"Little Present Poem" a poem by Jess Coffman

Sun reaching for my face,

Ants dodging with erratic pace,
Webs are glinting on the Grass,
my eyelids close with Peace.

I am alive, when I am alone,
when incessant chatter and gripes are gone,
when no one asks me what is the matter,
and I don't worry myself at all. 

I'm here for the Spiders who bite my feet,
to admire the wild Horse's mane.
I can sit with the Rocks, and stand with the Trees,
I know with certainty, we're One and the same.

I am not meant, for four white walls,
I need open space, for Present flight.
I sway to Cicadas' wrenching lull
sewing sound into the thickness.

I sit here still. not a frustrated lover, 
not future-fogged, not woman at all.
I'm just here...Being 
like the Sticks and the Leaves.
nothing barer.
nothing better.

JESS COFFMAN

Hello Friends!

This poem and these photos were conceived in an up-and-coming green community called Hampstead, within Montgomery, AL. Alice Sherman, my long-time friend and fellow performer (currently starring as "Mary Poppins" in our production) told me of a great restaurant/bar called The Tipping Point, in Hampstead. Being a Malcolm Gladwell fan, and well as a huge craft beer fan, (thanks to Billy Kametz) The Tipping Point sounded like an amazing choice for a day-off brew. I drove out around dusk, which is my absolute favorite time of day, and was so excited to find this unique sustainable housing and community in Montgomery. As much as I love BBQ joints and Waffle Houses, Montgomery seems to be lacking, when it comes to independently owed, well maintained, unique and delicious cuisine. So, I was thrilled when I arrived to see that my above wish was coming true with the Tipping Point. And in the same breath, bummed, when I discovered that it was indeed closed on Mondays, and I was not able to fulfill my sustainable dreams, at least for that day.

I am actually so grateful that it was closed, because it caused me to do a little exploring around Hampstead. Right behind The Tipping Point was an unfinished gravel road, and further beyond, an adorable red barn and silo that read "Hampstead Farms." Alongside this gravel road were a couple of horses grazing. As I looked around, and crept closer to them, I realized that they must be wild. I had never seen wild horses before, it was exhilarating! Their manes were a bit tattered, further confirming that they were never brushed or confined, and I found myself reverent for their peace and freedom. I was also slightly afraid, because although they didn't block the gravel path to get to the farm,  I would have to cross them and have my back to them as I walked (or ran for my life) the lengthy road to get the the farm. I considered driving my car down the road, because then at least I would have a physical barrier to protect me from the wild horses. But it is a rental, and I was nervous that something might happen to the car due to the unfinished road, so I decided to put my body in potential danger instead!
The horses were about 50 feet away from me further up the road, though in the grass, and seemingly unaware of me at that distance. As I inched forward up the road, the dominant horse began to notice me, though continuing to graze. When I was about 20 feet away from the horses, and in direct line with them, the dominant horse, faced me and deliberately kept it's eyes on me for several minutes, while eating. I kept my eyes on him/her as well, and with loving energy stayed still. Much to my surprise,  a few minutes later, I began to walk up the road without worry that I would be surprise-trampled from behind. It wasn't until I reached the farm, that I realized what a an amazingly, unprecedented, energetic moment I had just experienced. I basically communicated peace, curiosity and patience, to which the wild horse, after careful consideration, believed me, and let me pass without fear. It was beautiful. I wouldn't recommend trying this communication in the presence of wild carnivorous animals. I think part of this experience was due to the fact that horses in general are not trying to eat humans, and because I did not attempt to touch them or invade their close personal space in anyway. But it was absolutely an experience, that connected me to my primordial side, and my instincts took over. I communicated with another animal, it was fascinating and exhilarating.

After I trespassed on the adorable farm and captured this special moment below...

I sat down on a wooden bench, facing the setting sun, and with gratitude and an open heart, wrote "Little Present Poem."

Thank-you for reading!

As always...Spread the love!

Jess

Poetry of Lovers: 8 Tips On How to Thrive in a Long Distance Relationship!

I am currently rehearsing with and enjoying a very lovely cast of performers in Disney's "Mary Poppins" at The Alabama Shakespeare Festival. While getting to know these especially wonderful people, I was surprised to find that most members of the cast were in relationships with other theater performers. I was also personally relieved and thrilled to learn that in my presence there were concrete stories of performer couples that had managed to successfully find the balance between their work life and their love life. This balance was not achieved to a small degree or for the short term. There are several people in my cast who have been on Broadway or toured all over the world performing, that have been married or with their long time partner for over 20 years.

One of the most difficult aspects of our job as performers, is that many of the relatively good jobs take you far away from your home and your relationship. Billy and I have been apart because of performance gigs, a little under half of our three-year relationship. It is obviously not ideal, and we have gone through waves of it being easier or harder depending on the length of the gig, or time of year. But, it always surprises me when I hear people with jobs in different industries say that they could never be in a long distance relationship. So, I decided to reach out to my new friends in the cast for some tips on how to stay connected and romantic while loving long distance!

Obviously with all of this advice, season to taste! Not one relationship is exactly like another. But a happy long distance relationship does require both partners to consistently work at it. It doesn't have to be hard work, but it does require forethought, time and a willingness to try new ways of communicating and loving to make the relationship work in each new situation.

8 Tips on How to Thrive in a Long Distance Relationship!

 

1. Schedule times to Skype!

Skype and Facetime are one of the most wonderful tools for loving long distance. It is really the only way to see your mate without them being in your presence. But sometimes our busy schedules apart, make it difficult to find the time for quality time communication. A few people in my cast said that they schedule times to Skype/Facetime their loved one in order to ensure that it happens. A few couples schedule time weekly to Skype and watch one of their favorite shows at the same time on Netflix together! If you do have to break plans for a Skype date, be sure to give plenty of notification and suggest another time that you will be available to see your lover. All you really have is your word when you are long distance, so communicate often and be consistent. A sexy Skype session is always a great way to stay intimately connected as well!

2. Be where you are!

I asked a woman in our cast how she had managed to have such a happy 30-year marriage and successful career. She said to me simply, "Be where you are." It reminded me of the Crosby Stills and Nash lyrics "If you can't be with the one you Love, Love the one you're with." She explained to me that it doesn't help either person in the situation, if one or both of you is constantly pining for what you don't have. Hopefully you have made the choice to be apart, for a reason that is beneficial for you. Be productive and enjoy your new adventure. If you are happy, it makes being apart worthwhile.

3. It all about the little things, don't leave anything out!

A brilliantly talented woman in our cast who has been married for over 20 years to her actor husband, gave me the above tip, which I absolutely love. She said that when you are on a new adventure, it is imperative to tell your love the exciting, as well as the mundane details of your daily experiences. Share names and details about the new people you are working with. Share stories and inside jokes that have formed with your new friends. Tell your love everything about the cool bars and restaurants that you are going to and the beauty of your new environment. I have found that when my boyfriend shares all of the little details of his daily life with me, I no longer feel "left out" of his life even though we are physically apart. It is definitely a trust building habit, it prevents jealousy, and overall adds a cushion of comfort to your long distance situation.

4. Text All Day Long!

A few people in our cast said that they text all day long with their love. This is another way of keeping up with all of the little things in a day. It is a great way of communicating that doesn't require having a long solid block of time available to talk on the phone or Skype. I find that when Billy and I text often in a day, our relationship feels like it did when we were first dating. A text saying "It's beautiful out today and I wish we could play outside" or "I'm really missing you today," lets me know that he is thinking of me, which makes me feel very loved. You should also try flirty or sexy texts for fun!

5. Write Each Other Love Letters!

One man who has been with his husband for 23 years, told me that before technology made it so easy for us to stay connected long distance, he and his partner wrote letters to each other everyday while they were apart. It is still a tradition that they keep up today! A few of the younger men in the cast agreed that letter writing was better than emailing. Being someone who loves poetry and the written word, there is almost nothing better than words of love, romance or kindness being expressed to me. There is definitely something more beautiful and emotional about seeing your loved one's handwriting on the page, rather than receiving generic text in an email. I also think there is something romantic about touching a piece of paper or card that your lover also touched, when he was thinking of you, and writing to let you know.

6. Six weeks is the Max!

Many of my cast mates said that they have an agreement in their relationship about the maximum number of weeks that they can go without seeing one another in person. One man said that he and his actor husband have an agreement that if they are not committed to being onstage, they are committed to traveling to see the other person. I know for myself, I start to feel disconnected and funky around the 3-6 week mark, so accepting a job for me also means considering what it will cost for my love to come visit. It may mean that I am not able to eat out as much, or have that second margarita, but none of those things matter when I know I will be holding Billy soon.

7. Be prepared to show your love in a new way!

If you have read "The Five Love Languages, this tip will be a little clearer for you. If you are someone who naturally shows your love for your partner primarily through physical affection or acts of service, or if you are someone who feels loved primarily through either of those two ways, being long distant may require you to use a different love language. Luckily words of affirmation, gift giving and quality time (via Skype) are wonderful alternatives to showing or experiencing love with your partner. Just be aware that you may have to work extra hard to show your love through a different love language that may not come naturally to you. If you usually cuddle with her or do the dishes to show that you love her, obviously those things are impossible when you are apart. Ask your loved one how you can best take care of their needs while you are apart, and then get out of your comfort zone and see what works! Be flexible, be creative and have fun!

8. Love and Trust!

I know from experience, it is easy to worry about your relationship when you are apart. I am unfortunately someone who is prone to jealousy, so if let it, my mind can create all kinds of delusions as to why Billy hasn't returned my call. If I let my personal insecurities and fears of losing him consume me, I end up unhappy, and usually an unwanted argument ensues when we finally do chat. Studies show that 80-90 percent of what we worry about never happens, and as it stands Billy has never betrayed my trust with another woman, or been struck by lightening! So allow yourself to love and trust while you are long distant, because allowing yourself to be overtaken with worry and negativity, will never allow you or your relationship to thrive.

Thank-you for reading! Thank-you to all of the delightful cast members of "Mary Poppins" who contributed to this post!

Spread the love!

Jess

Poetry of Lovers: 8 Simple Ways to Please Your Lover on a Wednesday!

I am tinkering with the idea of writing a book on romance. Now I know that there are many books on romance. But as a poet and therefore super-romantic, my goal for the book, would be to help those less vulnerable and more pragmatic individuals learn how to soften up and romantically please their mate.

Here are 8 easy romantic ideas, sure to please your lover!

1. Send your lover an unexpected compliment via text, preferably one that you don't say all of the time. It will be a pleasant surprise and sure to boost a low point in their day.

2. Send your lover a short video wishing them a good day at work. You can quickly and easily film yourself on your smart phone and send it right over. Feel free to send something short and sweet or wildly creative.

3. Write a love letter for your lover and hide it somewhere where they will find it, when the two of you are apart. Put a love note in her bag, or write it for him on the bathroom mirror when its all steamy, so that when he takes a shower later, the words "I love you," magically appear!

4. I'm Italian, so I believe nothing is better than a special meal made with love. Try cooking her/his favorite breakfast food or maybe recreate the meal you had on your first date. For my lover and I, it would be steak with "first-date sauce" and brussel sprouts. If you are not comfortable cooking, its okay! The effort you put in to look up a recipe and prepare a meal for sentimental value will gain major points. Even if the meal doesn't turn out so cute, you hopefully will have learned something about cooking and your lover will be so appreciative. Feel free to order take-out afterword if necessary!

5. Experience beauty in nature! Regardless of where you live or what season you are in, it is possible to find beauty and fun in nature. Take a walk, drive or hike to his/her favorite nature spot, admire the beauty in nature and admire your lovers beauty as well. Compliments are always welcome!

6. Recreate one of their favorite childhood memories, often times our personal romantic ideals, come from something beautiful that we experienced in childhood. In my life, I love finding hidden notes because my Mom used to hide love notes for me in my lunch bag. I also love being woken up for an adventure before the sun rises, because my Dad used to wake me up when it was still dark outside, to get donuts with him. Both unique experiences made me feel so special and loved. I can't think of anything more loving that my lover recreating what I first experienced love to be in life.

7. When you and your lover are alone together, give him/her a compliment that only you would know. It shows that you are paying attention, and possibly exposing something about themselves that they never considered to be adorable. For example: his childlike excitement for french bulldogs, the way she twitches as she drifts off to sleep, the way he flexes his biceps anytime you grab his arm or her beautiful bare back.

8. Tiny gifts, can be a huge gift for the heart! I am a firm believer that you don't have to spend huge amounts of money to be romantic. Tiny gifts that spark you and your lover to reminisce about great pastimes are wonderful! When my lover and I first started dating while performing for Disney Cruise Lines, we really learned how to enjoy simple pleasures. Back in those days, we would finish our shows, enjoy separate "beer showers," which is where you drink a beer in the shower, and then sneak Cup of Noodles back to my room from the crew mess. If I came home late from catering, and he had purchased my favorite beer so I could have a "beer shower," and then surprised me afterward with Cup of Noodles, I would be thrilled! But...if he happened to remember that I put chili paste, vinegar and soy sauce in my Cup of Noodles back in those ship days, and had bought those items too, I would probably cry. Sometimes the most romantic gestures are in the smallest of details.

Please let me know what you think of these ideas. If you have any personal romantic stories/ideas that you would like to share, please post or message them as well! Spread the love!

"The Shedding" a poem by Jess Coffman

Tough little skin,
Tough little smile, 

Tough little thoughts,

Tough little tears,     

Tough little heart. 

Lovely little skin,
Lovely little smile,
Lovely little thoughts, 
Lovely little tears,
Lovely little heart. 

Longing little skin, 

Longing little smile,

Longing little thoughts, 

Longing little tears,

Longing little heart. 

Lonely little skin,

Lonely little smile,

Lonely little thoughts,

Lonely little tears,

Lonely little heart. 

Shedding little skin, 

Shedding little smile,

Shedding little thoughts, 

Shedding little tears,

Shedding little heart.

 

Empty little skin,

Empty little smile,

Empty little thoughts, 

Empty little tears,               

Empty little heart.

Fragile little skin,

Fragile little Smile,

Fragile little thoughts,

Fragile little tears,

Fragile little heart.

JESS COFFMAN

I realize that these pictures may be super gross to some of you, and possibly super interesting to the rest of you. I have never given much thought to the idea that certain animals moult, but recently I have become fascinated with it. I wrote this poem when I was in a very confused and depressed place, which I seem to be coming out of. But because I didn't want anyone to worry, I held off posting this poem until my mind was at peace. For about the past two months, I believe that I have been moulting. Yes, I did just say that, but just stay with me for a few more minutes. I think it is a perfectly natural phenomenon experienced by humans emotionally and animals physiologically. 

I had my 29th birthday about 2 months ago, which I wasn't particularly nervous or excited about. My sweet boyfriend celebrated with me before he went out of town for a five week gig, and I threw myself a small birthday dinner on my actual birthday. And then, like some crazy stereotypical clockwork, I began to wig out. I blamed it on switching my birth control, on my boyfriend being out of town, on my boyfriend not being the right guy for me, on catering to "the living rich" while being "the living poor" and on hating New York. But none of those worries previously had conjured up the intense emotional shift I suddenly began experiencing. Overnight, I was unsatisfied with my life. I was sick of my boyish clothes, of being a starving artist and I became obsessed with the fear that I was not a part of an actual "adult" relationship. I could feel myself outgrowing my current life, and it felt as though I did not have any control over the change I was experiencing.

On a desperate Tuesday morning, I began to write this poem at my favorite place in New York, The Heather Garden. It is located in Fort Tryon Park, a place so beautiful and inspiring to me, it has become a place of refuge and sanctuary. It is never crowded, it is always peaceful, and my spot overlooking the Hudson and G.W. bridge is always open for me. Upon finishing "The Shedding," and rereading the rather emo words, I randomly began to think of a snake and how a snake sheds its former self quite naturally, so it can grow. And with much relief, I realized that that was exactly what I was feeling emotionally. I was shedding my "girlhood" and mourning the loss of it. At the same time, I was feeling scared about my future, and the realization that the time had come for me to really become a woman. 

What I learned about moulting, was so important to me because it made me feel as though what I was experiencing was completely natural. For humans, it's called a mid-life crisis. For spiders, snakes,  lizards and hermit crabs, its called moulting. And because I am not quite mid-life, nor do I want the negative connotation, I'm likening myself to a maturing female spider instead. Just so you know, I am writing this with a smile on my face, because I know it sounds kind-of ridiculous, even though it is a perfect explanation for how I feel. 

This whole change began with me becoming very anti-social. I convinced myself that I was just getting in a fare dose of "alone time," but truly I was distancing myself from the outside world. I also decided to eat a vegan, no preservatives, gluten-free diet, at this same time, which didn't seem to be connected in any way. However, when I looked up moulting, I saw that in arachnids, they often become reclusive and fast for a long period of time before a moult. Once the old self is shed, the spider's new body is vulnerable and fragile for a short time, so it can grow to it's new potential. When all of the possible growth has occurred for this stage of the spider's life, then the new exoskeleton will harden. The other fascinating fact to me was that male spiders tend to mature quickly and have less moults in the course of its life time, whereas female spiders moult more and consequently grow larger than male spiders before she reaches full maturity.

This experience has reminded me that I am connected  to every living thing on this planet, and sometimes the answers to life's questions are found when looking to our ancestors in nature. Now that I feel kindred and absolutely empathic with female spiders, I just might live a bit more happily alongside them in my house. But as for fruit flies, I will murder those bitches any day.

"Little Smiling Poem" A poem by Jess Coffman

If I smile at you, will you smile back,
Without any strings attached?
Except that two souls saw a moment in time
To empathize, care and relax?

In a city with personal barriers gone,
A stranger, is not a friend unknown.
Surrounded by millions of people today,
I'll still feel starkly alone. 

A woman won't smile, while passing a man,
Without fear that she'll be inviting,
His gifts of empty, unwanted praise,
So her good will go into hiding.

Eyes downcast, headphones in,
We ride the train in a daze. 
Protecting ourselves from each other,
Disengaging from our days.

If I'm lucky, a small child hops on the train,
With endless questions to a weary mother.
Quickly, the dreariness disappears,
And life again is in color.

My neighbor sighs and I softly chuckle,
And smiles can't help but appear.
Two souls share a moment of pure delight,
Relieving all fears of despair. 

I took this picture on Halloween of this tiny kid wearing his 3 Train costume, because I thought it was hilarious and so adorable. The Dad told me that I could take the picture, and I promised that I was only taking it to send to my Mom. I think I actually used the words "this is not going to go online or anything, I just want to send it to my Mom." But now here I am going back on my word. This kid and his Dad were totally strangers to me, so I have absolutely no permission to put this up. But you can't see the kid's face, so I feel like I'm fine. I will however give a big shout out to his Dad who handcrafted this amazing costume.

Anyway, I never thought I would actually use this picture, so I never thought about breaking my promise. But as I was looking for images online first of smiles, then children in strollers, then Mexican babies, I remembered this picture. It really provides a perfect image for this poem. It has all of the elements: strangers, trains, a cute child and my big smile on the other side of the camera.

Smile at strangers today, you never know who really needs it!

My Merciful Muse a poem by Jess Coffman

Eyes closed,
Folded hands to forehead,
I use to believe that my prayers were received.
That you were positively tickled to send through me,
The warm and glittering good news of the day.

But shortly after the coldest winter in a century
Killed the green,
Your calming melodies quieted.
This ferociously loud city out sung you, my Muse,
And I became a skeptic.

You renewed me with words of deliverance,
You called me to my calling,
Yet I stopped believing in your existence. 

One desperate day, I pleaded to hear you.
But after months of refusing your help,
I had forgotten how to listen to you.

I panicked. 

A convoluted symphony blasted in my brain.
The violins screaming and the timpani pounding,
Relentlessly and ominously.
Though I heard your faint, unobtrusive calling,
I didn't listen to you.

I made the wrong choice.
I chose the path to pride over the path to transcendence.

Humiliated by my lack of sacrifice and trust in you,
And like a suffering child,
I pressed my trembling hands over disobedient ears,
And again, tried to ignore you.

But, your calm overwhelmed me.

I open my tightly shut eyes to find that
I was not smited, injured or damned.
I had closed a door that I was not meant to,

Though I would have to learn how to listen again,
And I would have to endure the earthly consequences,
I would not suffer the divine consequences.
For you are more than fair my Muse,
You are merciful.

JESS COFFMAN

I still feel mad at myself for not choosing to see The Birth of Venus at the Uffizi Museum when I was in Florence. I was 21 at the time, and had done a terrible job of budgeting out my money during my 3 week trip to Europe. My day in Florence was only halfway through my trip and I was destitute. But, even though I had run out of money, that day was one of my favorite days of the trip. It was raining and rather gloomy, but that made it all the more romantic to me. I had borrowed a few Euro from another American girl to go to a museum, but The Birth of Venus by Botticelli and Michelangelo's statue of The David were at two different museums. I didn't have enough money for both, so I chose the naked man instead. I know the The David is supposed to be super impressive because of the shear size of the piece among other things. But honestly, the only thing that really impressed me about it, was the beautifully coiffed pubic hair.

Another let down, was the fact that director Roberto Benigni, was scheduled to speak at an outdoor amphitheater in Florence that day. I don't think that it ended up happening because of the rain, and I was too poor to go anyway, but I wanted to hear him speak so badly. Life is Beautiful was such an important film to me.

I somehow lost track of time in my romantically poor state, and I experienced a stressful sprint up to the Piazzele Michelangelo just as my tour bus was pulling away. There were two other times that I was almost was left in romantic foreign cities because I missed the tour bus. The first time was in Verona when I was mesmerized by all of the letters left at Juliet's balcony. As in Romeo and Juliet people. Strangers from around the world, wrote love notes to true or star-crossed lovers and posted them with bubble gum on a stone archway. It was the greatest thing I had ever seen, and I was temporarily left in Verona, Italy because of it. The second time I missed the tour bus,  was when I got stung by a bee while in the gardens of Versailles, France. I did not speak a word of French and because I could not explain that I was not allergic to bees, the Versailles EMTs were called. I was slightly annoyed, until the hunkiest French EMT pulled out a huge syringe and sucked out the bee stinger. He could not speak English and his green eyes were beautiful. It was a super uncomfortable turned hot experience.

I say all of this only to explain, that when I picture my Merciful Muse, she looks a lot like the way Botticelli painted Venus. I love that she is the pearl of the shell. I love that Botticelli painted her hair so long, so that she could gracefully cover herself. It is a stunning picture, but I know the real thing will inspire a beautiful moment in me one day that I must experience. So if you could, say a little prayer that my current $60 dollar "Travel Fund" will increase to a heap of money so I could finally have my moment.

Peace, Love and Ice Cream,

Jess

"When My Dad Goes" a poem by Jess Coffman

When My Dad Goes


When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
who ever asked to brush my hair. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
who let me sleep in his armpit.

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
who woke me up before the sun. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
who made a maple bar taste like love.

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
I ever hugged on a motorcycle. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
who sacrificed, so I could dance. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
who really wanted to put me first. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man
to look at me with overwhelming love.

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
to tip me 100 percent on his lunch bill.

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
to sing Christmas Carols on my answering machine. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
who told me I could do or be anything.

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
I tell I love, but rarely see. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I love,
with the courage to live differently. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I love, 
despite our differing points of view.  

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
who loves me for my strength. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I love, 
who told me he was proud of me. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I knew, 
who cried at the National Anthem.

When my Dad goes, he'll the only man I knew,  
who lived for the fight. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I knew 
who didn't give a shit, what others thought.

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I knew, 
who made baby-back ribs taste like love. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
who "bad-danced" better than me. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
who showed me God in nature.

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I knew, 
who ever offered to protect me. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I've loved my whole life. 

Jess Coffman

Hello Friends!

"When My Dad Goes," is a poem that is inspired by the expertly crafted and tremendously evocative film, "Everybody's Fine." Robert De Niro steals your heart as he plays the calm and calculated widower "Frank Goode" who sets out on a journey across the country to visit with his children. I pretty much cried for the entire 2 hours that it took me to watch and recover from the movie. I completely identified with this story, in the sense that I have a strong, hard-working, proud, sometimes lonely, father trying to connect with his children who are spread out across the country. "Frank Goode" has many set-backs emotionally and physically in the film, but eventually he acquires a rather sad and honest connection with his children. 

I called my Dad at one point when I took an emotional break from the film, to tell him how much I loved him. After our brief and lovely conversation, where my Dad reassured me that he missed me and he was proud of me, I began to write this poem. I don't believe that there are any perfect children or any perfect parents, and though my childhood was complicated, I am so blessed to have the parents that I do. This poem is a celebration of a few wonderful details explaining why I love and appreciate my Dad so much. I hope it inspires you to call a relative today, and tell them how important they are to you. 

Have a blessed day!

Jess 

P.S. Check out this youtube video of my Dad "bad-dancing" called "Zumba Dad Killin It!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZjbUMfpuBE