My Yard Is A Rainforest

My yard has become a rainforest this year.
When you get more than twice as much rain
as the average each year,
in a usual arid environment,
one day you open your front door and realize
that somehow your front yard has wandered
to the Bahamas or perhaps to Brazil.

There are sunflower plants and thistles taller
than I’ll ever be.
There are trees that never existed before,
in places I’ve never seen.

The ivied vines are growing on bricks
like we’ve been transported to New England,
with colonies of very odd insects
invading our spaces.

Once there were only rocks, flowers
and an occasional wasp in the season,
now there are these weird bugs,
that bite without reason!

Yes, it looks like my work is cut out
for me today,
so I can see the blue skies and flowers
and neighborhood again.

I have to admit, though,
as I sit here
in awed wonder,
should I leave nature alone
and enjoy the rare trips
I feel I have made,
to other continents and places,
simply by the green forest
that the bountiful rain has made
in my usual brown spaces?

© Elaine Wood-Lane
7/24/15

Can’t Sleep? Write Something…

Between two snorers,
One a dog and one a man,
Fans nearly drown sounds…

More thoughts come at night,
When paper is nowhere near.
This time iPhone appeared.

Body is aching,
My old heart did some breaking,
That happens when friends
Go to heaven.
They’re happy, so happy,
But we grow oh so sad.

I found out today that a wonderful woman I had known since 1987, Carrie Wardroup, passed away last month. Today was her 80th birthday and I was going to wish her a happy birthday on Facebook as we do these days, and instead learned she had moved to heaven last month. I instantly burst into sobs and tears. My throat throbbed, my heart ached and, I just hurt.

I first met Carrie at TTUHSC when she worked in OB/GYN. She called me to tell me I was pregnant and congratulated me two hours before I miscarried. It was the last time I was ever pregnant. Carrie called me at home the next day to check on me, not as part of her job, but because that was just Carrie. She cared about people. We became instant friends even though we worked in different departments.

Fast forward six or seven years and suddenly we worked for the same pediatric clinic at TTUHSC, the CARE Center. I was her supervisor, which felt weird at first, but worked out fine. How often does one get to supervise a good friend that you think of as a mentor? I think we both learned from each other. We also had a lot of fun, shared joy, worries and griefs. She was 26 years older than me, but taught me how to be young as long as we live. She will always be a part of my heart and who I am. As a matter of fact folks, you can blame/credit Carrie for setting my weird, wild daring sense of humor free.

I’ll love you forever,
You’ll always be close,
I get to talk last,
So this time,
I love YOU most!

Viva los zapatas Carrie!!! 😂

Elaine Wood-Lane
7/23/15