Affirmative, Captain #SoCS

We need to get this straight. I will affirm here and now that I have felt less than inspired in the last week. I’m working on the novel-still…maybe forever..but really loving the progress. It is just not something one can easily do at the end of a work day or week, popping from pragmatic, ordered thinking into fanatstical dreaming reality.

Affirmative, Captain.

I mean I usually can, but lately the world has just felt so…heavy. I affirm I am not a fan of old Man Winter. And I love men in general. Just not sadistsic, self indulgent, harsh and cold troublemaking men. Just why Mother Nature has him in her circle is beyond me. But then, taste in friends is always quite subjective isn’t it? It takes all kinds of people to make a world. If we were all alike we would either be hugely bored or constantly fighting ourselves.

 

I affirm that life is wearying at times, and when I was younger I held older people in the highest regard, seeking their wisdom, understanding and encouragement. For the most part I am exposed to situations in which older people are viewed and treated as outdated, stupid or at best uninformed, and gulity of some heinous crime of destruction that most of them are completely unaware. Perhaps the crime is just being older than 30. I thank God each day my children are not this way.

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When I was in the Christian church growing up, we were taught to always put yourself in others’ shoes, to empathize and express compassion. There was a humbleness in being a child of God. I suppose there has always been a double edged sword aspect to religion..any of them, just as there is duality of spirit within each of us. I just know that I would rather stand quietly alone, with my hand in His, than stand with a mob of angry, accusatory, self righteous finger pointers whose main goal is to be the best, the biggest and the chosen. Since when did being a Christian become a popularity contest?

I affirm that God’s greatest gifts exist all around us, that peace can be found in the tiniest miracle of life, that entertainment is free in Mother Nature if you just take a moment to breathe and to feel her presence. Soul healing does not exist in a book or a prayer. It is in your own hands, the ones given to you in this life. Perhaps we should stop shouting, ”God, save us!”

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Maybe it’s time to whisper, “God help us to save ourselves.” We have to stop making our own messes then blaming everyone else for them,  which includes..

No, honey, the devil did not make you do it. We all have a choice and the light and dark exists in every one of us.

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affirm that when I love someone it is forever, even if you choose to cast me aside. Anyone who has ever found a place in my heart will remain there forever, and my family means more to me than anything. If they hurt, I hurt. When they are in pain, it is mine. When they are happy, my world is perfect. I know no other way.

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I love the friends I have made here, in this magical realm of blogging, where like minds can meet and feel less alone, share ideas and laughs. We all do such a wonderful job of encouraging, lifting one another up and being there. Thank you to any and all who have done this for me. And if you feel like a beer check out Dan’s frozen corner of the world. Now, he has some Winter tales…

I affirm that I am ready for Spring, budding flowers, buzzing insects and balmy breezes. Meanwhile, we can always dream..in fact I must insist that you dream with me, or we might not see her face again!

 

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What do you see when you step outside?

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Thanks to Linda Hill and her #SoCS prompt, ‘affirm’.

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Earwhat?! #SoCS

I’ve never told him this, but I rely on Dan to supply the #SoCS prompt for me each week. I get the notice for his post first, check it out, copy the link and get mine going. Oh, hi Dan! Thanks for the reminder of the reminder. The truth is I love the ‘If We Were Having a Beer’ stories so much. Congrats on hitting one thousand posts (and congrats to the weary Editor too) 😏

Now, back to that prompt. When I first saw Linda’s prompt I thought it said, ‘earwig’. That word conjured up horrific images of me From my childhood, blissfully watching TV on the cool clean floor on a hot Saturday night until abruptly having my world explode when someone shouts, “stinkbug!” which, in my family, means “earwig”! Then it was mayhem as my Dad went for a shoe and we kids flew in four different directions. Sometimes we even missed Flipper saving Bud. Or Sandy saving Bud, or Bud and Sandy saving Flipper.😱

Then this image flew into my brain.

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Rabid Rod Serling (Dan) fans will know the series and the episode immediately. But those of you who don’t can watch it here.

THE most frightening episode of Night Gallery for me. Ever. Wait. Maybe it was the spider that kept crawling up from the sink-only bigger. Or maybe the dummy that came to life. Or maybe….you get the picture.

Well, when I looked twice and realized it was, in fact, ‘earworm’ I breathed a sigh of relief because, God knows, I didn’t want to relive those horrific memories!

Now, darn if I didn’t just post an earworm story Here two days ago.

However, it seems I normally wake up with a new earworm every few days so today’s magical mystery tour brings us to the song that was in the movie last night, The Keeping Hours, oddly enough recognized by another blogging friend a few days ago. It was a fvaorite of mine in the 70’s. You can check out Jill’s blog Over here if you like. The song?

And, now here’s the really strange part about all of this-(cue Twilight Zone intro music) This song has long been my “cure” tune to rid myself of an earworm song. Please don’t ask for the science behind it but just know that it works. Perhaps the slow pace, the concentration it takes to sing the lyrics, or just the fact that it puts me into a meditative romantic place. It works. Every time. What word were we talking about? I’ve forgotten now.

Happy #Free48 guys! Go out and make it memorable. Hugs from me and the bugs!

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