Reflective thoughts and poems

palides2021 said:
Well, today's my 69th birthday. I have spent the whole day grading papers and videotaping my lecture for Monday. I also have been answering calls from family and friends wishing me "Happy Birthday" greetings. All my family members live far away, and I haven't celebrated a birthday with anyone from my family in many years now. I've grown accustomed to living alone and being far away from them. I have finished my work for the day, and took a break to write this:

Birthday Thoughts

It is a dreary and rainy day outside.
The gray skies did not cheer me up.
This pensive mood is not glowing.
At least it's not cold enough to be snowing.

There is no birthday cake, no nearby family,
No husband or son to watch me
Blow out the candles. But I am used to it.
Everyone's texting birthday wishes instead.

I considered driving to the mall.
It's only twenty minutes away by car,
Maybe shop and walk around.
But my knees hurt and keep me homebound.

I feel a little sad, as I'm one year closer to being 70.
I saw a video on how the faces of movie stars aged
A comment stated that the video made them depressed
Age has been creeping up on me.
When was I 10? 20? 30? 40? 50? 60?

In the blink of an eye, I am almost at the 70th milestone.
Life is zooming by. Yet at the same time,
For each day I live, I have found
That many blessings still abound.

Although it didn't happen today,
I will be celebrating my birthday
Soon, with good friends.
I am looking forward to spending time with them.


P.A. 1/10/26
Click to expand...
Happy Birthday! Lovely poem.
 
Every day, I try to finish my classes by 8- 8:30 pm, so I have time to watch a Hallmark movie and unwind. These are the only movies I know I can relax with. I find actors and actresses I like in these movies, then I look for more of their movies. However, the strain of reading on a computer screen daily has me wondering if there are glasses that make it easier to read the screen up close and TV farther away.

Last night, I discovered what's called "adjustable glasses." These are glasses that you can adjust the focus of to suit your eyes. It goes from near-sighted to far-sighted. I am curious if anyone has ever experienced this. Instead of having several glasses with different numbers, this eyeglass has a little dial on each side that you turn to get the right magnification. I included a link to the Amazon information below for more information:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=adjustable+focus+glasses&crid=14H6IZY1N75XK&

I ended up not ordering from Amazon because there were too many low reviews. I found a review site that reviewed these types of glasses and went directly to the company that makes them. So I ordered the Flex adjustable glasses. When I receive them, I will let you know how they turn out. Keep my fingers crossed, because lately the stuff I have ordered online hasn't been as good as expected, and I've had to return a few items.
 
Hot and Cold

Today, I am grading papers in my sunroom.
The sun is shining all around me
as I bask in its warmth,
but everything outside is still white
from the recent snow.
The squirrels and cats glide on the shiny snow
as if it were ice. Yes, it is pure ice.
I imagine myself on a sled
zipping down the hills in my backyard,
as I did when I was young, and I smile.

I remember to take the garbage can down the driveway.
It is a pure balancing act
as I avoid the icy patches that have not
melted yet under the relentless sun.
It is a battle between the ice and the sun,
and so far, the ice is winning.

Wanting a longer break from work,
I bake chocolate chip cookies using almond flour,
and they are better tasting than the Tate's brand of cookies.
Heck, better tasting than any other chocolate chip cookies!
I must remember this recipe.
Back to my sunroom, grading papers as
the sun continues its battle with the ice.
I watch the sun's defeat as it descends slowly,
wondering how long it will take to melt the ice,
How long to warm my heart?

P.A. 1/30/26
 
Snow

Crunching sounds fill the air around me
as I walk outside,
up the snow-covered path, my breath
steaming the cold air and my glasses.
I wear my coat, scarf, hat, and gloves,
carrying my snow shovel.

The white snow is still lingering
on the front lawn and the back yard,
forming a visually stunning white blanket.
I pause to take it all in.

I tackle the ice with my shovel,
along the edges of the driveway
and the small path up to the porch.
It doesn't break up as I had hoped it would.
I inch forward, poking and shoveling, careful
not to slip and fall.

The path is not slippery, as I had feared,
just a film of snow on top,
and underneath, firm and crunchy.
My one foot dives into a patch of snow. I stop
to assess the damage, lifting my foot out of the hole
and shaking off the snow.
No damage, except for my ego.

The front porch, stairs, and path are the only places
that I did not completely clear out the snow,
due to the frigid cold weather,
and today I'm expecting
a package from Amazon.

I did try pouring hot water over the front porch
a few days ago, and it worked. But I needed a lot
more of that to make a dent in the steps and the path of ice.
Today, it's supposed to reach the 40s.
I'm hoping that will be sufficient to
quench my fears of the driver slipping
as he drops
off the package.
Maybe I'll open the garage, just in case,
and keep an eye out for him.
Maybe I'll heat some more water and pour it on the ice.
Maybe I'll move down to a warmer state.

P.A. Feb. 10, 2026
 
palides2021 said:
Snow

Crunching sounds fill the air around me
as I walk outside,
up the snow-covered path, my breath
steaming the cold air and my glasses.
I wear my coat, scarf, hat, and gloves,
carrying my snow shovel.

The white snow is still lingering
on the front lawn and the back yard,
forming a visually stunning white blanket.
I pause to take it all in.

I tackle the ice with my shovel,
along the edges of the driveway
and the small path up to the porch.
It doesn't break up as I had hoped it would.
I inch forward, poking and shoveling, careful
not to slip and fall.

The path is not slippery, as I had feared,
just a film of snow on top,
and underneath, firm and crunchy.
My one foot dives into a patch of snow. I stop
to assess the damage, lifting my foot out of the hole
and shaking off the snow.
No damage, except for my ego.

The front porch, stairs, and path are the only places
that I did not completely clear out the snow,
due to the frigid cold weather,
and today I'm expecting
a package from Amazon.

I did try pouring hot water over the front porch
a few days ago, and it worked. But I needed a lot
more of that to make a dent in the steps and the path of ice.
Today, it's supposed to reach the 40s.
I'm hoping that will be sufficient to
quench my fears of the driver slipping
as he drops
off the package.
Maybe I'll open the garage, just in case,
and keep an eye out for him.
Maybe I'll heat some more water and pour it on the ice.
Maybe I'll move down to a warmer state.

P.A. Feb. 10, 2026
Click to expand...
That's one of the bad things about snow. Trying to make paths and not fall on the ice. Driving in it is the other bad thing. At least for me it was. I love the silence of it though. In the morning after a heavy snowstorm I would be out on my porch with a cup of coffee and my camera.

Are you seriously considering moving to a warmer place? You just got your sun room! :giggle:
 
katlupe said:
That's one of the bad things about snow. Trying to make paths and not fall on the ice. Driving in it is the other bad thing. At least for me it was. I love the silence of it though. In the morning after a heavy snowstorm I would be out on my porch with a cup of coffee and my camera.

Are you seriously considering moving to a warmer place? You just got your sun room! :giggle:
Click to expand...
Hi Katlupe, thanks for reading my poem and commenting. I also love the silence after a snowfall. I don't think I'll be moving anytime soon. I love my home and the sunroom too much!! It was just a thought that popped into my head while I was writing the poem. I do visit family in Florida each year, but never in the wintertime because I don't like traveling during winter. Take care.
 
palides2021 said:
Every day, I try to finish my classes by 8- 8:30 pm, so I have time to watch a Hallmark movie and unwind. These are the only movies I know I can relax with. I find actors and actresses I like in these movies, then I look for more of their movies. However, the strain of reading on a computer screen daily has me wondering if there are glasses that make it easier to read the screen up close and TV farther away.

Last night, I discovered what's called "adjustable glasses." These are glasses that you can adjust the focus of to suit your eyes. It goes from near-sighted to far-sighted. I am curious if anyone has ever experienced this. Instead of having several glasses with different numbers, this eyeglass has a little dial on each side that you turn to get the right magnification. I included a link to the Amazon information below for more information:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=adjustable+focus+glasses&crid=14H6IZY1N75XK&

I ended up not ordering from Amazon because there were too many low reviews. I found a review site that reviewed these types of glasses and went directly to the company that makes them. So I ordered the Flex adjustable glasses. When I receive them, I will let you know how they turn out. Keep my fingers crossed, because lately the stuff I have ordered online hasn't been as good as expected, and I've had to return a few items.
Click to expand...
I did get those flexible adjustable glasses and have been playing with them, on and off. The lenses tend to be very narrow, so you don't have much room to glance at the periphery. I have to keep moving my head to see everything. I can't walk with them because as I move, I lose focus, which can be a tripping hazard. So I use them more as magnifying glasses.
 

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