Most every work day for more than 11 years, I wrote a love note, poem or other inspirational thought, on a napkin – and tucked it in my husband, Marshal’s, lunch – a ritual of the heart. At the beginning of 2009, Marshal started typing them up. It became OUR ritual of the heart to share the Daily Napkin as a blog. Then, in October 2015, Marshal retired, so the whole dynamic changed. I took several months to re-evaluate and decide what I was going to do. The poetry of the napkin is now joined with my art and/or photography images. May you enjoy them. May they feed your spirit.
Thrilling…
Highlighting the big Ta-dah!or maybe the fancy schmancy To Doexcites and appeals in a positive way Whereas, all the falderalthe adrenaline rushof hyper-fearful fictions The negative spinthe gossipy trashseems to sell big As it's adding excitementto the...
Shadow
The shadow of youfixing your lunchand all the morning ritual As it was reflectedon the sun dappled windowshifting with the breezesas they tickle the leaves That shadow looked just like squirrelwiggling his spunky tailand standing on tippy toeon the top board...
Coyote’s Cry
Coyote once came sneaking aroundsniffin' a bit all about townwith a wink and a nodprepared to get down Sneaky, persistent, and loyal, tooCoyote knew what Coyote knewand his tail waving highfooling more than few As the sun prepared to leave the skyCoyote,...
Silliness Lovers
Emotive nonsensetickles my fancyso, I do a little dancywaving my arms You can be sillyand play willy nillywhile the full moon plotsto whisper sweet nothings The pool is fulland it's spilling overOh, we're silliness loversand that grape got away!
Change. Happens.
Oops! A change!It happens without warning sometimes.... Like the bud popping openthe moment of conceptionor the flash of epiphany Change. Happens. Oh, what a glorious ride(Life = Change) Flowing alongin the eternal now moment...
Hide and Seek
When in the depthsof the darkest nightit can be so hardto remember the light Yet the fact iswe need only turnaroundlike the spinning earthto receive the blessing The truth is it is all of Godit is all lightWe only choose to pretendthat we can play hide and...
Song of Life
He sang with all his heart All his body, all his soulresonating even in his toes He sang his life for his lifefor connection to the OneIt is all, it is ALL Beautiful, disparate, lifefilled with grief and joypain and ecstasy Every note...
Exploration
On an explorationthrough known territoryI've lived here many yearsand memorized all the turnsand quirks and nichesand potholes along the way-----------------------------------We have this danceand we both know most of the steps-----------------------------------On...
Whole Lot of Love
What's the difference?Between one day and 10 years?between just met and happily married – A whole lot of Lovethrough ups and downsstresses and playtimesdifficulties and easy street – A whole lot of Love Here's to 10 to 20!(We started dating ten years...
Peace Eternal
Through the twittering greenthe sky flickers turquoise Lying back, feet riseand the whispering silencesneaks up suddenlycradled by the close support Floating, floatingin a peace eternal Into an eddywhere the frogs emergeonto wild shore
Vision of Wild
Twisting and straddling endless rutson tiny forgotten dirt roadsfor miles and miles and milesIt was easy to believethat civilization wouldnever be found againThen upon a distinguished turninginto a narrow valley greenwith sky so close it could be touchedand a meadow...
Greatness
From whence the oak?the bitter acornAh, yes, that is soFrom what bitter seeddid your greatness arise?There is so muchto be grateful for...