Rain splatters on ground
Puddles like lakes all around
Spring brings many storms
Rain splatters on ground
Puddles like lakes all around
Spring brings many storms

“Can you imagine sleeping in that bed?”
My sister and I were touring a history museum, and I had to admit, that bed didn’t look very comfortable.
“Do you remember that old bunk bed we used to sleep in?”
“Of course I do. How could I forget? You insisted on the top bunk, and I could never get any sleep.”
I frowned. “Why couldn’t you get any sleep?”
“Because that thing was creaky and you rolled around constantly.”
“Why didn’t you say anything to me?”
“I did. You told me you didn’t care.”
Oh. Maybe I wasn’t as nice of a sister as I thought I was growing up.
“Sorry,” I said. “I guess this kind of a late apology.”
“I suppose I can forgive you. Better late than never.”
Finding happiness
No longer hating yourself
Knowing that you matter

“All that hiking, and this waterfall is just a trickle.”
I stared at my friend. Fine, there wasn’t a ton of water in this waterfall today, but it was still a lovely waterfall, and this canyon was so beautiful.
“Why are you always so negative?”
She shrugged. “You’re the one who likes hiking and waterfalls so much. I’m just along because you dragged me here.”
I sighed. I knew I needed to find better friends to hike with. In the meantime, I was fully planning to enjoy this hike and any waterfalls we might find, regardless.
A year later, I hiked to the waterfall with a friend I had made in a hiking club.
“Look at this! Isn’t this amazing?”
That was more like it.
Faded memories
Surface when you least expect
Living in the past
The pain is still raw
as I think back on my life
wondering what if…
When a friendship dies
The pain lasts for a long time
Before healing comes
“And the idea of just wandering off to a cafe with a notebook and writing and seeing where that takes me for awhile is just bliss.”
– J. K. Rowling

“I want to go back home!”
When they finally arrived at the lakehouse for the first time, the whole family was exhausted. The kids had been arguing the entire ride, and their navigation system sent them down a dead-end road. They were seriously discussing never coming back again.
Once they finally got unpacked and went out to the lake, though, everything changed. The lakehouse was small, but the lake itself was so blue and seemed to stretch on for miles. The kids couldn’t wait to swim, Mike wanted to go fishing, and Angela wanted to sit and relax, just watching the water.
“I need you to promise me something,” Angela said to Mike. “We will never give this place up, no matter what mood we’re in or how crazy our summer is.”
“Done,” Mike said.
Thirty years later, Angela and Mike were sitting together by the lake, watching their grandkids swimming in the water.
“Remember when we were about to give this place up?” Angela said.
“Nah, I think you’re making that up,” Mike said. “This is our home away from home. We never could have given this place up.”
Angela just smiled.