Thinking of Home

My brother sent a photo of

Our childhood home and, yes,

It brought me back to younger days

But what I must confess…

Is that, though I was happy there,

I’ve no wish to go back.

The intervening years have set me

On a different track.

It’s nice to reminisce but really

When we think of home,

We should be happy where we keep

Our toothbrush and our comb.

If all our time’s spent in the past

Where we did once belong,

Then something in our current life

Is definitely wrong.

Who's Left

Lewis Carroll, Harpo Marx,

Albert Einstein, Eminem,

Paul McCartney, Judy Garland –

These are just a few of them.

Add DaVinci and Obama,

Oprah, Jimi and Bill Gates,

Charlie Chaplin, Morgan Freeman –

All have something that relates.

R.B. Ginsburg, Mozart and

Ted Williams and, of course, Babe Ruth,

Helen Keller, Ringo Starr,

Matt Groening and Bart Simpson. (truth!)

Jerry Seinfeld, Larry Bird,

Ludwig B, Spike Lee, Mark Twain

Are among the ten percent

Who use the right side of the brain.

Since today’s Lefthanders Day

Let’s honor all of those who are

As I will with my grandson Henry,

Who’s my lefty fave by far!

Packing Up Her Trunk

In Argentina, Mara

Lived a sad and lonely life,

Crowded with unfriendly roommates,

Twenty years of constant strife.

She’s an elephant from Asia

Who was stuck inside a zoo

But the powers-that-be decided

There was something they could do.

So they took her on a road trip,

Days and many miles away,

To a sanctuary in Brazil

Where she could safely stay.

Now she’s found a friend in Rana

And they’ve formed a touching bond.

It’s a tale like Cinderella,

Altered by a magic wand.

In the midst of a pandemic

It’s uplifting just to hear

Of the type of happy ending

That I feared would disappear.

My Aunt's Birthday

I’m usually in Florida

To visit with my aunt

To celebrate her birthday

But this Covid year, I can’t.

Her sons (my cousins) will be there

To mix a toasting drink

And take her out to dinner

Where more glasses they will clink.

I’m sure there’ll be a candle

Stuck into some type of cake

So there will be a chance for her

A birthday wish to make.

We sent a gift, we called and sang

But it just can’t compare.

With fingers crossed, I’m hoping that

Next year we can be there.

Overheard on Mt. Rushmore

Picture this: Mt. Rushmore

With its most imposing heads

Discussing certain rumors

Which the White House likely spreads.

“He can’t be really serious!”

Groused Teddy, steaming mad.

“I think he is,” calm George replied.

“He’s nuts, though, I should add.”

“There isn’t room up here at all,”

As Thomas pointed out.

“He’ll just buy the surrounding land,”

Said Abe, “without a doubt.”

“But what a nerve!” they all agreed.

“Such chutzpah truly shocks!

How could his head be made in stone

When it is full of rocks?”

Shrinking

I “talk” to people on the web

From countries far away,

A few I’ve been to, others that

I’d hoped to see one day.

By telephone or FaceTime

I connect with those I know,

Some frequently enough I’m up

On all their ebb and flow.

Despite all that, the world that I

Inhabit has begun

To shrink a little more each day;

My travel days are done.

The prison I’ve created,

Though much better than a cell,

Is the confines of my home,

The rooms of which I know so well.

My neighborhood provides me

With some peaceful walking streets

And a bench besides the river

Gives me afternoon retreats.

Once a week I’m granted freedom;

To the suburbs we do drive,

Spending time with kids and grandkids

To remind me I’m alive.

Other people are expanding

In the things they choose to do

But I’m stuck without the tools I need

To help me break on through.

Season 6, Episode 9

In season 6 we have been stuck

And numerous calls brought no luck.

Episodes 8 to 10

Left us wondering when

Into episode 9 we could tuck.

It’s a problem, the company said,

But we’ll fix it; why don’t you instead

Stream it on your TV.

If it’s smart, you won’t see

The omission that you seem to dread.

Since our TV is dumb, we were screwed

So we paused and some other shows viewed,

But today, a surprise

And a sight for sore eyes

For the show we were missing’s been queued.

We had almost accepted defeat;

Thought the season would stay incomplete

But the problem’s resolved

And the techies involved

Gave my husband a real birthday treat.