IT'S ABOUT TIME

It’s about Time

What do we all have that we wish we had more of? Time. What does time mean to you?

There are so many ways of looking at time. I see it as a flowing, something that I can’t control that sweeps over my life and is replaced by new time, or next time, a fresh start, a new day.

Time is so important that we weave it daily into our words, our sayings, our lives.

It’s about time = why has it taken you so long or where have you been or you finally realized something that maybe we hoped you’d figure out sooner.

It’s a matter of time or only a matter of time = we expect something to happen soon, very soon. And maybe it’s not a good thing.

Time and time again = over and over, something repeated often.

A moment = more than a minute, a small amount of time.

A moment’s time = happening soon, quickly, or in a short time frame.

Time’s a wasting = better get moving, get a move on, running out of time, going to be late.

Time’s up = no more time, it’s over, finished.

Poor timing = not the best time, not the right time for something.

In time, in due time = it will happen in the course of events, when it’s time.

As time goes by = the passing of time, recognizing that time flows on.

As fleeting as time = we can’t hold on to time. It comes and goes, as are other things in life, like our youth.

And so on and so on. Time marks our daily lives. We’re on time or behind time, early or late. We can’t stretch time. We try to save time, but we cannot. We are powerless in the face of the relentless march of time. We grow old. We lose our youth.

And yet, I’ve had the experience of s-l-o-w-e-d down time. One afternoon my daughter and I were in the living room, she on the phone reading or watching something and I was on my computer, reading or watching something, when we both noticed that time seemed to be running slow. We double-checked the clocks and the time was accurate, but it had seemed to take l-o-n-g-e-r to get through the afternoon. Nice slowing of time, a respite from fast-paced life.

But at other times, time roars on by and there’s no time to do anything. It just spins on by as fast as it can.

Then there’s cumulative time—the passing of the years. Why just yesterday my child was an infant. And a few years back, I was young, too. So much has changed over time.

Don’t you wish you could stop the clock, push back against the flow of time, even go back in time? Hence the wide appeal of time travel in books, movies, and TV shows. What is that about? Seeking lost times, reliving good times, going back and “fixing” the past?

But we can’t go back in time, except in memory, and that might not be trustworthy. We can’t fix the past. Would that we could. Oh, except for authors who can fix their own pasts by writing about it, changing it for the happy outcome wished for that didn’t happen. The perfect marriage. The idyllic childhood. Even taking back the words and actions that changed our lives.

When we wish people happy birthday, happy new year, have a good weekend, or bon voyage, we’re hoping that time and circumstance will be good to them, and to us in turn.

Penelope Anne Cole
Multi-Award Winning Author of Magical Matthew, Magical Mea,
Magical Mea Goes to School, Magical Max and Magical Mickey, and

Magical Max and Magical Mickey’s Big Surprise

In and Out, All ‘Round About – Opposite Friends

What’s for Dinner? and ¿Qué vamos a comer?:

For Halloween: Ten Little Tricksters and Diez pequeños bromistas

New:  My Grandma and Me Coloring Book
Web/Blogs:  http://www.penelopeannecole.com/
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Celebrating my father's legacy to me.

This post is more of a Father’s Remembrance Day post—a celebration of what my father gave me. We all have lessons our fathers taught us. 

This past week has been an emotional one. I’ve been dealing with some intermittent depression and grief. My father, Willard Cole, passed away March 7, 2009. Through years of hard work, he left property that has enabled his heirs to live “the good life.” We’re not rich, but we have been provided for. And it has enabled us to provide for our children, too. I’m grateful for my father’s life and his hard work. His legacy and his accomplishments live on in his kids and grandkids. Now we each are working on our own dreams and achievements.

Dad taught me to finish what I start, because he often didn’t finish projects around the house, but in business, he finished most of his work and did it well. He also set high standards and we did, too, to please him and Mom.

Dad also taught me that being a parent is hard, but you have to keep at it even when you’re tired, sick, out of work, hung over, wrong, awkward, or just plain busy. Even when your family criticizes you, you still have to do your best and give your best to your children. From Dad I learned that the love you give away is the love that stays.

I got my love of animals from Dad. He loved all dogs, and they loved him. When we were kids, Dad adopted a cranky, nippy 20 year old show dog after his owner couldn’t keep him. We had that dog for five years just to keep Dad's promise to the owner and the dog. 

My dad rescued cocker spaniels. Then when his dear Lady had pups, Dad wouldn’t adopt them out unless the new prospective owners agreed not to ‘dock’ their tails. Like me, Dad dreaded letting his dogs pass on and held on to them till the very last moment. My dear dog Nicky never forgot the sound of Dad’s old Caddie's diesel engine—and got excited whenever he heard Dad's car coming down the street. 

Dad worked most of his life from age ten until Alzheimers took his mind. His last few years were hard to live through. A vibrant six footer, Dad seemed to be able to do anything and everything.like build and repair things—he was a carpenter, then a general contractor; a salesman, then a real estate broker, and property manager/landlord. He cooked one skillet meals, did his own laundry—hung to dry around the house to save energy. He gardened with drip/mist, and built fish ponds at three houses. He visited me in Virginia, Hawaii, and Spain—we Eurailed through Europe for 21 days—visited Spain, Austria—twice, Germany, Italy, France, while Dad recovered from a pneumonia relapse.
 
He was lifelong loyal friend, outliving most of them and even helped raise his ex-girlfriends’ kids. He acted in little theater, loved all music and sang opera with the local opera company—when work permitted. He was kind, generous, loyal, as well as moody, surly, bigoted, and critical—multi-faceted as we all are. 

I owe my father much for who I am and what I’ve accomplished. I will continue to honor him by pursuing my dreams, living fully each day, loving my pets, and passing on as much as I can to my child. 

Thank you, Dad, for all you’ve given me. 

*********

Here's a poem, an ode to my dogs that Dad would like: 

MY SWEET DOGGIE’S TAIL

by Penelope Anne Cole

My sweet lil’ doggie’s wag

doesn’t reach her tail.

She shakes her front so well;

but her rear – a fail.

Long pink tongue laps her chin—

A toothy, fun grin.

She gives me a mad chase,

races place to place.

She’ll run for hours on hours,

in shine or showers.

Mouth smiles, small head shakes,

a meat treat she takes.

With a happy food dance;

a sassy foot prance.

Her energy abounds.

How loud her bark resounds!

Accepts ev’ry weakness.

Loving completeness.

Love like this forever

Wrapped up in warm fur.

We’re in a state of bliss

with a puppy kiss.

Thank you Siku,

            Nicky, woo woo,

                      Alex boy, too

          Ellie Pup true,

         Lexie Lulu.

                        Our love to you.

           

 

Ode to joys of life . . . and suffering

I’m happy to report that it is an uplifting day. Subaru America paid for my Torque Converter repair a-n-d Capitol Subaru covered the rest of my regular maintenance! Yay Subaru! 

 

Yay me—I can now buy some dollhouse furniture for my latest joy. Yes, dollhouse furniture. I will post pics when my new dollhouse is furnished.

*****

So, that good news sort of takes the wind out of the blustering I’d planned to do about how upset I am about the wild animal poaching for parts, the companion animal slaughtering, and abused and neglected animals throughout the world. However, that’s what I planned to write about, so I will and share two sad poems. 

 http://www.thepetitionsite.com/animal-welfare/animal-abuse/#hottest

If you haven’t already signed PETITIONS to end the Poaching and Trafficking of Ivory, please do so immediately. If you haven’t signed Petitions to Save/Protect Elephants, Rhinos, Sharks, Wolves, Big Cats, Dolphins, and more, please do so immediately. If you haven’t signed Petitions to stop the Dog/Cat Meat Trade, please do so forthwith. All of these animals are being hunted for human pleasure, prestige, bogus health remedies, festivals, and illegal (and legal) profit. This must stop and we need everyone to be as outraged and disgusted as we in my household are.

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/tag/petitions/

We are guardians and stewards of the Earth and all its inhabitants. We need to preserve the diversity of plant and animal life for the health of the world and for our own well being and collective conscience. We need to support those supporting the Environment (EPA) and all Wildlife (US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, NOAA, National Park Service). As species disappear, our natural world is diminished. But for them to disappear at the hands of greedy profiteers, spoiled rich folk, or ignorant people is a huge tragedy and must be fought. 

Thank you for your support of:  The Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club,  WWF Global Network, National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, Audubon Institute, Defenders of Wildlife, Wildlife Conservation Society, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Earth First, Greenpeace, Rainforest Action Network, to name a few of the over 100 organizations I found on search. 

Save the animals, Save their habitat, Save our world!

 *****

Here are two poems about loss and grieving. I feel this pain when I hear of any suffering—human and animal. So I share with you.

THIS I WISH

Not this pain

   I wish for you.

Not this

   but bliss

       I wish for you.

Not pain

    that tears

       that sears.

Not pain

   that burns

     that yearns.

Not pain

   that hurts

      and hurts again.

Not loss

   Not tears

     Not fears.

Not this

    I wish for you.

But peace,

   surcease

     of sorrow

This I wish.

© By Penelope Anne Cole

****************************

OH STALWART TREES

Oh stalwart trees,

whose leaves will fall,

I’ll miss you all.

Oh birds so high,

that fly so far,

I’ll miss you all

Oh new green leaves

and buds so small,

I’ll miss you all

Oh lofty bee,

so loud your call,

I’ll miss you all

Oh fruit so sweet

tendrils enthrall,

I’ll miss you all

Oh bright blue sea,

or heavy squall,

I’ll miss you all

Oh mighty mounts

of solid wall,

I’ll miss you all.

Oh snuggly pups,

gnawing a ball,

I’ll miss you all.

Oh purring kits,

racing the hall,

I’ll miss you all.

Oh bunny soft,

sleeps on my shawl,

I’ll miss you all.

Oh family,

sweet family,

I’ll miss you all

Oh baby girl,

            my baby doll,

                        I’ll miss you all.

© By Penelope Anne Cole