it’s been a week since europe we czech’d out
back to the reality that pays for what one desires of life to be about
much transpired, much to re-assess
what makes His measure of life success
and be blessed

living the life one defines
a baroque dance of branches intertwined with its vines
bearing fruits sweet, sour, bitter and delectable
each individual very capable
of intermingled love and gifts coming to fruition spectacular

when, what and how to check out from one life adventure phase to next
every decision bears outcomes in context
what to lose, what to find, reframe and regain
seed in right places to future harvest from past pain
watch out for energy drain

our bodies and time are but finite
brace unknowns, travel light
incidentally today’s pbcc nugget dwelled on paul’s letter to timothy “to fight a good fight”

1 timothy 6 verses 6-11 set worldly context to the letter
about being best while alive, better than better
that “godliness with contentment is great gain
for we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it”, all is indeed vain

verse 8, i get
“but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that”

verse 9 vets attention to timeless inspection
“people who want to get rich fall into temptation
and a trap, and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction”

verse 10 is the infamous “for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil”
those fallen prey “wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs,” to glee of the devil

verse 11 paul exhorts the man of God in timothy to “flee from all this, and pursue righteousness,
godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness”
hence rise in victory over eden’s curse
“fight the good fight of the faith” till czeched out of mortality in the enlightening 12th verse

partaking roast duck and dumpling delight tonight
finishing off czech meal with becherovka, trip highlights to sight and write

a trip is like a bellcurve
4 sigmas of swerves, bracketed by 2 tailends of begin and end surf

euro2008 football frenzy followed us no matter where we went
every main square  transformed with big rig screens and tents-a focal point to chant and rant

salzburg was tailend starting trip gear
feistung castle chamber music, sidetrips to mondsee and hallstatt lake ville to veer

und die weisse biergarten launched our spirits with good beer and cheer

via innsbruck, trip cresendoed to dolomite heights
intaking breath-taking air and sights
pordoi pass is for serious bikers, hikers and nature spectators

with winding detours for bressanone and vipiteno foothill town appreciators

from italian alps to julian alps in slovenia
a rowing adventure on lake bled had dad in hernia
made up for it with memorable degustation at hotel toplice jublianya

next after an altsteirische schmankerlstubn lunch in graz, we wandered to wundabare wien
highpoint was delectable seafood at umar’s in naschmarkt, tres tres bien

not so bien was a butt agony in narrow maltesekirche pew
to pay a “freddy staudigl licht-und-klang trompete” penance due

jk headed for berlin while we continued to prague
an “u fleku” czech biergarten experience to shrug
guard-up for pickpockets, tourists to mug
rains pelting now, so a garrison keillor’s “love me” book is perfect to curl up and snug

next, tailend finishing stop at karlovy vary spa resort – our weary bodies to lug…..

portugues “saudade” is used to describe a nostalgic longing
for someone or something
that one was fond of and which is lost, never returning…..

the hills are alive and wet
since our feet in salzburg set
the tv replays sound of music 24 by 7
takes me back to nostalgia heaven

teardrops on verses when ramrom reverses
loving embraces, sweet kisses and caresses
dad’s tailored dresses fit for carmen’s inn prancing
these are a few of my favorite things

talentine contests and singsong entertainment
60-70’s music that evoke fond sentiment
wind that blows on my face as we bike to youthful springs
these are a few of my favorite things

when fright turns to might
when might takes flight
when i’m too weak to fight
i simply remember my favorite things
and then i don’t feel….so tight