Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Common Folk

 Common Folk


Out here
just trying to get by.
Work.
Bills.
Repeat.
Somewhere in between—
trying to remember
what living feels like.
I’m not rich.
Never was.
No yachts,
no getaways—
just back roads,
campfires,
cabins off the grid,
meals that don’t cost much
but mean everything.
I don’t chase
big houses, fast cars,
or whatever new thing
they’re selling this week.
I need time.
I need people.
I need something real.
A simple life.
A few good memories.
The ones I love
still within reach.
Because that’s what matters—
not what they tell us matters.
What they sell us
is distraction.
Because if we slow down—
we notice.
We notice
they don’t live like this.
They don’t stand
in checkout lines
doing math in their heads.
They don’t wonder
which bill waits.
They don’t feel
that quiet pressure
of barely enough.
They don’t survive—
they profit from it.
And we’re down here
stretching every dollar,
calling it “making it work.”
Holding it together
while it keeps slipping.
We are the workforce.
The backbone.
The ones who keep it moving
no matter what it costs us.
We—
the ones called essential
when it’s convenient.
We—
the ones forgotten
when it’s time to pay.
We—
the common folk.

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Invisible Noise

 This anxiety-

This PTSD-

Isn't weakness.

It's evidence.

Evidence of wars

We sent kids to fight.

Evidence of streets

We let fall apart.

Evidenceof a system

That profits

From survival mode.

We call them heroes

Then ignore

Their funerals.


We preach strength

But cut

The lifelines.

Tell people

To "man up,"

"pray harder,"

"work more,"

"stop complaining."

Meanwhile

The numbers climb-

Quietly.

Daily.

Predictably.

This isn't personal failure.

It's collective neglect.

And history

Will remember 

How comfortable

We were

Looking away. 


 I'm here. 

Hope ya'll are doing ok.

I have a new book out "Whispers within Pictures" under my name kristin n hurtig on amazon. It's a poetry book. Poems linked to a photograph taken by friends of mine, and myself. 

Go check it out, get your copy and get one for a loved one or friend. 

Sunday, March 8, 2026

Life, Yesterday

 Today-

verses yesterday.

So many now

are dependent

on the modern

technologies –

And hung up on

the materialistic things.

 

Forgetting

the feel of iron

worn smooth

by calloused hands.

 

Forgetting

when work meant sweat,

not screens-

when engines coughed to life

instead of booting up.

 

Back then

things were fixed-

not replaced.

Neighbors helped-

not posted.

 

Yesterday was slower,

harder,

maybe even quieter-

but it was real.

 

But it meant something.

Things were built

to last.

People were, too.

 

Steel.

soil.




Photo Credit: Kristin Sue Photography

Saturday, March 7, 2026

Only Red

 

Politicians speak-

But why are we listening
to the voices
that profit
from our division?
We echo. 

They draw lines
across maps,
Across screens,
Across us.
at They hand us labels
like weapons-
Race.
Party.
Gender.
Belief.
Orientation.

And we fire at each other
while they stand there untouched.

You say you love this country-
Then love the people in it.
All of them.
Not just the ones
who mirror you.

Because when the shouting stops,
when the cameras go dark,
when the speeches fade-
There are no sides.
There is only blood.
And it is red. 

I'm Back...

 Well, hello ya'll! It's been a quite some time since I wrote anything here. Life got busy, probably for you as well. But I am back and going to start using this platform again as well as my other writing platforms that I have started since. This post will just be just this, a "hey I am back" post! Hopefully you will frequent this page, and I will get new followers. 

I have been doing a lot of writing these last few years. I have been working and enjoying life with my wife. Life has been keeping me busy. 

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

 

Cancer Sucks

It takes so many

And without discrimination,

It effects so many, not just the one it affects.

 

Some will fight and beat you,

Others will put up a long, tough fight,

But in the end, they lose the battle.

 

You fought so hard,

You never gave up,

You may have lost to cancer,

But you are the winner with all of us,

You knew when it was time to let go,

To stop fighting,

And that my friend takes more courage and strength

Then to stand up and fight cancer,

It may have taken your body,

But your spirit remains inside all of us.

 

You came into each of our lives,

You left an imprint on our souls that will be there for the rest of our living years,

You left us with your love, sarcasm,

Showed us compassion, and how to strive and thrive.

 

You my friend will be missed each day and every day

for the rest of our lives,

Rest in peace,

You are now whole again,

Until we meet again.

 

 

The Plan

 

I am pretty sure God has a plan,

I wasn’t always sure before,

Although as each day begins,

I believe it is so,

although it doesn’t stop us from

making plans.

When we make plans,

it makes Him laugh,

we’re told all in good time,

our plans will happen

when the time is right,

we just need to stick to the plan,

as written,

His plan and trust,

everything happens for a reason.

 

We will always make our own plan,

Just because,

We want to try speed up results,

As life is too short as we know it,

The trick is not to stress or fuss

When it doesn’t go as we planned.

 

No need to stress

Or fuss,

Just need to trust,

He will deliver

At the right time.

 

 

 

 

 

Hey folks! If ya'll are still out there? I know it's been a hot minute since I been on here. Life has gotten in the way, and I hate that I let it, but it is what it is, right?  However, during the time I have been away, I published a new poetry book- on Amazon. Go get you a copy! Working on a few other writing projects. Stay tuned. 

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Conformity

2020,
Has been one humdinger of a year,
Some if not all would like to forget and have a do over, 
Any level of bailiwick to make it better and go away is as simple common sense,  or compassion for other humans, 
Only a juggernaut could come up with something like covid, and it is possible and I do not doubt something like this in lewe of what our country is becoming, do not get me wrong I still love my country, I served my country, but...I will not conform to one side or another, freedom to live as who I am, that is what make this country so great. 
It’s not too late 
To turn it around,
Stop listening to others 
Think for yourself, 
That’s what “they” want, for us not to think for ourselves, I dare you. 
Be kind.
“Stay strong 
Speak true
Spread peace
Choose only love”

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

58 Days

58 DAYS

 

58 days with you,

Opening your home, your heart,

Singing for us,

Sharing your life with us,

Feeling like we know you even more,

We are family,

Though we are strangers,

We are family,

We understand,

You understand us,

Teaching us,

Loving us,

As we love you,

Therefore we,

grieving along, side of you,

we don’t know you,

yet we feel like we do,

we are feeling your loss,

as if you were our best friend,

You have been so open with us

Through your music,

And especially these last 58 days

Of opening her home, heart, sharing, and singing,

Sharing her life with us during these crazy times we are living.

 

As we first heard of your son’s death,

We were in shock,

Disbelief,

It made us sad,

Tears came rushing to the surface,

It was like losing the son of our best friend.

The first 24 hours,

The pain flowed through veins,

Several days later,

We still feel the heartache,

Grieving along side you and your family.

 

Hearing such news,

Triggers something inside us,

Bringing all hurt flooding back,

Causing us to grieve a little all over again,

We will be ok,

as we listen to your music.

It soothes the soul,

Brings peace to our hearts.

 

Be Strong,

Speak True,

Spread The Peace,

Choose Only Love.

 

Saturday, May 9, 2020

update....

been a long time I know, since I have been on here. work, and working on a manuscript (my first non fiction book), and just enjoying a simple life.
the manuscript I am working on is about my culinary journey and other aspects of the business and my life. opening doors to more opportunities.
always keep your options open, try new things, keep growing.
love as much as you can, there is no room for hate, that doesn't mean you wont get frustrated with things or people, but we don't have to like someone to love. there is no room in this world for hate ignorance. we all breathe the same air, we live on the same soil. we are all I the same storms just different boats.
stay humble and kind.

essence of time

passion
follow your heart,
happiness within
do what you want,
do what makes you happy,
not what you have to just to survive.

don't settle for less than what you want.
you're only killing time, that you don't have,
time is of the essence.

Thursday, July 4, 2019

true happiness

Happiness,
an inside job,
yeah sure you can find some outside,
but it wont last until you find the inside happiness;
so many are lost,
so many in denial,
so many just don't know how.
Happiness,
true happiness comes when you figure it out inside,
fix what is wrong inside, when that happens, the outside will be just right.
We all deserve happiness,
some are so lost they feel like thats it,
but its never too late, to get happiness, true happiness.

Forward, March On

looking back,
looking at some old writings,
can't believe my eyes,
I was so young,
I was so lost, a lost soul,
looking back and looking here and now,
oh, how far I have come,
I was a mess,
I was runner,
running away, from everything and everyone,
couldn't ask for help,
wouldn't ask for help,
there were times I didn't think I was going to make it, but I did.
Something kept me going,
kept giving me the strength, the courage to keep pushing,
I stayed the course,
it was a bumpy ride, I have to say,
and I am sure the ride isn't through,
in fact I know it isn't,
I still have a lot to do,
a lot to share,
to inspire,
to live and love.
Looking back,
just looking,
not staying back there,
I've let it go,
I remember, always will,
but have let it go,
wasn't easy, still have moments,
but thats all they are, moments.
Looking back,
boy was I stubborn,
I still am,
but I've loosened the reins a bit.
Looking back,
looking forward,
moving forward.


Tuesday, March 19, 2019

GRIEF

Grief is stages,
stages that need to be dealt with,
though sometimes we remain in one stage for awhile,
we feel like we're stuck, yet we're really not, it's just taking a little longer to get through;
grief has no time limit,
there is no right or wrong way to grieve;
to grieve all the stages of grief is what makes us able to move on,
it doesn't mean the pain goes away, or the sadness,
it just means that you have accepted it and able to move on.
Grief can strike anytime,
when you think you're ok,
when you think you got it together, then bam, it hits,
it can be years later,
the pain and the sadness do not go away,
we just learn to cope,
we've come to terms...

Friday, August 24, 2018

thirty years

Years before,
We were young and fearless,
High expectations for our future;
Years later,
Reality sets in,
Expectations lessen,
The things we thought to be important aren’t so anymore,
Moments and memories became important, rather than the materialistic;
We let go and forgave the petty things done in high school,
Made amends of the bigger things in hopes to receive forgiveness,
No more judging of another, or at least there shouldn’t be,
We’re adults now, passed that,
learned from then to what not to do. 
We had dreams,
Some came true early,
Some came later on,
And some are still trying and dreaming of those dreams,
Nevertheless still achieving our dreams,
Thirty years,
Oh how quickly it goes;
Getting together after all these years,
Some we haven’t seen at all,
Others we catch glimpses of,
And some get to see a few all the time,
But the majority have grown up and moved away;
Together after thirty years,
At the reunion,
Reminiscing and remembering.
A table for others,
Gone too soon, but not forgotten,
Gone too soon from this earth,
Taken, stolen from us,
Never forgotten,
Always with us in our hearts,
They are like family,
They are family,
They are loved and missed everyday,
Making the toast of the night to them.
There will be more added, we are sure,
But hopefully not too soon.
I am truly blessed and fortunate,
To have graduated from such a small school,
Growing up in a small town,
(“Where everyone knows your name...”)
we all know one another to some extent,
Even if it’s only knowing their name and face, it’s a start;
I was one of the lucky ones,
I was not bullied, nor was I a bully;
I didn’t hang out with the “cool” kids back in the day,
But I talked to them, they talked to me,
They were kind to me,
Most of them anyway;
I wasn’t a loner,
Though at times I may have appeared as such,
I had my own group of friends,
We didn’t do drugs, or get into trouble with the law;
Through the years,
The “cool” kids have become my friends,
and some even became good friends,
They have gotten to know me,
And me knowing them;
We were young and naive back in the day,
We were young and stupid, who thought we knew everything,
Years go by, we grow,
We learn, we realized we didn’t know everything,
In fact, we didn’t know much of anything;
However, we made our mistakes,
Learned from them, hopefully,
Learned a little about life. 
The years might have put wear and tear on our bodies,
it has left a few scars, heck who am I kidding, a lot of scars.
The years have made us, most of us humble,
swallowing our pride, so we can move press on, 
Thinking of others before ourselves,
The years have taught us,
We are the same, yet different,
No one is better than another. 
Thirty years,
It doesn’t seem like a long time,
Until we think about it,
A lot has happened,
Yet not enough,
We lost a few over these thirty years,
Some have grown up,
Some, well some, let’s just say they seem to be the same,
But it may not be any fault of their own,
It’s just the way the cards were dealt,
It’s the road that was taken,
The best one at the time,
Not wrong or right,
No rhyme or reason,
It is what it is,
Making the best out of any situation,
That’s what it’s about.
Have faith,
Stay humble and kind,
See y'all again real soon.

morning crisp

Sipping hot coffee in the crisp morning air,
sitting on the deck listening to the birds sing their morning tunes,
watching the pups play while I drink my coffee,
reflecting on the past day,
remembering what needs to be done today,
planning for tomorrow,
enjoying life's simple pleasures with a cup of Joe.