(Above, a recent sketch I did of my dear friend, DS Levy. My reference was a photo taken when the amazingly talented writer known as little Deb had a typewriter already growing in her heart)
Man, it has been a long time since I’ve posted. Like you all, I’m juggling coffee mugs attempting to make a Venetian decanter. I’ve been doing quite a bit of writing and ‘arting’ offline. ‘Tis difficult wanting to do it all with the damn clock dictating the days.
I do hope you, your families and friends are doing okay.
Here’s a piece I wrote sometime ago while sipping coffee in the kitchen of my previous home:)
The Lollipop Vanishes
The cold isn’t done yet. It remains bluster-blue out there. Steam from my morning coffee marinates my face while a pen hanging from the calendar on my pantry door doodles pictograms. The wind spirits are still dancing. Shouldn’t have cracked the kitchen sliders open so early. Perhaps the swinging pen is scrawling a message from beyond, should I pray or wipe the door down?
Time flips on its head whenever clouds sail by that fast. Between sips of luke warm coffee, I remember me as a little girl in brown polyester, a tomboy with a pageboy, and a half-shirted party girl. Young woman with a career, an apartment, a sports car, a motorcycle.
As a lefty, I never learned biker right-hand turns. The bike went away. I totaled my car. The car went away. I bought another car. Got married. We moved from New Jersey to New York. We had children. Moved into a bigger house. Our large dog died. We got another dog. Plus a smaller dog for child anxiety. My children earned degrees.
Our family had a bad eleven weeks that killed my father and mother-in-law and gave my mother a massive stroke. My mother died three years later. I don’t remember being her caregiver. My children moved into their new lives. We downsized into a new “old” house. My husband’s hair turned grey. My older relatives are nearly done dying. A box of Clairol waits in the wings for me.
In one of my book clubs, I’m the oldest, in the other, I’m the youngest. I worry the elder members will pass on before reading the next book selection.
The lollipop vanishes, and the goddamn stick can beat you into the ground if you let it.
Look out there, the gray is fading to light purple. How lovely. That’s something I haven’t seen in a while.
am:)
anntogether 
The sketch is wonderful, Ann Marie. This was a bit sad to read, your family passing on. Many in my family are now gone as we that are left age too fast. My dad will be 96 early next month and is doing very well. Mum passed in 2012.
Sometimes life smacks us upside the head, doesn’t it? Hugs for you, Ann Marie, it’s always wonderful to see you in my inbox once again my friend!
Perhaps someday we will meet in person after many years and have a cuppa together. Have a great next week! ❤️😊
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Wow, your dad 96 – happy birthday to him!
Very sorry about the loss of your beloved mom
yes, John, how life does beat us with a sad stick – but we go on – your dad has it down pat – follow in his footsteps my friend:)
And yes, someday a cuppa brew would be terrific:)
am:)
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Love the sketch of Deb! I feel just like you with all the changes and time moving on so quickly. I’m sorry to hear about the deaths & illnesses you’ve experienced. I’ve been there, too, and it’s a hard & heartbreaking road. Sending hugs. I tried to “like” this but my likes aren’t sticking to WP today – who knows why. Take care.
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hi there Charlotte
so nice to read you here
yes, damn death – it’s all over the universe and can’t be stopped
i’m sorry for the losses you’ve experienced in your life too
ah, to live every day fully:)
am:)
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Oh my goodness! To see my youthful image so creatively/artistically rendered! I must say, AM, you have honored me to no end. Thank you, thank you, my friend. And geez-oh-peez-oh (that’s a technical term used in the Midwest), “The Lollipop Vanishes,” man, this is GREAT! Sermon #9483838 coming to you this week from a pulpit nearby. Yep, you know what I’m gonna say. 😉
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ah, DS
yup yup my friend, i heard you before you said it;)
i love that photo – lol all those dark areas nearly broke my wrist;)
see ya later
am:)
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how is it going anmarie im writig my 3rd 1000pg book 640pgs averaging 20 to 30pgs a day but i take every other day off i want to fiish it by the end of april on my birhday thngs have been tough at home i enjoy the peace at my apartment but if i get asked at home to come support my sisters with their problems i will
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hi dan
i’m so very sorry for your home situation – your sister is lucky to have such a supportive brother
i’m glad you can find respite in your apartment and to read that you’re always writing!
early birthday wishes to you my friend!
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It’s nice to see you again. I’m sorry for all you’ve gone through. Life is just like that sometimes. I think you wrote that for all of us since we can relate to parts of it for sure.
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Hi there Georgiann
Life does its work – a relentless salesman ringing the bell
and i’m sorry for the losses you’ve experienced in your life
tender are the moments:)
am:)
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