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Constancy There are days I ache for constancy. This thing that seems just out of reach. As I walk in the shadow and abiding presence of the Cape mountains which appear to be so eternal; so consistent in their very being; unchanging; constant, I’m reminded that even they are changing almost daily.  But Dan Simmons, the well known American author writes: “Mountaineers know that all mountains are in a constant state of collapse – their verticality being inescapably and inevitably worn down every moment by wind, water, weather, and gravity – but.”   As I contemplate this profound statement, I allow it to change my perspective. It has to. I am forced to accept the inevitability of change. I have no choice in the matter and this disturbs me. I don’t want things to change: I don’t want my children to grow older; It makes me very uncomfortable seeing a beautiful heritage building demolished only to be replaced by some bleak monstrosity: the result of overly progressive urban planning. I certai

Granny's Hands Granny’s Hands           Hold my hand Granny Tell me again How many times is seventy times seven And what does forgive mean Tell me again.   Granny’s hands have spots all over Tell me again Why does the sun make everything better When tomorrow comes Tell me again.   Granny picks Rosemary and Lemon Verbena Everything smells Of Lemon Verbena Teach me again Granny Those easy lessons Of making things better With Lemon Verbena   Children can live on ripe pomegranates Pork crackling snacks  fresh Apple Pie Two late husbands and burying two children and yet, I only once saw her cry.   The way to fix things was to Unpack your cupboards “Sadness will go,” Granny would say. “Sadness can’t live in nice tidy cupboards,” But what do you do with it? Pack it away?   Granny’s hands were soft and gentle Rough and wrinkly At the same time   Hold my hand Granny Tell me again How many times is seventy times seven times seventy times …

 Some days I feel I should write an intro to my blog like: Bless me Father for I have sinned. It’s been 6 weeks since my last blog … and then I remember, I’m not Catholic, it’s my blog and no one cares!  I've been thinking about inner strength lately. Some people just seem to have it. Some think they do but when the rubber hits the road they crumble or they lash out at the world or at another person or by their actions, they demonstrate that the strength is just not there, no matter how much they may say they have it.  It seems such a glib thing to say that someone has or doesn't have inner strength. There are courses peddled to help you grow it. There are memes, books, lengthy howtofixyourinnerstrengthpsychobabble lectures, but really, how does one fix it?  How do you NOT crumble when the world seems to be going crazy around you? And no, I'm not asking for a friend.  I wonder whether some people are born with it, like the Maybelline ad says (Maybe she was born with it or m