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I was taking a short day hike around the campground in Collier Memorial Park in Oregon when I met another camper/traveler and our conversation turned to current events. It was unique how on August 25, 2018, neither one of us were aware of current events, and in so many ways I felt it was a fortunate blessing. But, later in the day, when I tried … Continue reading “Chipmunks Everywhere!”
My thirty plus years of travel destinations are filled with photos and encountering people who are the inspirations for some of my creative writings ideas. In the beginning, I traveled via motorcycle across the US from coast to coast and border to border culminating with an inspiring road trip from Key West Florida to Fairbanks Alaska which planted the seed for me to consider traveling forever. … Continue reading “Cozy Confessions.”
The word “age,” is a noun, defining the length of existence from the beginning to any given time of life. Existence is the sparkle of life to be celebrated every day you awake to breathe. For many, the vanity of humanity is superficial when you deny realities reflection in a mirror. WordPress daily word prompt. Continue reading “Sparkling at any age.”
Three months ago Jill and I decided to take a break with a tropical island weekend getaway. On our last evening, I dressed adorned in my best island attire with a collared asher blue shirt, with dark blue buttons, a pair of tan Bermuda shorts, and brown leather open-toed sandals. Jill was dressed in a multi-colored floral sundress with white sandals and a white orchid … Continue reading “Atmospheric; Short story”
Hiking in the great northwest of the US brings you into contact with many types of people. My first encounter with mushroom hunters began with the honk of a horn from a passenger van when I slowed on the roadway searching for a turn to a hiking trailhead near Mount Hood National Forest. I pulled over to let the two passenger vans pass, and I followed … Continue reading “Droolling mushroom hunters.”
Landscape photography changes minute to minute, hour, by hour and daily at the White Sands National Monument in New Mexico. In these photographs, I capture a temporary moment in time, that are fleeting moments of windblown shifting sands and clouds across a sunset. Not one photo is precisely the same with winds moving clouds across the sky and sands across the lands in many directions. WordPress photo challenge. … Continue reading “Temporary photos.”
The annual sweetheart’s dance has become a coveted gala event for the 190 residents at the “Living Years Village.” And again for the third year in a row Edgar and Elizabeth Harden gingerly, soft-shoed around the dance floor strutting to the harmonizing tunes of their 1940’s big band favorites. The residents seated at their dinner tables surrounding the dance floor watching in amazement while taping … Continue reading “Centenarian love, passion, marriage, and dancing.”
I stood in the doorway of the kitchen watching my mother cooking and preparing the Thanksgiving dinner as I drooled with excitement wanting to sneak a lick of the bowls she recently mixed the german chocolate cake and its accompanying frosting. Although the aromas of faintly simmering pots filled with potatoes, assorted greens, and the infamous gravy sit on the stove. The crown jewel smell … Continue reading “Faintly simmering and being beckoned.”
There was a time in the 60’s, and 70’s when the mystery of keeping your home secure during the Halloween season was something you passed on to new neighbors. I had new neighbors who moved in two weeks before Halloween. They were a young couple without any children and the wife thought she would bake several dozen caramel popcorn balls to pass out. On Halloween … Continue reading “Halloween Neighborhood-Lessons.”
I have never really liked Halloween since the horrible calamity of 1975, for which my father tells the story with the smiling gleefulness of a teenager like it was yesterday. The events of that night have left me traumatically scared for which I have endured nightmares until this day. I was a child only 5-years of age when my mother dressed me as Casper the … Continue reading “Ghoulish.”
The end of green summer leaves leads to the transformation to various bright colors. During an October hike with crisp, breezes blowing red, yellow, purple, orange, magenta, and brown leaves floating softly to the ground. My fluffy soft wool knit cap and sweater against my skin warms my thoughts of holidays ahead. I consider drinking something warm, coating my mouth, throat, and heating my insides … Continue reading “Autumn Fluffy.”
With their annual Halloween party two days away, Erica stood in the mirror admiring her Cleopatra costume. She adjusted the black wig with a gold beaded headpiece while marveling at the matching earrings and choker necklace. She began studying the costumes sleeveless top with brightly colored gold pyramid sequined edgings, and she moved closer towards the mirror she noticed that with no bra on she … Continue reading “Mirrored Gratitude.”
The identifying trademarks were visible when the border officer lifted the tarp to reveal the cylindrical barrel. This story began after my best friend Charles and I attended the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders Football game Nov 16, 1997. Charles and I met and became close friends when we were 23-years-old, in the Marine Corp and after our time in the Corp was completed … Continue reading “Identifying Trademarks.”
My next door neighbors, Clifford and Joyce Ingram’s raised 6-children, who were born two and three years apart. When their eldest child Cynthia began playing the drums in the local elementary school band no one expected her siblings would follow in her musical footsteps. As the years passed their home was filled with the sounds of a Tenor & Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, French Horn, and … Continue reading “Cacophony: A band parents story.”g
Enlightening moments in time brings life into focus. (M. J. Leake) After thirty-nine years of marriage, three adult children, one hysterectomy, and a husband I share a love with that make me giddy as a school girl when we have a date night. I’m have become aware that I cannot control what I cannot hold or touch. I’m unable to influence or persuade my adult child, … Continue reading “Enlighten.”
After 9-months, of preparation, which included doctors visits, painting a nursery room, assembling baby furniture, storing diapers, infant clothing, and installing and securing the infant car seat in the new van. The wife and I walked in the park, walked the halls of the local mall and waited patiently for the expected birth of our first child. The release date has come and gone but … Continue reading “Expected Release.”
Do you love to dance, sing, write, sculpt, paint, or debate? What’s your favorite way to express yourself, creatively? I use words creatively in sentences, paragraphs, short stories and soon to be novels. Writing is my passionate form of expression rooted deeply in my emotions forged from my past responsibilities. I move forward into my future as a writer of all forms and genres. 🙂 With … Continue reading “Express.”
The above words are used to describe acts done by a person that if given a moment of thought many people would not perform for any reason. A person is considered brave, heroic, courageous, and daring because they did what they were supposed to do. (M. J. Leake) WordPress daily word prompt Continue reading “Brave, heroic, courageous, and daring.”
What would your daily life be without risk? Most people try to avoid risk and some at all cost while many people take a calculated risk. Since the beginning of time risk has evolved with insurance to cover death, injury, property and just about anything else. Eons ago someone cracked an egg ate the yolk raw and I bet some gaged while someone thought to … Continue reading “Risk?”
Loyalty is determined and measured by who you interact with over time. Loyalty and friendships are determined by time. Loyalty can be a long-term commitment in a relationship. Loyalty is earned, appreciated, gained, and returned. WordPress daily word prompt Continue reading “Loyalty.”
Life is like ascending a mountain one foot after another to accomplish what is desired. Standing atop of an accomplishment is a personal goal and time to reflect upon the journey it took. After ascending and conquering any of life’s challenges builds confidence to propel you to handle whatever life puts before you. WordPress daily word prompt Continue reading “Ascending.”
Succumbing to life’s temptations keeps you from being your best. Succumbing to the bitterness of life closes your mind to reconciliation. Succumbing to the fear of learning leaves you with a closed mind that never expands. Continue reading “Succumb.”
A 5-year-old girl in a playground stops to look at the flight of a butterfly. She runs around mimicking its movements to understand the butterfly’s flying motions. Several years later she learns the basics of flight and is mesmerized enough to become an aeronautical engineer. Aluel Bol http://hotinjuba.com/south-sudanese-first-female-pilot-weds-a-polygamist-photos/ Many of life’s mysteries are cloaked in darkness but a lifetime of learning builds wisdom shining a … Continue reading “Cloaked in darkness.”
The fraud you do. The fraud to deceive. The fraud to trick and cheat. The fraud for your personal gain. The fraud committed in darkness will one day see light. WordPress daily word prompt Continue reading “Fraud”
The elastic balloons cover the grounds as far as the eye can see. Ground crews hold lines as the balloons are inflated reaching heights towering towards the sky. Thousands of photographers and spectators gather every year to witness this the 46th year Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and the visuals are always memorably mesmerizing. Just about every country is represented, along with corporate businesses plus the … Continue reading “Inflated elastic beauty.”
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