Today's Scribble

The Graham-Paige blues

A '29 Graham-Paige,
bright, new, blue
seats four... but tonight,
just me and you.

On old Vine Street,
that dead-end street,
cozy in the warm back seat,
just me and you.

© Kåre Enga 2010-03-10 [166.368]



Sketching it out:

I was on my way to-and-fro Mt. Jumbo. This Graham-Paige (4 door sedan circa 1929) was parked on Vine Street. Since I'm going to a "boomschwag" party at John's on Vine Street this evening (... bring your own dip!) I'm hoping the car is still parked there.

Thou:

A contest:

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Me and Mine:

I went to St. Mary's cemetery on Friday. Always hard to see the birth/death dates of children. There are many there. Lots of French names, Irish names telling what county they were born in. I met Cynthia Wood. There are those who go to cemeteries only when forced to, others who visit on Memorial Day, but how many just go for the peace that one finds there? How many to honor those who died beloved but now forgotten...

Miss A. Lou: Cold, windy at 3 pm Montana Standard Time.

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Today's scribble

Bone garden

Daisies, daffs and thistles,
white, gold and violet
heads held high,
feed off slender fingers
that root among these bones,
these ivory stones,
these skeletons once dressed in fur.

Bones that he plants
when flesh won't heal
from hurt or old age.
Burnt sage is his offering.
What pain remains is his.

There lies Ralph that bit his neighbor,
old grey Tom that shat in her garden,
her favorite sparrow caught by Precious.

She mourns them too.

Hollyhocks now mark their spot,
they bleed in yellows, pinks and white,
feed memories with silken petals.

When his time comes,
when her time comes,
will gladiolas be enough...

or will pine roots, lilacs, sedges, grasses
grab their bones
and send up sprouts.

© Kåre Enga [166.369] 2010-03-11

Sketching it out:

Oh, its from a book title, just written today (second draft). Death is a universal phenomenon and always close at hand. Like many people, I planted my pets... never had one named Ralph, Tom or Precious though...

Thou:

I'll never catch up. I'm going to have to make lists again... I'm glad Anabel is doing better, Mandy will be on "Spring" break. A bit worried about Shiela... Most folks just muddle along. It's our human condition.

And Party and I may have crossed paths without knowing it...

Me and Mine:

Swedish pancakes and Spanish Circle. I must learn to not over-eat and must not take naps even when I'm tired. My whole sleeping cycle is whack (a shout out to Noelani...).

Weather continues to be reasonable here. I'll need to go for a walk tomorrow. Doesn't matter much where. The Kim Williams path will be icy, but everywhere else will be fine. There may be more sunshine tomorrow and milder, close to 60º; possible snow on Saturday... it's the up-down season.

This picture reminds me of Bonanza and Virginia City... taken in Pattee Creek Canyon on the south side of Mt. Sentinel this past Sunday.



Miss A. Lou: 41º at 8 pm Montana Standard Time.

Today's scribble

stillborn
spring sifts through poplar catkins
snow on sage.

© Kåre Enga [166.366] 2010-03-09

Sketching it out:

After picking up a bagette, noticed the catkins still in pussy form on the poplars, the grey-green sage beneath.

Thou:

FB is working out. I have 91 friends. Okay... I'm still in the newbie wide-eyed stage. Most of the interaction has been with WDC members! Hmmmm... seems like the rest of the world has forgotten how to communicate. I post local pictures and not even a 'like' or a short comment. Now... I know I'm chatty, but... reading my stuff and never telling me doesn't communicate anything positive to me.

We really are a culture that has forgotten how to converse (clue... it's a two-way street...)

Me and Mine:

I walked a tad further up Jumbo today. The elephant's back was frosted, but the path was clear. Took lots of pictures 'just because'.





Miss A. Lou: Chilly 31º at 9 pm Montana Standard Time.

Chrysanthemums at Sushi Hana

Pale green at the petal’s base,
white needles soft to the touch,
snug in a mug full of cool water.

My life, like the fish in the case
that sit sliced, never to swim again,
cool in their vivid colors, as if…

the chrysanthemums, that seem so alive,
bloom faintly fragrant still unaware
they have been severed from their roots.

© Kåre Enga 2010 March 8 [166.365]

Sketching it out:

I sat at Sushi Hana waiting for my tempura, gyoza, teriyaki... and thought of the sushi in the cases in front of me. The chrysanthemums were beautiful and lightly scented.

Me:

I'm doing okay. Made a random call and spoke to a friend this morning. Spent much of the morning at Bernice's talking to Tom and going through photos I took over our mild and sunny weekend. Looked out the window at the gently falling snow.

Miss A. Lou? Snowy, cool and greening.

Today's scribble

Under citrus

Sitting under citrus,
glassed in,
sweating from the death rays of the waxing sun,
the desolation of a snowless winter,
the thirst of khaki-colored grass,
the bare birch limbs,
the bones of poplars reaching towards thick clouds
passing over without one drop.

Inside, the citrus:
waxy,
green,
brings thoughts of breezy days
and fragrant nights
of thunder, flash, the living breath
of rain.

© Kåre Enga [166.364] 2010-03-03

Sketching it out:

It did rain later that evening. The UC at U Montana has numerous tropical plants throughout and it's a wonderful tonic to a dreary winter day. So some truth... and it has been very dry.

Thou:

I need my broadband to really keep in touch, but I promise to try harder. Nice to see Wren, Mavis and Nada on FB. Here, it's great that partyof5 is blogging again. I may even be in that picture of Jumbo he posted (very very tiny though).

Me and Mine:

The sun is out! The sun is out!

The weekend is going to be bright as well! Then perhaps cooler and chance of snow. So now is the time to enjoy being alive in Montana. Even the bears are starting to stir.

Miss A. Lou: A mild 48º at 1 pm Montana Standard Time.

The sage buttercups on Mt. Jumbo have begun to bloom!



I walked part of the way up. This is a view of a pine with the L in the distance.



It was a mild and sunny day in Montana!
 

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I went to a book reading, discussion, signing for Goodbye Wifes and Daughters, Susan Resnick's book about the 1943 Smith Coal Mine disaster of 1943 in Bearcreek, Montana. There were family members of the 74 who died present. One guy was there as a child.

I asked whether there still was a bruise on the land... guess so. The town never recovered as women with no source of support were forced to move away.

Susan is from New England and therefore came to the story as an outsider which perhaps was a great advantage. Although it was a major disaster in Montana history it is not well-known. It was Wartime and the focus was elsewhere.

It's like does anyone know who died on the day JFK was assassinated? Lots of folks... forgotten folks... IMHO. And Katrina... are disasters any less painful today? Montana Coal & Iron knew about the violations and did little to correct them. Like putting down rock-dust to cover the coal-dust. Like using battery powered helmet lights. It was one of those flames and methane gas that set off the explosion they decided. At least the mice knew and fled...

So good evening at Fact&Fiction.

Plus Susan asked whether I was a professor! Oh... does that put a smile on my face!

Cooler and cloudier day... and I didn't do any climbing.

... log-ons. Yep, since I joined WDC I haven't missed many days or opportunities to log on.



Me!

In-real-life... got up Mt. Sentinel yesterday to the third switchback... not far but I am so out of shape it is pitiful! I mean little old ladies, puppies and children were passing me by both ways and they weren't huffing and puffing. So I need to walk more, tone up, lose some weight...

It was a great day to climb too. The path was dry, the breeze was friendly, the day was about 56 degrees and sunny... perfect for a gentle stroll. Unfortunately, those lumpy mountains are steep!

Still, Missoula is a great town for bicycles and walking. Folks everywhere soaking in the sunshine. Most people are in good shape.

Ah...

Today had my wakame, edamame, sushi, tempura... and enjoyed it immensely. At least I eat well!

I even got to the store to shop. Shouldn't have bought the lime curd or hazelnut chocolates (will I show restraint or not?).

To no one worth mentioning

July 4th, Eighteen-twenty-six:

Adams and Jefferson,
adversaries in life,
lay dying,
glad the other was still alive,
the republic they founded thriving.

July 4th Two-thousand-ten:

I still breathe,
my once dear friend,
so glad you're very very dead,
so long past breath.
Somethings die worthless, never thriving.

© Kåre Enga 2010-02-28 [166.362]

Note: What's great about this is that I really wasn't thinking of anyone in particular. There is one person I never wish to see again and folks that if I never do I won't weep; but... this deep bitterness aimed at one person in particular? No, not really... lucky me!

I am bitter about some things... but not aimed at any one person. I'm more bitter at systems, cultures and societies in general.

Oh... and U.S. Presidents Jefferson and Adams did die on the same day... July 4th, 1826.