I recommend you visit Key West during the Fantasy festival with a daily schedule of events, there is something for everyone.
Category: Lessons Learned
“Their love is with me forever.”
I recently viewed the movie trailer “Green Book” scheduled for November 21, 2018, release in the US, and it triggered my thoughts about my travels
“Hiking and Backpacking Fears.”
On many occasions, my family and friends have voiced their concerns about me backpacking or hiking into the forests and deserts. They fear for my
“Hiking and backpacking fears.”
On many occasions, my family and friends have voiced they’re concerned about me backpacking or hiking into the forests and deserts. They fear for
“A patched quilt of life.”
Two weeks before Thanksgiving, I entered the local library for a book, and I saw the most incredibly beautiful king size quilt hanging on display
“A National Parks Geek.”
It was a day after the American Labor Day holiday and the unofficial end of summer. But more importantly for me, it is the demographic
“Womens Rights Museum.”
There are many unique museums and places I want to visit, learn and further understand American history. Many tourists and travelers see and reveal in
“Angry voice of gratitude.”
I will never forget the sunny Monday morning inside the coffee shop, knowing you had seen me dozens if not hundreds of times reading the
“Juxtapose, the yearly ceremony.”
Again, as usual, I am seated watching the archaic traditions leaving no assumptions for what is to happen at this ceremony that has been held every
“Vaguely bestowed history.” (short story)
Ms, Charlotte Wetzler, was seated on the main stage, looking out upon well over 500-hundred guests who are her former students and the recipients of
“Montgomery Alabama.”
On a cold rainy spring day, I toured several critical locations in the city of Mongomery Alabama which is ground zero of the Civil
“Our timeless love.”
Our family, our children, forty years we made. The mind-numbing daily routine we made. Our separate sleeping bedrooms we agreed. Because of commitments, our love
“Churn or grind.”
The daily WordPress word prompt inspires thoughtful, creative writing ideas based on the WordPress user’s past experiences with the word which can hold various meanings and
“Layers upon layers of hope.”
Attending a funeral, a retirement gathering, a college or high school graduation, of a family member or friend allows for personal self-reflection. Your thoughts peel away layers of
Betrayed and frantic, I think not!”
Since Feb I have enjoyed and settled into the Florida warmth, and because of cold temperatures, I used my backpacking pants’ less than a week.
“Blushed.”
Casandra entered the room, and I could not make eye contact, She walks past my table, and I look down at my paper, I sensed
“Travel guts: A special mode of travel.”
For over forty years I have traveled around the US for which my family and friends were astonished by the journey and marveled at the
Travel Fears? “Carpe-Diem”
Within the imaginations of everyone who’s creative ideas and thoughts are inspired or influenced by anything seen on television, read in a book or magazine, can
“Travel, what title?”
When I began traveling in the late 80’s upon a 1987 Kawasaki touring motorcycle around the US, I never created or was bewildered with a
“Inscrutable trill silhouetted in front of me.”
I was scared almost out of my seat when Sister Abigale screamed at the top of her lungs forcing all of the fifth-grade students to
“I’m candid, fairly agile living on island time.”
I was born and raised in the Adirondacks in Upstate New York, and the first time I saw photos of a beach, I dreamed of
“The next dominant generation.”
I am a part of what some people call the greatest generation. When I consider how my parents who lived with nothing close to the
“Blink.”
Fortunately, during my lifetime I have recorded hundreds of hours of video with accompanied thousands of photos of my now adult children. My recorded library
“Candid.”
Be candid with me, I can take it. Honesty is the best policy when the truth is the foundation for any relationship. However, many lies
“Study.”
As the college semester comes to an end, the mood of the students on the entire campus becomes stressfully solemn. Every nook and cranny is
“Loophole.”
For twenty years’ or more, the theater’s dancers have taken a ten-minute break every hour during any rehearsal no matter how long they rehearsed. Three
“Winsome Characters.”
When a child is born, they are an unwritten computer program learning from parents teachers and society.
M. J. Leake
“Treated reservations.”
If you are lucky, your life will treat you to various forms and types of reservations. I have had room and dinner reservations and I
“A blogger conversation.”
The first daily word prompt “conversation” is appropriate to begin 2018 since a blog post initiates a conversation between bloggers around the world. Four years
“Finally 2017 ending, now 2018!”
Finally, with the end of 2017, the entire world is looking forward to 2018 with incredible optimism. Many people around the world will begin new
A traveler’s miraculous discovery
Wanderer, your footsteps are the road, and nothing more; wanderer, there is no road, the road is made by walking. Antonio Machado A wannabe traveler’s
“Legendary Inheritance.”
Fifteen years have passed since international Dodgeball star Lucas Leonard Lopez was seen on the court. However, his eldest son Lewis Leonard Lopez has followed
“A lifetime of Jolly degrees of happiness and varnish layers of love.”
During anyone’s life, there are jolly times filled with degrees of ups and downs, covered with varnishing layers of love. A life is filled with
“Sparkling at any age.”
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
“Music’s dubious riffs.”
During our annual concert, my high school’s jazz ensemble was playing before a packhouse of parents, students political dignitaries. We played several pieces that excited
“Centenarian love, passion, marriage, and dancing.”
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
“Halloween Neighborhood-Lessons.”
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
“Ghoulish.”
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
“Autumn Fluffy.”
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,
“Identifying Trademarks.”
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
“Cacophony: A band parents story.”g
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
“Enlighten.”
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
“Express.”
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,
“Risk?”
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
“Loyalty.”
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
“Ascending.”
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
“Succumb.”
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
“Cloaked in darkness.”
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
“Fraud”
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
“Exceptional Mistake.”
Mistakes are a part of life because life comes with morals but not application instructions. Mistakes of the heart usually provide a second chance. Mistakes
“Focused, divided attention and multitasking”
The term “laser focused” is associated with academics and athletics. To reach this level of concentration takes months, years and decades of mental and physical
“”Penchant for poo.”
As a child growing up, I always had Labrador Retrievers as pets, and one of my chores was picking up after the dog. When I
“Sympathetic Peculiarities.”
The peculiarities of life and death manifest itself before, during, and after stressful painfilled tragic events. Personal reflections and contemplation about life, its meaning, and
“I am Pricelessly, Critical, to Continue.”
My last posting “Enamored with nature,” apparently was my 1000th blog post on WordPress. 🙂 My priceless blog life began 2013 when I signed up
“Dare-Devil Great Grandmother.”
Six months ago, I was with twenty-one of my family members to watch my youngest great-granddaughter tandem parachute from a plane 12000 feet above the
“A collection of July’s daily words.”
A thoughtful writer can be a passenger with a quill and pen, tethered to a desk, plucking ideas of an original savage plot or caper
“Patches covering magical molds of clay.”
You are a magical mold of clay, forever developing to become what you want to be. Overcoming your fears allowing dreams to discover what is
“Creatives, creativity, create.”
The human imagination has an unlimited capacity for creative ideas of any skill, form, and type beyond unknown insightful visions. Creatives can spend many years
” The Band; Brass, Drums, and Reeds.”
Every band member in the marching and orchestra bands maintains a solidarity based on the instrument they have played their entire lives. Those who play
“Notorious Farce.”
When I was asked to speak here today, I was reticent because for the past three years I have looked upon you all seated here
“Pursuing.”
By pursuing the definition of you, which should last a lifetime, you must be open-minded of your past and present, for a better future. Pursuing,
“Temporary.”
Temporarily I will become a better person. The person I was yesterday was temporary. Temporarily, I exercise to feel better. The person in my mirror
“Control?”
Control is a powerful word, meaning authority to guide or manage something or someone. But for me, the word instantaneously brings to mind 1987, Janet
“Resist.”
With the first month of 2017 in the review mirror, many New Years resolutions have fallen prey to various forms of temptations. For those who
“Wedding Invitations,”
I attended two weddings accompanied by my special someone who excited my mother with the possibilities of our marriage one day. When my mom attended
“Crossing.”
I imagine the incredible permutations of the root word, “cross,” and the various meaning and uses in the English language are incredible. Of course, immediately
Human communication has evolved but not vanity.
Recently I overheard a baby-boomer speak of never wanting to use the facetime feature of their mobile phone when taking with their grandchildren or family
” Moody; Bah-Humbug!”
Eighty-seven-year-old Wilbur Wainwright, the owner of a window installation company, based in Ottumwa Iowa, began the business sixty-three years ago. He married once, divorced within
“Christmas Folly & Martyr.”
Robert Avenell; During Thanksgiving dinner, the Avenell brothers were enamored with an old 1950’s Sears & Robuck catalog their Uncle Rosco brought to the holiday
“Travel Conundrum the weather.”
For two months my travel conundrum has been cool to cold daytime temperatures in Tucson Arizona and now Galveston TX. I had also come to
“Irksome, Short Story #1.”
Hello, fellow blog post followers. In the coming weeks, some of WordPress’s daily word prompts responses will revolve around Jeffery and Jaqueline Lehman and their
“Bridges.”
Life is bridged with decisions and choices to last a lifetime. All bridge crossing is fraught with insecurities and doubts that remain consistent throughout
Value & Loss
Everyone on this planet places a value on land, i.e., property along with inanimate items like homes, cars, furniture, electronics, food, and money. Are all
“Shiver.”
During the winter month’s my mother always dressed me warmly with a thick heavy coat, gloves, knit cap and a pair of rubber boots for
“Cheats & Mistakes.”
In the Spring of 1963, Malcolm Milton University’s spring mid-term testing was in its final hours. Tenured History Professor, Wilbur Wilshire was shocked and astonished
“Learning. “
Learning is a desire within many people or is it? For some learning is completed upon high school graduation yet college graduates become annoyed or
Complicated
So, life is relatively easy. You are born, you love parents, family friends, and caregivers Follow the basic moral rules of life, don’t lie, cheat,
“Generational divide”
Over the past one hundred years, generational divides are usually a contentious issue within families. I suspect, during the period between 1920 and 1960, the
Surface versus Fear
The surface of life is easily visible to the human eye. Fear prevents verbal interaction which would build discoveries. Our surface is what we project.
“The things we leave behind.”
The things we leave behind are the things we collected because they were the must-haves of the moment. After fifteen trips to the local Good-Will
“Guest”
I was at my favorite coffee house when I read WordPress’s daily word prompt “Guest.” I noticed employees using direct eye contact, greeting the customers
“Desert, which one?”
After an argument, I deserted my wife for the solitude and warmth of the desert, where I enjoyed the chocolate cake she made for dessert.
“Darkness”
Because of humans inability to see in the darkness, the human imagination compensates and creates fear and mystery of the unknown of what their eyes
“Prophecy”
Those who have the ability of prophecy have an enormously incredible talent, and for centuries many have claimed this unique ability. Their predictions have
“Perfection”
The word “perfection” defines flawless, or faultless, as possible. Perfection is often used to describe people, inanimate objects, an athlete or team and for some
“Everybody dies, but not everybody lives.”
Time is motion, always moving never stopping, moments pass into minutes, into hours, into days, weeks, months, and years. Seeing children grow into adults, we
“Understanding”
The world needs to eat from a three layered marble cake of understanding, tolerance, and compromise covered with tastefully sweet rainbow icing on a platter
“Angry”
Angry shown to someone you love been eventually involves an apology. Angry is the emotion that eventually involves an apology. Angry can be useful yet;
“Legacy”
Write a response to the one-word prompt, “Legacy.” The writing prompt “Legacy” causes me to consider humanities legacy of how writing tools have evolved. The
“The Road Less Traveled”
Pinpoint a moment in your past where you had to make a big decision. Write about that other alternate life that could have unfolded. Many
“Say Your Name”
Write about your first name: Are you named after someone or something? Are there any stories or associations attached to it? If you had the
“Not Lemonade”
When life gives, your lemons make something else. Tell us about a time you used an object to resolve a tricky situation in an unorthodox
“YAWN”
What Bores You? I’m rarely bored but, in my past, public speakers who were unable to capture an audience’s attention have always been a complete
“Sink or Swim”
Tell us about a time when you were left on your own, to fend for yourself in an overwhelming situation — on the job, at
“New Sensation”
Ah, sweet youth. No matter whether you grew up sporting a fedora, penny loafers, poodle skirts, bell-bottoms, leg warmers, skinny jeans; Madonna-Inspired net shirts and
“Polite Company”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Polite Company.” “It’s never a good idea to discuss religion or politics with people you don’t really
“The Guilt that Haunts Me”
Share a time when you were overcome with guilt. What were the circumstances? How did you overcome your guilt? On a warm mid-July evening, I
“Breaking the Law”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Breaking the Law.” Think about the last time you broke a rule (a big one, not just
