VJ’s Weekly Challenge #124: embarrassing moments

December 7, 2020.Reading time 2 minutes.

Assigned to teach Civics, a dry subject in itself, I looked for ways to keep the class engaged. One day we were examining the language of some bill or another (can’t remember which) and in order to break the painful disinterest, I decided to read it out loud in my best imitation of the Queen […]

Warrior Child

December 6, 2020.Reading time 3 minutes.

“I am Bwana! Wild woman of the Amazon!” This the declaration of my 5-year-old self, who left to her own devices, would wander the nearby woods for hours each day, living like a feral child. No idea where the “bwana” came from, and pretty sure I did not know what the Amazon was, but such […]

VJ’s Weekly Challenge #123: warrior

November 30, 2020.Reading time less than 1 minute.

That’s my warrior self. (Well, one of them.). Now tell me about yours. Looking forward to these responses. To participate, create a post and leave a link, or comment below. All welcome.

The Call That Never Happened

November 29, 2020.Reading time 1 minute.

I called you.That one time.Poured my heart out…such despair. I called you.You weren’t there.Left a message –garbled wordsrushed to beatinevitable beep. Regret immediatethen panicineradicable the outpouring of a lonely heartfantasizing. I called you.You didn’t answer.You never called back. Thank you for that. *** This week, I challenged us to think about phone calls that changed […]

VJ’s Weekly Challenge #122: the phone call

November 23, 2020.Reading time 3 minutes.

“Do you have time to talk?” Sweet of her to ask, my 93-year-old mother. Of course I have time.“What’s up Mom?”“I’ve been thinking that before I die, I should call Karen. What do you think?” I draw a blank. “Who is Karen?”“Reg’s other daughter – she doesn’t know he was her Dad, and well, since […]

Intimacy without Boundaries

November 22, 2020.Reading time 3 minutes.

The thing about my mother and I is that the intimacy has not always been healthy. The roles have mostly been reversed from the first meltdown that I witnessed at age five to the second when I was just twelve and then again when I was fifteen. I don’t know where Mom went in those […]

Mourning Skies?

November 21, 2020.Reading time less than 1 minute.

For Hammad Rais’ Weekend Sky.

The Hunted

November 20, 2020.Reading time less than 1 minute.

For Bird Weekly Photo Challenge: Birds that are hunted or consumed.

VJ’s Weekly Challenge #121: intimacy

November 16, 2020.Reading time 1 minute.

This week, I want to talk about intimacy. For many years, I limited thoughts of intimacy to sexuality, however; age and challenges have altered that perception. The desire for intimacy remains. Defining what that is has become a recurring question. Then I came across K E Garland’s post: Mental Health Matters: Learning to Be Intimate, […]

Hooray for Frivolity

November 15, 2020.Reading time 1 minute.

From impulsesto the sublimeinitiations andwillingness to dream We defend, fretfantasizeprioritizestill frivolityirrepressible rears its headdemands expressiona worthy investmenta smile-worthy write. Thanks to all for your not-so-frivolous writes this week. The poem is a summary of your words and ideas. Image my own. radhikasreflection, The Dilemma!Reena Saxena, SublimeEASTELMHURST.A.GO.GO, The InitiationHeart to Heart, Dreams and desires….I Write Her, […]

Present Distance

I’ve lived the fog of distance –life’s highway a series of hillsdestination without promise Have learned that acceptance gains perspective,that climates change, and hope sustains,and that in stillness dreams renew. Now I travel quieter paths, appreciatespace, have surrendered to a slower pace –certain that this too will change. (image my own)

Floral Balm

Of Trauma Born

Goodbyes tarnishfaith, like ashesscattered My heart grows dismissal,craves a balm of connectionseeks quiet harbour Remind me what it feels like to be safebreath nurturing life,love a rhythmic flow In meditationI reach for peaceimagine salvation But this wayward chaosunrestrainedcements me in doubt Tainted intentionsI lift up to the Universea tempest without hope My soul incubates malicea […]