November 2022 – Colleen Keller Breuning

Blessings

Blessings

Hearth
blazing
pumpkin pies
fresh from oven
two turkeys roasting
cutting bread for stuffing
such a harvest of blessings
comfort in this labor of love
tablescape of crystal and china
my thoughts drift to holidays long ago
my spirits lifted by sweet memories
grateful for my family and friends
who have graced my life through the years
with hands and hearts intertwined
we embrace the future
by the grace of God
and share this meal
toasting health
hope and
love

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2022
November 26, 2022

Happy Thanksgiving to all! I hope you had a wonderful holiday surrounded by family and friends. Just a quick poem and blog before I immerse myself in Christmas decorating. My grandkids are coming on November 30, and I know they’ll love to see the house all decked out!

What has meant so much to me in the past year? My family – my husband Dan, my children Vince and Katie, my grandchildren Posie and Hatcher, my mother, my siblings, my in-laws, my nieces & nephews, my aunts & uncles, my cousins and anyone else I left out! I’m grateful for my friends – my best friends, my dear friends, my neighbors, my coworkers & former coworkers, my virtual friends, and all the kindred spirits I have come to know over the years. You have all shaped my life in some way, shape or form. I am so thankful to have all of you in my life!

I wish you all good tidings and many blessings as we come into this Christmas season. May you know an inner joy and spiritual warmth that fills your heart with love and gratitude! Enjoy the special moments, and remember the reason for the season at those times of insanity during your holiday preparations (it happens to us all)! Remember to take a little time for yourself to rest and re-energize. Thank you again for being here and for being part of my life! I love you all.

xoxo
Colleen

Mood: Thankful
Inspiration: “Thank You” ~ Dido

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 21.14 Topic: Thank You
Hard Bonus: Give thanks about something or someone that has meant so much to you this past year (family & friends)
Easy Bonus: Mention your favorite type of pie (pumpkin)

Fate

Fate

Years passed, no regret
memories swirl in my head
I cannot forget

phone call from the past
your voice beckoned on the line
and our fates were cast

topsy turvy world
standing at the precipice
all my fears unfurled

two lives intersect
the merging of destiny
butterfly effect

warm Bahama breeze
plane taxied down long runway
sailed across blue seas

you showed me true love
something that I never knew
gift from God above

emotions so pure
through life’s sweet and trying times
our bond endures

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2022
November 19, 2022

This takes me way back to 1987, when my life most definitely changed for the better. Dan and I originally met in 1982 in Oklahoma City, where we both worked for Arthur Andersen & Company. We lived different lives back then, but socialized together in a large group of work friends. It was strictly platonic; however, he did give me a glowing performance evaluation for some work I did for him as a paraprofessional. Then the 1980’s oil and gas bust happened, he left for Florida for a new position, and I eventually divorced and transferred to Washington, DC. He found out through a mutual friend, and she gave him my number. After a series of catching up phone calls with Dan, he invited me down to Florida for our first date. I thought, “Why not? I know him very well already, plus he’s a nice guy and cute, too.” Well, he took me to the Bahamas for our first date – such a surprise! Long story short, we fell in love and knew that we were going to end up together. In fact, now that I think of it we got engaged 35 years ago. One of the best things that ever happened to me!

I have no regrets in my life. I believe that everything happens for a reason, though we may not know it at the time. Our lives are chaotic, we experience heartbreak, we take risks, we give our heart and hope for the best. The journey we go through makes us the person we are. I wouldn’t be the strong person I am today without conquering the challenges I have faced at many points of my life. I am grateful for the love, wisdom and joy that I have come to know in life. That’s all. Just some random thoughts running through my head as I prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Life is such a blessing!

I hope you all have a wonderful, Happy Thanksgiving!

xoxo
Colleen

Mood: Lovey dovey
Inspiration: “Let’s Stay Together” – Al Green

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 20.14 Topic: Topsy Turvy
Hard Bonus: Discuss the Butterfly Effect
Easy Bonus: Mention a taxi or Uber

Hurricane Bones

Hurricane Bones

I woke to the sound of rain
hard upon the roof
gutters gushing streams of pain
mourning doves aloof.

Brittle bones begin to ache
as outer bands lope
ominous clouds roll and break
overshadowed hope.

The cat snuggles up to warm
soft gray, purring deep
seeking comfort from the storm
drifting back to sleep.

Astral spirits have been spurned
blue skies turn to black
too late, for the tide has turned
there’s no going back.

Cold winds thrash with great despair
ravishing the land
flesh, bone, there is nothing there
dust mingles with sand.

The rain falls like tumbling stones
melding sky and sea
sorrow carried in my bones
for eternity.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2022
November 11, 2022

I must be getting old, or else that hour long Martial Arts workout last night kicked my butt, haha. Today I truly did awake to the sound of rain (one of my favorite Sylvia Plath lines)… and pain! I had slept 8 hours, but literally felt like someone pummeled me. Neither Aleve nor Advil helped. I have been trying to fend off a sinus infection ever since our return from Florida last week. I did finally to go my PCP and was prescribed antibiotics since I just had pneumonia/bronchitis/sinus in July. Today, the combination of the sinus infection, the remnants of Hurricane Nicole passing through and two long work weeks have left me feeling whipped.

The topic “hurricane” is one close to my heart, having lived 24 years in South Florida and riding out many – starting from Hurricane Andrew in 1991 through Hurricane Wilma in 2006, which left us powerless for 2 weeks. It was one of the top reasons we left and moved to Virginia. My kids still both reside in Florida, so anytime there’s one churning in the Atlantic or the Gulf, we’re relentlessly watching the “cone” and following the hurricane’s track. It is so exhausting going through a hurricane, from the preparation through the aftermath. It can be absolutely frightening and heartbreaking.

Today we just stayed home, did a little non-taxing accounting work (pardon the pun), laundry and ate some homemade chili that I defrosted this week. It was delicious and so warming on a dreary day like today. Anyway, the topic and the Sylvia Plath poetry lines were my muse this week. Just a little rhyme scheme composition I played around with, to reflect a passing mood. I’ll feel better tomorrow, because there is work to be done around this house in preparation for the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays! Best of all – Katie, Brenton, Posie and Hatcher will be coming for a visit beginning November 30. I cannot wait! Have a good weekend, everyone!

xoxo Colleen

Mood: Achy Breaky
Inspiration: “I’ll Take the Rain” by REM

Blogophilia Week 19.14 Hurricanes Hope
Hard Bonus: Include a line from a Sylvia Plath poem (“I woke to the sound of rain” and “Flesh, bone, there is nothing there”)
Easy Bonus: Include your favorite animal (dove, cat)

Feu Follet

Feu Follet

Down in the old South, deep in the bayou,
Old banyan trees rustle in the dank air.
Stars of Aquarius come into view,
Strange voices whisper their tales of despair.

From the darkness rose a small ball of light,
Magical orbs swirling before my eyes.
A feu follet glowing, fiery and white;
Paranormal renderings in the sky.

Tear up the roadmaps and follow them blind
Across the ghostly marshes where they dwell.
Just leave your hopes for redemption behind,
For they are whisking you straight into hell.

All across the swamp lands, tears will be shed
As Cajun spirits rise up from the dead.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2022
November 5, 2022

Mood: mysterious
Inspiration “Alva” by Glen Gabriel

Happy Saturday! I started writing this Shakespearean Sonnet last Sunday afternoon as we started our drive back home to Virginia. I don’t know exactly where this came from. Maybe it was inspiration from the Florida and Georgia swamps that we drove by? I started to google paranormal occurrences and somehow landed on an article about the Feu Follet. This seems to be a French twist on the “will-o’-the-wisp” that appears in fairy tales. The picture I used was entitled “The Will o’ the Wisp and the Snake” by Hermann Hendrich (1854–1931). I found it quite fascinating reading about the legends folklore of difference countries. It’s so much fun to learn new things! Here is the Wikiepedia article and another one to read a bit more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will-o%27-the-wisp#Americas

Feu Follet, Will-O-The-Wisps, and Jack O’Lanterns

I don’t know why this link is embedding this way – and I’m too lazy and tired to fix it!

We had a very long and nice vacation in Florida, but toward the end were feeling a little homesick and missing our cats. We had much more energy at the start of the trip. Disney was so fun with the grandkids, but it leaves you pretty tired! After that, we enjoyed chilling and fishing with Vince and Natalie. At one point we toyed with the idea of driving home straight through… but it’s a 14 hour drive from where they live. Actually we have done that a few times, but we end up getting home very late. However, this time we were too darn tired and decided to stop in Dunn, NC for the night. That was a smart move, we still got home at a decent hour early on Halloween.

Then it was back to work for me, and I ended up working very long days all week to get caught up on the client work that I missed. I swear, both of us felt like we had “car lag” or something. Our energy levels were depleted, and we just felt “off” or like we might have gotten a touch of some virus. This weekend I feel like I’m catching a cold, which I pray doesn’t turn into a sinus infection. *fingers crossed*

I do wish the weather would quit being so schizophrenic! The autumn leaves are now past their peak, many of our backyard trees are bare and right now it is 78 degrees in VA, which just seems weird. I am ready for the weather to be a little cooler, as much as most people hate to hear. I mean, it is November 5^th for crying out loud, LOL!! I just love curling up in a cozy sweater beside the fire reading a book. I guess today I’ll settle for a long sleeved shirt until the temperature drops, haha. I hope y’all have a great weekend and enjoy the autumn season wherever you are!

Xoxo Colleen

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 18.14 Topic: Paranormal Occurrence
Hard Bonus: Use the word “tear” twice – as a noun and a verb
Easy Bonus: Include a zodiac sign (Aquarius)