Georgia Rains

The Georgia rains usually come in spurts and for a short time. They wash away the unnecessary, water the landscape, and settle us with a melancholy edge to our ordinarily sun-drenched daily chores. I’ve come to welcome the quick shifts in weather, enough to remind me of warmth, especially this icy Winter.

Today, however, it rained all day. For a brief moment my heart was not gearing up for going out to a business meeting with American Business Women’s Association ) at Red Lobster. On the other hand, a visit to my old neighborhood, a good meal that I didn’t have to cook, and spending time with really fun people sparked me enough to get myself “downtown”.

Wanting to spend quality time at some old haunts, I shopped at and had a lovely chat with Marianne, manager of the flower department, and Walter at the cash register. He did an awesome job of editing my essay.

It was still early as I made a leisurely cross to the other side of Highway 5 to , with umbrella in hand. VV is a little-known treasure trove, and along with , I practically decorated my entire house. For instance, a framed David Hockney poster was spied for $6, a gorgeous gold detailed Chinese vase entered my shopping cart at $2.02, and an oversized Annie Liebowitz photography book hopped into my arms for $14. Today was not an exception and proved to be equally profitable. As I walked from VV to Red Lobster, tucked away in my tote was an elegant white ceramic Portuguese pitcher. $2.02.

Beaming from the inside out, I took my seat at the ABWA table, renewed friendships with several women and met some great new people. After my short presentation and a delicious meal, I was blessed with words of encouragement, and generous support for the poetry TV project from Danielle Balint, authorized distributor of Miche Bag, Peggy Jo Haines, a Tupperware representative, and Candy Yu President of Da Ke American Chinese Cultural Center.

My poem reflects the camaraderie I experienced while participating in ABWA’s great meeting, almost forgetting about the rain that was continuing into the night.

Women Meeting

I came
anticipated
ate and drank.

We entered into conversation
laughed and cried
bonded.

Women in careers
in the depth of
ascension

business, business done
profit by embracing wisdom
in a similar realm.

Support, comfort
shared adventures
and we glide through silt

sludge, sediment,
and quash tattered worn-out theories
exhale, stroke the sun.