Clouds

Right before our family left for Mexico in 1969, I spent the summer babysitting a couple of children for Carol and George Robinson. They had more money and a nicer house than we had. I did not realize until many years later that the reason they paid me to babysit, and the fact that I got to eat bologna sandwiches with American cheese and sandwich spread on Wonder Bread, was because they had money that our family did not have.

The only thing that really impressed me as a 12 year old, in 1969, was that these people had an Intercom System that played music ALL THE WAY THROUGH THEIR EITIRE HOUSE! That was the summer I discovered Neil Diamond, The Beatles, CCR, and Diana Ross...but most of all, Judy Collins! How I loved Judy Collins!

My favorite song of hers was Both Sides Now.

I was thinking about this yesterday, on my way home from Mom's house. The sun was reflected on the clouds...we have such amazing and ever-changing clouds here in Montana, The Big Sky Country. They never cease to amaze me. Last evening did not disappoint.

Whenever you are sad, stop and look up at the clouds. Keep looking until you feel better. You will. Just keep looking...

Bows and flows of angel hair

And ice cream castles in the air

And feather canyons everywhere

I've looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun

They rain and snow on everyone

So many things I would have done

But clouds got in my way

I've looked at clouds from both sides now

From up and down and still somehow

It's cloud's illusions, I recall

I really don't know clouds at all