Throwback Thursday

As it’s almost time for a very special celebration–my 60th birthday– I thought some throwback photos might be fun.  I suppose they should be photos of me as a baby and growing older, but I found these and really like them, so…

Grandparents on my dad’s side

My parents. Not sure whose dog that is.

Hold the cursor over the photo to see the caption.

Bill and me, 1984

Taking our vows

The “Sale Price” sticker on the bottom of Bill’s shoe, visible to the congregation when we knelt in church. 🙂

Friday Fictioneers–Out of the Frying Pan

Friday Fictioneers

Eyes observe photo
Tumbling thoughts settle into
One hundred word story

Copyright Danny Bowman

Out of the Frying Pan

He lies
A useless hulk
A ranging mind or a vast emptiness
No one knows
Once-powerful muscles wasted from lack of exercise
He never speaks
Eyes dead and flat
Bodily functions machine- or human-aided
He lies alone
In silence

She never visits
His wife of many years, absent
No children to hold his hand
Or talk of the day’s activities

Some feel sorrow for him

Her bruises, burns, sometime broken bones
(all hidden)
Ended by the frying pan
That finally destroyed his abuse-ordering synapses

Today she signs the papers
Sending him, she hopes,
To the hell he put her through

Friday Fictioneers–For Want…

Friday Fictioneers.
Look at a photo.
Craft 100 words to tell the story that inspires you.
Share it with others and share your thoughts on their stories.
Repeat weekly.
Learn.  Enjoy. Hone your craft.

Wednesday’s a travel day again, a day that will transport me from balmy mid-70’s to single digits or below, but also a day that takes me home to my husband, a trade well-worth it!  So be patient with me.  I’ll be reading and commenting as soon as possible.  In the meantime, enjoy.

copyright Björn Rudberg

For Want…

Years spent in marriage-building
	Careful construction
	Stone upon stone
Time spent together in
	Love and laughter
	Work and play
	Shared interests and activities
	Busy-ness and leisure
	Sickness and health

Rain waters.
Growth occurs.
Beauty flowers.
Seasons pass.

Betrayal one hot summer night
	“It just happened once.
	 You’re all that matters.”
Roots of distrust grow slowly
	Pushing apart
	Stone by stone
	Dirt thrust aside
	Gaps open
	Structural weakness 

Rain erodes.
Walls crumble.
Only ruins.
Forever winter.

For want of a nail the shoe was lost;
The horse…
The battle…
The kingdom was lost.

All for the want of a horse-shoe nail.

………………..
Read stories by other Fictioneers by clicking below.

Forgiveness

After several days of helping a friend collect her part of the physical detritus of a shared life prior to moving into a life on her own, I’m also emotionally drained, as both the people are our friends.  I don’t say “were our friends” because singly they remain our friends even though now detached into two separate names rather than two names joined by the small word “and.”

A husband who’s faithful 100%

Some of you know my husband and I have been living mostly in two different places for more than four years.  We’re getting closer and closer to the time when we’ll finally be able to be in the same place. So it’s time to give a big shout-out to my husband who, like Dr. Seuss’ Horton, remained faithful 100% to me over those long years apart, an elephantine feat that in this day and age is something worth celebrating!

Friday Fictioneers–Independence Day

Happy New Year!  It’s a brand-new year of fun and frolic with the Friday Fictioneers, writers from all around the world coming together each week to share handcrafted 100-word stories inspired by one picture.  We’re prompted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields and inspired this week by Lora Mitchell’s gorgeous photo.   I know I’m double-posting this morning.  I hope the story is worth it.

Independence Day

There were fireworks…

…when I was born.  (Quite sure my mother shouted, “Ooooh!  Aaaaah!”)

…when I fell and broke my arm.

…on many glorious Fourth-of-July’s, colors blossoming against the night sky.  ( “Ooooh!  Aaaaah!”)

…the day our eyes met across the room and he smiled.

…when we first kissed.  On our wedding night.  The whole of our honeymoon.

…the day our daughter was born.  (“Ooooh!  Aaaaah!”)

…the first day he hit me.  The day I “fell” down the stairs.  When “I’ broke my other arm.

…the night we lost our house, a husband, and a father.

Fire works.

(“Ooooh!  Aaaaah!”)

To read the rest of the stories:

For my daughers…and perhaps yours, too

Sorting, packing (and sometimes tossing) almost 28 years worth of things in the attic, I come across a box of memorabilia  from high school, college and my year backpacking through Europe.  I read the letters and cards I’ve kept, bringing smiles to my face and often laugh aloud, look at the pictures and remember. 

Friday Fictioneers–Forever, Love

Friday Fictioneers says good-bye to creator Madison Woods this week and hello to our new home with Rochelle  Wisoff (no “h’)-Fields,http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/.   Madison, we hope to read your stories often; Rochelle, thanks for taking up the torch.  Now sit back and enjoy the read.  As always, click on the little icon at the end to access all the stories.  Oh, yes…thanks, Ron, for the picture.

Forever, Love

Their f­­­irst trip to their daughter’s as new citizens and their 60^th anniversary.  Truly a special day!  He smiled at his wife; took her hand.  He knew she really didn’t look the same as when they met, but that’s what his heart saw.  Thinking of their grandchildren, he tightened his grasp; chuckled.

Last stop before they arrived.  Only a few people got off, including the young man who’d been sitting in front of them.  As the bus started, he noticed the forgotten backpack.  Perhaps they could stop.  He called to the driver, “Excuse…”

.

.

.

Bus Explodes—Terrorism Suspected
Over 80 dead

Friday Fictioneers–The Journey

The Friday Fictioneers  virtually gather each Friday (and often on Wednesday and Thursday as well) to publish their 100-word pieces inspired by a picture prompt posted by Madison Woods on her blog.  New writers are always welcome and you can read any or all of the other entries by clicking on the link at the end of my piece.  The photo this week is by Sandra Cook.

The Journey
Life in eight haiku

Young and filled with hope
Gentle smooth wide path beckons
Birds singing in trees

Walking together
Joyful talk with much laughter
Sturdy trees grow close

Dangerous trail now
So slippery and narrow
Easy to plunge off

When I trip or fall
Your hands help me rise again
Sun’s rays warm us both

Dark verdant foliage
Tempting us to turn aside
Onto wayward path

Weary from our walk
Searching for flowered meadow
Welcome refreshment

Dark clouds overhead
Continuing side by side
Weathering the storms

Long journey ending
We reach the top together
Home awaits us there

Still crazy after all these (28) years

By Saturday afternoon, Bill and I will have reached another milestone on our trip together through life–28 years of marriage.  It’s been quite a ride!