- Clock
- Remember
- Honor
- Sobering
- Wide-eyed
- Firewood
- Gather
- Stack
- Hack
- Sharpen
Creative Copy Challenge – Writing Prompt #691
I am here to challenge you to take these ten random words, below, and crush writer’s block and/or grow your creativity by creating a cohesive, creative short story, poem or… let this be the inspiration for your next example of your own creativity.
Let the words play in your head and then on the page!
Before you finish writing and enter your submission (by copying and pasting your writing in the comment section below) try CAPITALIZE the challenge words in your piece to make them stand out as this may not only help you determine if you forgot any words, but it will help us CCC-ers see them too.
If you’ve missed previous writing prompts, feel free to work on them and post what you’ve written in that challenge comment box.
I look forward to seeing how much fun you can have with these words! Don’t forget, feedback on others pennings is encouraged. Write On!
1. Greenery
2. Shower
3. Flocking
4. Light
5. Ornament
6. Wrap
7. Ribbon
8. Tape
9. Trepidation
10. Exuberance
National Grief Awareness Day – Today
Today in the U.S. it is National Grief Awareness Day.
It’s a day devoted to increasing understanding of the ways we humans cope with loss. Not everyone deals with loss the same way, but there are some similarities in the human experience.
One of the similarities is that Grief has 5 common stages:
*Anger
*Bargaining
*Denial
*Depression
*Acceptance
But the difference remains in the order in which we experience each stage. Let alone how we express our emotions of each stage.
As a survivor of domestic violence, divorce, the murder of my son, health issues, the death of my mother and other wonderful people and animals I have been blessed to have in my life – let alone the loss of a job or the need to change jobs I really liked – I have experienced all of these stages, many times. And it has led me to helping others, just like you, realize the grieving process is survivable.
One of the ways I have found to help me, and others, through the grieving process is to express my feelings on the page whether it in a poem, a short story or even over many pages. Putting pen to paper or fingers to the keyboard has allowed me to process in private, only sharing when, and if, I am ready.
I am here to help others process their grief in a healthy way. That’s what I’d like to offer you. I am here to help others process their grief. Drop me a note, below, or send me a private message on my Facebook page at DragonflyEditingAndPublishing. I look forward to sharing this natural part of life with you or someone else you know and help them process their grief. After all, we all deserve a way to process grief and today is a good day to start.
May you show grief the respect it deserves and love yourself enough to accept grief while being brave enough to drop me a note and let me help you, or someone you know, process grief in a healthy way.
Kathleen is a published author, editor and writing coach with 32 years of experience and training under her belt who believes in helping others process and heal. She can be reached here, or at Facebook.com/DragonflyEditingAndPublishing
Kathleen@DragonflyEditingAndPublishing.com
or on Instagram at TheKathleenKline
#AspiringWriter #MyMessIsMyMessage #Aspiringmemoirauthor #WritingCoach #YouCanWriteABook #Memoir #grief
Playing With Words
I often play with words, weekly, at the encouragement of those at the Creative Copy Challenge (on WordPress). This week’s words lead me to fun little expression of emotions. The capitalized words are the challenge words for this week.
Isabella pulled the plastic wand out of the small bottle filled with dish soap. The ROSE water simmered in the quarter-sized circle. The hews of the rainbow danced on the see-through liquid. She drew in a breath, brought the stick up near her puckered lips, and blew the air out of her lungs. She gave life to the BUBBLES – five or was it six? She lost count as she watched them float away on the breeze. The smallest one stalled. It glistened like a beacon. Isabella smiled allowing the child-like joy to fill her until the BUBBLE popped. After inserting the wand back into the bottle, she secured the top and place the vessel of fun back in the box.
Her pinky brushed up against satin. She paused. Her heartbeats strengthened in anticipation of holding it again. Gently picking up the ribbon she held the attached barrette as if it would break.
The breeze picked up the FEATHER that had been carefully weighted down by the clip that had held her hair five years ago. She smiled at the memory of Dillon caressing her arm as she laid, sunbathing, on the beach during their honeymoon. Isabella swooned with the memory.
Stringed instruments being tuned tickled her eardrums. She lifted her head, visually scanning the park. But she couldn’t locate them.
A man pedaled by assaulting her tranquility as he shared his music with everyone he passed, “…like an ARROW to the heart…” She looked up to see a sign announcing him PEDDLING dog walking services.
She blinked and frowned at the harsh disruption. Like magic, soft notes were cooed by a dove. Isabella brought her focus back to her lap. She drew a finger over the dried PEDDLEs of the tulip. Her finger lingered on the BOW of the boutonniere held in place by the pearl headed pin.
Lost in her memories, she did not see the trio of musicians setting up across from her. Nor did she see the little girl dressed in her Sunday best, including her shinny patten leather shoes that anchored her bobby socks topped with lace.
“Miss Isabella,” the little miss inquired.
“Ye… yes,” Isabella responded hesitantly.
“These … these are for you.” The little miss lifted her bouquet laden arms.
Isabella quickly made sure no items were misplaced, shut the lid, and maneuvered the loop of leather around the wooden toggle button. The little miss stepped forward laying the bundle of tulips in the seated lady’s arms.
“Thank you. But I don’t understand.”
“Momma?” the little miss said, look over her shoulder.
A well quaffed woman stepped up. Beautiful notes from the stringed trio emanated from behind the child. Isabella looked up. Tears welled in her green eyes.
“I don’t understand,” Isabella repeated as the threesome played the song she and Dillon danced to at their wedding.
“Miss Isabella.”
“Yes.”
“If we are not mistaken, today is your wedding anniversary,” the dulcet tones of this stranger’s voice complimented the melody.
Isabela wiped the moisture from the corners of her eyes as she nodded.
“Your husband said we’d find you here, on this bench, on this date, at this time,” the mother announced.
“He did?” heartfelt love telegraphed as her voice quivered.
“He did.” The corners of the stranger’s ruby red lips turned up.
“But … he won’t be here,” Isabella said in a near whisper.
The stranger stepped forward patting Isabella on the shoulder.
“He said that might be the case.”
Isabella shook her head and made eye contact with the unfamiliar person.
“And the…” Isabella jutted her chin toward the musicians.
“Yes, ma’am. He said the VIOLIN, the CHOCOLATE-stained VIOLIN was your favorite. As a matter of fact, that is the same one played on the day you said your vows.”
Tears streamed down the bride’s face.
“When did he plan this?”
“Your husband came into my flower shop every year about this time, well, at least for the last seven or so. He changed up his order last year and added a delivery charge and the search began for the violinist.”
Isabella slowly nodded as she rotated her wedding band around her finger.
“The last time he was in … he said to remind you ‘the CLOUD of illness cannot sour this day of celebration.’ Is he okay? Will he be here soon?”
“No,” Isabella said looking back up at the florist. “No, he is above the CLOUDs looking down upon us today.”
January Musing
NOTHING holds a candle to the birth of a child
EVERYTHNG changes
The first time I got to SEE her
A WAVE of love still washes over me, even 29 years later
The image of her on the BEACH in California, playing in the SAND and the SEA!
My love is not for SALE
But I will put it on the wind and SAIL it off in her direction
I hope she knows I love her still
As I sit here BEACHED in my memories
This poem was inspired by the http://CreativeCopyChallenge.WordPress.com #644. The Challenge words are CAPATALIZED.
Managing The Mind
Where has writing taken me?
I know I have used this space to express feelings – some universal, some hopefully
experienced by few. Those feelings, of late, found me writing (and re-writing)
chapters 1 – 13 of one memoir. And what great progress I was making in late
2020 and early to mid-2021. When another story, one I had written a short story
about no less than a decade before, started knocking on my writer’s door. It
became louder and louder. I attempted to ignore it. Telling myself, ‘But I want
to get this one done.’
Sometimes, I have found, you just need to answer that door, open it and be
willing to address the visitor(s) before they become an unwanted guest(s).
It seems the story – My Life In The Dark – would not be
silenced. It would not wait. It seems it had waited long enough.
I started, or is it restarted, this second story that was demanding to be
told. I am now hitting the keys. I am up to chapter 23 and letting chapter 24
move me along the storyline. I am not sure how many chapters this manuscript
will end up having but write it I will.
I will not allow my adventure into script writing to derail me and this
story that is crying out to be told. Although it was a fun break and respite.
It seems there is much writing to be done and between My Life In The
Dark and the restart of the Creative Copy Challenges (here on WordPress).
I will be feeding the writing beast and … well, maybe I will be able to come out
with Volume II of my short stories in 2022 (or 2023) along with being close to
if not in the publishing phase of My Life In The Dark.
What passions do you see yourself working on in 2022?
30 Days of Thankfulness
November has signified 30-days of thankfulness, for me (and others) for many years. It’s a kick start, really. You see there is actually a “30 Days of Thankfulness” challenge that I have participated in for years. Each year it often occurs in the month of November.
Here is my challenge to you:
First, you will need some paper and a writing utensil. I suggest that you get a small notebook or journal to write these things down in. Get one you like, in the color(s) you like because it will encourage you to keep on track with the challenge as well as complete the full 30-days.
Or if you are crafty this is a good time to make this a fun journal making project in preparation for this challenge. It only will take 8-pages of copy/printer paper or lined paper folded in half. You can staple them or punch holes in them and tie a string or ribbon in the holes.
Then pick a time of your day in which you can devote a few minutes of your time to meet the challenge.
If you are an “early morning” person search your previous day’s events and find something you are thankful for, something you appreciate. Now starting with your journal with “Day 1” and then write what you are thankful for in your journal for that day.
But wait, I bet some of you are wondering what type of things to write down.
Well, let’s think… what are some of the things you can be thankful for?
For me, there are days I am thankful for the air I breathe. Other days I am thankful for the kindness shown to me. Yet still, there are days I am thankful for the memories of my mother, son, brothers and some treasured pets who are dearly departed. Heck, over the years, I am sure there are days I have been thankful for being able to get out of bed or walk (but that is because I broke a leg, severely – amputated my left foot and ankle – a few years back). I have even been thankful for getting 6 hours of sleep, consecutive.
Your notes/writings do not need to be long. Actually, it is often suggested to have the “penning’s” be about 40 words. As you see above, some of the things I have previously been thankful for have been 7 to 10 words long. Hence, it’s not a challenge designed to add stress to your life. It is actually designed to remind you of all of the things, big and small, that you can and do appreciate.
Here’s to hoping this helps you start a new tradition in your family’s and your life – the acknowledgment of thankfulness.
Write on!
Building a Cornerstone of Our Community
If you could help your neighbors for less than the price of Netflix Streaming service charge or for less than two Grande’s at the local specialty coffee house and/or less than three gallons of gas – wouldn’t you?
“I know it’s not a lot,” but many hands make short work, “and that is all it’s going to take if 600 people decide to donate $10 per month for one year for us to not only continue what we’ve been doing but expand and meet the needs here in Kern County,” Counselor and President of Cornerstone Center for Counseling and Discipleship Pastor Joshua Pierce said encouragingly.
Born and raised in Tehachapi, Pierce decided to come home, after earning his master’s in divinity, to pastor to others, by, in part, “opening an addiction center that will help those with drug addiction here in the Tehachapi Valley,” Pierce said. “And I figured opening a nonprofit Christian counseling ministry, here in my home town, was my best way to honor my calling and my community.”
Over the last year, the Cornerstone Center for Counseling and Discipleship has been providing low-cost counseling and personal development seminars to the Tehachapi Community and others in Kern County. But it is time to move forward.
The county is far from immune to the every-growing use, abuse and overdoses associated with opioids – drugs that have addictive properties as well as physiological effects on the people ingesting them.
The latest statistics show that “23.9 deaths per 100,000 people” have occurred in this county, with deaths due to drug-related causes being on the rise each year, according to the Conduent Healthy Communities Institute. Kern County has well over 874,000 people, according to the World Atlas which means opioids account for 209 plus deaths and this number does not including those still actively addicted.
“Our goal is to offer hope and healing to our community,” Pierce said admitting it is time to build on to his dream and vision of giving to his community.
“The next step in Cornerstone’s path is to start an addiction center [a brick and mortar center] that will benefit those with drug addictions, here in the Tehachapi Valley,” Pierce stated.
Pierce, and the others at Cornerstone, understand that receiving help for an addiction can be costly and finding affordable quality care is often out of the reach for many who need it the most – those with addictions.
“But, with the help of our generous community members we can make this help available to those who need it the most,” Pierce said. “And you can help for less than the price of a monthly Streaming Netflix rental.”
Cornerstone is looking to find 600 people who are willing to donate $10 per month for one year. As of this post, they have reached 12.5 percent of their goal.
“Donations can be made once or you can spread out of your donation over the months as we have been able to set up an auto-pay donation at http://www.cornerstoneccd.com Pierce said. “Or you can send your donations by way of check to Cornerstone Center 1121 W Valley Blvd #225, Tehachapi, Calif. 93561.”
The goal is to open the offices of Cornerstone in October of 2019, but until full funding is achieved the counseling will continue on its ever-growing pace.
For those wishing more info visit the website, email Pastor Pierce at joshua@CornerstoneCCD.org or call the office at 661-750-0439.
When Love Takes You From Trial to Trail
When tempers flare and restraining orders become necessary … sometimes the next phone call is life-shattering. That is exactly what happened in Dee Fournier’s family July 17, 2002 when an officer knocked on the door.
“The officer knocked on our dad’s door,” Fournier, “and then dad made the call to mom.”
That was followed by the parents splitting up the notification to their four other children that their oldest “sister had been murdered by her estranged husband.”
“I remember waking to my husband yelling for me,” Fournier said. “He woke me from a blissful sleep. And after I got to the phone my mother told me – ‘He shot her. He killed her, right in front of the kids,’ my mother said between sobs.”
Left to right – Dee Fournier and her sister, Juli.
Juli had been married to her husband, and the father of her two children, for “15 to 18 years”, Fournier recalls. “While she said she was unhappy and they argued, she never told us of any physical abuse,” Fournier said shaking her head.
But with the “if I can’t have her no one will,” attitude Juli’s husband was overheard expounding (by one of the couple’s mutual friends), one of the (possibly) first physical encounters looks to have been the deadliest.
“I just wish we’d known,” Fournier admits as the weight of guilt weighs heavy on those left behind. “It’s the ‘what ifs?’ ‘should of’, ‘could of’ and the ‘only if’ that linger,” even 17 years later, Fournier admits with grief laden eyes.
These are some of the reasons Fournier will be putting one foot in front of the other this year as she steps out on the American Discovery Trail.
Fournier will be walking/hiking from California “which is, in part, where I’ve been hiding from my grief” to Maine. You see, Fournier is heading back home to where her sister Juli and the other 5 siblings were raised, as well as where a good number of the family still make their homes. But this journey is not really starting in California.
“I sat, with the rest of my family, (in Florida) trial side through the first trial, in which my brother-in-law was convicted of first-degree murder.”
He exercised his ‘right’ to an appeal. But that did not change the outcome.
“My brother-in-law was found guilty, both times. Guilty of premeditated murder…” Fournier said, swallowing hard. “Well, I thought the healing would begin there,” Fournier said shaking her head. “But it didn’t. The trials were just beginning.”
Now, 17 years later, Fournier’s focus has changed. She hopes to stop running from the guilt, running from the sadness, running from the longing to be around her sister and “stop the wake of destructiveness for others and their families before domestic violence permanently and irreversibly scars them,” Fournier admits.
This is where the trail begins to lead to an end. Fournier is ready to set off on the trail of awareness and healing, but not just for her family.
“It’s ironic, it seems I have been a bit lost since my sister’s murder,” Fournier said, “and recently, as I was looking for what my purpose in life is … a friend encouraged me to follow my passion.” A light chuckle escaped Fournier’s throat. “I didn’t even recognize I had anything I was passionate about when my friend pointed out I had two things – my love for hiking and photography.”
Add the desire to not let her sister’s death be in vain and Fournier’s multi-faceted goals came into view.
“As I am out on the west coast, I decided to make the cross-country hike and head home. But not before I paid homage to my sister, her plight and all who endure any domestic violence,” Fournier said, braving a smile.
But it’s not just a 6,800 plus mile hike. Fournier will be stopping along the trail, in towns where she can talk with ladies who are experiencing domestic violence.
As Fournier hikes from coast to coast she will be stopping to bring light to the serious nature of domestic violence while encouraging many to 1) not to accept such behaviors, 2) believe in themselves and their ability to stand up for themselves and their children, 3) get free and 4) “don’t let them sweet-talk you back.”
The trail will take Fournier through California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Delaware, but then she will continue on her path up to Main where she will complete this 9-month to a yearlong hike.
While Fournier’s first footfall on the trail will be on her sister’s birthday, April 24, she shares: “I would love to make it in 9 months, after all, I was delivered after that length of time,” Fournier said with a light chuckle as her heart began to ease as she realized she was heading home. All awhile knowing it may take longer depending on the number of stops.
Fournier will not be working, of course, during this 9-month plus long trek that will be bringing awareness to the multitude of dangers associated with domestic violence. There has been a GoFundMe page set up for those who would like to support her efforts to highlight, among other facts, that approximately every minute about 20 people become victims of domestic violence as pointed out by the U.S. Department of Justice report on just the non-fatal domestic violence acts.
There have already been a couple of folks step up in support of Fournier’s gallant endeavor. The Verizon Wireless company has become a sponsor as well as other individuals who are against domestic violence.
“I will be chronicling my trip along the American Discovery Trail with my camera and a diary.”
Although Fournier is aware some men are victims of domestic violence, she “will be speaking to as many women as I can,” across the U.S. near the trail “as I want to do something specifically associated with the same reason for my sister’s death.”
Dee Fournier, April 2019 conditioning for the trek of a lifetime.
Fournier will be lacing up her hiking boots, darning her backpack and hitting the trail on April 24th of 2019 at the west coast head of the trail in Point Reyes, Calif.
You can follow her on Twitter #DeeGoesFromTrialToTrail or Instagram at Deestahdiva, at her website http://deegoesfromtrialtotrail.com/ and, if you desire to, you can catch up with what Fournier is doing by going to her YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qea-QT2Ss6g. Donations can be made by going to http://www.GoFundMe.com where you will be able to look up DeeGoesFromTrialToTrail.
Dee Fournier is a strong lady who I have had the pleasure of becoming friends with over the last few years. As a former victim of domestic violence myself, I applaud Dee’s decision to take back her life all awhile speaking out to help others not end up like her sister. I know Miss Juli looks down from heaven and smiles as her baby sister begins to take back her life and inspire others to do the same. May your foot-falls be on solid ground and your voice be heard across this nation. — Kathleen Kline
Encouragement
Seize the moment
Swig from the hop
Enjoy the dawn
Don’t worry about being popular
Think clear thoughts
Don’t be sour, even if you have good reason
Gain strengths from your experiences
Take part in life
Don’t fake it
Overcome adversity.
Note: Inspired by the Creative Copy Challenge #48
Photo by Brian Lauitzen
BrianLauritzen.com
Kathleen's Dragonfly Desk 