Christmastime surprise or Steal a Pencil for Me (continued)

Back on November 9, 2008 I posted a poem on this blog that I had written, entitled Ina and Jaap, after having been inspired by a documentary I had seen a few months back. On December 15th , I was checking the gmail account for this blog (something I do very seldomly) and to my great surprise I had an email from Ina (Soep) Polak dated December 9th. I couldn't believe it! Being the skeptic I am about internet contacts that I have never met in person, I thought for sure it was just someone playing around pretending to be her. She told me how the director of the documentary had forwarded my poem to her and her husband. I never sent the poem to anyone; I just have it posted here and on an online poetry site. I assume that that person copied it from here or the other site in order to send it to Ina and Jack (the anglicized version of his name). Then she asked if I had read the book that the documentary was based on and I said that I hadn't yet, but would love to. She told me in the email that if I hadn't and wanted to, they (Ina and Jack) would send me a copy if I emailed her my address. The skeptic in me hesitated. But, then, I figured I can be found on Google anyway so what harm would it do. I sent her a reply with my address included.

Today, in my mailbox was the promised copy of Steal a Pencil for Me. My name and address were handwritten on a plain white envelope (8x10, roughly) and in the upper left hand corner was a little adhesive return address label from the Polaks. I wanted to rip it open like a kid opening gifts on Christmas Day, but took my time so that I can preserve the envelope.

Below is the cover of the book they sent me and the inscription they wrote inside, along with the title page and their autographs. Also below are pictures of this inspirational couple then and now (I found the pictures on the internet while doing a search for them and their story.) God bless them for such a wonderful gesture. I am tickled pink by such warmth and thoughtfulness. It is such a precious, unexpected gift. Thank you Ina and Jack!

Myrtle Louise Maddix June 29, 1931 - November 14, 2008

Myrtle Maddix was not only my mother-in-law for 18 years, she was my friend. I loved her dearly and miss her endlessly. She was the strongest and most courageous woman I have ever had the pleasure to know. When she graduated with her GED a few years ago, one could not help but feel inspired by such determination. I have always liked the poem Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou because the first time I read it (many years ago) and every time thereafter, I was instantly reminded of Myrtle. If ever there was a poem to match a person's verve and personality it is that poem. She had a zest for life that was rare and everyone who knew her benefitted from it. She had a laugh that made you unable to resist laughing too, it was that infectious. I still hear it.

So here are a few pictures of Myrtle and her husband and a poem I'd like to share.










Phenomenal Woman* - Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them
They think I'm telling lies.
I say
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips
The stride of my steps
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please
And to a man
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees
Then they swarm around me
A hive of honey bees.
I say
It's the fire in my eyes
And the flash of my teeth
The swing of my waist
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say
It's in the arch of my back
The sun of my smile
The ride of my breasts
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say
It's in the click of my heels
The bend of my hair
The palm of my hand
The need of my care.
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.


* here is the site i found the poem on, but it is all over the net
http://www.feminist.com/resources/artspeech/insp/maya.htm

(oops, i always used to get her birthday mixed up with their anniversary which was January 27th. i was sort of in a daze when i wrote this, so i corrected the mistake i had made on her birthdate above, that i just realized today 12/13/08)

My little conehead

My poor cat, Annabelle (aka The Fuzz), underwent surgery to be spayed and to have her front paws declawed back on Nov. 24th. For the first few days I had to hand feed her and give her water from a plastic oral medicine syringe. Well, I didn't HAVE to, but I felt so badly for her, since she was hurting on both ends. And the cone has to stay on a few more days.





Although I feel sorry for the poor baby, I do think it is rather funny the way she walks. She reminds me of the cartoon I once saw, and darned if I can remember where. I think it may have been in a Dr. Seuss book or in a Dr. Seuss cartoon on tv. I remember this character having an animal's head with a mane in the shape of a flower (like a cartoon flower with a round center and large round-edged petals), the body and tail of a lion, the front feet (I want to say) were like duck feet or bird talons and the back feet were long and cumbersome and dragon-like. I think there is some sort of mythical animal similar to that, a conglomeration of other animals. Or maybe it was just a Dr. Seuss creation. I know it isn't a griffon, but I don't know what it is. Anyway, when the cartoon one moved it walked really funny and when The Fuzz walks in her current state it reminds me of that character. See for yourselves. It's kind of comical.

Another Golden Oldie

Traces of Love - The Classic IV

Steal a Pencil For Me

Not long ago I saw a documentary about a couple from Holland whose personal story is incredible. The documentary, Steal a Pencil For Me is based on a book written by the subjects of the documentary Ina Soep and Jaap (pronounced "yop") Polak. Set during the years of the Holocost it is an incredibly inspirational testimony of the endurance and strength of real love in the most adverse of situations. I am the biggest sap for a good love story and it touched me so much that I wrote a poem in honor of them. I would love to send them a copy of it, but I have searched and found no contact info for them.

Ina and Jaap

They met at a party, simple enough
And yet right from that moment on
He knew in his heart that she was the one
Though a wife he had on his arm

Their love affair grew from a friendship brief
But soon it was clear how they loved
Through two years of Nazi imprisonment
Into filth, disease, death they were shoved

His love never flagged, hers never wavered
They kept one another alive every day
With letters they wrote in shaky handwriting
That kept their depression and gloom at bay

Her shorthand gave them the means to an end
Providing paper and pen for the pair
He wrote ‘Steal a pencil for me, darling girl’
And to her all his love he did swear

After the war he dissolved his stale marriage
To a woman, who in truth, loved his father
But soon to embark on a match made in Heaven
Ina and Jaap never let it them bother

Now in their nineties, the two of them spry
The magic still clear in their lilt
More than sixty years married, loving like kids
With the toughest bond Love ever built

This story I tell you now for a reason
As this from my heart I can say
That if they can survive through Holocaust’s grip
Then we’ll be together some day

Memories of Melodies

Does anyone else remember Mom and Dad dancing to these and other songs in the livingroom of the house on Rt3?


I think this is the right version of The Very Thought of You that they had on LP



This is not a version they danced to but it is kind of close to the version I remember (which I could not find). It is hard finding the versions of old songs sometimes, especially when you are sure who the artist was. This version is rendered by Michael Bublé. His voice is SPECTACULAR!!!

The Rondacks fair

The following 5 pictures are of Pok-o-moonshine Mountain in the Adirondacks, which I pass on my way to and from Albany each week. It is my favorite spot along that route, especially on the way back home, since it tells me I have about 15-20 minutes left until I make it home. It is so welcoming a sight that I was inspired to write a poem about it, which follows the pictures below. The mountain and its foothills are the most pretty in Fall and it was falltime a few years ago when I conceived the idea for these lines of verse. Although these pictures were taken on the way down to Albany a few weeks ago, it is the return trip which offers the most breathtaking view because, as you are coming north and down from the eastern and northern foothills of the mountain along the bald face of the cliffs, you get to see the entire expanse of Butternut Pond (a view much more beautiful than what my picture of it offers). (I understand that Baldface Mountain is another name for Poko, at least that's what the map at work shows.) So the pictures below are the views as seen in order from the southernmost edge of the cliffs to the northernmost view of the pond. Tell me it is not awe-inspiring!












Passing Pok-o-moonshine

My guidepost in the Rondacks fair
lead me home again
along the gray and winding path
through dale and hill and glen.

A loving friend lay at your knee
mirroring your form.
Chaste Butternut, her surface calm,
beneath the brewing storm.

You gaze at her, with chiseled look.
Stern, your countenance.
But soften as you see in her
your rigid governance.

She is your one and only love
biding all the while.
Beneath the falling autumn leaves,
she'll win your every trial.

The two shall never cease to be
companions e'ermore.
For who can quell what's in your souls
which none hath heretofore?

Something to celebrate this Fall

The friends I stay with down in Troy when I am down in the Albany Capitol Region for school are Dan and Laurel. They have been super friends to me and have afforded me a place to sleep free of charge on the nights I have to stay down there for class. I cannot begin to offer them a sufficient amount of thanks. God has truly blessed me by putting them in my life.

This past Wednesday when I went down, I first went to their house to leave my belongings before going to class so that I wouldn't have to do it afterward. Dan was there and told me that the previous night he had proposed to Laurel. He came up with a very creative and, in my opinion, very romantic way of asking her. Nice to know that romance is still alive and well out there. And here it is:



Laurel loves pumpkins and Dan certainly used that to an advantage, I'd say. They are such nice people and a nice couple and I am very fortunate to have them in my life. I wish them much, much happiness!

And here is a pic of the couple with Dan's creative proposal...

Well, I tried to load that picture, but it would not load. So you'll just have to wait to see Dan and Laurel, I guess.

Autumn in NY 2

On the way to Vermont a week ago today I took some pictures of the lake and the surrounding foliage and wanted to share them. It was a very sunny, mild day and some of the pics came count really well.

This is one of 3 trees that are in the front yard of the house I used to own with Jon at 35 Macey Lane. I took this last Sunday, and by yesterday, almost all the leaves were off of it. They are so pretty in the fall. Each of them is a different variety of maple. I used to love raking them in fall and hear them rustle as I walk through them. I still love that sound and whenever I have a chance to walk through a bunch of fallen leaves I take it...the big kid in me!



Lake Champlain Ferry dock on Vermont side. I thought the Green Mountains in the background were neat.



I wasn't trying for this picture but when I loaded it on my computer I saw how beautiful it was. Isn't it gorgeous?







The Adirondacks in the background and Clinton Community College left side of picture (beige building, red roof)



Close up of Clinton Community College (not really clear, but passable) and the various shades of the mountains in the background are really cool.



New York side of lake. On the peninsula you see on the right there is an historic light house to the right of the second house in from the end of the peninsula. I hadn't noticed it was in the pic until after having loaded in on the computer.



I am pretty sure this is of the VT side and the Green Mountains



NY side. CCC in the center.



Just some foliage on the peninsula



The Vermont, one of the Lake Champlain ferries. I just thought it was a nice clear, centered picture.



I liked how cleary you can see this little dude.



Yet another unplanned, but cool pic of the sun above/on the lake



Canada Geese. This time of year you can also see large flocks of Snow Geese. It is funny because when they are lying in a corn field or on the surface of a body of water they look like plastic grocery bags from a distance lying there. I'll try to get a picture of them.



Before going over to VT, since Al's orthodontist appt was pretty early, we stopped at McDonald's for breakfast and here's some video of the lakeshore area behind it.

Autumn in New York

Here are some pictures of the foliage in the North Country. When I drove up toward that direction it was pretty sunny, but by the time I got there (only 1/2 hr away), it was cloudy. I will try to get some more, on a prettier day. Enjoy

Here's Frank Sinatra to give you some listening pleasure while you look at the photos.



Taken from the Narrows Bridge over the Narrows between Upper and Lower Chateaugay Lakes (Town of Ellenburg, NY)







Boat Launch at Upper Chateaugay Lake (Town of Dannemora, NY)





Lyon Mountain, NY

















Chazy Lake (in the Town of Dannemora, NY) and its environs