Hubs and I were sitting on the screen porch at our weekend lake house watching periodic gusts of wind as the last of hurricane Helene let it be known she was not leaving without a final shot at felling trees.
Hubs noticed I was preoccupied in thought and asked if I was okay. Then he realized what I was doing and acknowledged, 'oh you're writing'. I smiled and said I was working on a haiku. He asked me what a haiku is exactly. So I explained to him about the ancient Japanese art of expressing an idea in a format of seventeen syllables, three lines - five, seven and five.
Then I gave him the first two lines I had come up with and said I needed five more syllables to complete the last line. He, problem solver that he is, tossed out a three syllable word and I added the last two syllable word.
Boom. Teamwork.
A haiku looks simple but it's really complex because it says the most with the least and usually has double meaning, both the obvious and the one hidden, that can only be seen by intuitive interpretation. Mustering up the just right word that fits the syllable count is one of those incredibly satisfying aha moments.
All in all it was a good moment shared with Hubs and I got to scratch that itch and sort my ongoing thoughts on the inevitability of change to a sparse seventeen syllables.
You know we can't stop change, it's a reality of living. Some change we welcome and celebrate but we don't always like it and sometimes we fight it tooth and nail until it leaves us crumpled up in the corner bleeding.
This haiku represents my ongoing struggle with change. I have duly noted the aging process brings on significant alterations in multiple ways, levels, and passthroughs. And I admit some thresholds have been more difficult than others. It took me a few years to get over not being able to use my power tools or my sewing machine. Being both stubborn and resourceful I found other ways to be creative that did not require muscle, agility, stamina and good eye sight.
Even as I know the day is coming when I will have to accept more modifications I think making peace with change is better than being in constant frustration and anguish. Life is way too short for that nonsense. Not to mention it gets you nowhere.
And besides, if you are willing to adjust to the next thing possible you discover the art of appreciating simple. Like when you find a word with just the right syllables that will finish the haiku perfectly.
Yes, for sure, there are many more things I cannot do anymore but, turns out, simple is not so bad and, for now, I can still imagine, compose and make little videos.
Like this...
PS - I've been thinking of more words that better describe what DEI should stand for, if we are talking a better world that exists to honor God (which is clearly in our best interest). I will start adding them to the end of my ramblings.
How about: Diligence - Excellence - Invention