Monster

Not all mankind can see you
the darkness in your soul

It hides behind the charm
the evil takes a toll

Like a spider spins the web
awaiting treats of flies

The monster feasts on minds
by tricking us with  lies

Hundred's walk among us
with angry, vile wrath

Let me introduce you:
'white collar psychopath'




Written for dVerse Poet's Pub
The prompt was 'Monster'

Alzheimer's Can't Come Between the Sacred Bond of Sister's

The priceless moment when Muggs and Franny remember their sister's

I would like to share a deeply moving experience I witnessed this past weekend. I was attending my Uncle Bill's funeral. My uncle was eighty-five years old and in great shape. He and Aunt Franny have always been very active and loved the outdoors. He was recently diagnosed with melanoma. He underwent radiation treatment and given a clean bill of health. Shortly after this, he began having severe hip and back pain. The doctor's news was not what he expected. The cancer had come back with a vengeance and was spreading quickly. My uncle was given just days to live. In true Bill fashion, he handled the news with courage and strength. He has a strong faith and a loving supportive family.

My Aunt Franny (Uncle Bill's wife) and her sister Muggs, are both living with Alzheimer's Disease.  When we reminded them the day of the funeral that they were sister's, the reaction was priceless. There was a short pause, then Franny said, "Your my sister" and Franny said, "Your mine too." Then Aunt Franny confidently proclaimed, "Well what do you know about that." After this realization, Aunt Franny began pushing her sister around in her wheelchair. She wore a look of pride and joy knowing she was spending time with her sister. It was one of those moments in my life I'll never forget. It really showed our family that nothing can come between thesacred bond of love.

Facade

He watched, waited and studied

for his possession yet to be

Like a leopard ready to pounce
this meal would set him free

Sinister were his intentions
charm would be the front

Peering from the forest
this beast was on the hunt

He finally found his victim
a beauty through and through

She took him at his word
believed his love was true

Soon the tales unraveled 
she could read the clues

The darkness soon revealed
it was all a rouse


© Linda R 2013



Written for dVerse Poets-Open Link Night~Week 89

Cinquain Prose

Beautiful Blossoms

Blossoms
Sweet aroma
Bring senses to new heights
Dear Majestic Crab Apple Tree 

Free me

This was a prompt from dVerse Poets: Cinquain Syllabic Poem is 2, 4, 6, 8, 2.

My Twin Sister is a Rock Star

I'm like a proud mom sending off my child to her first day of school. My twin sister just started a new job today and I was so excited for her, I walked her out and sent her off with a bag lunch like she was starting Kindergarten. I had a hard time sleeping last night because I am so relieved she found a new job that will treat her with the respect she deserves. She recently left a position she'd had for nine years. She was given a new supervisor who should have never been in a supervisory role. She was inexperienced, unprofessional and hostile. Instead of being straight forward with my sister about changes she and the Executive team wanted to make to her job, she went about it sideways. She was manipulative, pushy and down right abusive. I would call her a work place bully. It got so bad, my sister was barely able to go into work and was taking all her sick and personal time. She was depressed, had migraines and didn't have that twinkle in her eye anymore. I watched her get progressively more and more depressed and hopeless. Just walking in the front door of the agency was a huge accomplishment for her and it took every ounce of her strength. It became even more difficult to get motivated to go into work after she had the courage to file a HR complaint against the woman. Although Laura made a complaint, the agency was not willing to do anything about it. They told my sister that she had to deal with it anyway. My sister is a woman of great faith and immense integrity. She was clear with HR that  if they wouldn't give her a new supervisor, she would need to resign. In the end, through many difficult days, Laura did resign. It was very risky for her to do as the primary bread winner, but she knew it was something she had to do.
Laura just called me on her first dayfrom the new job. I got tears in my eyes when I asked her how it was going and if she felt good about the new position. She said, "I'm home Linda, this is where God wanted me." Laura trusted all along, from that first day she left as Director of Volunteers at a Human Service Agency. She listened to her gut and had faith in God that it would all work out. Her courage is such an inspiration to me as her identical twin. My sister is a great example of what it means to be a christian with a strong faith. She never wavered; leaving a stable job because she knew she deserved more.  My sister is a rock star to me. After just a few months of being unemployed, she now has a dream job that she earned. She is the new Director of Volunteers for a Senior Housing Agency. She's earning significantly more money, has her own Administrative Assistant, but most importantly, she is being treated the way she should be treated. She is being respected as a professional that's worked in the Human Services Field for many years.
There is no amount of money worth dealing with a work place bully.
My twin sister is a rock star that I greatly admire.

Happy '50th' Birthday Twin Sister

Here we go again friend's-another birthday for the twins. Not only are we excited to celebrate the day we came into this world, this is the big '50th' birthday. I don't know where time has gone to be honest. I guess time flies when your having fun and I always have a blast with my sister and best friend.
Laura and I have been through many life experiences together which makes us even closer. We lost our mother when we were only nine years old and our father when we were thirty-five. Knowing we always have each other for support makes the ups and downs much easier to handle.
When my sister was going through a difficult divorce, I was right by her side, reminding her things would get better. Laura, a single mother at the time, took me into her home when I was diagnosed with cancer. She never gave it a second thought to be there for me at a very scary time.
I thank God every night that he brought me into this world with a twin sister. I can't imagine how different things would be if I didn't have a built in best friend. She is my confidante that I trust with all my heart. It's a blessing to travel down the uncertain road of life with a twin. Our bond is one that no one can put asunder. It's an unconditional love that we try to role-model to other's.
Happy birthday twin sister! We're not getting older, we're getting better.

Year in Review

What a year 2013 was for my family. It was a year of change and many life lessons.
My twin sister left her job of nine years as a Volunteer Director at a Human Service Agency. The decision to leave was difficult as she loved the mission and her co-workers. A hostile and unprofessional supervisor helped her see it was time to move on and move forward.
After some financial difficulties which included a work furlough, we are now in a foreclosure situation. We'll be doing a short-sale within the next few months. We've been looking for 'homes for rent' that are in our price range.
As a cancer survivor I am grateful to say I continue to be cancer-free. Sadly, I lost too many friends this year in their battle. Two neighbors in my culdesac passed away as well as a friend who joined me in the "Relay for Life" walk just a year before. I am a grateful survivor but also miss my dear ones that lost the fight.
Sis and I finally bought a second family car. Not only are we grateful for the extra car, it's a convertible that brings us lots of joy. Our puppy Spooky had her first ride in the car and learned the hard way not to jump out when the top is down. She is fine but will be safely restrained in the future.
This is just a little snippet of the past year of my life.  I am reminded every new year how precious life is. I have everything I need: God, Family, Friends and Gratitude for all the Lord has blessed me with.
Happy New Year  and may God Bless you