Sheriff Ingredients

My sister is a trained volunteer sheriff for her city.  Two days ago, she broke one of her toes against a bed leg and had been hobbling around painfully.  We were texting this morning …

She said, “I’ve decided to find a replacement for Sheriff ingredients tomorrow.”

I asked, “Ingredients?”

“Dumb dictionary!”

I laughed out loud and sniggered and she said, “Ignore it.”  Of course, that’s impossible.

I texted back, “How to make a sheriff…one uniform, one car, one partner…”

She added, “One doughnut, no, two doughnuts.”  Then she added, “The word ingredients was just supposed to be –ing at the end of sheriff for sheriffing.”

I knew that, but I liked the mistake better—more scope for the imagination.

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A Different Kind of Cookie

Drowning with gloom, mists, tears

I float above bright white clouds

hiding the gloom, mists, rains

on the world below

me clouds world

like a sandwich cookie

only not as sweet

 

This written while riding on United from San Diego to Chicago to Wichita on the early morning of June 10 after being told that my husband had been hospitalized in Dodge because of blood clots in his legs and lungs.  The doctor’s there have since saved his life and my husband is recovering nicely.

TR

 

 

 

The Possible First Plunge

I climb the long ladder

quaking inwardly

fearing what hasn’t happened yet, but will

fearing the changes that must take place

the call came early this morning, three thousand miles away

my aged yet actively-living Dad paralyzed

rushed to the hospital

now I climb out onto the narrow, high, diving board

an hour later a call saying no stroke, but high fever, vicious infection

toes and soles feeling the material rubbing them, damp

my nerves very aware of the distance beneath the board

deep water below, tears of certain grief

nothing to keep me from falling to the side or back

must balance, stand tall, straight

waiting for the call to explain the infection and what it all means

standing alone on the board, having to move forward

step by unwilling step

noticing all the eyes below, upturned, watching

eyes belonging to folk who have all made the plunge and survived

will this be the time I dive in

or will it be averted

again

for another reprieve?