In this hustle and bustle of western culture It can be difficult to stand on the edge of Pausing Of slowing down, watching, waiting Of not giving into the chronic cry Of do, do, do What if? I wait, and be? Pause and reflect? It doesn’t mean I’m not valuable or productive What if waiting…
Ode to Lighting Candles
On this growing colder November day As the light lessens And darkness knocks at my door I hear my candles whispering their request “Will you please grant us light?” Such a simple thing The striking of the match against the box The flame as it leaps from the tip of the wood The smell…
Ode to Morning Frost
You remind me of glitter Your sparkling, shining self along my porch railing As if my daughters, when they were small, Had sprinkled you along the railings edge, atop Elmer’s glue And scattered you about. Glitter, The fun and glitzy shininess of it Sparkling on my floor, walls, chairs and furniture It would get everywhere….
Ode to Fall Trees
I wonder, “How do you feel when your leaves change color and fall to the ground? Do you feel vulnerable as you let go of that which has nourished and fed and clothed your body through the seasons? What would it be for me to lean into the changing seasons and let go like you?…
Ode to Poached Eggs
I crack your protective shell against the low side of my green plate And watch you slide your way into the bubbling, bouncing, frothing Vinegar and salt infused water For three minutes you heat yourself from the cool temperature of my refrigerator Dowsing yourself in the warm bath of my frying pan. A dash of…
Ode to 50
I knew you were approaching; but honestly, I was a bit apprehensive about your arrival. I wondered to myself, “How would I like to honor crossing this threshold?” My souls answer, “Kauai” After the gift of journeying 49 years, I knew to pay attention. And so, rather swiftly, my soulful creative inner traveling guide danced…
Cooking class with La Cuisine Paris
This was the first time I participated in a cooking class in Paris; it was fun, interesting, engaging, educational and delicious. http://lacuisineparis.com/ offers a variety of classes and I decided to participate in the morning market class. We met outside Cafe du Metro (kitty corner to metro Maubert Mutualite) at the corner of Boulevard Saint…
Fat Tire Bike Tour to Giverny
Claude Monet lived in the village of Giverny from May, 1883 until his death on Dec. 5, 1926. My first memory of seeing one of Monet’s paintings was when I visited Musee D’Orsay in Paris in the early 1990’s. Before that I’d been introduced to his work via my mom, who loves many of the…
Taking my soul for a stroll in Paris
I’ve been re-reading a favorite book of mine over the past few months: ‘The Art of Pilgrimage’ by Phil Cousineau. I’ve underlined and folded down so many corners on so many pages; the phrase that resonates with me most deeply is, ‘take your soul for a stroll’. What does it feel and look like for…
Hello Yellow
Hello, buttercup you called from the waters edge Fancy meeting you on the path this morning. You reminded me of Princess Buttercup and brought a slowly moving smile to my face. Can we bring joy and hope to your heart this morning? Questioned the Iris as my feet tread the lakes path. Look at us,…
Ode to Pike Place Market
We first beheld each other in the fall of 1979, through the eyes of the original Starbucks mermaid logo. I was a bright eyed, enthusiastic, falling in love with Seattle fan. A virgin coffee drinker, deeply ensconced in my Scottish/Canadian tea drinking roots, I was lured to your domain by my summer camp gang from…
Ode to Genau
From the moment of our introduction in Vienna, Austria, I knew we were to become dear friends. What a delightfully wonderful presence you are: Precise and playful, Full of promise and hope, Statement and simplicity. You can be exclaimed with a shout and strong conviction Or whispered quietly and almost musically from the lips. With…
Sharon Richards 