office assistant, Corie, this was done quickly and well. Having an assistant is a huge help, and Corie is so easy to have around. 

Here is a link to one of the submissions. My poem was published by Your Daily Poem, a wonderful poetry online journal. You can read it here: 
http://yourdailypoem.com/listpoem.jsp?poem_id=3204


I feel much better about things since I saw my favorite doctor, my cardiologist, who said I was doing fine and he found no problems. My arteries are not filled with plaque and tests show I am doing well. In fact, he said that I was far younger than my chronological years.
He encouraged me to continue with my work and doing what I enjoy, but just do a little less and not overdo. 

So I have begun working on writing events for 2020.
I hope to set up writing classes for the summer at Moss Memorial Library. I will teach a four week course at Tri-County College in March. 

For many years I have taught writing and had guest instructors teach at my studio, but I see the need for changes. I will make my priority lists and be sure to save time for my own writing, submitting and promoting my work.

I hope to have more of our NCWN-West members teach and host events in the coming year. The more they are involved, the better chance of our writing organization continuing even when or if I am no longer the leader. We have some wonderful folks in our group, and I see them taking care of business in the future.

Meanwhile, I have a new laptop computer and working hard to learn all the new bells and whistles. I am in process of proof reading a manuscript for a former student. I hope she sticks with it and publishes her book one day.

I had become a person with Pain Brain.
The chronic pain I have had the past couple of years had almost consumed me until my physical therapist talked to me about pain brain. When all I think about is my pain and what I must do for the pain, I am letting other parts of my life fall by the wayside. Pain management is a complex business. It takes more than pain meds.

I have been letting pain dictate who I am and what I can do. I will not do that. Pain is just something I must deal with, but it will not consume me. As I have done in the past, I will find a way to continue with what I love. As a friend told me recently, we are getting older, but we are not done for, and we still do most of the things we like to do. We can't let our chronological age determine who we are or what we accomplish. After all, octogenarians and people in their nineties are living happy lives. 

For the past couple of days my sister, Gay, has been here with me. What a joy for Lexie and me when she comes. 

Look at this lovely lady, my younger sister, dancing at a Showcase recently. She had a great time and looked terrific. She is chronologically younger than I, and  much healthier and younger than her chronological age. 

Gay Moring with her dance partner

Once a dancer, always a dancer

She is a big inspiration for me. We all need to find what we enjoy doing most and just do it. I tell my friends and family who are much younger than I, "Don't wait until you retire, or wait for the best time, just go on now and take that trip or learn something new, start a business if that is what you always wanted, because you don't know what tomorrow brings."

A Very Old Photograph to be re-run March 26

I heard from Jayne Ferrer today. On www.YourDailyPoem.com, to celebrate her first five years of the online poetry magazine, she is posting poems from her first year online. She has re-posted some of my poems already, and will publish another on March 26. This is what she said today:

“As the first year retrospective continues, "A Very Old Photograph" will run on March 26, just as it did in 2010.

It's been a fun trip down Memory Lane, and I've loved bringing those first poems to a wider audience, but I'm looking forward to sharing new work and seeing what Year 6 brings to YDP!”

Jayne Jaudon Ferrer, Editor
http://www.YourDailyPoem.com

She has accepted three of my new poems that will reach her large number of subscribers in the coming year. Thanks, Jayne.

My Mother

Poetry Month - Get Your Daily Poem

During Poetry Month, April, Jayne Jaudon Ferrer, of your daily poem, sends a poem a day through email. I will receive a poem, usually one I really enjoy, because Jayne chooses poems that are accessible but interesting, touching and thought-provoking.

If you'd like to receive a poem each day in your inbox, click on Jayne's site, http://www.yourdailypoem.com/ and put in your email address which is not shared with anyone. You will enjoy the poems during the poetry month of April.