After Winter and the snow, comes the Suns warming glow
The sun shines, warming through, waking nature, nice and slow
Rivers sparkle as they meander, like seas of diamonds, meandering to their destination to the lakes below.
Flowers open their petals, brightness on display, it’s the start of another wonderful day

Birds chirp more loudly
Swans swim more gracefully
Children laugh more merrily
People smile……I hope the sun stays around for a while

Ice creams sold with flakes and sauce, being thawed by the mid-day heat
Melting the ice cream quicker than you can eat
Drinks served with ice and salads for tea, the sunshine makes you think more healthily
Maybe I’ll go out for a run, time to get that beach body tum

Birds chirp more loudly
Swans swim more gracefully
Children laugh more merrily
People smile……I hope the sun stays around for a while

Paddling pools in the garden, children dip their toes
Hot Tubs on the decking, for the adults to pose
Umbrellas up to shade the UV rays, these are the beginning of some wonderful days

Birds chirp more loudly
Swans swim more gracefully
Children laugh more merrily
People smile……I hope the sun stays around for a while

© Jackie Mead
20th April 2018

A young lad only fifteen, lived a hard life, grew up to be mean.
One day the lad being hard, got into a scrap in the schoolyard.

He was taken at once to the Headmasters room.
He was left alone to sit and reflect, awaiting his doom.

He began to ponder and wonder about his behaviour.
He thought, If I am always getting into fights, will anything ever come right.?
Will everyone I meet, walking down the   street, stare and pass me by, too scared to even say 'Hi'

The Headmaster took his seat and told the boy to stand.
He asked the boy why he was always so mean? Did he think it made him a man?

The boy took a while to think, took a breath and replied "i'm sorry for the trouble I cause, I've had a hard life but I can turn it around, if you can take a chance, find it in your heart to give me a new start".

The Headmaster was taken by surprise, looked into the boys  eyes and replied
"if as you say you will change your ways from today, then I will let you go on your way"
"should I hear any reports of you being mean and unkind, any reports of you crossing the line then you will be expelled, feel sure it's the truth that I tell"
"now be on your way don't let me see you again today"

The boy relieved ran out the room and went to every class until every exam he did pass.

His life turned out pretty good
, he got a job as a mechanic working under the hood.
His reputation grew far and wide, he worked hard and with lots of pride.

Then one night working late, a beautiful young girl brought in her car, and plucking up courage he asked her on a date.

Two months later down on one knee he asked her to be his wife, thankful for the second chance he was given to turn around his life.

Five years further down the line, now  Father himself to two.
The Headmasters car had broken down. The boy now a man, towed his car into the garage.
He told the Headmaster of his marriage, how he owned his own home and ran his own garage.

The Headmaster puffed full of pride, glad the lad had turned his life around, and was living a life that was now sound.

You see that day Five years past was to be the Headmasters very last, he was feeling happy and carefree.

Between you and me, he did relate to the boys state, having lived a hard life too.

In his early days the Headmaster's life had been saved when someone gave him a chance.

With this in mind and feeling generous of spirit he gave the boy a chance to prove, the boy took it as he had nothing to lose.

Doesn't everyone deserves a second chance?
©jackiemm158

I look at myself in the mirror and who is it I see?
I look once then twice and then start to realise.
That's me, who I see, reflecting back at me.
It's not the teenager me with spots and straggly hair.
It's not the twenty something who was beautiful without a care.
It's not the thirty something content with being a mum.
It's not the forty something who became a loving gran.
It's not even the fifty something who started to run for fun.
No this is Me, the culmination of all those wondrous times.
Etched upon my face some worry, some laughter lines.
As I look I recall the memories that have put them there.
Then I look, I really stare and then realise I do not care.
I am happy with what I see staring back at me,  after all  it is I and I is Me.
And I am happy being Me.

Are you happy with what you see?
©jackiemm158