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 A new blog to contain answers to prompts |
Since my old blog "Everyday Canvas "  became overfilled, here's a new one. This new blog item will continue answering prompts, the same as the old one. Cool water cascading to low ground
To spread good will and hope all around.  |
| Prompt: "Cats are distant, discreet, impeccably clean and able to stay silent. What more could be needed to be good company?" Write about this quote in your Blog entry today. ------------- Well, okay, I have to take the opposite view for the word "distant" when describing cats. I have never ever owned a distant cat. If anything, all my cats were very friendly and loving, to the degree of overbearing at times. The last one, however, used to run and hide under a chair when the doorbell rang or someone came to visit. Yet, she was always very warm to me. But then, each cat has his and her own personality; some are needy, others are more independent, but all my cats were very affectionate and we formed a unique cat-human bond as long as they were with me. A case in point: When I was a teenager, my mother suddenly took very ill and I was crying in the kitchen while preparing her food. My then cat--a feral gray I had picked up from the street and somehow made her into a nice house cat that adapted to me and to our house--jumped on the table and began licking my tears. This show of affection and comfort has stayed with me all my life. My last cat, Noche, who passed away about a year ago, was not a lap-cat but she loved to sit next to me, so I made sure wherever I sat in the house, there would be another seat or an empty space close to me where she could comfortably sit. Noche didn't mind, however, when I picked her up and petted her. In fact, she loved it. I knew it from her purring and licking my hand and putting her head on my chest. But she wasn't comfortable on my lap, otherwise. She wanted her very own seat, next to me. On the bed, she would still sleep next to me also, by putting her paw on some part of me, but she never climbed inside the covers or over me. Noche became my cat when she was already twelve and she was quite agile, playful, and loved sitting with me inside the closed porch and watching the yard--the squirrels, rabbits, and many birds--from a distant. Once a large frog found its way into the bedroom and I was worried that Noche would bite the frog, maim it, or get herself hurt. No such thing happened. She sat across the frog and imitated the frog's motions. If the frog moved to one side, Noche moved toward that side. This went on for about two hours or so. Then, the frog suddenly jumped. So did Noche, but the two never even touched. Finally, I got the frog to move toward the front door and let it out. I think some angel must have helped me in the process because imagine trying to capture or lead a jumping frog through the house to the front door! Another weird thing with all my cats was, while most of them slept comfortably and quietly, Noche would talk in her sleep, literally talk, making sounds more humanlike. I don't know why. I think, maybe because in her previous home, there was a dog she didn't like and a larger cat she fought with. Could she have been dreaming of her earlier years! Just maybe. I so miss having a cat, and I miss Noche especially, but I won't get another cat or any other animal. This is because I am old and what will happen to the animal if I died! Even a most adaptable cat can have some emotional trauma in the least, when the owner changes. Plus, everyone I know wouldn't take a cat since they all have dogs. I wouldn't want a tamed house cat living in a shelter and heaven-forbid be subject to euthanasia or medical lab research. So I live with my cat memories, now, And they are among the most beautiful memories I have. I believe I have been blessed with those memories and the knowledge that I once was friends with such animals as cats that are beautiful inside out. |
| Prompt: Empathy "The great gift of human beings is that we have the power of empathy." Meryl Streep What are your thoughts on empathy? ----- Empathy is what connects us as human beings. It acts like a glue or a catalyst for cooperation and kindness. That's why it is a great gift. I think the very first advantage of empathy begins with one's own self, and to me, it means personal growth. It means I do not look at the world only through my own eyes but see it in its entirety and imagine other's problems and suffering, be it that of a human or an animal. A few days ago, a huge lawnmower-truck on the golf course hit and injured a white ibis. After the truck left, I saw that the bird had blood on its white feathers. It was in pain. I don't know how to help an injured bird, so I reached for my cell to call some wildlife rescue. Luckily, Florida has many wildlife rescue groups, but there is no rescue programs nationwide. Before I could dial, though, the bird somehow took flight and flew away. I didn't know whether to feel relieved or not. The thought of that injured bird falling down somewhere else still haunts me. But there was nothing I could do. Even if I had finished the call, nobody could help an injured bird in flight. Not everyone, though, can feel the pain of others. Some people with brain problems cannot feel empathy fully for they cannot relate to the other person's troubles, especially if they haven't experienced those problems themselves. I am not saying which brain problems here because it would be pointing a finger at a group of people who are already suffering. Then, interestingly enough, it is claimed that too much empathy leads to burnout and emotional fatigue. This, I guess, is true for caregivers and people who are constantly exposed to others' pain. That is why some doctors and nurses can act so sanely, but mostly, on the outside. I know this, since a few of them have been family and close friends. I know they try to handle the leftover pain in their psyches through their own ways, often not very successfully. Truth is, empathy is not just a nice feeling for another's pain. It motivates compassion and action. It serves many other purposes, too, beginning with better relationships among friends, family, and couples. Leaders who are empathetic understand the needs of their team, and in turn, their understanding and action accordingly boosts morale and cooperation. In better, healthier societies, empathy produces moral progress, such as civil rights and immediate action when disaster strikes with people helping one another and even strangers. This is because empathy is our ability to sense and understand what others and all living beings are feeling — to feel with them rather than just observing them from the outside. So, empathy matters because it connects us to each other and to all life. |
| Prompt: Learning Wisdom "By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest." Confucius What do you think of this quote and what is your method of learning wisdom? --------- I am sure what wisdom was in Confucius's era has evolved greatly through time. So, I think, today, there's a lot more to it than what Confucius is offering us. The way I look at it, the big question is: What is wisdom? Wisdom isn't really knowledge or intelligence alone. Wisdom, I think, is the ability to see things clearly and in their entirety, if possible. Then and only then, we can make good judgments about life and the immediate question at hand. Wisdom, therefore, is the blend of experience, knowledge, and deep understanding, fortified by empathy, humility, and perspective. So, for me, seeing the big picture, knowing what matters and what doesn't, understanding people's weaknesses and motivations including my own, acting to do the most good and the least harm, accepting uncertainty and the unusual, all have to do with wisdom in our time. Also, wisdom doesn't happen at the click of a moment. It is usually cultivated over time. And in addition to Confucius's advice, being open to changing one's mind and staying away from my own motives, fears, and patterns does help. In other words, I as well as others need to see ourselves with honesty, which is the most difficult thing to do. Then, staying curious, educating ourselves widely does help, too. After all that, still sticking to uncertainty is the wise way to be. By that I mean we should be open to changing our minds if things do not work out well with what we considered wise in the first place. This is because true wisdom is in acknowledging that we cannot know everything and we all are fallible from time to time, no matter how hard we try. As my last thought on the subject, wisdom is elusive, and I do not have a clue, really, how it can be learned in its entirety, if it can be learned at all. For some, experience and learning from mistakes and reading a lot and studying do help. As for me, even after I've lived so many years, acting with wisdom, more or less, escapes me, at times or maybe just about always.  |
| Prompt: Small Things What are some small things that other people do that really make you smile? And what are other small things that frustrate you? ------------ Lots of small things if done momentarily and without pre-thinking make me feel happy, whether I am smiling or not. A kind word, a nod of approval, picking up what I dropped even before I bend down for it...things like that. Two days ago, on the shopping center, I was taking the cart that I had used back to the cart-holding area. Some young woman rushed over and took it from my hands and said, "You take it easy. I'll do it!" I was truly touched. On the other hand, small things that frustrate me have to do with my own self, mostly. Forgetting where I put what, for example. Saying something without thinking that the other person may take differently than what I really meant. Doing something that I had already done, again. When I spill or break something... Oh my! Also, when someone doesn't give me enough information--about what they ask me to do, but expect perfect answers--can be extremely frustrating. Come to think about all this, I believe, whether some small thing makes me smile or frown, is rarely about that small thing itself. Whatever it is, it taps into some underlying emotion. On the plus side, something that makes me smile, could be because I like it when someone has taken the time to care about me. Not that I blame anyone, but it is rare for people to realize that especially the elderly need that kind of a small care. As for the negative small things that trigger a bigger emotional reaction may have to do with unresolved worries, fatigue, or something else underneath, even if forgotten. Such reactions, usually do not take place in isolation. When I feel overwhelmed by something or other, even anything trivial can seem enormous because it has robbed me out of my sense of control. This means my perspective has also narrowed down. Possibly, our human brain--if tired, unhappy, or anxious--focuses on small things as threats. Then, this whole thing has to do with personality, too. People who lack an outlet for stress and those who are perfectionists can be frustrated more by small mistakes. In addition, something tiny can be a symbol for something bigger. Misplacing something can give me the feeling that I'm disorganized, for example. The problem actually lies with my mind that attaches bigger fears or joys to small events. The good news here is that being aware of my own psyche helps me handle tiny frustrations and small joys better. When I think of the bigger picture, my perspective can be restored, and it becomes easier to handle life's little joys or stings. |
| Prompt: On this day in 1952, Air traffic controllers in Washington, D.C., detect UFOs over the White House and US Capitol building. More appear a week later, but the government dismisses the sightings as a harmless weather phenomenon. Do you believe in UFO's? Why do you think the government doesn't acknowledge the possibility of UFO's? ---------------- UFO's here? Coming to this planet? Well, I'm quite sure they are showing up every now and then, but seeing the sorry state we're in, with our wars and negativity between nations, they are probably high-tailing away for good. Since the latest findings of the probes and what NASA and the other space telescopes show us as their weird unknown images, who says those images do not belong to UFO's from some far-away galaxy or universe? On the other hand, I can understand the government's position. They try to keep us calm and not panicked, because even worse than human altercations, misunderstandings, and wars, is our far-out imaginations that threaten the already fragile fabric of our existence. If they did acknowledge the possibility of contact with out-of-this earth beings, people would panic even when some debris from an airplane could come sailing by. Then, about those UFO stuff detected over the White House and the Capitol, could it possible that some far-away much advanced civilization, with the wish to make things better for us, might have been probing the main points on earth that is most likely to start trouble? I bet it is not only these two places but others in the Far East, Middle East, and Europe, too, that they are hovering over, hopefully with the best of intentions. Except, those other places that do not have NASA but other similar organizations like NASA might be hiding what they see. In the meantime, my attention at this moment is all about cooking dinner and vacuuming the house.  |
| Prompt: On this day in 1817, the English novelist Jane Austen, who wrote such classics as Sense and Sensibility (1811) and Pride and Prejudice (1813), died in Winchester, Hampshire, at age 41. Which novel famously opens with the line, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife”? Fact or Fiction: Jane Austen agreed to marry someone but broke this agreement a day later. Which of Jane Austen’s siblings helped publish two of her novels posthumously? Which of Austen’s novels inspired the popular 1995 movie Clueless? ----------- For the answers to the questions in the prompt, I'd like to refer the reader to Seffi's "July 18 2025 - Austen" . I can't answer them any better, myself. As to Jane Austen, had I been living during the Jane's era of the British history, I would be warning the English gentry of her wit, irony, and realism. Her books must have been eye-openers for her times because her female characters are truly strong and they help Jane with her strong ideas and insightful social commentary. They do this by pointing to the intricacies of the lives and relationships of the times and the English. In addition, Jane Austen has all these intricate plots and dialogues at her beck and call. Although her stories are centered in the social lives of her characters, she still can entertain, inspire, and make her readers think about the issues. This is fine and writerly for sure, but it also favors Jane Austen as a social commentator. As for me, I also like her descriptions and their implications, be it a person, a scene, or an action. For example: "They all waited in silence for the appearance of their visitor. His footsteps were heard along the gravel path; in a moment he was in the passage, and in another he was before them. His countenance, as he entered the room, was not too happy, even for Elinor." Sense and Sensibility, Chapter 48 Simple, right? But she tells so much in so few well-chosen words. Reading just this much, I can expect an unpleasant event to happen. Yes, we can say a lot about Jane Austen's novels but she also wrote letters. This in one of those has always made me smile. “I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal.” Too bad her life wasn't very long. Had she lived longer we'd enjoy so much more of her charm, wit, and writing art. |
| Prompt: What are the best things in your life right now? Write about this in your Blog entry today. ------- Best things? That's difficult to judge. I have okay things and good-enough things in my life, at the moment. I guess I should say, then, my sons are the best things in my life. After them come the extended family and friends. Then, maybe waking up in the morning and feeling surprised that I'm still alive. Another best thing would be if, in my area, if we wouldn't get hit with a hurricane this hurricane season. So, I'm not sure of any other "best" things, but I can make a short list of good things that come to my mind whether they are in my life or not. Here it goes: Poetry that reflects experiences and feelings Well-written books Audio-books, essays, etc. Good dreams All animals, especially cats Bird songs Friendly smiles and words from strangers Trees waving in the breeze The smell of new books Walking in the rain and the sound of the rain The smell of the air after the rain Word puzzles Dark chocolate Music The sound of the waves by the seaside Cold water on a hot day Roses and other flowers People helping one another and charities People sharing their knowledge and encouragement People who can fix and mend things, unlike some repairmen who take your money and they don't produce any positive outcome as the result of their work |
| Prompt: Has technology made your life better or worse? Write about this in your Blog entry today. ------------ I really cannot blame technology when things go haywire. And, I love technology especially if it is applied with enough know-how by the source that is using it. Until the advent of AI, I had almost no problems with any technological inventions. I am, still, not blaming AI, at all. But I am blaming all the companies that rush to adapt it to their already not-so-well functioning programs. AI, in itself, can be great, hands down. Take my bank for example. I'm not saying the name of it, here, because I don't want to hurt anyone or any company. I use my bank's online page only on my computer. I don't have its app in my cell or in any other devices for the simple reason that I may lose my cell and I don't want my finances in unwanted hands. On the other hand, it seems to me that, lately, people in my bank have positioned all their programs to favor its app. Because of this, I can log on to their website on some days and not in others, and lo and behold, the site works perfectly on the days that it does, mostly during the weekdays, but heaven forbid, should I want to check something on a weekend. And no, I'm not messing up writing my password or anything. And I don't mind when they send a code to my cell, either. Then, there is that Windows 11, which is another pain, which has made me wonder if my next computer will be an Apple, if I live long enough, but I can't trust any company anymore with anything that has to do something with the online biz. I just think they rush to use AI without enough knowledge or training. Still, I think technology itself is very helpful to our lives. If only those companies using the newest techie stuff could train their employees more seriously and not rush to open to public their new technological changes without perfecting them. So yes, I blame the companies and not the technology itself, if at any time, I have a problem with the newest techie stuff. Having said all that, it is very possible that, in time, everything will fall into its place, since the new technologies may be experiencing growing pains. Yet, I feel now, possibly the only place that offers user-friendly programs is Writing.com, thanks to the astute handling of the site by ourThe StoryMaster.  Also, in any site, if I ever have any problems, I always check what I did wrong myself, first. After all, I'm old and my eyes and other parts of me are not as sharp as they used to be.   |
| Prompt: Sudden Changes What would be a sudden change for you that could be acceptable? Do you handle changes well, and which kinds of sudden changes are you most able to face and work with? ------------- I don't know if every sudden change can be acceptable. I know of someone who had a long-lost relative. When this relative suddenly showed up at her door, she fainted, and then, had a heart attack from sudden happiness. Luckily, she lived a long life to enjoy the relationship with her relative. I think, as human beings, we don't like to lose control over anything, and some of us, yours truly included, need to be prepared for any change, regardless of it being sudden or not. For some of us, small sudden changes are acceptable, especially if they are positive, harmless, and easily adaptable. Talking about easily adaptable, a spontaneous compliment, words of encouragement, or a sudden new idea that improves a routine or solves a problem lift up one's spirit and are nice when one first hears of them. When it comes to big sudden changes, most people can accept them readily. especially if such a change is positive and there is meaning and opportunity in it. Some positive sudden changes, however, even when they are clearly beneficial, can bring hidden challenges in them. Imagine winning an enormous monetary prize. In the beginning, you'd think how great it is. Then, would come fear of theft and worries for your safety and the complicated taxes you'd have to pay. I know some will believe that they can live with the consequences and will say, "Show me the money." Still, it won't be easy for them to shoulder such a huge change. Some sudden changes are perfectly acceptable, however; for example, a not-so-great neighbor moving away, a policy change at work to improve existing conditions, or meeting a new person as a possible new friend who might leave a good impression on you. As for me, this question made me doubt myself. Am I a control freak? I'd like to think not, especially when it comes to what other people do. Yet, for myself, I like to have some choice and control over things concerning me and I'd rather solve a problem than create one. Above all, I'd like to feel safe and feel positive, always. |
| Prompt: Your theme song Which songs feel like theme songs for your life? Or if you were to create a song with a message for your life, what would it say? ------------ Which songs? A whole bunch of them. Sometimes it depends on who sings and how, but usually it is the songs themselves that come alive for me, if I could ever think of them as the theme songs for my life. I'll try to start from the beginning. In the beginning was....The Brahms Lullaby and a line from it, in memory of my mother, "Lullaby and good night, thy mother's delight"...etc." Then came, "Charlie Brown, you're a clown!" years, with "Here we go round the mulberry bush.....this is the way we...." do this or that. To possibly continue with, "No Surprises" in which the line "A heart that's full up like a landfill..." somewhat fits in. Later on, I was too busy with education to think much of songs, but I guess Billy Joel's "We didn't start the Fire..." may fit in here because, at the time, stupidly enough, my generation was upset with the ways of the world and we thought we'd make it better. Hahaha! So, here fits this song, Billy Joel's "I go to Extremes," and in it, "Clear as a crystal, sharp as a knife //I feel like I'm in the prime of my life //Sometimes it feels like I'm going too fast..." A little later, however, I met my husband to be for 54 years. It first started with Helen Reddy's "I am woman, hear me roar..."etc. Yet, it went on with Dionne Warwick's "I say a little prayer..." Then, "No matter what I do, I'll never find another you," which I recall Peter Paul and Mary's and the Beatles' versions of it. Later, until about 10 years or so ago, I guess my theme song could be "Speak softly love and hold me warm against your heart..." as Andy Williams crooned it. And now, it all seems to have ended with Dr. Zhivago's theme song. So, here are the lyrics to the entire song as it was sung by Andy Williams. "Somewhere my love there will be songs to sing Although the snow covers the hope of Spring Somewhere a hill blossoms in green and gold And there are dreams, all that your heart can hold Someday we'll meet again, my love Someday whenever the Spring breaks through You'll come to me, out of the long-ago Warm as the wind, soft as the kiss of snow You, my own, think of me now and then Godspeed, my love, till you are mine again Warm as the wind, soft as the kiss of snow Godspeed, my love, till you are mine again" |
| Prompt: Writing Prompts Is it easier for you to answer a writing prompt than come up with something on your own? And do you think writing prompts are helpful to you, and if you do, which kinds of writing prompts do you look for? ---------- I guess it depends. Sometimes, when I have to come up with something on my own, I have to think for a while. When there is a prompt, however, some of the answer is there right inside the prompt. So, I guess, answering a prompt is easier for me. Then, I don't look for any kind of a prompt to write for. I think to get ahead with my writing, I should be able to answer any prompt, provided the prompt doesn't ask for anything X-rated and itself is not X-rated. That is why I answer every prompt in Blog City, and only in Blog City, This is because, even if other blog groups may be as good or worse or better, for the sake of time and clear thinking, I like to stick to one group. I think daily blogging gets a writer into a discipline, and for that, it is priceless. In my case, writing to a prompt every single day has helped me with other things concerning writing in general. If only I knew this before blogging and blogging groups were invented! In those earliest of days, I used to keep personal journals but they were only for my eyes, and not the same as blogging. Blogging also helps a writer develop their own personal expression. Probably because my earlier writing had to do with serious academic kind of voice, I grew to appreciate blogging a lot. From time to time, I still fall into my old habits, and when I do, I don't erase what has popped out, but add something to ease off that kind of a tight, serious expression. This way, I have found that, with blogging, it is easier to find a friendlier, more easy-going kind of a voice and expression. Also, once in a rare while, my blog post may read like an essay, but then, so what? I am satisfied that, at least, I have written something for the day. |
| Prompt: "To everything, there is a season of parrots. Instead of feathers, we searched the sky for meteors on our last night" Summer Haibun by Aimee Nezhukumatathil. Let this opening line inspire your entry today. https://dogwoodalliance.org/2020/04/5-nature-poems-by-women-of-color/ ---------------- I clicked on the link and ended up loving the page this haibun was on. To begin with, it hosted poems from three of my favorite poets. Then, I loved the message in them. It was like breathing fresh forest air, be it online. As to the quote, Parrots! And a season of them...Well, parrots are bright, loud, and unmistakable. They symbolize here possibly a burst of life and color. In a forest, their season may mean flowering trees, ripe fruits, and a chorus of calls that echo through the entire place. This means the forest is alive in so many ways. The second sentence shifts the attention from the forest to the sky. Meteors are fleeting streaks of light, cold and distant. Is this a signal of farewell? I tend to think so. Or maybe loss, too. When the parrots are gone and the forests grow silent, what have we left to enjoy but the empty, possibly barren land! As such, this is a warning for what we may be losing. For we may be losing those miracles on earth we can touch and protect before it is too late. Or else, we may find ourselves searching for the wonders of the forests and all the miracles this planet offers us. If we are not careful, and such a thing happens, just where can we go? I suspect, anything the telescopes look for in the night sky, even if certain planets or other things up there may seem alluring, they may not sustain the life we have here in our own planet earth. So, isn't it better for us to listen for and enjoy the wings of "parrots" right here at home, rather than pin our hopes on distant lights? |
| “I drifted into a summer nap under the hot shade of July, serenaded by a cicada lullaby, to drowsy-warm dreams of distant thunder.” —Terri Guillemets Prompt: Let's talk about naps. Do you take naps? Do you feel they're beneficial or not? When you do sleep does it have to be quiet or do the sounds of summer lull you into sleep? --------- If naps can be considered a relationship, naps and me have stopped seeing each other close to eight decades, since my mother always claimed that I never took a nap after two years of age or so. As to naps being beneficial, I guess they must be for some, but possibly not for everyone, since each person's body works differently, although the medical profession still works with the "one for all" motto. Then, I wouldn't bet on my opinion on this either. I've had a love and hate relationship with today's handling of the craft and knowledge of medicine by today's medical professionals, so I might be biased one way or the other. On the other hand, recently--since about four years or so, I am finding myself dozing off on my seat while reading, especially if the reading material has begun boring me. But this dozing off is only for a second or two, and I know better not to go on with reading the same thing ever again. During my younger years, even the slightly younger ones, I wouldn't think about not finishing any reading. I read everything in those days. Now, if I've dozed off, that reading is canceled for good. I mean, after all, I've realized that life is limited to its years and I won't be the one to crowd it with uninteresting stuff. About the quote, by the way, it is a beauty. It reads like a poem. I especially like the "cicada lullaby" as opposed to "thunder." Still as beautiful sounding as the quote is, it doesn't say much about me and my non-existent napping. A Nap Haiku sunlight streams and fades, precious hours melt away, lost, waking, still undone. |
| Prompt: What is the most daring thing you have ever done? Write about this in your Blog entry today. -------------- I guess I was more daring when I was much younger; however, I don't recall doing anything too daring, ever. If anything, becoming a member in WdC and staying here for so long and non-stop can be considered a daring thing, too. In the same vein, marrying my husband and the two of us going on trips all the time was daring, too. We did do daring things together but I'm quite sure I wasn't alone in instigating them. Then, when I was quite young and one of my uncles took us to the fair, I would be the one wanting to go on the most-dangerous looking rides, and when I did, I enjoyed it while my cousins whimpered. I am not that daring to want to go to the moon or the outer space or to dive underwater where no one has been before, but I am not a scaredy chicken either. To begin with, if I were a far-out daring person, I would have to have an unwavering self-belief and confidence in my abilities. Not me! Not really! No one is that perfect, and I think those who act it, are faking it. Also, I can't say others' opinions do not influence me, because they do, at least sometimes, although I have a clear sense of right and wrong. Then, I don't actively seek out challenges unless they are already there and they appeal to me. Maybe that's why my achievements are my size and they fit me. Then maybe, especially lately with age, I have grown to love my comfort zone and I don't like to be bothered by high-risk dangerous actions and such. |
| Prompt: What makes me powerful? Write about this in your Blog entry today. ---------- I don't know what makes you powerful,  Megan . You're the better judge of that. If you are asking the question about me, I don't know what makes me powerful either. If anything, it might be that I, just about always, get up from a fall or a nasty turn of events, brush off the mess, and go on. Even so, I'm not very sure if I feel powerful or not. "Annoyed" would be a better word for it. Talking about power, what often comes to my mind are images of authority, control, or perhaps even dominance. So to be fair, I'll stick with the authority idea. This feeling of authority or being in control is something nuanced and deeply personal. It might have something to do with inner strength. Inner strength, then, comes from competence and knowing what to do. In other words, people must know the purpose of their actions and be responsible for their meanings and influence. Mostly however, no one is 100% sure of what that right thing to do is, especially in sticky situations. In which case, making choices and not wavering has to be in the picture, also. Then, all of the above have something to do with resilience and emotional stability. If there is such thing as feeling powerful, it isn't the same as having power over others. It is something that arises from within a person, a person loaded with self-belief. Do I have that self-belief? I'm not too sure about that. |
| Prompt: Worms “A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm.” William Shakespeare What do you think Shakespeare means here, and what do you think worms are for, especially the earthworms? ----- I always liked earthworms as a child. They were ugly but so useful. I used to kneel down and watch them drag themselves on the ground. Well, I'm no Shakespeare and that was the best I could do at my young age, then, where worms were concerned. Thinking about this quote, however, I now think that this image is grotesque. Maybe because death and decay are grotesque, also. From this angle, I guess it is fitting as an image. The image refers to: a king’s body, buried in the earth, is consumed by worms. Those worms become bait for fishing. A fish eats the worm, and then a man eats the fish. In this circle, the remains of a mighty king pass through the humblest forms of life and back into the common food chain. Well, I may never eat again! Yet, this image points to the fact that death levels everyone to the same nothingness. No matter how powerful or royal someone is in life, their body ultimately feeds the same worms as any common person. Hamlet was the one uttering these words, and his obsession with the corruption of the body and power plays are hinted at through his mention of the worms. Well, tell me about it, I mean the power plays without giving any thought to our basic elements! This is so existential and darkly funny! I am now, in old age, in the process of finding out that we have little control over what happens to our bodies. And also, that life is connected in weird and icky ways. On the other hand, gruesome though things may be, the grim and sardonic edge in the quote is ever so fascinating. But then, isn't Shakespeare ever so fascinating within all his works! |
| Prompt: Library "A library is thought in cold storage." Herbert Samuel Do you go to a public library? Are libraries still important in our lives? ------------- In my view, our local library used to be more than just a place with books. It used to be a container of human thought, ideas, knowledge, friendship, etc. There is a long walkway from the parking lot to our local library's door. I used to feel like a happy bride, each time I walked on that long stretch of cement, carrying books instead of a bouquet. Yes, it used to be like that...then! But it's just that...used to be...then! And I used to go to our local library at least three times a week. Yes, mostly for the books, but also I was a member of a reading group, which dissolved when Covid struck. Another group was formed sometime last year but the people were different. The old friends and friendships were gone with some of the members moving to other states, others passing away, several from Covid. I'm not sure the second group survived since I didn't join that group for it felt totally useless like an afterthought. So, the last time I went to our local library was a bit more than a year ago, to renew my library card, which was another totally useless effort, wishful thinking at its best, and I didn't go there after that. Maybe because I felt so sad when I was there. Even the drive back was sad that day, since I had borrowed only one book, whereas during the earlier years, I used to have a library bag and it would become filled with borrowed books. That one book, btw, I didn't return it myself. My son dropped it off for me, sparing me more sad feelings, which was for the better, when I think about it. So the phrase, "cold storage" fits, and in a sorry fashion, as if someone turned a lively kitchen or a busy restaurant into cold storage. Anyhow, with the advent of AI, it may only be a matter of time before all human thought and creativity becomes totally frozen, also. I so hope for time to prove me wrong, but will it? Now, because I have an ongoing love for books and the written word, I still read on my Kindle pads and the computer, but I also love to hold a book in my hands and turn its pages while becoming totally immersed in what it delivers to me. Then, I own a lot of books, too, a few of which are still unread, only because my eyes aren't what they used to be, and one can't do much with the printed page except for using a magnifier. On the other hand, with the electronic media, I have control over the fonts and their sizes, and also, when I hold a Kindle in my hands, the device feels weightless. On the other hand, nowadays, most libraries also lend digital books, and we don't have to drive to the library to get them. So, this means, libraries are still breathing some life, although that life seems to be iffy at its best. Maybe, just maybe, through some unexpected turn of events, someone will unlock the doors to the libraires and that cold storage will warm us and the books back to life, again. |
| Prompt: Road Trips “As we crossed the Colorado-Utah border I saw God in the sky in the form of huge gold sunburning clouds above the desert that seemed to point a finger at me and say, "Pass here and go on, you're on the road to heaven.” Jack Kerouac, On the Road What do you think of road trips? Do you have any memories you'd like to share with us? ---------- I've been on so many road trips that I have even forgotten or mixed up the destinations, but I do remember the road trips fondly, perhaps not in their entirety but through their incidents. This is because each road trip was an adventure in itself with two young rambunctious boys in the back seat while my husband and I sat in the front, with one of us driving and the other minding the map, just because in those days, there was no GPS. Unlike Jack Kerouac, instead of noticing God in the sky, we were keen on keeping our boys in good humor, well-fed, entertained, and their bathroom needs taken care of. Also, we liked the open road and the discoveries it presented at each stretch. There was always something new and something to aah and ooh about. Many times we pulled over to see a roadside oddity, stopped at a roadside diner, or changed our route if it fit our needs at that time. Maybe, this was because we humans have an inborn craving for exploration. I know I got a huge satisfaction when the world rolled by like a living slideshow. In that slideshow, we went through forests, deserts, mountains, small towns, and big cities. For me, those big cities vs the small towns lost the game for I always saw something of myself in a small town. It may be because I may be a hopeless romantic or maybe I like discovering hidden places and making unexpected memories. Also, of course, there was the connection and coming together as a family in a confined place. Usually it went very well...until...the last time. The last time we took the boys with us on a road trip was the drive from San Diego to San Francisco. Since we had flown from NY to California, we ended up in a rental car, which neither of us was comfortable driving. So my husband volunteered, possibly to spare me. Then, halfway through the trip, our two sons started arguing, which led to some physical exchanges between them in the back seat. Now, we were driving on the side of a cliff, where the side of the road dipped into a precipice which, to me, looked like an abyss. My husband couldn't take the boys fighting anymore and with his right arm he reached to them to hit or stop them. I became so scared, but held myself from screaming. I said, "You just drive. I'll take care of them." Then, I told the boys right out, "If you don't stop right now, we'll all die because we're on a dangerous road." It must have been something in my voice or the way I said it, which possibly scared them and they stopped. This was why it was the last time we took the boys with us on a road trip. We still went to places as a family, but in planes and trains and taxis. The road trips, however, continued for the two of us if or when we could find overnight babysitters, until after they grew up and flew the coup. Then, our adventures, however small, began again offering us their simple pleasures: gas stations coffees, old motels by the side of the roads, hearing personal stories of the motel employees and guests, sunsets over highways where we'd never driven before, the view of the ocean from a high cliff... Now that I'm alone, just thinking about those road trips makes me smile in contentment. This is because my best moments came from being willing to go and to keep going. |
| Prompt: “it is the end of July and the idle breeze of gentle childhood befogs my mind once more".... Let the beginning of this poem inspire your entry today. ------------- July July is here again, stirring ancient echoes warm on this old wrinkled skin and my smile spills and memory hums of sunburned hands sticky with melting treats when sprinklers hissed and butterflies danced as if a fleeting dream brought them near in summer's glow but such flashbacks I hide with tears I never show. |
| Prompt: Think about the last time you cried. If those tears could talk, what would they have said? --------- It was years ago, while visiting a graveyard that I cried, and a lot. I guess I felt I could let go, there and then. Fact is, I can't cry; maybe my eyes water a bit, but that's the extent of it. Usually, eyedrops make tears come out more than my eyes watering due to some emotion. My disability with crying has gotten me into hot water with some very good people. My aunts were mad at me when, during my early teens, my grandfather passed away. I was very close to him and I didn't shed a tear. I couldn't. Not that I wasn't grieving, either. My inability not to cry has its roots in my early childhood. My mother forbade my crying, telling me really bad things would happen to me if I shed a tear and those bad things would come through her very own hands. So, I learned not to cry. Truth is, her obedience training of me, good or bad, may have two faces. One face made me braver than most kids and I never complained or cried to anyone when she punished or spanked me. I also was very compliant with the doctors when I had to have shots and inoculations. The other face made me seem cold and unfeeling to the rest of the world. This inability has a name, I learned later. It is called, alexithymia. Then, there's another word, anhedonia, which means this inability, this not crying, has to do with depression, but I'm not depressed at all. There were times in my life when I was deliriously happy and even then, I couldn't cry. It isn't that I don't like crying. Sometimes, I feel like crying but something inside holds me back. I am guessing it had to do with my mother's training. On the positive side, I don't like when people, especially women, use their tears to get their way or to evoke pity in others. So, that's the good part, but the negative side shows up when I feel like crying and I can't. I found this note on Healthline: "Repressed emotions: Some people have a hard time managing emotions, so they push them aside or bury them in order to cope. This suppression might happen intentionally at first, but over time it becomes more automatic. Eventually, you might experience most of your emotions mildly, if at all. Even if something deeply upsetting happens, you might not display much of a reaction." I guess Healthline knew a bit better. |
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