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 |   Second blog -- answers to an ocean of prompts |
 "Failure is unimportant. It takes courage to make a fool of yourself." CHARLIE CHAPLIN  Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet confinement of your aloneness to learn anything or anyone that does not bring you alive is too small for you. David Whyte        This is my supplementary blog in which I will post entries written for prompts. |
For "Blog City ~ Every Blogger's Paradise"  Prompt: Have you ever written a mission statement for your life? If so, have you accomplished what you predicted. If you haven't, do you feel this might make you more accountable? --- No. I don’t think my life needed a mission statement because it is not a mission. It is a life, and it is my life. Missions are for those who are out to help the world or a part of it with the secret underlying wish to help themselves first. I think my upbringing and especially the fine values I learned from my extended family are a mission in total and in themselves, and they don’t need to be written down. Did I have a plan for my life in the beginning, though? Yes, however, that plan had to be revised several times over because it is life, and as they say when you make plans, karma laughs at you. In short, I didn’t write any statement for my life. The only statements I write are my daily to-do lists and they are doable. Well, most of the time.  For: "Space Blog" Prompt: Sunny   ’s "In The Heart" . What does your heart tell you?--- This is a nice, sincere poem that describes the author’s heart, which is a very beautiful heart, I think, and I so agree with the last line. “In the heart tells who we are.” But only if we have learned to read correctly and trust well that reading in our hearts. As to mine, my heart tries not to make me fall into the habit of trusting false feelings and lies, plus to look truth in the eye even if it is hard to take. Then, of course it tells me to focus on love the most, but the kind of love that some call agape and then, the love of God-- if and when I am lucky or destined enough to feel it. I don’t think what arises from the body and the hormones should be called love; although, most everyone--including me when I was in my teens and early twenties—make the mistake of thinking that as the real love. If that were the real love, would we have so many divorces and failed relationships? But then, to each her or his own! |
| For "Blog City ~ Every Blogger's Paradise" Prompt: "Books are a uniquly portable magic." Stephen King Write about this quote in your Blog entry today. --- Agreed. 100 % and then some. Where would I be in my life without books? I guess I’d survive, but barely. Books have been my constant companions ever since I was four, when I learned to read practically on my own as my mother had claimed. Books have been there for me throughout my life. When I need to fortify myself with knowledge, I resort to books. When I need to have a quiet time or entertainment, I pick a book I have stored somewhere in the house. When the going gets tough, I find solace in books. Books have the magic power of taking my attention away from the current problems. Also, books rarely --if ever-- die, go away, or get mad at you, and then leave you. They are constant, and they are there at my own beck and call. What could be better than that! For: "Space Blog" Prompt: "Invalid Item" in which laurafu  writes to her daughter in vitro. If you were an expectant mother, what would you say to your child?--- Sweet poem, written from the heart. I believe many mothers would relate to the author’s feelings. In my case, there is no "if" for expectancy, but I was an expectant mother three times, earlier. As much as I appreciate the sweet feelings in the poem, unlike the author of the poem, before they were born, I promised my kids and myself that I’d never lie to them about Santa’s actions or any other unreal or fable-based stuff, and when I would tell them such stories, I’d make sure they were to be told that those stories were from imagination. And I did just that. It was well worth it, too. My kids now have their both feet set firmly on the ground. The only negative thing that came out of it was the resentment of another mother of a six-year-old who was my younger son’s classmate. She berated me for not letting the kid believe in fairy tales, since my son had told her daughter that Santa was supposed to be a nice guy, but he was imaginary, and Santa certainly was not Christ himself as that little girl had mixed up Santa and Christ as the same person. I told the mother what she’d tell her kids were her business, as what I’d tell mine were my business. I don’t know what she was aiming at. Should I go ask my kids for their forgiveness for not lying to them? I am not blaming any parent for letting their kids believe what they want them to believe, but it is their business, and my business is mine. Once you’re a mother, you meet all sorts of parents. |
| For "Blog City ~ Every Blogger's Paradise" Prompt: If you had the chance, would you spend the day at the zoo with baby pandas? --- I love zoos. I would definitely spend a day at the zoo, possibly not only with baby pandas either. Talking about pandas, I like it when the zoos let the animals live in a habitat as close to nature as they can emulate. I think Smithsonian Zoo is trying to do that with the pandas. When I was a young child, I was taken to a zoo and watched three angry lions walk growling around a cage. The cage, probably as large as a living room, smelled terribly and even as a child, I began crying for the cruelty that the zoo inflicted on those beautiful animals. I don’t think we humans have a right to do that. I understand that sometimes we need to keep species of animals who are about to become extinct in order to save them, but still, the grounds they are kept in should be ample enough and as close as possible to their natural habitats. For: "Space Blog" Prompt: From Thaddeus Buxton Winthrop  ’s "Beneath Emerald Rainbows" --- Good poem except I didn’t get the phrase "emerald rainbows." If rainbows were emerald, which emerald is a green gem, they wouldn’t be rainbows. Other than that, I agree in not trying to find a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. It just doesn’t work, does it! Then, instead of a windfall (not that I would reject it  ), there’s something to be said about work and work ethics. On top of making a living from work, we learn the value of contribution to the community while building and strengthening social, personal, and family bonds. This moves our lives in a better direction and lets us gain soft and hard skills to add to the meaning of living. Of course, the work we choose has to fit our personalities; otherwise, we wouldn’t be satisfied with the work; neither could we be as successful as we could be. |
| For "Blog City ~ Every Blogger's Paradise" Prompt: A limo just arrived at your door for your use Where are you going? Who would you take with you? ---- I ask the limo driver to take me to the nearest interstellar station. I am taking nobody with me but my cat Noche, and only because she’s a weirdo of an old cat, and if it weren’t for me adopting him the last minute, she’d end up in a shelter where she’d be subject to all kinds of cruelty and name-calling by the other animals. You see, in the first place, I am not much into Limo-living, but this limo was available and I wanted to leave my car to my kids. But I digress. The Limo stops in front of a quaint-looking building, designed just so that it shouldn’t attract much attention, for quite a few people would want out of here and they would crowd the place. I knew about it only because a friend of mine who used to work in real estate had sold them this office. Anyhow, I thank the driver and hop down with the cat sitting on top of my head, as she likes high places, and in the first place, I don’t have much of a fancy hairdo. I enter the building and approach the person in the first desk and tell her I want out because another war is brewing in the Middle East, and who knows what will happen next, and I’ve had it with all the war hoopla on this planet. “No worries,” she says with a sweet smile. “We certainly understand. In fact, some of our crew here are leaving also and for that very reason. One thing you’ll appreciate though, your flight will be free due to your circumstances with that cat on your head. Now, let me see…How about…” “Alpha Centauri,” I butt in, "I bet most any planet on Alpha Centauri will have me and my cat.” “Oh, that’s easy,” she says. “It's exactly where our crew is headed to. You’re in good company. Please, sign under here!” I take the pen she hands me, and just when I am signing, I feel a wetness on my neck. Not again! Noche has peed on my head! Oh well, cat pee on me or not, I am outa here. If you guys here on earth decide not to fight and not have any wars, Noche and I may consider returning. Remember the trick word here, “consider”! For: "Space Blog" Prompt: Rhoswen - Relentless Victory ’s "Invalid Item" , a tribute to veterans. I don't know about you, but my hat is off to anybody who defends their country. What do you think?--- Good poem in appreciation of veterans. I bet most of us feel quite similarly for our veterans. Except, when our appreciation for the veterans is confined only to celebrations, parades, dinners, or balls, I think we shortchange our nation’s heroes. Our true appreciation should show in serious legislation that would take much better care of their needs once they return home. As such, we should be electing government people who would make such legislation possible. Surely, my hat is off to the veterans who risked everything for the welfare of the motherland by especially “defending,” which is more palatable than the other illegitimate ideals such as conquering and taking hostages. After all, peace on earth is the ideal state. |
| For "Blog City ~ Every Blogger's Paradise" Prompt: Have fun with these words in your entry today: adjourn, churn, burn, turn, yearn and fern. --- The meeting of the sheep on the farm was adjourned until further notice for the milk needed churning to turn it into butter, although this action burned the palms of the farmer whom the sheep loved dearly. The sheep, then, disbanded over the field, bypassing the soured fern growing on the sides of the property. The early spring shoots of grass they yearned for had toughened and yellowed under the hot summer sun. Still they chumped on whatever they could find. Their next meeting would have to be held inside the barn due to this scorching heat. --- Why a farm? I don't know! I am not even a farm girl!  For: "Space Blog" Prompt: From HollyMerry ’s "My little friend" a poem about loss. How do you deal with loss?--- The poem points to the pain the poet feels from the loss of her kitten. Truly, a pet’s death shakes up a person. It is not only the loss but the mourning for what might have been, had the death never happened. Loss leaves behind in its wake pain and emotional suffering, often extremely overwhelming. This bouts of pain and suffering are normal. The more significant the loss, the stronger the pain. This pain takes time. It is a good idea to understand one’s own pain in order to be able to deal with it. It is also important to let time do some healing, too. How do I deal with loss? With keeping to a to-do list every day and adding a lot of prayer to it, as I am still dealing with such pain although it has been more than a year that I lost the most important person in my life, which hurts more, I think, than the loss of a pet. I cannot really tell anyone how to feel or go through the mourning process because we’re all different, since the way I am --the way I can still manage the daily routine, work, and deal with whatever comes up-- shocks and surprises me all the time. I think I am stronger than I have ever given myself credit for. It’s said that the emotional symptoms of grief from loss are shock and disbelief, sadness, guilt, anger, and fear. Usually, they don’t follow a sequence but they get all mixed up. If the dealing of everyday life becomes too much to handle, it is a good idea to seek help, but that help has to fit the person suffering; otherwise, it may be more hurtful than helpful. |
| For "Blog City ~ Every Blogger's Paradise" Prompt: Fantasy. Would you like to walk on the rings of Saturn? ---- Wouldn’t that be something the old me on a Saturn's ring! Yes, I’d like that very much, but not with this earthly body. You’d have to design me a new one. One that could step and stay on a Saturnian ring. A Saturnian body could be a start, though. Why not one-for-all type of a body that I can use while I traverse the universe? Since you came up with this prompt,  Megan, I bet you can accomplish that and then some.Talking about that “and-then-some” bit, while you are at it, you could design an interstellar bike to fit my new body. A bike that can also jump over black holes and sail through the galaxies. I don’t think this is too much to ask. Just think of the big business you’d be starting. You’d be the richest lady in the universe and Forbes people would kiss the ground you’d walk on. Now, how about that! 😉 For: "Space Blog" Prompt: Fivesixer  has a picture from an x-ray where he broke his ankle. Have you ever had metal put in you? Write about metal implants.--- Sorry about Norb’s broken ankle. I hope that was a long time ago and it’s healed perfectly by now. As to metal implants, I don’t know much about them, but I know people who have them. I believe they work very well. Me and the implant? Not really a metal implant but I’d like new circuitry with magnets planted inside my brain, as its performance seems to be falling back somewhat. I have been reading up on neuroplasticity, and they are coming up with great finds. Unfortunately, those docs who write those books (like Dr. Ramachandran and Norman Doidge) only sensationalize the far-out cases. Wouldn’t it be great if my neurons fired faster and faster and connected properly? Maybe I could even write better. Heck, I’m all excited now. This writing better wish is worth going through the process of a new circuitry installment and even much more, with exaggeration. |
| For "Blog City ~ Every Blogger's Paradise" Prompt: Write the words you need to hear right now. ----- Peace on Earth. No more wars. No more Covid or Pandemics. People respect one another’s beliefs, ideas, and opinions everywhere. Then, after these things are accomplished, we can all accept life as it is. For: "Space Blog" Prompt: From THANKFUL SONALI Now What?  ’s "The Poet called Nature" --- Another beautiful poem about the poetry in nature, and I certainly agree with the premise of the poem. Yes, there’s poetry in nature, In fact, I imagine it was nature from the beginning that gave rise to poetry. Let’s just look around us at the sandy beaches, the sensations of summer, the essence of sand, an animal mother defending her baby, woods at night, sunbeams playing peek-a-boo among the leaves of tall trees, the sounds of the owls, birds chirping, humming birds drinking nectar from the flowers of all colors and shapes, butterflies, rain, a snow scene with moon shining on it, other moonlit nights, forests, trees, oceans, storms, flags waving in the breeze, mountains, rivers, lakes… The more I think, the more poetic things I can come up with. Even after all these things and then some, I believe people are the most poetic. When I think about it, what a glorious make-up people have in their outward shapes but mostly what’s inside them! Such an amazing creation is that human mind! It has the most striking, beautiful poetry and some truly intense drama. Nature has truly created a masterpiece that envelops everything sensational, amazing, stunning, scary, and so theatrically spectacular. |
| For "Blog City ~ Every Blogger's Paradise" Prompt “Where we belong is often where we least expect to find ourselves—a place that we may have willed ourselves to forget, but that the heart remembers forever.” Emily Giffin, Where We Belong How many places have you felt you belonged? Write about them. ---- Places I’ve been in are more than self-evident and static backdrops, sets, or stages on which I happened to exist. See that I didn’t say “I’ve been to” but I said, “I’ve been in.” This means one can visit many places but the sense of belonging happens with other elements rather than the city, country, suburbs, or wilderness backdrop. As such, I’ve been to many places in the USA, Europe, and the Near East. The one place I felt I really belonged to was the three-story, old clapboard house I grew up in. Then during my junior high and high school years, since both high-schools were in the same complex, I had thought I belonged there, as I had truly loved that school. Then the following year, when I attended the alumna meeting, the place felt like someone else’s school. I didn’t belong there anymore but to the university I was attending. Well, somewhat, I thought. I wasn’t going to be fooled again. Later on, when I went abroad to many places, while married after a while, I felt an affinity to many places, but I never felt I belonged with them. It is true that although a few places were inhospitable and the people in them I feared were out to get me, I’d say 99% of the places were nice and the people in them, usually, very friendly. Yet, I felt I belonged with my extended family sometimes, and my husband all the time, until he passed away. So, in my case, I think that sense of belonging has more to do with people than places. I guess, in my case, a place has to have beautiful people attached to it, rather than just the scenery and the topography. For: "Space Blog" Prompt: From A Cassandra. ’s "Invalid Item" This is a beautiful poem describing cherry blossoms. My best experience of cherry blossoms happened a few decades ago when we visited Washington DC. I believe it was the first week of April, then. The view was something like light pink tufts of cotton covering the branches, exuding hope and happiness to the viewers, be it short-lived like the cherry-blossom season itself as the flowers disappear quickly giving way to fruit in the making. I heard this year and last, due to Covid, even though they let in a few people walk in, they put up a fence around the tidal basin and closed the roads leading to the tidal basin. I’ve also read about about the cherry blossom festival in Japan, but I doubt they could do any better than the USA in opening them to public during the last two years. Who knows, when Covid is history, maybe one day I’ll live to see the Japan’s beautiful version of cherry blossoms, too.  |
| For "Blog City ~ Every Blogger's Paradise" Prompt“Too often, we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” Leo F. Buscaglia Who in your life gave you all the nice stuff Leo Buscaglia has talked about? Or if you wish, who can give all those things to anyone? How? Write about it. ---- Many people in my life gave me all that. I have been blessed with the most wonderful extended family. Mostly, it is the parents’ job to take care of those things, but when other people are added to it, the blessing is multiplied many times. I think in addition to family, school people like teachers and friends, too, can add to a growing person’s life. Even neighbors and strangers can pitch in if we were to live in perfect societies. Unfortunately, however, this isn’t always the case, and if a young person doesn’t have good parents, family, or any outside help, that person will have only himself or herself to turn their life around. I think, when all is considered, each person should learn to stand on their own feet and realize that, especially if they’re not a child anymore, they only have themselves to lean on to make the best life and future that they can for themselves. For: "Space Blog" Prompt: From Redtowrite ’s "One Planet of Hope" --- Here is a beautiful poem on hope, which I agree with 100%. One thing that makes hope so wonderful is that it is accessible to anyone, regardless of nationality, creed, race, politics, and everything else that separates human beings. Yet, it isn’t enough to wait, wish, and hope for something to happen. We need to work toward what we hope would take place. Hope should invite more than a wish into it. If not, it is only a wall decoration inside our psyches. Hope should invite a list of possibilities that demand action on our part. Otherwise, reverting to what Emily Dickinson wrote, hope is only something in the sky with feathers that we cannot catch but can only watch from afar. |
| For "Blog City ~ Every Blogger's Paradise" Prompt: There's dialogue and there are monologues. Dialogue is conversation between people whereas monologues tend to be one person speaking similar to a speech or a rant. Let's take this opportunity to discuss your name. What makes it unique? Is it a family name? Is there a story behind? Have fun, be engaging. --- I think I’ll tweak the question in the prompt a bit and have a conversation about names in general. The Bard: “What’s in a name?”. Me: “A whole human being,” The Bard: “All that glitters is not gold.” Me: “Granted, if only for the reason that a person’s name is not as important as who the person is inside, as argues your Juliet, Sir; however, it is a known fact that in our time, people live up to their names. Well, mostly.” The Bard: “You speak an infinite deal of nothing.” Me: “It is not the first time, Sir. My mother had similar ideas on that subject about me.” The Bard: “With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.” Me: “You may laugh all you wish, Sir, but unfortunately, neither you nor her are here on earth, anymore. ” The Bard: ““To die, to sleep - To sleep, perchance to dream - ay, there's the rub…” Me: “The rub is some of us do not like our names as they don’t fit us. Worse yet, out of spite, some people act as the opposites of their names. Yet, most everyone tries to live down or up to the names given to them, subconsciously or rather consciously speaking.” The Bard: “Conscience doth make cowards of us all.” Me: “With your permission, Sir. I tend to disagree. Conscience is the most importance part of a human being, I dare say.” The Bard: ”Et tu, Brute?” Me: “Sorry, Sir. I didn’t mean to lecture you. I may have stumbled there a bit. “ The Bard: “Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.” Me: “You sure are very witty, but you have to admit that we humans should think twice when we name our children.” The Bard: “Get thee to a nunnery! Better a witty fool, than a foolish wit.” Me: “It is all right, Sir. You can call me names if you wish. After all, you have called many a character many a name”. The Bard: “Beautiful tyrant, feind angelical, dove feather raven, wolvish-ravening lamb! Despised substance of devinest show, just opposite to what thou justly seemest - A dammed saint, an honourable villain!” Me: “If those are the names with which you are calling me, Sir, I’m more than pleased. I’m delighted.” The Bard: “Frailty, thy name is woman… Than by destruction dwell in doubtful Joy.” Me: “You just uttered my name, Sir. I’m so honored!” The Bard: ““Are you sure…That we are awake? It seems to me… Some are born mad, some achieve madness, and some have madness thrust upon 'em …”” Me: “To quote you, sir, ‘I am one who loved not wisely but too well.’” The Bard: “All's well that ends well.” (Sir William S. exits the scene.) For: "Space Blog" Prompt: From victoryseeker’s "Invalid Item" . Share a regret that you have. ---- I regret I had to hurt someone’s feelings by choosing someone else over him, but I had only enough space for one person in the drama of my lifetime. Yet, I am happy with my choice, and I didn’t let that regret hang on over me through the years, making it an imaginary alternate version of my life. Regrets can be the stuff of tragic fiction but they are not functional unless they can propel people onward and teach them not to make the same mistakes again. Intuitively speaking, my choice was not a mistake, but I still feel bad for hurting a very nice person. |
| For "Blog City ~ Every Blogger's Paradise" “At last came the golden month of the wild folk-- honey-sweet May, when the birds come back, and the flowers come out, and the air is full of the sunrise scents and songs of the dawning year.” ― Samuel Scoville Jr Use this quote to inspire your entry today. ==== Maybe, in Scoville’s story, that “golden month” of May came back for the bear family in a normal climate, but where I live, it came with a 94 degree heat. As its result, I had to go out early enough this morning for a few errands before the heat got to me. As such “the merry month of May” has turned into the “scorching grill” for those of us who live somwhere way down south. Instead of the month of May, though, I am much more impressed by the bears and honey. Bears have many species just like us people, except I don’t think they kneel down to racism among them for they are intelligent, big, strong, and fast animals. And no wonder they like honey, the one delicious thing food item made by bees, flowers, and mother nature. Plus, among all other edibles, honey is the only one that doesn’t go bad, and thus, it doesn’t need refrigeration. Some insist on honey’s medicinal properties. Whether they are right or not, we all appreciate this golden liquid in a cup of tea to soothe colds, sore throats, and nerves. Now, how did I end up here from that merry month of May! Ask the bears. They are smart, and they like honey, too. For: "Space Blog" Prompt: From Lilli 🧿 ☕  "Only Love is Needed" Here is a beautiful, well-written poem of earthly love when one partner is so sweetly begging the other one to come around. The problem for me is I never liked begging, especially for love, as love is given freely but not as the result of cajoling, but I think, with poetry, anything goes.  Then, probably for being a realist, this word love, together with the many different meanings it suggests, has me in stitches. The same for the ditty “All you need is love!” No, you need many more things. You need: clothes, shelter, food, a commode when you need it, some money, family, friends, an occupation, a working mind, a belief system, and good will toward everyone. What is still the most surprising for me is when people mistake hormonal needs for love. Yet, we’re all fooled by this need as we’ve been there in our younger years when we made that very mistake, and as a result, many separations and divorces keep on happening. To overcome this, a healthy love for life, for oneself, for others, for the creation and its Creator should be the answer. Many involvements we so haphazardly unite under the word “love” should then gain some serious meaning. |
| For "Blog City ~ Every Blogger's Paradise" Prompt: "The magic of the hill top is seeing her little books bought to life in the place where they were created." Peter Tasker --- This quote is about restoring Beatrix Potter’s home, on a hilltop where she grew different kinds of plants and put her drawings of them in her books. When one looks carefully one can see about where each of her stories were created. Here’s a link: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/restoring-beatrix-potters-garden Wouldn’t it be nice if each author’s creations could be traced to the actual time and space where they were created? For: "Space Blog" Prompt: From Alexi 
--- This poem takes its flight into the air from a scared emotion, the fear of flying, but then, it branches into other feelings and thoughts some of which are the author’s privileged, internal musings. I don’t know. I never had such fears. In fact, I enjoy flying. Yet, I don’t read too much into it either. To me flying is just a convenient way of travel. Maybe I am not too much of an emotional person. Yet, there is this one time I can’t forget. The plane I was in was going to Tri-Cities Airport (TRI) in Blountville, TN. I was traveling alone and reading a book. When the pilot announced that we were there and about to land, I lifted my head from the book and saw the chains of blue mountains in layers, almost like blue mists. I gasped. It was one of the most beautiful things I had ever set eyes upon. This was probably two and a half decades ago, and that view still lingers in my mind. I bet if people come up with taking photos of what’s in one’s mind, this would become a very vivid photograph. |
| For "Blog City ~ Every Blogger's Paradise" Prompt: They say we all have a book in us. Do you agree with this statement? --- I guess since everyone has a life, everyone can have a story to tell. How to approach it and revealing how much of one’s life could be among the challenges faced. Most of us, however, have several books in us. Except, they are hesitant to come out. For: "Space Blog" Prompt: From Lilli 🧿 ☕ ’s "Becoming a Writer in the Digital Age" --- I enjoyed college education greatly. And not for its parties, either. I enjoyed it for the subjects I studied. They showed me new avenues. Yes, college education teaches some things, but not everything, and this is where the author and I part ways. Learning to write and to read is a very personal thing. That’s how we have so many ways of writing and so many different approaches to writing. The writing bit and even the choices we make in our reading is totally up to our very own and unique emotional and intellectual make-up. I understand this piece was contributed by someone else other than Lilli 🧿 ☕ . So chances are my disagreement is with that someone else. Granted, I have no bones to pick with the way he approaches the business view of writing; however, that has never been my problem. My problem with most writers is that they adopt the business view, way before they hone in their skills and find a personal style of writing, and this brings down the art of writing and cheapens the appreciation of readers in general. Granted also when he says, “Nobody is waiting for you. And you will never be ready.” True. However, better to wait and get a few years of practice rather than dive head first into a muck. This is how I feel. |
| For "Blog City ~ Every Blogger's Paradise" Prompt “Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky.” Khalil Gibran, Sand and Foam What do you think about this quote, and in what ways life is like a tree? --- Trees are like poetry in the way that a poem inspires and stays with us after we’ve read it. Looking at a tree is like that, too. Who wouldn’t feel inspired, rejuvenated, and thankful for the existence of that tree after watching it and really noticing it? Trees inspire deep thoughts in people just like life, in being breathing and serene entities. Plus, their lives are longer than ours. They might even be wiser than we are since they have lived longer and experienced more. Trees are also like life in the way they can flourish even under the worst circumstances. They can also stretch upward and downward, establishing roots, something of a reminder of so many people and even other living beings. Then, have you ever watched a burned down forest giving off new shoots? If that’s not life, I don’t know what is. For: "Space Blog" Prompt: On Sharmelle's Expressions  ’s "The Barn Owl That Said Mooooo" --- Just the title alone is funny in this piece. On barns, however, I have little knowledge or experience. Having said that, I can’t forget the abandoned barn in a partially abandoned farm we visited during the mid-nineteen-eighties as part of a sightseeing trip. Somehow, its door made me sad enough to shed a tear or two. It was a heavy door, left half open, and it had lost some of its slats. The barn itself was crouching a bit forward like an old man with a bent-back, with its once red color turning brown. Yet, there’s a happy ending to this barn. My friend in that area wrote to tell me that the very barn that had made me sad was recovered, spruced up, and was being re-used as an arts and crafts workshop, mostly for making quilts. Now, when I think of this experience, instead of feeling sad, I feel recharged and happy, thinking there’s no end to the creativity and wisdom of our people, especially in that area. |
| For "Blog City ~ Every Blogger's Paradise" Prompt: Here’s John Steinbeck describing a sunset in The Grapes of Wrath: “A large drop of sun lingered on the horizon and then dripped over and was gone, and the sky was brilliant over the spot where it had gone, and a torn cloud, like a bloody rag, hung over the spot of its going. And dusk crept over the sky from the eastern horizon, and darkness crept over the land from the east.” What do you think of sunsets and how would you describe one? --- Sunsets are breathtaking and I especially love the ones I can watch from the back of the house on mild days. On the line of the horizon, the darkest reds mix with the breeze and bring dreamlike images into mind, and higher up purples and the last rays of the sun yellow to off-white reflect on the sky while the colors right above me darken faster and faster. It is then that I try to put to sleep the memories of sunset-watching with a specific loved one, and my tears pull me inside myself. For: "Space Blog" Prompt: From winklett in the woods  ’s "Marking Endings" --- Is Labor Day a festival? I believe it was made for that very idea of a festival to give workers a break and a reason for a fun-time so they can continue with renewed energy afterwards. Labor Day also signals the ending of summer. Labor Day to me, however, has always meant that the white pants and skirts of summer had to be retired to the back of the closet or folded away until the beginning of following summer. Where I live, though, summer is eternal throughout the year with a few cool breaks in between. Still, being that my town is mostly made up of NewYorkers like me, one can rarely see a white pants, shorts, or skirts on people. Maybe I should rebel against the order of things especially where fashion goes. After all, people all over the world, and particularly ordinary working people in factories, mines, fields, and offices, are rebelling every day in many ways of their own invention. |
| For "Blog City Prompt Forum" Prompt “When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other.” Eric Hoffer Is Eric Hoffer correct in his assumption? Since we are social animals, how much do you think we are attuned to others in our groups or cultures? --- I am not the one to disagree with Eric Hoffer, as scientific knowledge points out to the fact that the primate part of our brain dictates us that we fit in with the group we’re in. Unfortunately for our free will, we do this without knowing or understanding what we’re doing. Mastering this primitive part of our existence takes some doing because the social force is so ingrained inside us that it is almost like an internal organ whose actions we’re not aware of until a pain of some sort alerts us. There is nothing wrong with what a group dictates. A group just is, and it is especially difficult to stay away from it when we are born into the group and think of its rules and hierarchy as the sublime state of being. When the group intelligence is high, it can assimilate the differences of its members; however, even the best and the most intelligent groups end up becoming rigid in time. In addition, when we are so part of a group, we fail to see its effects on us. The thing is, the social force of the group exists inside us as well as outside of us, its size and chemistry depending on the particular group or culture we’re in. Plus, being and feeling to be part of a group, tribe, religion, culture, or nation makes us feel energetic and alive, which in itself, is an addiction. There is nothing wrong with all this, but when we side with the tribe or group against others in order not to lose our place in its hierarchy, we’re not being true to our very own selves. I believe to stop acting with the tribe against our own hidden will, we need to master the primitive parts of our character, which begins by the observation of our own selves. To resist the pull of the tribe we need to see and observe our tendency to demonize the other and especially rival tribes, groups, nations, political parties, and even sports teams. Once we recognize this tendency in us, it may be easy to rectify it. And who knows, we may become the leading force inside our group’s culture to put an end to fights, riots, and civil and international wars. For: "Space Blog Group" Prompt: From Lou-Here By His Grace ’s "Purple Dawn" Write about this poem in your Blog entry today. --- I am not much for camping out in the open, either. I rather prefer a comfy bed, more so my own, let alone in the wilderness of the old Wild West. As romantic as the good old days may seem to most, to me today counts and today, in my old age, I prefer to be in my own element. I’d rather read about the good ole’ West in books than experience it. Maybe because in my younger days I traveled a lot--too much, I’d say--and ‘ve had my fill. Now’s the time to take care of my creature comforts. Good poem though. I liked the descriptions a lot and that the poet agrees with me in essence. |
| For "Blog City Prompt Forum" "All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." — Charles M. Schulz What's your favorite chocolate? Why? Is there a special memory connected with the confection? ----- Dark chocolate is my favorite. I especially like it when it comes with hazelnuts in it. Why? It tastes good to me. I don’t care whether something is a good brain or heart food or not. Those who come up with such findings change their minds as if changing underwear, in the first place. With my likes and dislikes, my own opinions count.  A memory?: Two of them. 1. My husband’s first gift to me was a box of top-grade, fine Swiss chocolate. 2. When I was very little and was having a temper tantrum, my mother would have me lick a tiny bit of chocolate. We always had a stack of chocolates at home. That alone goes to say what kind of a kid I was. For: "Space Blog Group" Prompt: Jon Little (they/them) ’s "Invalid Item" . Do you believe in "little green men" "gremlins", or the "bogeyman?"--- No. Even if they existed, they would be too afraid to come to our earth, especially if they knew how easily we always pick fights and get into such violent wars with one another. I bet, however, since such stuff entered our imagination, it might have been created somewhere in the vast universe for I believe imagination/mind creates stuff or makes the imagined situations come true. |
| For "Blog City Prompt Forum" Prompt: Have you ever attended a Writer's Workshop? ---- Yes, many years ago, say more than half a century. Since I was studying lit at the time, it was the thing to do. Although many still attend those and I get invitations all the time, I don’t think a Writer’s Workshop will benefit my writing at all, except for making friends with like minded people and having a good time, which is exactly what we are doing here in WdC. Except we pick and choose what we want to do. Another reason for me not to attend a writer’s workshop is, I work alone much better. For: "Space Blog Group" Prompt: LegendaryMask❤️  ’s "High in the Sky" . Does faith play a role in your life? If so, tell us about it. If not, why?---- Yes, the role faith plays in my life is central and a big one, but I don’t make an issue of it in the company of others. It is a very private thing for me. It feels like, if I made a big to-do about it, it would get hurt by the thoughts of others. This is partly because there is a big difference between faith and fanaticism since fanaticism is the way most seem to treat their faith. Then, there is the emotional factor that I treat my relationship with the divine like a jealous lover. |
| For "Blog City Prompt Forum" Prompt: Write about culture for today's Blog entry. ---- This depends on what you mean by culture. In its most basic form, culture is the name for growing microorganisms in a certain medium placed in a petri dish, possibly in a lab. Otherwise, it may mean a set of shared values and practices of a group or it may mean customary anything. It may also refer to gained knowledge, excellence of taste and enlightenment. Since each group’s or nation’s culture may be different, whoever is deemed to be cultured in one society may be seen as a vulgar ignoramus in another. Then, if you shave the word down, you end up with the word “cult.” Now that’s something to think about, isn’t it! The culture we generally refer to in our lives, however, not only deals with the material but more so with the abstract, such as ideas, education, beliefs, tastes, and attitudes. This shared culture in a society democratizes that society, and in our time and place, it may well refer to the mass media, politics, religion, and learning in general; however, it doesn’t necessarily mean elitism. Most people mix culture with elitism, which, IMO, is a serious mistake. Being aware of the needs of the society--as to the importance of its history and traditions, its current output in terms of the arts, written material, press, and the willingness of the citizens to engage in civil dialogue—is what makes us cultured individuals who add something to the culture we live in. I, therefore, believe that each one of us is obligated to gather as much knowledge in those areas and not shy away from the positive give-and-take of ideas and opinions or fear those who work against the best interests of our culture. For: "Space Blog Group" Prompt: From ♥Hooves♥  ’s "Dinner at Eight" Select a poem from this book and write about it. "Apple Autumn" ----- I so love the first stanza of this poem. Very few poets and writers can use adjectives that may refer to several things in a short stanza. I mean “crisp and clear” for sure, where the two adjectives define the morning, apples, dawn, and the sounds of a typewriter. This stanza alone is a very strong poem because through descriptions, it hints at several emotions, such as appreciation, nostalgia, delight, etc,, without even naming them. Another reason I like the poem, however a secondary one, is that it reminded me of one home my family had with seven apple trees in one part of the backyard. We raised our children there, and in my opinion, it was the best place we ever lived in. Then, the kids grew up and we sold the place and moved down south, to find out that, like apples and everything else, what we loved was made to last for only a season. |
| For "Blog City Prompt Forum" Prompt: What are your weekend plans? ---- I don’t make plans for weekends or any other day, aside from the routine things. Since anytime I make plans, something happens to mess with them. Then, weekend plans are for people who cannot find the time to do things during their hectic weekdays. For me, the only good thing about the weekend, mainly Sundays, is that I don’t get unwanted calls. Unwanted calls, usually on the landline, which I keep only for routine business stuff, are terribly annoying. Thus, I made it a habit to say that I don’t buy, support, or donate over the phone. Usually though, the annoying calls come from crooks posing as agents from the Social Security, Medicare, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, or vehicle warranty stuff. AT&T shows the invalid numbers and VOIP calls on the Caller ID but doesn’t give me the option to block those numbers, while I can do just that on my cell. I don’t know why the same company can let me block numbers on my cellphone and not on the landline. It must have something to do with their business plans. Surely, when it comes to the business plans of big companies, the consumer is the one given the short end of the stick. For: "Space Blog Group" prompt: From winklett in the woods ’s "Backdoor" .An uninvited guest (a memory it seems). What would you do in these situations? ----- I know this beautiful poem from long ago. And yes, memories have a way of sneaking in through the back doors of the mind. What to do when this happens? I am usually disconcerted when a memory sneaks into my mind and I never plan ahead for it. Yet, this happens often, and I usually let it play its course, but then, I try to keep busy and get my mind occupied with something else to tear it apart from the claws of remembrances. I remember reading somewhere of an enzyme that aids in reviving old memories. It makes me wonder why anyone would want to do such a thing unless treating a trauma, which should be done in the presence and under the guidance of a professional, anyway. On the other hand, chances are all memories can be considered traumatic: the bad ones because, when we recall them, we live through their unpleasantness once more, and the good ones. we live through them, feeling we’ll probably never experience such good times ever again. In either case, we feel sadness or even grief. Who needs that! Still, something in nature, an inflection in someone’s speech, a song or a poem, even a scene in a fictional book can trigger memories. A great friendship bond, a lover’s gaze, the recall of a success can travel through our minds in a split second, transporting us into past experiences. Many people value such memories as it gives them a pat in the back for having lived through those good old times. Such stuff we may hold close to our hearts and may even think ourselves lucky for having had those times in our lives. Yet, isn’t this living in the past? Isn’t this a throwback, rather than a vision for future? I am not very sure that memories are as valuable as we make them to be. As Haruki Murakami wrote, ““Memories are what warms you up from the inside. But they’re also what tears you apart.” |
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