Tag: poetry

My Friendliest Rivalry…

Published on by Wildflowers LoriLeave a comment

We met in an old school building back in the late 80’s that was probably packed with asbestos and lead paint. That may explain some of my crazy life decisions, Oy! Certainly this building lacked air conditioning or any modern conveniences but I LOVED this building that was built in 1923. Our middle school was beautiful and it smelled like old wood and vintage clothing. I loved it even more because it was there that we forged our nearly 35 year friendship.

I remember hanging out in the basement cafeteria talking up a storm about who has a crush on who, what Porker got in trouble for that day, eating fiestada pizza and peanut butter balls. Damn I miss peanut butter balls! You were this tall lanky kid who had a crush on me. You were always making me laugh and not just heeheehee laughing but deep belly laughing. You were funny and bold as hell and I ADORED you, as my friend.

Then just like that you moved away to that state up north and I vividly remember being totally bummed.

And yet..

Somehow before the days of cell phones and internet we managed to keep in touch. I remember that you’d come to visit your one parent back in our hometown and we’d meet up with each other to catch up and hangout. On and off through the years we’d see each other but it wasn’t until about a decade ago that we became better and closer friends. Traveling to attend a game in the big house, watching them in the garage with a bunch of your crazy but fun friends. Razzing each other and making silly bets. You, wearing and looking the best I have ever seen you, in Scarlet and Gray. Bahahaha….

On one level or another over the years, we always looked out for each other. Us wanting the nothing but best for the other person.

You were and are a great guy. I wanted desperately to see you as more than just a friend. I/we definitely tried (hahaha) but timing was never on our side and that is okay. I was too restless and you were too settled. Lifestyles of oil and water.

But you know what I love most though, about our long and friendly rivalry? It’s that I get to watch you fall in love and grow your family. You are an absolutely amazing father. You are an ABSOLUTELY amazing friend.

A genuinely good dude.

C.P. you are my longest friend and I cherish getting to “grow up” together.

~L

“We do not pull in and fill up. And I’ll tell you why we don’t. It’s because I don’t buy one goddamn drop of gas in the state of Michigan. We’ll coast and push this goddamn car to the Ohio line before I give this state a nickel of my money.”

Woody Hayes~ to assistant coach Ed Ferkany as they were low on gas in Michigan on a recruiting trip.

 GO BUCKS!!!!

A Smile

Published on by Wildflowers LoriLeave a comment

It was in the midst of covid in 2021. I was going to a therapy appointment to seek help on how to deal with my mother’s passing and navigating the emotional promise I made my dad when he made me promise that I would never leave him. Ugh the battle that has been going on since February 2, 2021.

Anyways I was checking in for my appointment in a Lyndhurst office when the man behind the counter asked me if I worked at main campus. I said yes I do. He then gave me the sweetest compliment I have ever received. He said that he worked there as well in the same building as me and that he recognized me even with a face mask on because I would always smile and say hello to him every morning and that he knew it was me this particular day because even with a mask on he remembered how my eyes smiled.

I often pass by people who aren’t smiling. You can tell they are upset, preoccupied or zoned out. I will 99.9% of the time smile and say hello. What I love is when a beautiful smile cracks across their face and they soften and say hello back. I really do wish more people could initiate a smile and a hello. They go so very far in making one feel good, feel seen and feel love from a stranger.

I love the way my pup smiles at me when I come home from work. I love the smiles of my nieces and nephews. I miss my mom’s beautiful slightly crooked smile (I have the same one 💛). I love my dad’s funny “Hi how are ya?” smile. My sister Lisa and a pretty soft sweet smile. My brother Donnie has a big genuine smile, think Santa Claus. My little sister Lana….well her smile is contagious in-person but in pictures she looks..ugh.. constipated. LOL… Love you Lana! Hahahaha..

I dated a man a long long time ago that I fell for instantly because when he turned around to say hello for the first time his smile was big and kind and just melted me. I knew from that very moment he’d be in my life for a little while.

“Children learn to smile from their parents.” ~Shinichi Suzuki

“Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” ~Mother Teresa

“I have witnessed the softening of the hardest of hearts by a simple smile.” ~Goldie Hawn

“Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh

“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.” ~Phyllis Diller

“Wrinkles only go where the smiles have been.” ~Jimmy Buffet

~L



Do You Remember the Coffee?

Published on by Wildflowers LoriLeave a comment

Thoughts of worry. I haven’t seen you or even spoken to you in so long. My dreams are so vivid that I know they are real within the dream itself. Several weeks ago in my dream we just happened to bump into each other in Montana. You were fly fishing and I was rambling through the area. It was complete happenstance. The cowboy hat atop your head didn’t quite seem like a right fit but then again it has been so long maybe your tastes have changed. As you were fishing you looked so happy, like BEAMING happy as you stood alone on that great Montana river in the warm bright sunshine. The smile that cracked across your face sent so many memories rushing to my head. You were always handsome. I feel like you knew it but couldn’t always completely believe it. You asked how I was and I hesitated before telling you I was going through a divorce. Funny because we both know that I don’t believe in legalities of marriage. It was almost as if our roles were reversed. Instead of fishing though I would have been listening to the plants and animals and feeling the wind around me as I sat on the banks of the river. That wasn’t the first dream. There have been many very real dreams.

This morning, as I was driving to get my cappuccino on the way to the lake, feelings of worry began to take hold out of nowhere. Deep, sad worry. I worried about you and your feelings. This is your second time around, and I remember you telling me how hard your first time around was. I ask myself how and why these feelings come up. Why do they hold space in my chest? Space for someone that I haven’t spoken to in many, many years. Yet here they are. As my eyes teared up, I asked you to stay, please stay. I don’t know what I meant by that. Maybe that you are incredibly important for this world.

~L