Another busy week, made so by an internal move within my apartment.

I moved my office from one corner to the other side of the room, getting rid of an Ethan Allen writing desk about 80 years old, a legacy from my Aunt Anita.

It was another opportunity to downsize. That meant sorting through files; and in the course of doing that, I found this poem, which I wrote and gave to Melanie as she faced AP Week in May, 2022.

As an “A” student, she took several Advanced Placement classes. Those classes give special testing at the end of the school year during one week. It is a demanding, stressful challenge. Melanie, the Vietnamese girl who lived with us for her four years of high school, rose to the challenge with flying colors. Perhaps this poem helped to spur her on; I prayed that it did.

Baby Blue, Baby Round

Reach

For your future pieces.

Toddler and tomboy,

Game girl and prom girl,

Shoe and sandaled,

Popping through life

on dreamy bubbles.

Baby blue, Baby round,

Reach and walk through

The roles of life,

Knowing

You are loved,

You are precious.

You are memorable.

Perhaps you have a girl in your life who has gone from toddler to tomboy to video game girl to dress-up events and on into college. Perhaps this poem will bring you a memory, a tear, a smile, or a laugh. Feel free pass it on, noting who wrote it.

Be blessed even as you reach for your own future pieces and continue fitting them into your life’s puzzle.