Food For Thought

I was so enamored with the views during my drive to Stinson Beach last weekend that I simply had to pull over and snap a quick photo with my phone.  Just over the green and lush California hills (where you see the light blue sky meet a line of gray) lies the ocean.  With your windows down you inhale a mix of salt water, eucalyptus and redwood.  It's heavenly.  During the peaceful drive I was reminded of an old poem I liked as a kid by Veronice Shofstall (I think I first read it in one of those Chicken Soup books! Remember those guys?).  I can't resist sharing it here;

After a While

After a while you learn
The subtle difference between
Holding a hand and chaining a soul
And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
And company doesn't always mean security.

And you begin to learn
That kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises
And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes ahead
With the grace of a woman
Not the grief of a child.

And you learn
To build all your roads on today
Because tomorrow's ground is
Too uncertain for plans
And futures have a way
Of falling down in mid flight.

After a while you learn
That even sunshine burns if you get too much
So you plant your own garden
And decorate your own soul
Instead of waiting
For someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn
That you really can endure
That you are really strong
And you really do have worth
And you learn and you learn
With every good bye you learn.

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And for those of you who asked for a better picture of my new sunny and light brown hair....voila! Man, did you know it's really awkward to try and take a decent photo of yourself? Yowza.

In Gratitude,

Trish