The Inspiration Behind "The Umbrella"

A few years ago, my (then) boyfriend (now husband), best friend, and her boyfriend took a mini vacation to Yosemite. On our way there, we stopped to get gas because that's what you do when you drive to faraway places. As we pulled up to the gas station, I saw a man struggling against the wind to keep his umbrella grounded. He was indeed selling strawberries, but there was no little boy there; however, I instantly considered that he may have a child at home--a family.

Now, I live in California, and I see people selling fruit and flowers on the street all the time, and to be quite honest, it irks me. Why? Because I wish so badly that they didn't have to do that. I wonder if that is one of the ways they make their living, and if so, I wonder how much they either enjoy or despise doing it. I wonder how much more they have to offer. I wonder about how many people disregard the fact that they may be very well-educated individuals but write them off as illiterate or untalented. I wonder how many people take the time to think about and consider the lives of these individuals. There are various social implications that can be read into my poem, but it is ultimately the reader's right to make up his or her mind on what those implications may be.

P.S. Thank you to my best friend, who tracked down the picture we took of the man we saw peddling strawberries.

The Umbrella

The umbrella was ascending

As the wind tested its fullness

And threatened to invert its perfect metal frame

It was a rainbow with its infinite colors

Against the crisp celestial backdrop of spring

It spun in its struggle

And danced with the wind,

But holding it down was a man

Stout—with a plump belly

A straw hat balanced on his head

As he pleaded with the umbrella

To shield him from the sun

But his skin was already russet

And looked like worn leather.

He had knocked back his chair

In his clumsy attempt to conquer the umbrella

He lunged after it with heavy feet after each strong gust of wind

Then I saw the strawberries in crates not far from his overturned chair

They were a bleeding crimson sitting in the sun

Begging to be bought.

The sign read:

Straberies $2.00

Fresas $2.00

And I thought this scene comical

Until I saw behind the sign

A little boy with huaraches staring at the man and the umbrella.

No one bought any strawberries,

So neither did I. 

twenty-four

Today is my birthday, but I did most of my celebrating throughout the past week. I got my hair done, I got to sleep in and eat french toast, I watched The Help and Cowboys & Aliens, and most importantly, I got to spend time with family and friends.

Joe, my husband, and I decided to book a cruise that departs to Cabo in November as an all encompassing gift for our birthdays, anniversary, and Christmas. I am so incredibly excited!

When I woke up this morning, I didn't expect to receive any other gift from him, but he had a little surprise for me hidden in the trunk of my car.

This was a completely unexpected gift, and I love it. I had mentioned to him that I wanted to read the series, so he bought me the first book to get me started. He's an avid supporter of my reading habit, and I love it! And I love him too!

where have i been & what have i been up to?

Lazy

Idle

Lethargic

Languid

Sluggish

Unproductive

Inoperative

There are quite a few words for how I have been feeling, and they're all listed above. My favorite is Inoperative: not working. It's not that I haven't been doing anything at all, but it feels like I have been doing nothing. I have been going to work, and I have kept up with my daily chores. I have even done some writing. But somehow it all amounts to what feels like nothing. I strike things off of my to do lists, but I don't feel accomplished. I want to feel accomplished. Let's hope that August brings some new opportunities along with its rising temperatures.