You Might Only Live Once

When the temperature hits 103,
Cookie, in late middle age, calls
To say she is sitting in front of her fan

Completely nude. Round,
Bearded Cookie with an IQ
(I’m guessing) of considerably

Less than the actual temperature.

Cookie, living on her own
In a certain body, in a derelict
Frame of mind.

I adjust the air conditioning.

This is an island of memory.

Disconnected, tropical.

Cookie, long passed,
(Five, ten years?)

Clean out of view

Until the weather
resurrects her.

She was saying,

Hey, Charmi,
You might only live once.
You have to make do.

At The Spa

Having a skin treatment. Very reasonable.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

At Two Duck Kiddie Pool

They're eating duck weed.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Indiana

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Cool Review

While the rest of the spinning world is broiling on a spit over an open fire, Ryan Sanford Smith has posted a beautifully written review of The Afterlife over on WordPress.    Check it out.  It's cool.  And you don't want to go outside.  http://wwbi.wordpress.com/2012/07/06/charmi-keranens-the-afterlife-is-a-dry-county/

In Dragon Years

It's hot.  100 degrees with a heat index of 112. This katydid (formerly known as a praying mantis,still missing its hind leg) has been hanging out on top of the lily pads in my rain barrel.  It's doing okay.  Unfortunately, the koi haven't.  We have lost five today.   This Dragon Summer (my year!) has been brutal on the wildlife, the flowers, the trees.  In a few weeks I'll be four in Dragon Years.  I started running, maybe trying to turn back the decades to Dragon Year 2, or even 1.  Who runs in this weather?!  Crazy dragons, I guess.  They say that Dragon Years are lucky.   I'm beginning to wonder.  The last horrible heat spell, 1988, Tom's birth year, was a Dragon Year, too.

At Three Turtle Pond

Mr. Green Frog vacates the area.

Listening to Buck Owens...

Dropped in for coffee, didn't even call!

Taking Turns

When R says
               I did nothing
-------------to Pat

It doesn’t mean
nothing was done

I say
------------Come hold
------------the family language

Want
Hunt

I can’t find you

It’s your turn

Smith Petroleum Co.