Day 21 – Here and There!: A Poem About Two Places

January 21, 2026January 21, 2026 Larada Horner-Miller5 Comments

For most of my adult life, I have struggled with “here” and “there.” I grew up, moved and had my adult home but my home in Branson, Colorado always called to me.

After our move to Panamá, this poem came up when I was visiting in Branson in December 2025. Witness my current struggle with “here” and “there”!

Here & There: Juggling Two Lives

The familiar train whistle blows

And I know I’m home

In Branson,

A sound that echoes through my childhood.

The wind blows

Dust devils twirl on the plains.

The mesa towers to the southwest of us.

Saddlerock hangs to the west

As another reminder of home.

This my here now!

Our family ranch calls to me

Dad voices his familiar stories

In my heart

Granddad looms large in my history

Mom’s sweet presence and squeals of delight

Echo in my soul

Memories overflow

Even though they’re gone.

Now, sitting beside my brother

With our stories.

He’s the only one who can verify their truth

Our stories

Our family’s stories

Sometimes quiet fills the truck cab

Dust swirls

Silence

Reverence for our shared lives

My brother opens up while we ride around

Safe

With deep stories

His childhood disappointments

At our community church.

I never knew!

Why???

The familiar sights

Cholla cactus

Graceful with arms extended

Yucca

Sharp spikes pointing heavenly

Pinon pine trees

Cedar trees

The smell I love!

Oak brush, orange at this time of the year

Dead trees ravaged by drought and bugs

A windy trail, bumpy with rocks

Reminds me of a Canyon Lullaby!

We try to make daily trips to the ranch,

But our busy schedule doesn’t allow.

Each trip feeds my soul, my spirit, my heart!

The train whistles in the background

Of my life here

Several times a day

Welcomed and comforting!

This house I inherited overflows

With Mom and Dad

I just used Mom’s pressure cooker

To cook spaghetti noodles

She called it her “Poor Man Microwave.”

Dad’s pot on the stove

To add some humidity to this dry climate.

Here my life is

Ranch business,

English, English, English!

No one knocks on my door anymore

My brother only

I visited my 96-year-old friend

But she’s failing!

That’s the here, but underneath

The “there” beckons!

Life there!

Our new life in Panama

Green jungle surrounds us

New friends live near us

They knock on my door.

Beautiful clear mornings as we look towards

Vulcan Barú

Rainy afternoons during the rainy season now.

Our life carved out

Two markets for fun and people

A knitting group

My recovery group

Basketball games, following one of our landlords

A more relaxed life

Less stress

US politics not the focus

No dishwasher in our rental house

Gives me time looking out the window

At the green

The colorful flowers

The hummingbird buzzing the lavender flowers

Being present

A gift!

Here my life is

My book business

Spanish, English, Spanish

Which I love!

I never planned to move

To Panama

I planned to live and die in Tijeras

And visit Branson

My here and there

Used to be Tijeras, then Branson

But we stood on our decision and morals

We said no to the insanity

We took action,

Well planned by Lin

And it happened

Here and there—juggling these two lives

When I’m here, I think of there.

When I’m there, I yearn for here.

My Writing Group

I shared this on Monday with my Writing Group from New Mexico at a Zoom meeting. One person’s critiqued: “I loved the homeyness of it. Also, I can relate to the train because I had a train in my childhood. I also love the line – ‘The “here” now.’”

Another writer in the group shared he loved the visuals and it felt so many of the topics in it were universal.

Finally,

Juggling the here and there has become an art for me—I’ve done it my whole life. What are your thoughts about this poem? Any line resonate with you? Any topic remind you of something in your life? I hope it did and please share it.

Larada Horner-Miller - here — Here or there? Where am I?

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family · Memories · My Thoughts · My Writing · poetry

Day 9 – My Name & Its Origin

January 9, 2026January 9, 2026 Larada Horner-Miller2 Comments

My name, Larada, comes from my maternal grandmother and goes back five generations. Here’s where it came from!

My Grandmother

My namesake, Larada Pearle Hinton Horner, never went by Larada but by Pearle. She did let me know at one point in her life, she went by Laura which haunted me on an RV trip. On May 30, 2005 this poem came as a result of her sharing that little tidbit, but she had been dead for nearly thirty years. This incident happened at a rest stop somewhere in Wyoming. (See poetry shows up in the strangest places in my life!)

Laura

I held the door open

            For her –

            Crippled leg that moved

                        Detached

            A cane –

                        Obviously, a problem

                        For this silver haired citizen.

She said, "Thank You, Laura”"

            With familiarity.

The name my grandmother used

            Instead of Larada.

I use Larada.

I stopped

            Held my breathe!

Laura – thank you, Laura!

She knew me

            Knew my grandmother!

But how?

Was that door a step

            Into another world –

A world shared by seeking souls?

I opened a door

            Stepped into a space

            Between this life & the next

A spiritual zone

            A place God wanted me to

            Connect to my past

            In a way completely foreign to me.

Was this the crystal

            My Mayan friend told me

                        To look for 15 years ago?

Had it been here all along

And I was too busy to hear it?

Spirit world,

            I'm open to you

                        And the message

            The message I need to hear

            The message that will change my life!

(This poem will be included in book #3 of my five-book poetry series, Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, next year!)

My Great Grandmother

Larada Florentine Best McDonald, my grandmother’s grandmother donned our name, but I have no idea where it came from. Legend had it that name went back seven generations, but I just looked through ancestry.com and my genealogy information in Family Tree Maker and no one past this Larada is named. So, I guess that’s a legend. So, did it started with her? What’s its origin?

My Name

I have always loved my name and the commotion it causes. When I was a child at Vacation Bible School in our little country town, the teachers came in from other places. At Awards Night, the leader stood up and announced an award for Orlando Horner. We all looked around, confused and by process of elimination, I knew it was me!

Later in life when I introduced myself, I’ve had numerous people sing to me, “As I walk down the streets of Laredo. . .” That gave me the idea of an easy way to remember my name—think of Laredo, Texas and pronounce it that way but put an A on the end. Obviously, that’s not the correct spelling of my name, but it has helped many people remember how to pronounce it.

One year at a teacher’s workshop, we had to do a drawing of our names. I drew “La” like a musical note, “Ra” like a ray of sun and “Da” as duh! That helped everyone there remember my name.

Finally,

The picture of my great grandmother’s gravestone came to me today as a hint from ancestry.com, so I wanted to share it and the story behind my name! What’s the story behind your name?

Larada's picture - My name — I love having my name sung to me!

My Newest Books

Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #2 e-book

ISBN – 9798989688654

$.99 for limited time

Is My Truth Universal?: A Woman’s Poetic Odyssey e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688623

ALWAYS FREE

Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #1 – e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688630

$3.99

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir e-book

ISBN – 978-0996614498

$3.99

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This Tumbleweed Landed

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Albuquerque · Colorado · family · MY LIFE · My Thoughts · New Mexico

My Five Weeks Visit is Coming to an End: Another Train Ride

November 30, 2025December 7, 2025 Larada Horner-MillerLeave a comment

Five weeks ago, I left Boquete, Panama and have spent the majority of that time with my brother in Branson, Colorado. We celebrated Thanksgiving, and on Saturday, November 29, I’m on the train back to Albuquerque.

I spent so much of my time in Colorado with my brother riding around our ranch, looking for wildlife and reminiscing with him only memories we share.

Wednesday, November 26 – Prep Day

Last year, I didn’t fix a big Thanksgiving dinner because I was recovering from that horrible dog attack. So, this year, I looked forward to more cooking and baking.

In the evening, I baked two pumpkin pies in the kitchen my mom reigned as Queen. I had already gotten her delicious pie crust recipe out of her recipe box, but because it had been a couple years since I had baked a pie, I struggled a little.

I forgot to get the milk out of the frig and had already started kneading the dough, so when I needed to add the milk, I got dough on the door handle, the milk carton and everywhere—what a mess!

But as I kneaded the dough and felt Mom’s guidance, I relaxed into the process and thoroughly enjoyed the messy situation. I ended up with extra dough, so I remembered a childhood treat Mom did for my brother and me. I rolled out the dough and topped it with butter, cinnamon and sugar, then I baked it and ate the whole thing relishing the flavor. My two pumpkin pies turned out great!

My two pumpkin pies - five weeks — My two pumpkin pies!

But because of my absence from the baking role, I forgot how long it took for my pumpkin pies to bake. I used the time wisely, though, because I made cranberry sauce from fresh cranberries. As a child, I didn’t like canned cranberry sauce, but my brother-in-law gently forced me into eating it one Christmas. I had pre-decided before trying it, but with his persuasion, I tried it and liked it.

Then many years ago, Mom showed me how to make it from the fresh cranberries, and I have done it ever since!

What a fruitful evening! I thoroughly enjoyed all of it.

Thursday, November 27 – Thanksgiving

Traditionally Lin and I watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Mom and Dad did too, so that’s what I did.

My cooking mindset jumped into play and I scheduled the different items to get started. First, I put the 13.75 pound turkey in the cooking bag in the roaster. I worried it would be too heavy and cumbersome to handle, but I mastered it easily. Second, I peeled the potatoes and got them started. Third, I prepared the green casserole and baked it. Fourth, I made Stove Top Stuffing. Last, I made the gravy.

When Mom and Aunt Willie were alive, we had so much fun with a standing battle between the two: did you use water or milk in the gravy? One of their last Thanksgivings together, Lin came out into the dining room and they were squared off, fists raised, playfully one saying, “Water” and the other saying, “Milk.”

The memory resounded as I grabbed the milk to add to my gravy.

I had turned to the first football game of the day, setting our table so my brother and I both could see the TV and the game. My brother and I started our feast with grace, thanking God for this country and our time together. The meal turned out fantastic. We delayed the pumpkin pie and whip cream until later during the afternoon.

My brother and I watching football - five weeks — My brother and I watching football

We spent the rest of the day watching football. I started knitting a Christmas stocking for a great-niece that’s two years late. I couldn’t do it when I was on a higher level of pain medicine because I graft out the name to add to the stocking, and it has to be exact. Finally, I was able to do it.

During the day, nostalgia overcame me. I’ve had so many Thanksgiving in my house with lots of family members and lots of games and laughter around the round table. This quiet Thanksgiving reminded me that it’s okay as life has changed. I can celebrate the past and enjoy the difference of today as I age.

Lin and I talked several times during the day—missing being together on this holiday!

Friday, November 28 – Ranch Day

As this was my last time to go to the ranch for this visit, we spent several hours out there. We left my brother’s house at 9:00 AM and didn’t return to town until after 1:00 PM. We had seen five does and two bucks a couple days ago, but we saw no wildlife on this trip.

The Sangre de Cristo Range to the west had fresh snow crowning the range. So I tried to get a panoramic picture of the whole area 360 degrees, starting with Mesa de Maya, DeVoy Peak, Brown’s Mesa, Saddlerock, then onto the snow-covered Sangre de Cristo Range and lastly, the Spanish Peaks, but it was too much. However, we had fun staging it!

As we headed home, my brother asked if I wanted to go through the summer pasture, and I said yes—it seemed he wanted to delay this special time ending.

When we got home, I warmed up our leftovers—my favorite meal of the holiday. I did make a fresh batch of gravy, and it was much better than Thanksgiving Day.

Then, I had several tasks to do before leaving today. I cleaned up the kitchen and ran the dishwasher—a luxury I don’t have in Panama. Also, I bagged up individual meals for my brother. Then I cleared off memory cards for our game cameras we have on our ranch. Then to end the task, I had to repack my suitcase because I had bought some needed things to take back to Panama.

After I finished, I went to my brother’s house, and we had a delightful evening watching the 30^th Anniversary of the “Everybody Loves Raymond” show. We both enjoyed the insider show, laughing like crazy at the different antics.

Saturday, November 30 – Another Amtrak Train Trip

I woke up to clouds this morning early, but then the fog quickly rolled in, so we left Branson earlier than we planned, but we ran out of it before we got to Raton. Because we were so early, we swung by McDonald’s for drinks.

The Amtrak train was thirty minutes late, so my brother and I sat in his truck and watched the first 15-20 minutes of the Texas Tech vs. West Virginia football game on my iPad because his great nephew, Coy Eakins, plays for them.

I’m sitting here on the train now, writing this blog on my laptop and watching the game on iPad. This is my fourth train trip in these five weeks. I do love riding the train.

Finally,

I have two days in Albuquerque before I head to Panama. Today, my friend Sheri and I plan to go see “Wicked For Good.” Lin, Sheri and I saw the first Wicked movie together, so she was willing to wait to today to see it with me.

Then tomorrow I need to go up to our house and retrieve the mail and check the house out. At 1:00 PM, Sheri and I plan to have lunch with my two teammates from Washington middle school and another dear friend from there. Tomorrow night the Denver Broncos play the evening game against Washington. I look forward to sharing that event with Sheri. Also, I need to repack my two big suitcases so they don’t exceed 50 pounds. I gathered a lot of “stuff” to fill up the empty one—hopefully everything will fit.

I’m anxious to see Lin, but I’m so thankful for my five weeks here with friends and my brother. Carrying on the theme from last week—juggling my two lives!

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family · Memories · My Thoughts

Here and There: Juggling Two Lives

November 23, 2025January 3, 2026 Larada Horner-MillerLeave a comment

“Here and there” has become the theme to my life. I just spent time in Albuquerque; now I’m in Colorado, but Panamá calls as my five weeks here is winding down. Here’s what juggling my life looks like.

Dancing Fun,

From Colorado, I returned on an Amtrak train to Albuquerque on Thursday, November 13, 2025 and enjoyed dancing with the Advanced square dance club, AWK (Advance Workshop with Kris) on Thursday night. Then over the weekend I danced at the Pat Carnathan square dance festival. Bob and Sally Nolen cued the rounds and made sure I had the opportunity to round dance with Bob as much as possible. Yes, my leg hurt, but you know how I love to dance.

Storage Shed Visits,

During the day I went to our storage shed and went through boxes to fill up the extra suitcase I brought from Panamá.

On my first trip, I went on the weekend and the manager wasn’t there, so I had to open the door. He had shown my friend, Sheri, and I how to do it, so I went alone thinking I could open it. But when I tried his method it didn’t worked originally, but I’m stubborn and kept trying. Finally I got it open—yahoooo!

Lin did a great job of staging the boxes to go to Panamá, but there were specific things I had to have. So, I moved things around and found most of them. To see all of my precious belongings in boxes in that storage shed touched my heart. My life in boxes!

When I returned a second time, I FaceTimed Lin again because he’s the one who organized the storage shed. I squealed when I found what I was looking for, but I’m still looking for a couple things.

I had a great idea how to decide on what to take back to Panamá. What I did was open up the extra suitcase in the back of the rental car, so I stopped adding things when it seemed full. Then the manager of the storage company helped me weigh it. At that point it weighted 42 pounds—it has to be under 50! So, I have a couple packages of Monk Fruit to add to this suitcase, so I think I’ll be okay.

A Full Sunday: Denver Broncos & Chicago—What a Great Play!

For years, Sheri and I have texted each other during the Denver Broncos’ games but never watched a game together. What an important game to finally sit together and cheer: playing Kansas City Chiefs—and we won! We were hyped!

Sheri and another square dance friend had tickets to Chicago that night, so when I originally arrived, I got a ticket—not with them but near. So Sunday night, November 16, we went to the play! And it was fantastic!!!

And then Medical Appointments

Then on Monday, November 17, I had two medical appointments. In Raton, on Thursday, November 13, as my brother and I waited for the train to come, I put a stick of gum in my mouth and lost a crown. I called my dentist immediately hoping to get it fixed that afternoon or the next day. He had a 3:00 PM appointment, but the train didn’t arrive in Albuquerque until 3:30 PM. He didn’t work on Friday, so he fixed it on Monday at 1:00 PM. It was a short appointment, providing me time to do other errands I needed to do.

Then I had a 3:00 PM mammogram appointment. So glad my primary care physician urged me to do this. Again, it was a short appointment—uncomfortable but not as bad as it used to be!

Another Train Ride

On Tuesday morning, November 18, we dropped off my rental car and went off the train depot in Albuquerque. When I made my reservation, the lower level for “Elderly and Disabled” had filled up, so I checked my big suitcase. Then I wrestled my two bags up the stairs to the regular seating. I had no prayer time with two friends, but I love sitting up higher because the view is spectacular!

Now My Here

So, I’ve been in Branson for five days and I have six more. We’ve done much-needed ranch business.

As I’ve been in this so familiar place, memories surround me. It has been melancholy at times as I yearn for the people and joy of the past. So this moved me to write this poem:

Here & There: Juggling Two Lives

The familiar train whistle blows
	And I know I’m home
		In Branson,
A sound that echoes through my childhood.

The wind blows
	Dust devils twirl on the plains.

The mesa towers to the southwest of us.
Saddlerock hangs to the west
	As another reminder of home.

This my "here" now!

Our family ranch calls to me
	Dad’s voices his familiar stories in my mind
	Granddad looms large in my history
	Mom’s sweet presence and squeals of delight
		Memories overflow

Now, I sit beside my brother in our truck
	With our stories.
He’s the only one who can verify their truth
	Our stories
	Our family’s legacy

Sometimes quiet fills the truck cab
	Dust swirls
	Silence
	Reverence for our shared lives

My brother opens up while we ride around
	Safe
	With deep stories
		His childhood disappointment
			At our community church.
		I never knew!
			Why???

The familiar sights
	Cholla cactus
		Graceful with multiple arms extended
	Yucca
		Sharp spikes pointing heavenly
	Pinon pine trees
	Cedar trees
		The smell I love!
	Oak brush, orange at this time of the year
	Dead trees ravaged by drought and bugs
        A windy trail, bumpy with rocks
An evening graced with a crescent moon!

We try to make daily trips to the ranch,
	But our busy schedule doesn't allow it.
Each trip feeds my soul, my spirit, my heart!

The train whistles in the background
	Of my life here
		Several times a day
		Welcomed and comforting!

This house I inherited overfalls 
	With Mom and Dad
I just used Mom’s pressure cooker
	To cook spaghetti noodles
	She called it her “Poor Man's Microwave.”
Dad's pot on the floor stove
	To add some humidity to this dry climate.

Here my life is
	Ranch business,
	English, English, English!
	No one knocks on my door anymore	
		My brother only
                I visited my nine six year old friend
                     but she is failing!

That's the "here," but underneath
	The "there”" beckons!

Life there!

Our new life in Panamá
	Green jungle surrounds us
	New friends live near us
		They knock on my door.
	Beautiful mornings as we look towards
		Vulcan Barú
	Rainy afternoons during the rainy season now.

Our life carved out
	Two markets per week for fun and people
	A knitting group
        My recovery group
        Basketball games, following one of our landlords

A more relaxed life
	Less stress
	US politics not the focus

No dishwasher in our rental house
	Gives me time looking out the window
		At the green
		The colorful flowers
		The hummingbird buzzing the lavender flowers
			Being present
				A gift!

Here my life is
	My book business
        Lin and our life
	Spanish, English, Spanish
		Which I love!

I never planned to move
	To Panamá
I planned to live and die in Tijeras 
	And visiting Branson monthly
My here and there
	Used to be Tijeras, then Branson

But we stood on our decision and morals
	We said "no" to the insanity
	We took action,
		Well planned by Lin
	And it happened

Here and there—juggling these two lives
	When I'm here, I think of there.
	When I'm there, I yearn for here.

Finally,

As you can see, most of this post features my “here “in Colorado because I’m here. This busy time has continued in the States; however, I have had some quiet time. I have worked on my book #2, but I haven’t had dedicated time to finish it. Hopefully soon!

Here and there—two lives! That’s my life today!

My Newest Books

Is My Truth Universal?: A Woman’s Poetic Odyssey e-book – FREE

Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry e-book on sale for $.99

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir e-book on sale for $1.99

Buy My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

Let Me Tell You a Story

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

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Category: family

Day 21 – Here and There!: A Poem About Two Places

Here & There: Juggling Two Lives

My Writing Group

Finally,

My Newest Books

Buy My Audio Books:

Goodreads reviews for Coronavirus Reflections

Day 9 – My Name & Its Origin

My Grandmother

Laura

My Great Grandmother

My Name

Finally,

My Newest Books

Buy My Audio Books:

Goodreads reviews for Coronavirus Reflections

My Five Weeks Visit is Coming to an End: Another Train Ride

Wednesday, November 26 – Prep Day

Thursday, November 27 – Thanksgiving

Friday, November 28 – Ranch Day

Big News

My Newest Books

Buy My Audio Books:

Goodreads reviews for Coronavirus Reflections

Here and There: Juggling Two Lives

Dancing Fun,

Storage Shed Visits,

A Full Sunday: Denver Broncos & Chicago—What a Great Play!

And then Medical Appointments

Another Train Ride

Now My Here

Here & There: Juggling Two Lives

My Newest Books

Buy My Audio Books:

Goodreads reviews for Coronavirus Reflections