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

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miss you

September 26, 2025

When I take time

to take you in, again,

to feel your spirit,

to see your smile,

and realize that part of you

is forever gone,

I cannot stop the tears.

Oh how I miss you,

my Spirit daughter,

jasmine flower,

unique, precious, sensitive, fragile,

strong, powerful, courageous and light,

life-giving, happiest in the clouds,

seeing God’s majesty,

one with the Universe,

all the joy that was yours came through.

We miss you, oh dear daughter of Light,

Fly, Fly oh so High,

to all the worlds of God,

When I come through to where you are,

Take me with you, flying side by side.

Posted in Family, grief | Leave a Comment »

a little prayer

September 7, 2025

Thank you, Lord, for this day,
Keep my negative thoughts at bay,
when heart is heavy for missing her,
help me to know You walk with her,
when my eyes well up with tears,
help me to know, her spirit is near,
Love is eternal, Love is real,
Love is really all there is.
cfblack, 9-7-25

Posted in Family, grief, love | Leave a Comment »

The soul knows

August 4, 2025

The soul sometimes knows

what the mind does not,

There were many signs,

You had started to make a will

but never got it done,

You took your sister to Hawaii,

a place of your dreams,

You took us on pilgrimage

to Haifa, Israel,

You asked your dad what he wanted

for this year’s Fathers Day,

You said you missed his parents,

would like to visit them,

only two weeks later

you would do just that,

and fly to the worlds beyond.

A baby in the womb cannot imagine this life,

just as we don’t understand where you are,

Our hearts rest in the promise we will see you again,

that love is an eternal bond.

cfblack, 8-4-25

Posted in Family, grief, love | Leave a Comment »

Grief is a long journey

July 16, 2025

Grief. Grief is a long journey.
It has many faces, each one different.
Each one real. Each one, your own.

No matter what you’re feeling,
that’s what you’re feeling.
“Wherever you go, there you are.”

We are the ones still here,
the ones missing her,
the ones left behind,
the ones coming to terms.

And in our society, we don’t DO grief well.
We are not comfortable with death in general,
even though every one of us — loses someone,
and has to cope with loss.

One day at a time,
one step at a time,
one morning at a time,
one night.

We can talk about it,
write a poem,
pray for her,
paint a picture,

do things in her honor,
talk to a friend,
share memories,
do something for someone else,

It is a long journey,
it never ends,
at least, not until you see her again,
but here we are, it is okay to feel

whatever way, today, you feel.

Some days you put one foot in front of the other,
you don’t get done all you wanted to do,
you lie on the couch, just think about her,
give yourself some time for you,

Take a breath, breathe in,
let it out, release your fears,
release your worries and all the sorrow,
sleep again, wake up tomorrow.

cfblack, 7-16-25

Posted in grief | Leave a Comment »

Spirit daughter

July 13, 2025

Spirit daughter,

Daughter of light,

I feel your spirit

throughout the night,

Throughout this time of grief and sadness,

you are there, I am aware.

I feel you, your whole being,

all the woman that you were,

You had come into your own,

now you are flying

freer than free,

throughout the heavens,

on a new path,

a new creation that never fades,

You will always be with me,

Gratitude mingles with tears.

cfblack, 7-13-25

Posted in Family, gratitude, grief | Leave a Comment »

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