- Play with my pups
- Sit outside and listen to an audiobook
- Water Aerobics
- Chair Yogs
- Walk the Dogs
- Hot shower
- Massage chair (work) lunch time!
- I am actually thinking about purchasing one. It really helps with my back pain.
A Single Encounter
Daily writing prompt
Describe a random encounter with a stranger that stuck out positively to you.
Based on actual events….
For years, she had dodged the well-meaning friends who wanted her to meet some sweet gentleman because they could not bear the thought of her spending the rest of her life alone. After three failed relationships that broke her heart and hurt her pride, she was content to call it quits. Thankfully, she often reminded herself, that she only married one of these men. Over the years, she came to understand that she must have some secret penchant for bad boys since each “good” boy she met had a fondness for blondes and alcohol, and not necessarily in that order.
“Just come over and have drinks and meet him. If you don’t like him, you can always leave,” chided Bobby. The two women had been best friends since they met in sixth grade.
“No, I don’t want to meet anyone. I am through. Besides, I think I need to come with a warning label because I find that I get involved with closet alcoholics, or I drive men to drink which could be a genuine possibility,” Amy replied. “I know you mean well, but if you really love me, you will drop this nonsense. I am happier on my own.”
And for the most part, she meant it. After her separation, Amy felt as if she had risen from the dead. Although she attended college and was earning a teaching degree, she found time to write again. It was exhilarating to write. She loved all of it, even the endless research and the essays that came with it. Since her daughter was older, she started writing for the pure magic of it all too. Through college courses and on the advice of friends and professors, she began submitting her work. She enjoyed seeing her work in print. Her writing made her feel alive again.
And then it happened again, not once but twice. Two more men, who swept her off her feet, made charming promises, offered love and adventure, and then broke her heart into a million pieces. The first was another who loved blondes. The second was another who drowned his sorrows in the bottle. And this time, she knew her romantic life was cursed, and she swore she would remain alone. Many of her friends fussed and fretted about her choice, yet Amy was quite content with this decision. Staying single offered such a wondrous freedom, for she often found that she lost herself in her relationships and stopped doing the things she enjoyed most.
Over the last four years since her previous heartbreak, she started living the life she imagined once again. Teaching kept her busy as well as her little house nestled in a prairie with sweeping mountain vistas that offered spectacular sunsets. In the evenings, the city lights from the east sparkled. Her home was such a welcoming haven, well when she wasn’t battling tumbleweeds and gophers; that is. Still, she found herself happily devouring interior design magazines that showcased warm cottage homes, and she found herself dreaming once more of her little cottage creation. She added two little pups to the mix, and she began writing again too. Life was perfect.
Yep, life was perfect until the day she had her oil changed, and her tires rotated. After handing her keys to the attendant, she made her way into the waiting area. She set her caramel coffee creation on the end table and scanned the reading material. Leavings of yesterday’s paper lay crumpled on one end table. Popular Mechanic, Field and Stream, and Bowhunting were strewn across a coffee table. Across from her sat a man who glanced up and smiled as she looked over the slim pickings of reading material.
“I guess I will have to bring in some Women’s Day and Country Living to help some of the female clients out. Although I know my granddaughter would enjoy the hunting magazine,” she told the man across from her.
He smiled, and the two began talking. They chatted for almost an hour about children and hunting, and their love of the outdoors. And as she watched, he smiled. She noticed his smile reached to eyes and crinkled when he laughed. This man and woman talked nonstop, and they spoke as if they were old friends who just happened to run into each other, just out of the blue. And when the attendant came and told her that her car was ready, the two kept on visiting. Finally, she stood, so that she could pay her bill. He followed her into the reception area and waited across the room. When she looked up, he was watching her. She still didn’t want to leave, but she felt awkward and didn’t know what to do. She waved to him and told him that she enjoyed visiting with him. He nodded and smiled. Slowly, she walked to her car while secretly hoping he would follow her. No such luck, she slipped into her car, and as she pulled out of the parking lot, she noticed that he had stepped up to the window and watched as she drove away.
And here she was, still one week later, thinking about the man she briefly met. The woman who vowed to stay single could not stop thinking about the man with warm brown eyes that made her heart beat faster.
Photo by Chris Lynch on Unsplash
Walking Away
Daily writing prompt
Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.
One tough decision I made in the past was to walk away from unfavorable relationships. It was not an easy decision, but one that was necessary for my own well-being. Although it was uncomfortable in the beginning, over time, I gained peace of mind as I left the unpleasant connection behind. Through it all, I have gained contentment and stability. Sometimes, no matter how hard a person tries, some relationships cannot be salvaged.
My Daughter
My daughter has been such a joy in my life, and when circumstances in my life go sideways, she is my rock. In addition, she goes out of her way to create extra special moments to make me smile.
One year, a Van Gogh art exhibit came to Denver and although I never said a word about wanting to attend, my daughter surprised me with tickets for Mother’s Day. She knows her mama and remembered that I loved art history and the Impressionists. We had such a lovely day. This mama is truly blessed!
By Vincent van Gogh – Transferred from the English Wikipedia, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4603625
Kat’s
One favorite restaurant is a family sports bar and grill, Kat’s Pour House, which is located close to home. The food is wonderful, and it’s just a fun place to hang out with family and friends. I love their buffalo burgers, fish and chips, and quesadillas. But since I have to be careful with my food choices, I do not eat my favorites very often. But I do enjoy their salad selections too. It’s just a relaxing place to catch up with old friends and family.
High School
One of the best lessons I learned in high school was the joy of making friends and the importance of those lasting relationships.
The Adventures of Having Six Children
One of my favorite tales occurred after Leslie and Aaron started their lives together with their six children, who ranged in age from three to thirteen. The couple had their hands full with their sweet crew, but everyone pitched in when it came time to complete their chores. Still, the best-laid plans can still go awry.
One spring, my daughter did her usual seasonal cleaning, going through closets and donating items to the local thrift store. And yes, she made the kids help.
A few days later, while I visited with my daughter on the phone, she was shopping at this local thrift store. She was going through the clothes when she stumbled across her favorite denim jacket, which she could not find. One of the kids had placed it in the donation bag! She told me she had to buy it back! At that moment, I laughed until I cried. I couldn’t speak as tears ran down my cheeks. She hung up on me since I could no longer communicate because I could not stop laughing. The clerk witnessed her actions and chastised her for hanging up on her mama. When Leslie explained what happened and how the kids “helped” with the spring cleaning chore, the clerk told her to call her mom back and tell her, “Haha, I didn’t have to pay for it.” Good Times!
Yoga
One positive change that I have made in my life is incorporating chair yoga into my weekly activities. The stretches and poses have helped ease arthritis pain and the pain of my back injury, and it has helped me become more flexible. Some stretches and poses are so relaxing, that I even sleep better at night! Win Win!
Anne
Daily writing prompt
If you could be a character from a book or film, who would you be? Why?
If I could be a character from a book or movie, the child within would definitely be Anne of Green Gables. I loved the series of books and the movies. What a character, this Anne!
Plate facing p. 156 of the first edition of Lucy Maud Montgomery‘s Anne of Green Gables
Dogs!
I truly believe that dogs are a man’s best friend, or more precisely, a woman’s best companion. Each furbaby has its own unique personality, and most know how to wiggle its way into the hearts of a loving owner. Every dog that I have ever owned has loved unconditionally and has provided endless amusement and enjoyment. The only drawback is that our pups do not live long enough!
Photo by Hannah Lim on Unsplash
Tales of a Family 