To our pretty town square tourists flock,
then they stare at the tower and gawk.
What they can't discern
is how anyone learns
to tell time on a one-handed clock!
This week’s Weekly Writing Challenge from The Daily Post was a request for a poem that incorporated some of the hints from the helpful tutorial on how to achieve the desired character and line spacing in WordPress’s text editor.
Wasn’t feeling like I had much focus on the letter G today, so I set about looking through the dictionary for the first G word that was new to me. Found this gem, gallimaufry, on page 297 (the second page of Gs) in my “New Edition” (well, it was in 2004) Merriam-Webster Dictionary. It means hodgepodge and seemed appropriate given my wandering thoughts on this particular letter. I’m taking this serendipitous find as permission to just spew about where the letter G has taken me today…
Grandparents–Three of my four biological grandparents passed away in April, so there’s sort of a black cloud hanging over this month, but I look back on each of them with love and fond memories. Grandma W will forever be my inspiration for her strength and determination in overcoming physical adversity. She was also a damn good cook, feeding thousands of kids during her reign in the school cafeteria, and passing along some of her best recipes (I use that term loosely…she could tell you what ingredients she used in a dish, but I don’t think the woman ever used a measuring cup) and advice to her own kids and grandkids (My favorite tip: Cheese sauce tastes better once you’ve stuck your finger in it.) Granddad H was sort of stern and gruff on the outside, but had a heart full of love for his family. There were always many miles between our homes, which made summer visits all the more precious. I wish his willingness to talk about his time in Africa during WWII had blossomed sooner–his death left many nameless faces in faded photographs and many stories untold. Grandma H passed just last year, and though I spent more time with her, I’m not sure I really knew her any better than any of my other grandparents. Her tendency to go off on numerous tangents when telling a story was legendary in the family, and often raised more questions than she answered. When her body and mind were strongest, I did not have the patience to follow the paths of her winding tales, and when I finally found the patience, she no longer had the strength or clarity to answer my questions. You know that hypothetical dinner party where you can invite any five people, living or dead? There’s three-fifths of my guest list right there.
Garden–One (and maybe the only) good thing about this extended winter we’re having is that the garden isn’t awake yet. A couple (fool)hardy daffodils have poked their heads out, but little else is stirring. This time last year, I was in the middle of a three-month bout of back-to-back respiratory infections, and while I was bed-ridden, the garden was running amok. If I keep a careful eye, this year I might just manage to maintain the upper hand over the roses, laurels, honeysuckle, dandelions, thistle, and other nameless greenery that threatened to overtake the entire neighborhood twelve months ago.
Grime–My husband and I have become addicted to the fortnightly sale at the local auction house. We’ve collected some interesting pieces for ourselves, and have bagged some bargains with the intent of selling them on for a profit when we return to the States. One item we feel will be fairly profitable is old bottles, so any time we can snag an assortment for cheap, we frantically wave our bidding number in the sightline of the auctioneer. I’ve just started the cleaning process on the latest lot…over 100 bottles are undergoing their first soak in the bathtub. Tomorrow will mean several hours with a bottle brush and non-scratch cleaning pad, trying to remove decades, if not centuries, of grime and filth. We think it’ll help sales if prospective buyers aren’t worried whether they need a tetanus shot to pick up and examine the merchandise.
Guffaws–We’re going to meet up with some friends to see a comedy show this evening. The “Comedy Squadron” of Bryan Ricci, Freddy Lockhart, Greg Freiler, Jill Bryan, and Chad Miller are making their rounds of American military bases in Europe, putting on free shows for the 18 and older crowd. I don’t recognize any of the names or faces, but am looking forward to a good laugh. I’ll be the one in the middle-back of the audience, doing my best to be inconspicuous.
Getting ahead–Am going to be away from my computer for four days this week, and after the snafu two weeks ago when I couldn’t post due to lack of internet in the hotel, I’m trying to prepare the weekend’s posts to publish automatically on the required days. Since I’m participating in this A to Z Challenge, there’s really no excuse for not knowing what to write about on a given day, so it’s just a matter of banging out the material in the midst of all my normal daily chores.
Guess that’s about it for the Gs. Hope the rest of my A to Z Challenge colleagues found more inspiration than I!
Having lived and traveled in Asia, a collection of red themed photos seemed like the obvious choice for The Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Color. In many Asian cultures, red symbolizes happiness, joy, celebration, luck, and life. Its many shades were especially vibrant in Japan, gracing everything from ancient torii gates to elaborate kimonos. This gallery is just a sampling of the reds I collected from Japan, Singapore, and Bangkok.
Who am I to give advice?
Photo credit Jim Bayless
Feel big feel small
Feel joy in it all.
Feel meek feel bold
Feel you’ll never grow old.
Feel what you feel
for better or worse.
Feel nothing at all–
a terrible curse.
Today’s post does double duty as the sixth day’s offering in the April A to Z Challenge (letter F) as well as responding to Trifextra‘s request for 33 words of advice.
From Scott Vanatter with permission; Photo Copyright Indira
Today, Ella left me.
Me and Ella met when we were six months old, and it was love at first sight. We were inseparable, running wild on the farm, poking our curious noses in rabbit holes, wading in the creek, and devouring treats stolen from Mama’s kitchen in the shade of the gnarliest tree in the back forty. For eighteen years, Ella’s been my staunchest ally, fiercest protector, and most trusted confidante.
“I’ll always love you, Ella,” I weep as my father and I pile rocks on top of a dog-sized grave under the gnarliest tree in the back forty.
Question 31
If you knew there would be a nuclear war in one week, what would you do?
I’d like to ask a follow-up question, please. Is this going to be a targeted attack on a few cities, or an all-out global war? If the plan is just to annihilate a few pre-selected targets, I’d make sure I was as far away from them as possible then spend the week making preparations to shelter in place for the foreseeable future. However, if this is going to be a doomsday, wipe out all of mankind kind of war, then I would grab my husband and we’d spend the week visiting with friends and family, preferably in person, but by telephone or Skype as a last resort. Any loved ones we visited who wanted to join us for the rest of the journey would be welcome–the more the merrier as we try to keep our minds off impending disaster. During the final farewell tour, the car radio’d be turned up loud and the back seat would be a graveyard of empty take-out cartons and junk food wrappers–screw my current 1200-calorie diet plan, I’m stopping at every Chick-fil-A, Ruth’s Chris, Cracker Barrel, 7-Eleven, Chipotle, donut shop, and ice cream stand we pass (if I’m vaporized, no one will notice that I could no longer zip my pants). By the end of the week, I’d make sure we were in a place that we love (there are several that fit the bill, so we might end up picking one out of a hat) and my husband and I’d spend some quiet time on our own. As soon as there was confirmation that the war had begun and that it was as devastating as we’d been led to believe it would be, I’d hug and kiss everyone goodbye, swallow a bottle (or two) of sleeping pills, lay down beside my husband for a last snuggle, and pray that I had peacefully drifted off to a deep and endless sleep before the horrors of the nuclear holocaust reached our little corner of the world.
This has been the latest cheery and uplifting installment of Deep Thought Thursdays, brought to you by the provocative Gregory Stock, PhD, in The Book of Questions.
I have just been nominated for a Liebster Blog Award by the very kind and gracious lillian888 at Hopes and Dreams: My Writing and My Sons. While my first reaction was pride and excitement, I had to do some research to find out exactly what this honor meant (actually, I lucked out in my Google search and came across a post on Sopphey Says in which Sopphey had already done the research). Turns out it’s less an award than a way for bloggers to connect with each other in the great wide blogosphere. Even if there is no real award, or monetary prize, or main street parade, I’m happy someone has given me the opportunity to share a bit about myself and to promote some of the other bloggers who have caught my eye since I entered the blogging world.
These are the Rules nominees are supposed to follow:
1. The Liebster is given by bloggers to other bloggers who have less than 200 followers.
2. Each blogger should post eleven facts about himself or herself.
3. Each blogger should answer the eleven questions that are asked by the person doing the nominating.
4. Choose eleven new bloggers to nominate for the Award and link to them in the post.
5. Create eleven new questions for your nominees.
6. Go back to their pages and tell them they’ve been nominated.
7. No tag backs.
Eleven Random Facts About Me
My Answers to lillian888’s Eleven Questions
~What do you like best about blogging?
I like finding my voice again, in fiction and nonfiction, after many years of silence–the whole point of starting this blog was for personal growth but I’m extremely flattered to have readers and followers who care enough to give up a few minutes of their lives to check on my latest posts.
~What’s your happiest memory?
I honestly tried to come up with a single answer for this question, and I just can’t. My life has been pretty well packed with happy memories, and I simply can’t pick one that truly outshines the rest.
~Where do you want to be in five years?
In a place I love, surrounded by people I love, doing a job I love, with free time to enjoy the pastimes I love.
~Favorite animal?
Turtle
~Favorite dessert?
Oreo cookies
~Is there anything or anyone you hate? If yes, why? If no, why not?
No. There are people and things I dislike, but hate takes too much energy. I’d rather just acknowledge that the person or thing makes me unhappy, then move on with my life, avoiding him/her/it as much as possible.
~What inspires you?
Memories of my grandmother. She contracted Guillian-Barré Syndrome and became completely paralyzed when I was a child. With the help of my grandfather, she pushed herself through months of physical therapy until she was able to dress herself, cook, and even walk again. I never heard her complain, and she lived on her own in the house my grandparents had shared even after Granddad died. Her strength, motivation, and positive spirit will never cease to amaze and inspire me.
~Where is your favorite place in the whole world?
Outer Banks, North Carolina
~What’s more important, justice or mercy? Why?
I don’t discount the importance of mercy, but in the big picture I believe justice is more important in society. Justice is getting what one deserves–no more, no less–which, in principle, evens out the playing field in society. No one receives special treatment, which should theoretically lead to less ill-will between individuals, races, genders, and classes. Idealistic view of the world, I know, but I can’t help it.
~Name three people, living or dead, you’d like to meet.
Christa McAuliffe, Sadako Sasaki, Tom Brokaw
~What is the best thing about being a human being vs. an animal or an object?
Humans have endless options in their pursuit of happiness.
Eleven New Questions for My Nominees
~Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met?
~Why did you start blogging?
~What is your most likable quality?
~What is one item you should really throw away, but probably never will?
~If you could be anywhere in the world this New Year’s Eve, where would you choose and why?
~Summarize your outlook on life in six words.
~What event in the next few months are you most looking forward to?
~If you had a $100 gift card to spend in any store, where would you choose to spend it?
~What cheers you up when you are having a bad day?
~What one piece of advice would you give to a new blogger?
~If you could create a memorial to yourself in a city park, what and where would the memorial be?
And my nominees are…
(Note to nominees: If you’ve already been nominated for a Liebster in the past, I won’t be the least bit offended if you accept this nomination as an Honorary Liebster Award, with no strings attached!)
Diary of a Square Toothed Girl
The Waiting Is the Hardest Part
Kitty Tales and Bunnie Whiskers
When a Lion Sleeps, Let It Sleep
Things I See and Know 