Photos Capture Family Moments

"We are making photographs to understand what our lives mean to us."  -Ralph Hattersley

Family life is precious so why not celebrate the joys of a family vacation?

celebrate a magical world

a whole new world of fun

where smiles are the signature look

and dreams come true

whether on land or sea,

Disney takes us back

to another time

of imagination

and

possibilities

©CVarsalona, 2023

I agree with Karl Lagerfeld's following quote. "What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment gone forever, impossible to reproduce." My dream vacation with family and the little grandgirls may be over but the memories last. The above photo collage created with Canva reminds me of a magical trip to Disney World and the cruise ship voyage that followed. . I'm pulling out the magic wand and wishing for more to come. Stay tuned.

Thank you for reading my Slice of Life at Two Writing Teachers, a place where teacher writers meet and share their stories. 

Poetry Friday Wishes

For the past weeks, I have been wishing upon a star to make my dreams and my family's dreams come true. If you have not read my January blog posts you would not be familiar with my wishes that did come true so let me quickly summarize them. January was filled with the wish to switch from a rushed pace to a relaxed one. With that in mind, my dreams cascaded into thoughts of a magical land, hence a cascade poem evolved filled with wishes. A three-generation family vacation was planned by my daughter to the magical kingdom of Disney World with a cruise to the Bahamas on the new Disney Wish that followed.  Finally settled, the family shouted out their biggest argh as official pirate mateys who traveled the seas. A stand-alone wish to have a family vacation without my husband, son, and me getting COVID was granted but as fates would have it, the sirens of the Caribbean left their mark. I sit here covered in a red rash taking strong meds to bring my immune system back to normal, another wish that will be granted. The end is a tale as old of time for several trips in years that have past had medical issues surrounding them. From hurried to relaxed, I indulge in some quiet moments, With focused feelings and postcard imagery (a line from poet Alan Wright's poem) writing and recalling our fabulous trip to Disney. 

With focused feelings and postcard imagery

Wish You Were Here  by Alan Wright

magical touring

dipped in fairytale wonder

sparkles in a sea of amusement-

with focused feelings

and postcard imagery

I float in a pool of serenity

soaking in childhood delights

©CVarsalona, 2023

When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true!  

wishes are wisps of a dream come true

that

float

across

stars

that

transform

into

actions

that

come true-wishes are wisps of a dream

©CVarsalona, 2023

My thoughts float backward to a sandy beige beach with turquoise waters. A balloon filled with poetic essence transports me into a blissful state.

one word digital art concrete poem shared at my keynote presentation on Zoom last night

Click here to see the original concrete poem.

With gratitude for all the sweet memories of a family vacation, I bid you a bibbidi-boppity-boo wish for a magical day filled with color.

Please join me to celebrate the Poetry Friday Roundup with our host, Laura Shovan. Laura is showcasing Laura Purdie Salas' new nonfiction picture book, Finding Family: The Duckling Raised by Loons. 

I'm off to read all the poetic goodness provided by the Poetry Friday writers 

and then, join Laura Shovan's 11th Annual February Poetry Project.

Ahoy Mateys!

Last Wednesday, my little mateys, family, and I  set sail for a magical kingdom and a Disney cruise. After passing through a sky full of marshmallow clouds, we reached a turbulent zone. Without worry, we arrived safely in Orlando and embarked on our treasured vacation. There were delicious foods, exciting characters, fun-filled rides, fireworks to dazzle the crowd, and one highlight in particular, the Pirates of the Caribbean set. Although this was not the first visit to this replica of ransacked 17th Century town filled with pirates, it was the first time I saw Captain Jack Sparrow emerge from a barrel of rum. This became a prelude to an enjoyable cruise and everything on the ship dealing with the rocking pirate bash and pirate dinner followed by a skit including Captain Jack, music, and dancing. 

Step back into a 17th Century  seside town ransacked by pirates.

Do you see Captain Jack Sparrow?

 

Check out the fun the little grandgirls had at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

during their pirate makeovers.

Fierce Little Pirates Pose

Three Generations of Female Mateys Shout Out their Biggest Argh as Official Pirates

magical moments

argh - rowdy pirates pose

landlubbers beware

©CVarsalona, 2023

Interested in pirate resources for your classrooms or homes? 

www.pinterest.com/lady1890/all-about-being-a-pirate/  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GVRXWT5ecY

Thank you for reading my Slice of Life at Two Writing Teachers, a place where teacher writers meet and share their stories.