Mumbles … Neither

Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com

“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” We have all heard these words and attribute them to the US postal workers… not really sure how it came to be that way as the words were attributed to Greek historian Herodotus back about 2500 years ago. I just couldn’t help but think about them in my own way…

Neither depression nor anxiety nor pain nor fatigue from fibro stops this writer from her trusty blogs. But life, that bitch always gets in the way! I just can’t believe I am now MORE than a month behind. I keep thinking I should scrap my plans to catch up but then again I feel bad for all the hard work you put into your blogs, I don’t want to miss something good. But I have to draw the line some where. So this is my commitment to read like a mad woman. I will try not to comment much, but sometimes I just have to.

By the end of the month if I have not made a sizeable dent in the past blog log, I will wipe the slate to zero with profound apologies (and don’t be afraid to recommend one of your blogs you are especially happy with during that time to me) and start fresh on February first.

*****

Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – neither

WHOA! Time Flies When You’re Having Fun

I am back! I hadn’t really planned on not doing much WordPress, but I thought I would SOME. Now is time for a major catch-up. Lots of reading to do. Lots of writing to do. And somewhere in the middle of all that there will be some Christmas cards and letters, shopping and just day to day life. Wish me luck!

So, I am off to get busy at it. Hope you all have a magical holiday season no matter what you celebrate… or just plain and simple a good December if you don’t celebrate. Winter is sneaking up on us! Grab some cocoa and a cozy sweater and radiate warmth!

Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels.com

Find the Time

Photo by Ylanite Koppens on Pexels.com

No one is at fault but me

I have fallen behind you see

Too many exhausted hours

Never any time to smell the flowers

I need to kind of unwind

And then I could maybe find

A moment of two for me

Where I would sit under a tree

Just to let me mind wander

My time I won’t squander

In an effort to catch up again

This is where it shall begin

Word by word and line by line

I will try to write words that are fine

But my comments will be brief

And I breathe a sigh of relief

As I read your words so sweet

And I prop up my tired feet

So here we go again

Let the catch up process begin

---

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

Read Between the Lines

The boy sat outside the office door.  His parents were inside talking to the principal.  He had gotten caught reading a comic book instead of his history book for the second time in as many weeks.  The door slowly opened, and Mr. Whitaker called Johnny to come into the office.

“Johnny, your parents and I have conferred and have come to a decision.  We don’t want a suspension on your record, but we cannot ignore your lack of respect for Mrs. Halladay.  Starting Monday after first period, you will report here to my office to have a private History lesson as I used to teach history before I became the principal.”  Mr. Whitaker paused and looked at Johnny’s parents and back at him.  “You will do this for one week until the midterm exam and then you will return to Mrs. Halladay’s class to take the test.  Do you understand Johnny?”

Johnny looked almost white as a sheet and he swallowed hard, “Yes, Mr. Whitaker I understand.”

Johnny’s father said, “You will also have at least an hour of study at home too son, so there will be no reason you shouldn’t get an A on that midterm.”

Johnny’s mother just smiled a weak smile at her son.  His dad then continued, “Well Mr. Whitaker if there is nothing else, I think we should take Johnny home now.”

The principal got up and opened the office door for them.  “Thanks for coming Mr. and Mrs. Sanders.  And Johnny I will see you next week.”

The family of three left the school in silence.  Johnny feared this would not be the end of the discussion about it.  And when he got home, he found out how right he was.

---

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

Mumbles … Moratorium

To put a moratorium on something is basically to ban something…. this week it is a few Dr. Suess books.  I have mixed emotions about this.  Dr. Suess books have been a staple for kids for years, and often controversial.  He has dealt with touchy subject matter and taught valuable lessons.  I still think of the Lorax every time I see or hear about another wooded area being brought down… “I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.”

I am sure over the years I have read the books, or some of them, that they have stopped publication on.  I understand how some things that were acceptable years ago are no longer viewed right.  It all revolves back to the subject of censorship.

There is the argument of freedom of speech and the accuracy of the time period when the books were written.  It all has to balance out with what is right and what is offensive.  Ultimately this decision was made by the people who have the rights to the book, and I feel that is the closest thing to the actual author withdrawing the publication of their own book; that is different than some group standing up and saying a book should be banned from a library or a classroom reading list.

I have read banned books and will continue to do so.  Are there some I find offensive, yes, definitely.  But that is history… it is not a reflection of the current day and age.  What do you think?  Are you more offended by the book or the ban?

---

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

(photo created at Canva)

A to Z Challenge – B

The letter B…

My mom and dad always had books they were reading as we were growing up.  And they passed that love of reading onto me and my sister.  I loved to read and read a lot of books to my daughter as she was growing up.  She in turn now is always using her spare time for reading.  I don’t read like I used to.  I was at a place with my vision where with my glasses on I couldn’t see the print, but with my glasses off to read, I couldn’t see at a distance if I looked up for some reason.  So last month I broke down and saw the doctor.  I am now the proud owner of a pair of bifocals.

Photo by Oziel Gómez on Pexels.com

My hope is that I will be able to resume my reading of books now.  I do still have the issues of fibro fog making me forget what I have already read sometimes.  I do read a lot of blogs too.  Any time I read something short or long it can transport me out of my life for a while to live through the characters.  So, if you haven’t guessed yet, my B gratitude is for books!

Open Mic Night

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

“No!  I told you I refuse to do it.  I just can’t handle the pressure with my anxiety.”  The woman looked upset and paced back and forth in the kitchen.

“Come on babe it will be fun, you’ll see.” He sat down in a chair at the table and added, “You know your words are great.”

“You are just saying that.  I’m an amateur and some of those people have been at it their whole lives.”

“Didn’t you tell me you started writing in middle school?”

“Yeah but that was lonely crap.”

“Come on, for me babe.  You just need to read one poem on stage.  And who knows, you could get that book deal you have always wanted then.”

“If you drive so I can take an anxiety pill.  I will read ONE very short poem.”

“Oh, honey that is great!  Now let’s go get ready and print out one of your best poems.”

 

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

A to Z Challenge – Books

B is for Books

I come from a family of readers.  Both my parent read a lot, both my grandmothers were avid readers and I remember my grandfather reading the Omaha newspaper front to back everyday.

I would have to say that Judy Blume was a big influence in my love of reading.  There were other books I remember from growing up, No Flying in the House, Going Crazy, and Little House in the Big Woods.  Then my Dad introduced me to suspense, thrillers and science fiction/fantasy.  I found Stephen King, V. C. Andrews, and Piers Anthony.

Lately with my chronic fatigue I find it hard to read as much as I used to.  But, I read a lot here on WordPress and I occasionally listen to audio books.  I have been so behind on blogs until this weekend there was not a lot of spare time to read.  Now I hope to get to the Bruce Springsteen autobiography and the book Strange Weather by Joe Hill (he is one of my favorite authors), but first I promised my daughter (who reads more than anyone I know) I would read a book she bought on Kindle.

 

Follow my A to Z Challenge:

A

Mumbles … noble

“Tears are the noble language of the eye.” – Robert Herrick

I sit here in the dark with tears welling in my eyes… I fight to keep them from falling.  I miss the time I was spending with my Dad no matter how hard it was seeing him in decline.  In one week we will have our gathering/visitation to remember him. I am already dealing with anxiety over being in a room with so many people OR being disappointed by how few show up.  I remember back to his retirement party and the room it was held in was full, with people standing outside in the hall to hear the festivities.

I am slowly still going through posts while daily remembering people we forgot to contact.  I let two more people know today and thought of one more to contact tomorrow.  I am trying to go about a normal day as possible but it just isn’t easy.  As you can see I am not really writing about noble I am just writing.  I am so far behind and know as we clean out Dad’s house there will be more chronic fatigue to deal with.  So I say it again… I will get to your posts as soon as I can.  I keep trying to move forward.  Some days are easier than others, and this has been a hard night.  Doing something I normally did for Dad was to pick up things at Walmart… tonight when I went there it hit me that those trips for Dad are done.  Just kind of took the wind out of my sails.

I will stop with my babbling fingertips now.  My eyes have gone from filled with tears to struggling to stay open.  Thanks for putting up with me straggling behind the daily posts and reading.  Good night!

 

Written for (my peace of mind and) Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – noble

Library Woes

The new book she read
Was going over her head
But it was overdue
And she wanted to get through
So she read all night in bed

 

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