Posted in A&I
Photo by Carolyn Schenler
Rita Reitz and Jeannette Bournival took our residents on a wonderful tour of the resident gardens. It was shown on channel 900 on Thursday, November 12 at 7pm. The COMPLEMENT proudly offers you a chance to see the video again. Enjoy!
photographs by Ron Constable
Jiggle Bells by Faye Isaak
A Handfull of Haiku by Richard Finch
A Magical Conversation With a Tiny Brook by Anita Sumariwalla
Winner of the Complement Crossover Award for the best combination
of poetry and the preparedness theme
by Faye Isaak, (1989)
Jiggle bells, jiggle bells, fissures in the clay,
Falling rocks and aflershocks that jolt and jerk and sway.
Jiggle bells, jiggle bells, fissures in the clay;
Oh, what a ride on our mountainside when Mother Earth gave way.
The Earth, without a warning, on a day so fair and still,
Took rocks and tanks and houses and flung them down the hill.
For what seemed like forever it pitched and heaved and lurched.
It sorta made me think I shoulda spent more time in church. (refrain)
Front door will not open, back door will not close.
Water pipes are busted; we can siphon with the hose.
Well has lost its water, d1iveway’s split in two.
What used to be the fireplace is now a lovely view. (refrain)
Nothin’s in the cupboard, nothing’s in the drawer.
Shelves and all their contents are shattered on the floor.
But there stands Ethel’s vase, as ugly as before,
While my Lalique is in the creek, along with my armoire. (refrain)
Window frames are crooked, there’s cracks in every wall.
The floor is sorta rippled, and the deck’s not there at all.
Highway’s got huge landslides. Pavement’s cracked and crazed.
If I get home by Tuesday night, I’ll really be amazed. (refrain)
Put treasures in a blender, turn it up on high;
Wash it out with chicken soup and then try not to cry.
I know xl should get busy, and not sit here and bawl.
I’d re-hang Mama’s picture, but I cannot find the wall. (refrain)
Look at my stiff upper lip and not my quivering chin.
With every unexpected bump, I leap out of my skin.
But we have the Red Cross, FEMA and S.B.A.,
And lots of help from lots of friends–We’re gonna he okay. (refrain)
If we just lived closer, I’d give a Christmas hug
And share a festive cup of cheer (with no handle on the mug).
But here’s a “Meny Christmas, and a Bright and Brave New Year”!
We’re all okay and glad to say, “Halleluia, we’re still here!”
By Richard Finch
Exploring my face
Prying at my sleep-sealed eyes
Lonely August moon.
Chilled by the black lake
gusting wide my down bag
Errant July wind!
Minnows! Gnat-catchers!
Radar—armed bats! Are you
all out on strike? (Slap!)
The winter titmouse
Walks the birdbath surface with
Tentative wonder.
This wet afternoon
Mourners meet to say farewell
With silent, wet eyes.
Anita Sumariwalla
“WHERE DO YOU COME FROM? WHERE ARE YOU GOlNG?”
“We come – from the warm bosom – of Mother Earth –
We receive – divine breath for life – to follow our destiny!
Yes. we pearls of crystal – seep forth – between stubborn boulders –
Tumbling down – carelessly – enjoying the fun –
As we melt – into the fluid diamonds –
eased by the laughing sun — we sparkle with joy!
We smile – on our bubbly way- at the endless sky –
While inhaling – deeply – the fragrant air so-light.
But – we cannot remain – or stay – our curious friend –
“We do not worry – for our way is – predestined –
By the mysterious – etemal – cycle of life!
We may appear – harmless – and gay –
Beware – do not underestimate – our power!
For we have – strength – to form – to mold –
The sharpest edges – of stones – and rocks –
Into smooth pebbles – and gentle sand –
As we sweep down – our way – to fulfill our destiny!
But — we cannot remain – or stay – our curious friend –
“We sprinkle – teasingly – our silver diamonds – and pearls –
To instill life – into wondrous beings – on our eternal journey.
We enchant humans – and animals alike –
While refreshing – their wilted spirits –
We respond – with joy – when they smile at us!
We dance – and play – with the tiniest creatures –
With utmost tenderness – a gentle cooling.
But – we cannot remain — or stay – our curious friend –
“Then – there are times – mean elements — force us –
We have – no choice – or say –
As we witness – the dreadful destruction – the pain –
We inflict – most unwillingly – on humans – and beasts –
We share – their sorrow – we mourn – we weep with them!
And then – there are times – glorious times –
When we pour – gently – most welcome relief-
Onto disheartened – humans and beasts – the thirst-crusted earth –
We see – then rejoice – with the enchanted beings –
We are thrilled – delighted – in helping – create new life!
But – we cannot remain – or stay – our curious friend –
“As we must – continue to flow – to follow our journey –
To meet – and unite – with new playmates –
Our brother-diamonds – our sister-pearls – who join us –
We are destined – to unite – to create – rivers – and streams –
It is ordained – that – be blend – we melt – into ONE!
We are increasing – creating flowing rivers – and streams –
Until – we may rest – a while – in the soothing calm –
As we receive — a most welcome respite –
ln the serene beauty – of a dreaming pond – or lake!
But – we cannot remain – or stay – our curious friend –
“We must keep flowing – to continue – what is destined.
We laugh – we delight – at the glorious sun –
Who toys with us – who ignites – golden sparkles on us!
At night – we pause – while reflecting – the mysterious moon –
With gentle affection – respect – and tenderness!
But – we cannot remain – or stay — our curious friend –
“We must spread-out – grow wider – deeper – and calmer –
As we remember – our mission – our reason for being! –
With eagerness – we learn – we adjust – we are free –
To welcome – to celebrate – the magical meeting – blending –
Of us – into – the overwhelmingly majestic ocean –
To become – ONE!
But – we cannot remain – or stay – our curious friend –
“As the timeless rhythm – of every-breathing tides –
Help us – to embrace – the amazing contours – of continents!
Gingerly – we cradle – fragile boats — ships – and barges –
With loving care – to their destinations –
We reach out – surround them – in friendship – and trust!
We feel powerful – and yet – we learn –
While becoming aware – turning humble –
As we meet – the awesome elements – of nature!
Currents – that rush us – from one shore – to another –
Invisible winds – torrential rains – thunderous storms –
That whip us – seeming eternally – mercilessly –
Into monstrous waves – high mountains – bottomless valleys –
Crowned with – angry spittle – and twirling foam!
But – we cannot remain – or stay – our curious friend –
“How we long – for the sweet sun – our beloved friend –
We rejoice – in knowing – that we will – meet again!
For it is our destiny – to be gently embraced – to be absorbed –
By the caressing rays – of our glorious – heavenly sun –
To be molded – lovingly – into billowing clouds —
To glide – soothingly – across the seemingly endless sky!
But – we cannot remain – or stay – our curious friend –
“We are being – conveyed – ever-so-gently — back home –
To our precious mountains – our guardians – our friends!
We rest for a moment – we sigh with grateful relief-
Then – melt – once again – into – diamonds and pearls –
Within – imposing castles – of rocks – so solid!
Yet — we are happy – trusting – as we seep – silently –
To sink – deep – deep – to return –
lnto the warm bosom – of Mother Earth –
To slumber – in peace – to rest – for a while –
Before – our journey – begins anew!
“You asked:
‘WHERE DO YOU COME FROM? WHERE ARE YOU GOING?‘
We just told you:
IT IS THE MAGICAL – DIVINE CYCLE – OF RESURRECTlON!”
Words can be fun. Words can be frustrating. English words in particular, drawing from so many different sources, can be fascinating indeed. If there is a theme to this presentation, let’s essay—as a chronologically-gifted constituency—to focus on words which deal somewhat in the realm of geriatrics. For purposes of this exercise, let’s dispense with the words we once learned, which served us so well over so many long decades, and which have been appropriated by today’s young people to mean something entirely different than what we were taught. For this initial chapter, we are indebted to Why Do We Say It? by Castle Books, distributed by Barnes & Noble.
Charley Horse – sports slang for painful stiffness in the muscles, resulting from unaccustomed vigorous activity (reaching down to pull up one’s socks…): “common name for an old horse, particularly one afflicted with sweeny or other stiffness.”
D-Day – June 6, 1944: the D just stands for Day. “In order not to divulge the designated day of a military operation it was never written as a definite date but only as ‘D’; the hour was designated as ’H.’ ” And Hitler didn’t even know where the Allies would land . . .
Duck Soup – easy: “A puddle caused by rainfall will materialize without human effort…a project requiring no special effort.”
Fogey – old, behind the times: once a standard English word “Foggy” meaning fat, bloated, or “moss-grown.” “The Scots adopted the word as “fogey” and used it disrespectfully for a woefully chronologically-advanced auld fellow.
Gaffer – chronologically-advanced auld fellow: merely a contraction of “grandfather.”
Hep – savvy (“woke”): Army drill sergeants counting marching cadence call out “Hep! Hep!” (“Step! Step”). Recruits who learn to keep step (literally & figuratively) w/their mates are “hep” (aka “hip”).
Jalopy – dilapidated chronologically-enhanced automobile: rides rough like a horse = “gallop-y” (with a softened G, becomes jalopy).
Rumble Seat – outside seat: behind the body of the carriage, originally designed for servants; when sitting back there one could hear the rumble of the carriage as it rolled along.
Tin Lizzie – cheap Ford: Fords were called “Lizzie” presumably due to their similarity to lizards—fast cars were “whizzers” and slow heaps were “lizards.” And thinnest of sheetmetal was used to make tin cans.
March Hare – mad as: “March begins the rutting season for hares and the hares run about wildly at that time—apparently quite ‘mad.’ ”
Mud in Your Eye – a toast: to yourself, as in “I hope I beat you.” If the track for a horse race is muddy, the rider of the losing horse will get mud in his eye from the leader(s).
OK – all right: Presidential election of 1840, Van Buren was nicknamed “The Wizard of Kinderhook” after his birthplace Old Kinderhook. NYC support groups called themselves “The Democratic O.K. Club” and others followed suit, using the term “O.K” as a slogan, which became synonymous with stating they/their candidates were right on
Plus Fours – golfers’ knickers: ordinary knee-breeches were not full enough at the knees to allow a golf swing, so tailors added four inches to the length of the seam, allowing them to hang over the knees, giving the player enough slack. The tailor’s notation for this was “+4.”
Salad Days – a man’s youth: “when a man is young he’s ‘green’—and ‘greens’ go into making a salad.”
Speakeasy – illicit saloon: Irish origin. Raising a ruckus where liquor was sold contrary to Prohibition Law could alert the police, thus one had to “speak easy.”
Kick the Bucket – Celestial exit: one about to hang self would mount a bucket (or stool), affix the noose, then kick the bucket out from under = Aloha Nui . . .
photographs by Ron Constable
BIRDSONG by Ray Teplitz
I Don’t Know Why by Jackie Parrish
Out Fishin’ by John Reimer
by Ray Teplitz 3/17/18
I try to remember to wear my
hearing aids when I go out
walking. It is not only for me
to better participate in the
word-song that passes for
communication between me
and other walkers, but to remain
aware of oncoming traffic,
passing drones, malicious
pigeons, etc. and the music of
the bird sounds that abound.
Some of those sounds are the
twittering of gossipy conver-
sations, possibly warnings of
the time to attend school or
the need to get to a meeting of
scholars or business of other
kinds…who knows what the
finches may be up to now? But,
they burst into song now and
then. Is it a random impulse?
Or an organized event? Per-
haps, the beginning of an
opera? Whatever. I imagine
that those better informed
about birds may know, but not
I.
My memory is stirred about
the bird in our house, a yellow
canary, my father’s bird. It
was my task to see to it that
the bird was fed, watered and
the cage cleaned. But, the bird
studiously ignored us all,
except for my father. On his
return home, the bird was
released and after flying about
the room enjoying its freedom,
it would settle on my dad’s
shoulder and sing gloriously.
They would kiss. It was just
wonderful to see…………and hear.
Why and how this special
relationship came to be is
another one of those questions
I never got to ask my dad.
by Jackie Parrish
Old men perched high in tiered row,
Proclaim we have another foe
And insist we have to go.
But, is it so?
Yet, who can say no.
Soon missiles fly,
And invisible women cry,
and children die.
And I wish I knew why.
Old ones and young ones,
Dark ones and light ones.
They all
Silently fall.
A momentary sorrow,
Forgotten tomorrow.
Another missile sails.
A mother wails
At child blood trails
Drawn in the sand
Of the battered land.
What did they do?
I wish I knew.
For oil, for greed?
For color, for creed?
For profit, for pride?
I think they have lied.
We’re sent to kill.
They’re left to die.
Tiny specks on a hill.
And I don’t know why.
by John Reimer (4/19/06)
I crept up softly to the shore
of that remembered pool
I knew some trout were in it
That I would try to fool
I sent my fly to dancin’
Upon the water clear
They must have seen it floating by
There was no cause to fear
I cast the fly to make it land
Farther up the stream
I did my best to make it float —
A dead fly to be seen.
I chose my spot and made my cast
And landed it with care
And sure enough a silver fish
I found awaiting there.
I saw a fish come swiftly up —
The fly to disappear,
I felt the tug and hooked the fish —
Sent up a lusty cheer.
It plunged, cavorted, did its best
To keep from being caught
It bent the rod and pulled the line –
It fought and fought and fought
At last it tired and came to me
And landed in my net
The biggest fish I ever had –
As big as they can get.
For all the joy it brought to me
I took a memory look. –
Took the fly so gently out –
Returned it to the brook.
You see that I will fish for more
Than taking home the fish –
My memry book holds many a dream
I otherwise would miss.
For I will dream beside the stream
While I am fishing there
And whether I catch fish or not
I simply do not care.
Time for glass of wine yet? (Helen McCrea)
Thank goodness Albertson’s now delivers wine (Linda Sind)
I’m fine, I had some wine (William Silfvast)
To SIP has a new meaning. (Dolores Fisette)
Fill my glass. This will pass! (janet Hines)
Twas the night before Kwanzaa…
Hey wait a darn sec-and tighten your belt
What happened to Santa?
The dreidel and Hannukah gelt?
Buddha is missing,
and this is quite clear-
There’s no mention of holidays
All through the year.
But we need to remember we are
A great nation
Because, not inspite of,
The conglomeration
Of cultures and languages
Vying for space-
Trying to find
their spot in this place.
And we cannot forget
That this holiday cheer
Which fulfills us and beckons
This time of the year
In addition to being a
Great celebration
of Christmas, is also a nod
to the rest of the nation.
That peace and good will is
Important to all
No matter where on the spectrum
You happen to fall.
I was going to write a poem
That was sad-
But then I decided that that
Would be bad.
In spite of the losses of friends
we hold dear
And those dear little creatures
Who are no longer here,
And the looniness overtaking
The world at this time
And the hardness of finding more
Words that will rhyme,
That there’s much to be thankful
If we open our eyes.
So my evaluation of this year
I revise.
It’s time to assess all the good that
We’ve got
The cards we have gotten
attest on the spot
To the good things that happened
to one and to all
in spite of the bad that to each
did befall.
So we need to keep hold
Of this bright winter cheer
And remember to feel it
Through out the next year.
Happy Ramadan, Hannukah,
Christmas and Kwanzaa,
Happy February, March and April
And on…za!
Harry
There are a lot of quotes about perseverance and success. I think Harry read all of them. Seamus (a male Havanese), Harry (a male rescue- about 12 pounds) and Starr (a female Havanese) were at the dog park having a moment in the sun and enjoying treats. Starr and Seamus have been buddies for quite some time but Harry was a newcomer. All of a sudden, Harry was in love.
Starr and Seamus
Starr was more beautiful than Elizabeth Taylor, more fascinating than Nelly Bly. Harry wanted her. Treats were not an obstacle. Seamus’ intervention was not an obstacle. Starr’s complete disinterest was not an obstacle. Harry understood the meaning of perseverance.
Click on the link below to see the video of Harry and Starr’s first encounter.
I have more videos. I have pictures of Seamus acting as a sheepdog cutting out sheep from the herd, except that it was an effort to remove Harry from his pursuit. I have more videos of Starr making it clear that she wanted to be left alone. But to Harry, it was just the call of love.
And how did this interlude end? Well, I was quite amazed. Starr and Harry became definite buddies. A game here, a game there and she was hooked. Is there a lesson to be learned? I think the little engine says there is!
STARR: A three-year old Havanese
OK- I’m taking advantage of being at the beginning of this Great Adventure- THE COMPLEMENT!
I admit that Starr is my dog. She weighs 10 pounds and will be four years old in early November. Before Starr, our family was a family of Golden Retrievers (a 35 year string). We had no idea we would ever end up with such a little dog. After our last Golden died in 2007, we decided we would do some serious traveling and managed to survive without a dog for ten years. But it was close to impossible. After 10 years with no dog and knee problems of our own, we babysat a six month old golden for 3 days in 2017. We clearly realized we were ready for a smaller dog.
That is when we started our research on the internet. This is what we found:
The Havanese is a small, sturdy, short-legged dog with a unique gait that is exceptionally lively and springy, accentuating the dog’s happy nature. This is because its front legs are shorter than its back legs which creates a look like a hopping rabbit when running. The coat is double, with both under and outer coat soft. The profuse outer coat is very long, reaching 6 to 8 inches in length, and ranges from straight to curly, with wavy preferred. The curly coat is allowed to cord. The Havanese has a gentle expression.
The Havanese is one of the Barbichon (later shortened to Bichon) family of small dogs originating in the Mediterranean in ancient times. Spanish traders brought some of these dogs with them as gifts for Cuban women, allowing them to establish trading relationships. In Cuba, the little dogs were pampered as the special pets of the wealthy. They became known as Habeneros, and eventually some found their way back to Europe where they were called the White Cuban. They became quite popular, not only as pets of the elite but also as performing dogs. Their popularity as pets waned, however, and their stronghold remained in the circus, where they performed throughout Europe as trick dogs. Eventually the breed declined in numbers to such an extent that it was almost extinct not only in Europe but also in its native Cuba. A few remained in Cuba, however, and three families with their Havanese left Cuba for the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. Most present-day Havanese descend from these dogs. It has gradually aroused attention from dog fanciers and pet owners, and in 1996 the first Havanese entered an AKC show ring, and was accepted for regular recognition as a member of the Toy Group as of the first day of 1999. The Havanese is also known as the Havana Silk Dog.
This is a busy, curious dog, happiest when residing at the center of attention of the family. The Havanese loves to play and clown and is affectionate to family, children, strangers, other dogs, and pets—basically everyone! This breed is willing to please, learns easily, and can tend to be vocal.
Seamus and Starr
Although energetic, the exercise needs of the Havanese can be met with a short walk or a good play session. Coat care entails a full brushing two to four times a week. This is a non-shedding dog. Loose hairs are caught in the outer hairs, tending to tangle, unless they are combed out regularly.
Ginger
Well, after some meet and greets, we were sold, and Starr became part of our family at the age of 10 weeks. She’s a wonderful dog. We chose her breed because of her reputation for friendliness to both people and other animals. And of course, after 35 years of Golden Retrievers, we especially liked her because she doesn’t shed.
There are two other Havanese on campus. You may have met them. One is named Seamus and belongs to Kathy and Patrick Perkins on the west side of RVM. He will be two this September and comes from Astoria, Oregon. The second belongs to Jack Wellinger on the east side of the campus. Ginger is the largest of the three dogs, four years old and a beautiful red brown color. If you ask their owners what they love most about their dogs, they would say how smart they are and how friendly they are to everyone- large and small.
Well, this is your time to tell us what you think. Would you like more stories about pets on campus? Let us know.
