Category Archives: Life

Five Minute Friday: Ready

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It’s Friday again!!  Linking up with Kate Motaung for Five Minute Friday.  If you would like to join in or learn more about it, click on the icon to the left.  Write for 5 minutes, here we go.

TODAY’S PROMPT: READY

GO…

“Is everyone ready?  It’s time to go.”  This is a very optimistic inquiry for a family of six.  Yet that is what I remember my dad saying so often when we were getting ready to go anywhere.  He was always the first one ready, waiting for everyone to pile in the car.  Yes…I did say car, and being the youngest, I always ended up squished in, in the most uncomfortable spot.  As it usually went,  it was the four of us kids and my dad waiting for my mom to get in the car.  The standing joke was that she was cleaning the house, so in case it got broken into, the thief wouldn’t be distracted by clutter.

It wasn’t until I was a mom of 4 kids myself that I understood that last minute clean up ritual; who wants to come home to a messy house? Yes, my mom was ready to go, but she was also getting ready for when we returned home.  Just like her I find myself picking up things, taking something out of the freezer to cook when we return, or turning lights on if we are going to be away well into the evening.  I guess I sometimes miss the whole “living in the moment” thing, but I found as a mom…we always have to be ready.

STOP…PENCILS DOWN

Five Minute Friday: Reach

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Five Minute Friday has moved to http://katemotaung.com. I haven’t joined in for quite awhile. I have been checking the prompts, but just couldn’t get any ideas or words together to form a coherent thought. I know…Five Minute Friday’s are really not about being all proper and eloquent, we are to just supposed to write for five minutes on the prompt provided…still can be intimidating, yet always rewarding.  If you would like to learn more about it, click on the icon to the left. So here goes, I’ve shook my head, cleared out the cobwebs and this is what I came up with:

TODAY’S PROMPT: REACH

GO…

The other day, I had an appointment. My name was called and I followed a woman back to her office, so she could get all my information. She did not say hello, she did not smile, she was doing her job. As she was doing her job gathering my information, I noticed that I was giving her short answers myself. But soon after, I realized I didn’t need to act the same way. I continued giving her my information trying to be more pleasant. She was an attractive lady, maybe around my age or younger, dressed nicely. She had on a blue blouse with white pants and white sandals. Her hair was nicely done as well (something I always notice since I was once a hairstylist). When we were done, she walked me up to the second floor to the office I needed to be in. As we walked up the stairs, I just said to her, “you know I really like your outfit, I’ve always liked the blue and white combination.” She thanked me and then proceeded to tell me that someone told her she wouldn’t be able to where the white shoes after Labor Day. I had to laugh, I didn’t think anyone followed that rule anymore, and that is what I told her. I sat down in the waiting room and she took my information to the person who needed it. As she walked past me to go back to her office, she said “(the person’s name) will be with you shortly, Carrie.” This time she was actually smiling a little.

Sometimes we just need to reach out to people, even if it is just a hello with a smile, or a compliment. Everyone is dealing with something, and we tend to just focus on ourselves.  I could have walked in silence with this stranger, lost in my own thoughts, but instead for that brief moment we shared a smile and a laugh, and I know myself I felt better, hopefully she did too.

STOP…PENCILS DOWN

Five Minute Friday: Write

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5minutefriday

Joining Lisa-Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday.  She describes it as a writing flash mob.  I’m still trying to get used to the idea of “no extreme editing; no worrying about perfect grammar, font or punctuation. Unscripted. Unedited. Real.”

If you want to join in, click on the Five Minute Friday icon at the left for all the details.

Here we go…

TODAY’S PROMPT: WRITE

BEGIN

IMG_1690aI have always liked to write.  Not so much write as in telling a story, that passion came later in life.  I’m talking about physically writing, printing, cursive, the art of penmanship.  I can remember before I entered Kindergarten, I wanted to write in cursive.  I was in awe as I watched my mom write a note.  The quick, but graceful up and down movement and flow of her hand as it would glide across the crisp white paper leaving a blue line of beautifully scrolled letters looped together to form her thoughts…her words.  Most of my Five Minute Friday posts are handwritten before I type them.  I can think better as I write.  My thoughts, emotion, character and artistry comes out in my handwritten word.

My passion to write came from reading.  I enjoy when an author writes a story that is so descriptive it’s like a movie playing in your mind’s eye.  I love to write words in such a way that you feel like you are there.  When you can smell the lavender and vanilla and the warmth of a fluffy white towel bundled in your arms fresh from the dryer.  As you walk through the woods on a crisp autumn day, the cadence of your steps and the crunch of the leaves beneath your feet, rhythmically drum away the cares of the world.  You see the deep reds and oranges of the leaves in the cool shade and the bright golden yellows illuminated by the sun that warms your soul.  A cool breeze dances around you and weaves through your hair refreshing your mind as you take in the beauty around you that you can’t deny the handiwork of The Creator.

I write, not to become famous, it’s something I enjoy doing.  If I happen to finish a novel, or someone is encouraged by my words, that’s a bonus…I write because I’m compelled to put pen to paper and write what I cannot contain in the confines of my mind.

STOP…PENCILS DOWN

Small Town with Big City Views

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5minutefriday

Five Minute Friday with Lisa-Jo Baker  write for five minutes “no extreme editing; no worrying about perfect grammar, font or punctuation. Unscripted. Unedited. Real.”

If you want to join in, click on the Five Minute Friday icon at the left for all the details.

Here we go…

TODAY’S PROMPT: SMALL

BEGIN

I grew up in a small town in Indiana, right on Lake Michigan, population 4,937.  As a teenager, my BFF and I spent our summer days laying out at the beach, gettin’ a tan.  As I sat on that beach, I could look across Lake Michigan and see the Chicago Skyline.  I was in a small town, but it was like something bigger and better was within my reach.  I moved out to the suburbs at age 19, got married and started a family, and only went back to visit my family who still live there.

Recently, my family has moved to this small town.  Not so much by choice, but by necessity. I am seeing this town again through the eyes of my teenagers, who have declared that they want to stay, and not move back to the suburbs.  It was no small move for us, my kids had to leave the friends that they grew up with, but they have adjusted well.  This is a good experience for them, and they have found a new sense of freedom.  In this small town, they got out and met a whole bunch of new friends.  At any time they can meet up with their friends since everything is in walking distance, and a lot of their friends live just right around the corner, well…everything is just right around the corner in a small town.  My kids have spent time here over the years visiting my parents.  My dad would walk with them everywhere, take them bike riding, or walk along the lake.  The town has a lot more going on now than when I was growing up, and that’s what my kids love about it.  There’s a Cruise Night every month, where old cars line the main street, while 50’s music plays in the background.  There’s a huge festival called Pierogi Fest, which celebrates the Polish and Slovak culture here with a parade, food fenders, music, contests and tons of people.  My daughter is amazed at how many people she knows and recognizes as she’s out and about with her friends, never having that experience in the suburbs.

© 2013

© 2013

She loves to take pictures and has a real eye for it, so she is especially enjoying the opportunity to take pictures with her friends in the park that sits on the lake with all it’s trees and beautiful gardens. Capturing a sun set at the beach, or the beauty of that magnificent view of Chicago.

I never tire of that view of the city across the drink.  But I see it differently now.  You don’t have to give something up, when there’s always something else within reach.

STOP…PENCILS DOWN

First Day of School

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My first born had his very first day of school today.  He was up early this morning, got himself ready, and had his backpack packed last night and he was ready to go.  I told myself I’m not going to cry, I’m not going to cry.   So as he was leaving and I had to reach up to hug his 6″ 1′ frame, I was able to smile as I looked at his clean-shaven face.  My son has been home schooled all his life, he is a senior this year and he wanted the Public High School experience.  We are now in an area where I am comfortable with this decision.  It’s a small high school in a small town.  He’s made a lot of friends already over the summer, and….we live right across the street. =]

He will be turning 18 in a couple of weeks.  It is funny how turning 18 seems so magical and you really think you’ll be an adult as you anticipate that big day.  But as a parent you realize there’s a fine line, that you wish was broader, between being a teenager and an adult, especially with boys.  But I know this experience will be good for him and I am excited and look forward to see what this year has in store for him.  But when June comes, and he’s in his cap and gown, there is no doubt, and I won’t be able to talk myself out of it…I am going to cry.