2008 November 15
Old cobwebs were the best sign of a good corner, "The older the better," saying to herself while shopping for a new place to spin and weave, the exhausting dance of a whole day in which after she would rest and wait; pray for prey. Nurishment, that rush of energy in the body. The natual high, there was nothing like it, still at the top of her lifetime loves. Another was the product of her particular weave. If found outside, a winter morning web can take on the glistening light through tiny spheres of water, sometimes the light enough to blind her delicate seeing mechanisms. She prided herself on these works of art not only because of their beauty, but because of their brevity, as one fly caught and the web ruined, time to move on again.
Another of her blessings she found was in the perspective being offered by height. Oh sure she was fearful of heights and remembered being a big clustered ball of brothers and sisters and worried about the fall, the decent. What if her web didn't catch and she'd fall to her death. Her mother would reassure her that she was so light she'd probably would land fine. This childhood fear haunted her and the only reassurance was ironically in being that high seeing the movement of life below her. She often felt it must be what a bird feels like when its flying; and then as she rested in her new web feeling heavier than her more youthful self, she wondered about the decent. The fall, would that be like flying? Could that offer some new perspective? As she looked at her beautiful creation and smiled she lifted her body to the bottom of the web and let go. Careful to not spindle any web, but to allow herself a weighty decent.
Friday, November 21, 2008
White Carpet: Melinda Jean
2008 July 5
Why white, you might say? A whistling white, passing in the car, almost a verbal blur. The pet, who mostly resides in the car, has never mistreated the white. It's the pureness of it, the soft luxury. The pet doesn't think of 'deserve' or not, but of just the moments of the carpets beauty, its comfort and sinks right in. And when the white isn't there, as the car sometimes drives fast, it's the whistle that gives the pet that nostalgia, that missing, that only is filled with white carpet.
Why white, you might say? A whistling white, passing in the car, almost a verbal blur. The pet, who mostly resides in the car, has never mistreated the white. It's the pureness of it, the soft luxury. The pet doesn't think of 'deserve' or not, but of just the moments of the carpets beauty, its comfort and sinks right in. And when the white isn't there, as the car sometimes drives fast, it's the whistle that gives the pet that nostalgia, that missing, that only is filled with white carpet.
Fog Floats Over Water: Melinda Jean
Fog floats over water, from the window at this distance the fog looks supported; water collected over the season heavy and deep, mist gathered by the lightness of morning. The scene serene as she sips her coffee. Nothing more just creamy coffee and to write. She hasn't been to the cottage at this time of year and now she is here to stay, even if temporary. Quiet reflected a stillness in her mind that had been waiting, all the racing to get here, every fraction of time hidden in boxes, stacked in columns around the cabin. Like a maze with labels Kitchen, Living room, Bath; her whole life in correct categories allowing her only narrow passage.
When she first thought of leaving to come to the cabin, her whole body would stand thick with history and she feel inertia set in, settling like jello, she couldn't move. But now she looked out over the soft fog of morning and felt light, allowed a smile and managed to squeeze forward to the typewriter.
When she first thought of leaving to come to the cabin, her whole body would stand thick with history and she feel inertia set in, settling like jello, she couldn't move. But now she looked out over the soft fog of morning and felt light, allowed a smile and managed to squeeze forward to the typewriter.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Being Unmasked - JohnD
I've had only one rule that I've explicitly stated for this organization, “We do not expose other members' weaknesses.” One rule, that's it!
If anyone is concerned about a colleague, you come to me and we can discuss it constructively. You don't go around telling everyone else that you think somebody is wrong, stupid, or whatever. You don't say, “Oh, Luigi is a weakling. He's got no killer instinct.” You don't do that!
If Luigi has trouble breaking somebody's ribs; if you think he's pulling his punches, okay, that's probably important for me to know. But you don't go saying that to other members. You definitely don't start arguing with Luigi about it. And you most definitely don't argue with Luigi about it in front of the victim; I mean, the blood-sucking parasite who's trying to steal food from my children's mouths. It's like Luigi's being unmasked. If Luigi is sensitive, good, but we don't want others to know that.
Perhaps I need to find another position for Luigi. There are plenty of positions within the organization that require someone with sensitivity. We've seen a dramatic increase in drug sales to the elderly lately. However, the elderly are uncomfortable dealing with brutes. Luigi might be perfect for that division. He'll need to go through some retraining, but that shouldn't be a problem. It's probably going to be a great fit and good for business.
The problem is when we unmask one another's weaknesses, or perceived weaknesses. Now, we all know that Anthony is gay. I think we're all fine with that now. Why? Because he gets the job done. Nobody, and I mean nobody, is better at extortion than Antonio. It's been that way for 15 years. However, five years ago, Dino unmasks Antonio. He forces him out of the closet, tells everyone Antonio's gay. Suddenly, everyone forgets that Antonio has been doing great work for years. They forget that he's the best of the best. They lose confidence in him. That's crazy and that's wrong!
A week later, Antonio violently kills Dino with his bare hands, and Dino's even got a knife. Basically, Antonio restores order and only spends three days in the hospital. All the same, all that could've been avoided, which brings me back to my point: Don't unmask others; don't expose their weaknesses. You come talk to me if you have any concerns about any one else in this organization. You got that?
Okay I've got to get to my knitting class. You all carry on. But just remember, don't be so quick to judge others.
-
If anyone is concerned about a colleague, you come to me and we can discuss it constructively. You don't go around telling everyone else that you think somebody is wrong, stupid, or whatever. You don't say, “Oh, Luigi is a weakling. He's got no killer instinct.” You don't do that!
If Luigi has trouble breaking somebody's ribs; if you think he's pulling his punches, okay, that's probably important for me to know. But you don't go saying that to other members. You definitely don't start arguing with Luigi about it. And you most definitely don't argue with Luigi about it in front of the victim; I mean, the blood-sucking parasite who's trying to steal food from my children's mouths. It's like Luigi's being unmasked. If Luigi is sensitive, good, but we don't want others to know that.
Perhaps I need to find another position for Luigi. There are plenty of positions within the organization that require someone with sensitivity. We've seen a dramatic increase in drug sales to the elderly lately. However, the elderly are uncomfortable dealing with brutes. Luigi might be perfect for that division. He'll need to go through some retraining, but that shouldn't be a problem. It's probably going to be a great fit and good for business.
The problem is when we unmask one another's weaknesses, or perceived weaknesses. Now, we all know that Anthony is gay. I think we're all fine with that now. Why? Because he gets the job done. Nobody, and I mean nobody, is better at extortion than Antonio. It's been that way for 15 years. However, five years ago, Dino unmasks Antonio. He forces him out of the closet, tells everyone Antonio's gay. Suddenly, everyone forgets that Antonio has been doing great work for years. They forget that he's the best of the best. They lose confidence in him. That's crazy and that's wrong!
A week later, Antonio violently kills Dino with his bare hands, and Dino's even got a knife. Basically, Antonio restores order and only spends three days in the hospital. All the same, all that could've been avoided, which brings me back to my point: Don't unmask others; don't expose their weaknesses. You come talk to me if you have any concerns about any one else in this organization. You got that?
Okay I've got to get to my knitting class. You all carry on. But just remember, don't be so quick to judge others.
-
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Death - JohnD
Death came to the coffee shop, I guess. I don't know. She said she was death. What do I know. She started talking about the apocalypse.
"I've come to wipe out the human race," she said. La-di-da, la-di-da. She went on and on. Seemed real upset with humans in general.
"Let me finish my coffee here and I'll help you," I told her.
"Does it look like I need your help?"
"Sure, why not?" I said. "Everyone needs help sometime or another."
Red lasers shot out from her eyes and stopped two inches from my face. I could feel the heat and it wasn't comfortable at all.
"Okay, never mind," I said. "You're very attractive, but a bit too dark for my liking."
"Attractive? You think I'm attractive even though I'm going to wipe out the human race?"
"Well what does one thing have to do with the other? I mean you've got a job to do. That's fine. You're still good looking, very good looking."
"I don't know" she answered, running her hand through her long blonde hair. She looked at me sincerely, her eyes returning to their lovely green. "Humans for the most part consider me evil."
"Well that's ridiculous. You're death. Without death, this planet wouldn't last a week."
"Right, that's exactly right... You really find me attractive, though?"
"Yes, and look I'm done with my coffee."
"So you want to help me with the apocalypse?"
"Yeah sure."
With that we left and went to my place, but we never got around to starting the apocalypse. She had to go the next morning. I wonder how she's coming along with that whole apocalypse thing.
"I've come to wipe out the human race," she said. La-di-da, la-di-da. She went on and on. Seemed real upset with humans in general.
"Let me finish my coffee here and I'll help you," I told her.
"Does it look like I need your help?"
"Sure, why not?" I said. "Everyone needs help sometime or another."
Red lasers shot out from her eyes and stopped two inches from my face. I could feel the heat and it wasn't comfortable at all.
"Okay, never mind," I said. "You're very attractive, but a bit too dark for my liking."
"Attractive? You think I'm attractive even though I'm going to wipe out the human race?"
"Well what does one thing have to do with the other? I mean you've got a job to do. That's fine. You're still good looking, very good looking."
"I don't know" she answered, running her hand through her long blonde hair. She looked at me sincerely, her eyes returning to their lovely green. "Humans for the most part consider me evil."
"Well that's ridiculous. You're death. Without death, this planet wouldn't last a week."
"Right, that's exactly right... You really find me attractive, though?"
"Yes, and look I'm done with my coffee."
"So you want to help me with the apocalypse?"
"Yeah sure."
With that we left and went to my place, but we never got around to starting the apocalypse. She had to go the next morning. I wonder how she's coming along with that whole apocalypse thing.
Monday, September 1, 2008
The Circus - Kevin
She takes his hand as they cross the parking lot toward the big top. They seem to be the only adults in sight not anchored to any eager tykes.
He looks for an excuse to pull his hand away -- maybe someone's dropped a ticket or a wallet, or maybe someone needs CPR. Not that he knows CPR, but he could stand over the person and call for help and at least then he wouldn't have to hold her hand.
Why didn't he just take his hand away? Was he that much of a coward? Well, yes. But taking his hand away would be a lot easier than what was yet to come. Under the bigtop.
He hands over their tickets and they find their seats while random clowns do random tricks down below.
From the moment they enter the tent, her eyes light up and she smiles like an awestruck 10 year old. He tries not to glance over at her. Why's she so damn happy? A voice in the deep recesses of his brain says something to him about the circus, but he's too overwhelmed to listen.
She eats popcorn and cotton candy; he never knew she liked either of those. See? he tells himself. You don't really know her at all. You two are practically strangers. You're doing the right thing.
**To be continued at:
http://sportpastime.blogspot.com
He looks for an excuse to pull his hand away -- maybe someone's dropped a ticket or a wallet, or maybe someone needs CPR. Not that he knows CPR, but he could stand over the person and call for help and at least then he wouldn't have to hold her hand.
Why didn't he just take his hand away? Was he that much of a coward? Well, yes. But taking his hand away would be a lot easier than what was yet to come. Under the bigtop.
He hands over their tickets and they find their seats while random clowns do random tricks down below.
From the moment they enter the tent, her eyes light up and she smiles like an awestruck 10 year old. He tries not to glance over at her. Why's she so damn happy? A voice in the deep recesses of his brain says something to him about the circus, but he's too overwhelmed to listen.
She eats popcorn and cotton candy; he never knew she liked either of those. See? he tells himself. You don't really know her at all. You two are practically strangers. You're doing the right thing.
**To be continued at:
http://sportpastime.blogspot.com
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Pearls- Cyndi
Her mother stood before her, looking excited and anxious at the same time. Carly stared at her, as if she were seeing her for the first time. Her mother had always been there for her through thick and thin. She was beginning to realize just how much she had taken for granted. Her mother had supported her since the death of her father when she was a baby. It now came to her- all the sacrifices that were made on her behalf, the hours of work, the time spent making memories and helping Carly to feel loved and secure growing up. Perhaps she had never really looked at her mother this way before. She just knew her as “mom”.
Carly looked her in her eyes and thought she seemed slightly shorter than she last remembered. Then there were the eyes themselves, the blue still sparkled with her mother’s spunk, but they didn’t seem quite as bright anymore. Her loving face had a few more lines and wrinkles and her graying hair was thinning in places. But to Carly, she was still a very beautiful woman. She wore a dress of mauve, with lace on the bodice and a skirt of a tasteful length. She had put a lot of time into choosing just the right dress for this occasion. For today was Carly’s wedding day.
There had been so many hours of planning, preparing for this day and their exciting new life together. And here it was, all coming true. Carly was in her elegant white gown with the tiny buttons running down the back and the flowing train trailing behind her . Her bridesmaids had helped her put on her veil. The last finishing touches were complete. The butterflies in her stomach felt like they were trying to escape but were trapped by the confining fabric of her dress. She took some deep breaths to calm her nerves. These were the last few moments before she was to walk down the aisle, and her mother had asked to have this time with her in private. Carly waited as her mother brought her hands from behind her back and presented her with a velvet box.
“These were your grandmother’s”, she said as she held it out to her. “She wore them on her wedding day and I on mine. Now it is your turn!”
Carly slowly took the box that showed signs of wear on the edges, and gingerly opened it. Inside lay a necklace of pearls. She had heard about them, and even seen them in her mother’s wedding pictures, but had never beheld them in real life. She ran her fingers lightly over the small delicate strand.
“Oh mom!” she exclaimed as she hugged the precious woman before her.
She could feel the tears of joy welling up inside, threatening her perfectly applied make-up. “I love you!”
Prompt: Pearls August 9, 2008
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