Sunday, March 13, 2022

Random Pictures

Just some random photos for you Emma. This is our first Christmas after you were taken from our family. We had a small tree that year. Taj is concentrating on the Lionel train. Everyone else is doing their thing. This was our first Christmas without you and your Daddy. We went to the beach later and then came home and had dinner. We made it as normal as possible for the little boys but we missed you and Daddy. I was told by your mother the September after Daddy died that we would never see you again. Your mom banned us from seeing you or contacting you. She knew that we were very concerned about your safety. For very good reasons. Keep yourself safe from people who make you feel uncomfortable or don't treat you with respect. Talk to an adult who you trust or maybe a counselor at school. You are strong, you are wiser than your years. I have confidence in you. You were lucky to have your Dad for your first 7 years of your life. You were best friends and he instilled the best values and morals in you.

We were all in Sanibel and you guys were all over me in the booth! We were squished and I loved it. Always room for my grandchildren.

Love you sweet pea, Your Grammie, 703.577.5746

March 13, 2022

Saturday, March 12, 2022

The Laughing Heart by Charles Bukowski

Hi Emma G!

A good friend and I met the other day — we hadn’t spoken in a couple months and we needed to catch up! He’s traveling around the world for about 18 months right now. He and I both love world travel and learning about new cultures, tasting new foods, learning about history, making new friends (even when you don’t speak the same language), and going on adventures (white water rafting, scuba diving, hiking, etc.). I went to the Galápagos Islands recently and it was incredible…5 days on a yacht. I’ll share photos of the cute birds and penguins(!!) another time. I think you will go on great adventures and be free to have fun and explore, meet interesting people, and maybe even work abroad. I worked as an English teacher in Asia for nearly 5 years after college (first in Japan then Taiwan). You would love it. I was remembering one of the poems discussed in class with the high school students I taught. Maybe you’ve already learned about this in school but if not, it’s a very popular poem by Charles Bukowski. He was a famous German-American poet from the 1900s. The message is hopefulness and freedom. Plus, I love the title :) Auntie Jo

The Laughing Heart by Charles Bukowski

The Laughing Heart

your life is your life
don't let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch.
there are ways out.
there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.
be on the watch.
the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them.
you can't beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.
and the more often you learn to do it,
the more light there will be.
your life is your life.
know it while you have it.
you are marvelous
the gods wait to delight
in you.