The Apples in My Orchard

I cannot believe that it’s already Friday. The week went fast as most holiday week’s do.

We are in New York at my Dad’s. Christmas has come and gone and I cannot say that I was sorry to see it go. It’s the first year since becoming a parent 30 years ago, that I’ve ever spent the holiday without my boys. It was tougher than I thought it would be.

My husband and I made the best of it. We served some nice homemade meals to my Dad.

Christmas Eve we had shrimp scampi and a tuscan loaf of bread.

Christmas morning we opened presents after my husband got homemade cinnamon rolls in the oven. Gifts included essential things for my Dad like new sweat pants and some goodies like chocolates. I got a new FitBit (mine broke recently) and my husband got long johns and socks. We had given each other some additional gifts before we came to New York on the 18th. It was an odd year for gifts.

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We had pork loin, a pomegranate, apple, and pecan salad, gourmet potatoes (made from scratch, naturally, and more tuscan loaf. Homemade cookies served us as dessert.

My days have been like a roller coaster, highs and lows, as I navigate trying to ensure all of our needs are met. Luckily, I’m sleeping okay. When I’m stressed a solid night’s sleep is the first thing to go out the window.

There’s more I could go into but will not.

I was going to write about my need for silence, as the first post I read this week was Laura’s. I can relate to the need for silence so much.

At our home, we rarely have any media playing – no TV, no radio, no CD’s, streaming music or podcasts during the day. I enjoy my silence. It allows me to think and to process and create.

It is the thing I miss most about being at my Dad’s where the TV goes on at 5:45 am when he gets up and goes off at 10 pm when he goes to bed. It’s too much noise.

But, instead of going on about the source of the noise and stress, I’ll just leave you with two simple haiku.

Friday fish fry
Each state claims as its own
Tonight is New York

I’ve been working on a poem for my new year’s post card swap and planning some challenge activities for myself in the new year with my writing and photography.

You can always find me on Medium, where I write daily. I want to thank all of you for the support you’ve shown me this year – from the kind thoughts and words you’ve shared as I’ve taken care of my dad, to participation in the Picture Perfect Poetry anthology. I appreciate each of you and wish you all a happy and healthy 2025!

This week’s host for the round-up is Michelle Kogan. Please visit her blog, More Art For All, for more poetry.