Archive for October, 2025

how are you doing?

October 29, 2025

People ask us how we’re doing.

Honest answer, we’re struggling,

all of us, every day, every minute, in every way.

We miss you, we love you,

it is natural to grieve.

Your parents, your sister, your brothers, your kids,

your goddaughter, your cousins,

your coworkers and friends.

We all struggle every day,

but we’re okay. We have to be.

You filled this world with so much love,

You called your boys to check on them,

I turn to God,

I feel your spirit,

You are with us every day,

We whisper to you

but won’t hear back,

and yet, you are there,

you are everywhere.

You are in everything we do,

Every day we send our love to you.

cfblack, 10-29-25

Jasmine age 16, photography class

Posted in Family, grief | Leave a Comment »

my vote

October 27, 2025

Everybody wants to know, how will I vote?

Democrats write me, Republicans too,

they send surveys I am afraid to answer.

Is this survey for real, or are they trolling?

Every mailing I get, it asks for money.

I grew up being told, my vote is my business.

I vote as a citizen, make my choices in private,

vote on issues that mean the most to me.

It’s none of your business how I plan to vote.

If elections were honest and votes were legit,

you’ll know after I vote, who I voted for.

And no, I have no money for your campaign,

because, have you bought groceries lately?

have you tried to buy steak? LOL LOL.

Lucky to buy hamburger. Hot dogs, maybe.

Maybe a can of soup with too much salt.

Have you looked at what a house costs to rent??

No, I can’t send $$ to your campaign,

you’ll have to figure that out for yourself.

Save your money and don’t ask for mine.

Call me on the phone, ask me, how was my day?

What are the issues you’re dealing with?

How can I brighten your day today?

I will vote while I still can, and hope that it counts.

But my vote is my business,

I hope for change.

cfblack, 10-27-25

Posted in hard times, the times we live in, various personal musings | Leave a Comment »

Cheese and crackers

October 26, 2025

My Dutch grandma served cheese and crackers,

chocolate candy with vanilla creme,

green and white mints, melted in your mouth,

windmill cookies, and 7-up.

She lived through the Great depression,

sat at her foot pedal sewing machine,

revised used clothes from someone else

to fit her own children,

went to church on Sunday,

and always had a smile.

Told us of times Grandpa couldn’t find work

and “had to go work for the WPA”,

They built sidewalks and did other jobs

after the first world war,

She loved hosting friends and family,

the adults talked for what seemed like hours,

until she winked and said with a smile,

“Let’s have a little lunch.”

Children then ran into the kitchen,

were treated like Kings and Queens,

climbed up on chairs awaiting them,

felt the love in their family,

watched her pour the magic bubbly,

ate cheese and crackers, and candy.

This is where we heard stories,

learned some family history,

but what I most remember

is my Grandma’s cheery laughter,

always happily hosting,

sharing what they had.

cfblack, 10-26-25

Posted in childhood, Family, hard times, love | Leave a Comment »

green grasshopper

October 20, 2025

Yesterday, on the windshield of your car,

our car, the one we inherited from you,

a tiny grasshopper appeared,

light green baby, sitting there,

as I drove to the store.

This has become our sign,

a symbol of life between us.

I would see them in your yard,

after you passed,

not something we see every day anymore,

like I used to see them as a kid.

A sign of life, a symbol, and I like to think,

from you.

It is you saying, “Care for the earth,

all signs of life, everywhere.

Each life is precious, even grasshoppers,

care for all the living things.”

A friend of mine wrote a poem for you,

‘I see you galavanting through galaxies,

a grasshopper clinging … to your hand…

She dwells with the stars, tethered to God,

with an emerald green grasshopper

strapped by her side.’

I whisper to you in the car,

“I love you, I miss you.”

I see you too, green grasshopper,

all life is connected,

ours, with tiny living things,

and other worlds beyond.

cfblack, 10-20-25

Posted in Family, gratitude, grief, love, spirit world | Leave a Comment »

Carry you with us

October 12, 2025

There’s just no replacing you,

You are with us, always,

in spirit, memory, laughter, hopes.

It is you as a toddler,

you as a child,

teenager, pregnant, young mom and wife.

You raising your boys,

never giving up hope that

they will be just who they are, today,

your faith, your caring,

your forever love,

taking in 2 stepdaughters

as your own,

staying in touch with them

after divorce.

One of them now lives in Georgia,

close to where you were,

how ironic is that? But that’s how life goes.

You in your 40s, finally happy,

secure in yourself and who you are,

I miss you daughter, I miss you here,

your dad and I cope as best we can.

We move through days, one after the other,

carry you with us as we go,

Carry you always, in our hearts,

carry you with us, as we go.

cfblack, 10-10-25

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »