Category: Aging

a sustainable love

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Mook’s birthday poem

a sustainable love: Mook’s Birthday Poem created with Canva.

I haven’t always been my best self
but who has?
you have been by my side:
trustworthy, steadfast, honest, and sure.
I wouldn’t want anyone else
doing this battling life with me.

over two decades have passed, and we’re still
standing – still lending listening ears – still
comforting each other when peace
is interrupted.
we have gained more than we lost.

our lives have been touched by the
beauty of growth and we are walking
up immeasurable ladders of time – patience
tested at every turn, yet we stand.

if ever a war enters your realm, I will
be ready to unleash a wrath
no one saw coming.

I am certain, if you have been reading my work for years, you’ve seen many poems written about and for Mook. Today is her birthday, and I am blessed beyond measure to still know, still love, still be able to look at this woman and say, “Hey! That’s my best friend, and I will go to war for her!” Because I will. Happy Birthday, boo! May it be everything you want and need it to be from this moment and for all to come.

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

Left-handed in a Dream: A Haibun

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Part III: Regretting marriage

AI Generated Image: A Black woman looking ahead with a frustrated look while pondering a few photos she is holding. She is wearing gold hooped earrings, her hair is braided and pulled back into a bun, and there is a blurred background of what appears to be a home’s living room.

Memory hadn’t considered how life would be with Rodney. They were high school sweethearts. She thought going with the flow would be essential: stick with him, he’s a good guy, loves her, cares about her, and would do anything to appease her. But now that they’re both older, he is well . . . boring. She reminisces while sifting through wedding photos, shaking her head at their decision’s haste and considering the welcoming mat of divorce. Where would this lead them, though? Divorce is final and Rodney is a huge chunk of her life. He isn’t some man she decided to shack up with – they’ve invested time, love, effort, and work into each other. Rodney is . . . bigger than regret.

temporarily
filled with regret as peace moves
calmly into view

Part I & Part II

Photos From This Past Weekend

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Basement hallway vibes – on the way to the fitness room. Saturday, March 08, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Saturday morning workout: feeling good, feeling great. Saturday, March 08, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
The Little Monster in her most relaxed state. There have been no more seizures since last Sunday. *Knocks wood* Saturday, March 08, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
I started reading this book this past Friday evening and finished it on Saturday. I simply cannot believe how talented this writer was. If I am not mistaken, I read she is no longer with us in the WordPress community. The book mentioned she had struggled with breast cancer for 17 years and was taking the hospice & palliative care path. I reviewed this book via Amazon and Goodreads. It’s an amazing collection of gut-punching poetry. Saturday, March 08, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Sunday morning workout. I’m down 15 lbs since November of 2024. And I would like to lose 15 more in the next 4-5 months. Sunday, March 09, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
I am making my own sauces, pickles, toppings, compotes, etc. I diced cucumbers for pickles this time around. The ingredients were one cucumber, fresh chopped garlic, 1/2 serrano pepper, honey, ginger, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, water, and various seasonings. In the Manuka Honey squeezable bottle is the juice from my last canned pickles batch and some olive oil to act as an oil & vinegar sauce for my sandwiches/subs. Sunday, March 09, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Lentils! If you’ve been following me for a hot minute, you know I love lentils. I actually rinsed this batch that was remaining in a bag and pre-seasoned them as well. I put a little apple cider vinegar and water in with them and placed the jar back in the cabinet. I can’t wait to have lentil soup in the next two weeks or so! Sunday, March 09, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Sunday night dinner: pan-seared rib tips, seasoned white rice, and lima beans. Sunday, March 09, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

Life is such a precious thing. Every time I think about every day I am given, I am thankful. I mentioned to the crush today that when Jernee finally does pass away, I will be completely and utterly alone. Her response to me was, “Let’s not dwell on that today, please.” I was simply stating a fact – albeit, random as it was, a fact, nonetheless. She didn’t want me to break down or shut down, and I get that. I do. Jernee’s vet visit is this coming Thursday, and we will see what’s what.

The weather has been a bit topsy-turvy since the time change, and I am dealing with some rather mischievous allergies. My left eye is red and swollen, so I guess I’ll be wearing my glasses for the next few days and not my scleral eye contacts. Spring is just around the corner, so I see it’s doling out its gifts early. *Sighs*

Here’s hoping the week ahead will be a fantastic one for all of you. Stay safe. Stay sane. Stay present!

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

Photos From This Past Weekend

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Holding on in “the times of trouble.”

Sunrise or Sunset? Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt (This is actually from Wednesday, February 26, 2025, but I just had to share it).
My best friend Mook and I, many years ago. I think this may have been in 2006 or 2007. She shared this with me on Saturday, March 01, 2025.
Saturday morning workout. Saturday, March 01, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Sunday morning workout. I’m so weird. I have on like 3 layers in this photo. LOL! It was cold outside, and I had just returned from walking Jernee. Sunday, March 02, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Buidling Basement Gems. Sunday, March 02, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Salmon, spinach, onions, and cheesy grits. This is from Thursday night. I know it’s not the weekend, but I felt like sharing it anyway. February 27, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
My favorite girl. Jernee had a seizure on Sunday morning. This is her resting after I gave her a haircut and a bath. Sunday, March 02, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

“When it rains, it pours.” On Sunday, March 02, 2025, Jernee Timid had a seizure. It was a light episode, lasting about two minutes, and it was the first time she had one. I’ve been mentally preparing for Jernee’s transition for a few years now. The Little Monster is a fighter and seems to fight her way out of every traumatic event that has occurred to her. But this . . . this, I will not tolerate. I will not have her form a life of convulsions and episodic seizures. I just WILL NOT.

She has an appointment next Thursday with her vet for lab work and an overall checkup. They may do some other tests as well while we’re there. However, if she has another seizure, I am to call them and bring her in straight away or go to our Emergency Vet’s office. If the little one makes it to April 06, 2025, she will be 17 years old. But I have to be honest, folks . . . this really took a lot out of her, and I won’t be mad at her one bit if she doesn’t see her seventeenth birthday. I don’t want her suffering, and I will see to it that she does not.

Here’s hoping all of you had a great weekend and that you’ll have a wondrous week ahead as well.

Peace and blessings.

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

Undeniable

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The Gift of Friendship

Undeniable by Tremaine L. Loadholt. Created with Canva.

had I known I’d spend
almost 30 years loving
someone as magical as
you, I would have begged
God to have us meet
sooner.

you give the word “joy”
a whole new meaning.
I think of you and smile
uncontrollably – you ignite
the happier moments
of my life. grateful is an
understatement.

you are blessed to gift
people your heart and you
do it effortlessly.
I’m so proud to witness
your growth and to say
confidently, “She’s one
of my closest friends, and
I love her.”

for as long as the Lord
sees fit to bond us,
I will sing to the mountaintops
of the beauty of our
friendship, and I hope
the angels hear me
far and wide.

I’m willing to lose my
voice over the gift of
you.

Karen, you are an amazing human being, and you have changed my life significantly. Thank you for being who you are. Happy Birthday! I hope and pray that you are blessed to see many more. I love you!

canning

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Homemade pickles: sliced cucumbers, minced fresh garlic cloves, onions, serrano peppers, Everglades seasoning, Ethiopian spice blend, & Tabitha Brown’s Sunshine seasoning, apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, & water.

to ward off
heartache, I can
because I can.

Organic whole garlic cloves & organic raw honey.

Valentine’s Day isn’t a favorite holiday of mine. Love should be shared and expressed every day. There doesn’t need to be a special day to show that you love, care, adore, and wish to be kind and give to your loved ones and others.

But, here we are.

Addendum: for those of you wondering about the garlic and honey, it’s a natural medicine. It has major health benefits and is rather inexpensive as well. Here’s a YouTube (one of many) about it.