Month: January 2021

Mumbles … Categories

What category would you pick if asked to come up with a category in like 5 seconds.  Back in my youth there was a game we would play called Categories.  It was a game where you would go in a circle snap your fingers two times and begin…

Snap, snap

“Categories” (said during two more snaps)

Snap, snap

(snap) “Dog breeds” (snap)

Snap, snap

(snap) “Go” (snap)

Then you would continue in the circle of people taking turns coming up with dog breeds or whatever the category was.  You always had to be ready with a new answer in just two snaps.  If you were deep in a category and running short on things to say, just say categories again and pick a new category.  It doesn’t sound too bad, but just two snaps is a very short amount of time if someone just said what you were going to say.

It was a fun game, frustrating at times, but it would almost always end in giggles as we stumbled over words trying to say something before the snaps were over.  The memories a single word can trigger are sometimes surprising. Did you have any games from your youth that you remember fondly?

Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – category

(image from Google search)

Did You Ever…

Photo by Nicole Berro on Pexels.com

Donna and Sarah were typical teenagers and loved to shop, or just hang out at the mall.  Today had been no different.  They had shopped a little, bought next to nothing and were walking home afterwards.  Donna finally said, “I think it is safe now.  Here’s the magazine you wanted.”  She took an issue of Seventeen out from under her shirt and handed it to Sarah.  She was stunned.

“When did you buy this?”

“I didn’t.  I just took it.”

“What?”

“I said I just took it.”

“You stole it?”

“I guess so, it was fun.”

“Are you crazy?  You could get in big trouble for this.”

“Whose gonna know?  You and I only, and I’m not telling, are you?”

“No, I guess not.  But I don’t like this.”

“What is not to like, it’s a rush.”

“It is ILLEGAL!  Did you forget my dad was a cop?  He’ll know the instant he sees me.”

“So, I will take it home.”

“I can’t believe you did this.”

“It is no big deal.”

“To me it is, I just can’t believe you did that right there at the mall.”

“Lighten up.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t.  I think we should skip the sleepover tonight.  I have to think about this.”

“What a nerd!” Donna took the magazine out of Sarah’s hand and said, “Adios!”  She turned down the block and walked out of sight leaving Sarah with a stunned look still on her face.

**

Did you ever take something from a store?  I was shocked when my friend took a small keychain in maybe 6th grade.  Mortified was more like it.  I know for some it is no big deal, but like Sarah I had a dad who was a detective and no poker face whatsoever.  My friend and I were never as close after that.  What do you think – is it no big deal or flat out wrong?

Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – issue

The First Drop’s A Doisy

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I’m not a one of a kind

Nothing special about me

No unique qualities

I just an average person

Trying to stay sane

In a roller coaster world

Fighting tears and sadness

With fake smiles in a bottle

One tablet at a time

Walking through my days

In an altered state

Hoping it is something close

To happiness in the end

Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – unique

Daddy

Two years ago today

I said that I loved him

Something I didn’t say enough

*

Two years ago today

We saw him decline overnight

Not realizing how far

*

Two years ago today

We said goodbye

Not knowing it was the last

*

Two years ago today

I saw his last breath

And my heart shattered

***

I remember the service

As something surreal

So many memories

So many people

But mostly

I was missing him

Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – service

(Photo of flowers at my Dad’s memorial service)

Broken

I see the china doll

No one wants to hold

Her face is cracked

Her paint is old and worn

The china doll is broken

Broken just like me

No one wants to

Be with the broken

Or someone like

This broken hearted me

Broken by the love

Your pulled away from me

And left alone with sorrow

That I so strongly feel

So I pick up the doll

With tenderness and compassion

And whisper we may be broken

But we still know how to care

Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – broken

(photo uncredited online)

Shared

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

She sat at the window

Lost in her thoughts

Dreaming of him

And their time together

Her reverie was blissful

Like the kisses they shared

But soon she was left to wonder

Why he had said goodbye

She loses herself often

In these thoughts of yesterday

But always turns back to

The lonely truth of today

And hopes beyond hope

They will find the way back

To the dreams they once shared

And the passion that fueled them

Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – reverie

Know the Warning Signs

Mom, did you ever snitch on a friend?

Times were different when I was growing up honey.  There is so much more that can cause harm and danger to kids.  Is someone you know in trouble?

Will you promise not to tell anyone?

I wont say anything unless there is a risk to your friend. What is bothering you hon?

It is Sheryl.  She is talking about her boyfriend and I think he is being too rough with her.

Why do you say that?

Because he is texting her all the time and getting mad if she doesn’t respond.  Wants to know where she is all the time… and the one time I saw them together he grabbed her arm pretty tight it looked like.  I’m scared for her mom.

Do you want me to talk to her.  Or do you think there is another adult she would trust to bring it up?

Would you talk to her.  I just hope she isn’t mad at me for snitching.

If I was her, I would be happy you are concerned.

Good, she’s coming over in an hour.

It is a much bigger problem that the occasional argument, and it is important to identify to get help. Here are some of the warning signs and a hotline number for the Domestic Abuse Hotline…

Don’t brush it off as just a one time thing, it is serious and will just get worse. The website has a chat option available as well as the number to call. Remember you are not a snitch. If you love some one in trouble, help them!

1-800-799-(SAFE)7233 Domestic Abuse Hotline/thehotline.org

For Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – snitch

Fandango’s Flashback Friday – January 22

This weeks FFF goes back to 2017 when I wrote this poem for the word prompt of privacy…

What’s Inside

Can I get a little privacy

A little time to myself

Where I’m not

Girlfriend, mother, daughter,

Sister, or even friend…

*

A time when I can just be me

And not trying to impress someone

Or take care of another

A time when I put myself first

Not second, third or further down the line

*

Maybe it is not privacy I need

Maybe it is a change in me I need

A determination to be put first

A strength not to be walked on

A confidence that I matter

*

…maybe it is just not in me

Is Stinkiosity Even a Word?

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

It has been a little while, but Fandango has done it again.  Sent me to the Great Google Gods of the internet to decipher another word.  And even with the definition from the Oxford Dictionary all I can pull out of my head was an episode of the old TV show Growing Pain.  The oldest daughter Carol is a smart kid and trying to impress a teacher fills a paper with all sorts of mile long words.  The teacher is not impressed and gives her a bad grade saying it was too much.  After an argument from Carol, I will never forget the teacher’s line was “(it was) replete with stinkiosity.”  In other words, it was pedantic.

Sorry, that is all I’ve got today.  Maybe the next post will trigger something worthwhile.  Have a great weekend everyone!  (((HUGS)))

Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – pedantic