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Turtle Bax, Tupperware, and Tears

By Debra Basham, on May 15, 2017

It was Mother’s Day as I grabbed a sufficient amount of time to sit with the deeply personal, and profoundly honest Dramatic Dialogue poem of a writer/colleague/friend. This poem was her response to a recent hurtful encounter with her husband after the tip of his favorite fishing rod was broken off when she accidentally shut […]

Better than an Orgasm

By Debra Basham, on May 12, 2017

We almost won money at the Trivia night at Bob’s BBQ in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Our grandson, Brad, is the MC for the Thursday evening game. The play-off question was when Mother’s Day had become an official holiday. I guessed 1923. The other team guessed 1922. It was really 1914.

I am not at all […]

Shoo Shoo Shame

By Debra Basham, on May 5, 2017

Listening to a podcast titled “Empty Out the Negative” by Joel Olsteen this morning has my process stirred. Of course, that stirring began before today. A few days ago, as the sorting, purging, packing and staging continued here on Lincoln Avenue, I found the following penciled-in note in the back of my first NIV bible. […]

Ecclesiastes 3:6 – A Time for Casting Off

By Debra Basham, on April 27, 2017

I love organization. I enjoy cleaning, sorting, packing. For me, it is the same process as putting together a jigsaw puzzle. It takes time, observation, and patience.

We are getting our home ready for putting it on the market. It has been a wonderful home with a beautiful yard. We would like to downsize, […]

Love and Affection

By Debra Basham, on April 20, 2017

Untitled by Ryōkan

It is not that I avoid mixing with the world; but I do better playing alone.

This poem was excerpted from Sky Above, Great Wind: The Life and Poetry of Zen Master Ryōkan (page 2). It was translated by Kazuaki Tanahashi.

What I found most fascinating about Ryōkan (1758-1831) is not […]

Treasures

By Debra Basham, on April 12, 2017

Would anyone recognize the importance of these treasures? Without my providing a guided tour, might they just look like useless items delinquent on the trip to the trash?

Might my sweet spirit whisper to anyone who was willing to listen how significant each really is?

The round tuit—such a valuable reminder!

A […]

Reunion

By Debra Basham, on March 31, 2017

It was 1:53 AM when he got up to pee. Faint shadows from the streetlight danced lazily on the wall. It had been almost midnight when she got to sleep, but she forced her eyes to open sufficiently and adjust to the darkness. He expected it, and she predictably said, “It is 2 o’clock. We […]

Safe Trip Home

By Debra Basham, on March 26, 2017

Every day I hear about somebody having surgery. Some of those surgeries are major, some are minor. I understand the definition of “minor” surgery as something someone else is having….

Almost every day I hear about the death of someone I know, someone I love, someone I’ll miss. So much dying.

This too shall pass. […]

Bright light. Warmth. Profound love.

By Debra Basham, on March 16, 2017

“Oh, Daddy, she is not going to stop!” I screamed.

Squealing tires, honking horns, then mangled metal and shattered glass gave way to twisted bodies and altered minds.

It took a few moments for me to realize my own flesh was garishly peeled back, dangling down over both of my eyes, preventing me […]

Tapping into Gratitude

By Debra Basham, on March 9, 2017

My grandson, Brad, and his wife, Christina, spent five wonderFULL days with us on Pine Island. Brad had been working for Charter Media in Murfreesboro (Tennessee) since earning his Master’s Degree three years ago. Recently, though, he declined a large promotion with Charter that would have meant their move to North Carolina. It was not […]

Yellow Brick Road: Your Path to Heart & Health