The truth of the matter is . . .: July 2025

Friday, July 25, 2025

You try to plan your life so you have control. However, this may not be easy to do.

You wake up each morning with certain expectations, but find that . . .

Life Is Full Of Surprises

Snow falls outside my window, on a dreary winter day.

Flakes dance through the air, as if performing on stage.

People, with scarves draped around their necks, prance down the street.

Then a snowball comes out of nowhere and hits a passing car.

Life is full of surprises.

Children come out of houses and circle around in the snow.

Some falling to the ground leave angelic imprints.

Others ride their bikes on the shallow snowpacks, leaving a path to follow.

A car skids on the icy road and swirls out of control.

Life is full of surprises.

Do I want to leave my room on this cold winter day?

Maybe not, but I have no choice.

My job calls and I have to listen.

But then the TV blares, “Route 67 (my road to work) closed.”

Life is full of surprises.

What will I do with my free time? I think.

Join the others outside on this cold winter day?

“No chance.” I mutter. I’ll just curl up on the couch with a good book.

But then, my furry pal, Sampson, appears out of nowhere, and out we go.

Life is full of surprises.

As we trek down the block, I feel as if I’m going to freeze to death.

With Sampson jerking the leash, I crash to the ground with a thud.

Holding on tight, as Sampson pulls me with all his might, I cringe in pain.

Then, I look up and see the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen smiling at me.

Life is full of surprises.

Friday, July 18, 2025

Life can be chaotic. A positive attitude helps to travel a sometimes bumpy road.

Valuing life and others may help in . . .

Finding Peace

In the depths of a dark ocean,

There lived a great person,

One full of wonder and joy—

Unscathed by the world’s sadness.

This noble individual embraced life,

And believed in magic and dreams,

In the power of love and kindness,

In the beauty of everything.

Cherishing life and all it held,

Reminded them of who they were,

Pure and unblemished by life’s hardships,

Still able to see the world’s beauty.

They felt that out of the dark,

A bright light would shine,

Giving them courage and motivation,

Guiding them along life’s rough paths.

And in their eyes, one could see hope,

For humanity to blossom and find peace,

To be inspired to care for one another,

To create a serene existence that would never cease.

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Things happen in unpredictable ways. Such occurrences can turn your life upside down.

You believe the past is behind you. Then something arrives in the mail . . .

With Postage Due

My father heard rumors

that contest riches

were coming his way.

Taken aback

by this great news,

he didn’t know what to say.

So he got his gun

and waited

by the front door

for this wonderful day.

Our family’s protection plan in place,

he looked through the peephole,

for the deliverer’s face.

That was six weeks ago,

and we’re still as poor as can be.

But our father hasn’t left the front door

and sleeps on a cot, not so peacefully.

Tremors are present,

in both his hands.

His whole body shakes uncontrollably,

and no one understands.

The pressure has driven him

to distraction,

and even Mom,

dressed in a sexy nightgown,

doesn’t appear

to be an attraction.

I’m only ten,

and what is happening

leaves me confused.

My eight-year-old brother,

on the other hand,

seems quite amused.

Why, is beyond me—

a complete mystery.

But I’ve recorded my thoughts

on paper to preserve our history.

Now twenty years later,

I began to practice law.

My first case involved my brother,

who I still adore.

Saving him

was what I needed to do,

for he had committed a crime,

witnessed by a few.

Seems he heard rumors

of riches coming his way.

Recalling my father’s failure,

he believed

he knew how to play.

Still living at home,

he awaited the arrival

of the delivery man,

who knocked on the door that day.

Opening it, he said,

“What you have in your hand

belongs to me.”

The delivery man replied,

“Well, no, that can’t be.”

Then my brother

pulled out my father’s gun

and shot the young man

in the knee.

He fell to the ground

on the front steps,

for all in the neighborhood to see.

With tears in his eyes, he cried,

“This was meant for an older man,

not you.

It’s been lost in the mail

for twenty years,

with postage due.”