Pleasures & Prayers

Do you have a secret wish sometimes whispered in a prayer? I think we all do and sometimes they come true. The Poets and Storytellers United prompt "what pleases you" had me thinking of all the heartfelt prayers waiting to materialize in our chaotic serendipitous world. Meanwhile, there's lots we can do. And if a box of chocolates doesn't suffice, there's eye candy and much more to enjoy in everyday life.

Surely the gods would agree a skirt billowing in the breeze is, indeed, a beautiful thing.

Tiny seahorses inspire the imagination, even when floating on a beach towel.

Banners depicting wildlife dress up the sky. Their cheery flapping lifts the mood.

Much is unpleasant and wrong in life but we can't wait for perfection and must go on, finding pleasures along the way. Sometimes that means escaping into a good movie, which is what my husband and I did on our anniversary. More than a pink fluffy tale, the Barbie story (imo not suitable for very small children) creatively provided poignant views on the roles men and women play in society. I laughed. I cried. I contemplated.

When my daughter and I played with the dolls, it was about fashion and storytelling ... a step up from the cut-out dolls I had as a child. I found our Barbie stuffed in a box. She hadn't aged, although her blond hair turned whitish. Her sidekick, Ken, was in a bigger box with the dollhouse furniture. In the movie, both Barbie and Ken evolved.

The day was particularly special because rain fell after more than a month of dryness.

Luscious clear rain water splashed on the stones exposing their deepest hues.

I delighted in the dousing and the umbrellas popping up and bobbing along the road.

Explore more at Poets and Storytellers United, SKYWATCH and Saturday's Critters. 

Check out my sites: Postcards from Penelope Puddle and Musings of A Puddlist In B.C.

Because the state of our planet is the most pressing issue of our time, link up and learn about the  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report.

HOLD ONTO THE LIGHT

Glimmers

Another appointment brought me to Vancouver and the view of False Creek out an office window. I saw hundreds of sailboats but only a few sailing. I presumed many boat owners were working, in part, to pay for what likely is a costly harbor to dock.

In the waiting room, I had time to contemplate the latest prompt "glimmers" from Poets and Storytellers United. The results are below.

I wonder, when does a glimmer become a spark and then a flame? These transitions can symbolize a growing passion and sense of purpose. In the literal world of weather, however, rays from the sun that sparkle so brilliantly and stir flowers to bloom are obliviously dangerous in extremes. Moderation is the promise that glimmers for children taught to reduce, reuse and recycle in a world attached to excesses.

Back home, flaming red flowers glimmered. Sunbeams glowed at the edges of petals.

Is glitter glimmer? The beach ball shimmered.

I couldn't get enough of the twinkling, colourful specks.

White sails scissored across the Boundary Bay horizon, occasional reflections glistened.

     

In some areas of B.C. and across the globe, hot temperatures rise and fires rage.

As many of us blithely sail through the days, our respect and appreciation go to the brave fire fighters and tragically, most recently, the nineteen-year-old hero who lost her life on the job. May her memory and the sacrifice also of others be the glimmer that inspires us to be better stewards of the environment. 

Explore more at Poets and Storytellers United and SKYWATCH. 

Check out my sites: Postcards from Penelope Puddle and Musings of A Puddlist In B.C.

Because the state of our planet is the most pressing issue of our time, link up and learn about the  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report.

HOLD ONTO THE LIGHT