MY METEOR SHOWER STORY

I'd heard about the meteor showers to occur tonight and was excited to watch them, hearing they may not appear like this for another 33 years. It got me thinking. The first shooting star I ever saw was when I was but 8 yrs old laying on the lawn with some relatives I didn't know who lived in Ogden Canyon. I was more afraid of snakes and cougars, bears and wolves than this tribe of ne'er do wells so I focused on the sky. It didn't take long before IT happened. The brightest star I'd ever seen shot out and flickered bright heading straight to earth. It was the coolest thing since bloodying Paul Rasmussen's nose when he cheated in tether ball. Frozen in my brain I never saw another til my 13th birthday party sleep out with 8 other girls I'd just met in my new and wonderfully safe Foster Home. This time I was only afraid of garden snakes and Peeping Toms (had encounters in Kearns) so I again focused on the sky. It took a little longer but as the others slept and tossed, there it was! Not one, not two, but three of the most perfect shooting stars fell earthward as synchronized as the 4th of July!
Throughout the years there have been a couple small ones I've seen while driving up the canyon to go fishing or on a late night drive but none sparked the sense of wonder and delight. I had totally expected to capture that tonight. BUT...
I get my coat and gloves on and go outside at midnight looking to the easterly skies and wait..and wait. After about 45 min I knew I needed my polar bear coat to keep warmer so went inside. Now I haven't worn the coat for a year so it was deep in the closet and I needed to stretch my reach and as I did so my foot came down on a lost, small Halloween chocolate bar that acted as an ice patch and down I went into the closet bringing coats and sweaters and hangers down on top of me as I lay squished on my shoes and boxes. A few ouches and grunts later I backed up and out with "the" coat in hand. A bruised side, knee, hand and ego did not keep me from racing back outside to watch for the meteor shower.
Warm in my better coat with hood and gloves I stood atop the driveway gazing right to left in anticipation. After about 15-20 minutes I heard a low, calm voice say, "You move another step closer and I'll blow your head off!" Big pause as my brain scrambled. "Danny?" Another big pause... "Kathy? What are you doing out there?" At the moment it sounded awfully stupid. "I'm watching for meteors." "Oh, ok" was all he said out the dark window. I then decided how grateful I was for the internet and how many times I could watch the meteor shower in the safety of my warm, safe home and went inside.

MY BROTHER, MY FRIEND

My dearest Lord,
how patient and kind,
how ever-understanding,
tolerating the weak
and complicated me.
You see beyond
my mask and
happy pretense
while inner heart is breaking
and, with arms wrapped
snug around myself
My soul reaches out
to wrap myself around you.
Your righteous garment
could protect me from
the hurt or temptation
the pain and the grief.
Yet, You stand back to
Whisper in my ear -
warm consolation and
promises of strength.
And with the breath of
Your clean, holy air
I renew, regain myself-
committed to guide my life
home bound to You -
My Brother, My Friend.
How can I ever fail
with you beside me?

@copyright 2009 Kathy Thayne Herman

IT'S ME

Yes!
Look -
It's me!
Here...
Right here...
Oh, see me
Please.
I am
Right here.
Waiting for you...
Love
I am... I am
Here.

~copyright@2009 Kathy Thayne Herman

WATCHING YOU SLEEP

Watching you sleep
Fast in your dreams
Is the closest I
Could ever stand
Of saying goodbye.

~copyright@2009 Kathy Thayne Herman

ADMITTANCE

Lord, I'm late
writing this,
binding my talents
to You;
but being who You are -
You knew I'd get here,
Breathless,
but eager
to be about our business.

~1980/2009 Kathy Thayne Herman

Fevered Touch

Just now -
Yes, just now
I touched you
so softly and gently
you didn't know
tho my body screamed.
I felt my heartbeat
would pound inside your ears
and yet
you were oblivious
to the baring of my soul.
In a fevered touch,
my face inflamed and
eyes downward
you smiled and
looked away;
so unaware
of my deep desire
and passion
too long bridled.

@copyright 1997/2009 Kathy Thayne Herman

The Attack of the Fruit Cocktail Salad

It was supposed to be a routine day. I needed to drive a ways to purchase a special fruit cocktail salad as it was the only thing I seemed to have been able to eat with no ill effects. Recent surgery and further underlying issues have made eating painless nearly impossible. But, this salad was working and worth the drive. Of course my daughter lived nearby so I purchased the salad and stored it in her refrigerator while visiting the grandkids and shopping at Target. Later, I called Dan to let him know I was on my way home with my special salad. I, dodged orange cones and a flag man I was certain was suicidal.

As soon as I returned home I realized a critical mistake: my salad was still in my daughter's refrigerator and it was evening rush hour...that was okay, I NEEDED that salad so I drove back in, retrieved the salad and fought my way back home...slowing to a near stop when I approached the manic flagman...waving as I passed him.

A little over an hour ago I sat down for a quiet, slow meal of fruit cocktail salad. It was great. I was happy to have made the extra trip. The world was good.

Then I tried to put the lid back tight on the plastic container. Wouldn't close. I cleaned off the edges, it wouldn't close. (Now, mind you, my husband had been baking a turkey all night and I did not see the layer of grease all over the countertop.) Left to right or right to left it wouldn't close so I put an elbow on the counter, took a deep breath, and with all my strength pushed on that lid until it DID snap shut with my pajama top in it. As I tried to UNDO the lid, my arm slid on the grease, the lid abruptly opened, my pajama top was freed and so was the fruit cocktail salad - all over the countertop and inside my top. Would you believe it then simply snapped shut over what was left? The impromptu wrestling match was over. I never know when my life is going to go "Lucy" but I've learned it's best to just laugh it off and move on.