My Uncle Jim

This photo was taken at Lake Arrowhead in the San Bernardino Mountains. I was less than a year old in the Summer of 1954. The attention I got from my God Father, my Uncle Jim, would turn out to be the most nurturing and important fatherly attention I ever had. He had the gift for caring and for taking the world very lightly. I always felt like I did my siblings a favor by sharing My Uncle Jim with them.
He passed away in 1997 at age 65 from leukemia.
The year before he left I flew up to Sonoma by myself and spent 6 days with Aunt Barbara and Uncle Jim.
It was a rare time, the only time actually, that I had them all to myself.
It was typical January weather for Sonoma County, cold and rainy some days, but sunny and beautiful on others. We did a lot of driving to all of our special spots; Bodega Bay for lunch and Napa for wine tasting. Also the champagne winery near their home in Sonoma. I will treasure that time for all of my life.

I was studying poetry at the time at Cal. State San Bernardino under B.H. Fairchild. This is an assignment
poem that I wrote when I returned from that trip.

SIX DAYS TO SAY GOOD-BYE

We drive through tufted, velvet hills,
Under heavy gray-silk skies,
Taste red wine and eat rich meals,
Only six days to say good-bye.

Sleeping vines of summer wines
Stand bare in perfect rows.
Will he see the Spring sun shine,
Or blooms of mustard grow?

Talk is tender, false with hope,
We plan a June reunion
We walk along green coast slopes
sprouting purple lupine.

The dormant Winter clings to life
in glowing-beaded meadows.
I take its lesson as a light
to illuminate my shadows.

copyright 1996 Eileen Osgood
aka Eileen Keister

Road Trip: Train Ride and Fall Colors

We had always wanted to do an overnight trip on a train. So we finally got the opportunity to take the car-train from Orlando, Fl up to Lorton, VA (near Alexandria). The two meals we had on the train were delightful. Dinner was delicious and our table mates were entertaining. Morning breakfast was simple cereal and fruit and coffee, but served on a linen table cloth with cloth napkins makes that simple fare seem so elegant!! We didn't sleep as well as we'd like; actually it was miserable! I suppose it is one of those things that you could get used to.

Got the car and we were on the road by 11am on Saturday morning; short time on the beltway and we headed west towards the hills. "The Scenic Drive" was a $15 fee for the Park entrance so we turned around and did the less crowded and cost free route through small towns and two lane highways. The fall colors were maroon, gold and amber brilliant. So many of the houses along the highway were decorated with pumpkins, scarecrows and tons of mums. We figured we'd be in Roanoke, VA by dinnertime so we mapquested a Sheraton in Roanoke and were able to get some discounts via Ben. Thanks Ben, roomservice was a total luxury since we were so tired from the night on the train. Lou slept while I drove most of the way. It made me happy he was so relaxed. I had coffeed up at Breakfast so I had plenty of energy that slipped away by the time we got in our hotel room.

Early morning for us at 9am, on the road with our 1/2 priced starbucks, thanks to Ben's discount at the Hotel. We drove about 5 miles and got onto the Blue Ridge Parkway. We had one of those perfect moments driving down the tree lined parkway, the brilliant morning sunshine, the sunroof open and our hot drinks in hand....so perfect!

There were open meadows with grazing horses and cattle. Often crossing rock bridges made in the Depression era, still gorgeous and strong. We came up on two white burros that were wearing head harnesses, but had clearly escaped their fenced pasture. We slowed down as we passed them on the right side of the road walking towards us. They stopped as we crept the car by and they looked at us with what Lou and I agreed was a very guilty look on their faces. We laughed and drove on. They probably do that on a regular basis, they looked like they knew what they were doing!

We decided to eat lunch and then just head on home. We always seem to need a recovery day after being away, so getting back to Brooksville last night late was a bit of a push, but we were able to wake up and eat and then head down to Safety Harbor.

We lounged around all day and napped enjoying our stolen Monday holiday at home. Walked downtown for dinner then back home....then we needed an ice cream cone so we walked back to town and got one, walking around town to wear it off before we got back just in time to see the sun set on the dock.

Some Things Must Change

A Dozen Years

The braille of pine door-frames and oak stair-rails guide my groping
palms up fourteen steps to you.
Branches outside your window melt
into monkey faces when you waken wide-eyed.
Your fear is the only voice that still pulls me from my dreams,
forcing me to see the slender shadows that shine
on moon-bright nights. Street-lighted halls whisper
my way through the the house that speaks
the secret of little girls growing.
Each night, for a dozen years, we lie together, warm and woven,
for awhile. I hold you, in limbo, while you grow in my arms.
Memories of your infant self, sweet with milk-breath fingers,
find their way into the midnight room.
The once fat-padded body now pokes me with sharp elbows and knees.
Your fragile, velvet cap I used to stroke is now a plaited rope,
it tickles my lips with its fringe.
You clutch your dissolving childhood with a death-grip,
but soon you must slip from me, into a woman's form.

copyright 1996 Eileen Osgood aka Eileen Sagona Keister

First Memory

Brave at Two

He sits, paper spread under
yellow fingers of lamplight. The Grundig
drones the news.

Children are down,
but one doesn't sleep.
She is watching light slide
across the wall and fade down the street.
The world is her own tonight.

Slipping from the shared warmth,
into the night hall,
avoiding the caverns of unlit rooms,
she begins an adventure.

Light from the living room chases
the darkness, just enough for
fat feet to pad down the hardwood
on a silent mission.

She sees his head crowned in light above
the high-backed chair.
The radio talks unseen,
masking her presence.

Climbing the open-drawers
she stretches up onto cold linoleum counters,
and discovers the treasure; the white sweet-sugar
crust of Campfire marshmallows wrapped in a blue
waxed papered box.

And Nobody ever knew.


copyright 1997 Eileen Osgood aka Eileen Sagona Keister

Lou gave me this card for my birthday a few years ago and it works with this poem perfectly.

I believe I am 2 yrs old in this photo. My brother Jim, in the background, appears to be around 1+ years and we are just a little over 1 year apart. This is taken at Easter time (I can tell by my Easter bonnet and Jimmy's suit) in Nuremburg, Germany. I believe in 1956...I would have been three that following November. This was when I got up on the counter via the drawers I pulled open and got into the Campfire marshmallows on my own. It was the first time I did something without anyone knowing and it was a powerful moment that I clearly remember. This is a product of a poetry writing course I took (one of many) over the course of 3 years under the Poet B.H.Fairchild. I owe my love of poetry to him.

Summer is Gone, Fall has Arrived!

It has been weeks since I have wanted to or had the time to post anything. We have been busy with Winter St. and then Katie was here for 4 days with her buddy Kelly. It was so good to fall asleep at night with Katie and Kelly talking out in the living room. I have such a unique sense of happiness when my kids are in the house. It was a good visit, way too short! She was able to get her car. We are delighted to be a two car family now. We have had up to 5 cars at one time....crazy!
We are enjoying Winter St now that we don't have guests booked for the remainder of the year. There is a booking from Jan-April, so we have that to shoot for to get things done....snail's pace, my kind of pressure! This is a big month for birthdays. My Ben had his 29th and it has really been a big number for me to comprehend. I was 27 when I had him. I remember as a young Mom one afternoon I wrote a letter to Ben as a man. In my mind I imagined it was on the event his wedding. I cried my eyes out as I pictured this infant, sleeping in his crib, as a full grown man. He has grown into a man so wonderfully beyond what I could have imagined. I am a very proud parent right now! Years later I found that letter and felt self conscious about writing it and threw it away thinking it was silly. I have always regretted that! Those were the years when I didn't trust myself.

I have thoroughly enjoyed our first Summer at Safety Harbor. My nightly ritual going out to the dock and watching the sun set has produced more sunset pictures than I'll ever need. They truly are unique and amazing, every one of them. The time of sitting, just being still, watching the water has been so healing and calming. Life is always changing so I grab those dock moments as often as I can. When I am at Winter St., as I am today, I find joy in the sunsets too, they are just different as the sun filters through the dogwood tree and the pines out in front. The changing leaves are evident, however subtle. One has to look hard to see the golden in the green. I pulled out my fall decorations right after Labor day. My favorite time of year. Halloween on Winter St. is a big deal, a carnival of sorts. I think people drive their kids to this neighborhood to trick or treat because it is so compact and inaccessible to thru traffic. You'd think you were on Main St. at Disneyland with the parade of lighted yard tractors, pulling trailers filled with kids....we missed it last year, but we plan to be here this year!

I have posted a few very recent dock picutres; one showing the almost full moonshine sending glitter to me on the water. Katie and Kelly on a late night talk fest in the kitchen at Safety Harbor. The purple berries on one of our indigenous plants, American Beautyberry, at Winter Street. The sun setting behind the live oak by the water.

A good Summer! Lou and I are looking forward to a little weekend trip in October to see some leaves changing and experience some cooler temperatures. Going by car-train to Virginia....will post pictures for sure!

Grouper Cheeks?

A nice date night last night at the Palm Pavilion, out at Clearwater Beach, for grouper cheeks (first I ever heard of these!) and fries. A walk on the beach, only brought home one shell. Not that I need any more. It was nice to see the gulf coast for a change. The water is warm and beautiful! Kinda cool onshore breeze to make it balmy. Nice end to a busy week.
Lou works pretty hard during the week; on his feet all day. On the weekends I defer to his preferences, much to my benefit I might add! Today we were up at the crack of dawn because our upstairs neighbors were up and the unusual noise woke us long before we were ready. We had our morning's hot drinks and then climbed back into bed when the noise settled down. After catching another couple hours of sleep we then shared a hearty late breakfast. Sunshine today for more than just five minutes. Got a walk in later in the afternoon when we were ready for lunch. So downtown to Brady's BBQ for a pulled pork sandwich for Lou and riblets and collard greens for me. Back home after lunch it was time for movies to take a nap by; Woody Allen's "Manhattan" put me to sleep.
A trip to the dock to watch the swirl of thunder clouds form behind me to the West and to the southeast. Called Kate back from her earlier missed call and caught her in the middle of a wedding shoot..yikes! Finished up the evening with a call to Paul's Pizza for dinner delivery; dry rub wings/bleu cheese dressing for me and a italian beef and sausage sandwich for Lou....got the Moto GP on the TV and just letting it all digest! We still have another whole day to hang together!!!
I am enjoying our very simple life right now. I have lived long enough to know it won't last forever. Living in the moment is becoming a habit.....I love it!

Mr. and Mrs. Manatee Visit Me

I had missed Thursday night to make my dock visit. I love going out to see what is happening with the sea life so I made sure I got out there on Friday after dinner. We ate late so it was after 8 by the time I went out. The first thing I noticed was that the water was as calm as glass and there were a lot of grasses floating on the surface. That made me think there probably was going to be some manatee action. I was sitting quietly on the far end of the dock next to the swim step when I heard that familiar breathing sound of a manatee...sure enough..there he was. The tide was high so he was able to hide deep down and down again he went. His big sized bubbles surfacing the longer he stayed down. I think they can do up to 3 minutes so I just waited and sure enough he came back up, but it a totally different area far away from my first sighting. Hmmmmmm....I was beginning to think there might be two manatees. I kept missing their surfacing; hearing them and then quickly looking just as they went back under. After about 20 minutes I was going to head back in, then I heard that familiar snort and there were two manatees right there next to me. Looking down into the water I could tell by their markings that we hadn't met before. With their closeness I figured they must be Mom and calf or Mr. and Mrs. Manatee. Since they were both about the same huge size I think I will call them Mr. and Mrs. Manatee. After they surfaced they almost as quickly dove back down to much on more of the seagrass growing on the bottom. Then I saw it: a manatee turd....