ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

SMALL HIGHLIGHTS

Funny how small happenings tend to make your day,
just little highlights to help you make your way,
for instance, last Monday when I went to the Tip
or Willawong Transfer Station in political correctness lip,
I backed my trailer to the pit straight and on first go,
quite an achievement, nervous reversers would all know,
and then to make things better, when the load was weighed
100 kilos on the knocker, one voucher only paid.

Next stop was the bank where the queue is mostly long,
walked straight to the Teller, nothing could go wrong.
Exiting the bank to a prearranged meeting
with spouse who’d been shopping for bedroom sheeting,
lo and behold, wonders never cease
we’d both arrived together, my status gauged “at peace”.
What a day, a quadrella and this all prior to noon
oh, if all episodes, with this day they could attune.

Cynical observers may query the delight
that clearly mundane deeds get to fly my kite,
perhaps the adage “get a life” should apply to me,
should reversing a trailer be cause to make whoopee?
Yet, it’s taken years to learn to back the damn thing straight
specially amid Tip traffic where precision does dictate.
And try and get some service, be it bank or other business place
unless you’re a shareholder providing help is a disgrace.

So, maybe simple pleasing deeds aren’t as trivial as they seem,
possibly more important than the questioners may deem.
Life’s not froth and bubble, as many of us realise,
what’s the harm in celebrating things that stabilise.
The stresses we face all the time can surely grind us down,
better to meet our days with pleasantries than a frown
then you’ll find your shoulders are free of any weight
and get a great big kick out of backing a trailer straight.


Jeff Thorpe © 16 September 2014

Have a good day Jeff.

Thanks Neville. Treasure the small events that float your boat.

Cheers, Jeff

Good one Jeff! As a recent retiree, I know exactly what you mean about celebrating achievements which may seem small to others. For example, I am rediscovering the delight of enjoying a cuppa on a freshly swept verandah - and realising that like the stitches in a finely sewn garment, a perfect day does not need to be "grand", but can be made up of many small satisfying moments!

Cheers, Shelley.

G'day Shelley

Isn't it good to savour the little things of life. I guess we retirees have the time to smell the roses

Regards, Jeff

Hi Jeff,
It's the little things that often count isn't it.
And I guess to some extent, we get out of most days what we put into them.
Enjoyed your poem Jeff.

Terry

Thanks Terry
I enjoyed writing it too
Regards, Jeff

When I read this it brings back a memory of the boat we did have. Reversing a boat with a trailer can be not fun esp in tight spots and when tired. When I was single, for entertainment I would go to the bay park and boat ramp. Yeah I know it's kinda boring but thats me. But with tea and sandwich, I would just relax and wait to see people launch their craft. Many a time I would run out ant tell them to drop their mast before the boat leaves the parking lot. Sometimes it could be quite shocking. Yep, the memories.

What I liked to see is you used a general theme which most could relate to. These popular themes do work well.

Wishing I was back in OZ.

PHIL.

Ten years retired now Terry and if it weren't for the little things the days would feel a lot longer. My wife also enjoys many of the little things, like when are you going to put new washers in the taps? And have you noticed that sliding window isn't sliding easily?
Enjoyed your poem.
Wazza

Hi Phil and Wazza

Thanks for your interest.

You can add "when are you going to paint the bedroom" to that list Wazza. My daughter finally painted it and that really made my day.

Cheers, Jeff