The Hill of Hope
Now, here in our cozy valley
Tie up loose ends
Pack the memories, but first
Take a trip down amnesia lane
When they were a baby, a toddler, a child
A teen coming into bright depths of being
He and me
Before we knew how to laugh even harder than before
And took each day not as a given
But as a gift, burnished, barely out of the box
All the trappings of a life thus far well lived
Now in yesterday’s newspaper (donated by friends who still subscribe to an actual paper)
Now paintings swaddled in kitchen towels
Now gimcracks tshotchkes doodads this and that
Tossed into wicker baskets and boxes
And so much great stuff
Given to friends family Goodwill
Soon
Climb to a new place, rise to the challenge
Unpack it all again and never miss
belongings we have shed along with way
And marvel at
what remains
especially the memories
© 2010 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
A prompt from a new blog, https://newwhatsgoingon.blogspot.com/ Lots of old friends from my Poetic Asides and Imaginary Garden with Real Toads days. I am happy to be back writing again!
We are indeed moving from the church we have served for 13 years to a new church, still in Wisconsin, but a ways away. It’s all good, the present church needs a half-time pastor and we can’t afford to take that hit, so they will hire a new pastor, someone bivocational. The new church has welcomed us with extravagant love. They are looking to live more deeply into their LGBTQ+ covenant. So even though we are cisgender, well, as my Jeffery said, “Yes, you get to play in our sandbox!” and then there’s Luka, so it feels as though the Spirit has led us to one last pastoral challenge!! All is well. But oy, the boxes and tape and all the rest. But after 30+ moves in my lifetime (seriously), I’ve got it down to a science of color coding and making grids of every room on graph paper. What a nerd.
Sharp Little Pencil 
Mary
Moving is indeed climbing that Hill of Hope! Packing up, giving away, moving to a new home and rising to a new challenge — quite a daunting task, but I am sure you will be up to it. Sounds like you are well practiced in moving. So nice to see you again, Amy!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Mary. You know, I am going on the Mr. Linky tabs at What’s Going On, but they won’t take my comments! Happy to see you and read your kind words. Blessings!
Mary
I don’t know what browser you are using. If you have trouble, try using your CHROME browser if you aren’t. When I have an issue (with Safari) sometimes, I copy the poem link and then put it in CHROME and it works. Anyway next time try another browser… I do not know why this is happening. It is really annoying. Sigh.
Sumana Roy
This climbing is not at all easy but since this is the Hill of Hope the task becomes easier and joyful. Thank you so much for joining us.
Sharp Little Pencil
Hello, my friend! I tried to comment on people’s blogs, but blogger won’t take my info… Catch you soon!
Sherry Marr
Amy, a lot of folks are having this problem. We found that if you switch to google chrome for your browser, it makes it easier to comment. There are incompatibilities between Blogger and some browsers……..some people are commenting as anonymous and then putting their name in their comments. I dont remember this many glitches a few years ago. But they are a trial right now, lol. So happy to reconnect with you after an interval as a hermit.
susanstoo
This poem speaks to my condition, yard sales and packing, moving to a retirement home, full of hope. These lines struck me in particular, as thingsI’ve saved for years have to find a new home or Goodwill or trash. You are ready for this challenge! You’ve already wrapped it in hope and blessings. Thank you for joining us Amy!
susanstoo
Forgot to put the lines: “Pack the memories, but first
Take a trip down amnesia lane . . . “
Sharp Little Pencil
Seems like the pandemic helped a lot of folks clear out the cobwebs. I can only hope the things they donate are good quality. Thanks! Glad to be back.
Suzanne Brockman Zeigler
I like this, Amy. You know, you are getting readier to leave behind as memories the friendships you have nurtured. You, not to menti
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Sue. You have been uo close and personal on this journey. I am blessed.
Sherry Marr
AMY!!!!!!! How lovely to see your link pop up at What’s Going On! YAY! Long time no see. I have downsized so many times now, I finally wound up in a tiny cozy place with just my treasures – and still have too much stuff. I love the sound of your new parish, and love that you found us at What’s Going On? Keep coming back!!!
Sharp Little Pencil
Sherry, you rock for getting me going again! The problem about commenting on others’ sites is that I am already using Chrome, but still the comments don’t stick. Even trying to post anonymously can be fraught. But anyway, so GREAT to be here in our shared blogosphere! Love you
sanaarizvi
This poem resonates on a deeper level with me, Amy! I understand the anxieties and ghosts that accompany when one is braving the circumstances of life .. we keep climbing, my friend 💖💖💖
Sharp Little Pencil
I will come visit your blog tomorrow. Thanks, my friend. The view from on high is glorious and worth the struggle.
Truedessa
Sounds like you are conquering those hills one box at a time. Good luck with hills and god’s will.
Peace to you.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much! There are many ways up that mountain, I have heard it said.
drpkp
Amer!!!! I could barely read your terrific poem (of course it was terrific what else is new or old for that matter) I was soooo delighted to see you here. Hi there my poetic friend!
Sharp Little Pencil
Pearl Girl! I am having problems leaving comments, even in Chrome. But I am reading everyone’s stuff. Great prompt. This post feels like coming home. So very happy to see you here!
Pearl Ketover Prilik
Hi there … If I am not at my desktop I cannot comment. It is lovely, lovely, lovely to see you here. Yes, this site feels very much like coming home!
Pearl Ketover Prilik
I see here I’m logged in with FB… and what the heck is that (Author) business and no pic? Oh well… Grand to see you and be called Pearl Girl once again… Hugs and Love
Pearl Ketover Prilik
Hi again! I see here I’m logged in with FB… and what the heck is that (Author) business and no pic? Oh well… Grand to see you and be called Pearl Girl once again… Hugs and Love
Mary
It is odd you cannot comment on mine or others. I have the same blog I have had forever. And I know this is your same blog. So I am baffled at how to fix this. Do you have another browser you could try just for the sake of trying it? Besides Chrome?
Sharp Little Pencil
I may try that. Time to get Firefox back and running…
Renee Espriu
I wish you well at your new church and hope it will be all that you hope for. I, too, have moved too many times to count and it’s not because there is a Pastor in my life as in yours’. I just kept moving not as in ‘moving’ forward toward what I always hope is to be my life. I have finally reached that with a new man in my life. Have been with him for nearly a year and as I am now 71 I am hoping this is the last move I will have to make. But life is a series of twists and turns and everything is always changing and in flux so who knows what my journey will hold. Do take good care and remember…always use your legs and not your back when you lift.
Sharp Little Pencil
Actually, my best advice about moving is always hire a moving company!!! I am so glad you have settled into your new way of being. A new partner can bring so many changes. Almost all of them welcome!! I’m 67 now and happy to find there is another challenge for both Lex and me. Much love to you, Renee
Pearl Ketover Prilik
Hi again! I see here I’m logged in with FB… and what the heck is that (Author) business and no pic? Oh well… Grand to see you and be called Pearl Girl once again… Hugs and Love
Rajani Radhakrishnan
Now in yesterday’s newspaper (donated by friends who still subscribe to an actual paper) – moving is always a challenge and I remembered how well newspaper worked for packing!!
Mary
Hi Amy – hope you will give “What’s Going On?” a try again. I see you were able to comment on Sherry’s blogger blog, so there might be hope for the rest of us (such as What’s Going on, myself, etc.) who reside on Blogger. Hope your move went well.
Sherry Marr
Amy, I hope you will join us. How about, when you post your poem on your site, you email me the link and I will link it for you? I would hate to have you not join us because of blogging problems. My email is wildwomantwo@gmail.com Happy to help. Not sure how to solve the commenting part…..but you got thru to me, so there is hope, if we persist! Smiles. Eventually, blogs will recognize you. We live in hope.
Sherry Marr
p.s. I no longer have your current email adress, Can you please email it to me? Thanks, kiddo. Hope your move is going well.