38. I Love ... when all my children are happy.

They say that you are only as happy as 

your saddest child.

No truer words have ever been spoken.

When one of my children,

even though they are no longer

children,

are hurting,

disappointed,

worried ...

I am all of those things

as well.

I am of my children -

of all their emotions.

I don't know if that's right,

but it is the way

I am.

It is who

I am.

I carry them,

each and every one,

in my heart so wholely

that I cannot separate their emotions

from mine.

If one is hurting,

my heart is tied in a knot.

The happy ones may dance around it

but the knot is still there.

I love

when my all of children are

Happy.

37. I Love .. Sea Glass

Glass that has been 

caressed

by the sea.

Rough and pitted.

Clouded.

Worn.

The edges softened by the journey.

A tiny little treasure 

that has lived 

somewhere

before it arrives where it is

discovered.

A Mermaid tear.

The tiniest wee droplet.

Minute.

Missed by most eyes.

Often passed over as

insignificant;

not worthy stooping for

by most standards.

Worthy for me actually

of a separate

LOVE.

Of course,

I especially am delighted 

to discover

blue glass.

I suppose everyone is.

Tourquois blue ...

now that is even a greater treasure.

But even white

is beautiful to me;

as much for the 

feel

as for the sight.

A big jar of

fragments from the sea.

Beautious.

36. I Love ... My Donkeys

Oh my -

I do SO love my donkeys.

They were like potato chips,

there was no way

I could have just one.

June 1981 -

I still have the letter.

Donkey memories -

Donkey Otie having a beer on the patio,

my mother-in-law being shocked

to see me bringing him out the front door

of our brand new house as she drove by.

My very first baby - Annie -

almost hyperventilating as I dragged my

Dad down to the barn to see her.

Nugget - 

my dearly missed Nugget;

and Ransom  - my sweet Handsome Ransom -

big old head, 

heavy head

plunked down on my shoulder

while I rub those gigantic ears

and look into those

deep and soulful eyes.

All my babies - 

such joy - such entertainment.

Watching them kick

and run full out in circles -

or hop with all four feet together

like a prancing goat -

springing with their noses up in the air.

I cannot imagine

this farm,

this life

without my beloved

long earred friends.

35. I Love ... picking up a book that I've written in many years ago.

I love reading it.

I don't technicallylove the fact that all that "time" is being held in my hands;

that it's contained between two covers;
that has gone too quickly.
Ridiculously quickly.

I suppose it's better than not being able to hold it at all.

It slips through our fingers.

Gone.
Just like that.

I picked up a book that I had written sporadically in

way back in 1970.

I wish I had written more.

Sometimes I surprise myself with my writing.

Literally.

I am surprised that I have captured my thoughts

fairly effectively.

I am surprised how words on a page

will bring the day back so clearly;

how I can revisit it completely.

Good or bad.

34. I Love ... taking my camera for a drive through our neighbourhood.

I don't go far,

just the same old places

that I see every day.

But some days,

I am called to see them

with new eyes.

A Crystal Day.

A Golden Day.

A Monochromatic Day

like today.

A day when the snow is thick,

outling every branch on every 

naked tree;

Laying thickly on the evergreens

making

Art

Everywhere.

Fat snow.

Thick ice.

Fall leaves.

Spring buds.

Light

just

right.

So many moments

and possibilities

to 

SEE

the old

with 

new eyes.

33. I Love ... lengthening days

I get downright

tickled

every year.

As if it an entirely 

new concept.

There is not a year goes by

that I don't comment

again

and

again

and 

again:

"Do you notice?

The days are getting 

longer?"

"Did you notice?"

"Did you notice?"

As if 

I was the only one 

that has.

As if

it is a magic act

that is happening

for the first time.

Ever.

As if

I don't acknowledge it

and

give it voice,

it will decide not to do it

again.

One minute,

I'm taking notice.

The next,

they're just there.

7 pm and it's light.

8 pm and it's light.

And it doesn't really matter

anymore.

It is the process of

BECOMING

long,

not 

being 

long
that entertains me.

32. I Love ... salty with sweet

Salt and vinegar chips

with a coke or pepsi.

Pizza with green olives

and a rootbeer.

Salty peanuts

on top of ice cream.

I think I've heard that if you crave

salty and sweet together,

you are missing something.

I don't think you're missing anything at all.

I think you've got it all.