Two Hearts
by Laurie Kolp

Hands that tie two hearts as one
holding fast, holding strong
boundless love no fear can break
holding fast, holding strong
trickling hope forever young
holding fast, holding strong
breathing life’s eternal sun
holding fast, holding strong
hands that tie two hearts as one

"Let's Yell!"

I just finished reading the newspaper (which I might add takes only five minutes nowadays) and am beginning the crossword puzzle, when Katie comes out of her room and walks over to the TV.  She wants to exercise with the Wii's Just Dance.  But Nicholas is playing one of her games on the Wii, and she is not happy about it.

"How come you're playing my game without my permission?" Katie yells, um, says.

"Since when did I need your permission?" Nicholas retorts while still focused on Petz Dogz 2.

"Since ALWAYS. You better not have messed up my game."

"I have my own game on this.  You know the one your friend who moved had," Nicholas snaps.

"You were NOT supposed to touch that."

Voices are getting louder and faces angrier at this point.  Andrew and I look at each other and shrug our shoulders.  I decide I better intervene.

"Katie, really... it's not that important, is it?  I mean, you never play this game," I say diplomatically.

"Yes, it's important...and I do play it, um, occasionally," she answers.

"Well I can, too.  We always share.  What's the big deal?" Nicholas adds.  He has put down his Wii remote and is looking at his big sister right in the face.

"I want to exercise and you've been on the Wii for a long time.  Now, get off."

I grab a book, "Shark Trouble," for Nicholas to read.  We only have three more days for him to complete his summer reading list of twenty-five books from the library.  Katie and Andrew are done with their books (but are still reading), but Nicholas has four more books to read before he reaches the finish line. 

I pick up the book and say in a loud voice (to be heard above the sibling rivalry):

"Come over here, Nicholas, so we can yell."

And guess what?  The children start laughing.  In fact, they immediately go from looks of hatred on their faces to sheer delight as they laugh at their silly momma.

That's the story of my life, or at least one of them.  When does school start again?

Batman
by Laurie Kolp

He wears a long black cape
(part of an old Halloween costume)
and goes running through the house
(just right so his cape flies)
fearlessly leaping across furniture
(even though he knows better)
ferociously jumping on his bed
(and every other one in the house)
dramatically winding his way down halls
(who can stop him?)
while singing all the while
(na-na NA-NA na-na NA-NA na-na)
BATMAN!

Getting Through the Traffic Jams
by Laurie Kolp

When will you see
me as I really am
a writer, a poet
trying to make my way
in this overcrowded
highway of discontent

honking horns to be heard
when cutthroat drivers,
the same ones every time,
zigzag in and out
and cut everyone off
or push them over
so they can get to the front
and win the race

while all the others
are left behind trying to catch up
one car, one word, at a time
never really getting there
because the same impetuous drivers
through nothing more than persistence-
or could it be comfortable connections-
always end up with the trophies.

Blue
by Laurie Kolp

eyes clear as blue sky
cheeks like fluffy clouds to squeeze
and bask in his son

A day in our life: July 24, 2010

What a wonderful day we had yesterday, July 24, 2010.  It all started with a visit from Chris, Chelsea and baby Jonathan.  Katie, Andrew and Nicholas had fun meeting their newest cousin for the first time.  At four-months-old, Jonathan is a big boy.

We laughed so hard while trying to get Jonathan to sit up.  In fact, we captured the moment in video.  I was laughing so hard while recording that I was crying.  There is nothing like a baby to cheer you up.

After Chris, Chelsea and Jonathan left to go back to The Woodlands, we met our dear friend Karen at Jason's Deli for dinner.  She has been in Virginia for many years, but now that she is working in the Dallas area, we can see her more often.  Of course, with Karen a lot of laughing always occurs.

After Jason's, she came over for a while.  When we were going into the house, we heard a rustle from the bush with the bird's nest, and then a small brown blur caught our eyes.  The baby birds were trying to take flight!

Later when Katie, Karen and I were leaving to go shopping, we found one of the fledglings fluttering around Karen's red car.  It got scared and jumped into her tire where it got stuck.  We had to ask Pete to come to the rescue and help the fledgling face its fears.  In a short time, it was flying again.  When we got back from the mall, we noticed the little bird had parked itself against our wall, halfway between the ground and roof.  Maybe the baby finch was having an identity crises and thought it was a bat?  (Thankfully this morning it was gone).

Yesterday was a day to remember.  How was your day?

RIP Jud
by Laurie Kolp

another kind soul
left this plane today
leaving behind fond memories
for the people touched by his way

many obstacles Jud overcame in life
and shared his experience with others
accomplishments in his renowned career
don’t compare to this band of brothers

those left behind are saddened with loss
for his death came fast and unexpectedly
but we should all take comfort in this fact:
Jud’s now in a peaceful realm of spirituality

Techno-noise is driving me nuts!

After listening to the doorbell ring all afternoon, my mind is a little frazzled.  And no, we did not have someone at our door ringing it incessantly; Katie had a friend over whose phone rings like a doorbell every time she gets a call or text message.  A-NNOY-ING.  They were texting back and forth with some friends and this went on for quite some time.   ~sigh~   Apparently even some grown-ups are addicted to texting...just ask my sister. 

Is it just me or do you notice a trend going on here; kids are getting more techno-savvy at younger and younger ages.  Katie is a few weeks shy of turning 11, but she has a cell phone WE keep for her.  She uses it when she spends the night, but Katie does not have free reign of the cell phone.

Once I dropped Katie off at another friend's house and the girl's two-year-old sister greeted us at the door.  She could barely talk but she showed us her toy and said, "iPod!"  The toddler was proudly carrying it around and showing everyone her iPod.

I was impressed when I saw an ad on one of the children's networks (Disney or Nickelodeon) teaching the kids how to be safe with technology: limit use, be careful who you befriend on social-networking sites, remember what you put out on the Internet is out there forever, the potential dangers of texting, etc.  The ad also stressed the importance of spending time with real people vs cyber-people. I remember when these channels talked about playground and bike safety rules, stranger danger and other out-dated topics.

What's next?  Before long magazines, newspapers and books will be things of the past and, just like our kids are clueless when we bring up such topics as vinyl records or cassette tapes, their kids will raise eyebrows at the mention of these paper items.  Schools, college and working will all be online, and communication with the real world will be a rarity.  I think I will start a 12-step program called Technoholics Anonymous.  Oh jeez...I think I'll be in the nut hut by then, having gone mad by all the techno-NOISE!

P.S. It rained today...

What (Most) Girls Want
by Laurie Kolp

girls just wanna be girls
that's all they really want
to dance silly and spin
turn cartwheels and skip
play dress up with dolls
giggle and laugh
girls just wanna be girls

girls just wanna be girls
that’s all they really want
to walk in the sun
get tan and fix their hair
chase cute boys
giggle and laugh
girls just wanna be girls

girls just wanna be girls
that’s all they really want
to marry and have babies
make a house a home
live the dream
giggle and laugh
girls just wanna be girls

girls just wanna be girls
that’s all they really want
to become grandmothers
spoil rotten the kids
share wisdom, stay healthy
giggle and laugh
girls just wanna be girls

The Impatient Patient
by Laurie Kolp

One hot summer day in July
upon discovering a delay in surgery
the angry patient donned his clothes
and walked to the gift shop in the lobby;
Sudoku puzzles always calmed
his irregular heartbeat
more than any
Pacemaker
ever could;
I love you,
Dad.

Baby birds nice distraction

Last weekend during my computer debacle (which Pete tells me taught him more than he ever wanted to know about computers), Katie spotted a bird's nest on our front porch.  It was nestled in a corner beside the front door in a big Schefflera plant.  What a nice refreshing break from my worried mind I had when Katie shared her surprise with me.  The baby birds must have hatched not too long before because when I peeked inside the nest, their downy fir was still covered with liquid from the eggs.  I try to check on them periodically, but mama bird will not have that!  When I hear her protective chirps coming from afar and warning of danger, I quickly recoil back into the house.  I would not want her to try and move the nest.  It would be miraculous if the baby birds turned out to be cardinals, but I do not think that will happen; they are probably sparrows or finches.  I will keep you posted.

Oh...speaking of keeping you posted...THE BRAIN still sticks!

Summer Loving?
by Laurie Kolp

God, please help me
be a good referee
to all the summer’s
bitter squabbles
endless quarrels
and silly spats that,
like an overactive volcano,
spew hot lava daily
and melt words;
burning internally
leaving scars on me,
but phasing not
my children’s reverie
hot from summer’s heat
burning lava endlessly
words, snaps, bites
-OUCH-
God, please help me