Marysville, California

Flowers on the wall

Counting flowers on the wall, that don't bother me at all
Playing solitaire 'til dawn with a deck of fifty-one
Smokin' cigarettes and watching Captain Kangaroo,
Don't tell me, I've nothing to do...

Portrait of Marcelle

This pic was taken when I was seventeen years old and in my first year of work - trying to look like an efficient office-worker should. It was the fashion for girls and young women to roll and pin their hair over artificial rolls - not a flattering style. The War meant we were meant to be serious and 'do without' anything ephemeral in our lives - many of us never had a 'dance' dress for eg. no makeup either or personal ornaments..

Dear God:

This is Marcelle again. Dear Lord, are you there?
If you are, then I’m sure You are fully aware
by my moaning, that I live with old age arthritis pain.
So I hasten to assure You I’m not going over all that again.
Quite recently I experienced a complete reversal of thought.
And it came as such a surprise to me, I decided that I ought
to share it with you - especially as no one else was there
to talk to. I was comfortably resting in my old recliner chair,
and nearby on the floor was Molly, my companion labrador.
As You know, she follows Jenny and Sally, who went before.
I am currently reading a series of books set on an island,
and became all enveloped in sea-tang, and salt air and sand,
screeching gulls around trawlers at anchor , and pelicans, and
I got jerked awake by the screeching of the telephone, which quit
before I could unravel myself from my nap, and get to it.
Too often it’s ‘tele-marketers’ trying to earn a living, I find,
and I try to dismiss them politely, not showing that I mind;
but I do. I discussed this sudden decision of mine with a friend
living in another town. She agreed emphatically, when I said I intend
to buy a cordless telephone. She rang me back later in the day,
to say that next morning their spare one would be on its way,
‘and better late than never.’ I have it now, and decided that I ought
to show appreciation to You Lord, if You gave me the thought.
So I send my thanks to You, and especially to dear Phoebe,
not forgetting Michael, her husband, for their gift to me.
But I find there’s a hitch that’s connected with this acquisition:
I’m inclined to forget the new telephone’s situation.

In the garden

2008 Rankin Australia Day Award

In recognition of your valuable contribution to our local community through volunteer service.