Try this, this should take you to the archive list for "The Writer's Almanac"

Click on 'Week of 2008/03/31' and that should take you to the poem for 03/31/08.

In the brown bar near the top of the screen, click on 'Sunday'.

That should give you 'Susanna'

Do you think I would get in trouble for copying and pasting it here if I gave full attribution?

Rella:

What happens when we "get in trouble"????...LOL...

OH MY, RELLA...VERY GODDESSY, INDEED!!!

When we get in trouble......hmmmm.....

We truly apologize, undo all the mess we can, ask for forgiveness, and (usually) get it.

The poet, in this case, if given full attribution, might be understanding....especially since it's a poem by a woman, about a woman, and read by women - who are probably more likely to buy a book of poetry than an equal sized group of me.

"Susanna" by Anne Porter, an excerpt from Living Things, published by Zoland Books, an imprint of Steerforth Press of Hanover, New Hampshire. © 2006 Anne Porter.
Susanna

Nobody in the hospital
Could tell the age
Of the old woman who
Was called Susanna

I knew she spoke some English
And that she was an immigrant
Out of a little country
Trampled by armies

Because she had no visitors
I would stop by to see her
But she was always sleeping

All I could do
Was to get out her comb
And carefully untangle
The tangles in her hair

One day I was beside her
When she woke up
Opening small dark eyes
Of a surprising clearness

She looked at me and said
You want to know the truth?
I answered Yes

She said it's something that
My mother told me

There's not a single inch
Of our whole body
That the Lord does not love

She then went back to sleep.

Afternoon, goddesses. I have been absent, but excused.

I was on an incredible vacation in the jungles of Belize.

And yesterday was my 54th birthday. I never ever ever dreamed, when in my 30s or 40s that at this age I would be asking for exercise equipment for my birthday.

Right now, life is good.

Happy B-day Chrys!!! I'm only a few months behind you on the big 5-4! Unfortunately I don't have anyone to ask for the exercise equipment (boo hoo), so guess I just won't exercise (boo hoo hoo).

I am right there with you ladies! I'll be turning 54 this year and never thought that this stage in life would be so GREAT!!

It is sooo COOL that you said this! I've been pricing ELLIPTICALS..way too expensive..and have been thinking about a new TREADMILL!!

For sure, I'm purchasing some FREE WEIGHTS soon!!

I don't have anyone to ask for equipment, either. Bummer for us!

Children make great exercise equipment.

Yeah, but they grow up and don't want you playing with them. That, or you knees start giving out on you.

But remember that we are 50 plus..

OUR CHILDREN are GROWNUPS...

For me, using either of them as EXERCISE EQUIPMENT would prove to be verrry dangerous indeed...

I would be the EXERCISE EQUIPMENT...

But absolutely FABULOUS at it.

LOL..I had this image of them throwing me back and forth like a ball...

I know they wouldn't REALLY do this...

They love, love, love their "MOMMY"...

And if they don't, you can tell us. We will put on our pointy-toed shoes and pay them a visit.

RELLA:

You have some of those pointy-toed shoes???

YOU GO, GIRL!!

I just read a post where someone said they thought this thread was a waste of space and it reminded that I wanted to say Thank You Mimi. This thread has been so important to me. It has been a really great reminder of how to fulfill my husband's need for an attractive wife. I'm a stay at home mom and wow I never relized how fast I could let myself go. I now make sure that I look great when he comes home from work. The house is clean. I work out. I wear my expensive perfume everyday. (i have no idea what i was saving it for) This has made me feel so much better about myself and I can see it has made a difference to my WH as well. It has also made me not feel bad for spending money on myself. Before I only bought things for my boys.

So even though I don't post often, I read often and I learn so much.

Thanks Again.

MARVELOUS FOR YOU, TX!!

Hope everyone got a chance to see MARIAH last night!!

THE ULTIMATE DIVA!!

Not really, but it sounds good. I would put on the pointy-est toed shoes I have and show up to kick them.

I have weird feet and stylish shoes are hard to come by.....Narrow with a long arch. Not bad looking. Just hard to fit.

Alright ladies, it's that time of year once again!!! I think we need to be reminded of a few things. So my sisters, PLEASE, raise your big toes and repeat after me below...




The Open Toed Shoe Pledge
As a member of the Cute Girl Sisterhood, I pledge to follow the Rules when wearing sandals and other open-toe shoes:

I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps.

I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free.
I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe.

I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow. I will shave the hairs off my big toe.

I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, mother, sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it there.

If a strap breaks, I won't duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoe fixed or toss it.

I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr. Scholl's if my feet need him.

I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids' sizes. This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others. No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat and I would hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle.

I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages.

I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that her toes are as long as my fingers and no sandal makes creepy feet look good.

I will promise if I wear flip flops that I will ensure that they actually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walking and I will swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them.

I will promise to go to my local nail salon at least once per season and have a real pedicure (they are about $15 or 20 and worth EVERY penny).

I will promise to throw away any white/off-white sandals that show signs of wear... nothing is tackier than di rty white sandals.