Welcome, friends, to my corner of the web today!
You're just in time for another Memoir Monday...please join us!
I'd be honored if you linked your stories as well.....
Also, if you'd care to dust off a piece of memoir
from the archives, you can click here.
The post contains a list of previous memoir reflection links.
When you link up, I'd simply ask
that you grab my button for your post or sidebar
or that you link in your post to my blog.
Thank you!
When you link up, I'd simply ask
that you grab my button for your post or sidebar
or that you link in your post to my blog.
Thank you!
This past Saturday morning, I was so lucky to get involved in
an ongoing monthly writing workshop at a local library.
an ongoing monthly writing workshop at a local library.
I met the writing teacher/director during a workshop she offered at my library a few summers ago and I took her course a couple of times.
I love her engaging. insightful style of critique and her ability to develop a community of trusting writers who share openly within the group.
Although I will have to depart her class early each month due to my little guy's baseball game which conflicts, I am so happy to be a part and I know I'll learn much.
Our writing teacher, A, provided for us a smattering of items off of
which we were to write.
Anything that flows.
In any genre.
Also, this Anais Nin pearl, which I am happy to include here:
"We do not grow absolutely, chronologically.
We grow sometimes in one dimension and not in another, evenly.
We grow partially.
We are relative.
We are mature in one realm, childish in another.
The past, present and future mingle and pull us
backward, forward, or fix us in the present.
We are made up of layers, cells, constellations."
Among the items, everyday household things,
there was one "spark," which caught me.
It was a pin. A birthstone guardian angel.
You know, one of those cute
angel-on-my-shoulder pins.
there was one "spark," which caught me.
It was a pin. A birthstone guardian angel.
You know, one of those cute
angel-on-my-shoulder pins.
And so, with the inspiration of the quote above and the angel,
I reflected:

I reflected:

So many.
Some speak to me with depth.
Some with fluff.
Some: recent memories, propelling me to the past.
Others: new, current.
The guardian angel pin and the gift shop at
South Dakota's famed Black Hills Passion Play.
South Dakota's famed Black Hills Passion Play.
Summer '93.
And the first time the play had ever, ever been cancelled due to weather.
A monsoon, actually.
Or so it seemed.
And the first time the play had ever, ever been cancelled due to weather.
A monsoon, actually.
Or so it seemed.
The night before we called home and discovered that Dad
had actually, finally let go.
had actually, finally let go.
I saw it there... on the rack.
Bought one for Mom, of course.
Golden with amethyst birthstone for her February birthday.
P. knew I liked it ~ offered to get me one.
I declined.
Don't know why. Still don't.
But, in the morning before calling home for Tee's July birthday,
he, on his daily run, left the campground,
detouring for the gift shop and picked one up for me.
he, on his daily run, left the campground,
detouring for the gift shop and picked one up for me.
The one with the aquamarine stone decorating it.
For my March birthday.
And there's more.
so much more....
The details of being gifted the angel are sketchy in the haze that followed.
For, at the time of our call home,
we were deep into the barren
we were deep into the barren
but breathtaking beauty of glacial, rugged Montana.
A pre-internet search of airports, flight schedules from
Kalispell to Salt Lake to Kennedy.
A quick tear-y pack up.
No, more a rushed, hysterical
how-am-I-going-to-get-there-on-my-own
-I-can't-believe-Dad- is-really-gone-
will- I-ever- be-not-be-sad- these
three-grueling-years-and-now-this
pack up.
No, more a rushed, hysterical
how-am-I-going-to-get-there-on-my-own
-I-can't-believe-Dad- is-really-gone-
will- I-ever- be-not-be-sad- these
three-grueling-years-and-now-this
pack up.
Goodbyes to P who'd drive the battered grey two door Escort
east toward home and would hopefully arrive from
two-thirds of the way across the country
alone
and within three days,
for the funeral.
east toward home and would hopefully arrive from
two-thirds of the way across the country
alone
and within three days,
for the funeral.
Love, loss, a rush, a flight, a goodbye.
And then the biggest goodbye.
And one hard summer twenty years ago.

It's your turn, now, friends....
...to link your stories, your reflections.
The short stream of consciousness was written in
twenty five minutes on my Dad's passing,
which I have never written on at all in twenty years.
It needs, well, maybe not detail, but expanding, if only for my own sake.
At some point, but not now.
Thank you for stopping in, friends.
Until next time,
~Chris
I am gratefully linking this post to the
Catholic Bloggers' Network Link up Blitz.
...to link your stories, your reflections.
The short stream of consciousness was written in
twenty five minutes on my Dad's passing,
which I have never written on at all in twenty years.
It needs, well, maybe not detail, but expanding, if only for my own sake.
At some point, but not now.
Thank you for stopping in, friends.
Until next time,
~Chris
I am gratefully linking this post to the
Catholic Bloggers' Network Link up Blitz.
Your poetic person is showing beautifully in this piece! How sweet indeed...beautiful!
ReplyDeletexoxox Denise
Denise-
DeleteTHANK YOU for stopping in and for your kind words, friend....
Will head to your blog now to read your piece...looking fwd to it:)
xoxoxoxo
Just beautiful! Brought tears to my eyes, friend! I am so glad to be linking up again. I am trying to get myself back on some kind of schedule. I must have spring fever as badly as my children do! :-)
ReplyDeleteLisa dear,
DeleteThank you, friend.
You're so kind.
I, too, am very happy to see you linking!! Love that you had the time this week!
See you over at your spot on the web in a bit.
xoxoxo
Chris,
ReplyDeleteYour poem is so beautiful, so many images and emotions. Poetry is one area I've never tackled but would like to.
Thank you so much for including me in the memoir link up email. I will link a story I wrote for the A-Z challenge, which I hope is also suitable for Memoir Monday (actually it's dated Tuesday because we are ahead in time!)
Thank you for your kindness!
Sue,
DeleteFunny thing, I really did not intend for this to be a poem....it kind of spilled into that genre and was pointed out to me by the folks at the wr wkshop Sat AM during the share...!
Just thoughts on paper abt that time in a stream of cons flow and that's what happened...! I don;t consider myself a writer of poetry at all either!
THANK YOU for your kind words and for linking up today.
I am heading to your blog to read your piece, my friend.
Have a lovely day>
Sweetly done! I envy your writing class-it sounds terrific! One day when I live back in civilization I'd like to take a class with others. Thanks for sharing at NOBH!
ReplyDelete