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.