Poetic License

Usually spring makes such a quiet entrance here in West Michigan. Unlike the month of March which can come rather like a roaring lion, spring creeps softly on the April rains and suddenly bursts forth with first the snowdrops and then the tulips and daffodils before the trees drop the leaf casings and those small pale green leaves unfold like many crepe paper wonders hand made and dropped to those tiny tips on branches throughout the trees in front of my home.

I love this season so much. Today I got to play with dirt and seeds as I readied the cold frame to hold those seeds in our cold April days and to keep them warm as they begin to grow. Three trays of herbs, and flowers began today, and as I closed the windowed lid I hoped I would get three trays of living plants for my gardens.

I hope you can get out where ever your feet roam near home and find some signs of this season of new birth and the greening of all that grows.

Drivin' My Life Away

I'm not much of a fan of country music, but one artist has grabbed my attention over the years. He died of lung cancer quite a while ago but was a great song writer before actually singing some of his songs as an artist himself.

He had quite a few hits and if you were around in the 70s and 80s I'm sure you heard whether you were a pop, rock or country lover since many of his songs were cross-over hits. Okay, I haven't given you too many hints, but the biggest is the title of this blog is based on a huge hit of his called, "Drivin' My Life Away." Since I'm a writer I felt it appropriate to honor his memory by simply saying it like it is for me, and many who are driven by what they do. Some are driven literally by the life behind those big wheels as a truck driver going and living from place to place. I am driven instead by my need to write (or journal) and express my thoughts, ideas and experiences.

So here is my dedication to that song-smith, Eddie Rabbitt who like those early blacksmiths could form and forge not metal but words and music that set a tone and created feelings which often made any given song the one with the stand out response to touch us and give a small vacation for the heart.