Persimmon and Lemon Harvest

The end of November until the second week of December means fruit harvest at our home.
The Fuyu-kaki persimmon, and the Meyer's lemon are both ready to harvest this time of year in zone 8 where we live. Our Persimmon tree is temperamental. Some years we have an abundant harvest, and other years a very meager harvest. This year was somewhere in between the two. Our Meyer's lemon tree on the other hand always produces alot of fruit. We have so many lemons that I give away most, and have to throw away many because we can't possibly use them all. This year I will not throw away any, instead I'll offer then to a local soup kitchen. That way I can pay it forward to those less fortunate. It's good that I am becoming wiser as I grow older. It reminds me of a quote from somewhere in my past, "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade." I think I'd rather life deal me tomatoes so I could make a Bloody Mary.

La Douceur de Vivre

Blessings of friendship found me today reminiscing of the same. Waking early to prepare the Thanksgiving meal put me in the mindset of how truly blessed I am personally to have family and friends that love one another.
This time of year gives me pause to reflect upon each of these special people and to tell each one how very special and important they are to me. Our family started a tradition a few years ago. Before we have our Thanksgiving meal we all gather around the table and take our turn telling what we are most thankful for in our lives. This year I will say I'm thankful for my ability to give and receive love from both family and friends. I think receiving love is just as important as giving it. It's unselfish and appreciated by both the giver and receiver.
So, to all my family and dear friends from coast to coast, from Japan to the UK, I love you all. Best wishes and blessings this holiday season.
-Kim

La Belle Vie

You didn’t like to smile that much
always saying that your teeth were crooked
I thought your smile was beautiful
falling for that offset grin

Late night coffee with you
Reading Thomas Moore ‘til three
All whilst holding hands
like lovers wish

Waking late and feeding you cereal in bed
with a plastic spoon
Wiping milk from your chin
with a paper napkin I kept tucked in my hand

One day when we grow up
I promise to write you a poem
and feed you in bed
with a silver spoon

And I Thought I Was Strong

I always thought I was strong. I grew up with parents who both worked. That left me alone most days after school to do for myself. I was blessed to be raised in the Southern woods of Mississippi where I could practice my independence at a young age. I can still recall the first fish I caught, and hunting in the deep pine forests alone at 10 years of age. People say I remind them so much of my maternal grandfather. I never met him, but the stories people tell of him are stories of a kind and humble man. Stories of him leaving food on doorsteps of the less fortunate in our community never staying long enough to be discovered or thanked. Stories of a good and strong man. But this story isn't about me or my grandfather. It's about my wife, Nan.
As a young girl in 1975 she left everything she knew and stepped aboard a shrimp boat sitting at the dock of the Saigon River in South Vietnam, and with faith and courage alone never looked back. How she survived that long and dangerous voyage into the open sea I cannot imagine. If you are interested in more of her story just look for Nan's Papaya in this blog. I wrote this to honor Nan and her Mother. Both women of incredible courage.
Recently Nan has undergone multiple surgeries, 6 months of chemotherapy, been hospitalized for pneumonia, and endured the pain of breast cancer. It's been two long years of living on faith. When I ask myself where she finds the strength to go through it all, I remember who she is and her strong constitution she inherited from her Mother. What a blessing it is to be her husband. My God, I thought I was the strong one.

What I miss about Japan

Teaching English at Jaegaru Elementary School was such a joy. The kids were very well behaved albeit a little mischievous at times. I wouldn't trade anything for the time I spent as their teacher. I'm so blessed to have been a part of their life, and I hope I shaped their future in some small way.

Today My Son Turns 31

It seems as though it was just yesterday and you were a little boy running around, jumping in my lap, asking questions of why, how, and where to every conceivable subject you could think of. Now 31 years later you are grown with children of your own asking you the same type questions you asked me. I'm supremely happy for you for being the man that you are and the family you have. That in itself let's me realize that we raised you right.
Let's see what the next 31 years brings. God willing, you will someday look at your son when he turns 31 and feel the accomplishment and satisfaction that I am feeling today.

Cricket In Verse

An Angel in Liverpool will be the only person who understands this poem. But that's my intent.





A bowler, a batsman, and a cricket bat
I'm learning a little and that's just that
You play on grass and bowl at a wicket
If the opposing team pouts you tell 'em to stick it

The bowler belongs to the fielding team
And hurls a ball by the leather seam
If the batsmans not out they run between wickets
And exchange positions with the non striker in cricket

Cricket it seems doesn't have cheerleaders,
And that's quite sad, because I had a few leaders.
One was a cheer for the MMU girl's team
And the other was for an Angel I met in a dream.

It's nice to have friends who are different than you
They can teach you about things you never knew
Like how to laugh, and listen, and be glad
Even when their flatmates think they are mad.

So this one’s for Angel, a girl I adore
She's sweet, and she's kind, and never a bore
I tell her with this poem that my friendship will last
Long after the cricket game fades in the past

My Shoulders

Are my shoulders strong enough
to lift you from the mire?
Can they endure the strain and burn
to lift you even higher?

Can my presence give to you
a friendship you can trust?
A knowing in your heart and soul
that tells you that you must.

Reach out my friend and take my hand
if ever you are wronged.
I'll be there to lift you up
my shoulders they are strong.

A Gecko Came a Calling

Halloween night comes once a year. Time for all the young and some not so young to dress up, grab their pails, and visit their neighbors for goodies and treats. I find that the older I get, the more I enjoy handing out candy, and greeting the young visitors at my door. This year was no exception. I particularly enjoyed this year because it was the first year my grandson Bobby got to dress up and participate in the holiday frivolities. After 30 minutes he was back home and enjoying his treats. He got to eat a lot of chocolate and know what a sugar rush is all about. This is him in the Gecko suit. He is a great kid.