Free Hugs Poem

Posted on August 17, 2019 by Mike Nelson Pedde — Leave a reply

Hi Folks:

A wonderful gift from our friend Glennis. We are both awed and honoured!

Free Hugs
_________

Free hugs…
by the edge of the Harbour
on a Summery Sunday.
Open arms
that have
crossed oceans and continents.

Arms that…
have cradled infants,
fought wars,
prayed
and driven cars.

Arms that…
have held ice cream cones,
have stolen
and given
and written letters of love.

Arms that…
are strong,
tanned…
frail arms.

Arms that…
swim in warm lakes,
held books,
planted crops
and picked flowers.

Arms that…
have loved,
felt hate,
rested
and toiled.

Arms reaching out
for a free hug
by the edge of the Harbour.

Free hugs…
imprinted on the soul,
carried home
to
every corner of the world.

How beautiful.

Glennis Taylor, 2019

Hugs back!!
M&M

Remembering Father on Mother’s Day

Posted on May 13, 2018 by Mike Nelson Pedde — 2 Comments ↓

Hi Folks:

Marcia first wrote this post in 2010, and much has changed since then. Marcia’s Mom and both of our Dads are now gone. At the same time, we welcomed our newest grandson – Beckett Vaughn Kempinski – into the world only nine days ago. His parents are celebrating their first child! And on we go…

Beckett Vaughn Kempinski

Hugs,
M&M Continue Reading →

Hugging

Posted on August 7, 2016 by Mike Nelson Pedde — Leave a reply

Hi Folks:

We came across this file recently, in an old computer folder. There are a number of versions of it online, but none of them (that we’ve found) know or list the original author. To that end we’ve posted it as Author Unknown, but if you know who wrote it please leave us a comment to let us know!

Hugs,
M&M

Hugging

Hugging is healthy:
It helps the body’s immune system
It cures depression
It reduces stress
It induces sleep
It’s invigorating
It’s rejuvenating
It has no unpleasant side effects
And is nothing less than a miracle drug!

Hugging is all natural:
It is organic, unnaturally sweet
No pesticides, no preservatives
No artificial ingredients
And 100 percent wholesome

Hugging is practically perfect:
There are no moving parts to wear out
No periodic checkups
Low-energy yield
Infection-proof
Non-fattening
No monthly payments
No insurance requirements
Theft-proof
Non-taxable
Non-polluting
And, of course, returnable.Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Author Unknown

Two-Fisted Hugger!!

Remembering Father on Mother’s Day…

Posted on May 8, 2016 by Mike Nelson Pedde — Leave a reply

Hi Folks:

This post is from the archives (2010), but as Mike’s mom and both of our dads are still with us (Marcia’s dad is 92 and going strong!) we thought it was worth revisiting!!
_____

Hello Dear Ones!

As long as I can remember, every Mother’s Day – without exception – my Dad would be heard to say, at some point to anyone and everyone within ear shot: “Don’t forget Father on Mother’s Day!” Though we lavished Mom with gifts and flowers, cards and, usually, a meal out, we always remembered Dad in some fashion.

Though my Mother has left this world physically, she is with us in our hearts and memories. It is to our memories of her and our hearts’ yearning for her that I dedicate this post in advance of the Mother’s Day weekend. MoM, wherever you are and whatever celestial mischief you are getting into today … Happy Mother’s Day!

(BTW Dear Reader: if you hear thunder and see lightening on Sunday, May 9th, 2010 … that’s my Mother telling us ‘kids’ that she’s thinking of us! How do I know? Well, that’s a story for another day …) Continue Reading →

For Marcia…

Posted on June 8, 2013 by Mike Nelson Pedde — Leave a reply

Hi Folks:

Eleven years ago today Marcia proposed to me – down on one knee and everything. After much deliberation and careful consideration (all of which took about Â¼ second), I said ‘Yes’.

We continue to say “Yes!!” to each other every day.

I wrote this poem for her and wanted to share it with you:

Every morning,
as you awake,
I caress your fingers
with my face…
and know we two are loved.

Happy 11^th Anniversary, Darlin’!!

Forever and For Always,
Me.

The Land of ‘Up’

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Mike Nelson Pedde — 2 Comments ↓

Hello, Dear Readers!

Marcia here.Â I’ve been having a delicious conversation – in poems – with a friend and I wanted to share one segment of that with you!Â Enjoy!

wiggles & jiggles & giggles galore
laughed ever so hard & still wanted more
so in order to keep the momentum flowing
i thought to record what i thought to be knowing
as i reached for a pen something soft i did touch
it startled me ever so, ever so, ever so much
that i started to giggle all over again
realizing where i was now & where i had been
my feet had been planted quite firm on the earth
yet with all of our banter, camaraderie, mirth
bubbles of giggles expanded inside
and with highest vibrations taken me for a ride

with my head in the clouds and my toes in the sea

what touched me was water, yes water! you see

and i know that you know what i know to be true

’cause we live magic lives, we decidedly do

the water of life fills our glorious cup

for you see we are blessed in the world of UP

In Light and such glorious Laughter!

Sending Rainbow Hugs your way!

Marcia 🙂

Being Poemed

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Mike Nelson Pedde — Leave a reply

Hi Folks:

Our good friend (and amazing poet) Wendy Morton can sometimes be found at the various branches of the Greater Victoria Public Libraries, ‘poeming’ people.Â Basically, she engages the individual in conversation for a few minutes and then she writes a poem about him or her.Â We caught up with Wendy at the main library downtown on April 28 and had the chance to be ‘poemed’ by her.Â We thought we’d share what she wrote about us, with you…

Marcia

Now that I’m retired
I have more time to write,
more time to watch the golden finches
fly from the branches of the cherry trees.
And time to walk
time to be quiet.
I go to art galleries,
go to art walks.
What we love most,
is giving away Free Hugs –
we go down to the inner harbour,
give away hugs to people at random.
I’m learning slam poetry.
I’m learning everything!

Wendy Morton
April 28, 2012

Mike

We live in a world where people are
so afraid of touch.
How can we live without contact?
We went to the inner harbour.
Two guys on standup paddleboards
came up for free hugs, then
paddled off.Â Once a guy got hugged,
went back and got his whole family.
We’ve hugged the whole world.
We’ll keep doing it.

Wendy Morton
April 28, 2012

Thank you, Wendy!

Hugs,
M&M

Photo of the Month – Rithet’s Bog

Posted on July 31, 2011 by Mike Nelson Pedde — 2 Comments ↓

Hi Folks:

Somehow I missed the ‘Photo of the Month’ post for June so I thought I’d do something a little different this month.Â I was out at Rithet’s Bog the other day, making photographs of the butterflies, bees, dragonflies and other little critters and I came across a number of Lorquin’s Admiral butterflies.Â Since my June 2010 post was on butterflies, it seemed only appropriate to do another one.Â This time I selected four images and combined them into one 4-across image using Lightroom’s print module. Continue Reading →

Looking for Butterflies

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Mike Nelson Pedde — 2 Comments ↓

Hi Folks:

Yesterday marked the 16^th anniversary of the day my sister Liz passed away. The details of that are irrelevant for the moment but her soft, gentle nature always put me in mind of butterflies, and tiger swallowtails were a favourite of both of us. You can read more about that here. It was interesting because before Liz passed away I had only seen a few tiger swallowtails in my life, but when we flew out for her last days and for the services after, we saw tiger swallowtails everywhere. Marcia and I would go for a walk and one would follow us down the street. We’d get in the car and drive somewhere and one would be there wherever we stopped. If we were sitting in the backyard a couple of swallowtails would come cavorting by. When we flew back to Ontario I saw three swallowtails in the first 48 hours, and I’ve seen several every year since. Continue Reading →