Pens and Wanderings

As I lay in my bed this morning, my mug of coffee on my bedside table, and a stack of my morning reads arranged in one corner at the top of my bed, a proverb from my local Ga language came to mind - ' Ka for loflo', this means 'a crab does not give birth to a bird' . It was a proverb my mom used to say all the time to any of us siblings or cousins - especially when we said or did something that reminded her of our parents.  Looking around me, I couldn't help but think, "This is Ma all over again." The familiarity of her morning routine - items carefully laid out within reach, two pillows stacked with a cover cloth stretched across them, a teaspoon still resting in my mug of coffee, just confirmed to me that I am truly my mother's child.  This made me think of other times when this proverb rings true within my family, not just for biological parents but where genes show up really strong too!  I remembered a few of these: When my son is driving me somew...

I looked up That is one majestic tree I thought I stopped Drawn to the branches Each clad in  Red, yellow, green Golden brown or rust Colored leaves Swaying in the gentle breeze. Against the blue sky In the distance She was a beauty Right there In the street. I picked up a leaf I walked on  With a smile For I realized All around us, We can always find the ‘lovely’.

I went to a Flower show over the weekend and came home laden with plastic bags full of plants. I am a plant lover and couldn't resist even though I don't have the garden space for them.  Living high up on an apartment block with no balcony, I wondered where I would put them.  But I kept telling myself, "Where there is a will, there's a way! I will make the space", and kept filling my bags.  I got orchids, aloe vera, a money plant, different creepers, and a rubber plant, but my favorite purchase was three tiny pots of herbs - rosemary, sweet basil, and mint. I bought them just with the idea that I would start cooking up exotic dishes using herbs from my own garden.   Setting up my new garden was a rewarding task, and I felt good once I had found a home for each plant. I found a space along my large window for all the ones that needed a bit of sunlight and then cleared a shelf in my living room to house the more hardy plants.  I thought of placing my herbs in...

I miss  my kids, my sister, my brothers, I long for their laughter, their presence which I always treasure I mi ss my nieces, my nephews, my friends,  The joy each of them brings along with laughter and love  I miss  my own bed, my rocking chair, my own garden, Those special places where worries are released and sweet dreams take over I miss   home-cooked food and home-grown organic fruit  The tastes of those, none can compare I miss  my walking partners, my neighborhood The fresh morning breeze, the good morning nods, and the"did-you-know" morning chit-chat  I just really  miss  home!

Trudging up the hill this morning, my backpack felt pleasantly light. My hands were tucked snugly in the pockets of my fleece jacket, trying to keep them warm from the chilly wind; the small bright red scarf draped around my neck added a bit of color to an otherwise dull grey morning. I stepped off the bus onto the sidewalk and began my eight-minute journey up the hill.  I looked ahead tracing my path to the top of the hill. Though the end appeared so close, the steep climb always made it an arduous task.  One I never look forward to. As always, I give myself a task to steer my thoughts away from the tiring climb that never fails to leave me breathless. Today, I decided to find something unusual.  My objective: I decided to find something math-related, as I often remind my students that math is all around us. I take note of the trees, their leaves swaying gracefully in the cold wind. Fellow travelers also make their way up the hill; some match my pace and others stride br...

What shall I write about today? No idea comes to mind. My fish stew is simmering on the stove Flavors fill the kitchen Shall I write about that? I just started a painting  Guided by numbers and a palette of colors. Shall I write about that? I also spilled a whole jar full of spaghetti sauce All over my kitchen rug As I gazed at the saucy mess, I asked myself, "Do I really have to bend over And clean put this red tomato-ey mess?" Shall I write about that? In the end, I found my way  To the refrigerator Took out my cold unfinished cup of coffee  from this morning I sat in my chair! I did write, didn't I?

 I went for my usual walk early this morning. As I breathed in the fresh sea breeze and enjoyed the view and sounds of the ocean, it made me think how much I love to be in water,  how much I love to listen to the sound of water, and how much I am drawn to any water-related sport or activity.  Whether it is swimming in the ocean, pool, or river; reading, writing, chatting on the phone, or simply lying back dreaming and enjoying the peace that comes along with 'anything-water' always puts me in a happy place! At the top of the list for my 'I-love-water' attractions, are waterfalls. I am especially drawn to waterfalls and make it a point to go searching for one whenever I find myself in a different country. Today, I was walked along the ocean, memories of my visit to the Wli Waterfalls in the Volta region of Ghana flooded my mind. The experience of walking through the cool, damp, calm, and tranquil forest leading to the falls remains etched in my memory. It ignited my deep...