tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64973806005430380732024-03-13T15:11:23.526-07:00Once By the PacificA view of the ocean. A car containing sand and soggy wetsuits. A house full of books, boys, laundry and love.
A poem, a picture, a rumination.Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.comBlogger377125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-30388814429733774942012-03-23T11:29:00.000-07:002012-04-23T11:30:54.506-07:00All is One, All is Different<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJ_4GgJJvfVVtJOVdbZLhEGVRg8_nIFpmylz4aFdwF2_IyotD27Uulhep7aHF86yZFG5-f0iwbRHzpEFT0dU7erm7aZjEtvz3oOfrfdOcszIfXlwZdE4EZSW2OjwrvQxYjkXWzZmmzs0/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJ_4GgJJvfVVtJOVdbZLhEGVRg8_nIFpmylz4aFdwF2_IyotD27Uulhep7aHF86yZFG5-f0iwbRHzpEFT0dU7erm7aZjEtvz3oOfrfdOcszIfXlwZdE4EZSW2OjwrvQxYjkXWzZmmzs0/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The rain has stopped.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A damp hush falls.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sea, sky and sun </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">turn silver</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">as if spun from the same stuff</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">or turned into something else entirely.</span></div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-23941149976441332142012-03-13T22:04:00.001-07:002012-04-02T14:14:38.161-07:00Rhetorical Question<div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRNdL1DDQhiXLzMqALjwzILHHN1x7Jpt6uW4SExoXHtBPrhGvnABM_6rh9xgumY4OoHs4LOk8AWg4NBt76xqBqZWDCKEc8j3RUFRSamm6X5IMAwGGOGxHzBhbc0mTc6XFztY_b0l2p9I/s1600/vanderlads.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRNdL1DDQhiXLzMqALjwzILHHN1x7Jpt6uW4SExoXHtBPrhGvnABM_6rh9xgumY4OoHs4LOk8AWg4NBt76xqBqZWDCKEc8j3RUFRSamm6X5IMAwGGOGxHzBhbc0mTc6XFztY_b0l2p9I/s400/vanderlads.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726914266269093842" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div>Is there anything</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">more wonderful than being</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">the mother of boys?</span></div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-558779794751027222012-03-05T21:21:00.001-08:002012-04-02T13:54:37.628-07:00Old Man's in Winter<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil03fR0zVwIbB8Tx7hh3gH4RcL3WfW9F6EdVAg-wJnncYP5fUi589XpZqc_agzEWAGvHAsaIWrzh-RXSfBy1x0Pn3uPx3w6JEq3J6O0pPwoJqRsC_YzcyCauD5QRoZke7Lpw6zmeAIwAw/s1600/photo.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil03fR0zVwIbB8Tx7hh3gH4RcL3WfW9F6EdVAg-wJnncYP5fUi589XpZqc_agzEWAGvHAsaIWrzh-RXSfBy1x0Pn3uPx3w6JEq3J6O0pPwoJqRsC_YzcyCauD5QRoZke7Lpw6zmeAIwAw/s400/photo.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726909066928470146" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">It's still winter, water in the fifties.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">I paddle stiffly and scramble for waves</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">until my hands get to feeling like they do</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">when you rummage around in an ice chest </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">for too long,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">looking for the last cold beer </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">at the bottom. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">I peel off my wetsuit </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">and rinse under the cold outdoor shower </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">in a clump of bamboo, </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">then fumble for my car keys</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">and climb into the driver's seat.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Wrapped up in the deliciousness </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">of a dry towel with the heat on full blast,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">I can't stop smiling.</span></div><div><br /></div></div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-17540493310713952452012-02-29T12:14:00.001-08:002012-03-29T12:19:28.929-07:00Portrait of the Artist<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzt0dAqdSrw0nN0HnTgiW7KlvoaHibW_joCcWq7UH2P_zGwlxRwgiA5O215DsULkK_2qlGlSgVED7q0NtkG8r3HIPtMJphHitUNXE74c4ZHjhPoDuJPz53ZaPGMBpI21lMWx8qBOWg4o/s1600/photo.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 343px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzt0dAqdSrw0nN0HnTgiW7KlvoaHibW_joCcWq7UH2P_zGwlxRwgiA5O215DsULkK_2qlGlSgVED7q0NtkG8r3HIPtMJphHitUNXE74c4ZHjhPoDuJPz53ZaPGMBpI21lMWx8qBOWg4o/s400/photo.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725400722384375586" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div>An artist alone</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">an empty beach, wind-tossed sea</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">and so it begins</span></div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-28038437313090782242012-02-22T16:58:00.001-08:002012-03-02T14:19:28.904-08:00Creatures of Leisure<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgboXGhxhKFTL6JHqLAydJnGT7kDcsS_PaLDoWzxPEoQx0P1TSyPP5itdZwVswyuSgi1QL0NDiwZf0MqzSLqqFiy7o_vRVeYFnMn23cFsoD2uqeK9H0tX6RJNThLvJ0AGf-3c1EQrnPybk/s1600/iguanas.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 343px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgboXGhxhKFTL6JHqLAydJnGT7kDcsS_PaLDoWzxPEoQx0P1TSyPP5itdZwVswyuSgi1QL0NDiwZf0MqzSLqqFiy7o_vRVeYFnMn23cFsoD2uqeK9H0tX6RJNThLvJ0AGf-3c1EQrnPybk/s400/iguanas.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715427811900725170" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div>Iguanas creep out, </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">then stretch and bask by the pool</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">as if they owned it.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-34470311420268357902012-02-14T13:46:00.002-08:002012-03-02T13:58:17.000-08:00On Visiting Waikiki<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggN2LgF3ZGeVQPoKKsOiFs-aWUV6e6nqpv_LbqScVbbKZEvmQLomqb_MJUX80dEU8uktXk2COevjhT8W1yMBYCj1dDlyhcZY-aCMgcLwfo0uSA8AbhK3Oht-at9CEWG3lbTmCG3ItnvIk/s1600/photo.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggN2LgF3ZGeVQPoKKsOiFs-aWUV6e6nqpv_LbqScVbbKZEvmQLomqb_MJUX80dEU8uktXk2COevjhT8W1yMBYCj1dDlyhcZY-aCMgcLwfo0uSA8AbhK3Oht-at9CEWG3lbTmCG3ItnvIk/s400/photo.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715419938697126530" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Lucida Grande"font-family:";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Lucida Grande"font-family:";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Lucida Grande"font-family:";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Lucida Grande"font-family:";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Lucida Grande"font-family:";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Lucida Grande"font-family:";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Lucida Grande"font-family:";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Waikiki Beach <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">is one of those places <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I feel like I should hate<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">on account of its many hotel towers and tourists--<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Like Las Vegas or Disneyland-- <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">except that I love it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I love looking at the faded green hills<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">and Diamond Head off in the distance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The aquamarine water<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">and bright yellow catamarans;<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">the candy-pink umbrellas dotting the beach<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">in front of the old Royal Hawaiian Hotel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Even the throng of oiled bodies on the sand<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">and high-rise buildings that crowd the shore<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">take on a warm, pastel glow <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">under the Hawaiian sun, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">like figures in a vintage postcard.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-47212437316527991742012-02-07T12:34:00.000-08:002012-02-16T12:47:15.757-08:00High School Winter Formal<div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTKLs0PwRoM11wBqyM0JgjmuP0cMT6Cpzn_ybDcev4ta78o7f-vpTHI-UR71tVh9bcFCOBu0uPW-ywojDKFMY9kLpqPPpG7FPjxiVDx7CHHgchI3LwvSlTX88iA1CoERIismHKmEVOwk/s1600/IMG_1044.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTKLs0PwRoM11wBqyM0JgjmuP0cMT6Cpzn_ybDcev4ta78o7f-vpTHI-UR71tVh9bcFCOBu0uPW-ywojDKFMY9kLpqPPpG7FPjxiVDx7CHHgchI3LwvSlTX88iA1CoERIismHKmEVOwk/s400/IMG_1044.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709835499285691826" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It’s that time of year again.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">There’s a panicked attempt </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">to tie one of Dad’s real bow-ties</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">per an instructional video on YouTube</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">which proves too difficult</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">and is abandoned for Plan B: </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">the faux, pre-tied version.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Well-scrubbed boys</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">in shiny rented formalwear</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">posing for pictures </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">with long-legged, glossy-haired girls</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">who exceed their dates in sophistication</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">and height.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The customary exchange</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">of corsages and boutonnieres, </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">the parental admonitions to </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">have fun and be safe, </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">and the flurry of goodbyes </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">as the kids all leave for the dance.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">There, again, is the lump </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">that lodges somewhere between my throat and heart</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">at seeing my boys dressed up like young men,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">rehearsing for adulthood. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--></div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-21388230397060724432012-01-30T10:06:00.001-08:002012-02-06T10:13:40.730-08:00Bonus<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBQU9yEekhmSMjCeKF-hTMgsyHIX1pnwiqv7uScHPfVSw4AsDVHblCrUKHF7AwSjxnkjEFuAa4jNtzWuT9bqwg179HjOkp5zB3pgs_BK3EMxxn-mUccPgZHZsbXrIF7b_R-WvCepQMT0/s1600/calendar2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 398px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBQU9yEekhmSMjCeKF-hTMgsyHIX1pnwiqv7uScHPfVSw4AsDVHblCrUKHF7AwSjxnkjEFuAa4jNtzWuT9bqwg179HjOkp5zB3pgs_BK3EMxxn-mUccPgZHZsbXrIF7b_R-WvCepQMT0/s400/calendar2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706087360111546658" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Don't you love </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">the feeling </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';">you get </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';">on a Sunday night</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">when you remember</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">that Monday is a day off?</span></div></div></div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-20068678977344361772012-01-27T21:03:00.000-08:002012-02-06T09:58:26.305-08:00One Perfect Hour<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopSLMKRHnq_SI2B-uiOH-iVcJhxbd8MLlb7qV8g4iOPZWf_mNABn516h3-6jDG_OXBH2ZD2Tlbx4rTfZhtd28a6ruQZN0aZ-VRJUzTRLGPu-D_5EPnpwYnesscIE5H_B4M0GDyLWydWY/s1600/beach+feet.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopSLMKRHnq_SI2B-uiOH-iVcJhxbd8MLlb7qV8g4iOPZWf_mNABn516h3-6jDG_OXBH2ZD2Tlbx4rTfZhtd28a6ruQZN0aZ-VRJUzTRLGPu-D_5EPnpwYnesscIE5H_B4M0GDyLWydWY/s400/beach+feet.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706083351974888386" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div>After the morning's work </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">and before taking my son to a doctor's appointment</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">was one perfect hour</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">in which I rushed to the beach</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">hurry, hurry</span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">parked on Thalia Street</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">and ran across Pacific Coast Highway</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">water-logged longboard under my arm.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">I pulled on my wetsuit</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">quick, quick</span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">pausing to take note </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">of a new hole under the left arm, darnit</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">and paddled out. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">The water was still January-chilly</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">but the warm sun made up for it</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">and I caught wave after glassy little wave</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">and watched the pelicans dive </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">and said</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">thank you, thank you </span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">when I saw</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">a pod of dolphins swim by.</span></div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-54631242199170052122012-01-24T22:33:00.000-08:002012-02-01T11:48:30.102-08:00Red Sky, Wine-Dark Sea<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAboI6_8AV4gOzIochSfcnxZujOHC0g1z1DpMUflBQe7LLnIrlCWFtwcWxGataN1HyYjSYRY4D3pI2jSLn5Gw0RXKA5NVFZwvOBMjqtevZUauBBYaOxEP_GIO9pBFZysqMAUk4WS77kSw/s1600/redsky.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAboI6_8AV4gOzIochSfcnxZujOHC0g1z1DpMUflBQe7LLnIrlCWFtwcWxGataN1HyYjSYRY4D3pI2jSLn5Gw0RXKA5NVFZwvOBMjqtevZUauBBYaOxEP_GIO9pBFZysqMAUk4WS77kSw/s400/redsky.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704255987939298962" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Under a blooming,</span></div></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">red-magenta sunset</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">on an ordinary Tuesday</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the ocean becomes</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Homer's wine-dark sea</span></span></div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-18958888162057032462012-01-20T11:11:00.000-08:002012-02-01T11:27:03.358-08:00There's Always Something...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FNilzMBd4wk7I6C35FVCYjjfPjECGJw53mgtkspc63dzFDM2e0qtXTgKnaNrehTTvMVQsSNDqVnjuxE2AQRyHfEnJAc-DqlQ1ua_VdDzhNdj1epZZEyeI1lFqN9jQw4TD7tyL50Kf3M/s1600/IMG00862-20110609-0852.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FNilzMBd4wk7I6C35FVCYjjfPjECGJw53mgtkspc63dzFDM2e0qtXTgKnaNrehTTvMVQsSNDqVnjuxE2AQRyHfEnJAc-DqlQ1ua_VdDzhNdj1epZZEyeI1lFqN9jQw4TD7tyL50Kf3M/s400/IMG00862-20110609-0852.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704250573623540594" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">The bougainvillea</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">is looking good. So what's with</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">the New Zealand flax?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Have you ever noticed that maintaining a house or a yard (or a kid, for that matter) is a never-ending project akin to painting the Golden Gate Bridge? Leaky roof, sun-damaged floors, backed up drains, unhappy plants (or in the case of the kid: stomach flu, lingering cold, weird Honduras-induced skin condition)--you fix one thing and then some other problem pops up. Occasionally I have to remind myself that there will </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">always</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> be something, and that's just the way it is...and it's ok.</span></div><div><br /></div></div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-22580627949109999562012-01-17T20:03:00.000-08:002012-01-27T10:51:05.785-08:00The Painting Lesson, and a Prayer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZiDeiD_5cyanszPucxchFVzhNtzrhSbbgi0hdoZNWcZcV_tKWc6TB_Fv-61H2PRbQdMYAjee-ndnbUiNfCZCEM-OOgpqpkqcPTo_HWcC2mjQjmYG7lJRgCCsLLIxvl1KY98M5F5IQww/s1600/IMG00177-20120118-0925.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZiDeiD_5cyanszPucxchFVzhNtzrhSbbgi0hdoZNWcZcV_tKWc6TB_Fv-61H2PRbQdMYAjee-ndnbUiNfCZCEM-OOgpqpkqcPTo_HWcC2mjQjmYG7lJRgCCsLLIxvl1KY98M5F5IQww/s400/IMG00177-20120118-0925.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700921080029720242" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Two women in hats,<br />feet solidly planted in the damp grass,<br />lean toward a canvas<br />propped against an easel.<br />One woman dabs intently with a brush,<br />the other looks out at the ocean,<br />then makes a staccato gesture--<br />here, here, and there--<br />with two fingers,<br />pointing to an outcropping of rock.<br />They consider the horizon,<br />then regard the painting in progress.<br /><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">There is both lightness and gravity<br />in the way they work.<br /><br /><br />God of all<br />thank you<br />for the rough loveliness<br />of nature<br />and<br />for whatever it is--<br />spark, soul, or instinct--<br />that makes humans<br />want to make beauty<br />too.<br /></span></span><br /></div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-78408284314055182432012-01-13T21:19:00.000-08:002012-01-23T10:50:01.261-08:00Surf Check<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQbTU-qa_wUmlkGGa5duVqj9Aykkjk1hkkajE0yBn49muFcWXvAnZ-nX_olt2C9wI5LzuSh7A5RiYTjNbtI0bPLqxVRgIlpzqDCh6KXu07LmCjZywx3brHDkKSPeFQDFJxB2TRgjuiag/s1600/IMG_0926.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQbTU-qa_wUmlkGGa5duVqj9Aykkjk1hkkajE0yBn49muFcWXvAnZ-nX_olt2C9wI5LzuSh7A5RiYTjNbtI0bPLqxVRgIlpzqDCh6KXu07LmCjZywx3brHDkKSPeFQDFJxB2TRgjuiag/s400/IMG_0926.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698843608314737698" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Surf check at Sammy's:</div><div>Clean lines, the swell filling in.</div><div>The sun on my back.</div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-5792918960505220812012-01-09T22:36:00.000-08:002012-01-12T16:01:34.883-08:00Collision<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1J3G27yEutUCtg5ZSc_Kc92ph03CyRF2bvOTielN3ZuMpd4ibUY1ikWR8Efipb4xeUM3hO2PqUbWsjvO7wgjX0MNBJ8TbZuqfIZzjtdriXVIsB5nL74S5lNjuqkaquG0R4jHzUW8V2U/s1600/car-accident-crash.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 351px; height: 337px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1J3G27yEutUCtg5ZSc_Kc92ph03CyRF2bvOTielN3ZuMpd4ibUY1ikWR8Efipb4xeUM3hO2PqUbWsjvO7wgjX0MNBJ8TbZuqfIZzjtdriXVIsB5nL74S5lNjuqkaquG0R4jHzUW8V2U/s400/car-accident-crash.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696899182094775650" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lost in thoughts of my to-do list</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and creeping along in stop-and-go traffic,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I hit my brakes late</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and slam into the car in front of me. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I draw in a sharp breath </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and motion for the other driver to pull over. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We get out of our cars </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and stand by the side of the road,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">squinting in the bright sun</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">as we trade insurance information.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The damage is minor</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and no one hurt, but I'm rattled</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and apologetic;</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">he is irritated and insists </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">on filing a police report. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The officer arrives.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As she writes on her notepad</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I look down at the smattering of squashed hotsauce packets</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">littering the roadside,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">prod them with the toe of my boot.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I silently curse my poor timing, </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">wishing I had taken a different way home</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">wishing I hadn't looked down. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wishing it all had been otherwise.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then I think of Jane Kenyon's poem,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Otherwise"--</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I got out of bed<br />on two strong legs.<br />It might have been<br />otherwise</span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">--and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">remind myself that I have a bad habit</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">of reading too much </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">cosmic significance </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">into life's fender-benders:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Is it because I tried to get out of jury duty?</span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Is God, or the universe, trying to apprehend me</span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">for something I've done</span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">or left undone?</span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yes, I could have avoided the accident</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">but I didn't</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and it could have been worse.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm walking away from this collision</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">as is the man in the other car</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and it might have been otherwise.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><div><br /></div></div></div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-48707298123123091022012-01-03T12:32:00.000-08:002012-01-04T09:13:17.459-08:00Blue Christmas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6yL9KPHadBchHybTjwe8lAVmUioHXBz0xKk5VulopjF0OkL5Yi13mi02FtBnsRqchfvmHU21mbRELrsYlHLR_eQJoWdNal1d_uTZguhjZ3psPOD7rWBXlI2GGdOMRTAsIAaKLpuztAk/s1600/IMG_0820.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6yL9KPHadBchHybTjwe8lAVmUioHXBz0xKk5VulopjF0OkL5Yi13mi02FtBnsRqchfvmHU21mbRELrsYlHLR_eQJoWdNal1d_uTZguhjZ3psPOD7rWBXlI2GGdOMRTAsIAaKLpuztAk/s400/IMG_0820.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693825208574813394" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>It was a December <div>of golden days </div><div>and crisp, sparkling nights.</div><div>I saw swooping pelicans </div><div>and Orion's belt, </div><div>bright blooming aloe</div><div>and holiday lights downtown. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now that the brittle, shedding Christmas tree</div><div>is down by the street </div><div>and the ornaments have all been put away,</div><div>I flip through pictures of beach walks</div><div>and parties and presents opened and sunsets.</div><div><br /></div><div>Most beautiful are the blues--</div><div>an azure sky, </div><div>the inky ocean </div><div>ruffled by an offshore wind,</div><div>and </div><div>indigo-purple mussels </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>holding fast to the rocks.</div><div> </div><div> </div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-12892187078572693422011-12-13T20:58:00.000-08:002012-01-04T08:47:59.557-08:00On Visiting Mrs. Blanton's Third Grade Class to Talk About Poetry<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFl3cWlRBJ6cMSj-nKv7JiOQSsC7n08vgVarddaNhaIUCjyCC2seUPNfTN0y6VAlSi-xtL4-c_dnxJ0CKUtkUfDZe1II_CmpdkJK2LmVZcuq8IkW4KSffU_PkF8p3nn4ALc1J7YCG94r0/s1600/child-drawing-girl-heart-kid-Favim.com-59504.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFl3cWlRBJ6cMSj-nKv7JiOQSsC7n08vgVarddaNhaIUCjyCC2seUPNfTN0y6VAlSi-xtL4-c_dnxJ0CKUtkUfDZe1II_CmpdkJK2LmVZcuq8IkW4KSffU_PkF8p3nn4ALc1J7YCG94r0/s400/child-drawing-girl-heart-kid-Favim.com-59504.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693819389187548290" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Little poets<div>with bright upturned faces</div><div>greet me at the classroom door.</div><div><br /></div><div>I meet Julian</div><div>and Tasha </div><div>and Cole</div><div>and many others.</div><div><br /></div><div>We speak of haiku</div><div>and poems about cats,</div><div>nymphs and goblins.</div><div><br /></div><div>They listen </div><div>and bubble with questions:</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Can I read you my poem?</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>What is your favorite poem? </i></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>and, from a charming young journalist, head cocked:</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What magazines are on your coffee table at home?</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The room vibrates </div><div>with the open-hearted, uninhibited creativity </div><div>that comes from smart kids </div><div>who still know that we all can create something beautiful,</div><div>who haven't been told that they can't.</div><div><br /></div><div>I leave feeling buoyant and blessed.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-7784418918962457132011-11-16T23:06:00.000-08:002011-11-16T23:17:15.427-08:00Afresh<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWDci7ppgrlZhTtn22REhXlayrBNMlT0FQirYiK4YEE_Z7B4hRlSuFqtmwSEfB-DAvyoK2DWuLpOEv5eFUUB5Mb0OIfz9Oc9ILcpTzM1gkYyH49U0pmsBugqjnfRccv-T83va2sjC6nI/s1600/IMG00133-20100421-0857.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWDci7ppgrlZhTtn22REhXlayrBNMlT0FQirYiK4YEE_Z7B4hRlSuFqtmwSEfB-DAvyoK2DWuLpOEv5eFUUB5Mb0OIfz9Oc9ILcpTzM1gkYyH49U0pmsBugqjnfRccv-T83va2sjC6nI/s400/IMG00133-20100421-0857.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675858024016495090" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Dew on every blade</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">of grass. A flashing silver</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">sun. A day, afresh.</span></span></div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-69206344574716877022011-10-12T10:21:00.000-07:002011-10-17T10:25:53.420-07:00Night Creatures<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gVA1m7OYHSCLd3XO3zxOezRAD-EuKnCqBwOhX4EDf9Wm88e8LPhnptSUopHDioybB3gH5-aYoDIRdFpdEqEr51ENX_ECkXyzm2VJkgMV_WIOMJeO6vNdRdVS-uHCFncicbkypXD3fSY/s1600/Night_Light_002.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gVA1m7OYHSCLd3XO3zxOezRAD-EuKnCqBwOhX4EDf9Wm88e8LPhnptSUopHDioybB3gH5-aYoDIRdFpdEqEr51ENX_ECkXyzm2VJkgMV_WIOMJeO6vNdRdVS-uHCFncicbkypXD3fSY/s400/Night_Light_002.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664512768572359826" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Lucida Grande"font-family:";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Lucida Grande"font-family:";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Lucida Grande"font-family:";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Lucida Grande"font-family:";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Lucida Grande"font-family:";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Lucida Grande"font-family:";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Lucida Grande"font-family:";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Between dusk and dark<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">at the bottom of Oak Street <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">the halogen glow of my headlights <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">falls on a group of figures <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">jumping <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">on a mattress in the middle of the road--<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">flashes of long, tossing hair,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">a loud whoop,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">laughter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I smile. Teenage girls.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I turn right on Glenneyre<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">and drive on <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">with that sense you get <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">when a creature<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">passes in front of your car<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">so quickly <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">that you only recognize what you’ve seen<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">after you see it.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Lucida Grande"font-family:";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-19110230407693960332011-09-27T21:44:00.000-07:002011-09-28T13:19:04.991-07:00Monterey Formation, As Seen At Crystal Cove<div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qDJjhZJJfrh2Ys_6RHyFoe4guD4ohTdI9JlHU9LddP2XRLkKB5jqEkeVfi3J0wnpPAjD-i9rj7Blayxd-eM5eMxM3i8BCscjExgnvM8xx8tcLJT5Aghv2zjMXn8SKWDzymHTFgVIxds/s1600/IMG00836-20110604-1114.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qDJjhZJJfrh2Ys_6RHyFoe4guD4ohTdI9JlHU9LddP2XRLkKB5jqEkeVfi3J0wnpPAjD-i9rj7Blayxd-eM5eMxM3i8BCscjExgnvM8xx8tcLJT5Aghv2zjMXn8SKWDzymHTFgVIxds/s400/IMG00836-20110604-1114.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656896988483782962" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>roughly layered rock</div><div>tells time in shades of</div><div>chalk-grey, sand and rust</div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-16418924033521873332011-09-21T13:36:00.000-07:002011-09-21T16:41:36.103-07:00RebootDear Friends,<div><br /></div><div>So many good things have happened since I wrote my 365th poem in 365 days back in January. I sent my writing brain on vacation for a few weeks and then started up again. I just had to take a hiatus from my poem-a-day discipline, and work on some other things. </div><div><br /></div><div>A book proposal and some chapters of said book (stay tuned). Also, a coffee-table book compilation of some of my favorite Laguna Beach-related poems and images from the blog, which is my love letter to my hometown of almost ten years. Watch for it in December. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hmmm...what else? I did some copywriting and blogging this summer for my friends at Laguna Beach Stand Up Paddle Company--they recently launched a fabulous new web site. I've been working on my tennis game, but it's still not that good. No worries! (That's my new, post-40 attitude about things that are supposed to be fun.) I'm getting better at maintaining my pre-yoga zen while jockeying for a spot in Geo's classes at YogaWorks (breathe, no pushing, there's room for all 50 of us focused people to get our 90 minutes of wonderfulness, throw the mat down NOW!) </div><div><br /></div><div>Some of the highlights--blessings, truly--of the past few months include watching my youngest son Willem's metamorphosis from smart, sassy eighth-grader to smart, slightly-less-sassy freshman at Laguna Beach High School. Also: watching my godson Vasco Possley turn into a surf-stoked grom this summer at Hakama beach. And: our eldest son Schuyler did a journalism internship in which he hung out with rock stars and dove with sharks (don't ask). And: my husband David wrote a book!--the companion guide to our friend Rob Bell's <i>Love Wins. </i>At risk of sounding like a bad Christmas letter, I'll stop now. But I'm so proud of my boys (all of them) that I am compelled to brag them up a bit. They inspire me. </div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of inspiration, I've recently joined a power posse of other women writers, Redbud Writers Guild, about whom you will undoubtedly be hearing more. We are a group of writers, bloggers, speakers and activists who support and learn from each other. This is a group of gals who get sh#t done, and who publish a book about every ten minutes, so I'm scrambling to catch up!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll be writing and posting poems a few times a week. It's good to be back.</div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-53292495732194375732011-01-11T20:07:00.000-08:002011-01-12T23:44:44.768-08:00The True Vine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCPcbgCWsQiJPYVcIv_ANtHPLG84xdlDKI3PSaV3liJlyEw7pWJtHwcvGYw6XHHFwqtSb8cbBevwBDJqqgpUdBIBGwefmuUVSs2Jti2CBkC2uV7_vld9YCdAG9YRdVvfldMfK4r0RTuA/s1600/mustard.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCPcbgCWsQiJPYVcIv_ANtHPLG84xdlDKI3PSaV3liJlyEw7pWJtHwcvGYw6XHHFwqtSb8cbBevwBDJqqgpUdBIBGwefmuUVSs2Jti2CBkC2uV7_vld9YCdAG9YRdVvfldMfK4r0RTuA/s400/mustard.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561572032655632882" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">And, borrowing from John's gospel, this is poem #365, and my prayer for the new year:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Cut off every branch</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">in me that bears no fruit, and </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">prune the ones that do. </span><br /><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-78575612408843438182011-01-10T22:39:00.000-08:002011-01-12T23:17:26.786-08:00A Dog's Life<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTM-nf3jVOTDp8mQbTuazzeA3xQ7ZjTz712Q7WjLMmZ4xcNVjnheHaXUZvBnb-dk_y9rsVyFK_72nEFvuJe4Ia8GQKpAHXOJbqzbw-b1bcU-cAyCs73w5YJH8gWOcFoB8i4nl1eJwai5k/s1600/IMG00685-20110110-0952.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTM-nf3jVOTDp8mQbTuazzeA3xQ7ZjTz712Q7WjLMmZ4xcNVjnheHaXUZvBnb-dk_y9rsVyFK_72nEFvuJe4Ia8GQKpAHXOJbqzbw-b1bcU-cAyCs73w5YJH8gWOcFoB8i4nl1eJwai5k/s400/IMG00685-20110110-0952.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561542860968827570" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Claus the Dalmatian</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">wears his goggles when he goes</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">out--sensitive eyes. </span></div><div><div><br /></div></div></div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-76127395023827429592011-01-09T22:49:00.000-08:002011-01-12T23:16:55.859-08:00The Downside of Bacon<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">The only downside</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">of the big Sunday morning breakfast</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">is that I go to church--</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">and everywhere else after that--</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">smelling stridently of bacon.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-86416154053850645182011-01-08T23:26:00.000-08:002011-01-12T22:49:21.893-08:00Jailbreak<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">It's Saturday night.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Harried mom, crabby kids--</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">they want to go out </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">but I want them to stay in.</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Can't we just have a nice evening together,</span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">and where do you want to go anyway, </span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">I cajole.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Suddenly, the situation strikes me as funny:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">I remember hearing this a long, long time ago</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">only I was the teenager </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">trying to escape.</span></div><div><br /></div></div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497380600543038073.post-66324270171860812842011-01-07T22:51:00.000-08:002011-01-12T22:48:46.026-08:00Mirror Mirror<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_EKOPoEBK_fmhQZXFgAwQoQ0dW7cWT2lPxB5yeicowvqgmNcnjy3hubJ12iqPShkazVlUzRkLCrnwVRdbvlkGd2qr0SoCMsCUdyCURDZxsF7YJcBwosz8Fh0aYsNE3ufNWcUjppYpcc/s1600/luiscornejo.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 379px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_EKOPoEBK_fmhQZXFgAwQoQ0dW7cWT2lPxB5yeicowvqgmNcnjy3hubJ12iqPShkazVlUzRkLCrnwVRdbvlkGd2qr0SoCMsCUdyCURDZxsF7YJcBwosz8Fh0aYsNE3ufNWcUjppYpcc/s400/luiscornejo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561411544836800002" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Last night was Laguna Beach's first Art Walk of 2011. David and I went to our friend Carla Tesak's gallery, Salt Fine Art, for the opening of her new show "Mirror Mirror." Carla, who is originally from El Salvador, specializes in Latin American contemporary art and has totally turned me on to several of her favorite artists. Tonight I fell in love with the work of Luis Cornejo, a young Salvadoran artist who paints by blending both acrylic </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">and </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">oil (which I guess is technically difficult), and combines hyperrealism with flat, two-dimensional images. He draws much of his inspiration from the world of fashion, pop culture, and current events, and his paintings are meant to deliver a subtle social critique and challenge our ideas of perfection. I love this untitled painting (above). I'm not sure if my interpretation-as-haiku is what Cornejo intended; if I ever get to meet him I'll ask.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A woman in blue</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">wonders if she's playing the </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">game </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">or being played</span></span></div>Sarah Koops Vanderveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06920431556720193242noreply@blogger.com1