#FWF Free Write Friday: Keepsakes
I haven’t done a Free Write Friday post since August I think! I know I am horrible when it comes to keeping up with series, but I liked today’s prompt and decided to do it. So here goes! Enjoy!
Free writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, or grammar. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Each Friday Kellie Elmore posts a prompt for everyone to write off of. Check out the site to see all prompts and start Free Write Friday your own.
Here is Today’s Prompt: 
I think we all have that one special item we cherish. Something gifted to us by someone we love, someone who has passed, someone we want to remember. A locket from a friend, a ring from your grandmother, a watch from your father…or maybe it is simply a memory, a moment in time that we will never forget. Write about your special keepsake…
The thing most cherishable to me has always been my journals. I know it sounds weird, but I have never had that special “thing” like an necklace or a ring (well I suppose my wedding ring would count) that has held as much value to me as my journal. Before the wonderful invention of SkyDrive (where I know keep all my old journals backed up to) I always use to say that if there was ever a fire the one thing I’d grab (besides family and pets of course) would be the external harddrive to my computer. Well over the years I have found external harddrives not very reliable and therefor was so happy when they invited Cloud Technology!
My journals represent my memories. They document my life. Not all my journals get posted publicly on this site. Yes, I am admitting it right here and now – I do still have some private journals hidden away from view. But private or public – they represent me. They are my memories frozen in time.
They are my special keepsakes …
#FWF Free Write Friday: Version 25
Free writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, or grammar. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Each Friday Kellie Elmore posts a prompt for everyone to write off of. Check out the site to see all prompts and start Free Write Friday your own.
Here is Today’s Prompt: Try to use all of the words. Let’s see what’s inspired…
Please Note: The Following Is Fictional & Does Not Reflect Real Life Events
In the best elocution I can possibly think of, I am going to sit here and tell you what occurred. It was the year 1972 back when 8-tracks still existed and diodes were still used in vacuum tubes, and Tracey and I were heading homeward bound down the I-40 from L.A. to Phoenix. We had just spent a salacious weekend with her family in downtown L.A. attending L.A.’s Pride Weekend in celebration of her two dad’s 10 year wedding anniversary. I know it’s the year 1972! Homosexuality is not very popular yet, not even in L.A., but it does still exist and Tracey’s family is proof of that. It was a very bustle filled weekend!
Anyway Tracey and I hitched a ride in her old 1969 Cheval at the butt crack of dawn to head back to Phoenix as to beat rush hour traffic. Yes even in 1972 there was rush hour traffic. Anyway we had decided to stop at an old Route 66 Drive Up between Needles and Kingman. Tracey ordered a regular Coca Cola and I decided to order a Cherry Malt which was a big mistake. The thing was so froth it was disgusting. I couldn’t even get a spoon to go all the way through it. It was coarse as a horse’s main if you ask me. It was like it had coagulated for too long. Was I the only person to order a malt in the last month? That’s what it seemed like to me. It was rancid!
So when we drove by Kingman we pulled off the 40 and stopped at a gas station that had a little deli inside. I got a deli sandwich and a nice piece of cherry pie. The cherry filling was to die for. It tasted homemade and I am sure it was.
Had we not stopped at the Route 66 dinner on our way to Kingman I never would have stopped and had the best Cherry Pie of my life. Now for 40 some odd years I still drive by there on my way to L.A. in the hopes that the gas station and inside deli would still be open. It closed in 1992.
Free Write Friday: Version 24
Free writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, or grammar. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Each Friday Kellie Elmore posts a prompt for everyone to write off of. Check out the site to see all prompts and start Free Write Friday your own.
Here is Today’s Prompt:
Taking the road less travelled seems to be the story of my life. I don’t know how many numerous times I can sit here and tell you about a time I took the road less travelled, and yes it really has made all the difference.
“Oh Justin is a troubled one. His mother is always having issues with him” – Lisa Brooks
“Justin Lenox is a freak! A psychotic, obsessive, stalkerish freak! Just be thankful you don’t know your neighbor!” – Tom Lenal
“He’s gay, Ann! Let it go! Pick the next guy!” – Amber Brooks
“Justin was nice to me until he found out I had a crush on him. Unless Justin likes you back, he treats you like shit once he finds out your crushing over him! Oh, Justin Lenox is the guy you will learn to love to hate!” – Randy Wells
“Haha! Justin Lenox! Stay away from him!”- Aaron Hix
Everyone told me to stay away. Everyone! But I tend to not listen to what EVERYONE tells me to do.
“Hi,” I said shyly shaking his hand. “You must be Justin?”
“Yes, and who are you?” he asked.
“My name is Ann Mathews.”
The road less travelled by most has made all the difference in the world.
But I think we all can remember a moment when maybe we should have walked away. We should have turned back before we got too far down the road. What if I had turned back? What if I had stopped about 1/4 of the way down the road and turned back around and went down the road travelled by most. How would my life be different?
“No!” I shouted. “What happened? What’s wrong?” I asked panic stricken looking around at the scene in front of me.
“Go home, Ann Mathews! You don’t need to be apart of this!”
“I already am!” I shouted.
“Ann, I will not tell you again!” James yelled.
“I won’t go home! How can I help?” I asked.
“You can take Justin inside and clean the blood off his hands and clothes. Then I highly suggest you burn all the evidence,” James sighed. “What are you doing Ann? Justin isn’t worth this! Go home!” James whisppered coming up to me. “Just go home!”
“No! I once told him a true friend helps you burry the body with no questions asked. I’ve put up with a lot of shit from him. I’m not turning back now.”
“You’re a fool, Ann Mathews!” James laughed. “But one day I hope he sees what a true friend he has in you. Just take care of him. Timothy and I will do the rest.”
The road less travelled is a road once you start on you cannot go back. No matter what. No matter the consequences or the situation – the road less travelled is a permanent choice.
Sometimes that road will lead you to disaster, but if it does you take the next fork in the road and hope that it’s the right one. Just don’t look back because life’s not about sitting there questioning if you made the right choice and went down the right road. Life’s about continuing on and hoping the next fork and path leads you to a happier tomorrow.
“You don’t even know your own boyfriends name? Oh right he’s boyfriend number 2 of the week,” I said with an eye roll. “And why shouldn’t we do this?”
“Because it goes against everything you’ve always stood for.”
“Yeah well everything I’ve ever stood for has landed me here. Besides Bobby and I are done, Justin. I stopped wearing my engagement ring a month ago.”
“It’s been what? Almost three years since you and I have done this,” he said.
“Yeap. It has been. Three years exactly. I started dating Bobby a little over three years ago,” I said.
“Alright, let’s just do it and get it over with!”
“Now, Justin, that’s what you said to me the first time we ever had sex. I would think after five years of friendship you’d be a little bit more romantic,” I laughed.
“Mmmm … yeah! No! You’re still a female Ms. Mathews!” he laughed.
“And you’re still gay, but hey when did that ever stop us before,” I laughed as he pushed me onto the bed and our lips embraced into a passionate kiss.
Two roads divide – which one do you chose? And what happens when you do reach a cross road. What happens when the fork in the road presents itself to you and you are forced to choose. Right or left … which way should you go?
“No!” I demanded folding my arms.
“You really think this is going to work out?” he laughed. “After everything we have been through! You are betraying me for some guy you have known like two seconds!”
“I love him!”
“You haven’t even been dating him for fucking 3 months! You don’t know a damn thing about love!”
“And you do? The guy who a year ago had more boyfriends then he knew what to do with!” I laughed. “You are unbelievable!”
“Get in the car!” he yelled grabbing my arm and pulling me towards the car.
“Let me go!” I screamed.
“You are going back to Tucson tonight!” he yelled. “You’re moving in with Elliot and I and you’re going to forget ever knowing Kristopher Hall!”
“Why the hell do you hate him so much?” I screamed. “What did he ever do to you besides date Josh Randolph!”
“He was engaged to Josh Randolph! And your deliciousnal obsession with him must have made you forget that you and I once made a pact to never date anyone connected to Josh!”
“That was years ago, Justin! Years ago! Why you still hold so much animosity towards Josh I shall never understand! He threatened you once and he probably forgot about it the next day, but you for eight years have done nothing but obsessive over it! Let it go!”
“Fine! Let’s not make this about Josh then. Let’s just make it about Kris! You’re willing to throw an eight year friendship away for a guy who probably doesn’t really love you. He did like dick for ten years and the last time I checked you don’t just wake up when day and like pussy again!” he exclaimed. “And don’t make me mention the other reason why you shouldn’t be with him!”
“You are such a hypocrite!” I yelled pulling out of his grasp.
“You either get in that car or you and I are done!”
“Then we’re done!” I shouted walking back towards the patio door to my room.
“I mean it Ann Mathews! We’re done! Over! I never want to fucking see you again and I will go out of my way to make your life hell!!”
“Fine!” I said closing the door in his face.
We all make choices. And each choice not only affects us but everyone around us.
“And you?” I asked.
“I get to live with the guilt for the rest of my life,” he cried.
“I would say I’m sorry, but you brought this on yourself.”
But at the end of the day – no matter what road we take or what fork is presented to us – I think everything happens for a reason. People leave your life so you can learn to grow. People come into your life so you can heal. And life takes you on different paths so you can experience. Yes, everything happens for a reason and no matter what road or what path you take – you’ll always end up right where you’re supposed to be.
“I’m not!” he exclaimed. “I got a job offer. I’m taking it. And Elliot can go work for the police department here. He’s kind of band from working anywhere in the Tucson area right now. So it’s not uproating my life. Besides that’s what friends do. They are there when you need them.”
“So you’re really moving back to Lakeworth?”
“Yeah. It’ll be like old times. Justin and Ann taking over the town,” he laughed.
“I’m sure it’ll be great times.”
“You know I’d do anything for you, right? You were always there for me, Ann. I can’t count how many times you saved my life. I want you to know I’ll always be here for you.”
“But I know you never wanted to move back here. You don’t have to for me. I’ll be fine.”
“Yes I do. You gave up so many years and so many things for me. I will spend the rest of my life repaying you, and if being here now for you will help repay you back, then I’ll be here. Let me be here for you Ann. You were once my reason for life. Let me be yours!”
All roads lead you home.
And no – to answer all of your questions – I don’t regret ANY of the roads I have taken so far in my life because like I said – all roads will eventually lead you to right where you need to be.
Quotes and Experts taking from An Affair of the Mind/After the Affair Series. To read the entire story of Ann Mathews and Justin Lenox – Read the Affair of the Mind Series only at SarahAHall.Com
Read MoreFree Write Friday: v.23
Free writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, or grammar. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Each Friday Kellie Elmore posts a prompt for everyone to write off of. Check out the site to see all prompts and start Free Write Friday your own.
Here is Today’s Prompt: Surprise! It’s a wordle! Use all of the words to create a masterpiece!
As I stand with my feet planted on the ground in Alabaster, Alabama, I can’t help but notice the beauty of the South. I had never been down to Alabama before. Actually scratch that, I’ve never been to the South before. The closest I got was Tennessee and even then I was far too young to even remember anything. I feel rather jaded at times. There are so many parts of this beautiful country I have yet to explore. At the ripe age of 50, one would think I would have explored at least fifty percent of the United States, but sadly I think I have only explored twenty-five, and half of that I was too young to even remember.
The one thing that stood out to me the most when entering Alabaster was the intrinsic apple tree that stood right at the edge of town. This apple tree gave the town some sort of intrinsic to it. For a small population, Alabaster is a rather unique town in the simple fact its night life is something to be desired. The only reason I even find myself stepping foot into the small town is because I have a gig up at the Old Shadow Bar at 11p.m. tonight. Yes, I will be one of the girls stripping for some extra cash. Do not judge me. The night life of Alabaster is what keeps the town known. Without it the town would be rather aloof especially at 11p.m. at night.
But here it stood, at the age of town a lonely little apple tree. I only mention this because it is the one thing that caught my attention when entering and leaving the town. Maybe it was some sort of magical moment, but I swear as I left the crazy, mysterious town of Alabaster I saw an apple falling from the tree. Then again my imagination does like to play tricks on me.
Please Note: I know NOTHING about the town of Alabaster, Alabama! This short fictional piece was meant ONLY for fictional purposes! I am sure there is NO Old Shawdow Bar in Alabaster, and I am pretty sure that the town is probably really aloof after 11 p.m. at night!
Free Write Friday: Empathy – v.22
Free writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, or grammar. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Each Friday Kellie Elmore posts a prompt for everyone to write off of. Check out the site to see all prompts and start Free Write Friday your own.
Here is Today’s Prompt:
Empathy: I believe the world has lost what the word ‘empathy’ means.
People are selfish. People are backstabbing bastards. People don’t give a rat’s ass about anyone but themselves anymore. So “empathy” is a word that to me isn’t real anymore.
But whatever. Here is a little poem I came up with:
He knew how she felt
When she sat there and cried
For he had been there
Far too many times
He knew what it meant
To feel alone and ashamed
Wrapped up in a world
That you slowly grow to hate
He knew what it was
To bleed until it hurts
To want to give up
Because it seemed like the cure
He knew what it was like
To stare up at the stars
Asking an unrealistic God
What’s life purpose was
He had been there before
The same as she was now
Crying herself to sleep
Wishing the world would end somehow
But he had risen from those times
They seemed like so far ago
And he hoped he could make her see
Life is something to fight for
Free Write Friday – V.21: After the Affair
I know I have failed all my FWF fans! There was no FWF posting from me last week, but you can’t expect me to do it EVERY week! I mean sometimes life just happens or I get into my “I don’t wanna do it” moods. But none the less – this week, I seem to be in a better mood and feel a little bit more inspirational. So I have decided to participate.
Free writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, or grammar. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Each Friday Kellie Elmore posts a prompt for everyone to write off of. Check out the site to see all prompts and start Free Write Friday your own.
Here is Today’s Prompt:
WARNING: The following contains Affair of the Mind spoilers!!!
Read MoreFree Write Friday – v.20
Free writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, or grammar. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Each Friday Kellie Elmore posts a prompt for everyone to write off of. Check out the site to see all prompts and start Free Write Friday your own.
Here is Today’s Prompt:
This short film, a collaboration with Project Imagin8ion and Ron Howard and directed by Howard’s daughter, Bryce Dallace; is an exquisite blend of reality, the paranormal, spirituality and the human condition. Inspired by 8 winning photographs which you will view following the film. Set aside 25 minutes to watch “When You Find Me” and then free write for me about how this made you feel. Did it leave an impression on you? What did you take away from this?
Death – I can’t say it’s never touched my life, but it all out honesty until the year 2010 – it hadn’t. My grandfather died when I was little girl, but I was far too little to even really grasp the concept of it. Until 2010, death hadn’t touched me. Until 2010 – life was untouchable. Life was magical, life was anything you wanted it to be and then one night I went to bed and I knew somewhere deep down that the magical, untouchable, anything is possible life that I had been living where death had never touched was over.
When Robi died I waited and waited and waited and waited some more to feel this “spiritual” connection with what people call his “soul” but it never came. Sometimes I hate to say it but I think I was more spiritual before Robi died. Before death touched my life I think I believed more. I have never believed in God or the concept of an afterlife, but I think I use to believe in something. I believed in humanity, in dreams, in that ‘magical’ life where anything is possible and then death touched my life. I thought after Robi died that something would happen. Death had never touched my life before really so I guess despite the fact I never believed in a God, I had this crazy, stupid, hope that maybe I was wrong. Maybe God did exist and maybe there IS something more out there. So I waited, but nothing came.
His other friends would write on his wall after he died about how he came to them in their dreams. He never came to me. It’s like he just died. There was nothing. He was just gone.
I wrote a post last weekend about expectations. Jared use to call me the most “spiritual non-religious person he knew” and then Robi died. Maybe I had expectations that I never use to mention aloud. Expectations that there was a God, and that there was an afterlife. Expectations that we didn’t just DIE and then Robi died. I was always that girl who aloud would be like “I don’t believe in a God” but deep down I guess I always hoped I was wrong. But there was nothing. No sign, no dream … nothing. He just died.
I don’t believe in God. I don’t believe in an afterlife, and I guess I’m no longer that “spiritual non-religious” girl either.
Death – I don’t think it’s dying that I’m afraid of. I think its living. I’m afraid that I won’t be remembered and I am that girl who HAS to be remembered.
You know what’s funny? The night after his funeral I went to a bar. I had drinks with my future husband (only I didn’t know he was my future husband at the time), I got drunk for the first time, did things I probably shouldn’t repeat and woke up the next day and ate a Shawnman sandwich. Life’s funny that way.
. . . . .
Okay is there a rewind button? Hello!! REWIND!! ::searches for it::
Let’s just scratch what I just wrote and re-start over. In the process of writing what I just wrote something came over me. Something I never realized before until I wrote the last paragraph: The night after his funeral I went to a bar. I had drinks with my future husband (only I didn’t know he was my future husband at the time), I got drunk for the first time, did things I probably shouldn’t repeat and woke up the next day and ate a Shawnman sandwich. Life’s funny that way.
Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I spent SO much time searching for this sign, this dream, this in my face thing that I missed the entire concept. Robi wouldn’t come to me in a dream because he knew I’d wake up and laugh it off in one of my blog posts like it was nothing. He couldn’t give me a physical sign because I’d find some way to laugh that off in a blog post as well (with pictures). No! It’s not about dreams or physical signs – that wasn’t the point.
Robi came to me in the only way I would pay attention: my story.
Everything happens for a reason! That’s the point.
“You’re the most spiritual non-religious person I know,” he laughed.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because you believe in people.”
“I believe in you ….”
Closure.
That was the point.
Maybe there is a God after all ….
Free Write Friday – V.19
Free writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, or grammar. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Each Friday Kellie Elmore posts a prompt for everyone to write off of. Check out the site to see all prompts and start Free Write Friday your own.
Here is Today’s Prompt:
A small closet
I always thought it was rather neat
A small desk
It’s all you ever really need
Typing away the story of your life
Admiration in your starry eyes
Type Type Type
Let’s just type it all away
Posters covering the walls
A cover for all of what you aren’t at all
Images seem to cover the scene
Of what’s really buried deep within the seam
Soft! Oh the bed was so soft!
Like a cloud floating through space
We laid on it with all our thoughts free
Like we would never see another day
A closet oh so small
A computer with all your world on it
A boy oh so grand
Hidden beneath it all a history
Quieter than sand
Expectations: Oh how we all disappoint
Free Write Friday – v.18
I am doing LAST week’s prompt (yes there was a Free Write last week it was just posted late and I didn’t get around to doing it) because I like it better.
Free writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, or grammar. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Each Friday Kellie Elmore posts a prompt for everyone to write off of. Check out the site to see all prompts and start Free Write Friday your own.
Here is Today’s Prompt:
Time & Place Scenario
You have been traveling by train in Europe. You wake to find that you’ve missed your stop and you are the last one aboard. You reach for your luggage in the hold above and as you pull it down a wallet (not belonging to you) falls out. You open it to find a large amount of cash…
Tell me a story!
Okay I may have changed the ‘scenario’ a little. I didn’t “awake” to miss my stop, but the point is still there.
As the hours grew later the only thing on my mind was getting home. The train ride from London to Cambridge was only a little over an hour, but riding the same route five days out of the week was starting to become a drag. My stop was the last on the route and on Friday at 10pm, I was usually the last person on the train.
As I went to grab for my bags like I always did, I notice a wallet fall onto the floor. At first I thought it was the gentleman who had gotten off at the last stop. However flipping through the wallet, I saw no identification that it belonged to anybody. Inside the wallet was around $5,000 U.S. dollars. “Who carries this much cash on them?” I thought.
As I exited the train at my stop, I was about to return the money filled wallet to the train personal until I noticed two small initials on the back side of the wallet. “JL,” I laughed. “Oh you never give up do you?” I screamed aloud as I put the wallet into my bag and walked towards my two bedroom apartment just two blocks from the train station.
The following day I stood on his door step banging on his door. “I know you’re home!” I yelled outside.
“Yes?” he asked slightly opening the door just enough so I could see his sarcastic looking smile staring back at me.
“You never give up do you?” I shouted pushing the door open and letting myself in.
“I have no idea what you speak of,” he smiled.
“I don’t want your money!” I yelled throwing the wallet at him.
“It’s not my money. It’s yours. Anyway I have a busy day planned so if you don’t mind,” he said reopening the door and handing me the wallet back.
“I don’t want your blood money!” I yelled shoving the wallet back against his chest.
“Oh let it go! You are what, fifty years old! It’s okay,” he smiled. “I mean come on don’t you want to enjoy the last years of your life.”
“Good bye,” I said angrily trying to walk past him out the door. I paused and turned around to face him as I said, “you can try to give me the money on my death bed, and even though I won’t take it.”
“Not even to avoid life on the streets? Not even to help your daughter pay for college or help your daughter during struggling times? Really?” he asked.
“No because I know the story behind that money, and I’d rather live on the streets then take a dime of that money,” I said walking away.
“You know there’s over 4 million dollars in the account today right?” he exclaimed as I walked away.
“Don’t care! Even if there was twenty million, I wouldn’t take it. I don’t want money that once belonged to the guy you murdered.”
Read More
No Free Write Friday This Week
I feel lost and unsure of what to do. There is no Free Write Friday topic posted over at Magic In The Backyard for this week. So I feel lost. What am I to do without my Free Write Friday topic to write about? I thought of coming up with one myself and writing about Friendship and what it means to be a true friend. I started writing this story about how back in 2006 the asshole many of you know as Jar decided to actually be nice for once and drove five hours to help me on a sociology project when my then finance and best friend wouldn’t take 30 minutes out of their day to go to the mall with me to do the project. I started writing it and then got bored.
So I guess with no Free Write Topic this week – I shall remain at a loss.
I do have a busy weekend planned though. Tonight Shawna is coming over to do my hair and cut Cory’s mop off his head (I call him mop head) and I’m cooking this chicken cordon bleu bite recipe I found. Kind of nervous to make it because I have never made it before. Usually if it’s just Cory and I can do something like this because if it doesn’t turn out good we just order pizza or eat left overs but Im inviting someone over for dinner so it’s not like you can just mess it up. Ehh! It should be okay though.
Speaking of cooking – I made homemade pasta sauce last night with all those dang tomatoes we got. Had to do something with em so I decided to make sauce and freeze it. Turned out good.
Anyway so tomorrow I’m getting my nails done with Mem for Mother’s Day and then going to Terry’s Bday party at 4. Then Sunday the fam is all going out to dinner for Mother’s Day. Cory may not have to work on Sunday because the guy may not be able to train him then. He said Mother’s Day will be slow anyway. So he probably will start Wednesday which means he can go out to eat with the fam like we had all planned. We have reservations at Crystal’s at four. I have only been there a couple times I believe. I usually get seafood when I go there. I think that’s what they are known for anyway.
Well beyond that – that is all I have to say.
Talk to you all laterz,
Free Write Friday – v.17
Free writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, or grammar. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Each Friday Kellie Elmore posts a prompt for everyone to write off of. Check out the site to see all prompts and start Free Write Friday your own.
Here is Today’s Prompt:
I challenge you to write about something you are passionate about. What is it you see, smell, remember, feel, hear that never fails to ignite your page? What fuels your pen? Ah, see…you already thought of something, didn’t you?
What am I passionate about? That question use to be the easiest thing for me to answer. My answer was always writing. I was passionate about it whether it had to do with writing just a simply blog with a recap of my day or writing a story like the Riddler or AOTM. It was my passion! Now don’t get me wrong – writing is still something I am very passionate about, but lately I can’t seem to get back into the grove of things.
I feel I have all these wonderful ideas in my head that need to be put onto paper (okay now if they are actually wonderful is a different story but they seem cool to me) and I can never seem to either find the time nor energy to do it.
Let’s take the Riddler for example. I want to re-write it (yes for the 100th time) with a different twist. As morbid as this may sound, I feel there needs to be more blood, more guts, more horror, more death and most of all more evilness thrown into the tale of Jared Lenal and Tommy Watson. I have an idea of how I want the prologue to go and somewhat of an idea of how I want the story to flow. I have the ideas yet I can’t seem to put them onto paper.
So back to the original question at hand? What inspires me? What inspires me to write? Honestly – I don’t know. I’ll read something, watch something or hear a song and become inspired. Like the movie Saw inspired me to write some cool new stuff for the Riddler and it’s thanks to the TV show Dexter that Jared Lenal in the Re-Write Version likes to chop up his victims body parts and dispose of them into bodies of water (the original Riddler was so boring wasn’t it?). There’s about 100000 songs that remind me every day of my AOTM years (I know I say it like the story REALLY has ended when come on you all know there’s a surprise twist ending to AOTM that NO ONE not even Justin Lenox himself will see coming. Haha! I already hear my phone ringing … ) and every once in a while I’ll read an article or watch some stupid Legislative hearing where our state Representatives actually stand up and say polygamy is NOT illegal (it is by the way – Arizona Constitution Article 20 Section 2) that will inspire me to write a political blog post on their stupidity.
It’s randomness that inspires me. It’s a spur of the moment thing that I probably didn’t see coming. That’s what inspires me.
My passion is to write. I’d love to become famous for AOTM (although that wasn’t EVER the main point of writing it) and I’d love for the Riddler to be the next big Scream or Halloween Flick to hit the theaters (maybe even in 3D! Oooo I’d love to see the bathroom scene of Jared and Tommy in 3D! Haha! Okay yeah I know I TOTALLY just crossed the line there didn’t I? Oooo okay can we scratch that? Let’s pretend I never made any sexual fantasy remark of those two. ::nods:: Oh come on! I spent years listening to Jared moan and groan over having sex with the guy give me a break! YES the Characters of the Riddler are based off of real life people I know but the story is 100% fictional! Let’s just clarify!! Okay! FICTIONAL! AOTM on the other hand … oh I should just shut up before I end up saying something I WILL regret in the AM!).
Anyway back to the point of this blog (see I get distracted VERY easily which may also be another reason there hasn’t been a new chapter of either story in FOREVER) – I have a passion and inspiration but I have a problem connecting the two. I need the passion, inspiration and motivation. When Robi was still alive he always motivated me to write another chapter and when Brooke and I were still friends she always said “where is my next chapter to edit!” But now – I really have no motivation. My motivation for writing AOTM is still and always will be to TELL the TRUTH (well truth tied in with fiction mind you) and my motivation for writing the Riddler is to just laugh and poke fun at people (and to write that bathroom sex scene! I know I said I was done … I am! Swear!) but all in all – I lack motivation. Jar doesn’t help either because one day it’s “WRITE” and the next “Well … maybe we shouldn’t … blah blah blah!” Asshole! He really is! My husband well – I don’t think he quit gets it. It’s not that he doesn’t support me – I just don’t think he gets my passion, obsession, complete devotion to AOTM. I can’t say I’m THAT devoted to Riddler. It was a fun story to write and still is even if it is a dark, horror, evil flick. But AOTM – that was my life … IS my life (It really hasn’t ended yet! Come on! Surprise ending people! Haha! I WILL get the last laugh!).
I guess I just need to sit down and find my motivation for myself and stop worrying if people LIKE the book or not. It’s MY book! MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE! MY Passion! NOT YOURS! So yeah – there’s my inspiration (and of course the sex scenes! Haha! You do realize I’m joking right? Humor people! Humor!).
Anyway my passion is writing !! I love to write!! Even if it makes no sense to anybody but me (like this blog post) … I still will put it out there!
And that my friends – is my post for the day!
Laterz,
Free Write Friday – v.16
Free writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, or grammar. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Each Friday Kellie Elmore posts a prompt for everyone to write off of. Check out the site to see all prompts and start Free Write Friday your own.
Here is Today’s Prompt:
Often times we are able to look back on those situations and find humor, a lesson learned or just realize that it really wasn’t as bad as we thought…or maybe it was but you survived.
The room was small. For someone with such high power, she seemed to have the smallest office. Jackie had a bigger office than she did and she seemed to only ever be around between the early hours of the morning one or two days a week. Maybe Meri liked the smaller officer. Maybe she felt it gave her power over people.
As I walked into Meri’s office my heart beat fast. I wasn’t about to show Meri how nervous I was. Deep down though I was terrified. What were they going to do to me? Fire me? Have me arrested? Can someone even get arrested for doing what I did? A million thoughts ran through my head between the long walk from the front end of the store to the back offices. It was Meri and the Store Supervisor Wanda on one side and me on the other in an office no bigger than a 6 by 6 foot closet.
“Do you know why we want to talk to you?” Wanda asked.
“I think so,” I replied staring angrily at Meri. I don’t know what it was about Meri Riley, but there was something about her I disliked. In fact, it was everything about her I disliked. I disliked her utter lack of concern about any of her employees, the way she wore her hair, the fact she denied her sexual orientation and refused to let her own girlfriend step foot in the store because of it, and the fact she thought she could win. Yes there were a million things I hated about Meri Riley, and I made the world know it.
Maybe it was wrong of me to go on a public forum and openly spill my utter hate and disgust about the woman, but I made a promise the day I became her “right hand” woman and that was to bring change to the management of the Tucson Jewel.
“Are you aware of the issue with Yannet Scavo?” Wanda asked.
“Yannet Scavo?” I questioned. Yannet was a lady I had become rather close to in my three months as Service Supervisor at the East Side Jewel store. Yannet was a lovely woman who made the long nights seem to pass by quickly. “Yannet?” I questioned again. “Um, this isn’t about the blog entries?”
“Oh we’ll get to that,” Meri said with disgust in her voice.
“Yannet Scavo has filed a complaint with corporate saying she feels she is being sexually harassed by you.”
“What?” I questioned with a hint of a laugh. “You’re joking right.”
“No. We’re not,” Wanda said.
“You’re making it up,” I said. “Yannet and I are friends. She wouldn’t betray me.”
“Be careful who you befriend,” Meri smiled.
“Yannet doesn’t want to press formal charges. She just simply wants you and her not to be scheduled to work together. She did want us to tell you she is sorry,” Wanda explained.
“What?” I still questioned in belief. Over the past three months, I would consider Yannet one of my closet friends next to Thomas. “She said she’s sorry,” and there it was. Someone had put her up to filling false harassment threats against me. It was either Meri or Marco. One of them was guilty of the crime.
“As for the blog, you are free to write whatever you wish in your own personal time. You never mention last names, but I think it’s fair to say that everyone here knows who you are talking about. I don’t so much appreciate being called Dragon Lady,” Wanda said.
“Who said you were Dragon Lady? I wasn’t aware that there was a Character List on any of my journal entries,” I laughed. “Are we done?” I asked realizing there was not a damn thing they could do to me for writing openly my feelings about my work experience on a public blog.
“We’re done.”
“Good,” I said getting back up and walking out the door.
A lesson was learned that day – be careful who you call a friend. The story continued to play out for weeks until I finally stepped down from management and eventually left the store. I went into management with the intent to help bring down a corrupt system, but when no one backs you its kind of hard to bring down a system of people on your own.
Looking back it was rather humorous. I spent far too much time caring. I spent far too much time devoting myself to the job and the people who in the end (except a few like Thomas) really didn’t give a damn either way.
As for Yannet Scavo, it turned out her husband had found out she had a crush on me. Due to her lesbian tendencies in the past, he demanded that we don’t work together. He said if she didn’t do what she did, he’d divorce her, take the kids, and she wouldn’t get a dime. So I understand why she did what she did. For the sack of her children, she had to throw me under the bus. Kind of flattering to know she had a major crush on me.
I could write about a million different scenarios that could have turned out to be worse than they were. At the time, I coined my short lived managerial experience at Jewel one of the worst situations of my life. I coined taking the position as the biggest regret I ever made. The truth though – I loved that job! I didn’t love the people in the end, but I loved that job! I learned a lot there. I learned that you can’t trust people, that one person cannot fight a battle on their own, that people will always put themselves before others, and that power corrupts even the innocent of people.
For more of the Yannet Scavo & Jewel story please read An Affair of the Mind – Part 2: Inside The Affair. Coming to Sarah A Hall . Com – January 2013
Free Write Friday – v.15 – Had I Never Met You
I am back!! I know I didn’t do a free write Friday last week. I had too much going on, but they are returning! I <3 doing them even though sometimes (like today) I can’t seem to find that much inspiration.
Free writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, or grammar. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Each Friday Kellie Elmore posts a prompt for everyone to write off of. Check out the site to see all prompts and start Free Write Friday your own.
Here is Today’s Prompt:
Choices. We all have choices. Some make wise ones. Some make not so wise ones. I am a found believer that the choices we make determine our path in life. Had I went right instead of going left my entire life would be different right now. I wouldn’t have gone to school for a Criminal Justice degree, I wouldn’t be married to Cory, and I never would have ended up spending three years in Tucson, Arizona.
We all have choices to make in life … and I will say this till the day I day: be careful what path you take because you can’t change your mind and turn around. That’s not how life works.
Read MoreFree Write Friday – v.14 – Sometimes We Lose
I am back!! I know I didn’t do a free write Friday last week. I had too much going on, but they are returning! I <3 doing them even though sometimes (like today) I can’t seem to find that much inspiration.
Free writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, or grammar. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Each Friday Kellie Elmore posts a prompt for everyone to write off of. Check out the site to see all prompts and start Free Write Friday your own.
Here is Today’s Prompt: Write using this phrase as your inspiration; Some Will Win, Some Will Lose, Some Were Born To Sing The Blues
Sometimes we win
Sometimes we lose
Why do I feel that’s the story of our lives
I lost you in the darkness of the night
Oh how I enjoyed the games we played
I still think of you when the timing is right
And the sun shines takes over the dark night
Sometimes we win
Sometimes we lose
Boy do I feel that’s the story of me and you
At nights I close my eyes and dream
I dream of you next to me
Wondering if our time together was just a memory
Shattered from fantasy into my made up reality
Sometimes we win
Sometimes we lose
This time I know I have lost you
I can still hear you in the dark of night
Playing the riddles over and over in my mind
I still think of you and dream
Of a time when we were both free
Sometimes we win
Sometimes we lose
This is the story of me and you
Free Write Friday – v.12 – The Cow Said Moo
Free writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, or grammar. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Each Friday Kellie Elmore posts a prompt for everyone to write off of. Check out the site to see all prompts and start Free Write Friday your own.
Here is Today’s Prompt:
You… are a cow.
You, the cow, have a story to tell.
Chew on that a minute then…
tell me something good
Moo – that’s what most humans hear when we open our mouth. The truth is though to us a simple moo is only half of the story. Let’s take for instance the other day when Allen came to visit.
It was a warm Spring Day here at the pasture and Allen like he does every morning came to milk me. Why humans feel the need to drink my milk is beyond me. I personally find it rather discussing. Yes I admit it – I have tasted my own milk. Please don’t ask me how. I’d rather not repeat the embarrassing story.
But anyway, I like it when Allen is here. He is gentle and rather talkative unlike the others. He was talking the other day about Ms. Margret.
“I really do love her, but I don’t know how to tell her,” he said.
I tried to answer by telling him how I came up with the courage to ask Bella out. Ah, Bella! She’s the most beautiful cow in the entire pasture. A few moons back, I wound up finding the courage to ask her to the drinking well with me. I had went over in my mind about 100x prior to that day how I’d do it. Would I just bluntly ask her? Maybe I’d ask her out with some straw sticks written out in the barn of ‘Bella, will you go out with me?’
The minute I found out her and Jerald broke up, I knew it was a sign that I had to ask her out. I waited good moons before I did though. I didn’t want to just be a rebound for her.
As Allen sat there telling me how much he cared for Ms. Margret I wanted to tell him that he just needed to do it. I really do hate that we can understand humans but they can’t understand anything beyond the Moo.
When I asked Bella out that day in the barn, I felt so stupid. First off, my straw stick idea didn’t work. I got the word “Bella” written out in straw but I couldn’t find enough straw sticks to write out the rest of it. It was rather embarrassing too when she walked up behind me as I was doing it and asked me what I was doing writing her name in straw. “Busted!” I thought. So I turned around, red faced and all (well okay not really – I’m a cow we don’t get red faced) and told her what I was trying to do. I guess she thought the gesture was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for her because she began to cry. She then proceeded to tell me that had I asked her out many moons ago, she would had rather go out with me instead of Jerald. Damn, did I feel stupid for waiting so long to ask her out!
To make a long story short, we had fun at the water well that day and have for many moons now.
As Allen finished milking me, I saw a sparkle in his eye as he said “You know what, I’m just going to do it.” Maybe him talking to me helped after all because the next day I noticed him and Ms. Margret get into one of those electronic buggies together and drive off.
Oh how I really wish humans and cows could communicate. I have so many questions like why they ride in electronic buggies? Where does that take you?
Maybe one day it’ll happen. Yes one day!
Free Write Friday – v.10 – Puzzle Pieces
Free writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, or grammar. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Each Friday Kellie Elmore posts a prompt for everyone to write off of. Check out the site to see all prompts and start Free Write Friday your own.
Here is Today’s Prompt:
I give you a picture; you give me a story. Don’t make notes, don’t ponder your execution, just look at the photo and whatever pops into your head first, begin writing based on that thought
Life is a puzzle with shattered pieces on the floor
But tell me my friend
What happens when the pieces don’t fit anymore?
Life is a journey with twists and turns at every end
So tell me dear boy
Which way do you go when you need your heart to mend
Broken pieces of a puzzle
Scattered all over the floor
Tell me my friend
Why doesn’t life make since anymore
Scattered, broken, fallen, afraid
Mistreated and used
When did we because so ashamed
Broken pieces of a puzzle
Sit scattered on the floor
I really don’t think we can put this together
Not Anymore
Free Write Friday – v.9 – Lessons Learned
Free writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, or grammar. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Each Friday Magic In The Backyard posts a prompt for everyone to write off of. Check out the site to see all prompts and start Free Write Friday your own.
Here is Today’s Prompt:
Finish this line…
“One of the hardest/most important/best (<- your choice) lessons I have ever learned was…” Elaborate.
The hardest lesson I have ever learned was to simply be myself and accept that. I think I have spent so much time trying to be someone else and trying to mold myself into someone everyone else wanted me to be that I forgot who I was.
So who am I? Who is Sarah A Hall (the girl behind the blog)? It took me a long time to come to grips with my life, to accept the choices I have made, and to learn to move on. I can’t say it was easy and I can’t say to this day I still have come to grips with some of the choices I have made in my life. I haven’t made the best choices in life and maybe I still am not (but that’s for my future self to decide); however I do stand by my choices and my beliefs. I have always been stubborn, but I haven’t always admitted to my mistakes.
So who is Sarah A Hall?
- I’m a daughter – at times I’m not the best daughter. I manipulate people into getting what I want and frankly I’m pretty good at it. I know it’s not something to be proud of but I at least admit it.
- I’m a wife – again at times not the best wife either, but I do love my husband more then anything.
- I’m a friend – I’m for sure not the greatest friend in the world but if you treat me right and stand by me when I fall, I promise you when you need that body moved – I will be there to move it – no questions asked.
- I’m a blogger – it’s what I do. I don’t do it for the money or the fame (well okay maybe a little for the fame. We all know I wanted to be famous one day) but I do it for documentation. I do it to document my life to the world and to someday make a difference in others lives. Maybe I am too out there and too controversial for some, but hey I never said you HAD to read my bog. That’s your choice and your choice alone. But I stand by what I say and what I write.
- I’m pro-life. Although I have questioned my beliefs on this in the past year when it comes down to it I do believe life starts at conception. I guess I’m not like most though – I’m NOT pro-life for religious reasons. I’m pro-life just because it’s wrong to kill another human being.
- I love all things GAY! Am I gay? … no! Bisexual – yes. Gay – no! Was I ever gay? No. But I <3 gay!
- I’m a writer. I don’t want fame (okay maybe a little) or money off my writing. I want it out there and I want the truth told!
- I’m a “silent” singer. I <3 to sing but you will never hear me sing.
- I don’t believe in God or religion and not for lack of trying to understand but just simply because I for one reason or another cannot grasp the concept and understand it. The bible is like reading a work of fiction in my mind. It’s cute, it’s neat to image but at the end of the day that’s what it is – fiction!
I’m me! I’m Sarah A Hall! I’m not you, I’m not her, and I’m not “them.” I’m ME! And if you don’t like that – then don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
I think the hardest lesson any of us can ever learn – is to just be us. Embrace WHO you are! Stop caring about what the world thinks and start caring about what you think. It’s YOUR life. Not theirs!
The best advice I ever gave and have been given is – don’t let the world bring you down because they will try and when they do – say fuck them – and get write back up and move on.
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Free Write Friday – v.8 – Love IS Blind (and pink)
Free writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, or grammar. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Each Friday Magic In The Backyard posts a prompt for everyone to write off of. Check out the site to see all prompts and start Free Write Friday your own.
Here is Today’s Prompt:
You must write about something you love and it must be something you can hold in both hands BUT WAIT, there’s more… You cannot tell what it is. Yes, you read that right… I want you to pretend I already know and describe why you love it so much. Convince me to love it too. Go deeper than what it looks like, tell me how it makes you feel when you use/hold/see/ it. Be as abstract as you wish, just be sure to leave us guessing!
Okay I’m going to be up front and honest here: I DON’T FEEL GOOD!! And I really am NOT in the mood to write an abstract blog full of thought and progress. With that said here is my little Free Write Friday posting.
Sorry it’s not as “cool” or “abstract” as it should be:
What I love and can hold in both hands
It is pink
With a white trim
Sometimes it talks to me/sometimes it doesn’t
We don’t always understand one another
Sometimes it questions what I’m saying and asks me to repeat or rephrase
I wish we understood each other more
However we get along pretty well
When I’m bored and need a “friend” it is always there
Sometimes I’ll hold it in my hands and it’ll comfort me when I’m having a sad day
Other times it just sits there and stares at me
It’s small, but never forgotten
I love it and I know deep down it loves me too
I could not imagine life without it …
What is “it?”
Free Write Friday – v.7 – To My Love
Free writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, or grammar. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Each Friday Magic In The Backyard posts a prompt for everyone to write off of. Check out the site to see all prompts and start Free Write Friday your own.
Here is Today’s Prompt:
I’m going to be honest – THIS WAS NOT TODAY’S PROMPT! I didn’t like today’s prompt! I actually wrote something based on today’s prompt, re-read what I wrote (I know it’s against the rules but … I like to break the rules every now and then), and decided it was a little too “dark” (even for me – the author of the Riddler) to post. So I went through the Free Write Friday archives and found this prompt which is what I am basing today’s “Free Write Friday” post on! (Since it was Valentine’s Day this week and all)
To My Love:
I believe in fairy tales. I believe in the “can’t eat, can’t sleep, can’t stop thinking about you” love stories that you only see in movies. Based on my experience in life, fairy tales should not exist. People fall in and out of love, people stay together for all the wrong reasons, and 9 times out of 10 no one fights for anyone anymore. My parents are together because of comfort and obligation not because they are truly, madly deeply in love, my brother is divorced after getting into a marriage he never should have gotten into in the first place, and every guy prior to meeting you I have ever truly madly deeply cared about was gay (and they wouldn’t turn straight for me either). Yet I still believe in fairy tales. I still believe in that “Taylor Swift” love story coming true, and I do because of you.
I’m not going to say we have had the easiest first year of marriage. We’ve seen our fair share of heartbreak and hard times, but I think it’s those moments and those experiences that bring two people closer. If it wasn’t for the bad, we wouldn’t appreciate the good so much.
I can’t speak for you, but I can speak for myself when I say: I honestly believe everything I went through in my life has lead me to you. I’ve never believed in God. I have always found it hard to honestly believe in a higher power and in the concept of dying and going to some magical place for eternity. And I won’t say that now I do, but you have made me second guess the concept because when I think back on everything I went through and all the choices I made to get to where I am today: I have to wonder if there was not a higher hand in it all. Had I not made certain choices, had I gone left instead of right, I wouldn’t be here. I honestly believe everything I have done has lead me to you, and you are the person I am supposed to spend the rest of my life with. You are my soul mate, my best friend, and my lover.
Love to me IS about sacrifice, about compromise, and about trust. It’s about being there for the other when times are bad and it’s about being able to open up to that person despite how difficult the subject matter might be. It’s also about being there for the person when times are good and about sharing life together. I am sure we have not seen our end of hard times nor heartache, but I do know that because of you in my life the journey will be a little bit easier. I hope you know I will always be here for you through good times and bad till death do us part.
I have hope, I have faith and I have something to go home to because of you. You are what completes me. You are not what makes me, but you are what completes me.
I believe you and I have a story to tell our grandchildren one day, and maybe it’s not some “Taylor Swift fairy tale love story” where prince charming falls in love with his princess and they live in some castle with a white picket fence and fairy god mothers, but it’s still our story.
I love you today like I loved you yesterday and I will love you tomorrow, with my whole heart and soul. Our love grows more and more each day and I am thankful to be able to call you my husband, my best friend, and my soul mate.
Happy Valentine’s Day
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Free Write Friday – v.6 – Who Am I?
Free writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, or grammar. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Each Friday Magic In The Backyard posts a prompt for everyone to write off of. Check out the site to see all prompts and start Free Write Friday your own.
Here is Today’s Prompt:
You wake to find yourself in a strange house and you cannot remember your own name. You roll over and see a letter by the bed.
Is it for you? Who is it from? What does it say? Does it explain where you are and why?
Dearest Ann:
I know right now you have no idea who you are, where you are, and why. It is completely understandable to wake up in some strange town, in a strange house with no memory what-so-ever of the past 26 years of your life. I want to apologize right now for your circumstances and want you to know I do hold sympathy for you. If there was any other way to have gone about this, I would have done it.
I know you have no memory what-so-ever of the couple of months back in 2009 where I played the role of the confused, amnesia stricken boy. But consider it like that. You have been cast this part, and it is a role you are going to be forced to play.
I cannot give away who I am to you or why you are here. However I can tell you where you are. I have arranged for you to stay in a beautiful Victorian style home on the beach of Hawaii. I assume you will find everything you need there. There is enough money to get you through for the next five years, your very own Hybrid Lexus to take you places, and the house is fully equipped with everything a girl like yourself could ask for or want.
I suggest you try and forget that you’re 26 years old with no memory of your past life. Take this moment as an opportunity to start a new. Not everyone gets that chance. You always did say you wish you could hit the restart button. Well my dear, here is your chance.
Your name is Ann Kinkle. You’re 26. Never married. No kids. Live in Hawaii off your dead grandmothers inheritance. Oh and you have a cat named Tux.
That is all you need to know. Start over because trying to find out who I am or who you once were will not only cost you your life but will cost the life of those you once held very dear.
What will she do? Go find her old life or restart over? What would you do?
I’m leaving today’s Free Write Friday open for interpretation …
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Coming Soon - read and view photos, blogs, and videos from the years 1999-2010 (formally known as SarahMarkham.Com)
