Today’s positive …seeing the horror photos online and the news of the terrible fires in Greece it is a real positive to be safe and well in my own home tonight. Sending positive vibes and cyber hugs to all affected.
Tag: loss
Thanks Giving Dinner
Short story written for competition. Only prompt was this picture had to be the opening scene. Didn’t win , but I loved writing the story
‘Is that a chip?’ Moira thinks out loud leaning across to pick up the sparkling wine glass. The table is set with luxurious silver ware, sparkling glasses and perfume rich flowers from the garden. Ready for her distinguished guests.
‘Oh damn, I am down to the last of my mother’s best set. Must be more careful when I clean them. I cannot replace them,’ Moira thinks to herself.
Dinner is ready and the smell of roast turkey with all the trimmings is wafting from the kitchen.
‘Hope there is enough this year for all of us. They come hungry and dig in like it’s their last meal. For some it may be,’ Moira fights back a lonely tear making its way down her cheek.
‘Must be happy and grateful tonight. It is Thanksgiving Day’ She reminds herself and puts on some cheery music, trying to fight back the memory of 3 years back.
The doorbell rings twice and Moira opens to greet all her guests. They come together all dressed in their best Sunday suits and dresses.
‘Thank you for inviting us again Moira. How have you been?’ Frank asks as he leads the group into Moira’s dining room. His face weather-beaten and red from too much alcohol over the years and his suit worn and frayed at the ends.
Moira smiles without answering. They all know.
‘So good to see you all’ Moira announces noticing Lily admiring the silverware running her finger across the smooth lines. Lily is wearing a long 70s dress in silver herself. Her unwashed hair has been brushed. She looks almost attractive if not for the dark sunken eyes and bruises on her arms.
‘What’s for dinner Moira?’ Tom asks as he sits himself next to Moira. The hungry one, Tom is. Also the youngest at barely 24. He joined in the annual dinner last year invited by Tammy after Dave left the city.
‘Just vanished one day,’ Tammy told them all ‘no farewell, just took his few belongings and left,’
‘We are going to have Roast Turkey Tom, hope you all like it. I have tried a new stuffing this year,’ Moira tells them all.
‘I liked the old stuffing’ Gary quips up looking frightened. He doesn’t like change. Has never moved from his tiny place in the city.
‘You will love this one too Gary’ Moira reassures him patting his shoulder as she gets up.
‘Tammy and Tom, please help me,’
The young couple jump up eager to help, hoping to grab a morsel before the others.
Trays of food is brought in and placed on the table to the hum of appreciative noises. Moira looks at her guests; their eyes shining and their mouths eagerly smiling in anticipation.
Her rich and colourful family from the city streets gracing her home once again. They are her family now, her only family. They all help each other on this often lonely Thanksgiving evening.
‘Thank you all for joining me; enjoy your dinner,’
Positive Thought 21/4/2018
My morning started with reading the sad tweet that Avicii had passed at only 28. I love his music and felt saddened by this. Played his music loud for a couple of hours while getting my housework done. Way to young and so talented.
You may wonder why I am posting this on my positive thoughts. But this sad start to my day made the rest of my day so much sweeter. Watching parents and children at the local market made me smile. Seeng their love. The beauty of life, being alive on a sunny day. Then catching up with my own daughter later in the afternoon only a year older than Avicii. I am so lucky to have both of my girls healthy and happy.
Every day we get to spend with loved ones is a treasure and definitely a positive.
Positive Thought 10/4/2018
The human spirit is amazing.
Just watched a news program about a woman who first lost her triplets born way too early. Went onto to have another two children then her husband developed brain cancer and passed away. During all of this she, and her husband when well, continued to raise money for the neonatal section of the hospital by organising huge charity fun runs.
Her positive words stuck with me “there is always hope, even in tragedy”
The ultimate positive thought.
Disaster list
Imagine waking up to a text in the middle of the night saying you have 20 minutes to evacuate. That’s what many residents in the California region would have experienced recently.
My daughter currently lives in San Fransisco and they all woke up Monday morning to a thick blanket of smoke enveloping the whole city. Smoke from the horrendous fires that had been ablaze all night in the Northern California region. A beautiful lush and hilly wine region I visited and enjoyed so much only a few months ago.
The fires of California have been horrible and destructive on so many levels. Lives have been lost, fathers, mothers children, friends…..
The effects are a lot more far-reaching than the initial loss of lives & homes that we hear about on the news. Imagine having no home, where would you go initially. A shelter living with other people where you don’t have your normal belongings around you. I am sure you would be happy just to be alive but the effects of our “things” around us are comforting. You would have lost your feeling of security and safety.
In some cases, whole townships are gone. Schools, shops, homes. Peoples livelihood gone. The mental effect would be far reaching into the future.
I can’t begin to imagine the horror it would be. But I wonder what we would take if given just 20 minutes to get out of our homes. For starters Im blind as a bat, 5 minutes would be gone just finding and getting my lenses in! Even if we all hope we would never be part of any big natural disasters, its worth pondering and getting yourself organised before it strikes.
My list would be:
My cat
My handbag – being female it has most essentials 🙂
Extra clothing for warmth and extra pair of undies
Personal important documents, e.g. Passport, birth certificate
My camera, Laptop & Kindle (oh I am such a nerd)
Photos (mental note to get them organised into albums)
Sentimental jewelry (my mums)
My box of memories (my old journal, letters from my parents etc)
I think my 20 minutes would well and truly be up by then.
I look around my place and see so many more things that mean something to me. Life memories that would be lost.
I hope I never have to experience anything where my list comes in handy.
My thoughts go out to all affected by the recent fires.