In our attic

My current state of mind must be on a Disney trip and by trip I don't mean vacation. 

It started with Goofy and morphed into Donald Duck. 

As a child, were you a fan of Saturday morning cartoons?

If you were, like I was, you may recall Duck Presents. 

If you are not familiar, let me paint the picture. 

Donald Duck was caught in an endless battle with chipmunks, Chip and Dale. 

They would antagonize one another relentlessly over the most trivial things, 

and more often than not it was hilarious.

Now that I am older and in the midst of a similar battle, I can honestly say,

I have no idea how Donald managed to maintain his sanity.

Though my battle entails squirrels and not chipmunks, it is just as frustrating. 

These little nuisances have burrowed their way into our attic and apparently, 

have put out the welcome mat.

Our efforts to win this battle have been futile.

We sealed the hole, so they made another.

We placed a trap, but they manage to evade it.

We have tried to scare them out but evidently, 

we are not as intimidating as we think we are.

They are masters of hiding so no matter how hard we try we cannot catch them.

The most frustrating thing is, every so often, we hear them up there, 

digging and moving, I gather they're renovating.

Honestly, if this wasn't so frustrating, it would be comical.

Now I understand how Donald felt and I can assure you...

this means war!!!

KEC

aka Deo Volente

12/20/2025

The season and the reason

The air had a chill about it today and though I am not a fan of the cold, it was beautiful. 

The wind seemed to toss about a sense of peace. 

The clouds were vibrant yet still and the sky was entrancing. 

I wanted to lie in the grass and look up, 

would that have been strange for a grown up to do? 

Don't answer that. 

I think we are as old as we feel and though there are many days when I am undoubtedly my age, 

there are days, like today, when I am but a child at heart. 

It got me thinking about baby Jesus in that manger...on a still silent night. 

A priceless gift to the world, in the package of a baby. 

Nine little fingers with two opposing thumbs and ten toes, 

probably wrinkled, maybe fussy...

but beautiful just the same. 

I hope I never forget the reason for this season, 

and if by chance I begin to, 

God will still the clouds, like today, so I am reminded to look up. 

 

KEC

aka Deo Volente

12/19/2025

Healing

I lost myself in words of then,
never to be seen again.
Until the pages read,
the truth of things once said.
 
I found myself in rhythmic prose,
a she that only whisper knows.
Falling like the sand,
caught within my hand.
 
I saw my soul in lines of pain,
in downpour of forgotten rain.
Lost to time and sound,
fleeting yet profound.
 
I told myself with every tear,
in distance of each long-lost year.
Tomorrow is today,
so live it just that way.

I thrust myself toward the sun,
and to the moon as night begun.
To reach that distant sky,
in whispers of my why.
 
I gazed upon the birds in flight,
and kissed the clouds with pure delight.
Rejoicing in the wind,
my heart began to sing.
 
I woke up to a dance of me,
for all the world to truly see.
That broken hearts can heal,
and God knows how I feel.
 
KEC
aka Deo Volente
12/13/2025

Advice from an average Mom.

When our children were young, I tackled parenting on a wing and a prayer. I showered them with love even when I didn't like them, disciplined them when I needed to and insisted on a few things: 

• Put God first.
• Know that you are loved.
• Read
• Think
• Believe in yourself.
• Love yourself and your siblings.
• Remember, right is right and wrong is wrong, there are no grey areas.
• You are only as good as your word.
• Just because it comes to mind, doesn't mean it needs to come to mouth.
• There are too many words in the English language to limit yourself to just a few.
• Seek advice from your parents not your peers, we have more experience and will always have your best interest at heart.
• Everyone makes mistakes, it's what you do after, that makes the difference.
• Be respectful to others even if they don't deserve it.
• Treat others the way you wish to be treated.
• Stand unwaveringly for what you believe in but be willing to hear the perspective of others.
• Verify every argument with at least 3 reputable sources.
• Laugh often, cry if you need to and know that we, your family, are always here for you.
• No matter what you do, do your best.
• Trust yourself, but when in doubt, call Dad.
• Remember your life is yours to live so live it in such a way that you can be proud of the person you see in the mirror. 

Now these individuals, our children, are adults, and though I know we raised them to the best of our abilities, if you buy into the argument of Nature vs Nurture it could go either way. The fact is, they are who they are and all we can do as parents is love them and cheer them on for as long as they need us to. Hopefully, that makes all the difference.

KEC
aka DV
12/11/2025

Forgotten

She lived this life a thousand times 

in heart, in dreams, in whispered rhymes

and still it turned the same

she had herself to blame.

She chose to love beyond the hate

to rise above that faultless state

a child can't time their birth

parents dictate their worth.

But as she heard the silence scream 

in shatters of each heartfelt dream

the shards had cut too deep

all she could do was weep

Weep for the girl who had no chance

who stepped into the rain to dance

and let her anguish flow

pretending not to know. 

Pretending not to feel the sting

of words and deeds that ripped through skin

where hope would learn to die

behind each well-kept lie.

She carried it without desire, 

that sword forged in her hellish fire

where childhood should have shone

she bore her pain alone.

But blow by blow she lost the fight

and on her knees one weary night

she crumbled by the road

15 years her load.

Her scream was meant to still her heart 

that thing that they had tourn apart

she lost her will to breathe

unwanted like the weed.

Yes, she lived that life a thousand times 

in heart, in dreams, in whispered rhymes

and still it turned the same...

you'd think they'd feel some shame,

no-one recalled her name.

KEC

aka DV

12/9/2025

___________________________________________________________________

Honestly, I prefer this ending...

Yes, she lived that life a thousand times 

in heart, in dreams, in whispered rhymes

and still it turned the same...

you'd think they'd feel some shame,

but God knows all their names.

So why didn't I use it you ask, because it was not my original thought and though I often change and revise my poems I felt it was important to leave this one as is. It's okay to laugh about pain sometimes but sometimes laughter just isn't the best medicine. 

Be well world and please, be good to each other.

KEC

aka DV

12/9/2025

A Goofy day

Do you like cartoons? If you said yes, who is your favorite character and why? 

Personally, I am a diehard Goofy fan, yes, you read that right...Goofy. He is my absolute favorite cartoon character. He is determined, kind and a complete mess! That's why I watched A Goofy Movie so many years ago, but it was the movie's message that made me watch it again with my children when I became a mother. 

For no special reason I played the theme song today and as I sang along, I was reminded of the reason I love this movie. Every line in this song is powerful, but this line, always gets me...

 "If we listen to each other's heart, we'll find we're never too far apart. And maybe love is the reason why, for the first time ever we're seeing it eye to eye"

Imagine how beautiful this world would be if we chose to listen to each other's hearts. Maybe Goofy isn't so goofy after all.

KEC
aka Deo Volente

12/3/25

Just one thing

If you could do just one thing, no-holds-barred, what would you do?

Sounds like a trick question, doesn't it? 

The thing is, just one thing can change so many things. 

One variable can change the outcome...

One drop in a bucket can cause it to overflow.

One spark can start a fire.

One lapse in judgement can change a life.

One word can change a sentiment.

One ingredient can change a recipe.

One smile can change a heart.

One leap of faith can change everything.

Makes me wonder why we diminish the power of one.

So, with that in mind, I'll ask that question again. 

If you could do just one thing, no-holds-barred, what would you do? 

If you said go skydiving, that's okay, after all isn't that a leap of faith :)

KEC

aka Deo Volente

11.26.2025