“fishing thru ice” day 3

“fishing thru ice” day 3
by Valerie J Laidlaw

to a lake called gull,
we had driven, further yet,
pulling 2 loaded sleds,
plus, Kooper, our pet.
a sunny, bright day,
where snowmobiles play,
no happier dog,
than our boy was onboard,
excitedly, watching toward,
the fishing holes, Rick bored.
straight out from a point,
near the edge of a bog,
lined with hills past the shoreline,
and an old, fallen log.
i caught 4 northern pike,
which excited our pal,
as the fish wiggled,
and one at a time,
they all fell,
in the pail.
we again, then,
packed up our tent,
which the wind tried to dent,
trudging across the lake,
we slowly roamed,
towards the slope,
as we went home,
feasting, the next day,
on buttery, pan-fried filets!

Smiling Kooper

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Our happy fishing companion

“fishing thru ice” day 2

Leaf Lake, MN

Two fish

One fish

“fishing thru ice” day 2
by Valerie J Laidlaw

not much further
there’s a lake called leaf,
to fish, it’s more popular
others believe.
after a walk down,
and across the lake,
pitching our ice-tent atop,
4 holes of auger digs,
we set up, our rigs,
and rods with bait.
there were three other structures
positioned on the lake.
like a homestead village,
they claimed their stake.
another tent was there for a time,
until they folded and walked away in a line.
from one of the structures,
two dogs roamed free,
i was glad Kooper stayed home,
away from them, safely.
rick caught our first,
and, our second fish.
with just enough fileted
to stir-fry in a dish. our first harvest, in this quest!

South of the Sun

South of the Sun

By Valerie J Laidlaw

GrmaVal, Grandson Mark & Son Kevin

Mark with a wink and a smile!

I was South of the Sun, when my grandson was born,
Little, “early bird,” on an August morn,
You couldn’t wait, as they had predicted you would,
So far away, wishing to be near you, as I knew I should.
There will be plenty of those times, I hope, when I return,
When I can hold you, and hug you, of that I yet yearn.
Welcome, grandson, you’re my first little boy,
In the next generation, and of this decade, to bring, a newly-born joy!

M.C.R., 8/28/12
By Grmaval 8/31/2012

“fishing thru ice” day 1

“fishing thru ice” day 1
by Valerie J Laidlaw

a short, post-noon drive,
our first lake was pearl,
a sweet, sunset transpired,
as we setup, deciding,
“let’s give ‘er a whirl!”
our trusty pup loved coming along,
the scene was as beautiful as any song.
kooper was a trooper,
as he led me back to the car,
it was coal dark,
but not very far.
no fish were caught
yet, sometimes,
that’s not always
all we sought.

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“Listen!”

“Listen!”
By Valerie J Laidlaw
January 21, 2021

I will not focus on the year that passed,
Even though it taught us how vulnerable we all are.
I will not focus backward to the past,
Even though an ache will always linger in my heart.
I will focus on our forward movement.
Moments forthcoming.
I will still be vigilant.
I will still speak strongly!
I won’t be silent as others disregard our health.
I won’t be silent as others act as if they are immune, and above it all.
I won’t be silent, yet, I won’t expend energy and effort towards those who choose to not listen.
Yet, I will find empathetic means to get my message through their muffled ears.
I will give virtual group hugs to calm our fears,
And, to pool our tears.
I will fight for my children, my grandchildren, and their futures.
I will fight for your children, your grandchildren, and their futures.
We will all fight for our children, our grandchildren, and their futures.
We are all one in this, so please join together!
Please, help one another!
Please, listen!

Shanty #2 & #3

“Shan’t He, Too?”
By Valerie J Laidlaw
January 16, 2021

My great grandad, (Paul) he sailed a ship,
His brother (Kris) was the captain.
The captain was dropped in California,
And, there he then remained.

Refrain:
Yo ho, they stayed afloat,
As the sea set down, so many a boat,
Yo ho, they’d better go,
While the sun, is still arising!

My great grandad, (Paul) he sailed a ship,
His brother (Kris) was the captain.
He commandeered then a river ferry,
And, there he then remained.

Refrain:
Yo ho, they stayed afloat,
As the sea set down, so many a boat,
Yo ho, they’d better go,
While the sun, is still arising!

My great grandad, (Paul) he sailed a ship,
His brother, Kris, was the captain.
He met his bride, Sophie, and raised a family,
And, then there he remained.

Refrain:
Yo ho, they stayed afloat,
As the sea set down, so many a boat,
Yo ho, they’d better go,
While the sun, is still arising!

For dreams move along, towards another row,
Best laid plans, come along, then, away they go,
The sails catch winds, from the way they blow,
An upstream fight can be a really rough show,
It’s not always up to us to be the ones who know,
Relax sometimes, and catch the flow!

Shanty #3. (“Shan’t He, Three?”) By Valerie J Laidlaw

My great grandad, (Paul) he sailed a ship,
His brother, (Kris) was the captain.
Great-grandad brought his bride, Inger Marie, off to California,
Then, to sail onto Australia.

Refrain:
Yo ho, they stayed afloat,
As the sea set down, so many a boat,
Yo ho, they’d better go,
While the sun, is still arising!

My great grandad, (Paul) he sailed a ship,
His brother, (Kris) was the captain.
His bride wouldn’t board in California,
Then, to sail onto Australia.

Refrain:
Yo ho, they stayed afloat,
As the sea set down, so many a boat,
Yo ho, they’d better go,
While the sun, is still arising!

My great grandad, (Paul) he sailed a ship,
His brother, (Kris) was the captain.
She wished to bid farewell to her sister, Berget, first,
Then, to sail onto Australia.

Refrain:
Yo ho, they stayed afloat,
As the sea set down, so many a boat,
Yo ho, they’d better go,
While the sun, is still arising!

My great grandad, Paul, he sailed a ship,
His brother, Kris, was the captain.
He went to the plains in the northern valley,
And, there he then remained.

Refrain:
Yo ho, they stayed afloat,
As the sea set down, so many a boat,
Yo ho, they’d better go,
While the sun, is still arising!

For dreams move along, towards another row,
Best laid plans, come along, then, away they go,
The sails catch winds, from the way they blow,
An upstream fight can be a really rough show,
It’s not always up to us to be the ones who know,
Relax sometimes, and catch the flow!

Shanty #1

“So, Shan’t He?”
By Valerie J Laidlaw
January 15, 2021

My great grandad, (Paul) he sailed a ship,
His brother, (Kris) was the captain.
When yellow fever struck Ole down in Rio,
A first brother died, as it had happened.

Refrain:
Yo ho, they stayed afloat,
As the sea set down so many a boat,
Yo ho, they’d better go,
While the sun, is still arising!

My great-granddad, (Paul) he sailed a ship,
His brother, (Kris) was the captain.
Their brother, Aslag, he was lost at sea,
As northern gales had swept him.

Refrain:
Yo ho, they stayed afloat,
As the sea set down, so many a boat,
Yo ho, they’d better go,
While the sun, is still arising!

My great grandad (Paul) he sailed a ship,
His brother (Kris) was the captain.
Their tale was told that seven times,
They had sailed around the horn, then.

Refrain:
Yo ho, they stayed afloat,
As the sea set down, so many a boat,
Yo ho, they’d better go,
While the sun, is still arising!

My great grandad (Paul) he sailed a ship,
His brother (Kris) was the captain.
From the cold Norseland to the China Seas,
And, whereas, the tales were passed,
It truly must’ve happened!

Refrain:
Yo ho, they stayed afloat,
As the sea set down, so many a boat,
Yo ho, they’d better go,
While the sun, is still arising!

For dreams move along, towards another row,
Best laid plans, come along, then, away they go,
The sails catch winds, from the way they blow,
An upstream fight can be a really rough show,
It’s not always up to us to be the ones who know,
Relax sometimes, and catch the flow!

“Yesterday”

“Yesterday”
By Valerie J Laidlaw
January 7th, 2021

As a gathering of unrest was spurred on towards our nation’s capital,
An embarrassment to so many, who still believe in the democratic process,
By not allowing the corruption, in the rioters’ minds,
As they tried to continue to ruin, and destroy our country’s morals, honor, and beliefs, in their efforts to befall.
I was proud of the elected officials who stood up through this adversity,
To carry on through the night, and conclude that we will honor,
The voices of the masses, who voted in the election, now finalized, moving forward,
In the hopes of a “United States” nation, and in an honorable, orderly fashion.
So this is the deal…
We are suffering, and we really need to overcome so much, yet, and heal.

Missing You, Kyle

“Missing You, Kyle”
By Valerie J Laidlaw
January 7th, 2021

As the Covid numbers continue,
I learned 74 others in Minnesota
That day were joined with you.
The holidays were really rough,
And, as we began a newer year,
Yet, we all feel your presence, still near.
I won’t ever really believe that you’re not here!
I heard your wife’s voice cry out, you know,
As, she repeatedly said, “I miss you so!”
Whenever random objects move,
Or, when pennies or coins appear,
And with precious photos, videos,
Our memories of your smile,
Your kindness in your laughter,
Linger, as reminders here,
Holding strong, within us all,
Continually, beyond the now,
And, constantly beyond the after.
We will always think, and hold you…
Forever in our hearts, my son, so dear!
So, as we visit with you,
Under the moonlit, starlit sky,
Because, we know your spirit would always try,
We truly believe in our hearts, you hear our cry.

Early Computerized Photo of Kyle as a baby and his Mom

Early Computerized Photo of Toddler Kyle

“I’ve often heard ‘Old age is a sign of a life well lived.’
Those who leave us while young, also, show us that they had lived well within their timeline.” Valerie J Laidlaw

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You, at 6 months, in a sailor outfit I sewed for you.

My Grandmother Gena Gunlickson Hettervig

At the Minnesota State Fair

“Hi-tech”

“Hi-tech”
By Valerie J Laidlaw
1/03/2021

During a conversation, on the first day of 2021,
With a “sixty-something” me, between,
My granddaughter, a mid-teen.
The conversation journeyed,
From my early, college days,
Of computers, which filled a room.
Decades before quarantining,
With today’s technology, and zoom.
I told her about me, as a girl, merely two years in age, her senior,
Who had begun college early, walking midterm, in the rain,
Collecting “IBM” punch cards from each department head,
They argued, stating there were just a limited few,
For each of my scheduled courses, I had pursued,
And, whereas, my convincing voice had persuaded each one, instead.
With the gathered stack of cards, I watched,
As they were inserted into a monstrous-sized computer, it whirred and hummed loudly.
Registered then, in seventy three, my college career had again begun.
I told my granddaughter more, about how technology evolved, from then, to modern times,
And, how, as those computer cards became obsolete,
Were “upcycled” by old ladies, who stapled the cards into circular, Christmas wreaths.
Checking her phone, finding the wreaths in images to her surprise, and with a grin,
My mid-teen grandaughter, then surmised,
“How is it, that this, is actually a thing!?”

Up close, my creation from IBM cards & purchased artificial flowers.

Outside Minnesota setting

My own creation.