It's been a long time since I've updated my blog so I thought I'd take the time to do so today with some musings on a few random subjects.
1. I lost my mom back in December. It's been a difficult road but I've come to realize that when you lose someone you love, you just need to take life day by day. Oh, and love the ones you love with all of your heart without regrets. You're not guaranteed tomorrow.
2. I had to have my beloved cat Fritz put to sleep yesterday afternoon. It really can't be put in the same category as losing a parent but she was still a part of my family. I'll miss her head butts, her knowing stares and the way she curled up on my lap whenever I would sit down to write. She didn't like it one bit when I got my laptop but she managed to wedge herself in there somehow.
3. I established a twitter account a long time ago but abandoned it when I lost interest. I recently took it up again because as everyone can tell you, there's nothing like watching a good train wreck. Charlie Sheen is as good of a train wreck as any I've seen in a while. I'm also following some Nascar drivers and their wives. It's all good fun.
4. I got a link in an email about not how not to respond to a bad writing review. You may have seen it but in case you haven't, here it is.
http://booksandpals.blogspot.com/2011/03/greek-seaman-jacqueline-howett.html
The thread has been closed to comments but can I just say holy cow! If I ever behave in such a manner, you all have permission to take me out in whatever manner you see fit. The post and blog have gone viral. I started out just reading the trainwreck that it was. (See number 3 for my views on train wrecks.) Besides the initial unprofessional response from the author, I was disturbed at the mean and petty direction the other comments began to turn. I may not want to read this author's work after her display but in a way I feel sorry for her now. I just hope she takes it to heart that not everyone is going to love your writing. We all have things to learn and improve upon.
Okay, enough for now. There's a pile of dirty laundry calling my name. I've been successful in ignoring it so far this weekend but I can procrastinate no longer.
Have a wonderful day and don't forget to love the ones you love.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Flash Fiction-- "Burden"
Burden
I love my brother but I hate my brother.
When I was five years old, he was born. All my parents could think about was him. “Oh, isn’t Alex beautiful? Isn’t Alex precious?” I remember the first time I laid eyes on him. I stuck my head in the bassinette and all I could think was, “Hmph. Nothing beautiful and precious to look at here. Just a ball of noise that does nothing but cry, mess his diaper and take my parents’ attention away from me.”
Before I knew it, he was five years old and God, he followed me around everywhere. When I tried to go to my room to escape inside a book, he’d follow me and ask, “What are you doing?”
I’d always answer him the same way. “Nothing you little twerp. Leave me alone.”
He’d always look at me and smile before he left the room. “You know I love you, right Sissy?” I’d just roll my eyes and dismiss him.
Five years later, I had a boyfriend over to watch a movie with. I remember snuggling close to him on the couch and thinking how much in love I was. He turned and looked at me. I closed my eyes and prepared for my first real kiss when all of a sudden I felt something suddenly hit the side of my face and drench my hair. I pulled the remains of a water balloon from the sleeve of my blouse. I looked up and saw my brother just laughing his little ass off. I flew from the couch and chased Alex around the house. “I’m going to kill you, you little twerp!” I screamed after him.
He just laughed and laughed, even daring to turn around once or twice and say, “Aww, you know I love you, right Sissy?”
When I turned eighteen, I was packing and getting ready to move away from college. I was scared of leaving home for the first time but excited about the unknown. I was about to get into the car with my father and remembered thinking, “Where’s Alex?” I heard the unmistakable sounds of a basketball hitting the pavement so I looked up and saw my brother and one of his friends tossing the basketball back and forth to each other. My father called to him. “You’re sister’s leaving. You probably won’t get to see her until Christmas, you know so you better say goodbye.”
Alex glanced up briefly before returning to his game. “Goodbye sissy.” Then rolling his eyes, he smiled the smile of a devilish little brother and said , “You know I love you, right Sissy?”
I waved like I always did. “Yeah, yeah, whatever.”
I went to college, got my degree but moved back home for a short time until I got a job. One night I was sitting in the living room with Mom watching television. It was really quiet without Alex in the house. To tell you the truth, I hadn’t seen much of him at all since I’d been home. He was always out running with his friends, friends who from Mom’s description, weren’t the kind of friends she wanted to see him with. The phone rang and my mother went to answer it. I watched her as she listened to whoever was on the other end. Her face turned white and she began to shake. I mouthed, “What is it? What’s wrong?”
She hung up the phone and turned to me. “There’s been an accident. Your brother is in the hospital. They’re not sure if he’s going to make it.”
Well, he did make it but life changed drastically for my brother and for all of us. He was rendered completely helpless by the accident, a quadriplegic. We had to do everything for him: feed him, bathe him, change his diapers. It completely wore both of my parents out. They lived for him and him alone with no break in sight.
One night about a year later, I managed to talk them into taking a night off. I assured them I’d be there to take care of Alex so they didn’t need to worry about a thing. I was sitting in my usual seat beside his bed reading a book like I always did when I heard Alex whisper. “Sissy?”
I put down my book. “Yes Alex, what do you need?”
He whispered again. “Come closer, Sissy, so I can look you in the eye.”
I stood up and bent down close to his face. “I’m right here, Alex. What is it?”
A tear rolled down his cheek. “Sissy? I need you to do something for me.”
“Anything Alex, what is it?”
“Sissy, I can’t stand being a burden to you all anymore. I want you to help me die. Please?”
I was absolutely horror stricken at what he was asking me to do. “Alex, I can’t do that. You can’t ask me to do that.”
“But you’re my sister, You’re the only friend I have left. “
I shook my head and left the room. There was no way I could do that. No way on earth.
Mom and Dad began to take more nights off after that and every time they’d leave, Alex would ask me the same thing and every time I’d say no, but just a little bit more reluctantly each time because of how much pain he was in. One night, after a great deal of painful thought, I decided to do this, this one thing for my brother. Before I injected the poison into the feeding tube, I asked him. “Are you sure you want me to do this?”
He answered, “As sure as sure can be.” He smiled one last time. “You know I love you Sissy, right?”
I love my brother but I hate my brother.
I love my brother but I hate my brother.
When I was five years old, he was born. All my parents could think about was him. “Oh, isn’t Alex beautiful? Isn’t Alex precious?” I remember the first time I laid eyes on him. I stuck my head in the bassinette and all I could think was, “Hmph. Nothing beautiful and precious to look at here. Just a ball of noise that does nothing but cry, mess his diaper and take my parents’ attention away from me.”
Before I knew it, he was five years old and God, he followed me around everywhere. When I tried to go to my room to escape inside a book, he’d follow me and ask, “What are you doing?”
I’d always answer him the same way. “Nothing you little twerp. Leave me alone.”
He’d always look at me and smile before he left the room. “You know I love you, right Sissy?” I’d just roll my eyes and dismiss him.
Five years later, I had a boyfriend over to watch a movie with. I remember snuggling close to him on the couch and thinking how much in love I was. He turned and looked at me. I closed my eyes and prepared for my first real kiss when all of a sudden I felt something suddenly hit the side of my face and drench my hair. I pulled the remains of a water balloon from the sleeve of my blouse. I looked up and saw my brother just laughing his little ass off. I flew from the couch and chased Alex around the house. “I’m going to kill you, you little twerp!” I screamed after him.
He just laughed and laughed, even daring to turn around once or twice and say, “Aww, you know I love you, right Sissy?”
When I turned eighteen, I was packing and getting ready to move away from college. I was scared of leaving home for the first time but excited about the unknown. I was about to get into the car with my father and remembered thinking, “Where’s Alex?” I heard the unmistakable sounds of a basketball hitting the pavement so I looked up and saw my brother and one of his friends tossing the basketball back and forth to each other. My father called to him. “You’re sister’s leaving. You probably won’t get to see her until Christmas, you know so you better say goodbye.”
Alex glanced up briefly before returning to his game. “Goodbye sissy.” Then rolling his eyes, he smiled the smile of a devilish little brother and said , “You know I love you, right Sissy?”
I waved like I always did. “Yeah, yeah, whatever.”
I went to college, got my degree but moved back home for a short time until I got a job. One night I was sitting in the living room with Mom watching television. It was really quiet without Alex in the house. To tell you the truth, I hadn’t seen much of him at all since I’d been home. He was always out running with his friends, friends who from Mom’s description, weren’t the kind of friends she wanted to see him with. The phone rang and my mother went to answer it. I watched her as she listened to whoever was on the other end. Her face turned white and she began to shake. I mouthed, “What is it? What’s wrong?”
She hung up the phone and turned to me. “There’s been an accident. Your brother is in the hospital. They’re not sure if he’s going to make it.”
Well, he did make it but life changed drastically for my brother and for all of us. He was rendered completely helpless by the accident, a quadriplegic. We had to do everything for him: feed him, bathe him, change his diapers. It completely wore both of my parents out. They lived for him and him alone with no break in sight.
One night about a year later, I managed to talk them into taking a night off. I assured them I’d be there to take care of Alex so they didn’t need to worry about a thing. I was sitting in my usual seat beside his bed reading a book like I always did when I heard Alex whisper. “Sissy?”
I put down my book. “Yes Alex, what do you need?”
He whispered again. “Come closer, Sissy, so I can look you in the eye.”
I stood up and bent down close to his face. “I’m right here, Alex. What is it?”
A tear rolled down his cheek. “Sissy? I need you to do something for me.”
“Anything Alex, what is it?”
“Sissy, I can’t stand being a burden to you all anymore. I want you to help me die. Please?”
I was absolutely horror stricken at what he was asking me to do. “Alex, I can’t do that. You can’t ask me to do that.”
“But you’re my sister, You’re the only friend I have left. “
I shook my head and left the room. There was no way I could do that. No way on earth.
Mom and Dad began to take more nights off after that and every time they’d leave, Alex would ask me the same thing and every time I’d say no, but just a little bit more reluctantly each time because of how much pain he was in. One night, after a great deal of painful thought, I decided to do this, this one thing for my brother. Before I injected the poison into the feeding tube, I asked him. “Are you sure you want me to do this?”
He answered, “As sure as sure can be.” He smiled one last time. “You know I love you Sissy, right?”
I love my brother but I hate my brother.
Friday, September 10, 2010
If
I just looked at my phone again and tried my best to will it to ring but just like the last hundred times I tried out my powers of persuasion or telekinesis or whatever you want to call them, it didn’t work. It wasn’t my fault, not really. Well, maybe it was. Alright, it definitely was my fault but I didn’t mean for it to happen. It just sorta did and now it can’t be undone. If I could turn back time… (Sorry about the cliché there or if you now have that Cher song stuck in your head but what’s done is done. Besides, I need to get to what happened.)
Two hours ago I was sitting in the coffee shop reading my newspaper. I heard someone call my name. I looked up and saw Vince. Recently cheated on me, poor excuse for a human being Vince. Looking better than ever Vince. Damn it. Anyway, he came over to me. I tried to ignore him but he started falling all over himself to try to explain, saying something about how I got it all wrong and that it wasn’t what I thought. I asked if he thought I was stupid. He said no and that the girl I saw him with wasn’t anyone important, that she didn’t mean anything to him. I said, “Well gee, if she wasn’t so important to you, then why were you kissing her?”
“I wasn’t kissing her. I happened to be giving her mouth to mouth resuscitation.”
“Did you really just say that? I feel like I’m on an unfortunate episode of Maury about cheaters and the crazy things they say!”
I didn’t even bother to finish my coffee or my newspaper. I headed for the door and out to my car parked in front of the shop. Yeah, he followed me. I got in the car and started it up. He starts banging on the window, begging me to hear him out, blah, blah, blah… I rolled down the window and said, “Please stop this. You’re embarrassing yourself.”
He moved in front of the car and threw his hands on the hood. “I can’t let you go until you hear me out.”
That’s when I did it. I stepped on the gas and ran him over. I sat still for a moment, thought seriously about putting the car in reverse and making sure I got him before I came to my senses. I jumped out of the car and went over to him. He was clutching his side, clearly in pain. He looked up at me. “You are completely insane.”
I was still shaking with anger. “No, what is insane is that I didn’t back up my car and hit you again while I had the chance!”
A few minutes later an ambulance pulled up. They lowered the stretcher onto the pavement. One of the guys looks down at Vince and says, “Hey Rob, look at this. It’s the guy who did mouth to mouth on that woman at the mall yesterday. Looks like he’s the one who needs help today.” He looked at Vince and asked, “What happened here?”
I stood there frozen. I didn’t know what he was going to do, whether he was going to point to me and have them take me away for an attempt at vehicular homicide or what. As they lifted him onto the stretcher, he said, “I wasn’t looking where I was going and stepped out in front of her. It was a complete accident.” They lifted him inside the ambulance and drove away to the hospital.
So, like I said before, that was two hours ago. I didn’t mean for it to happen but it was completely my fault that I jumped to conclusions like I always do. If only I could go back to yesterday and find out what really happened. If only I could go back two hours ago and stop myself from attempted murder. If only he would call me and tell me he still loves me. If only…
Ring…
I just looked at my phone again and tried my best to will it to ring but just like the last hundred times I tried out my powers of persuasion or telekinesis or whatever you want to call them, it didn’t work. It wasn’t my fault, not really. Well, maybe it was. Alright, it definitely was my fault but I didn’t mean for it to happen. It just sorta did and now it can’t be undone. If I could turn back time… (Sorry about the cliché there or if you now have that Cher song stuck in your head but what’s done is done. Besides, I need to get to what happened.)
Two hours ago I was sitting in the coffee shop reading my newspaper. I heard someone call my name. I looked up and saw Vince. Recently cheated on me, poor excuse for a human being Vince. Looking better than ever Vince. Damn it. Anyway, he came over to me. I tried to ignore him but he started falling all over himself to try to explain, saying something about how I got it all wrong and that it wasn’t what I thought. I asked if he thought I was stupid. He said no and that the girl I saw him with wasn’t anyone important, that she didn’t mean anything to him. I said, “Well gee, if she wasn’t so important to you, then why were you kissing her?”
“I wasn’t kissing her. I happened to be giving her mouth to mouth resuscitation.”
“Did you really just say that? I feel like I’m on an unfortunate episode of Maury about cheaters and the crazy things they say!”
I didn’t even bother to finish my coffee or my newspaper. I headed for the door and out to my car parked in front of the shop. Yeah, he followed me. I got in the car and started it up. He starts banging on the window, begging me to hear him out, blah, blah, blah… I rolled down the window and said, “Please stop this. You’re embarrassing yourself.”
He moved in front of the car and threw his hands on the hood. “I can’t let you go until you hear me out.”
That’s when I did it. I stepped on the gas and ran him over. I sat still for a moment, thought seriously about putting the car in reverse and making sure I got him before I came to my senses. I jumped out of the car and went over to him. He was clutching his side, clearly in pain. He looked up at me. “You are completely insane.”
I was still shaking with anger. “No, what is insane is that I didn’t back up my car and hit you again while I had the chance!”
A few minutes later an ambulance pulled up. They lowered the stretcher onto the pavement. One of the guys looks down at Vince and says, “Hey Rob, look at this. It’s the guy who did mouth to mouth on that woman at the mall yesterday. Looks like he’s the one who needs help today.” He looked at Vince and asked, “What happened here?”
I stood there frozen. I didn’t know what he was going to do, whether he was going to point to me and have them take me away for an attempt at vehicular homicide or what. As they lifted him onto the stretcher, he said, “I wasn’t looking where I was going and stepped out in front of her. It was a complete accident.” They lifted him inside the ambulance and drove away to the hospital.
So, like I said before, that was two hours ago. I didn’t mean for it to happen but it was completely my fault that I jumped to conclusions like I always do. If only I could go back to yesterday and find out what really happened. If only I could go back two hours ago and stop myself from attempted murder. If only he would call me and tell me he still loves me. If only…
Ring…
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Flash Fiction-- Gold
This story is about the couple I wrote about last week who wrote letters to each other during the war. A little bit of time has gone by…
Gold
“Frederick? Have you seen my earrings? You know the ones you bought me when we first got married?” Ruth walked quickly into the bedroom, tears streaming down her face. She stood in front of her dresser and began pulling out drawers, sifting through the contents, frantically searching for her beloved earrings.
Frederick finished tying his dress shoes and looked up at his wife. “Honey…”
“Don’t ‘honey’ me. I know I left them in here somewhere. They were right here on the top of my dresser this morning. Now all of a sudden, they’re nowhere to be found. I really love those earrings. I don’t want to go to the church without them.” Worry etched her face as she moved onto the dirty clothes hamper and began throwing clothes left and right in search of the earrings.
Frederick stood behind her. “Honey?”
She blew a deep breath out as she tossed a dress shirt to the floor and looked back at him. “I already said, don’t honey me. You can either help me look for them or leave me alone. We’ve got to be at the church in less than half an hour. Our family is probably already there. Roger and my sister have flown in from Los Angeles for the occasion. Freddie, Tammy and the kids have decorated the church with the most beautiful flowers I’ve ever seen. I don’t want to celebrate our Golden 50th Wedding Anniversary without wearing those earrings.” She stood in the midst of a pile of clothes on the floor and completely gave into tears.
Once more he said, “Honey?”
Ruth turned around to face him. He handed her the handkerchief that was in his suit pocket and she used it to dry her eyes. “You’ve said ‘Honey’ three times now. WHAT?”
He reached out to touch her cheek with his hand. “Honey, you’re already wearing them.”
Ruth closed her eyes and reached up to touch her ears. She slowly opened them. “I can’t believe I just spent the last half hour looking everywhere for them.”
He laughed and pulled her close. “I do.”
She looked up at him adoringly. “Are you sure you don’t want to run away while you still have the chance? You don’t have to marry me again you know.”
He kissed her lips and their foreheads touched. “There’s no one on earth I’d rather grow old with. I love you more than ever.”
She whispered. “Not as much as I love you.”
Gold
“Frederick? Have you seen my earrings? You know the ones you bought me when we first got married?” Ruth walked quickly into the bedroom, tears streaming down her face. She stood in front of her dresser and began pulling out drawers, sifting through the contents, frantically searching for her beloved earrings.
Frederick finished tying his dress shoes and looked up at his wife. “Honey…”
“Don’t ‘honey’ me. I know I left them in here somewhere. They were right here on the top of my dresser this morning. Now all of a sudden, they’re nowhere to be found. I really love those earrings. I don’t want to go to the church without them.” Worry etched her face as she moved onto the dirty clothes hamper and began throwing clothes left and right in search of the earrings.
Frederick stood behind her. “Honey?”
She blew a deep breath out as she tossed a dress shirt to the floor and looked back at him. “I already said, don’t honey me. You can either help me look for them or leave me alone. We’ve got to be at the church in less than half an hour. Our family is probably already there. Roger and my sister have flown in from Los Angeles for the occasion. Freddie, Tammy and the kids have decorated the church with the most beautiful flowers I’ve ever seen. I don’t want to celebrate our Golden 50th Wedding Anniversary without wearing those earrings.” She stood in the midst of a pile of clothes on the floor and completely gave into tears.
Once more he said, “Honey?”
Ruth turned around to face him. He handed her the handkerchief that was in his suit pocket and she used it to dry her eyes. “You’ve said ‘Honey’ three times now. WHAT?”
He reached out to touch her cheek with his hand. “Honey, you’re already wearing them.”
Ruth closed her eyes and reached up to touch her ears. She slowly opened them. “I can’t believe I just spent the last half hour looking everywhere for them.”
He laughed and pulled her close. “I do.”
She looked up at him adoringly. “Are you sure you don’t want to run away while you still have the chance? You don’t have to marry me again you know.”
He kissed her lips and their foreheads touched. “There’s no one on earth I’d rather grow old with. I love you more than ever.”
She whispered. “Not as much as I love you.”
Monday, August 9, 2010
Flash Fiction--War
November 22, 1943
Dear Ruth,
Well, I just left you at the train station. Since this may be the last letter I get the chance to write before a censor’s eye will see everything, let me tell you just how much the last two weeks have meant to me. If someone had told me that I’d meet a girl and fall in love before I left for war, I would have told them they were crazy but it’s true.
Please say you’ll send me a picture so that I can always see your face whenever you cross my mind, which I know will be often.
You need to know that no matter where I go or what I do as this train pulls me further and further away from you that you’ll go there with me in my heart. Write as often as you can. I’ll look forward to hearing from you soon. I’ll be seeing you.
Yours always,
Frederick
December 1, 1943
Dear Frederick,
I miss you like crazy. Before I walked into that USO, and believe you me, I was dragged there kicking and screaming by my sister, I was a lost soul. By some miracle (that’s what I’m calling it), you came walking in that door and that began to change. It was like waking up from the longest and saddest dream to something beautiful.
I’m enclosing my picture just like you asked. I was wondering if you could do the same for me, not that I’m going to forget those eyes of yours any time soon.
I need to close as the postman is coming up the other side of the street now. I love you. I’ll be seeing you.
Yours always,
Ruth
December 23, 1943
My Dearest Ruth,
I got your letter today and let me tell you, it absolutely made my day. I can’t take my eyes off of your picture. I showed it to a couple of the guys. They wanted to know if you had any sisters. I told them you did but that she was already taken. They muttered some obscenities that I won’t share with you in this letter, and then said something about some guys having all the luck. I must say that I agree with them: I do have all the luck.
Well, I’m here. I’m not allowed to say where here is but just know that I’m safe for now. We’re doing some more training. It’s hard work but I’m more than willing to do it for my country.
I’ve got to close this letter for now. I miss you like crazy. I’ll be seeing you.
Yours always,
Frederick
January 20, 1944
My Dearest Frederick,
I can’t believe it’s been almost two months since I’ve last seen your face. Thank you for sending that picture by the way. I just lifted my fingers to my lips and touched your face. God how I wish you were here and I could do even more than that. (Yes, I know the censors will see that but I don’t actually care. I miss you too much!)
To keep me from absolutely losing my mind from worrying and thinking of you, I decided to take a job at the hospital. Besides answering phone calls and doing some light secretarial work, I get to help with some of the soldiers who have come home so badly injured that they won’t be able to go back. Whenever I change a bandage, I’m changing your bandage. Whenever they need a dose of medicine, I’m doing it for you and whenever one of them needs a shoulder to cry on or someone to listen to, I’m listening to you. You’re always on my mind.
Going to close for now as my shift starts in half an hour. I miss you. I’ll be seeing you. I love you.
Yours always,
Ruth
July 14, 1944
My Dearest Ruth,
I need you to sit down right now. Are you sitting yet? Just do it. Okay, now that you’re standing there with your hand on your hip and tapping your foot, (I know you are, don’t try to deny it), I’ll tell you where I am. I’m writing this letter from a hospital in France. I was shot in the leg about a week ago and am now recuperating and resting comfortably. They gave me the Purple Heart, which I have enclosed for your safe keeping. You already hold my own heart in your precious hands so I thought I’d give you this one as well.
The doctor said that there’s a chance I may be able to make a phone call home so I might be talking to you in a few days time. It will be wonderful to hear your voice. I miss you so much. I love you. I’ll be seeing you.
Yours always,
Frederick
July 17, 1944
My Dearest Frederick,
Do you know how wonderful a day I had today? First thing, I had the day off. That was all fine and good but it absolutely paled in comparison to hearing your precious voice on the phone today. Just those few moments we had meant more to me than anything else that’s happened since you left. To hear you say that you love me and not just read it in a letter was music to my ears.
Now that I’ve got the nice things out of the way, let me tell you something: Don’t you ever, ever get hurt again so badly that you need to go to the hospital! Do you hear me? I hope you do because if it happens again, I’m heading on over there to deal with you myself.
Okay, done scolding you for now. I love you. I’ll be seeing you.
Yours always,
Ruth
May 24, 1945
My Dearest Ruth,
Can you believe it? V - E Day has come and gone and this bloody war is over here in Europe. I can hardly wait to come home. They’re deciding with something called a points system. I’m pretty sure I’ll have enough to get me a ticket home a little bit sooner than some of the other guys. Just the thought of seeing you once more is keeping me going at the moment. I love you. I’ll be seeing you. (Really. I’ll really be seeing you soon. I can’t wait.)
Yours always,
Frederick
PS- I wrote the above earlier this afternoon and I just found out that I’m definitely on my way home. Look for me some time at the beginning of July. I’ll let you know for sure the exact date as the time grows closer. I love you!
PPS- Did you even realize that there was no post mark or stamp on this letter? Your sister told me you always read my letters sitting on the porch so I’m watching you from the sidewalk. Look up now. I know. I love you too.
Dear Ruth,
Well, I just left you at the train station. Since this may be the last letter I get the chance to write before a censor’s eye will see everything, let me tell you just how much the last two weeks have meant to me. If someone had told me that I’d meet a girl and fall in love before I left for war, I would have told them they were crazy but it’s true.
Please say you’ll send me a picture so that I can always see your face whenever you cross my mind, which I know will be often.
You need to know that no matter where I go or what I do as this train pulls me further and further away from you that you’ll go there with me in my heart. Write as often as you can. I’ll look forward to hearing from you soon. I’ll be seeing you.
Yours always,
Frederick
December 1, 1943
Dear Frederick,
I miss you like crazy. Before I walked into that USO, and believe you me, I was dragged there kicking and screaming by my sister, I was a lost soul. By some miracle (that’s what I’m calling it), you came walking in that door and that began to change. It was like waking up from the longest and saddest dream to something beautiful.
I’m enclosing my picture just like you asked. I was wondering if you could do the same for me, not that I’m going to forget those eyes of yours any time soon.
I need to close as the postman is coming up the other side of the street now. I love you. I’ll be seeing you.
Yours always,
Ruth
December 23, 1943
My Dearest Ruth,
I got your letter today and let me tell you, it absolutely made my day. I can’t take my eyes off of your picture. I showed it to a couple of the guys. They wanted to know if you had any sisters. I told them you did but that she was already taken. They muttered some obscenities that I won’t share with you in this letter, and then said something about some guys having all the luck. I must say that I agree with them: I do have all the luck.
Well, I’m here. I’m not allowed to say where here is but just know that I’m safe for now. We’re doing some more training. It’s hard work but I’m more than willing to do it for my country.
I’ve got to close this letter for now. I miss you like crazy. I’ll be seeing you.
Yours always,
Frederick
January 20, 1944
My Dearest Frederick,
I can’t believe it’s been almost two months since I’ve last seen your face. Thank you for sending that picture by the way. I just lifted my fingers to my lips and touched your face. God how I wish you were here and I could do even more than that. (Yes, I know the censors will see that but I don’t actually care. I miss you too much!)
To keep me from absolutely losing my mind from worrying and thinking of you, I decided to take a job at the hospital. Besides answering phone calls and doing some light secretarial work, I get to help with some of the soldiers who have come home so badly injured that they won’t be able to go back. Whenever I change a bandage, I’m changing your bandage. Whenever they need a dose of medicine, I’m doing it for you and whenever one of them needs a shoulder to cry on or someone to listen to, I’m listening to you. You’re always on my mind.
Going to close for now as my shift starts in half an hour. I miss you. I’ll be seeing you. I love you.
Yours always,
Ruth
July 14, 1944
My Dearest Ruth,
I need you to sit down right now. Are you sitting yet? Just do it. Okay, now that you’re standing there with your hand on your hip and tapping your foot, (I know you are, don’t try to deny it), I’ll tell you where I am. I’m writing this letter from a hospital in France. I was shot in the leg about a week ago and am now recuperating and resting comfortably. They gave me the Purple Heart, which I have enclosed for your safe keeping. You already hold my own heart in your precious hands so I thought I’d give you this one as well.
The doctor said that there’s a chance I may be able to make a phone call home so I might be talking to you in a few days time. It will be wonderful to hear your voice. I miss you so much. I love you. I’ll be seeing you.
Yours always,
Frederick
July 17, 1944
My Dearest Frederick,
Do you know how wonderful a day I had today? First thing, I had the day off. That was all fine and good but it absolutely paled in comparison to hearing your precious voice on the phone today. Just those few moments we had meant more to me than anything else that’s happened since you left. To hear you say that you love me and not just read it in a letter was music to my ears.
Now that I’ve got the nice things out of the way, let me tell you something: Don’t you ever, ever get hurt again so badly that you need to go to the hospital! Do you hear me? I hope you do because if it happens again, I’m heading on over there to deal with you myself.
Okay, done scolding you for now. I love you. I’ll be seeing you.
Yours always,
Ruth
May 24, 1945
My Dearest Ruth,
Can you believe it? V - E Day has come and gone and this bloody war is over here in Europe. I can hardly wait to come home. They’re deciding with something called a points system. I’m pretty sure I’ll have enough to get me a ticket home a little bit sooner than some of the other guys. Just the thought of seeing you once more is keeping me going at the moment. I love you. I’ll be seeing you. (Really. I’ll really be seeing you soon. I can’t wait.)
Yours always,
Frederick
PS- I wrote the above earlier this afternoon and I just found out that I’m definitely on my way home. Look for me some time at the beginning of July. I’ll let you know for sure the exact date as the time grows closer. I love you!
PPS- Did you even realize that there was no post mark or stamp on this letter? Your sister told me you always read my letters sitting on the porch so I’m watching you from the sidewalk. Look up now. I know. I love you too.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Flash Fiction-- Artifacts
Here is the Flash Fiction entry for this weeik. Had a bunch of fun with it. I think you'll be able to see that I was a child of the 80's here!!
Artifacts
“Holy cow, would you look at this mess!” Cassie took the final stair before stepping into the attic. She brushed aside a few cobwebs that were in her way before looking back to Joel who was following close behind her.
“Well,” Joel said, reaching to pull the string that hung from the light bulb above his head, “We promised your dad that we’d get to this mess today.”
Cassie sighed as she took a seat in the old rocker that stood in the corner. “I know. It’s taken Dad a long time to decide to move out of this house. He lived here with Mom for 40 years and now with Mom gone as well as all of us kids, well, I’m just glad we were able to finally talk him into getting another place.”
Joel pushed aside a few boxes, making a pathway from the top of the stairs to the window. He pulled back the curtains, dust flying everywhere but instantly illuminating the attic and making things much easier to see. “Your parents really lived here for 40 years? But you’re only 21 years old.”
Cassie laughed and pulled a box closer to where she sat. “Mom and Dad always liked to joke that I was their little ‘oops’ baby, born almost 16 years after my older brothers. I’ll tell you more about my fabled family history a little bit later. Let’s get to this mess first.” She looked at the label on the box in front of her. “This one says ‘the boys’ toys.’ They must belong to my brothers. I wonder what’s inside.” She pulled out a doll that was carefully stored in its original box. “Stretch Armstrong? I wonder what it does.” She pulled it out of the box almost dropping it but grabbing hold of the arm at the last second. “Joel? Look at this? This doll’s arms stretch. It’s totally cool!” Her mouth was wide open with fascination as she pulled the arms and legs of the doll and watched them easily stretch back into shape.
Joel didn’t answer but instead was pulling something out of another box. “Will you look at this? My dad told me about these. It’s called a record player. Awesome! It has all of these records to play on them but they’re small with kind of a big circle in the middle.” He picked up another record. “Oh, I get it. You pop one of these little plastic circle things in the inside to make it fit on the record player.”
Cassie walked over to where he was standing to check out the record player. “It has a cord and there’s an outlet. Let’s plug it in and see if it still works.” They plugged it in and saw a light come on. She began to flip through some of the records. “Joel? Listen to some of the names of these groups: Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Tommie Tutone, Mr. Mister, Huey Lewis and the News… Geez, I’ve never even heard of any of these.”
Joel had one in his hand and held it up. “We’re listening to this one first; it sounds like a gem: ‘She Blinded Me With Science.’ Geez, what in the world were they smoking back then anyway?”
He put on the first of many records they listened to as they began to go through all of the boxes, the contents of which never ceased to amaze them both. After a few hours they were no closer to organizing the attic than when they first started. Cassie shook her head in amazement. “I can’t believe all of these artifacts! I mean look: a telephone where you have to stick your finger in it to spin around and make it work, a Cabbage Patch Kid, a forgotten can of something called ‘Aqua Net.’ I think it was hairspray, I’m not sure though. There’s enough old stuff here to start a museum or something. I can’t decide which one of them is my favorite.”
Joel motioned for her to come and sit next to him. He put his arm around her and pulled out a photo album. “I think I know which one of these ‘artifacts’ is going to be your favorite already.” There before her on the pages of the album was the story of her life. There was one where she was a toddler and her older brothers were taking turns pushing her on the swings in the back yard. There was another one of the family all squeezed into the porch swing on the front porch. There was still another one of them on Christmas morning with everyone still in their pajamas, wrapping paper strewn everywhere and not a face that lacked a smile.
A lone tear rolled down her cheek after she was done looking at the last page. She closed it and put it back in the box sitting next to her. She stood up and looked around the attic. She then walked back in the direction of the stairs. Joel looked at her with one eyebrow raised. “And just where would you be going?”
She sniffed and smiled at him through her tears. “I’ve got to find Dad. There’s no way I’m going to let him give up this house. Too many artifacts and way too many memories.”
Artifacts
“Holy cow, would you look at this mess!” Cassie took the final stair before stepping into the attic. She brushed aside a few cobwebs that were in her way before looking back to Joel who was following close behind her.
“Well,” Joel said, reaching to pull the string that hung from the light bulb above his head, “We promised your dad that we’d get to this mess today.”
Cassie sighed as she took a seat in the old rocker that stood in the corner. “I know. It’s taken Dad a long time to decide to move out of this house. He lived here with Mom for 40 years and now with Mom gone as well as all of us kids, well, I’m just glad we were able to finally talk him into getting another place.”
Joel pushed aside a few boxes, making a pathway from the top of the stairs to the window. He pulled back the curtains, dust flying everywhere but instantly illuminating the attic and making things much easier to see. “Your parents really lived here for 40 years? But you’re only 21 years old.”
Cassie laughed and pulled a box closer to where she sat. “Mom and Dad always liked to joke that I was their little ‘oops’ baby, born almost 16 years after my older brothers. I’ll tell you more about my fabled family history a little bit later. Let’s get to this mess first.” She looked at the label on the box in front of her. “This one says ‘the boys’ toys.’ They must belong to my brothers. I wonder what’s inside.” She pulled out a doll that was carefully stored in its original box. “Stretch Armstrong? I wonder what it does.” She pulled it out of the box almost dropping it but grabbing hold of the arm at the last second. “Joel? Look at this? This doll’s arms stretch. It’s totally cool!” Her mouth was wide open with fascination as she pulled the arms and legs of the doll and watched them easily stretch back into shape.
Joel didn’t answer but instead was pulling something out of another box. “Will you look at this? My dad told me about these. It’s called a record player. Awesome! It has all of these records to play on them but they’re small with kind of a big circle in the middle.” He picked up another record. “Oh, I get it. You pop one of these little plastic circle things in the inside to make it fit on the record player.”
Cassie walked over to where he was standing to check out the record player. “It has a cord and there’s an outlet. Let’s plug it in and see if it still works.” They plugged it in and saw a light come on. She began to flip through some of the records. “Joel? Listen to some of the names of these groups: Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Tommie Tutone, Mr. Mister, Huey Lewis and the News… Geez, I’ve never even heard of any of these.”
Joel had one in his hand and held it up. “We’re listening to this one first; it sounds like a gem: ‘She Blinded Me With Science.’ Geez, what in the world were they smoking back then anyway?”
He put on the first of many records they listened to as they began to go through all of the boxes, the contents of which never ceased to amaze them both. After a few hours they were no closer to organizing the attic than when they first started. Cassie shook her head in amazement. “I can’t believe all of these artifacts! I mean look: a telephone where you have to stick your finger in it to spin around and make it work, a Cabbage Patch Kid, a forgotten can of something called ‘Aqua Net.’ I think it was hairspray, I’m not sure though. There’s enough old stuff here to start a museum or something. I can’t decide which one of them is my favorite.”
Joel motioned for her to come and sit next to him. He put his arm around her and pulled out a photo album. “I think I know which one of these ‘artifacts’ is going to be your favorite already.” There before her on the pages of the album was the story of her life. There was one where she was a toddler and her older brothers were taking turns pushing her on the swings in the back yard. There was another one of the family all squeezed into the porch swing on the front porch. There was still another one of them on Christmas morning with everyone still in their pajamas, wrapping paper strewn everywhere and not a face that lacked a smile.
A lone tear rolled down her cheek after she was done looking at the last page. She closed it and put it back in the box sitting next to her. She stood up and looked around the attic. She then walked back in the direction of the stairs. Joel looked at her with one eyebrow raised. “And just where would you be going?”
She sniffed and smiled at him through her tears. “I’ve got to find Dad. There’s no way I’m going to let him give up this house. Too many artifacts and way too many memories.”
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Getting Back In Teacher Mode
Okay, so my first required day back isn't until next week but our principal said we could go in this week if we wanted to. Besides writing, I've been pretty much bored out of my mind so I decided to go in yesterday and today because after being in the same room for six years, I am moving rooms and changing grade levels. (I will be teaching first grade instead of second grade. Help me!)
Now, I'm sittting in a chair in my living room. My arms are sore from lifting. My legs are so achy that I think I might never walk again. My mind is racing because I'm trying to figure out just where everything should go in the room. I've already texted my husband and have asked him to pick up something for us to eat because if I have to get up and cook something, I might just die. (I'm not being melodramatic. I'm totally serious.)
It's official. The insanity has already set in and I'm definitely in teacher mode.
I wonder though: just how long will it take me to get back to "I wish I were a full time writer" mode?
Now, I'm sittting in a chair in my living room. My arms are sore from lifting. My legs are so achy that I think I might never walk again. My mind is racing because I'm trying to figure out just where everything should go in the room. I've already texted my husband and have asked him to pick up something for us to eat because if I have to get up and cook something, I might just die. (I'm not being melodramatic. I'm totally serious.)
It's official. The insanity has already set in and I'm definitely in teacher mode.
I wonder though: just how long will it take me to get back to "I wish I were a full time writer" mode?
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