Author: stevehaarman

Pain and anxiety

Seen on faces

Late in their seasons

When serenity should prevail

They are not claiming

To have been blessed

Wearing some victory badge

On their arms

Hard workers and

Willing participators

They endure prejudice

Are quiet about

Being misused by

Their doctors and

Providers, having watched

Others pass them in line

They remember personal battles

Fought for the benefit of others

And voices are now lost

That cheered them on

People who looked at them

In the eye and thanked them

Now, dreams are just echoes

Voices dull without many rings

Stanski

June 11, 2023

THE PROCESS

Pain and anxiety

Seen on faces

Late in their seasons

When serenity should prevail

They are not claiming

To have been blessed

Wearing some victory badge

On their arms

Hard workers and

Willing participators

They endure prejudice

Are quiet about

Being misused by

Their doctors and

Providers, having watched

Others pass them in line

They remember personal battles

Fought for the benefit of others

And voices now lost

That cheered them on

People who looked them

In the eye and thanked them

Now, dreams are just echoes

Voices dull without much ring

Stanski

June 11, 2023

THE PROCESS

Pain and anxiety

Seen on faces

Late in their seasons

When serenity should prevail

They are not claiming

To have been blessed

Wearing some victory badge

On their arms

Hard workers and

Willing participators

They endure prejudice

Are quiet about

Being misused by

Their doctors and

Providers, having watched

Others pass them in line

They remember personal battles

Fought for the benefit of others

And voices now lost

That cheered them on

People who looked them

In the eye and thanked them

Now, dreams are just echoes

Voices dull without much ring

Stanski

June 11, 2023

THE PROCESS

Pain and anxiety

Seen on faces

Late in their seasons

When serenity should prevail

They are not claiming

To have been blessed

Wearing some victory badge

On their arms

 

Hard workers and

Willing participators

They endure prejudice

Are quiet about

Being misused by

Their doctors and

Providers, having watched

Others pass them in line

 

They remember personal battles

Fought for the benefit of others

And voices now lost

That cheered them on

People who looked them

In the eye and thanked them

Now, dreams are just echoes

Voices dull without much ring

 

Stanski

June 11, 2023

THE PROCESS

Pain and anxiety

Seen on faces

Late in their seasons

When serenity should prevail

They are not claiming

To have been blessed

Wearing some victory badge

On their arms

Hard workers and

Willing participators

They endure prejudice

Are quiet about

Being misused by

Their doctors and

Providers, having watched

Others pass them in line

They remember personal battles

Fought for the benefit of others

And voices now lost

That cheered them on

People who looked them

In the eye and thanked them

Now, dreams are just echoes

Voices dull without much ring

Stanski

June 11, 2023

THE PROCESS

Pain and anxiety

Seen on faces

Late in their seasons

When serenity should prevail

They are not claiming

To have been blessed

Wearing some victory badge

On their arms

 

Hard workers and

Willing participators

They endure prejudice

Are quiet about

Being misused by

Their doctors and

Providers, having watched

Others pass them in line

 

They remember personal battles

Fought for the benefit of others

And voices now lost

That cheered them on

People who looked them

In the eye and thanked them

Now, dreams are just echoes

Voices dull without much ring

 

Stanski

June 11, 2023

THE PROCESS

Pain and anxiety

Seen on faces

Late in their seasons

When serenity should prevail

They are not claiming

To have been blessed

Wearing some victory badge

On their arms

Hard workers and

Willing participators

They endure prejudice

Are quiet about

Being misused by

Their doctors and

Providers, having watched

Others pass them in line

They remember personal battles

Fought for the benefit of others

And voices now lost

That cheered them on

People who looked them

In the eye and thanked them

Now, dreams are just echoes

Voices dull without much ring

Stanski

June 11, 2023

THE PROCESS

Pain and anxiety

Seen on faces

Late in their seasons

When serenity should prevail

They are not claiming

To have been blessed

Wearing some victory badge

On their arms

 

Hard workers and

Willing participators

They endure prejudice

Are quiet about

Being misused by

Their doctors and

Providers, having watched

Others pass them in line

 

They remember personal battles

Fought for the benefit of others

And voices now lost

That cheered them on

People who looked them

In the eye and thanked them

Now, dreams are just echoes

Voices dull without much ring

 

Stanski

June 11, 2023

THE PROCESS

Pain and anxiety

Seen on faces

Late in their seasons

When serenity should prevail

They are not claiming

To have been blessed

Wearing some victory badge

On their arms

Hard workers and

Willing participators

They endure prejudice

Are quiet about

Being misused by

Their doctors and

Providers, having watched

Others pass them in line

They remember personal battles

Fought for the benefit of others

And voices now lost

That cheered them on

People who looked them

In the eye and thanked them

Now, dreams are just echoes

Voices dull without much ring

Stanski

June 11, 2023

THE PROCESS

Pain and anxiety

Seen on faces

Late in their seasons

When serenity should prevail

They are not claiming

To have been blessed

Wearing some victory badge

On their arms

 

Hard workers and

Willing participators

They endure prejudice

Are quiet about

Being misused by

Their doctors and

Providers, having watched

Others pass them in line

 

They remember personal battles

Fought for the benefit of others

And voices now lost

That cheered them on

People who looked them

In the eye and thanked them

Now, dreams are just echoes

Voices dull without much ring

 

Stanski

June 11, 2023

THE PROCESS

Pain and anxiety

Seen on faces

Late in their seasons

When serenity should prevail

They are not claiming

To have been blessed

Wearing some victory badge

On their arms

Hard workers and

Willing participators

They endure prejudice

Are quiet about

Being misused by

Their doctors and

Providers, having watched

Others pass them in line

They remember personal battles

Fought for the benefit of others

And voices now lost

That cheered them on

People who looked them

In the eye and thanked them

Now, dreams are just echoes

Voices dull without much ring

Stanski

June 11, 2023

THE PROCESS

Pain and anxiety

Seen on faces

Late in their seasons

When serenity should prevail

They are not claiming

To have been blessed

Wearing some victory badge

On their arms

 

Hard workers and

Willing participators

They endure prejudice

Are quiet about

Being misused by

Their doctors and

Providers, having watched

Others pass them in line

 

They remember personal battles

Fought for the benefit of others

And voices now lost

That cheered them on

People who looked them

In the eye and thanked them

Now, dreams are just echoes

Voices dull without much ring

 

Stanski

June 11, 2023

THE PROCESS

Pain and anxiety

Seen on faces

Late in their seasons

When serenity should prevail

They are not claiming

To have been blessed

Wearing some victory badge

On their arms

Hard workers and

Willing participators

They endure prejudice

Are quiet about

Being misused by

Their doctors and

Providers, having watched

Others pass them in line

They remember personal battles

Fought for the benefit of others

And voices are now lost

That cheered them on

People who looked at them

In the eye and thanked them

Now, dreams are just echoes

Voices dull without many rings

Stanski

June 11, 2023

There is a song we all know

“June is busting out all over”

It is so true this year

We walk through the clover

Look at our shoes and then

Look at each other.

The mess we made of them,

We can only say “Oh brother”

On we trod down to the creek

Looking for broken colored glass

A jar of them collected,

Is what we call first class.

We divert into the woods.

See flowers of many kind.

We keep on treading deeper

And deeper. Curiosity has its appeal

And you never know what we will find

The tundra is beautiful, with many

Shades of green and blue

We are dazzled by the view

A few birds are flying around

Chipmunks and squirrels on the ground

Are squealing and dashing form tree to tree

They look for food they had hid away

They chase each other to no avail

Up and down and all around

Energy we all wish we had

Daffodils and dandelions cover

A lot of the ground

Outside the woods are lilacs

White, pink, purple, and blue

The fragrance is overwhelming

June is busting out all over and

It is my favorite month.

Stanski

June 10, 2023, ^

How did I come this far?

A question I cannot answer,

In only one sentence

I started young and kept

Ongoing, while growing.

I competed with my group

Avoided trouble, at least.

Stuck up for the underdog

Showed up for my assignments

Never strayed from duty

Accepted responsibility

Avoided anxiety as well 

Endured many unpleasant things

Kept the rules as a boy scout

Had an early morning paper route

Every day at five A.M.

It was shut off the alarm and get at it

Sold subscription to the paper

Cut grass and shoveled snow

Was a soda jerk, the best, I’m told

Worked at a wholesaler for a summer

Then at Pepsi Cola stacking cases

Worked at Drug Stores to earn money

College was cheaper in those days

I did need on student loan

Was president of my senior class

Finished studies at the Pharmacy

School in Cincinnati. Did well for once.

Took my State Boards in Escanaba

A long drive from Ohio, but I met

My future boss there, who asked

Me to intern for him in Adrian.

Then I worked in Sparta, MI and

After a year bought my own store

I married and we had six children

Bought a house in Ada, where my

Store was located. The house was

In the country and needed a lot

Of updating. I brought it around to

Excellence in 30 years. Sold the

Store after 38 years. There were

Many who hated to see us go but

We gave the town all we could.

Our children all moved west of

The Mississippi. We moved to the

Upper Peninsula. A great place to be.

Stanski June 9, 2023,

You see people hobbling

Slowly moving forward

Using a cane and you are

thinking about passing them

but then resolve to just follow

and help them if they should

need it. You pray for guidance

and patience. Then one day

it is your turn. An injury has

you hobble along using a

cane and usually in pain.

You say hello to those you see

And most are kind in their

Response and wish you well

When you were told that it

Would take two years to heal

And to exercise and take it

Easy especially in crowded or

Congested areas you feel

Downhearted, but accept

Your fate. It is what it is and

There is no going back to

Before your accident took place.

There are reasons for everything,

A saying with a familiar ring.

You learn what you can and

Can’t do. If you fall you get

Up with the hope that no

Further damage was done.

You try not to bore people

With your problem as they

Usually have a list of their own.

You become sensitive to others

Needs and help them if you can.

You pray for patience and healing

You want to be your old self again

By His grace you shall be.

Stanski

June 8, ^

 

.

It happens. Confusion. You think

Today is tomorrow and hustle to

Make an appointment. A lab test

Is needed and inquired what for

You mention a Thursday appointment.

Your other appointment is for

Tomorrow, not today. You arrive on

The correct appointment day and

Are told to go to the specialist’s 

waiting room. You wait. There are

three people ahead of you. Finally

you are called and proceed. Everything

is in good condition, but another blood

draw is need and the blood drawn

the day before is no longer available.

You go for the draw and only two are

ahead of you. You are called and the

process goes flawlessly. I drive home

park and go to my bedroom for a nap

My chef wakes me and I have my dinner

While watching the news and cowboy

Shows. I learned a lesson. Check your

Schedule so you know for sure what

You are doing. I couldn’t blame the

Weather. It was sunny and in the mid

Seventies. I shall learn. You are never

Too old.

Stanski

June 7, 2023, ^

Many miles traveled along Highway 2

Nothing to see except pasture and green

Fields. Then standing alone was a house

It had been abandoned for years. Even

Though well built it showed its age

The siding was down to bare wood and

The roof line sagged toward the middle  

And the porch was tilted and appeared

Unsteady. My mind wandered back to

The days when this farmhouse was

Vibrant and something to be proud of.

Where did the people go. Did the old

Folks pass on with no children to take over

Where was the school, churches and town

The barn was gone but you could imagine

Noise coming from their stalls with horses

Moving about and restless. Each day

Presented an abundance of work to do.

This was fatiguing as well as lonely.

Where did the people come from and

Where did they go when farming became

Too much for them. The soil was arid and

Each year was different. There were no

Cemeteries on either side of the road.

One day they must have decided to move

On and try a new location. This was not

Uncommon, but the house looked to be

Above average and must have been a

Difficult decision to just pick up and move

From such a nice place. Sometimes you

Had to make tough decisions. That part has

Not changed. We all have to make choices

And often it is difficult. Life goes on. We

Will never know all the troubles they had.

We do know they were hard working

People who were brave and resolved to

Live a good life.

Stanski

June 5, 2023, ^

Traveling for miles

Saving our smiles

For little girls we

Hope to see. They

Are young and I

Would say amazing

As they respond to

Our input. They smile

And break your heart

As they turn away for

A toy or something to

Eat. We adjust to that

It is what young girls do

They are liked in day care

But always anxious to

Come home and would

Stay if they could, but

Rules are rules and must

Be obeyed. At the end of

The day they are tired and

Ready for their bath and bed

They stay put except for

The four-month-old, who cries

For food. It is nice to see

That they know what they

Want. The respond to love

And caring. Tomorrow will

Be here soon enough and

They seem to sense that.

They help in the garden as

Much as they can, which is

Little as they are too young

To visualize the finished

Product, but they are proud

Of what they do and are

Complimented on a job well

Done. Dinner, TV, and the

Day is done

Stanski

June 4, 2023, ^

Dew on the roses

The image on the mind

What could surpass?

Difficult to say

The morning’s light

High in the trees

Eagles seemingly floating

On the evening breeze

Blossoms on fruit trees

Many things in harmony

Nature gives no relief

From all the beauty it brings

We think of sounds

Brooks and creeks

Bubbling over rocks

Birds singing greetings

Announcing the joy of life

Sunrise

Church bells ringing

A lovely walk

Choirs singing

All so lifting

Reminding us

Life is a miracle

We are so blessed

The voice of God

Falling on our ear

Our conversation with him

So private and dear

A feeling sublime

Any time of the year

Stanski

May 24, 2023, ^

When I wake up, I am thankful.

I roll out of bed gratefully.

A new day in which to carry on

and try to live up to the standards

of a good person. Making people

happy is my motto. Don’t look for

faults in others. If you see it,

it is probably a reflection of

yourself. I look out the window.

The sky is very bright and hovers

over the gray inland sea. I am used

to this as it has been going on for

months, and everyone wants some

nice weather, not complicated with

bugs by the thousands. I have a lot

of work to do outside, and the bugs

make it difficult to do. sometime soon

I will have the house painted. I am

thinking about a brownish-orange

which will enhance the shingles.

Building supply firms should put

together a chart of possibilities

which would take the pressure off me.

Painting is a lot of work, and if you do

it with the wrong color, you disappoint

not only yourself but your guests and

those who are just passing by.

The brightness of the sky is overwhelming

and almost blinding. A black bird of good

size comes into view. It glides around in

circles over the water as though it is

looking for a fish for breakfast. He left

after a while, and I had a cup of coffee.

By now the sun was breaking through

the clouds and the day was on. I drove

into town and visited some of the shops.

I always think that they deserve to have

a look at me. I bought a few things, then

came home and took a nap. It was totally

cloudy for the rest of the day.

Stanski

May 23, 2023. ^