ALL ALONG

I swear I knew you long ago

In another life, or a different show

Or maybe it was a dream that I 

Imagined in my sleep one night

Like a song I heard from another room

That I wasn't paying attention to

The faintest light on the darkest path

In a memory I never really had

A word, a touch, a déjà vu

Our hearts had met before...I just knew.

I'm sure I knew you far away

In another world, on a different day

Or maybe it was a book I read

And I made it all up inside my head

Like a story I have yet to write

Lost on the pages of my unhinged mind

A glimmer of thought in an endless sea

A past that was always meant to be.

Faces in the crowd, a voice on the phone

An embrace so warm, it felt like home.

It feels like I've known you all along

We've played the same scenes, and sang all the songs

And maybe our souls just awaited the day

We'd finally meet and put on this play

Like the dreams we all shared when we were just children

That we hoped for, but thought, it's one in a million

With a twinkle of stars, and no wish denied

This journey became a hell of a ride.

One for the love of it, two for the show

Hold on to these memories, and never let go.

Caren E, Salas

This is dedicated to the wonderful cast and crew (and really everyone involved) of Long Beach Playhouse's "My Fair Lady" - Summer of 2018. I love you all.

Photo: Long Beach Playhouse

SHINING IN THE DARK (Day #20 What I Learned)

Nothing is certain

There's no guarantee, that life

Is going to give you

All the things you dreamed about

No matter how hard you try.

One day you might wake

To find everything you love

All that you worked for

Dissolve into nothingness

It's then that you must decide

You can just give up

And choose to wallow and whine

Or you can go on

Because who knows what bright star

May start shining in the dark?

Caren E. Salas

photo: nationalgeographic.com

HAVANA (Day #13 poem about a city)

History crumbles away when it rains.
Marble stairways are cracked; streets need repair.
Yet in narrow alleys, doors are open
Friends, neighbors, strangers, dancing without care.
The salt water spray on the Malecon
Doesn't stop the trumpet player playing,
And there's always time for conversation
Over some rum, and maybe a cigar.
Beautiful city, beautiful people.
I hope I will be back again someday.


Caren E. Salas

We met a new friend, Luis, playing his trumpet on the Malecon.

He invited us to his house for dinner with his family - yes, that kind of stuff really happens.

Photos by William Salas

LUCKY ME (#11 an "unlucky" poem)

Apparently, I'm special,

One of ninety, out of one

Hundred thousand, lucky me.

Plus, being that I'm female,

Two or three times as likely

As a man to get this...gift.

Although most cases are found

In northern states and colder 

Climates, I live in So Cal.

The age bracket is between

Twenty and forty, but me...

Diagnosed at twenty three.

There's no cure, but it can be

Slowed down a bit, with a shot

Three times a week, oh goody!

Feeling better already. 

Thank God for good insurance. 

Shots are seven thousand bucks.

Still, I'm luckier than some

I have friends and family

And a wonderful husband.

I have four beautiful kids

And if that wasn't enough

Now I'm even a grandma.

I have a lot of bad days,

I have really good ones too

And although those tend to be 

Fewer, I know that I must

Make them count, and knowing that

Makes me luckier than most.

Caren E. Salas

A really good day "Muck Fest" 2014 

For more information on Multiple Sclerosis, check out https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS

GOING DOWN (#10 a "going somewhere" poem)

Yes, that's me!

The airplane circles higher
And higher, until it's time
To step out: Ready, Set, Go!
At first tumbling, no knowing
Which way is up then...free fall.
Straight down, no changing my mind.

Surprisingly, I felt safe
Attached to my instructor;
The world so small beneath me.
A tug, a jolt and then...peace.
Floating quietly dream-like,
Landing on the beach below.




Caren E. Salas





Photo: Skydive Vallarta (in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico) Check them out. Seriously awesome experience you'll never forget!! One of the few places IN THE WORLD were you can skydive and land on the beach. It's so beautiful, you'll forget to be scared.
https://www.facebook.com/SkydiveVallarta