Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Small Kindnesses

Today this post is dedicated to the "Small Kindnesses" blogsplash created by Fiona Robyn to celebrate her new book of the same title. I am here to share a small kindness that has touched the lives of others. You can see all the other bloggers and their posts here. It's not too late to write your own. Use the hashtag #smallkindness to promote and it will show up in her blogsplash. 

The Great Kindness Challenge 

The Great Kindness Challenge (GKC) is actually a day created by Kids for Peace and dedicated to random acts of kindness. When I lived in San Diego I was a board member for this wonderful nonprofit that gave children the space to tap into their own innate ability to foster peace. GKC falls on the second Saturday in August annually and is open to anyone who wants to participate no matter where you live. 

The GKC gave my daughter and I along with our friends the opportunity to make random people feel happy. One of the things that we did was to cut out paper hearts and place them on the windshields of cars in our neighborhood. We also painted peace rocks and placed them in visible places throughout our town. Giving candy bars to our lifeguards was also a well received act of kindness. 

The day ended with a celebration at the beach where other Kids for Peace chapter members came together to share their acts of kindness. We lit candles in paper bags that were placed in the shape of a peace sign. Our kindness wishes were sent out into the universe so that others everywhere could receive our energy. 

Please visit the site and save some time in August or any day for that matter to participate in your own version of the Great Kindness Challenge. 

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Drops

soft drops slide down branches 
leaves spread out like stars
sun peeks in
settles nicely on doorsteps 

Friday, October 26, 2012

Olivetti

Vintage Olivetti 
stairs into stacks of Jazz records
Its beauty lives on 
while words that embellished pages
Are now forever fleeting
Cat ponders over poppies
wondering if love will come again

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Playoffs

Heart rhythm intensifies
Red all around 
KKKs keep feet retreating
Will there be another chance to dance in the yard?

Friday, September 14, 2012

Knit Sweaters

knit sweater in a box
colors woven in geometric patterns
patterns that move us
as chilly skies fill our days

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Double Rainbow

Photo by Leah Dockstader

Double rainbow arcs over our city by the bay
Fire orange magnificence 
meets me face to face

Soulful ending to a day dipped in simplicity

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Topped Off Pints

Topped Off Pints
By Julie Gengo

topped off pints
strange artifacts stick out of walls
man in the corner paints postcards
eyes glance and turn away

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Jack Rabbit

Jack-rabbit terrier 
dashes past 
stars on shirts
sonic booms spur excitement 

Our Moment

Out Moment
By Julie Gengo

Our moment
Hopefulness overrides uncertainty
Good company
while you drink your simple beer?
Is it the only way you half look into my eyes?
I stay in wonder
and listen to stories
That I half want to hear
I take your company too
It's my way of feeling good 
about our moment

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Savor Spring

Savor Spring
into her last breath


Bursting out of seams


Color bleeds beyond solstice


Decides to linger for a while


Now trickles
slowly


While we dance within its hinges

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Drops of Breath

capturing drops of breath
inhaling deeply
waiting for one to pop
sweep me away
into your comfort and whimsy

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

My Most Beautiful Thing - A Celebration for Fiona Robyn

MY MOST BEAUTIFUL THING

The way her hair shuffles back and forth
The way she puckers her nose
The way she collects random objects and turns them into dreams
The way she opens up her big beautiful eyes and stairs into mine
The way she wraps her arms around me and squeezes too tight
The way she lets me hug her back when no one is looking
The way she sings to the world while water rinses her day
The way she stops the ball from moving in the wrong direction and then boots it past the center
The way she combines her clothes in eclectic patterns and enters the world with abandon
The way she loves
The way she sleeps                                                       
The way she is
is my most beautiful thing

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

January Fizzle

January flies by
stones have reached their destination
fizzle and pop 
new stones on the verge
waiting to meet you

Life Goes On

disappointment in her eyes
a failed effort
only to those 
who have a different view
life goes on 
into an open field

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Sky Blue Pink

in between 
noise and 
tomorrow's dinner
moving past 
the girl with the curly hair
a slice of sky blue pink
fills the distance

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

North Star

raven cloud approaches
radiant slice of moon
north star keeps watch
life is never as it seems

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Old School

lace stockings
hair askew
old school electronica on a rampage
cocktails keep us dancing

Splash

photo by Blu Gengo
Puddles create 
fantastic places 
for giggling children to splash
screams of joy infiltrate our lives

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Pied Piper

Photo by Blu Gengo
Pied Piper on the wall
askance view through a Martini
blue eyes distract
a Parrish classic

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Around the Table

friends gather
around the table
fire heating bodies
nearby
Pilsner sparks
conversation
music fills the background

She Follows Me Home

the drive seemed longer 
this night 
across the bridge
that connects two worlds
half dressed
her saucy eyes
followed me home
and hung out by the door 
until I was safely in

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Towhee

Towhee
pops up upon the side mirror
warm brown body
sits comfortably
before the sun emerges 
for breakfast 

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Morning Moon

morning moon
bright as sunshine
peeks into
bedroom windows
bypassing curtains
and other things that keep
children sleeping

Vines

vines cling to brick 
peeking over at men
in florescent yellow and orange
drilling holes in the ground

Monday, January 9, 2012

Anthony B

Photo By Blu Gengo
the great SF
opened up her big 
avant garde arms 
and welcomed
master food wanderer
into her ups and downs

Lazy Day

while joggers whiz round bay area trails
i softly slip back into slumber

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Winter Calm

photo by Blu Gengo
sunshine settles nicely 
on the garden wall
cool wind moves
shadows through redwoods
winter calm motivates
sleepy bones

Dark Chocolate

crumpled dark chocolate
melts inside 2nd day coffee
inspired by moon rays
sliding through steam

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Muffin

Within a week
She's half the size she was
It may be just days
Before the spot on the desk 
Is empty

Long Way Home

A Mercedes squashed at both ends
Dog runs frantically in between speeding cars
A brown belly hawk lies lifeless upside-down
Wings spread out in defeat

Falling

photo by Blu Gengo
like a splash of falling stars
time shifts 
in the blink of an eye
jubilant noise surrounds our being