Holiday Memories

by Sara on December 19, 2011

YouTube Preview Image

Video by PDG Productions, 2010
Song by Pink Martini

One of my fondest holiday memories occurred Christmas of 1989. We were all excited as snow had been predicted all day. Where I live, this is a very unusual event. We all hoped for a “white Christmas.”

By the time, we arrived at the evening holiday church service; the “predicted” snow still had not showed up. While disappointed, we still enjoyed the service.

We sang holiday songs as candles twinkled all around the room. We said special prayers for those in need and gave what we could when the collection plate was circulated.

Finally, the last song was sung and it was time to leave. We collected our coats and in a large group headed for the doors. When they opened wide, so did our eyes.

In the church lights, pristine white snow sparkled everywhere – on top of trees, bushes, roofs, sidewalks and the ground. It was like we were stepping into a snow globe.

We all stopped and stared, even the kids! However, it wasn’t long before they were running and jumping into the snow. Holiday “dress-up” clothes were forgotten as snowballs flew through the air and children made snow angels.

No one wanted to leave. For those of us who don’t see snow often, it was a beautiful and magical moment and became a fond memory:~)

What about you?

Even if you celebrate a holiday different than Christmas, what is one of your fondest memories of a holiday? Briefly describe it in the comment box.

 

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Photo Quote: Persistence

by Sara on December 5, 2011

photo by sara b. healy

“It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” ~ Albert Einstein

 

 

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Story Photo: Bad Hair Day

by Sara on December 1, 2011

copyright by sara b. healy

The Haircut

I sat down in the chair.
He gave a haughty stare.
He said, I know just what to do.”
I asked, “Can I really trust you?”
He said, “Sure. I’ll fix everything.
Don’t you worry; I’m the hair king!”
I listened to snip, snip, snip,
Waiting for the perfect clip.
Now, my hair hangs uneven
Thanks to a cut by Stephen.*

This poem is loosely based on a Red Writing Hood prompt. The prompt was to write something about hair and I think the idea was to write a story, a character sketch or anything other than what I ended up writing. But sometimes you just have to go where your muse takes you!

Since no story developed, I began a desperate search for a picture to put something up at my site. I found this one and “VOILÀ!”  Somehow, the picture, the prompt and my muse decided to play together. It’s not exactly what Cheryl intended with her Write on Edge prompt,  but I had lots of fun writing this. In addition, I’ve been in that chair many times:~)

What about you?

  • Have you been in a chair like Stephen’s?
  • Care to share any of your stories about hair cuts?

* This poem is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental. So, for any of the hair stylists out there named Stephen, this means I’m not talking about you:~)

Note to my readers: 

I will be around the blogosphere off and on in December. My daughter and her husband will soon be visiting from England. As I don’t get to see them very often, I plan on spending as much time as possible with them. I know you will understand:~)

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Being Thankful

by Sara on November 21, 2011

copyright sara healy (click to enlarge)

The Challenge: Sharing thanks

It’s almost Thanksgiving in the States. This is a holiday based around “repeats,” meaning we usually repeat the same meal every Thanksgiving – turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.

Sure, there’s some variation from state to state and home to home, but this Thursday, most Americans will give thanks, eat basically the same meal, and, with bellies full, sleepily watch football. Many of us will repeat the meal the next day stuffed into a sandwich.

I’m offering my own “repeat” this Thanksgiving. A year ago, I wrote a post about writing four-words of thanks. I liked this post. It was fun sharing my own four-word thankful moments and reading the ones left in the comment box. It made me feel, well, thankful:~)

Some of you have already done this challenge. I invite you to try again with the idea of Autumn in mind. If you haven’t done this challenge, give it a go. Make a list of your own four-word thankful moments about Autumn or Thanksgiving via the comment box.

The cool part of doing a “repeat” post is you get to quote yourself:~) Here’s my quote from the first post:

“Sharing thankful moments is like planting seeds for growing a more loving world. Each thankful moment you write sends energy out to others and reading someone’s thankful moments only adds to our own.”  ~ Sara B. Healy

Rule One

There’s only one rule to this challenge, but it’s important! Each line you write about thankful moments must contain only four words!

You can use any style of writing – poetry, free verse, songs, a list/collection – whatever suits your needs, as long as you stick to Rule One.

Here’s my list of “thankful moments” for Thanksgiving, 2011.

Fall Camellias boldly blooming
The recovery of friends
Crisp baby blue skies
A remembered dog’s trust
Cats stretching in sunlight
A lover’s listening ear
Tree leaves on fire
Laughter chasing away tears
Exceptional women for daughters
Ice coated green grass
Chimneys exhaling wood smoke
Words playing effortlessly together
Creative words from readers
Leaves crunching under footsteps
Chicken soup’s comforting smell
Fingers gently massaging shoulders
The thrill of beginnings
The contentment of completion
Drinking spicy apple cider
Football flags wind dancing
Writing words of thanks
Reading words of thanks
The gift of gratitude

Okay, it’s your turn. What are your four-word thankful moments about Autumn or Thanksgiving?

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The 7 x 7 Link Award

by Sara on November 17, 2011

Liz, The Writing Reader, awarded me the 7 x 7 Award. I’m not a big fan of blogging awards, but this one is very original.

It was also given to me by a person I consider extremely creative. Liz puts up the most imaginative prompts for writers and artists. AND she does it every single day! Her ability to think of the different subjects a writer or an artist can explore amazes me.

As most of you know, blogging awards come with strings. The strings for this one are:

  1. Answer 7 “the most…” things about my blog
  2. Recommend 7 other bloggers for this award

WOW, was this tough! It was like being at a country fair and being both contestant and judge. I reviewed ALL my 322 blog posts back to 2007. That’s a lot for me.

The nice part of this review was it felt like I was turning the pages of a scrap book. I could see how my writing has changed over the years, reflecting my own life changes.

The sad part was reviewing comments and realizing how many people I’ve lost touch with. Some are no longer blogging, but others are. One of my intentions is to go back to and revisit some of these people. I’d liked to know what they’re up to in life.

First 7: The Blue Ribbon Goes to….

  1. Most Beautiful Post: A Picture for Your Thoughts. This was a challenge! How do you judge the beauty of your own posts? I selected this one because of the picture AND the words.
  2. Most Popular Post: The Dance. What a surprise this was! I selected this one totally on the comment numbers.
  3. Most Controversial Post: When You’re Stuck in a Moment. Controversial posts aren’t my norm. So, I selected this post because it was the most revealing of all my posts and the subject is controversial.
  4. Most Helpful Post: Kindness Can Improve Your Health. How could I go wrong with this one?
  5. Most Surprisingly Successful Post: Story Photo: Guessing Game. I’ve been doing Story Photo posts for a quite awhile. You never know which one will connect with readers. This post was definitely a surprise because my readers really responded to it.
  6. Most Underrated Post: Managing Worry. Okay, I confess this was one of MY favorites. However, to paraphrase Roger Dangerfield, “It got no respect!” That’s not exactly true. It was an early post before I understood the “etiquette” of blogging:~)
  7. Most Pride-worthy Post: Recipe for a Blog. I’m proud of this post because it was written when I was really stuck. I couldn’t think of anything to write and was desperate! My muse came through and this one has all the ingredients I like in a post – twists and turns, humor, and fun.

Second 7: Frequent Visitors

The second 7 is to give this award out to 7 blogs. Okay, I hate this part. How do you choose from so many wonderful sites? I decided to pick bloggers who have been frequent visitors to my site over the years and randomly selected seven from this list. As these are bloggers I also visit frequently and love their sites, how could I go wrong?

Chris, Work Consciously  – Ah. The “wise one” is what I call Chris. His site always gives you nuggets of important wisdom to take away with you. He also challenges his readers to really think. He motivates and encourages all of us to take a deep breath and fully experience our lives.

Ginny, Special Moments in Time – Want inspiration? Ginny’s site is full of it. She always writes something encouraging for others. In addition, she shares her art and photography. It’s a great combination.

Kelvin, Puppet Kaos  – If anyone got the right mix of left and right “brainness,” Kelvin did. He’s most logically creative person I know. He always comes up with topics full of knowledge and humor. In addition, he’s the real “Puppet Master,” but in the most positive way:~) If you watch one of his puppet videos, I guarantee you’ll love it and it will “tickle your funny bone.”

Linda of From Roses to Rainbows – I’ve watched Linda’s site grow and seen how her talents have emerged like flowers in the springtime. Her writing amazes me. She’s so creative and has lots of fun with her writing and her photography.

Lynn, Good Things Happen – Ages ago…in blogging years (2007, like me), Lynn decided to write a blog about three beautiful things that happened in her life. Whenever I visit, there’s always a connection I make with something she shares. In addition, her site reminds me to look for the beautiful things in my own day. She also uses her own lovely photographs.

Shay, Shay’s Word Garden  – What can I say about Shay? She’s one the most talented and prolific poets I know. She writes poems that are sometimes edgy, sometimes dark, sometimes funny, and sometimes they make me blush:~) The common ingredient in all them, however, is creative genius.

Susan, Today’s Path for a Healthier Tomorrow  – Susan’s site is full of important information about health. She uses her own humor and common sense to guide her readers away from dangerous health risks, while also making suggestions for creating a healthier environment and lifestyle. Visiting her site is always a learning experience for me.

I hope you will visit these sites. I guarantee you will gain something from each of them. Please stop by, say hello, and congratulate them for this award:~)

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Story Photo: Open the Door

by Sara on November 14, 2011

Door One (click to enlarge)

Doors fascinate me. I like to imagine what’s behind the door. For today’s Story Photo post, I thought it would be fun to see what you, the reader, can discover when your imagination opens a door.

Photo Challenge

In this post, you have pictures of three doors. Your challenge is to pick a door and, in no more than 77 words, describe what you imagine is on the other side of the door.

Leave your response in the comment box and be sure to note which door you picked.

Here are some questions to help get the creative juices flowing. As always you can pick and choose among these questions or not use them at all. It’s up to you.

  1. Who lives behind this door?
  2. What’s the first thing you see when you open this door?
  3. Where would you go once you open this door?
  4. When should this door be opened and why?
  5. How do you get this door open?

Door Two (click to enlarge)

Door Three (click to enlarge)

Have fun, be creative and enjoy this challenge:~)

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Childhood Memories

by Sara on November 11, 2011

The Write on Edge Red Writing Hood Prompt: Write a conversation between two people/characters. To show who they are and what their relationship is, use surroundings, body language, visual cues and blocking. The word limit is 300 words or less.

“What do you mean you had your memories erased?” Ruth put her glass down. Sweet tea splashed on the antique wood table.

“I used that new procedure offered by Genesis. They erased my childhood memories a month ago. I haven’t had a chance to tell you.” Margie fiddled with the lace doily on her rocking chair, avoiding Ruth’s eyes.

“Why’d you erase your memories, Marg?” Shock made the scars on Ruth’s face more visible.

Margie looked into dove-gray eyes, identical to her own. “Of all people, I thought you’d understand. It wasn’t a good childhood, you know?”

“I know! Shit, my face is a constant reminder. You realize Genesis also wiped out your memories of me. You know that, right?”

An angry flush spread across Margie’s cheeks. “I haven’t forgotten you, just our childhood memories. What’s the big deal?”

“How can you ask that? Those memories are a special bond between us, they’re our shared history!”

“Look, I’m happier now. I’ve got Bob, the kids, our friends and my faith. I don’t need those old painful memories.”

Tears blurred Ruth’s vision. She blinked them away. Margie hadn’t mentioned her in that list. “But Marg, by erasing the bad, you lost the good memories, too.”

“I know that. It was a trade-off I had to make.” Margie eyes slid away from Ruth’s.

Sadness made Ruth’s chest hurt. “You know, when I get down about my scars, it’s not the bad stuff I remember; it’s the good memories of our childhood. I remember us as happy girls who played together…”

“Stop it, Ruth!”

But the memory didn’t stop. In Ruth’s mind, two little girls in blond pigtails held hands, laughing as they ran barefooted on a wooden dock and jumped into sunlit water. Margie watched a contented smile soften Ruth’s scarred face.

To all readers: As I’m still learning dialogue, I welcome constructive feedback about this writing. Tell me what you liked and tell me what how I can improve:~)

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Help: Computer Problems

by Sara on November 10, 2011

It happens to us all, at one time or another. We’re truck’in along and thinking everything is hunky dory when our best friend takes a turn for the worst. We immediately come to her aid, but the problem is more than we can cope. Still, we have to have hope.

We call in help, but even THEY struggle to try to save her weakened pulse. We fret about the files we’ve hidden in her head. Will they be recovered or lost? We cry “Return to us, you must!” The doctors say she might be dust.

With the confidence of those who don’t really know, we believed she would always be there. We put our pictures on her face. We had fun decorating her space.

She is a machine and attacks come without warning. We can only hope the Knowing Ones can save her. We hope they save her main. If not, at least her brain.

So, sorry about the post that would normally be up today. I spent time with my “friend” in the ER. It looks like she will be returned to me. At least, that is my hopeful plea:~)

 

 

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Story Photo: Tales of Autumn

by Sara on November 7, 2011

copyright sara b. healy

Autumn’s Dress

An aging autumn sews her dress, creates it bright.
Her fancy costume makes her shades quite the sight,
As she wears bold colors, trying to excite.
Her bustle
Gives a rustle.
An impish wind hears the sound, passes her by.
His cold breath spins her colors high into the sky,
Then he tosses them down, making autumn sigh.
Her lover
Creates a cover.

Your Story Photo Challenge

I love the autumn colors of leaves.To me, they are a wonderful gift nature gives us. A bright and bold way to enter into winter.

Your challenge today is to share what you feel about autumn. The poem above is what I felt.

To help you along, here are some questions you can consider. Remember, you do not have to answer them all, but please indicate in the comment box which question(s) you chose to answer.

  1. What do you like most about the autumn season?
  2. What’s a favorite memory you have of autumn?
  3. What food do you most associate with autumn?
  4. Care to share a quote or a short poem about autumn? You can write one yourself or share a link to one of your favorites.
  5. Write and answer the question about autumn you wished I’d asked.

Have fun, be creative and enjoy!

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Thinking Thursday: Domestic Violence

by Sara on November 3, 2011

The front door slams. I lean against the kitchen counter and slide to the cold tile floor. Blood oozes from where the broken plate hit my forehead, running into my eyes. My hands tremble as I try to wipe it away. Taking a breath hurts like hell; probably another broken rib. The silent house brings relief.

As the adrenaline disappears, pain erupts through my body. Uncertain, about walking, I crawl to the kitchen and pull myself up using the towel bar on the stove. I lean into its mechanical warmth and, by habit, touch the off button. There will be no roast with parsley potatoes tonight.

Laughter tries to bubble up, but I shove it back down as I look around the kitchen. The poor potatoes are smeared on the floor, along with specks of green parsley and broken china. An open bottle of untouched white wine stands patiently on the island, staring at me. It is flanked by two tall crystal wine glasses.

I wonder how I will explain this new broken rib to Bob. I’ll have to see him; the rib needed to be taped. He’s my friend, as well as my doctor. There have been too many ‘accidents’ lately. Excuses aren’t working anymore. I remember his words of concern as he examined my swollen eye two weeks ago.

“The eye’s okay. Use lots of ice. But this has to stop! You need help. It’s getting worse.” He didn’t even bother to give “IT” a name. We both knew what was happening.

“I know. I always plan to make the call. But things get better and time passes. I always believe it’ll all be okay. Try to understand, Bob. This is the love of my life.”

“How can you love someone who does this to you? Get out! At least, leave the house. Then you can work on saving your marriage. As a friend, I’m begging you!”

As usual, I promised to make the call, but things got better and I forgot.

I push off the stove and lumber over to the sink, splashing my face. Pink-tinted water runs down the drain. Bob’s right. This has to stop. What’s worse is I can stop it, but this scares me even more – what might happen if I actually did try to stop it.

I grab a towel and press it to the cut on my forehead. The phone rings, but I let it go. I know who’s calling, begging my forgiveness. The anger always wears off in about thirty minutes. This is a familiar pattern.

Soon, the apologies will start, the little gifts will show up and the sex will be wonderful and loving. I will forget this is the person who beats me. Time will drift by with nothing happening, encouraging me to believe again.

Then one day, I’ll say or do something wrong. Without warning, the blue eyes I love to watch will turn mean, the face I love to touch will become red, and the mouth I love to kiss will spew ugly words. That’s when I’ll know what’s going to happen.

I stare at the clock. There’s only fifteen minutes left. My stomach clinches as I grab my cell phone, car keys, and yank open the garage door. A long time ago, I’d put a bag of clothes and other necessities in my car trunk, hidden under the extra tire. Somehow, my head knew this moment would come, even as my heart denied it.

My rib aches and the wound on my head stings as the car bumps along the highway. I park near Bob’s house, knowing he’ll take me in. Turning off the engine, I stare into the dark street. The fall leaves rustle in the slight breeze. I can smell snow on its way.

Soon, this street will be full of bright holiday decorations. In my mind, I see happy families warming themselves by the fireplace, children laughing and trying to guess their gifts. It’s the life I’ve always wanted. It’s the life we talk about, in between. It’s the life I will never have, if I stay.

Pushing my hopes aside, I grab the cell phone on the seat beside me and dial the numbers from memory. I listen to the beeps as my finger hits each number and grip the phone as it rings in my ears.

The voice that answered is soft and feminine with a slight Southern accent. “Hello, you have called The Domestic Hotline. My name is Janet. Tell me your story. I want to help.”

Tears flood my face as I reply. “My name is Mark. I need your help. My wife is abusing me.”

What about men?

This story is loosely based on prompt # 142 from The Writing Reader about manipulation and abuse. As I thought about this topic, I realized we talk mostly about women being abused. I know I do, but this got me to thinking. What about men?

Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of data or even sites specifically addressing domestic violence against men. Granted, women are 7 to 10 times more likely to be harmed in domestic violence than men, but men are less likely to report this abuse. Would the numbers be higher if they did?

Time to think…

As this is a Thinking Thursday post, I hope this story will encourage you to think about domestic violence against men. You might write a post about it or just speak up when someone talks about domestic violence and only mentions women – remind them that men can also be victims.

Photo by Eduard Titov

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