In the Blink of an Eye

A beautiful home, red brick, pretty painted windows, lots of shrubs. This is where she lived. A woman of age, a lady of many stories, a mother and wife. This is where Anna lived, here with her son and his family.

It was a joy to come here five days a week, to care for her. We would watch television together. I would fix her dinner and give her her nightly medications. When I saw the second yawn, I would ask her if she was ready to start preparing for bed and she would give me that delicate smile and nod her head yes.

This was pretty much our routine nightly. The only real change would be when her son and family were all home together and when I would walk in, I was usually invited to sit and enjoy supper with them. I always accepted.

It was during these precious moments that I was given the opportunity to get to know about this family and learn more about the history of the lady I was caring for. I really did enjoy these meals and family time together. After weeks went by, I actually felt a part of this entire family.

One of the biggest topics that were spent over dinner was about flying. Father loved everything about flying. In fact, the entire time I cared for his mother, he was taking flying lessons. He would tell us all about the feelings and rushes that he had while in the plane.

The family talked about the adventures they would take after dad got his pilot license. The three kids would always jump up from their seats and ask when they would get a turn. I could see the love in all of their eyes as they looked excitedly towards the next months.

There came a time when it all came to end, as life usually does give us changes we don’t like. The lady I cared for passed away. I was very sad and also sad that I didn’t get to intertwine with the family any longer. I went to the funeral of course and I kept in touch with the family, but you know how it works, times ticks by and life moves on.

I hadn’t heard from these nice people in sometime and then on New Year’s eve, I was glancing through the news on the internet and there it was. There was an accident, a plane accident. Two people died. It was the pilot with the new license and his wife. They had been flying their first trip and hit a low area. They were instantly killed.

My heart broke in two and when I think of them today, my heart still breaks. I told you this true story because I want you to remember this on New Year’s eve, when you are believing your thinking is good enough after only a few drinks to drive. Don’t, don’t do it, don’t drink and drive. It only takes one blink of an eye and life can change everything, as you knew it.

• 

A Cheap Shower Curtain Says it All

The strangest things pop in my head at times. I blame this on the fact that I am a constant thinker. I actually was in the ladies’ room and was sitting on the throne. I looked at the shower curtain as I probably do most times, but saw things I hadn’t seen before.

I bought this shower curtain three weeks ago. It is in the blue hues and is checkered. It isn’t anything fancy and was a product of WalMart. Suddenly I took notice of the inside of the checker pattern. There is scribbles of a gold enhancer so it is supposed to look like water trickling down the curtain but I saw something different. I saw crosses. Yes, there was a cross in each square, all in gold. I had no problem detailing each one and as you looked outside of the checks, you could see straight lines along with wrinkles from how the curtain rest against the tub.

I was putting a puzzle together. I saw my life as I walked down the straight and narrow, sometimes running into bumps but, always ahead, I could see the gold cross. I knew that I was not alone on this travel called life. God is always with me and beside me. He is right there for you and for me. He is only waiting for us to seek him out.

Isn’t that good to know? With the changes in our world today, that aren’t all good, we can count on not being alone. This brings me inner peace. With this pandemic, it is easy to feel very alone, but we aren’t. When you can see the proof in a cheap, WalMart shower curtain, you know that God is real. Hugs everyone.

Photo taken by me.

Hulu Series and Halloween Treats

I have gotten in the habit of spending my evenings watching McCleouds Daughters. It’s and eight series show that is on Hulu. I am on the fifth series now. It is about a horse farm and the four women who run it. All sorts of things happen on this show, good and sad things.

I love these farm, horse shows. It not only is good and clean watching, it takes up my evenings. Have you ever seen it? If not, maybe you can start watching it. I also love Heartland. It is pretty similar. I just don’t want these series to end.

Next, I am looking forward to watch the holiday shows and movies.

A question I have for you. I am going to be staying home and passing trick or treats to the kids that live out here. They are having a Halloween walk throughout the complex. With the virus still being active, what is a good treat to hand out that keeps all safe and happy?

McLeod’s Daughters

2001 ‧ Drama ‧ 8 seasons

I am a Nut in a Shell

I woke-up early in a good mood. After sitting in bed a few minutes I decided I really wasn’t ready to get up. I laid back down and slept another hour. This time I had to get  up and was ready also.

I took my shot and my medications then drank my first cup of coffee. I turned on a movie that I had seen last night on the news. It was called, Abducted Twice in Daylight; I think. It was about this small town where everyone knew and were good friends.

A neighbor and his family had moved in next door. The two families became close friends, sharing their lives together like most neighbors do. What happened from there, didn’t really shock me but I was more into what is going on in the minds of sick people. It was a movie I watched to the end.

I don’t know if I have ever been that trusting in my entire life to  have made some of the decisions these parents of the kidnapped girl did. Maybe I have a more suspicious mind. It seems to me that in this movie, things would have got nipped in the bud long before people’s lives got hurt. You will have to check this movie out and let me know what you think.

The next thing I did was get dressed and put on some make-up. I have been applying make-up to cover some of the age spots I have. I have always had a fear of dying and getting old. Don’t ask me why. I already know I am going to heaven and I realize I can’t stop the process.

I went into the bathroom and tried to do something with my hair. I actually hate my hair cut I got a few months back. It didn’t turn out like I wanted at all. I may have already mentioned this in a prior post, but after the hair cut cutting began; I learned the stylist was new. A nightmare is what I call it. It can only grow out in my opinion.

I used a mirror to see the back of my hair in the bigger mirror. I almost fell over and I felt my jaw drop big. What I saw was this hugs area of small thinning, maybe bald spots. Oh my gosh. I am getting old.

Instantly, any good thoughts about how I looked at myself were gone. I wanted to change my clothes back to bed clothes and hide under my covers. My opinion of myself as being outgoing and not too bad looking for almost being 65, and the thoughts that there are others heavier than me, came tumbling down like and eruption of boulders falling to the road.

I did the best that I could. I decided then and there I would not color my hair a darker shade anymore. I would let it go back to its natural blonde. This way the baldness wouldn’t be so bold.

I put everything away, and got me a cup of coffee. Here I set at the computer talking to you and yet my heart is still sinking and my self-worth is almost shot. I always wanted to be accepted, a thing from my childhood. I always wanted people to know that I was a compassionate, caring and empathetic woman. Why in the world do I want to hide myself now over bald spots?

 

Look into the Depth

It isn’t what you see in front of you. It’s what you see in depth. A stressful time of year for most. Even the television ads push stress.

The whole idea is to stay calm, remain calm, even though you feel as if you are the topper on a spinner toy. How can anyone know how you feel? They don’t live your life. They don’t walk in your shoes.

While kiddies are getting pumped full of Christmas toy thoughts, some of us are stuck in the Sad lane. A loved one may have just passed or maybe a loved one is ill. Maybe there are people missing from the table this year.

Perhaps the family dog went to heaven, or there was a car accident a friend was involved with. Maybe there is gossip going on at your work. Anything is possible and so many things happen. We are eventually caught up in something that can take us away from our day.

The only way to get through our life tragedies is to have roots in solid ground. A faith we can fall back on. Words of wisdom, our Bibles, a close friend we can tell anything to.

When things look bad, don’t see the surface, don’t panic. Let your feelings go deep. Feel the depth of your foundation. Get into it. Let it slide through your soul. Tomorrow is a brand new day.

 

It Should Have Never Happened This Way

She was poor. He was poor. The two together were rich in love. They scraped and saved and were able to put a down payment on a small property outside of town. It had one acre which was plenty big enough for the garden they wanted to plant. The house was needing a lot of love and they knew with time; they could fix it up real nice.

 

One by one the five children were born. Money got tighter but they made it. They grew their vegetables.  They butchered a cow once a year. They canned wild berries and peaches from the trees. They made their own applesauce. Nothing was wasted.

 

Christmas and birthdays were celebrated with a home-made cake with a vanilla frosting and there was always a stitched gift of some sort that each child needed at that particular time.

 

The kids were sent to the one-room school which had stood for over one hundred years. They attended until the parents thought they had learned enough and then kept them home to  help out on the land.

 

The kids seemed good in the parents eyes; but their deep thoughts were on anything but this home. They wanted more. They had read plenty of high society magazines and books and they knew there was a bigger world out there.

 

As each one grew up and found their own way, they either moved out and on or got married and bought a property in town. There wasn’t much communication between the kids and parents after those days. They seemed to be more interested in obtaining what they thought they lacked as kids and the parents were dealing with more and more health issues.

 

They didn’t have health care insurance. Oh, they got sick now and then. A cold, a flu to deal with or a bad stomach ache. Neither of them had thought or been taught about what would or could happen when they got old.

 

Pa had recurring pain in his chest until one day he fell down. He never got back up and the family came and paid their last respects out back underneath the big oak tree. It was right after that; they left to go back to their lives.

 

Ma tried her best to carry on what needed to be done each day; but she was not able to keep up. She was tired. She was ailing and she was old. Her gray hair was thinned. Her fingers had bumps in them from Arthritis. Her legs ached.

 

After about six months went by, she had a stroke. No one actually knew the real facts about how long she lay in that house until help arrived. She was checked over by the county doctor and placed in her bed.

 

Once a week the doc would come check on her. He would shake his head trying to figure out what was actually keeping her alive. She knew, but she wouldn’t speak of it. Words for her were hard to get out. Looking around her room, she saw work that needed to be done; but no one helped.

 

The kids came by about once a month. Their children played outside. It was almost like this was a task more than a visit. It was so filled with webs. The kids mainly sat by her bed and said few words. When they felt like the proper time had been spent, they called for the kids letting them know it was time to depart. No child ever said, goodbye grandma.

 

She was lonely. She yearned for the love of her dead husband. She had no reason to live. She made up her mind to take this in her own hands and so that next morning she willed herself to die.

 

Once again, the kids came to pay their respects. After the funeral was over, they went through the home and took what they wanted and took the remains and tossed it in a big burn pile out back.

 

When only ashes were seen, a sudden downpour of rain hit. Lightening struck. Trees were turned over. The sky dark. Thunder was as if it was cursing the kids for what they had done to their parents.

 

The lightening hit the barn and the house, burning it to the ground in no time at all. The kids who had run for cover, found no cover remaining. They were forced to watch as the home they grew up in was demolished. They were forced to hear the demons ravish their souls.

 

It was then, and only then, that the kids seemed to understand what had happened. They came together and held hands. They looked out and over the once loving home that their parents had given them and they wept; but it was too late. They would live with their guilt for the rest of their days.

 

One Small Town= All Towns

The story goes; when you’re old and retired, time to relax. Is it really a relaxing time of life? I sat in on a meeting today here where I live. It was very interesting to listen to. The topic was about family law, wills and end of life decisions.

Sounds kind of gloomy to me. I actually have to face the facts that I am aging. It didn’t surprise me that the questions that rose from the people sitting around listening to the speaker had a little fear in their attitudes.

It is scary. I’m not going to lie. Maybe, at an earlier time, there was more financial stability or nice vehicles or food on the table. Here where I live, a spouse may have deceased. A job is no longer worked, and fixed income is a familiar phrase.

When you live in a surrounding where rules change at a drop of a hat; this does nothing more than raise the fear level. Many don’t have choices here. I am speaking about housing.

Where would they go if they do not co-operate with management changes? For even me, this could be a problem. I am sure that if I were without a roof, one of my children would provide a roof for me temporarily.

The issue becomes stress and worry though. Where do we go, if we can’t find a place to live. Here in my city, the rates for apartment living are beyond high. I live in the Capital of the Orthopedics city. For those who work in those factories; life is probably pretty good. For those who don’t work in that type of business, or have limited funds, what are they to do?

The speaker answered some questions with answers of perhaps being able to help. Some questions asked were not part of his area. You know what happens to Seniors when stress and worry about shelter and food are a daily worry? Heart attacks, the rise of blood pressure, strokes.

I just don’t see that being older and on fixed incomes is a fantastic way to live. I see it as a Survivor game. Who wants to play this game? No one volunteers to be the first player. I feel bad for all of us capped under “fixed income” people.

There are new apartments rising, which is good. They are for limited incomes. Do you know how fast these fill up? By the time you hear the word about it; they are all spoken for.

There are times, I get depressed. There are times, that I live, remembering to be thankful for what I do have. There are times when I have extra food and share it with my neighbors. We do what we need to do and we remember to keep our faith strong and be thankful for what we have.

How do we fix our problems of aging? I don’t know the answers. I wish I did. I would want to see everyone in here smile a sigh of relief and to know they are each safe and sound.

God bless and thank-you for letting me speak my heart tonight.

Goodnight.

Written by,

Terry Shepherd

Story a Day

http://storyaday.org/day-28-use-these-words/?ck_subscriber_id=211865176

The Prompt

Your story must include these words; ink, previously, work, breeze, seven, run, delicious, example, spontaneous, barb.

 

Hi, my name is Mandy. I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and today I am 19 years old and have just finished my freshman year of college at a Christian college. It was a lot of hard work; but I made it.

I watched many kids run around and have fun while I remained behind and studied. I felt a little jealous when they would bring back delicious smells of left-over food from where they had dined.

Every morning I woke to my alarm at promptly seven. I would run through my morning routine of getting ready for school. I would walk through rain, sunshine and windy breezes to catch the number seven bus.

My life was never spontaneous. Anyone who knew me; knew where I was most times. Today, I didn’t want to be me. I wanted to be free. I decided my first summer break day was not going to be previously what it had been yesterday.

I was going to mentally cross the barb wire and live on the wild side. I started my trip with a stop at the Tattoo Ink store. I looked through the examples of drawings and picked a cute butterfly. I told the artist I wanted it placed on my right ankle.

I then went to my favorite clothing store and then had lunch at a little bar and grill type restaurant. I walked more than ride the bus. I watched the birds and looked at the new leaves on the trees. I smelled the fresh air.

When I arrived home; I was tired, but it was a good tired. As I lay in bed I thought about what I was going to do with the rest of my summer. I wasn’t really sure; but I knew I would be ready for school when it picked back up again.

Story a Day

http://storyaday.org/day-26-the-sale/?ck_subscriber_id=211865176

The Prompt

One character is trying to sell something to another character. .

 

Eddie was a geek and most kids didn’t like him because he was different from them. In grade school, he got called on by the teacher more. Kids were jealous, I think. In the middle school, Eddie only had a couple of close friends, who were also geeky.

By the time high school came around, Eddie had it all planned out. He knew what college he was going to plan to attend. He had prepared educationally so that he could receive scholarships to help him out.

He got a part-time job at McDonalds, so his parents wouldn’t have to help him out too much with spending money.

He got a long a little better during this part of his life. He was working beside adults who seemed to respect him; but there were still those kids who liked to pick on him. He tried to ignore him; but it was hard.

Sometimes he would return to his car after work and there would be standing a couple of co-employees. They teased him about not having a girlfriend and having no dates. They started drilling him on what he needed to do if he wanted to get some.

This went on for weeks and then one Friday evening,  he got off later than usual. It was Fall and the weather was chilly with leaves falling.

Eddie was tired. He drug his feet a little as he made his way to his car. He couldn’t wait to get home and get to bed. He didn’t see the two when he was nearing the car but as he opened the door; the two jumped up beside him.

“Hey, we got the perfect way for you to get a girl. You will be so glad we thought this up for you.”

“Hey guys, I’m not interested. I just want to go home.” Eddie started to sit down in the front driver’s seat, when the two yanked him back out. Before Eddie could do anything, the one guy stuck a needle into his arm.

“No need to thank us buddy.  It was our pleasure.” The two boys laughed out loud and ran off.

Eddie got in his car and left for home. The road started weaving and he felt dizzy; but he didn’t want to stop. He wanted to be home; close to his parents in case he needed help. He looked down at the speedometer. He was speeding way too fast; but he couldn’t lift his foot from the accelerator.

The tree was coming fast but yet seemed so far away. The front of the car slammed into the tree. Eddie’s head leaned into the steering wheel causing the horn to continually blow.

 

Eddie died at the scene. The autopsy said, drug overdose. 

His parents were shocked. They didn’t have any idea their child, who was so smart, would ever get into the drug scene.

The two boys who forced their idea on Eddie were fed Karma the rest of their natural lives.

Daily Post/ One Word Prompt

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/doppelganger/

The word for today; Doppelganger

an apparition or double of a living person.

“he has a doppelgänger named Donald, his invented twin brother”

 

“It’s going to be alright Susan. I won’t let anything happen to you.” These were the words the little girl heard as she hid in the back of the closet; rubbing her legs and bottom.

Susan was being abused physically by her older brother. She didn’t know why he did this. All she knew was it hurt real bad. If she tried to fight what he was wanting to do to her; she got hit by a belt on her legs. This was why she was rubbing her legs.

Her imaginary twin placed her arms around Susan. She stroked her hair and rubbed her back. She gave Susan her favorite stuffed animal; her cat and the two petted it together.

Brother did terrible things to her. He smacked her bottom. He put his fingers in a place that made her cry from pain. He placed the fear of God in her by telling her, that if she ever told mom and dad; he would hurt her even worse.

Her twin saw her tears and wiped them away, promising to find a way for all of this to stop.

It was the last time that it happened. Brother was getting ready to hit her on the legs when suddenly a gun was pulled out and brother fell to the floor. Susan couldn’t move, but with the help of her twin; the two ran to her bedroom.

A bag was waiting for her to be picked up. Putting it in her hand, she ran out of her room and out the back door. She never went back.

It was 13 years later that the words appeared on the front headlines of the newspaper. Woman is released from a local institution. 

After many trying months and years of trying to get this woman to speak; it never happened. The case had been tried. There was never a a pronounced verdict of guilty. The jury’s statement was; There just isn’t any proof.

Susan eventually went back to the old house where she grew up. Her parents were both deceased. The house stood empty. She turned the door handle and it opened. She walked to the closet where she hid many times. It was empty. There wasn’t a trace of anyone or anything ever having been there.