Wednesday, March 31, 2010

What If Alzheimers?

What if everything you see each day is new,

Even though you saw it yesterday too?


What if while walking down your street,

You smile cautiously at the people you meet,


And with your greetings to them call,

But their names or faces don’t remember at all?


What if each day you look at the flowers,

Then see them again in less than an hour.


They are the same ones you just saw before,

But they look new to you, again once more.


Purple and pink tulips these pots contain,

You enjoy their beauty all over again.


What if you don’t remember having lunch,

Or that you just had a snack of a Nestle’s Crunch?


What if your clothes don’t look familiar to you,

But you put them on because someone tells you to?


They feel okay, so you don’t complain,

Then comment, “Well, I hope it doesn’t rain.”


What if your husband has passed away,

And you’re here but you don’t think you want to stay?


How do you cope with changes that have passed,

As your life slowly edges out of your grasp?


You trust in God’s way and give Him your hand,

And He will guide you on the way to His promised land.


Use the life lines of your daughter and your son,

The love of friends that will always come.


Be at peace and know that many care,

And will help you and always, always be there.


Love you Mom.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Flash 55 Mystery Me Limerick

Take me on a roller coaster ride.

Raise questions, but answers from me hide.

Scatter clues about.

But have a few cause doubt.

Create setbacks where tension will reside.



With mood and setting build suspense.

Design cliffhangers that are emotionally intense.

String me along,

Down paths perhaps wrong.

Where my mystery solving skills can commence.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

It's a mystery to me - first practice scene

As Nate walked through the main entrance of Hillside Museum, his eyes were drawn to the painting glowing in the morning light. “Hello, beautiful,” he said out loud. He didn’t know why he was so taken with the image, but he often stopped to gaze at the portrait of the striking young woman and wondered about her life.


Her name was Anna and according to the date at the bottom of the painting, the year was 1909. She looked to be in her early twenties with curly dark hair and violet eyes, dressed in a long cape of iridescent purple. She was wearing a beautiful pendant around her neck. Her lips were curved ever so slightly in a shy smile. In the palm of her hand she held a simple gold band, a wedding ring perhaps, holding it out as if offering it to him. He often fanaticized that she was smiling at him. Her eyes seem to follow him wherever he went in the room.

“You talking to me?” Rennie said, coming up behind him. He swung around and hesitated just a moment before answering, “Of course. Who else is here?” He silently cursed his lack of attention. He didn’t realize the Program Director was in the room.

“Just checking to see if you are finished working on the planters here,” she said. “It’s getting close to the celebration and there is still a lot of work to be done.”

“I know, I know. I‘m working on it.”

“Not fast enough, Nate. I’m worried the grounds won’t be ready in time.”

“Like I said Rennie, I’m working on it,” Nate said walking to the atrium in back of the room.

He loved working with the soil. Planting and nurturing flowers was soothing to him. He carefully positioned each plant, set them in place, and covered them with rich dirt. His mind could drift when he worked, and he thought again about the young woman.

Suddenly he felt a jolt of electricity run through his hand. He looked down and stared in confusion at the ring in his hand. It was a gold wedding band just like the ring in the painting.

He stood and walked back to stand beneath the painting. The ring was no longer in her palm, it was in his.  A sense of her hopelessness washed over him. His mind was in turmoil. What was happening? Damn, he didn’t have time for this.

He looked around quickly to see if Rennie was still in the room. Alone, he put the ring in his pocket and slowly turned to leave.

Then he heard her softly crying.  He felt like a coward, but he couldn’t stay in the room any longer. He wasn’t up for this much distraction right now. He walked out the door, hesitated momentarily, then closed it behind him.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Flash 55 - Remembering Dad

Dad wrote a book about his life for my brother and I.  It is priceless now that he is gone.  Here are some excerpts of random thoughts and quotes that spoke to him  (they were read at his memorial service):

Don't wait to thank someone;  you never know when it will be too late.
Happiness isn't so much getting what you want as it is wanting what you have.
Be wiser that other people, but do not tell them so.
Remember the good times because the rest is past and it does no good to dwell on it.

Kathan's Writing Prompt

Writing prompt  - write a story using: Overheard in conversation at the grocery store.  I have 34 birds and 8 cats.


Miss Opal's Family


She was only about 5 feet tall, stooped at the shoulders, wearing a long housedress, worn tennis shoes, and an old flannel shirt that looked like it belonged to someone twice her size. Her face looked almost ethereal, ageless, when she smiled. Her gray hair was pulled tightly into a bun at the base of her neck, with a few wisps escaping its confines.

In her grocery cart she had 6 cans of kitten food, a bag of dry cat food, a sack of thistle bird feed, a loaf of bread, a package of hot dogs, a pint of milk, and two apples.

“This’ll keep us for a week,” she said to the cashier as she placed her items on the counter. “My family doesn’t need much.”

Obviously a regular, the cashier spoke to her. “Miss Opal, you treat those cats and birds of yours better than yourself. Is this all you will be eating for a week?”

“The finches need their thistle seed. I counted yesterday and there were 34 of them at the feeder taking turns. They about cleaned me out!”

“How is Simon holding up?” asked the cashier.

“He’s doin’ fine now. Just took him awhile to get used to that momma cat and her 6 kittens that showed up on my doorstep couple of weeks ago. He’s used to bein’ top cat. Well, now that there's eight of them, he just has to share.”

I waited behind her as she slowly counted out the bills and coins needed to pay for her purchases.

In my cart were items we stopped for on a whim in this small town on the way to our vacation at the beach. Cheese, crackers, lunchmeat, bread, chocolate bars, bananas, and orange juice. Nothing essential, just snacks.

I quickly got out of line and went back to the pet food area and grabbed a dozen more cans of cat food and a large bag of dry food. I saw the thistle seed and added that to my cart.

At the checkout counter, I asked the cashier about Opal. “She’s 90 years old and comes in once a week to get what she can afford. She just lives down the road. We let her use one of our shopping carts to get to and from her place.”

Outside, I saw her walking slowly across the parking lot. I pushed my cart towards her, waving at my husband. “Be right back,” I mouthed at him.

“Miss Opal, Miss Opal, wait please,” I said as I came up beside her. She turned and smiled at me.

“I couldn’t help overhearing about your new kitten family and the finches that have made their home with you.

Taking the things out of my cart and placing them in hers I said, “I would like to add these things to your family’s food supply. We love the finches that come to our feeders and we have two cats that are our family. I hope this will be of help to yours.”

“Well, thank you darlin', that's very kind of you. They will surely appreciate it, as I do.”

As she turned to go, she said, “Bless you, and may you have a fine day.”

I got into the car with my husband with tears in my eyes. “Let’s go. We can get groceries later.  Miss Opal had a greater need than ours today.”

Monday, March 15, 2010

Addie's courage (Childrens story for my granddaughter)

Oh boy, my tummy feels jumbly, Addie thought as she swallowed the lump in her throat. The horse she was riding walked with jerky movements towards the other horses waiting for the ride to begin.

But this is it! I’m 11 this summer and can go on the hour-long group ride.

She smiled nervously at the other beginning riders who looked about her age. She had seen them hanging out together at the stable and hoped they would include her in their group this summer.

“Is this your first ride on the beach?” the redheaded boy asked her.

“Yes,” Addie replied. “I took a lesson yesterday, but we didn’t go on the beach.  Is it your first?”

“Naw, this is my third ride,” said the boy. “I’ve got it down now.”

“That’s cool,” said Addie. She had been saving her allowance and doing odd jobs to pay for this ride during her summer vacation.

“Smokey’s a pretty horse. They said he’s okay for a beginner, but he seems a little friskey,” she said. She had picked him because of his unusual speckled gray color and dark gray mane and tail.

Her attention quickly went back to Smokey, who was prancing away from the other riders who had started out along the road.

“Bring him back in line,” shouted Tyler, the teenaged guide.

What did she learn? Guide him with the reins. Oh good, that worked,  Addie said to herself, as Smokey settled into the line of other horses.

When they got to the top of the large sand dune at the beach entrance, Addie grabbed the saddle horn as she was suddenly dropped down and thrown forward by Smokey’s movements.

“What are you doing? Oh no, don’t roll over!” she cried as Smokey began to roll in the soft sand. Her foot got caught in the stirrup and she yelled as the weight of the horse pushed it into the sand.

“Oh no, oh no,” she whispered to herself, tugging her foot out from beneath him. She felt her face and neck get hot, and her tummy knotted in distress as she heard a snicker from one of the other riders who had stopped to watch.

Smokey scrambled up as Tyler came back to make sure she was okay. He helped her to her feet and she grimaced in pain as she stepped down on her right foot.

“I think its okay,” she told Tyler. Her ankle looked red, but was not swollen and the more she walked on it, the better it felt.

“You should probably go back to the stable now,” he said.

Addie felt embarrassed and unhappy, but held back her tears. How did I ever think I could do this, she thought.

She grabbed a hold of Smokey’s reins and turned to lead him back to the stable. She went a few yards and then stopped. She remembered how much she had been dreaming about this first ride on the beach.

Addie squared her shoulders, took a deep breath, turned around and shouted to the departing group, “No, I’m going with you!”

Tyler shrugged his shoulders as he said, “Ok, it’s up to you, but you will have to keep up.”

Little did she know that her challenge had just begun.

When they got to the ocean, Smokey kicked out his back legs and started to gallop out of control down the beach away from the group

Not again, thought Addie in a panic. What do I do? What do I do?  She racked her brain to remember.

In an instant, it all came back to her and she pulled back solidly on the reins, bringing him under control, and to a walk.

There, she thought triumphantly. If I just take charge, I can do this.

When she turned Smokey around to rejoin her group, they cheered her return.

Tyler gave her a high-five as she got in line to continue. “Nice job, Addie,” he said.

It was finally going to be the ride she had been dreaming of all winter.

Addie could have gone back to the stable as Tyler suggested she do, but instead she showed the courage to deal with her difficult horse and the determination not to give up on her dream.

Friday, March 12, 2010

It's a mystery to me --- Acts 1, 2 AND 3!

Here is a summary all nine checkpoints (Act 1, Act 2, and Act 3) of the mystery I am working on in my Mystery Writing Class. Any suggestions/comments are appreciated.


Theme: Love trandscends time

Protagonist flaw: Nate lacks self confidence, initiative

Premise: What if Nate's true love is trapped in the past and he cannot overcome his self-doubt/lack of confidence in time to save her?

ACT 1

Hook

Nate stares in confusion at the ring in his hand. Just moments ago it had been in the painting, resting in the palm of the young girl so beautifully portrayed there. As he studies her face, a sense of her hopelessness washes over him. He looks around quickly to see if anyone else is in the Museum. Alone, he puts the ring in his pocket and slowly turns to leave. His footsteps hesitate momentarily as he hears a woman softly crying. Closing the door behind him he thinks “coward” as he walks away.


Backstory

Nate is the lead landscape designer at Hillside Museum in Connecticut. He is following a legacy of his father back to great grandfather who were all gardeners/caretakers of the grounds at Hillside Museum. He supervises a crew of two and a host of volunteers who tend the ground and gardens. He is a loner and guards his space and time carefully. He is a gentle dreamer, not a do-er, much to the dismay of Rennie.

Rennie is the Program Director at the Museum and she is frustrated with Nate because he has not fully completed the landscape plans for the grounds for the 100 year celebration set for next week. She continually has to push him to discuss and finalize these plans. She has lately found him inside the Museum standing in front of a one hundred year old painting dated 1909 of a young girl titled “Anna”. She has told him his job is in jeopardy if he does not have the grounds in perfect shape in time.

There are a number of businessmen and townspeople who sit on the board, volunteer, and contribute to the Museum, and have a stake in the outcome of the 100 year celebration.


Trigger

Nate is once again drawn to the painting. As he stands before it, he hears her voice saying, “Please help me. You are my only hope.” His instinct is to flee.

ACT 2

Crisis

Although Nate is drawn to Anna, he does not feel capable or willing to involve himself in her plight. But because of this he can’t sleep, eat or think about anything else. He cannot concentrate on the job he has to complete by the end of the week, which means he could be fired. This also causes him much stress and anguish because this position holds great significance to his family in addition to himself. He is confused about what this all means – why is he hearing her and no one else is; why did she pick him.

Struggle

Nate is increasingly drawn to the painting but fights with himself to stay away. He feels Anna’s escalating fear as someone else is trying to get to her. His landscaping plans are being sabotaged and the plans for the 100 year celebration are not coming together. One of the local town business leaders is calling for his termination. He beats himself up because nothing is going right and he is continually seeing his safe and simple life evaporating, and he can’t figure out what to do about it. Every step forward causes two steps back. His self confidence is at an all time low.

Epiphany

At this moment Nate realizes he is in love with Anna and must protect her at all cost. He realizes he can no longer sit back and watch what is happening. He steps forward and vows to fight for both her safety and his job.

ACT 3

Plan

Nate goes to the Museum at night to listen to Anna and to figure out how to help her. He professes his love for her. She tells him they are soul mates. She also tells him he will have to find the code to break the spell to release her from the painting, and that he has only one more day before it will no longer work. She tells him there is someone else looking for the code to get the necklace she is wearing and that she is afraid he intends to kill her. Nate sets a trap to catch whoever is sabotaging his landscaping for the celebration. He is finally acting instead of reacting.

Climax

Nate finds the code to break the spell and releases Anna from the painting. There is someone else in the room too. The antagonist jerks the necklace from around Anna’s neck, because he knows it gives special power to the one person who should be its keeper. He is certain that he is that one person; he feels it is his right. A struggle ensues between him and Nate for the necklace, and Nate outsmarts him. Nate is the one person who has been chosen to be its keeper. The antagonist is in a rage and attempts to shoot Anna, but Nate steps in and the gun goes off, killing the antagonist.

Ending

The 100 year celebration begins at the Museum. The grounds with Nate’s landscaping plans are stunning. His job is no longer in jeopardy. He appears with Anna and introduces her as an old friend just returning to be a part of his life. The necklace is safely hidden. The details of relationships 100 years ago between Nate’s, Anna’s and the antagonist’s relatives are revealed.

Spoonerisms Writing Prompt - Flash 55 (plus a few)

Use a spoonerism as bookends for your writing.

A cozy little nook – A nosey little cook


A cozy little nook

set aside in my kitchen

houses my Cookbooks,

Notebooks and Cards.


Clippings of promise

purloined while waiting,

at an office or clinic.

Boy, those chairs sure are hard.


Finding something of interest

in just that quick look.

A recipe to bring home

to add to my book.


So, if you invite me for tea

Please don’t let me look.

Hide your magazines ‘cause

I’m quite a nosey little cook.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

It's a mystery to me - Act 1 of 3

Here is a summary the first 3 checkpoints (Act 1) of the mystery I am working on in my Mystery Writing Class. Any suggestions/comments are appreciated.

Theme:  Love trandscends time
Protagonist flaw:  Nate lacks self confidence, initiative
Premise:  What if Nate's true love is trapped in the past and he cannot overcome his self-doubt/lack of confidence in time to save her?

ACT 1

Hook

Nate stared in confusion at the ring in his hand. Just moments ago it had been in the painting, resting in the palm of the young girl so beautifully portrayed there. As he studied her face, a sense of her hopelessness washed over him. He looked around quickly to see if anyone else was in the Museum. Alone, he put the ring in his pocket and slowly turned to leave. His footsteps hesitated momentarily as he heard a woman crying. Closing the door behind him he thought “coward” as he walked away.



Backstory

Nate is the lead landscape designer at Hillside Museum in Connecticut. He is following a legacy of his father back to great grandfather who were all gardeners/caretakers of the grounds at Hillside Museum. He supervises a crew of two and a host of volunteers who tend the ground and gardens. He is a loner and guards his space and time carefully. He is a gentle dreamer, not a do-er, much to the dismay of Rennie.

Rennie is the Program Director at the Museum and she is frustrated with Nate because he has not fully completed the landscape plans for the grounds for the 100 year celebration set for next week. She continually has to push him to discuss and finalize these plans. She has lately found him inside the Museum standing in front of a one hundred year old painting dated 1909 of a young girl titled “Anna”. She has told him his job is in jeopardy if he does not have the grounds in perfect shape in time.

There are a number of businessmen and townspeople who sit on the board, volunteer, and contribute to the Museum, and have a stake in the outcome of the 100 year celebration.


Trigger

Nate is once again drawn to the painting.  As he stands before it, he hears her voice saying, "Please help me.  You are my only hope."  His instinct is to flee.

Friday, March 5, 2010

FLASH 55 3/5/10 Addie's Courage

“What are you doing? Oh no, don’t roll over!” Addie cried as Smokey began to roll in the soft sand.


Her foot got caught in the stirrup, and she yelled as the weight of the horse pushed it into the sand.

“Oh no, oh no,” she whispered to herself, tugging her foot out from beneath him.