PERSONAL WRITING!
ALWAYS KEEP SCROLLING DOWN TO SEE THE LATEST AND GREATEST!
SO MUCH TO SAY
There once was a lady who,
had so much stuff inside her,
she didn't know what to do.
So one day she went to the cupboard,
and the words were all there!
Suddenly when she put pen to paper,
her heart it did grow,
for everything then seemed to have a purpose,
And life's answers did show,
For every rhyme there is a reason,
and for every story a truth,
She continues to have so much to say,
But now her face it does smile,
and her heart does sing,
While her words continue to flow!
(9/21/07) By Mary Caliendo
Poems/Prose
As with all pages keep scrolling down for the latest
*A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom." Robert Frost * I have written quite a few poems, I have many that are either awaiting possible publication and/or entered into contests. Those in that situation cannot be posted on this or any other site. So I wanted to start with one that I had written May of 2002. The beginnings, the birth of grandchild #1.
ON FAMILY AND LOVE
Grand One
(A Tribute)
I look down upon you
As you sleep so angelically
I watch you as you breathe
So quiet,so tiny, so soft
Are you.
My new grandchild
Welcome to our family
How special and important
Are you.
I know that you will change
And grow so quickly
Before I know it you will be crawling
Riding a bike, and playing ball.
Your birth provides us with
Our next new generation
A legacy of sorts.
The extension of ourselves
Welcome baby generation three
Live, laugh, and love your life
Welcome to our world!
(Mary Caliendo May 2002)
Written for my mom and dad upon their 40 th Wedding Anniversary
ENDEARING DEVOTION
Love blending into marriage
a union built on trust
hearts with strong strings attached
interwoven with faith
bound together with selfless vows
a never ending circle
with hands laced together
holding, hugging, and cuddling
never letting go
until the end of days
(Mary Caliendo May 7, 2000)
-----------------Poems of Friendship-------------------------------------
This poem was written for my bestfriend as she starts a new life in another state! 6/2/08
Hey Friend
Just a poem to let you know,
you’re a friend of mine.
I can share anything, you won’t say no,
our friendship is the perfect kind.
Secrets, gossips, truths, and even lies we sow,
like walking through a forest of design.
You listen, you hear, you garden my woes.
Hey friend…
You’re a person who grows special with time,
you’re there no matter what way the wind blows,
Always ready to lay it on the line,
I’m glad that’s how friendship goes.
Us two people quite alike, together we shine,
growing, changing, like kneaded dough.
A quilt of many pieces; quite divine,
Always touching base with a cup’o Joe,
or conversing over good wine.
Hey friend…..
I know now you have to go,
transfer with the job you can’t decline.
Your life starts anew with a different flow,
Let us never forget to say hello.
Keeping in touch on the phone is fine,
Never letting our friendship go.
Our lives as we age we define,
in our children and husbands we glow.
As our bodies sag we whine,
feeling old and sassy as we crow,
We set a up a shrine,
and ‘member times long ago
Hey friend……..
I wrote this poem to let you know,
I miss ya, I love ya, you’re a friend of mine!
(By Mary Caliendo 6/2/08)
On Death and Dying
Angel Came To Me
An angel touched my face today
She looked me in the eye,
then she held my heart strings
I began to cry.
She hugged me tightly and whispered in my ear
Do not go now your time's not done here,
you have much to do
many duties you must achieve,
wonderful family awaits you.
God sent me by miracle can you believe?
The white light you had witnessed
your wieghtless body hovering,
you must have been so frightened
please fear not, he has a plan for you,
It's been set in motion a long,long time ago
God would like you to continue on,
as you always did before.
When you wake there will be pain
please push on do not give up,
with time your grief shall fade
your hurt body and broken heart will mend,
and stay connected to this earthly place
continue to enrich your life,
live each day full with love and happiness.
God sent me a miracle, you must believe!
(By Mary Caliendo April 9, 2002)
ON BEING SAD/DEPRESSED AND FINDING HAPPINESS AND FINALLY HEALING
Healing Sunshine
Look into the dark corner
Please see what you can see
How come there is no light there?
I beg for this to change.
I pray each and every day
Light please flood into that corner
Spreading warmth within the room.
Feelings of newness and life
Sadness dealing with grief
And loss so profound
Near and close feelings so intense
So much so
I cannot find my way.
Emptiness abounds
Until the light beam crests
It rises above the sill
Slowly it fills the corner
The darkness is gone now
And the time to heal is now.
(By Mary Caliendo January 2, 2002)
Peace
Out in the meadow of my mind,
is a place where time stands still.
There the breeze is warm,
and the sun shines high.
Where the birds sing,
and the butterflies flutter by.
There are flowers,trees,
and a field so soft.
This is a place I go,
where my heart can feel free.
(By Mary Caliendo July 2002)
Mad At The World
I want to soothe my savage soul,
because the universe exposed me.
On my body and mind it's taken a toll,
and my heart needs to be free.
My inner strength beleaguered and stole,
the rights to myself to be always me.
The beauty and life I extol,
so, I continue on each day resembling a troll.
I must go forward change the pattern, I decree,
Out in my memories I do stroll,
for my once known existance....come back to me!
(By Mary Caliendo May 2002)
COME BACK TO ME
wondering when it would stop.
I felt like
What has happened to me?
***
Intensely, I examine
The pattern that got me here
can I administer my passage out?
I ask, can I trace back my steps?
through the door and down a lane.
***
Intensely, I examine
The hurtful hallows, of chamber of nails
release the horrendous rife from me.
Prisoner of feelings physical and not
the sun is shining out there, I see it.
***
Intensely, I examine
I am reaching and reaching, I aim to feel it,
my dreams put me back there easily.
It will be difficult, but I know I will not stop,
until I am surrounded by the warmth and softness of home.
***
Intensely, I examine
(By Mary Caliendo April 9, 2002)
AS PUBLISHED BY......................................................
In the True Words Journal of Story Circle Network
Garage Sale Theme
Memory Sale
I open my door today,
to friend,neighbor, and stranger alike.
Come look through my things of old,
and some things new.
Can you use my aunt's old table lamp,
that she would crochet by?
What about that new toy,
my child did not quite love?
Please excuse me if I shed a tear,
as the doll and stroller leave the drive.
It's hard to believe as I look at all my stuff,
how much time has gone by.
I can sum up my life in one garage sale,
memories made, forgotten, and today renewed.
I have opened up my door and welcomed you all,
into a place where you may create,
memories anew with your garage sale find.
(Mary Caliendo 5/26/07)
Light-hearted Political Stuff!
Twice my T.V. programs were interrupted by primary election projections and I wrote these; with the thoughts that more will come
Backing Barack
Backing Barack
now even do the Kennedy's
He's solid as a rock
friends and money plenty
Oprah and movie stars take stock
donations and sound bite are many
Continuation of this, he'll rule his flock
from rich and famous, to just your old granny
People are looking for change, not same old crock
so get yourself ready, get the kids a nanny
Go cast a vote, just around the block
So everyone off your fanny
the primary will have a winner, Barack
(Mary Caliendo January 2008)
Presidential Campaign Spoof
On the campaign trail, all presidential hopefuls
will raise and spend a ton of money
Many will enter, and one by one will fall
advertising, debates, and speeches drip with honey
Promises galore, that is no bull
With serious issues we face, not funny
talks of war and creating change, nothing dull
With smiles and Kodak moments, it's always sunny
with our candidates we never know what they'll pull
For their next trick, they may dress as the Easter bunny
agendas in their baskets and an appearance at the mall
Will be all it will take some, my thoughts for a penny?
let us pray that the right one will win after all
And our America will reign, land of plenty
So go out come November, and cast your vote y'all!
(Mary Caliendo, Febraury 2008)
S.S. Story/Short Story
See a small short story Grandpa and Me on Memoir page. *As always scroll down to see the latest and greatest*
AS ALWAYS FEELING THE LOSS OF LOVED ONES, I PENNED THIS SHORT STORY TO MY MOTHER AS PART OF THE LEGACY OF MY GRANDPARENTS
The Little Red Bell
I was so proud of myself for getting all of my Christmas decorations down and boxed in a matter of hours this year. In what usually takes about one week, all that was left were two bare trees. Feeling a superior level of accomplishment, and being ahead of myself, I thought I'd make a great dinner for my husband. As I was standing in the kitchen gazing into the family room, I was thinking of the great holiday we all had this year, when I caught a glimmer of red on the empty tree. I went to get a closer look, and sure enough in the tree above my head was one red ornament I left behind.
I drifted into thought about twelve years prior, to when my parents were moving to Arizona. Before they moved, they invited my brothers and me to go through the things they were not going to take. There were plenty of great things that my brothers did not care for. They were interested in tools and baby food jars of nuts, bolts, and screws. For me it was those mismatched dishes, one of a kind cups, fancy candy dishes, and crystal candlesticks. I had great fun and so did my mom. We reminisced about days gone by, which cookie cutters were our favorites, and which bowl held the most spaghetti. It was hard not to feel sad as they moved away from us to continue to spend the rest of their retirement in a warmer climate. As I loaded up a shoebox full of potato mashers, ladles, and I might say a few tears, I spotted a random red bell ornament. I grabbed it and quickly realized that it once graced the tree of my Grandma Martha. Mom and I laughed as she remembered how I was the official tinsel helper of the family. I stood and held the box as my grandma flung the tinsel onto a crooked old tree, which always smelled beautiful, and was always in the same corner. Somehow Grandma Martha always got that tinsel on there perfectly! What with the gigantic lights, and those pretty bells, it was the best ever! My mom did not know the history of the bell, but she remembered it being around when she was young. Now I have the very last one. It's tattered and old,but very loved.
I think that it was left on my tree for a reason. It was time for me to stop and take some time to reflect on the past, and to remember a time when things were simple, slower, and less stressful and perhaps a bit more meaningful. When my husband came up behind me and asked, "What's for dinner?" and I said, "Honey, let's go out!" "But before we go, I want to call my mom, just to say hi!"
(Mary Caliendo 1/3/08)
A Short Story, Memories of My Life entitled:
NETTIE
"Good morning, Wake up Nettie!" I said. Then I pulled open the shade and let the beautiful sun shine through. Nettie's room was loaded with magazine pictures that she had cut out and taped to the nearest wall next to her bed. It was cute. The pictures were of things that she must have remembered during her life, or maybe things she just wanted out of life and never did achieve. She is a petite woman of 79 years old. Her eyes were green, and they would seem to get greener as the day wore on. She always insisted that she have a small bow or barrette in her hair each day. They would match the sweater that she had on that day. I saw her hair had a huge knot in it, and that the barrette was stuck in the middle of it all. I'd be back to fix it if the aides did not get it first. Nettie had an untouched breakfast tray sitting on the bedside table. I said," Nettie what did you eat for breakfast?" She replied in a very cranky, cranky voice, "Oh shut up, you don't know what you are talking about!" And then she stuck her tongue out at me, while trying to make a raspberry, she spit all over my face. "Yuck, do you have a towel for my shower!" I giggled. Nettie just shook her hand at me. I said, "Hey Lady Jane, I'll be back to see you later, bye!" And then I left; hoping that Netie would actually eat her breakfast before the kitchen came around to pick up trays.
I took the job of entry bookeeper in a large nursing center. I was fresh out of high school, I was full of enthusiasm and I had boundless energy and was considered quite patient for a person of the young age of eighteen. I thought that I would "learn the books", and use this job as a stepping stone to going further, perhaps majoring in accounting at the local junior college. As soon as I got to the office each morning at six, I would make the fresh pot of coffee. That was absolutely the very first thing that I learned, and how to keep them coming all day long! Oh and I also learned how to answer the phone, make overhead pages, and how to work the buzzer to accept deliveries and even to let the general public in the front door. I was indespensable! Yes. I became a very integral part of the office. I did eventually do the filing, set up and maintain that system, have checks signed, make sure that if a resident needed something, our office would call on the Occupational Therapy/Activity Coordinator to make sure the people got everything that was requested by the family members or even the resident themselves. I made friends in the lunch room with the other women who were employed there. The front office staff normally kept to themselves and did not mingle among the other employees in the nursing center. I thought that to be extremely ludicrous! I could not wait until it was time for lunch. I would run out of there. I talked to everyone. It was like this huge wonderful melting pot there. There were so many nationalities in that lunch room. I thought it was cool. Back in the late 1970's it was neat to talk to someone who was not born in America. I thought it was interesting to talk to people from distant lands like the Philippines, India,Poland, Greece,Korea,and Thailand. I was learning things like a sponge. In the first six months there, I learned beautiful needlework,I brought home many recipes,I learned how to swear in many languages, and I learned that people from the "city" even carrried guns! I was shaken to the core. I learned right away, that I was more interested in the study of people, and what they were made of. It was better than sitting in that moldy office, listening to bunch of stuffed shirts bantering about how awful the place smelled. Those women in that office had no idea that between their pefume, hair spray, and cigarettes they stunk! I often hated to go into the one secretary's office, I thought I was going gag as I took notes on the memos I was to type. I was in this entry position for about six months, when a job in Occupational therapy was posted. It too was an entry level position. It had very different hours, work on the weekends, and the pay was less. It was horrible! So naturally I took it! To see the Executive Secretary's face was priceless! And it was even funnier when she asked me who will make her coffee! Can you believe ? I cleaned out my desk and and reported the next day to the other side of the building. I was greeted with hugs and a round of applause from my lunchroom crowd as I came to eat that day. I never have felt more more at home than I did with that job. I began with the very basics of duties. I learned that Activities were about bringing reality back to those residents each day. It was through physical exercise, reality therapy, hosting parties, greeting families, and instructing general daily care to all the residents. It was we who brought the extra blankets, played the bingo, rented movies,took trips, and taught cooking classes. I felt like this was a job that really mattered. I was making a difference.
Nettie lived on the fourth floor. I was assigned to the fifth floor. It was considered the floor with the most of independent of people. The third floor residents were considered the most confused. They were belligerant and combative. Newbies like me were never assigned there. I liked my floor, they were very receptive and loved me instantly. I was surprised to find out that the Nursing Center was not just filled with the elderly. There were residents who were young; aged like my parents, but they had an illness that bound them to a wheelchair and they needed long-term care. There were even younger ones, this one guy was suicidal and was a drug addict, and frankly I think no one knew where he belonged. It was interesting. I was so young,but I learned about life there. I learned quickly how sad it all really was.
Our department was hosting a big party to boost the moral of the residents there. It was here in the large first floor dining hall that I first met Nettie. We put on music and served goodies. We'd try to get the residents to play cards,or speak to each other. Way over in a dark corner in a large green chair sat a teeny-tiny woman. I appraoched her. I saw instantly that when she was young, she must have been a real beauty. It was cute how she had a tiny bow in a mass of white hair. I asked if she'd like to come on over and sit with us all. I looked at her wrist band and knew she was not a diabetic, so I offered some cake and cookies. Nettie said," No doll, I have to watch my girlish figure." I fell for her there. I did get her over to a long table where about eight other ladies were gathered. Each had different levels of dementia, and physical ailments. As far as I could see, Nettie was none of those. Right away she did strike up a conversation. I would look for Nettie to come down to our weekly gatherings, and she did come to many. We started to talk alot and I started to get to know Nettie. That is considered a no-no to some. My coworkers said that if you get emotionally tied to anyone, it's too hard to do your job and that it would cause too much stress. I didn't know at the what they were talking about.
The medical ailmnents were hard to handle in some instances, and there was always death around every corner. It was sad. There were residents that would speak about their large family, but no one ever came to visit. Some people were long forgotten by their families. Thrown away, or just tucked far enough away. That was Nettie's children. They neatly tucked her away, and proceeded to forget that she ever existed, except for large holidays; they would call, send a gift, and once in a great while someone would come by. I visited Nettie daily. She loved my visits. I'd comb her hair and put in her bow or "hairpin" as she called it. We'd talk. She was a great storyteller. She had saved every card she ever received in a drawer next to the bed. They were special, along with her hair bows and pins, it was all she owned. She'd take one out each time I would visit. She would say, "Sweet could you read this one?" She took great pride in telling who each and every family member was. I could tell that many of those cards were ages old. My heart was saddened for her. She was such a mild-mannered woman. I thought what's not to like? I hope she wouldn't mind if I kind of adopted her. She loved my company and I loved hers. We would look out the window each day together. I started to come to her room on my own time. I was bringing her things from the store on my day off. She wanted to pay for them, I refused. One day we were looking out the window at the big tree whose branches reached all the way up. We always looked to see what was in that tree. I spotted my car and said "Oh Nettie, look I parked right under your window!" I park in that same spot everyday and didn't even notice before then. Nettie said, "Which one is it?" I pointed to the light blue one in spot #44.
One day I was on a visit with her after work, I brought her a coffee. We shared a short visit, I had a date that night. I told Nettie that I can't stay so long. I was apologetic and gave her a small hug. I told her I'd see her tomorrow. She shouted out, "See you tomorrow my daughter!" I knew I had been adopted. When I got out to the parking lot, I looked up and there was Nettie in the window, she was waving goodbye. I waved back and got into the car. I saw her standing in the window long after I'd left the parking lot. It must've stirred some old memories of her daughter leaving on a date. Increasingly Nettie was becoming confused. I was terrified. Look where I work, I'm helpless and there is nothing that I can do. I felt lost. "Nettie, what day is it?" I'd question. She'd respond in a cranky tone, "I don't care what damn day it is!" I started to cut down the number of my visits. I only came while I was on the premisis. I still spent alot of time with her. Everyday I would leave work, I would look up and there would be Nettie in the window waving wildly. I would wave back. This last time, however, as I drove away I cried. I knew that by the time Nettie would be eighty she would either be so confused or may be not there at all.
The next day I would be out on an Activity Trip to a local store with a bunch of independent walkers. We would go out shopping for things they would need. It took the better part of the day and when the shopping was done, we would have to do our charting. I was so busy, I very nearly went into overtime. Another big no-no! I quickly ran to the time clock where I punched right under the overtime mark. I finished up and went up to visit Nettie. She was already lying down in her bed. I asked her why. She told me she was tired and she wanted to go to sleep. I said okay, I'd go for now. She closed her eyes and just waved at me. When I got out into the parking lot, I looked up and Nettie was in the window waving slowly, but waving. I waved and smiled, and for some reason, I blew her a little kiss and got into my car. That night I went back out on another date, admittedly I drank some wine and I overslept for work.
I did not get to make my usual rounds and my daily routine was somewhat upset. I went right to my first exercise class. I did not get to go see Nettie until lunch time.
I ran into her room, there they were doing a body wrap, it was bed three. My God! It was Nettie! They were body wrapping Nettie! "No!" I heard myself say. The nurse's aid came in and said, come on you do not need to see this. I had slow rolling tears that burnt my cheeks, flowing down my face. I stood there just stunned. I was in the state of shock. My dear Nettie had passed early that morning. I was terribly hurt. I ran out of the room, and into the employee bathroom. I did not want anyone to know I was crying. In just a short year, I too became calloused and hardened against the effects of death. But this was different. The funeral home came and took her on their familiar ride down the back frieght elevator. I went back into Nettie's room. The aides and housekeeping were already cleaning. I yelled out, "Could you let me take down her pictures on the wall?" They said yes. When they all left the room, and when I was removing the magazine pictures, I noticed a ripped piece of the employee newsletter, it had my picture on it as an announcement for the new employees. She had, had it hanging behind another picture. On the back of it scrawled in writing almost illegible "daughter" was written. My heart just bursted and I sobbed like a baby. I packed everything up on top of the pile of clothes, bows, and hair pins.
I lost part of me that day. But I also gained something too. I'd like to think that I made a difference in Nettie's quality of life while she was here on Earth. I know she made a difference in mine. A spot in my heart forever.
Heritage Haiku
Heritage Haiku by Mary Caliendo
BEAUTY
Florence, Capri, Rome
with grapes and figs and olives,
Colorful beauty.
THE LEMON TREE
The Lemon tree
bears yellow fruit to make,
Italian dishes.
SUNDAY
Dishes of pasta
platters of artichoke make
Sunday a fun day!
MUCHO IMPORTANTE
Garlic and lemon
staples of the heritage
one thousand uses.
ABONDONZA!
Prosciutto, eggplant
risotto, ricotta, wine
could we do without?
Haiku
Do you Haiku? Enjoy these little poems that say alot.
By Mary Caliendo
My Time .
coffee, slippers and
newspaper,early morning,
is my quiet time.
Curing Expression
Hearts expressing thoughts
written words abound will help
to calm and to cure us.
My Haiku on my passion of writing...................
Drips into a pool
form and eddy outword like
words form paragraphs
Words on a page like
candlelight brightens a room
they gladden my heart
Words bloom on pages
like bluebells and daisies
are to a Spring morn
Haiku on ranges of subjects................................................
*ON LIFE.....
The lump of clay is
in my warm hands I will form
beauty in a vase.
Much like life our kids
will mimic us completely
so always show love!
I saw someone eat
from the garbage can he pulled
money to buy lunch!
Can you find it in
your heart of hearts to give to
your fellow man, love?
He who beats his wife
should be punished harshly and
outcome jail time- good.
KoKo Taylor sung
the blues she did belt always
miss you already.
NATURE SUBJECTS........
Oh lovely day bright
sunny day given to us
thankful and rejoicing!
The sky above my
feet are bound to the Earth, wind,
and the water moves us.
The moon over the lake
is lighting up the dark night
so the loon can swoon.
Oh spider of black
the sun wakes you to begin
spinning and weaving!
Sand, sea, you and me
vacation destination
and margaritas!
Rain, Rain go away
I know you make the plants grow
But it's flooding out back!
It's raining ugly,
and continous flowers
love its wet sweet drinks!
The foxes sleep in
their cozy den honed innately
by love and nature.
On Love...
Giggles behind the
door means lovers together
happiness thee wed!
*Always more will come................................
Mary-isms!
*QUIPS AND QUOTES BY YOURS TRULY !*
Love is always saying you're sorry! When you're sorry, you can be foregiven! Mary Caliendo
*
To live is to write my own anthology! Mary Caliendo
*
Your life garden will grow, but first you must shovel your dirt! Mary Caliendo
*
You can't get anywhere unless you take the first step! Mary Caliendo
*
Life is colored by the colors of the rainbow! Mary Caliendo
*
If your world is spinning, your feet are not planted on the ground! Mary Caliendo
*
In the quilt of life, your edges may always get a little tattered! Mary Caliendo
*
Your life will be shapped by those who mold you! Mary Caliendo
*
Look to the sun and let your shadows guide you! Mary Caliendo
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Join hands with strangers and form a circle of life learners! Mary Caliendo
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Chocolate to a child-great/ Chocolate at the five and dime-awesome/Chocolate on Easter morning-priceless! Mary Caliendo
*
God was great when he created friends! But he was even greater when those friends show up with chocolate! Mary Caliendo
*
Price of your hot dog-cheap/ Price of grill-too much and/ your freedom-priceless! Mary Caliendo
*
From out of the thunder comes resilience! Mary Caliendo
*
Flowers, rose buds, spores abound/ releasing and teasing their pollen,/ for the bees pleasure! Mary Caliendo
