For any of you who don't know, (and I truly don't know how many of you readers of my blog there are--many, I hope!), I belong to a writers group at my town library. Sometimes the moderator gives us a writing prompt to do as homework to keep us writing. It's been a busy week, so I decided to share with you the story I shared last night for the excercise we were given. I hope you are amused by it. Promise I'll write something more personal in the next few days!
PROMPT:
A man is shopping with his pregnant wife for baby items when he runs into an ex-girlfriend who he told he was not the marrying kind.
“UH OH! HELLO”
“Oooh! Look at this!” exclaimed Jamie, “Just like in the Best Babies magazine! I just knew I’d find it here, this place has everything. Here, Greg, put this in the cart for me.”
“You’re sure this is the one this time?” Greg asked, “My back is getting a little tired from all this lifting.”
“Excuse me?!” his wife replied pointing to her belly. “You think it’s not tiring walking around with this lead beach ball all day?” She opened her mouth to continue when a voice interrupted.
“Yeah, Greg-or-y,” the sarcastic voice said, “What are you complaining about?”
Jamie turned to the woman belonging to the voice behind them, while Greg paled and swallowed hard.
“Do we know you?” Jamie asked.
“Well, I know Gregory,” the woman said, “But I don’t believe we’ve ever met. I’m Amanda and this little guy is Jeff.”
Extending her hand and smiling Jamie said, “Nice to meet you, Amanda and Jeff, my name is Jamie. How do you two know each other?”
Amanda and Jamie looked at Greg expectantly. Trying to find his voice Greg cleared his throat. “I, um, well you see, we, uh, we used to see, um know each other, you know, before.”
“Are you ok, honey?” Jamie asked, taking a step toward her husband and putting a hand on his forehead. “You look a little pale.”
“Get a grip, Greg-or-y,” Amanda’s voice grated on his nerves. “Just tell it like it is!” Turning to Jamie and bouncing Jeff on her hip she continued, “We dated for about 18 months, and when things started getting serious, Greg here told me he’s not the marrying kind.”
Disbelief on her face, Jamie looked from Greg to Amanda and Jeff. “How long ago was this? In college? Greg, how long ago?”
“We broke up about a month before you and I met” he answered slowly, looking at Jeff on his mother’s hip, “I think I owe Amanda an apology or something.”
“Don’t bother, Greg-or-y,” Amanda interrupted, “We are just fine, and I see you are too.” Turning to Jamie she added, “Congratulations, I don’t know how you got him to commit, but more power to you. Enjoy your baby.”
“Babies,” Jamie replied, “Twins, and thank you. Jeff is a beautiful child. Come on, Greg, I need to get off my feet.”
With a final look at Amanda and her son Greg followed his wife to the checkout.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Monday Thoughts
Monday is best described as "Monderday" and said in a monotone.
The weekend passes way too fast, and if there were just a few more hours in Sunday I could get enough things done so that I'm not always in 'catch up' mode on Monday.
Cheeseburgers with fried onions, overseasoned tater tots, pickles and a fresh salad make a satisfying Monday evening meal.
Laughing with co-workers over lunch is a pleasant halfway point to any day, but Monday especially.
Joking with Hillary's classmate about where she was made for a pleasant moment at work. (She was at work in the guidance office, but I told him that perhaps she had subdued both bus driver and aide after I put her on the bus this morning and was driving around town in the bus instead of going to school.)
Breezy, sunny, cool fall days remind me of growing up in northwestern NJ and trying to learn to do a cartwheel (something I never did master!).
Surprising Bruce and Anna with a simple homemade apple crisp (I didn't even use a recipe!) around 8:00 p.m. is a cozy way to end the first workday of the week. (the caramel sauce I put on my serving made it taste really special!)
Listening to the sounds of Bruce and Anna looking up the family tree on the computer while listening to and watching the "Sounds of the Seasons" cable channel playing Halloween music, showing autumnal and spooky scenes and trivia about Halloween is a nice way to end the day.
The weekend passes way too fast, and if there were just a few more hours in Sunday I could get enough things done so that I'm not always in 'catch up' mode on Monday.
Cheeseburgers with fried onions, overseasoned tater tots, pickles and a fresh salad make a satisfying Monday evening meal.
Laughing with co-workers over lunch is a pleasant halfway point to any day, but Monday especially.
Joking with Hillary's classmate about where she was made for a pleasant moment at work. (She was at work in the guidance office, but I told him that perhaps she had subdued both bus driver and aide after I put her on the bus this morning and was driving around town in the bus instead of going to school.)
Breezy, sunny, cool fall days remind me of growing up in northwestern NJ and trying to learn to do a cartwheel (something I never did master!).
Surprising Bruce and Anna with a simple homemade apple crisp (I didn't even use a recipe!) around 8:00 p.m. is a cozy way to end the first workday of the week. (the caramel sauce I put on my serving made it taste really special!)
Listening to the sounds of Bruce and Anna looking up the family tree on the computer while listening to and watching the "Sounds of the Seasons" cable channel playing Halloween music, showing autumnal and spooky scenes and trivia about Halloween is a nice way to end the day.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Monday Joys
I promised a more upbeat post for this time, so I thought that some simple joys from today's thoughts would be a good way to start the week.
Napping on the deck on a summery autumn afternoon with the sounds of squirrels rustling in the fallen leaves as white noise.
Going to lunch as a family at our favorite luncheonette we haven't visited for a long time and finding that the chicken sandwiches, chili dogs, and fries are just as good as we remembered.
My husband and older daughter researching geneology together, and excited by newly discovered ancestors.
Watching the princess sleep.
Homemade cookies.
Spaghetti for dinner.
Starting a new book.
The picture of a neighborhood cat sitting on the roof of Anna's car that Bruce took with my camera while I was at work.
Donating gently used clothes.
A hot mug of tea to start the day.
A bowl of cornflakes to end the day.
Napping on the deck on a summery autumn afternoon with the sounds of squirrels rustling in the fallen leaves as white noise.
Going to lunch as a family at our favorite luncheonette we haven't visited for a long time and finding that the chicken sandwiches, chili dogs, and fries are just as good as we remembered.
My husband and older daughter researching geneology together, and excited by newly discovered ancestors.
Watching the princess sleep.
Homemade cookies.
Spaghetti for dinner.
Starting a new book.
The picture of a neighborhood cat sitting on the roof of Anna's car that Bruce took with my camera while I was at work.
Donating gently used clothes.
A hot mug of tea to start the day.
A bowl of cornflakes to end the day.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Tuesday's Thoughts
Today I am pondering some things that may or may not have easy answers.
There has been much debate lately (at least in the media) about bullying. There seems to be some surprise that bullying is an issue, and some people seem to believe it is a recent societal problem, and that we have become a “nation of weenies“. I remember my own childhood, and how beginning in the sixth grade I was bullied by some other kids, and it continued to some extent into my first year of high school. I suspect there are many people who had similar experiences. Yes, I survived to become a relatively well adjusted adult. The difference between now and then (trust me it was decades ago) is that I could get away from it. When I went home, I was safe. No cell phones and text messages, or even anyone calling my phone to harass me since they would have had to talk to my mother first. No anonymity for the caller and that was without caller I.D. Just my mother saying, “Who’s calling?” if they had asked for me. There was no internet, so no instant messaging, e-mail, or social networking account to be tortured through. Perhaps one of the reasons that bullying hurts so much more now is that there is no way for kids to really get away from it. Even if a child has a close relationship with family and can talk about it, it is still in their house, their room, their pocket.
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I don’t understand why many people are so defensive and closed minded/hearted when it comes to including those with disabilities in daily life on a regular--daily--basis. What on earth are they afraid of losing from their “normal” lives by making some small accommodation, or giving the disabled a chance to do something meaningful? It hurts when I hear that staff look at my daughter and say “she can’t do anything, she doesn’t belong here”, (they didn’t say it to me, but to her aide and right in front of her), or when I overhear other staff members complaining about what a pain it is to have a disabled boy helping them. Sometimes I can’t help but wish that one day those people will be in a position similar to my daughter, or that disabled boy so they can feel the pain of being excluded from society in such a way.
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Why does a boss not see that you get much more from your employees when you encourage, take an interest, and consider suggestions than you do by giving only negative comments over the phone and rarely showing up when the bulk of the work is being done? How can you expect your business to do well, and the employees to give their all under those circumstances?
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So those are my Tuesday thoughts, heavy, yes, but they’ve been bugging me lately. Next post will be of a happier, lighter tone--promise!
There has been much debate lately (at least in the media) about bullying. There seems to be some surprise that bullying is an issue, and some people seem to believe it is a recent societal problem, and that we have become a “nation of weenies“. I remember my own childhood, and how beginning in the sixth grade I was bullied by some other kids, and it continued to some extent into my first year of high school. I suspect there are many people who had similar experiences. Yes, I survived to become a relatively well adjusted adult. The difference between now and then (trust me it was decades ago) is that I could get away from it. When I went home, I was safe. No cell phones and text messages, or even anyone calling my phone to harass me since they would have had to talk to my mother first. No anonymity for the caller and that was without caller I.D. Just my mother saying, “Who’s calling?” if they had asked for me. There was no internet, so no instant messaging, e-mail, or social networking account to be tortured through. Perhaps one of the reasons that bullying hurts so much more now is that there is no way for kids to really get away from it. Even if a child has a close relationship with family and can talk about it, it is still in their house, their room, their pocket.
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
I don’t understand why many people are so defensive and closed minded/hearted when it comes to including those with disabilities in daily life on a regular--daily--basis. What on earth are they afraid of losing from their “normal” lives by making some small accommodation, or giving the disabled a chance to do something meaningful? It hurts when I hear that staff look at my daughter and say “she can’t do anything, she doesn’t belong here”, (they didn’t say it to me, but to her aide and right in front of her), or when I overhear other staff members complaining about what a pain it is to have a disabled boy helping them. Sometimes I can’t help but wish that one day those people will be in a position similar to my daughter, or that disabled boy so they can feel the pain of being excluded from society in such a way.
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Why does a boss not see that you get much more from your employees when you encourage, take an interest, and consider suggestions than you do by giving only negative comments over the phone and rarely showing up when the bulk of the work is being done? How can you expect your business to do well, and the employees to give their all under those circumstances?
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
So those are my Tuesday thoughts, heavy, yes, but they’ve been bugging me lately. Next post will be of a happier, lighter tone--promise!
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