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Open Poetry #41
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Mrs. Tappenilla
| Open Poetry #41 |
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Mrs. Tappenilla |
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aziza Member Elite
since 2006-07-09
Posts 2995Lumpy Oatmeal makes me Crazy! |
Mrs. Tappenilla Mrs. Tappenilla wore balloon panties and hung them on her clothesline every Saturday. When the wind was right, they would lift as if to fly away. We would giggle and say that they looked like a parachute or a kite with all a long clothesline tail to catch in the trees Mrs. Tappenilla smelled like licorice and she had a loud laugh (my Mother said she was vulgar). She scared me on Halloween when she was a giant devil, and jumped out from behind the door before giving us candy. I thought she was unfair and didn’t like her. But that was before I knew her. Mrs. Tappenilla didn’t have children to love; but she loved us, my brother and me, and she told stories of Finland and shared cookies from her “Old Country” while she drank tea. We loved her and hugged her (even my Mother grew to see the big heart that lived in an over-sized woman with stray hairs on her chin) Mrs. Tappenilla wore balloon panties under faded flower house dresses covered by a pale red apron. She loved my cat and fed him scraps of meat when he came to visit. I think she was lonely and missed her home and family, so she loved us instead, my brother and me. Mrs. Tappenilla wore balloon panties (did I mention that?) Alison |
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| © Copyright 2007 Alison - All Rights Reserved | |||
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nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
nice to have a morning ~smile~ from your words  M |
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Gumpy Member
since 2007-11-06
Posts 143Canada |
Great poem. I think a lot of us had a "Mrs. Tappenilla", but few of us get to find out she was not the scary neighbor. Great read (did i mention that?) lol Gumpy |
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chickoo007 Member
since 2007-11-06
Posts 70India |
lolz that was indeed a great one . good work. lol |
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Kahlil Senior Member
since 2003-04-12
Posts 1881 |
what a treat! You brought happiness to her life, I'm sure of that. I see the undies on the line as symbolic in this poem... |
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SEA 
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676with you |
this is so touching... I remember certain people in my life like this, that left a footprint and a smile.  |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
Somewhere Mrs. Tappenilla is smiling. Ida |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
Alison, I had my own Mrs. Tappenilla! Her name was Mrs. Wilson! Absolutely every single word applied to her and to our relationship, as well. Oh, except that she shared her memories of England, not Finland.  Thank you so much, for bringing up those memories for me! Marvelous writing ~ marvelous Mrs. Tappenilla ~ marvelous Mrs. Wilson ~ and marvelous YOU!!!  Linda |
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aziza Member Elite
since 2006-07-09
Posts 2995Lumpy Oatmeal makes me Crazy! |
Thank you all for taking the time to meet 'my' Mrs. Tappenilla - and for sharing the special people in your lives. xoxoxo and love, A |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
I love your spirit of observation which inspires such great works, to which we can all relate in some ways. You brought up an image of a woman in my childhood that had frightened me to death with her impressive appearance and manly ways, but on occasion she would completely change and show her heart and make me smile. Love, Margherita |
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Artic Wind Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 8080Realm of Supernatural |
Really much enjoyed ARCTIC WIND |
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shirtless Member
since 2006-04-29
Posts 359 |
charming |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Alison, this is charming! How you lit up this woman with the balloon panties... and how she must have loved you! |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
A pleasure to read...James |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
From your description, I can vividly see her as an elderly woman who may be showing her age by loss of weight. She seems like a person who tried to share the colors of life, sometimes better than others (such as scaring you at Halloween!) Wonderful description! How she must have enjoyed getting to know you and your family. It seems that you both left a lasting impression on each other... Did I mention I enjoyed this? misce' misce' |
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Interloper
since 2000-11-06
Posts 8369Deep in the heart |
1derful Poet, said my Muse to me, look in thy heart and write. |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
People are lucky who have a friend like that and you told the story so well. Thanks for sharing your loving thoughts, well done. Lindsay |
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aziza Member Elite
since 2006-07-09
Posts 2995Lumpy Oatmeal makes me Crazy! |
Thank you all. I loved Mrs. Tappenilla and still smile as I think about her. Mrs. Tappenilla, please meet my friends at PiP. PiP people, please meet Mrs. Tappenilla. |
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