surviving a sleepover and a poem for a grandson

A ten year old's sleep over 

Birthday time for a ten year old boy
(for Finn on his 10th Birthday from a grateful Grandpa)

What a day it always is…

You can tell with this young man, my grandson

He is not only growing up, but it’s a funny kind of

maturity 10 year old boys and girls have…

Certainly not all the same but you can feel the changes…

Six ten year old's

Sleeping over

Noise, rough housing, laughing, play, and sometimes a

little quiet

Bowling, pizza, lots of pizza, opening the presents

Then a scary movie and believe it or not some sleep

I wondered, what dreams are flying around this room

full of seven ten year old's, what wonderful fantasy…

The party wines down, wonderful breakfast of pancakes

and all,

A time to play and then the parents come

Goodbye’s, until tomorrow in school….

Someday these few hours will be sweet memories for our

dear grandson

his first sleepover, not his last.

It was great being here with you Finn, we all love you

And wish you many more birthdays, parties and maybe

sleepovers.

Finn your grandpa wants to share an history long gift

with you,

Let’s say a reminder

First,  of all you are loved and embraced, hugged, by the

universe

You are the only Finn ever

Now the secret, like some ten years old's in Thailand

A place I know you like,

Learn that when one sits quietly, for a few moments

every morning,

You become more mindful of all you do.

My prayer for you is that you continue to be the mindful

young man you already are, you are our gift grandson,

peace.

Recent Poems by ko shin Bob Hanson, Warrior Poet

Standing, for decades, old trees

Rough skinned, many arms going off like an

Ancient Healing Buddha, or uncombed hair

Years of life broken by wind, rain snow, human beings…

When cut down, or downed by a storm

Revealing all those circles

Telling a story of life, a journey,

The weather, turmoil, old, solid hard wood,

Soon aging in the sun and rain

Then warming the home, fire wood,

A Birch walking stick

A protection on the walk each day

Strong, giving support to my old knees

Yet, it does not give direction

I guess I need to know where I am going don’t I?

remember:

my first noodle dish in South Korea, it was years ago,

my first trip to Korea

we were part of a group heading for a village near the 38th line that divides north and south.

a stop for lunch, a bowl of noodles, I brought it close to my mouth and the sweat began to run, I had not even taken a taste yet, and when I did,

it was not spicy it was hot!

Very Hot! help! give me the water, lots of water....great lunch, I am still here.

Brown, red, yellow

the signs of fall, a season of harvest

a time of death and rest for the earth

a time of travel for the butterflies, the sand hill cranes

and many more families of the earth

they say, might be snow north of here tonight

to early for me

but who is in control

we know who has set up the destruction of the earth

but we are still not in charge.

we spend so much time

remembering the past

just returned from my 55th high school reunion

did I really do those things 55 years ago and more?

we spend too much time wondering about  tomorrow

all we have is the moment

wake up live it, be it

or scrap it....

2013 went by very quickly

2014 will be a new challenge for all beings

sit quiet for awhile

be mindful of your breath, your body, your heart

for just a moment let it all go

this is it baby

this is all we have

maybe we just need to say, 

thanks!

Photo by ko shin, late afternoon bike ride, fall 2013