"Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht"

This Christmas Eve morning, I joyfully told our Sunday School class some of the history of "Stille Nacht Heilige Nacht." "Silent Night" to us.

At St. Nicholas's Church in Oberndorf, Austria, 199 years ago today, Assistant Priest Josef Mohr discovered the organ didn't work. They had to have music for Christmas Eve mass. He walked through the snow to teacher, Franz Xaver Gruber's. Mohr had written a poem two years prior and asked Gruber if he could set it to music in time for Christmas Eve Mass.

Gruber arrived at church early with his guitar and music. He and Father Mohr taught the choir to sing "Stille Nacht" in 4 part harmony. The congregation loved it.

In the spring, the organ-mender came and repaired the organ. Testing it, he played Stille Nacht and memorized it. When he went back to his village, he taught the children to sing it. It was carried to other churches and locations. Today it's known around the world.

Flooding took its toll on the original church. The Stille Nacht Memorial Chapel stands on a mound in its place.

Go to StilleNacht.info  for pictures, music and further information. It's a heart-warming read.

Merry Christmas family and friends and may your New Year be filled with many blessings.

Love, Maeann


2017 RedConvertibleTravelSeries
Microsoft Clip Art photo

Christmas in Mississippi

Our house is too small for a tree

in the living room window

Buckshot wouldn't be able

to see out

We strung lights in and across the kitchen windows

and added a couple of ornaments

Christmas just isn't the same without family near

Christmas's past

Mexican Ironwood reindeer and braided bread

Krysia and her creations: A charming pair!

Handkerchief, cutout, crocheted and ceramic angels

not on a tree

on our bedroom walls:

The seven stockings Krysia counted cross stitched

 hang on the walls, too

What Christmas is really about!

Merry Christmas to you and yours

And Best Wishes for the New Year

2017 ©RedConvertibleTravelSeries

Random Acts of Blindness 😴😍

Is it missing a corner I meant to turn at 😦 

Or the opportunity to see something different 😖

Or a dead end 😬

Is it overlooking 

an unintentional offense 💓

a deliberate intent to offend 💘

We cannot live in someone else's mind

and discern what's behind their every thought

and feeling

Managing my thoughts and feelings

is a full-time job 💟

Self-control and self-correction

is where it's at 💗

To be at peace😍💕

I must live

sympathy, compassion and kindness 💖

and 

Random Acts of Blindness 💞

2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

💗 Living Sympathy, Compassion and Kindness = Divine Love in action 💗

As we were leaving the Memphis, VA yesterday, we met a woman standing and smiling. She said she is a volunteer who welcomes veterans, thanks them for their service and tells them something that might make them feel better. God Bless her! 💓

Not long ago, I met a woman at the end of a grocery aisle. I smiled. She projected hate. We met again at the corner of another aisle. I smiled. She maintained hate. The third time we met, I smiled and so did she. 💝

Coming from the Midwest, I had no background/understanding of racism. I can't do it. Hate is debilitating, a waste of God given energy. It can make the sender physically ill. We, the people, are not that different. We all want to be loved and accepted just the way we are. Living sympathy, compassion and kindness soothes, heals and connects us. Want to do something good?  💞 Love a hater. 💟 It just might open their heart, too.

©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and More!!

 Before

The sea just being the sea

After

The world has witnessed nature's wrath 

on a massive scale

The suffering, grief, helplessness

the lump in their throats

the ache in their hearts

the striped feeling

in their souls

Our hearts go out to all

wrapping each one

in love and prayers
and may all pets
get back to their families

P.S. Hopefully the hurricanes blew
all the misplaced Pythons
out to sea!

Photos Clip Art
©2017 Poem only Red Convertible Travel Series   

MS Writer's Guild

Aug. 25-26 the MS Writer’s Guild held their annual conference at Pearl, MS.

Presenters included famed author Curtis Wilke. “The Long Road to Camelot” is a history must read co-authored with Thomas Oliphant.

Charlie Spillers “Confessions of an Undercover Agent” is spellbinding! I'd have died of fright.

Stanley Nelson is editor of The Concordia (LA) Sentinel. Recently nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for his decade-long work revealing murders committed by the Ku Klux Klan in Central MS and Northeast LA. His highly acclaimed book is “Devils Walking: Klan Murders along the Mississippi in the 1960s"

Jill Conner Browne, author of the “Sweet Potato Queens Series” tickled us.

J Janice Coleman, professor of literature at Alcorn University portrayed Phoenix Jackson from Eudora Welty's "A Worn Path." Wearing a red scarf around her head, a long-sleeved black top, long black and white skirt with a cotton apron, she made Phoenix come alive. An umbrella filled in for her walking stick. She talked the talk and walked the walk.(Living History) She is also a quilt maker. After reading Toni Morrison's "Beloved," she made a quilt for Baby. 

C. Leigh McInnis, instructor at Jackson St Uni., was among poets to read for the celebration of the election of President Barack Obama January 2009. He did "Workshopping: Bring Your Manuscript."

Kara Bachman wrote "Katrina Memories: Stories of Survivors" and taught about "Building an author Platform."

Robin Rushing, is a graduate of Milsaps, a freelance writing consultant specializing in proposals, ghost writing, editing, marketing and peer response tutorials, and a co-writer/editor for acclaimed cookbooks.

There was so much inspiration in the room, I came home and got to work on my writing.

Dr. Rachell Anderson is the facilitator of the Tunica Chapter of the MSWG. We meet at the Tunica Museum from 1-3:30 pm the third Sat. of the month from Sept. through June. All are welcome. Come write light, or as Hemingway said, "Write hard and clear about what hurts."  Who knows which, or how many of us, are best-selling authors in the making. Whoo-hoo!

©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Chipping Campden Cotswolds, United Kingdom

Do you ever wonder

where the road 

will take you?

What's down this alley?

Who lives here

What do they eat

Fish and chips?

Original watercolors
by Rosalie Jordan

Purchased there in 1993
while traveling with my sister

They now hang
 on my kitchen wall
a reminder of
a once-in-a-lifetime trip

Was there once a gate?
Were sheep contained

Waiting for market?
Or something else?

Rosalie Jordan original art

©poem only 2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Drink Tea and Talk Nice

Nibbles

Where you can

really see

where you're going

Passionate works of art

first feed the eye

Fresh fruit, produce

and skilled hands
make it
for you

Dress up

Drink tea

and 

Talk nice

Welcome Ladies

Microsoft photos

©2017 Copy only,  Red Convertible Travel Series 

A Light-Hearted Moment at The Memphis, TN VA

In spite of complaints about the VA, Johnny and I have none. For many years, VAs across the country have been there for him. Without them, he'd have died long ago. We appreciate the staff and tell them so. They're surprised, "Nobody tells us." Some are moved to tears and mile-wide smiles. Hugs are appreciated.

My heart goes out to all who've served our country. So many have experienced war's worst. The best gift I can give them is time and attention. For a simple "Thank you." some smile, some nod, and some frown, as if to say, "Is she for real?" I recently visited with three over 90 WWII Veterans. Their minds were sharp, and their skin was smooth. They loved sharing their stories.

The Memphis VA is undergoing renovation. At a recent appointment, we had a lot of walking to do. We copped a light-weight, red wheelchair with small wheels and no restraints on the passenger. Pressing the bar to the top back allows the chair to glide. To my amazement, navigating Johnny's 170 lbs. was effortless. Release the bar and the chair stops on the spot.

We were doing well, until I had to navigate down a slight incline. All of a sudden, a huge Veteran was walking in step with 5'5" me. I thanked him for his service, looked over my shoulder, thanked the taller one behind him and those further back. I was struggling a little holding back the chair. The big soldier spoke softly, "I could be first."
"Not if I let go."

Microsoft photo
©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Uni-Brow Bushy and Hairless

Uni-brow Bushy

Hairless

No relation

I assume

I found
 this spooky grape
on the vine
in the cluster of grapes
And didn't know
what to do with it

I didn't want to eat it
Bury it?
I sealed it in a bag
froze it
and

eventually

threw it out

Problem solved

I think

Still spooky

©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

I'd rather be in France 7/7/17

Ah, splendid view

from a distance

up close

and

from the upper tiers

Wish

I was picnicking 

on the grass

Day break in Mississippi: 20 lb Madchen purrs atop my closed computer. Gave her the "fish-eye." Computer still won't forward, reply or compose. Cuss cat and computer.

Let Schatzie in. Refuses dry food. "Eat it. It cleans your teeth, so they don't fall out." Rebuttal meows. Give him tuna.

JB on the couch with a cigarette. Morning news: large company refuses to hire anyone who smokes. Yeah! That doesn't work here. Make him coffee.

Commercial: Lula says donuts and a bucket of Church's Chicken are one remedy for stress. I need a donut. Maybe several. Chicken later.

Clean up body and attitude. Smear face with Origins Active Charcoal Mask to clear pores. Lie down. Compose self. Go deep. Find my center. Ahhh

A comfortable 73 degrees. Dewy in and out: typical semi-tropical Southern morning. No mosquitoes . . . yet. No need to move fast. Swerve to miss street lump: lost pillow. Muster gratitude we aren't flooded and it isn't snowing.

Donut Shop on #61: Raspberry filled for JB, chocolate filled for me, and a short Cappuccino.

Retrace route. Donut scent tickles nose and taste buds. Tempted to pull over and eat both. Spot tall, shaded garden tomatoes on the vine. Market hopefuls. Temperature rose three degrees, headed to high nineties with Ozone warning.

Give Johnny his donut. Nibble and sip at my French table by the kitchen window. Open plantation blinds a sliver. Filtered sunlight decorates and dances on my table. Parisian sidewalk cafe, sans swooping-in purse snatchers. Ah, accordion music, and a Citron, "Get out of my way!" horn. French girl giving the waiter "Merci!" for a bottle of water. Aaahhh.

Stroll along the Seine. Sidestep doggy-do. Artists out early for the light. Appreciate their work. Tell them so. Love French Berets. Ride the subway to the Louvre. Underground wall art, not graffiti. Spending the day at the Louvre. I miss you Ms. Mona Lisa.

Along The Champs-Elysee: Catch a hint of an exotic fragrance. Stick my wrist out for a sample. Clerk, "Chanel No. 5, of course." To die for.

8 am CST. Begin work sans jet lag. Try to write complete sentences. First take a stroll through "Monet's Garden," my happiest place on earth.

Feeling inspired. Write a few.

Mid-morning break. Read a little of Janet Evanovich's "Smokin' Seventeen." Stephanie Plum, I can't make up my mind whether it should be you and Morelli, or you and Ranger.

Get serious. Write!

Microsoft ClipArt Photo
©Copy 2017  Red Convertible Travel Series

July the Fourth 2017

What does it mean to you

Do you remember why and how we became free

Do you remember the cost

for

The freedom to be who you want to be

Freedom of speech

The right to bear arms

The right to assemble

and more

Are you grateful


Thomas Jefferson said,

"A government big enough

 to give you everything you want,

is big enough

to take away everything you have."

MS Clip Art photo

©2017 poem Red Convertible Travel Series

We're More Alike than Different 6/18/17

Harry Overstreet,

           

"I have my own

 particular sorrows, loves, delights;

and you have yours.

But sorrow, gladness, yearning, hope, love,

belong to all of us, in all times and in all places."

Microsoft Clip Art

2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Winter Memories Soothe Delta Heat and Humidity

Winter in Nebraska

Why bring that up today

It's hot and humid here!

Well, deal with it

The best way I know how

Is to think winter In Nebraska

Fewer trees

Blowing snow

Shades of blue and grey soften the day

Leek and chicken soup cooking

Minus 25 wind chill

Reading by basement gas heater

Noise in the chimney

Fire?

Christmas mits on 

Krysia eased the chimney door open

 Alfred Hitchcock!

5 starlings flew out and around in slow motion

Gas fumes intoxicated

Run! Close doors

Open the outside door

Shoo them out

Cap the chimney in the spring

©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Art work mine

Tree Art or Hide and Seek

What is that on my trunk?

It looks like it has legs.

The stool is too high

to sit on

unless helped up

How long has that kid been there?

Maybe he'll grow tall enough

to sit on the stool

Playing hide and seek?

©2013 Red Convertible Travel Series

Krysia Antonia Jasa

My daughter was handy

with a hammer and a needle

She loved animals and construction 

And working with her carpenter Dad

5'2" and about 100 lbs. 

she could move furniture

many times her weight

Thank God for sliders

An old oak library table 

was one of our

"traveling" pieces of furniture

to the basement

to the garage 

back to the main floor

into the attic

An avid reader

she had 15 bookcases

of books

Some she read several times

I so wanted to keep
her Art Books
from Museums around the World

Our Wahoo Public Library

was the beneficiary 

of her collections

She always knew 

where she put something

because

it always went back 

to the same place

She built this blog 

for me

in 1995

Actually,

she drug me

kicking and screaming

into the

electronic age

Remembering her

makes me smile

RIP my dear

Krysia's Counted Cross Stitch

©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Without NE roots

When I crossed the border into Nebraska last month, it seemed I was "skimming" the earth, not tied to it. I had multiple choices for places to stay, but none were home. Wonderful friends and extended family take me in like family. If I bought a house there, I might not see them as much as I do when I'm just visiting.

I miss the cemetery. My dad's people were from Sweden. My mother's waved at Columbus, or so Grandpa Williamson said. I wish I knew them, but then I remember their lives are braided with ours. My namesake Mae, was my Grandmother Mae Simmons Williamson. Her devotion to family blooms in me. The Ann is for my grandmother Anna Alm Benson. She traveled from NE to Denver, CO to be treated for TB. Grandfather Roy Williamson had a zany sense of humor. A meal wasn't complete unless he snatched somebody's bread or squeezed the cake in their hand. Great-grandfather Peter Benson worked his way to the Midwest building barns with wooden pegs. Great-Grandmother Nellie Williamson was the local Mid-Wife. Yes, I see a bit of each of them in me. And my parents loved to travel, like my sister and I do. The apples didn't fall far from the tree.

On the Memphis news this week, a retired couple sold everything and have been world travelers for two years. That brightened my day. When I travel, I could keep on going. Maybe I, or we, will someday.

©2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

The Grand Canyon & Harry Overstreet

The Grand Canyon

Always the same

Constantly changing color

Breathtaking from the top

and the bottom!

           
Harry Overstreet, "I have my own

 particular sorrows, loves, delights;

and you have yours.

But sorrow, gladness, yearning, hope, love,

belong to all of us, in all times and in all places."

Photo: Microsoft Clip Organizer

©GC Poem 2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Answered Prayer

We live on a dead end street. Three huge gum trees are clumped together on the north side of our fence, as if they think they are cypress trees. Their branches spread out over our lot and house. It is their life's mission to flood us with their spiky balls that make walking difficult, mowing a hazard, and the possibility of the balls sprouting on our roof. We'd appreciate someone climbing a ladder and "gently" sweeping them off the roof. Offers?

There was a lot of bend over time involved picking up six large bags full and hauling them to the curb. And I'm not done! It was suggested we spray paint them gold or silver.Not! Help yourself!

I shook my fist at the trees and shouted, "Lord, could you PLEASE drop those balls on the north side of the fence where no one lives? In Jesus's name, Amen!"

A couple of days later, Johnny said, "That was some storm you slept through last night. That south wind blew something awful."

I jumped up and ran out. All the old and new balls were stripped off the tree and on the north side of the fence. Praise the Lord!!!!!

©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Memorial Day 2017

Memorial Day 2017

So many lives

sacrificed

for 

our freedom

Photo: Microsoft Clip Organizer

© poem 2017 Red convertible Travel Series

Togetherness and then some

A pair 

of

pairs

 I want you

in my skillet

No No 

don't separate us

Ok, have it your way

 for today

©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Memphis, TN Bass Pro Shop

Worth the see!

2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Blueberry, Mango and Peach Juice Plus Shake

Blueberries, Mango, peach
Juice Plus Shake
good any time 

A wee bit

of blueberry love

left behind

My spatula captured it
and put it on my tongue

Yum!

mjasa.juiceplus.com

for Vanilla or Chocolate Shakes

and

Juice Plus Garden, Orchard and Vineyard 

whole food based 

naturally occurring phytonutrients

of fruits and veggies

©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Who wants dried up and wrinkled? I do

You're so cute

I could just eat you.

Oh, please

I'm all dried up and wrinkled
Who'd want me
I do

©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Turn your day around

Somebody's
having a bad day

Giving it to The Lord
could turn your day around 

©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Sharp Family Photos

Hmmm, we do look sharp
Living up to our name
On Xmas cards

Note cards

T-shirts

Hmm, nice formal shot
Love your blue ribbon

Papa, you look a little beat up

It's all the hand work, you know

Well, I like you a little weathered

It gives you character XO
Want to cut a rug

💕💕💕💞

 Son, what are you doing

Seeing what you see

You're such a cutup

©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Get Away From That Rail!

Get back!

But we want to see!

WOW! That's way cool!

If that rail breaks

you'll fall out.

We can't help you down there

It's not going anywhere.

Kids!

Old farts!

©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Neighborhood Cake

McKenzie

is the only child

in the neighborhood 

We all 

like to see her coming

I gave her a chocolate cake mix

Beverly gave her eggs

Donna had frosting

McKenzie made the cake

We each got a piece

Happy!! Happy!!

©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Winter Love

I looked out 

one wintry morning

Someone put hearts
on the street
in front of our house

without footprints

Ah,

When the driver turned around
the tires made joined hearts
A gift

of winter love

Thanks, whoever you are💕

©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series 

River Monster?

Happy

whatever it is

Found it

in my empty bathtub

In the beginning
the mat
was bumpy

How this creature

got there

I have no clue

©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Here's Looking At You!

My friend Donna and I

were at the gym 

She was talking

I wasn't

Lo and behold

a pair of ostriches
showed up

Baptist ostriches

no less

I hope

whoever cut the lumber
for the door 

 got a chuckle, too. 

©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Fresh shrimp and a blue crab

 Shrimping

 Grand Isle, LA sunset

A 5" blue crab

came in with the shrimp

walked sideways

 as crabs do

to an empty spot on the far wall

all the while staring at me

Which eye do you look at
they're so far apart

It tucked its legs under

and sat with a huff

as if Velcroed

 Pincers met
covering it's chest
 implying
You want some of this
come and get it

I wasn't there to fight

but I did wonder

how good it would taste

in a salad

©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Sleepy Sweetie

You, there, 

open your eyes
you don't know
what you're missing

One never knows
what surprise
is in
a ball of
chocolate chip cookie dough

©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Sweet Potato Crisis

I've fallen

and can't get up

©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Even in disasters, love is there.

I saw this spot
on the ceiling
of a local business

It reminded me

Love is from above.

©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series

Beet Love

T'was a single drop

of beet juice

When I turned around

it had made a heart

Love's sweet surprise

©2017 Red Convertible Travel Series