Always in Fashion

 

Glitter

I think you either love glitter or hate it with a passion,

It is beautifully sparkly and always in fashion,

But does it always stick the way it’s supposed to?

The perfect trifecta:  Construction paper, glitter and glue,

The makings of every preschooler’s gift to his mother,

Oh, and if we are lucky, he will make one for sister and brother,

It is then placed front and center on the refrigerator door,

But, alas, most of the glitter is found on the floor,

So what?  It is the thought that ultimately must count,

But the glitter-hater’s agitation will begin to mount,

Before you know it, the glitter is stuck to feet,

And from there is gets inside the bed sheet,

Oh, and on the couch, the rugs, and even the cat,

And you know glitter-haters don’t like that!

How can tiny, shiny particles annoy?

I really prefer to love and enjoy,

It’s a conundrum for the crafters, I suppose,

But how can you construct Rudolph without a sparkly nose?

Just get out the vacuum cleaner and suck up the glitter,

Don’t be hating and don’t remain bitter,

Every preschooler needs some glitter in his life,

It is not supposed to cause such strife!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  11/21/2020

My Hope for YOU...this Christmas Day

 Dear Family and Friends,

May all your worries melt away like burning candles,

May you enjoy peace inside your soul like a blanket of snow,

May your heart be warm and cozy like a cabin in the woods,

May your light shine brightly like a star up in the sky,

May you feel the Joy of Christmas!

Joy to the World,

The Lord is Come!

Blessings for the New Year,

May you be healthy and safe.

Tammy

12/17/2020

Star of Wonder

 

Juno wishes on a Star

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and Juno was there,

A hot pink stocking cap covering her beautiful hair,

The stars in the sky were bright and clear,

She hoped the pandemic’s end would be near,

Then Jupiter and Saturn aligned after 800 long years,

Creating a brilliant “Bethlehem” star, which melted her fears,

A “Star of Wonder” in 2020,

Bringing Joy to the World, when there wasn’t any,

A glimmer of hope, on a Silent Night,

Juno was energized to continue to fight,

Though she was weary with pandemic fatigue,

It was a sign of hope, of peace, of intrigue,

With a warmness in her heart, she put on a smile,

Thinking, things will be better, in a little while,

She wants to exclaim about this Christmas light,

“Christmas Blessings to all and to all a Good Night!”

Tammy Harvey

Written:  12/10/2020

Away in a Manger

 

Joy to the World

Why is Christmas so magical?

Is it because of all the shopping and wrapping?

Is it because of the anticipation of Santa?

Is it the lights; the tree decorations?

Is it the baked goodies: Christmas cookies and fruitcake?

Is it the gathering with family?

It is all these things, but so much more…

It is the candlelight church service on Christmas Eve,

The Advent season in expectation of Christ’s birthday,

The live Nativity or Christmas play put on by the children,

It is the groups of carolers singing outside of the nursing home facilities,

It is the celebration of our Savior’s birth, after all:

A story of a ride on a donkey to the city of Bethlehem,

Where there were no rooms available to sleep,

It is the generosity of the one who offered his stable as shelter,

To a young woman who was about to give birth,

It is the brightest star alerting the shepherds to join the celebration,

Bringing flocks of sheep with them, as they followed the star,

Three kings, the wise men, seeking the newborn babe, also journeyed,

Bringing precious gifts to the baby, the son of God,

And that is why Christmas is so magical.

Joy to the World, the Lord is Come!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  11/21/2020

Sometimes

 

The “Sometimes”

Sometimes it rains when the sun is out, I don’t know why,

But it creates a fantastic rainbow across the sky,

Sometimes when all is quiet you can hear the silence,

Stop and savor it, away from the hate and violence,

Sometimes all it takes it a hug to free your soul,

When the world seems to be spinning out of control,

Sometimes you smile when your heart is breaking,

To keep others from knowing how bad you are aching,

Sometimes you wish upon a distant star,

And dream of carrying moonbeams home in a jar,

Sometimes time creeps along at a leisurely pace,

And at other times, it speeds by like a NASCAR race,

Sometimes the simplest things are easy to overlook,

And you learn more from life than from a textbook,

Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose,

But you learn to get up, dust off, and stop singing the blues,

Sometimes the grass looks greener on the other side,

Until you get to the other side and see the grass has all died,

Sometimes the biggest thing you can do is be humble,

Pride and greed are designed to make you stumble,

Sometimes the road less taken is the hardest to travel,

Because it isn’t paved; it’s all dusty and gravel,

Sometimes it may be tempting to make the wrong choice,

But you are stronger than you think, my friend, so rejoice!

Rejoice in the “sometimes”: the good and the bad,

Be thankful and blessed by the “sometimes” you’ve had.

Tammy Harvey

Written:  11/19/2020

Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness

 

Triumph

When she was born, she was pronounced a healthy baby,

She came home to a loving family:  no ifs, ands, or maybe,

Her big sister loved her dearly, as did the extended family,

But in only a few months, they noticed an anomaly,

She wasn’t able to lift her head like most babies that age,

Her muscles seemed atrophied at this important stage,

Her parents were proactive and insisted she be examined,

Her diagnosis was rare, and her prognosis was a challenge,

She had SMA, spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic disease,

A clinical trial was considered the treatment to seize,

A single infusion, the first of its kind,

An experimental drug, keep this in mind,

Life expectancy was short, if a treatment was not had,

So, the parents chose to move forward, though feeling sad,

One day more, she would be too old to qualify,

They put their faith in God and gave the infusion a try,

To their great joy, they saw improvement in her condition,

Also, elation for the nurses and physicians,

She has come a long way since that day of discovery,

Now three years old, she is still in recovery,

She is happy and smart, with determination to spare,

Her eyes have a sparkle and with a gorgeous head of hair,

She is putting some weight on her legs and getting stronger,

Her goal is to walk like her sister and have a wheelchair no longer,

She has the sweetest personality and the cutest smile,

Thank God for the success of a clinical trial!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  10/28/2020

A Peaceful Retreat

 

Contentment

As I sit comfortably on my couch and gaze out my window,

It is a blustery fall day, and the oak tree is aglow:

Yellow leaves against the clear blue sky,

The sun is shining brightly, and leaves are floating by,

Leaves are swirling around the ground like dancers on stage,

Remnants of a gulf coast hurricane has the weather in a rage,

Unseasonably tropical weather and torrents of rain have already subsided,

Squirrels are running up and down the tree, all excited,

Acorns are plentiful, and they gather their share,

It soon will be winter, and the trees are getting bare,

But today as I sit, I can’t help but recall,

The beautiful time of the year that is fall,

The flag on the porch is steadily waving in the breeze,

In my mind I step out there beneath the trees,

I hear the crunching of dry leaves under my feet,

I breath the fresh, crisp air that is so sweet,

I feel the sunshine beating down upon face,

I am lost in time while in this incredibly wonderful place,

Then at last, my thoughts return to the indoors,

Where I quietly resume my household chores,

Oh, but to dream of a peaceful retreat,

When it’s right outside my door between here and the street!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  11/17/2020 

 HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Lazy Daisy

 

God Loves You
There once was a lady they called Lazy Daisy,
Most of the townspeople thought she was crazy,
She sat all day outside in the sun,
Where she picked daisies, one by one,
She pulled each petal off with a gentle tug,
Most people walking by just gave her a shrug,
“He loves me, He loves me not”, she was heard to say,
And she sat there with an umbrella on a rainy day,
Her heart had been broken by a boyfriend she had,
She never got over feeling so sad,
Then one day, a stranger came walking by,
He stopped and tenderly said, “please don’t cry”,
“God loves you always, forever and ever”,
“His love will sustain you in all kinds of weather”,
She looked up at him with a fresh view of life,
And a few years later, they were husband and wife,
Her life was transformed by someone who cared,
And who knew God’s love for her, that he willingly shared,
A few kind words and not just a passing shrug,
Was like the biggest, warmest loving hug.
Tammy Harvey
written: 10/28/2020

Carry On

Family Traditions

Family traditions are a compelling force,
They make you feel that you don’t have a choice,
To carry on is the way it should be,
They are important, so listen to me,
If you don’t have any, then start one of your own,
It is a seed planted and never harvested, only grown,
Our annual camping trip to Cades Cove,
Has become a tradition of our family, so we drove,
Last week to the same site we had seen for the past 30 years,
Nothing has changed too much there, but we shed a few tears,
Because the family has changed, we are missing our dear Dad,
His ashes are there so we are reminded of what we had,
But then again, the next generation is experiencing our joy,
We took along our grandson, a young boy, almost four,
To see him experience the things we have known for so long,
Was refreshingly beautiful, and righted the wrong,
The tradition was passing from one generation to the next,
It was the circle of life, demonstrated at its best,
We show our children the nature we cherish,
And hopefully the love of it will live on in them and never perish,
Seasons come and go,
But we will always know:
The peacefulness that is there in the mountains,
The brightly colored leaves, and streams flowing like fountains,
The wildlife: the deer, wild turkey and Black bear,
The cool, crisp mountain air!
Carry on, Carry on,
Little one.

Tammy Harvey 

written: 10/27/2020

Determined and Delighted

 

Helping Hand

Two tiny unwed sisters lived in an old shoe box house,

They went about their day, avoiding the mischievous mouse,

He scurried around their box in the middle of the night,

Brave as they were, he gave them quite a fright,

One day when the sisters were exploring out and about,

They discovered an abandoned trap, they could not live without,

It took all of their strength to drag it back to their humble home,

It was so much heavier than their furniture of Styrofoam,

But they were determined to make use of their well-found treasure,

It was a life-saving find; its worth they could not measure,

Now the biggest task ahead would be how to set the trap,

They certainly did not want to have an unfortunate mishap,

The challenge was great, as they were so very small,

They worked all day and night just to roll a huge cheese ball,

The bait was ready, but oh, the spring was so tight!

They could not set the trap, though they tried with all their might!

They left the trap, the cheese and cried themselves to sleep,

Soundly they slept, exhausted and sad; they did not hear a peep,

While a large human hand appeared, right out of the sky,

He set the trap in an easy second, on the very first try,

The tiny and disappointed sisters awoke to a very loud “SNAP”,

In an instant, their lives were changed; they began to clap!

They celebrated the victory even though they could not explain,

How the trap was magically set, because they had tried in vain,

They were so thankful for the miracle; it was so unexpectedly grand,

Morale of poem: Sometimes all we need is a helping hand!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  10/27/2020

Inside the Gates of Heaven

 Riding Horses in the Snow

Tomorrow is not promised, and yesterday is just a memory,
The collection of those memories is a life’s summary,
When faced with a terminal illness, what then did he do?
He remembered fondly a good memory; like it was all brand new,
Since he lived his life to the fullest, he had nothing to regret,
He was thankful and grateful, and considered himself exceedingly blessed,
He was aware of his prognosis, and yet remained an inspiration,
Though much too ill to complete any new aspirations,
We asked him if he could do anything at all what would it be?
He did not hesitate at all and looked right at me,
“I would ride horses in the snow”, was his reply, you see,
Of all the fond memories in his mind, this one he singled out,
It was the simple things; He always knew what life was all about,
In his teens, he had ridden his Appaloosa on the farm across the white landscape,
And the memory of that time in the snow could never be erased,
Photographs of that time are tucked away in a faded photo album,
I feel he gifted me this special memory to hold onto when he passed,
I picture him atop the saddle of a bright, beautiful steed,
With a big smile on his face, as the hooves beat down on the billowing clouds,
Riding down the streets of gold to the field of snow,
Inside the gates of heaven.

Tammy Harvey
Written: 10/13/2020

A Bird in the Hand

 

Say it Isn’t So

Ever wonder where the old sayings you’ve heard for years originated?

Why they stood the test of time and weren’t outdated?

For instance, “it’s raining cats and dogs”,

Why wouldn’t it rain toads and frogs?

How did these sayings come to be?

Like “The apple doesn’t’ fall far from the tree”,

Or “Tighter than Dick’s hatband”,

And why is a bird in the bush worth half as much as in the hand?

“Heavens to Betsy” or “For Pete’s Sake”, I must exclaim,

Are these actual people or just a name?

Why is the old owl always the wise one?

And why is a "barrel of monkeys" so much fun?

How can one be “a sight for sore eyes”?

“Don’t cry over spilled milk!”, they advise,

“Turning over a new leaf” does not compute,

“Fit as a fiddle”: why not “as fit as a flute”?

“Pardon my French” is commonly heard,

Why is certain information told by a “little bird”?

One can see why my curiosity is piqued,

Some of the old sayings are genuinely unique,

Going to “hell in a hand basket”, should be spoken aplenty,

Because it perfectly describes the year 2020.

Tammy Harvey

Written:  10/8/2020

They Grow Up Fast

 This poem was inspired by my youngest grandson who just turned ONE on August first.

Pitter Patter

The pitter patter of little feet,

Toddling at first, before running down the street,

A baby’s first steps are a wondrous sight,

It seems to happen overnight,

First cruising around the furniture, holding on,

Then a few tiny brave steps on his own,

Then one day he teeters completely across the kitchen floor,

Everyone cheers for him as they want to see more,

He has his hands out to each side, like on a high wire,

His steps are calculated, with no lack of desire,

His world just opened up to exciting transportation,

He is wide-eyed and smiling, and without hesitation,

He begins to walk with confidence and more control,

To get from here to there without falling is the goal,

No more crawling; that’s just for babies and turtles,

He has just achieved one of life’s big hurdles,

And climbing is his favorite… just to be off of the ground,

He ‘ll be sitting on top of the table before I can turn around!

He can now stand from a sitting position without pulling up,

And he drinks from a straw or a sippy cup!

This little guy is officially a toddler now,

He even drinks milk from a dairy cow,

It is hard to believe how fast time passes,

Soon he’ll be needing reading glasses!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  9/26/2020

Road Trip Surprise

 

Long Drive- Well Worth It

From my house to my parents’ house is a 365-mile drive,

Recently, I drove that trip unaccompanied, and in 6.5 hours did arrive,

I did not tell them I was on my way,

Or that I was coming for a brief stay,

Thus, they were surprised when the doorbell I rang,

Maybe not a good idea, but from the side of the door I sprang,

Each of my parents are octogenarian, and each has a heart condition,

So, it may have been risky to put them in that position,

But the surprise kept my mother from worrying about me driving alone,

And when I arrived, she was speaking with my sister on the phone,

My sister, of course, was aware of the entire plan,

She also was arriving the next day to complete our clan,

Dad and Mom had 2 daughters, you see,

Eighteen months apart, my sister and me,

It was their 40^th wedding Anniversary when we surprised them last,

With a large party in their honor, now 20+ more years have passed,

Married 69 years in a few months, to be exact,

Unbelievable, yes, but that’s a fact,

We had a great reunion; a nice prelude to fall,

A week later I drove home with no problem at all,

The drive, though long and tiring, did not ruin my spirit,

I’d say the road trip was more than well worth it!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  9/12/2020

Water's Worth

 

Drop by Drop

Fresh water is a life-sustaining commodity on this earth,

No one can calculate the extent of its worth,

It carves out the land like a liquid chainsaw,

Its tremendous power leaves us only in awe,

Rushing water is hard for us to contain,

It is a force of nature, like a commanding hurricane,

We can harness its energy to use for our good,

But we don’t value it nearly as much as we should,

Too much water is destructive causing flooding and mudslides,

It ebbs and flows like the rhythm of the tides,

But water is healing:  it extinguishes fire,

It ends droughts and refreshes our thirsty desire,

When parched from exhausting relentless heat,

A pool of water provides us instant retreat,

Water cleanses: first aid to our cuts and scrapes,

And cleans our bodies, our houses, our cars, our landscapes,

Washing away mud, filth, dirt and grime,

Our water is precious, all of the time,

Water nourishes:  Plants and trees, gardens and crops,

Supplying growth for our food, drop by drop,

Oh yes, water is powerful, healing, cleansing and nourishing,

So why do we take for granted such a beautiful thing?

If water is contaminated, it loses all of its worth,

Fresh water is a life-sustaining commodity on this earth.

Tammy Harvey

Written:  9/15/2020

On an Adventure

 

His First Hunt

He had been helping train the hunting dog for weeks now,

His Uncle Thomas had taken time to show him how,

They had spoken of a day when he would be going on a hunt,

He was knowledgeable of the process and put up a brave front,

With his camouflage gear from head to toe,

He was more than eager and ready to go,

The little boy was almost 4 and called me to announce,

“Guess what, Gigi?” he said with a bounce,

“I’m going on a hunt for my first time today!”,

He was very articulate, in a very cute way,

Facetime is wonderful for sharing great news,

Dove season had just opened, and he couldn’t refuse,

The excitement on his face was like a ray of sunshine,

With a beaming smile, his infectious delight became mine,

My grandson was an outdoors man, a bird-caller, on a quest for new adventure,

He was young, but with an old soul, wise beyond his years, for sure,

His first “hunting” experience was without guns and dogs,

He scouted the fields for dove sightings and walked through muddy bogs,

And trudged through the corn fields towering over his head,

He recognized the call of the dove, and found feathers instead,

He walked for a mile in his rubber camo boots,

Over rocks, logs and giant tree roots,

What a trooper is he, the young boy with his Dad,

It was wonderful to know what a great time he had!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  9/12/2020                                                                 

Gotta Get my Zzzz's

 

Does "sleeping like a baby" mean you wake up every 2-3 hours and cry out for your mommy?

Sleep

While hair, I can do without,

Sleep is something I care about,

And lately insomnia has been plaguing me,

I can toss and turn until a quarter of 3:00,

Melatonin doesn’t seem to work at all,

I count backwards from 100, until I want to bawl,

I get up, I stretch, I take an antacid, sometimes,

I lay there and try to think of rhymes,

On my back, then my right side, left side, repeat,

I find myself popping all the bones in my feet,

I fluff the pillow and turn it over, and over again,

I throw off the covers, then pull them up to my chin,

Why am I so restless and at other times, I’m not?

Is it too much caffeine?  Am I having flashes of hot?

Is my arthritis acting up, or my back is too tense?

Am I clenching my teeth?  My face is in a wince!

My muscles are constricted; I can’t seem to unwind,

Breathing exercises sometimes help, I find,

Sleep music or aromatherapy; I try that,

Hopefully, I will drift off if I lay nice and flat,

While hair is something I can do without,

Sleep is something I care about!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  8/22/2020

Hair is Over-rated

 

The Year of the Buzz Cut

For me, hair grows back, and I really don’t miss it,

Mine is thick and hot, especially spending the summer with it,

So, this year, at age 60, on April 26, I gave myself a buzz-cut,

The pandemic lock-down had begun,

I figured I might as well have some fun,

I had often been envious of my sons getting their buzz cuts each year,

So why was it so hard to turn the buzzer on and overcome my fear?

I thought and thought a lot about my longing to have no hair,

If it’s good for the gander, it’s good for the goose:  That’s fair,

I mustered up the courage and then I finally did it!

I put the number 5 guard on the clipper and got rid of it!

It was freeing, I must admit;

And there is no going back; can’t just quit,

Once you’ve made the initial cut on top,

You are committed to the entire chop!

I loved it more than I even thought I would,

No more hair dryer; and it looked pretty good,

I have kept it short; a slight bit longer with a number 7,

The no-fuss hairstyle is my idea of heaven,

If you ever get the urge, ladies, to cut off all your locks,

Go for it!  You may like it, once you are over the aftershocks,

One thing is for sure:  it will always grow back,

No one can see you anyway behind that face mask!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  8/21/2020

 

Pick up the Scent

 What’s that Smell?

Let’s talk about smells, but NOT the bad ones:  none of those,

Aromas, let’s say: sweet smells, pleasing to the nose,

Like fresh coffee brewing or bacon frying,

Scents can produce a satisfaction; there is no denying:

Lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, lemon,

And perfumes and colognes made for men & for women,

Or the fragrance of flowers: gardenia -the best,

Oh, soap in the shower provides an invigorating ‘Zest’,

Lotions of all varieties and candles are everywhere:

Fresh linen, vanilla, herbs and citrus, if we dare,

And let’s not forget the mouth-watering scents,

Of a bakery shop, and all of its contents:

Fresh baked cookies and breads, cakes and pies,

And what about fast food hot French fries?

The smell of autumn is definitely pumpkin spice,

The turkey baking at Thanksgiving is sure to entice,

Peppermint candy canes at Christmas are refreshing,

Along with cinnamon, clove, ginger and nutmeg, (I’m guessing),

In spring, freshly cut grass gives our noses a tease,

Followed by honeysuckle aroma floating along in the breeze,

The smell of newly laundered sheets as we crawl into our beds,

Causes us to fall fast asleep, when we lay down our heads,

Smell, aroma, scent, fragrance, odor- whatever we call it,

We should pick up a scent and retrieve the benefits from it!

(Dog reference intended.)

Tammy Harvey

Written:  8/21/2020

When We First Met

 

The Meeting

It seems only yesterday, I attended an employee summer picnic,

Only on the job for one week, twenty-three years young,

Having just moved 7 hours’ drive away from all of my immediate family,

No longer a resident of TN, but a (South) Carolina girl,

Barely settled into my new apartment, alone, on my own, for the first time,

Completed four years of college and yet very naive in life relationships,

From out of nowhere, a highly energetic, bright-eyed, blonde-headed young man appeared,

With the bluest eyes and the excitement of a child, he introduced himself,

He was an identical twin; unforgettable and very personable, but sarcastic,

Sarcastic in a way that was supposed to be funny, but came across kind of rude,

He was bubbling over with questions and truly interested in what the answers would be,

He was an in-your-face, not- much- personal- space kind of guy,

He got my attention like no one had ever done before; I wanted to get to know him more,

He was to be my future husband, the father of our three sons,

That was April 27, 1983 in McLeod Park picnic shelter, Florence, SC,

Fast forward, in the twinkle of an eye, 37 years went by,

There were good times; There were very difficult times;

In 2020, after 33 years of marriage and two years as a widow,

I have felt the loss of a companion, a husband, a provider, my Superman,

Believe me when I say: you don’t know what you’ve got, until it is gone!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  8/24/2020

Photo:  August 27, 2015

Listen

 

Noises, Good & Bad

While a steady drip, drip, drip from a leaky faucet can drive me mad,

I don’t find the tick, tick, tick of an analog clock so bad,

In fact, I quite like the ticking clock.  It has a lullaby affect,

So why does a dripping faucet get me so upset?

Seconds ticking away is so soothing for me,

While the dripping faucet is annoying as can be!

This is a conundrum of little significance I know,

And I should probably “let it go”,

However, a noise, each and every day,

Affects us all, in a distinctive way,

I love to hear the waves of the ocean, crashing on the shore,

And song birds chirping: Give me more!

But the sound of a dentist drill makes me cringe,

Snoring, though rhythmic, also makes me twinge,

A dog barking is another annoying sound,

But a joyful noise is horse hooves hitting the ground,

A baby’s laugh:  I could listen to all day long,

And a steady rain on the roof is like a beautiful song,

I like to listen to music, that is true,

But nature’s sounds are hard to outdo,

A crackling fire, popping while burning, is a delight,

Crickets, cicadas, an owl hooting in the moonlight,

Take time to stop and lend an ear,

You might be surprised at what you hear.

Tammy Harvey

Written:  8/20/2020

It's Knot Over

 

Hang in There

“When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot “, they would say,

This is a popular cross-stitched saying, back in the day,

Whatever does that mean anyway?

Well, if you have had enough and you feel you can’t go on,

This is encouragement to persevere:  Don’t give up:  Be strong,

Tie a knot.  Grab a hold!

Consider the alternative…  Be Bold!

It seems our country has reached their “end of rope”,

But with no resolution in sight, we must have hope,

Hope is the “knot” we must hang onto,

Although many may be too weary to do so,

The rope has been long and scary to descend,

If we put our feet on the knot, can’t we hold on until the end?

Yes, yes we can!  Believe it to be true,

There is hope and a future for me and for you,

Different knots serve many purposes for all of us,

Used by climbers, fishermen, sailors, and thus:

Slip knots, square knots, surgeon’s knots and hitches,

What is the best knot for our country’s glitches?

The Love Knot

Tammy Harvey

Written:  8/18/2020

Hugs on Hold

Healthy Hugs

One of the things I dislike most about this current virus-imposed isolation,

Not to mention postponements and cancellation,

Is the loss of the human hug, the warm and fuzzy human hug,

The kind of hug that is sincere, sweet and snug,

Ones that make you feel loved and cherished,

Who ever knew those all could perish?

It’s one of those things you really don’t miss until it is no longer there,

It’s a greeting, a good-bye, a gesture from people who really do care,

A virtual hug is just not the same; oh no, don’t be deceived,

Although the thought is nice, it is not warmly received,

The warmth of a body pressed against our own in a warm embrace,

Is what makes a hug a hug in the first place,

Arms gently wrapped around, followed by a slow, gentle squeeze,

Should not be threatened at all by a viral disease,

And yet it is, one can not be too careful these days,

Showing you care must come forth in other ways,

A nod, a wave, a smile from underneath a mask,

An elbow to elbow touch, but no hands must clasp,

It is hard to believe, but this much is true:

A human hug has a positive impact on me and on you,

I miss it and I’m not really a touchy, feely girl,

Bring back the days of hugging to the entire world!!!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  7/27/2020

Decisions, Decisions

Recently, I had to decide whether I would attend a wedding on August 8, 2020.  It was a very difficult decision because I really wanted to go, but ultimately I chose to decline.  The pandemic posed just too much risk.  That experience inspired this poem...

Decisions to Make

It’s so hard to decide on what to decide on,

I can think about it all of the day long,

Decisions are so many; and we make them each instant,

Am I being sporadic or am I being consistent?

Do I dwell on the answer much too long?

Am I afraid I will get the answer wrong?

If I don’t know what decision to make,

Am I logical? Am I impulsive? How long will it take?

I don’t know what to choose:  Yes or no, maybe so?

Should I stay right here? Or should I go?

Should I do that now or wait until later?

Should I take the stairs or the elevator?

Should I wear this shirt or that one there?

How do I think I should wear my hair?

Should I buy this or should I buy that?

It’s sunny outside; should I be wearing a hat?

Do I eat this for lunch and have that for dinner?

Should I wear black?  Will it make me look thinner?

Some decisions are trivial, but some are more epic,

Should I go to the wedding during a pandemic?

Should I wear a mask when I leave my house?

Should I be fierce like a lion or timid like a mouse?

For life-changing decisions, it is better to pray,

To the all-knowing God who is with you each day.

Tammy Harvey

Written:  7/21/2020

Remember When (#333)

THIS IS THE 333rd POST On my BLOG!!!

I was ten in 1970 and that decade was my formative years.  We lived in that same split-level home until 1980.  To this day, my Dad and Mom still own it and keep it rented.

The 1970’s

A split-level home at the top of the hill, that’s the where,

I was in second or third grade when we moved there,

That’s the when, before the cul-de-sac age,

It was the 1970’s, when bell bottoms were the rage,

A first-class stamp was just 6 cents,

And Richard Milhous Nixon was the President,

I had a pink banana-seated bicycle, a three-speed,

A Trixie Belden mystery was my summer read,

Life was “feeling groovy” and everyone said “right-on”,

Trading with green stamps and talking on a rotary phone,

Mood rings were fashionable, and pet rocks were the perfect pet,

 But the terrifying movie Jaws kept us all from getting wet,

A macramé owl hung on every kitchen wall,

And shag carpet covered the floors and down the hall,

Eight track tapes and vinyl records played the music we heard,

And by carrying our transistor radio, we knew every single word,

“The Bump” was a dance that was easy to do,

And “Laugh-In” was always going to Sock it to you!

The platform shoes were really chunky,

And admittedly, the clothes were a little funky:

A leisure suit, pant suit, jumpsuit, or even a track suit was a hit,

In flamboyant colors, prints, and florals of polyester and double knit,

The 70’s had Vietnam and Watergate, but we were just kids then,

We only remember the Woolworth five and dime, when we remember when.

Tammy Harvey

Written:  7/13/2020

Like a Child Again

I taught YMCA Preschool for 13 years.   (1998-2011)

Green eggs and Ham

Preschool teaching was a chance to think like a child again,

To influence the minds of little ones, as they just begin,

To make them excited about learning,

To encourage them to make friends and be discerning,

To lay the foundation for academic success,

To help them want to do their best,

Preschoolers are like sponges soaking up the world,

Like folded-up flags being unfurled,

They need direction, structure, time and care,

To be heard, to be comforted, and to be self-aware,

To learn to share, to learn to wait,

To learn to trust and communicate,

It was a big responsibility, but a joy in every way,

It was also a privilege that I was thankful for every day,

I was teaching honesty, helpfulness, kindness and cooperation,

Healthy habits, manners, discipline, and determination,

Making it fun for them was a first priority,

Causing smiles and laughter, with authority,

Based on the book by Dr. Seuss, I prepared a dish called “Green Eggs and Ham”,

This special treat was always a surprise for them,

Some students turned up their noses and refused it right away,

Other students were adventurous and tried it without delay,

You may want to try it for yourself someday,

Tammy Harvey   written:  6/24/2020

Smile for Yourself

Smile On

I would love to see your smile,

You’ve been behind that mask now for a while,

The reason you are hiding is quite fair,

We no longer want to breath in the same air,

But don’t let the threat take away your hope,

It’s hard to comprehend and even harder to cope,

The entire world is going through a hardship, for sure,

The reality is that there is no current cure,

We can only be careful, prayerful and informed,

Although some of the warnings have certainly been scorned,

Just don’t stop smiling underneath that mask,

I know that request is a daunting task,

Some day you will give that smile away again,

The timing is uncertain; no one knows when,

It’s a test in perseverance, and a journey we take together,

The storm is definitely raging, but can change just like the weather,

Patience is difficult; that much is clear,

But faith is always so much stronger than fear.

A glimmer of hope can light the darkest night,

We don’t give up now; we must continue to fight,

Keep on smiling underneath that smothering face cover,

For certainly our world will one day recover!

And when it does, you can give away,

The smile you smiled for yourself today!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  7/13/2020

Make a Choice

Choose Happy!

Happiness is a choice; I believe this is true,

The choice is yours…here’s what to do:

When it’s raining outside and your spirits are down,

And your trip to the dentist includes a new crown,

Choose Happy!

When there is so much to do and so little time to do it,

Every traffic light is red and you can’t get through it,

Choose Happy!

When you wake up late on the wrong side of the bed,

With a bad hair day, and there’s mold on your bread,

Choose Happy!

When the coffee is too hot, and you spill it in your lap,

And auto-correct changes “okay” into “oh crap”!

Choose Happy!

I guess, by now, you are getting the gist,

Instead of shaking a balled-up fist,

Choose Happy!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  6/30/2020

The Inkwell is Dry

Sometimes I feel like my inkwell is dry.  I have been struggling lately to write the poems that usually flow like Pouring water.

School Desk

Hundreds of years old, this desk of mine,

Once in a schoolroom, how divine!

Probably a one-room schoolhouse with students of all ages,

I’m sure its history would be pages and pages,

One teacher, one classroom,

No lunchroom or washroom,

Just an outhouse out back with no running water,

In the summertime, it could not have been hotter,

Back when the boys were absent to work on the farm,

Back when the teacher was referred to as a “school marm”,

Back when the school room had a pot-bellied stove,

Back when the children walked to school, never drove,

The mischievous boy dipped a girl’s ponytail in glue,

A big bell rang out loudly to signal recess was through,

Simpler times, yet much harder times too,

Reading and writing were a privilege for few,

Now the inkwell is dry, and the memories have faded,

But those were special times, I am persuaded.

Tammy Harvey

Written:  6/23/2020

Be the Change

Change begins an individual at a time and the longest journey begins with a single step...

Wagon Wheel

A piece of history, a work of art,

Let me describe it, part by part:

I’m speaking of an old wooden wagon wheel,

Let me tell you how it makes me feel,

The hub represents the “heart” of it,

A central connection for the axle to fit,

The two come together with a common goal,

Without each other, the wagon could not roll,

The spokes are many, making it strong,

A single spoke would be utterly wrong,

The outer wheel rim has no beginning or end,

It is an infinite circle with a continuous bend,

The surface of the wheel is covered with a metal band,

Giving it rigidity; Rocks and potholes to withstand,

The old wagon wheel symbolizes unity, at its best,

Parts working together; none very useful without the rest,

Now is the time to embrace the wagon wheel analogy,

Love is the hub to eliminate brutality,

Spokes are us folks coming together for a commonality,

And the infinite wheel is the hope for a future of equality,

The metal band is the perseverance to endure the change necessary,

To travel the world on a journey that begins with me in Cary.

Tammy Harvey

Written:  6/23/2020

My Alter Ego

This is a true story of how I often took on the character of  "Miss Maaargaret" to read to my preschoolers.  I taught preschool at the YMCA for 13 years.

Mystery Reader

With a British accent and a book in hand,

“Miss Margaret” was ready to read to her 4-year old clan,

Unnoticed by the students, she quietly had left the room,

And had quickly returned wearing her “Miss Margaret” costume:

A sparkly scarf draped around her neck and a floppy pink hat on her head,

It was quite simple: The finishing touch was a small purple bird named Fred,

Fred was strategically glued to the brim of the hat and caused the children to giggle,

It helped keep the class entertained and decreased their tendency to wiggle,

When “Miss Margaret” arrived, she announced herself in a loud, boisterous voice:

“Come children, gather round, I am reading a book of my choice”,

The children screamed loudly – “It’s Mrs. Tammy”-when they got a closer look,

“Whatever do you mean?” replied “Miss Margaret”, while opening up her book,

“My name is “Miss Maaargaret” and I’m the mystery-reader today,

Just sit back and listen, then I’ll be on my way”,

The children were baffled, they wanted to believe,

Mrs. Tammy was not one to deceive,

With confusion on their faces, she began to read,

Then as she finished, she said, “Farewell and Godspeed”,

Her accent was quite compelling and kept their attention well,

When Mrs. Tammy returned; they had a story to tell:

“Mrs. Tammy you missed seeing Miss Margaret; She was here!”

“Yes, I saw her in the hall; She is such a dear!”

Tammy Harvey

Written:  6/16/2020

Uniquely the same

The Gem Sisters

Ruby and Opal have always been best friends,

It’s only natural, because they are identical twins,

Ruby is Opal’s gem, and as for Opal, the same is true,

They do everything together, whatever they may do,

The two have grown old, never leaving each other’s side,

In a lovely Victorian home, they live; In a 4-door sedan, they ride,

Ruby loves vibrant, bright colors, and Opal prefers the color white,

Their days are filled with fun and flair; you’ll never see them fight,

They garden.  They paint.  They sip hot tea.  They attend the theater too.

They play cards.  They sew.  They bird watch.  They love to cook vegetable stew.

To many their lives may seem very mundane,

But Ruby and Opal are far from just plain,

Ruby has hats and purses that match with whatever she wears,

To her extravagant fashion sense nothing truly compares,

She wears boas, fur collars, feathered chapeaus, a sequined vest,

Polka dot trousers, a striped blazer & silk scarf, with a tangle of colorful beads on her chest,

Now Opal, quite the opposite, but nonetheless eccentric in style,

Wears nothing but white, including her smile,

She has snow white hair, and her complexion is especially pale,

Her blouse and skirt are void of color, as is every detail:

White flowers in her hair and a necklace of pure white pearls,

She has worn only white since they were little girls,

Identical faces, but individually distinct,

Ruby and Opal define the word “unique”,

An odd couple, but genuinely filled with a love of life,

Neither of them could bear to become anyone’s wife,

For they are inseparable, like shadows on a sunny day,

And they intend to always stay that way.

Tammy Harvey  

written:  5/23/2020

Zoom Around the Room

Army-crawler

My 9-month-old grandson can get anywhere he wants to go,

The other day he climbed a two-step ladder just like a pro,

He has a unique style of crawling that is so intriguingly fast,

In a baby crawling contest, he would not come in last,

He crawls on his elbows and feet, with ease,

Like a solider at boot-camp, not hands-and-knees,

He pulls up on everything and cruises furniture in the room,

But on his belly, he can zoom, zoom, zoom!

It won’t be long before he will take his first steps…

 Army-style crawling, toddling then walking,

Then running and jumping and talking!

The milestones are many, and he is about to reach a few,

With four tiny teeth already in view,

He is a sweet, sweet boy with the biggest blue eyes,

And even though he is only pint-sized,

Today he waved at me when I said “Hi”!

Growing up fast, (Gigi sigh),

Tammy Harvey  aka Gigi

Written:  5/23/2020

Grand Ole Flag

Flying High?

Have you noticed, as I have, the US flag is flying half-staff more often than not?

For the past several years, I have noticed this occurrence a lot!

While an honorable method to remember those lost in a tragic way,

I can’t help but think of how many tragedies we have every day,

A real reminder of the lives lost due to random shootings and terrorism,

It symbolizes the pain of a world gone mad with hatred and barbarism,

Hatred and martyrdom, homemade bombs and high-powered weapons,

Are hard to prevent and the calamity occurs in just seconds,

A recipe for disaster among a “civilized” society,

Where safety and security have had to become a top priority,

Our schools, movie theaters, concerts, all public places- none are immune,  

Even a place of worship is not sacred from this violence, as one would assume,

I would never have imagined the need to put metal detectors at sporting events,

Or have purses inspected and pockets emptied to search the contents,

It is accepted now as the new normal, in airports and government buildings alike,

How sad that we must be forced to be so cautious, lest someone could strike,

A flag at half-staff, how tragic the site,

Oh, but to raise it to its glorious height!

May the flag fly high at the top of the pole,

That is our prayer and our national goal,

To be set free from the threat of random violence befalling the innocent,

Requires us all to be increasingly aware and diligent,

Notice, with me, where the flag is flying,

You will be alarmed because it is terrifying.

Tammy Harvey

Written:  2/23/2020

Reel!...Reel Fast!

Gone Fishin’

He looked the part of an outdoors man in his bibbed overalls and red plaid shirt,

My 3-year old grandson, with his red rubber boots, was not afraid of a little dirt,

He had slept in the car during the hour-long drive,

It was sunny, yet cool, when we finally did arrive,

At the fishing pond for a day of family fishing,

To catch and release was what we were wishing,

A few large-mouthed bass were readily caught by his uncle and his Dad,

But he wanted to fish too with the small push-button rod that he had,

Uncle Thomas attached a dough ball to his hook and gently cast his line,

He sat quietly on the planked dock near the bank in the May sunshine,

When all of a sudden, Thomas yelled from the grass:

“Charlie, your bobber is under! Reel!... Reel Fast!”

Without hesitation, like a fisherman pro,

Charles had a nice-sized bluegill steadily in tow,

While Thomas was running from the bank, his Dad came running down the dock,

I just stood there and witnessed it all, in shock,

Everyone was excited for the brave little guy,

Who had caught his fish by himself- on the very first try,

He couldn’t have made his uncle any prouder,

And their screams and adulation couldn’t have been any louder!

I won’t soon forget that incredible day,

When my grandson did not let the big one get away!

Written:   Tammy Harvey

5/22/2020