Friday, October 7, 2011

Let's be Honest

Okay, I'll be honest.  I promised a post Friday on more of what I learned at the Writers' Police Academy.  But that means posting it now because I have another commitment in the morning. 

Well, I haven't written it yet.  I had theater tickets this evening - Young Frankenstein, the Muscal.  It was great.  Then I wanted to seen the end of the Tiger-Yankee game.  (I was rooting for the Tigers so that was also great.)  Then I got distracted by this and that, and now it's almost 1:00 AM and I'm too tired to write about the WPA.  So I'm putting off that promised post until Monday, with my apologies.

I will remind you that the Caption Contest from my Wednesday post is still open for entries.  Stop by and play.

My writers' group is doing a public reading at a local bookstore Friday evening.  I'm going to read the poem I wrote when we lost my mother-in-law, Eleanora, last year.  Saturday is the first anniversary of her passing.  I'd like to share it here as well, in her memory.

More Time

I thought we had more time.
The doctors said it would be weeks,
Not days. Not hours.
Not now.

There were things I planned to do.
Take a notebook with me,
Ask her questions about the old days
And write down the answers this time.

She asked me to bring her a card
For her great-grandson's birthday next month,
So she could sign it
Just in case.

I asked her about stuffed pancakes
From Bob Evans.
I could bring her some on Sunday.
She said that would be nice.

I thought there would be warning signs
That would tell us to stay there,
Close beside her,
Holding her hands.

Not a phone call in the night.
Not a stranger's voice
Telling me
She was already gone.

I thought we had more time.

 
Thanks for letting me share.  I'll try to get my act together on my posts before Monday.  Have a great weekend.
 
 
(I think I'll skip the groaner on this one.  I'll find a good on for Monday.)

10 comments:

Isis Rushdan said...

Thanks for sharing something so personal. I could tell you really loved your MIL.

I thought I would have more time with my Grandmother, but she passed away this summer. I had hoped she'd be around another two years, but it wasn't meant to be.

Maria Zannini said...

There's one thing I've noticed when I've read one of your short stories or poems is that when you write from the heart, you are absolutely brilliant.

This is beautiful.

Cate Masters said...

What a lovely tribute. And so true, we never know exactly when. I wish I had a better idea with both my parents.
I also wish I'd committed some of their stories to permanent record. It would be like having them back for a little while.

Pidg said...

That piece was so touching, so personal. Life has a way of reminding us to cling to each moment we are blessed with. Thank you for sharing that memory.

LD Masterson said...

Isis - I guess we're never ready. My condolences on your grandmother.

LD Masterson said...

Maria - Wow. Thank you. Coming from you, that means a lot.

LD Masterson said...

Cate - I realized I needed to do that, but not in time. And she had some amazing stories to tell.

LD Masterson said...

Pidg - Thank you.

Anonymous said...

What happened to the jokes? You have really good ones. Anyway, I'm a Tigers fan too, born and raised in Lansing. Go Tigers! Whoo hoo!!!

Jemi Fraser said...

Love that poem - beautiful.

I was cheering for the Tigers too - awesome! :)