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         The natural world always keeps me awestruck. Here's an astounding fact about it.

         The quarter-inch long Himalayan Jumping Spider is the only living thing in its biome, the highest point on earth. Nothing else lives at the top of Mount Everest. This means it has no natural enemies and also no prey. It feeds on frozen dinners in the form of insects blown there randomly by strong winds.
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Hmm. What a fascinating setting for a story!
Humble Poet PNG - but am I? Author Icon - What would have happened if Spiderman was bitten by a toxic one of those? Suggested title: "Ice Webber."   *LAUGH*
I'm sorry, my friend. I won't contact you directly, but
whatever I said or did that upset you was unintentional. I found you by accident very recently. Please know that I still care.

All apologies to everyone else for my 'agony column' Newsfeed post. I knew no other way.
I will be water.
I have never been anything but water.
Indeed, I cannot be other than water.
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         I send much gratitude to each of you who Reacted and/or Commented. Double that gratitude to those of you whom I emailed.
         Apologies for the email confusion. I'm still learning how to use technology. I think I've got the hang of that 'wheel' thing. We'll see if I can figure out email at some point. *BigSmile*
Humble Poet PNG - but am I? Author Icon - I hope you did not email me. My inbox is full! *Laugh*
Nuts ☮ Author Icon - Uh-oh. Sorry.
I don't mean to toot my own bugle, but I'm halfway to completion of one of my major WdC goals --- that of logging in every day for a year!! I've logged in 182 consecutive days!! In six months, I'll have been among my friends on WdC every day for a year!! I have nearly as many Newsfeed posts/comments. It isn't just being here that I'm proud of. I feel like I've actually contributed something positive to this community and to the individuals of which it is comprised. I hope to do even more over the next half-year.

Many thanks to all here who have patiently helped me learn and grow, and who are still helping me learn and grow as a writer and as a person.
I don't do this often, so I hope I do it correctly.

I recently added two short stories to my port. I'm nervous about how others perceive them and I'd love to hear someone's thoughts about them. I'm not asking for a review, though I always welcome reviews that help me improve my relationship with other people, and that help me improve my writing of course. Anyone unfamiliar with my writing should proceed cautiously. The two new short stories are:

"Duty" Open in new Window. This one's an action story with an LBGT... element. (Be sure to read the dropnote, please.) I don't want to offend anyone and I worry that this one might offend some "non-traditional" people. I need to know to whom, if anyone, I need to offer an apology.

"Belly-buttons" Open in new Window. in my folder "Nearing Amontillado." It's 'dark' or it wouldn't be in that folder, but there are darker things in there.
         One or both of these are only accessible to Preferred Authors or above, and I considered posting this in the Preferred Forum, but well --- there it is. I'd love to hear a thought or two.

         
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Humble Poet PNG - but am I? Author Icon - NEVER apologize for your writing. If folks don't want to read them, they can go somewhere else. This is a writing site. Write what your heart tells you.
🌖 HuntersMoon Author Icon - Sometimes, I think I should set myself in equal or greater importance than others, but then I feel like I wouldn't be me and Humble Poet PNG if I did so.

Thank you for your encouragement. I feel and believe that the clearest path to human understanding is to either peacefully learn more about things we don't understand about the lives of others or walk quietly away from anything that offends us, with the knowledge that "If it doesn't affect me, it doesn't concern me and should be left alone."

I seem to be in a minority.
Read the first one and enjoyed it.
"Those who wear braggy trousers are too big for their britches."

---Shawn C. Bailey---
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It's a style, my friend... Not a good one but a style nonetheless. *Laugh*

         I've been writing since I was five or six years old and though most of my earliest scribbles have been lost in the whirlwind of the past 55+ years, I have no dearth of material I can post here.
         My friends, what may I post to regale you, amuse you, inspire you, and otherwise entertain you?
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Anything is fine, whatever expresses the feelings of your heart. I love learning about someone from their writing style. I've seen enough of yours to know you have a sense of humor *BigSmile*
JACE  Author Icon
I find as I think back on my life and its twists and turns, I find lots of fodder for writing. Perhaps you might reflect on those 55+ years.
         Some time back, interactions in the RW and here in this community prompted me to remove some of the items from my port, and to make "Private" many others.
         The number of people I interact with in RL is rapidly dwindling, and many of my interactions with others in this community are growing richer and deeper. Acquaintances are becoming friends and friends are becoming dear friends.
         Though I can't help feeling a deep awareness of my status as PNG (not Portable Network Graphics), I'm beginning to feel that its bounds are not limitless. There are a few small gardens which I may enter. So, while I take care not to inadvertently bruise any of the flowers nor to be pricked by any thorns, I'm enjoying the colours and fragrance of this most beautiful garden --- Writing.com. I'm re-opening some of my hidden portfolio items in a limited way. I'd like to add more items as well. I'm a deer near the edge of my forest. We'll see how far afield I can go.
Bren understands what this is like for me, but she suffers from my withdrawal signs as she seems to get the brunt of everything negative in my life. Things are much better today though! After at least a week of doing without, I got some this morn!! It has been a week of misery for me and I'm sorry to say that I've passed that misery on to Bren. It has been a week of stress, anxiety, edginess and jangled nerves, and all because I've been deprived of a basic necessity of life. Yesterday though, unbeknownst to me, my lovely wife picked up an exciting yet soothing, little something while she was out doing some shopping. This morning, she used it to ease my longings --- my cravings, and ease my tension and the tension that has existed between us for a week or more. After a whole week of doing without, this morning she surprised me with a hot cup of coffee!! I think I'll be okay now, and mercifully, I managed to avoid strangling anyone or committing hiri-kiri! I did consider in-patient therapy at some coffee shop however.
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Lilli ☕ Author IconMail Icon could have helped you on that. No wait she drinks all the coffee she gets her hands on.
Very Interesting you had me on tenter hooks waiting to know the outcome.
         I both need and want to make time soon to write of things that upset me. When I read of hatred and murders and heinous crimes, I'm filled with disgust; not because of what I see in others, but because I see all those same acts and emotions in myself.
         When I read of wars and other atrocities inflicted by one nation against another, I can't help but cry out from my heart, "Stop! Why are you shaking each others homes with gunfire and bombs, when it would be better for everyone on both 'sides' to shake hands in friendship?"
         I think there's still a lot I need to learn from this world, but anger, hatred, and violence are not places I want to go to study.

         All apologies, my friends, for this post. I think I needed to vent a little and since I don't exist much outside this community, this is where my steam ended up. I'm thinking today about things I need to write rather than things I want to write. Hopefully, I'll manage it somehow.
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You're not alone in these feelings. I'm glad you feel safe to vent here - it really can help.
You vented beautifully. While a difficult subject, you post wasn't difficult to read. Please continue to vent to us. We're here for you.
Dave  Author Icon
Amen to that vent!
         Earlier I posted what was more of a rant than I had intended. I meant to make a few general comments, but yes, they became a rant. I'm still sorry for dropping it all on you folk, my good friends. Yet, it had a surprisingly unexpected effect. I say "surprisingly" because after four years in this community, I should have more faith in my friends. Nearly everyone I've met here has been remarkably caring and supportive and only once or twice have I received anything negative from anyone. I wish I could say the same for people out here in the fantasy (nightmare?) world!
         I had expected a few supportive responses and maybe one or two sideline comments about bringing my personal angst to Newsfeed. Instead, I was deeply moved at the outpouring of concern and the words of comfort and support. I will not doubt you again, my friends. Nor can I find words to express my appreciation to all of you for being so kind and caring; for just being the people you are. Thank you all from the deepest part of my being.

"A single flower is reason enough to enter a garden."

---Humble Poet PNG - but am I?---

         I'd like to learn more about rambuca. If anyone can tell me more about it, please feel free to email me.
         All I know so far is it's a bright red, edible fruit with a slightly prickly skin and a mildly acidic flavour. Oh, and it apparently grows in Maylaya or Malaysia. Are those the same or two different places?


Happy WDC anniversary.
Happy anniversary 🎈🎉🎈🎉🎈
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