Looking back, I'm glad I came in third.

When I was in junior high school
my father shared a little secret with me.
I remember being shocked by it at the time.

I think we were talking about the
commitments we make in life.
Discussing, as it was, the hierarchy of love.

He told me that in his life,
God came first.
His marriage came in second
and his kids were in third place.

Those were the three most important
things in his life.
But no,
we weren't all equal.

God, first
Wife, second
Children, third

I remember thinking
about the Dad I adored
and loved so much.
He put me down there
in third place!

I know that
our family unit stayed
strong and intact because
his relationship
with his wife
was always
more important
to him
than his relationship with us.
If he had never told me,
I would have never known.
I couldn't feel more loved.

God
Marriage
Children
In our family, thankfully,
there was no other way.

White

Shhhhhhhhhh!

Quiet please -

I'm listening to the wind.

A photo of blossoms

flowering in the tree.

Some kind of snow

warming on branches.

The fragrant air gives

the truth away.

But how long will

these flowers stay?

Wind!

You're coming back again!

Scattering the beauty.

Petals, like snowflakes,

fly through the air.

Wind!

I wish you'd stay away awhile

But obviously

you don't care.