V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #71: wait

November 4, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

I’m sitting in the passenger seat of our parked car, waiting while Ric runs in to pick up a few groceries. This is our normal routine. He shops; I wait. Confession: I am not good at waiting. I have this compulsive need to fill each minute of the day with productivity. So I thumb through […]

Close Encounter

November 3, 2019.Reading time 4 minutes.

The year was 1964. I was six, and just barely tall enough to see out the kitchen window. I remember it was dark, so I wasn’t bothered too much with what was on the other side, until I saw the flashing lights. Mom and Grandma were stood there with me – we had dishes duty […]

Shades of Green

November 2, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

All is green, come summer here, the river and its banks, and the rolling fields of corn. For Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Green.

Summer Stragglers

October 25, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Other blooms may fade,succumbing to Autumn’s chill –Snapdragons stand tall. (For Cee’s Flower of the Day.)

Layered

October 23, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Above, below, in the middleso many layers to small town life The perceived but a reflectionideals mirrored in stillness some layers more transparent –a pie-lovers paradise. For Lens-Artists Weekly Photo challenge: layered.

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #69: kindle

October 21, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

My gears are seizing up; creativity sabotaged by self-doubts. The inner critic declares my efforts worthless. My paints sit dormant. I fear stagnation. “I need something to kindle my inspiration,” I tell my artist friend. Together we visit a local artisan’s workshop. A listing of art classes informs us of an upcoming sketching class. We […]

Never Too Old To Play

October 20, 2019.Reading time 2 minutes.

“Do you know where your wife is?” the man across from me spoke into his cell phone. I could hear my husband’s laughter from across the table. I wore a long black robe that rustled about me as I strutted through the room, fluff from my feather boa leaving a trail. A sparkling tiara perched […]

Safe Lines

October 19, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Reassured, are weby the lines that definesolid constraintsto protect, or guide Not meant to obscure,although intended to shapeI follow some lines,can appreciatively conform outside the linesis more my naturepurely intellectuallya promise I make. (For Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: lines)

Candid

October 16, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

I vowed I wouldn’t show photos of people on screens for this challenge, but then I couldn’t resist the serious look of these two cousins ” Just watching something, Grandma.” A family walk is much more satisfying – at least from my perspective. Then I caught this fellow and I couldn’t help but sneak a […]

Sun and Water

October 15, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Sun meets waterin a tranquil kiss a perfect pairingnature’s bliss. (For Nancy Merrill’s A Photo A Week challenge: sun and water.)

Monday Mood: Exhausted

The events of the past few weeks, plus the rain, seemed to have caught up with me. Day’s goal: rest, rest, and more rest. (Photo mine)

End the Fray

This breach –this ever-widening gapfear inducedpits usagainst themas if humanitycan be dividedsalvationa selective process. We need a balmto soothe societalwounds, a tonicto calm the angstuntil clarityquells the uproarand kindnessreplaces this sin. (Poem originally appeared June 2019. Image my own)