Five Sentence Fiction - Clandestine

Last parking stall on the third level-the oddly shaped space that’s too tricky for most drivers.

High heeled footsteps echoing, tapping on cement, matching the splashes in his chest.

Quick glances at side mirrors, towards the parkade ramp, no one’s watching.

Passenger door opens, she’s here, shallow breaths, aching to feel.

Slides over, arms grab, lips open, “touch me”.

And now for something completely different...

I feel like the blog is looking a bit bland so I thought I would put up a couple of my photos.  These are taken mostly when...? you guessed it!...I'm going for coffee.  Just a wee change of pace.

Five Sentence Fiction - Radiance

Look, here we are, sitting on the backdoor wooden steps of my grandmother’s old house, completely immersed in our conversation – Aunt Bella, age 80, and I, age 5.

A summer day that remains sepia-toned, kept in an old cookie tin with the rest of my childhood.

I had just finished styling  Aunt Bella’s dove white hair with her silver handled brush – gently, gently.

When I finished, I sat down beside her, pulled myself close and, as I looked up at this woman I loved with all my heart, I lifted my 5 year old hand to trace  her impossibly soft,deeply set wrinkles.  

And looking down at the unlined face of a little girl she loved with all her heart, my Aunt Bella smiled.

If I ...

If I was to be what I wanted to be, I can say it wouldn’t be this

I would have encompassed the stars spanning out through the universe

And laid claim to the sunsets that lead into night

A life filled with great journeys

If I was to be what I thought I might be, I can say it wouldn’t be this

I would have been made of chaff and hard shells that cut fingers

And asked questions with endless enquiry never stopping for answers

A life filled ironically with space

If I could say what I am today, I can say that it wouldn’t be that

I’m made of long roads I travelled down slowly

And of those who promised forever but were gone by the morning

A life full of quiet choices made carelessly

If I can say what I am today, I can say that I’m more than all that.

Quote that makes me smile...

So many to choose from by A.A. Milne but this is a bell ringer for me:

“Sometimes,' said Pooh, 'the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”

Versatile Blogger Award - you are too kind!

At the end of October, 2011, Angie – the lovely & generous @Write-Me-Happy,  http://arichmondwritemehappy.blogspot.com/ ,  nominated me for a “Versatile Blogger” award.  I was very honoured to be mentioned but at that time I really didn’t have enough writing connections/followers to meet the rule of nominating 15 other bloggers.  So I said thank you to Angie and then scurried off to hide in a corner.

To my utter surprise and delight, over the past three months, my niche audience has grown to over 120 people – an eclectic group of kind individuals, diverse in points of view and interests, and perfect for me both in composition and connection. 

I’m overwhelmed to say that I’ve been nominated again by several other people: 

1.  handsome & witty @ashviper ( http://stevenpaul-ashviper.blogspot.com/ );
2. beautiful & supportive @lilliemcferrin ( http://lilliemcferrin.blogspot.com/ );
3. dashing and encouraging @rodtyson100 ( http://rodtysonblog.blogspot.com/ )

Here are the rules: 

• Thank the person who nominated you and ensure there is a link back to his or her blog.

• Tell 7 completely random things about yourself

• Add the image of the award

• Nominate 15 other bloggers, then let them know you nominated them.

Thank you to Angie , Lillie, Steven and Rod.  I appreciate all of you!

The 15 unique bloggers to whom I would like to pass along this award are (and yes I know there will be duplicate nominations from others but it can’t be helped!):

Kern (@oddparticle)    http://www.oddparticle.com/

Amy (@amysept)          http://nimbyist.com/pr/category/blog/   

Gayle  (@SpiritofSSI)  http://spiritofsaltspring.blogspot.com/

Chris @chrisjames       http://chrisjames.cal24.pl/

KD   @KD_Rush          http://kdrush.com/Main/

Angela @angela_goff   http://anonymouslegacy.blogspot.com/
Amanada @9inchnails  http://writing.fly-casual.net/

Michael @mohio73                 http://michael-haynes.blogspot.com/

Procrastinatress  @defemte   http://themindssky.wordpress.com/

Louise  @louisejhastings        http://wingsoverwaters.wordpress.com/

Rachel @racheledits                http://www.twylah.com/racheledits

Gary @literarygary                  http://honestindiebookreviews.wordpress.com/

JD @jd_mader                         http://www.jdmader.com/ 

SMBoyce @thesmboyce        http://blog.smboyce.com/

Ruth @ruthedonald                 http://redonald.com/

Finally 7 random things about me:

1. I'm a knitter. Until I started writing, a large part of my spare time was spent knitting, thinking about knitting and wondering when I could knit next.
2. I am the only child of a single parent.  When Mom died 20 years ago, about the third person who phoned me to express their condolences tagged me as an orphan. It’s an odd label to have when you are an adult. Very odd indeed.
3. My lucky number is 4. Actually, I always choose it, and it's my favourite number (as much as one can have a favourite number) but it hasn`t brought me a thing, good or bad. I just keep on hoping that it will be lucky. Perhaps for now I should just say that 4 is my neutral number.
4. I don’t like cheese. Yes, all cheese. No, not even parmesan. No I don’t eat pizza. Yes really, I don’t eat pizza.  Because.
5. Assorted favourites:  Hawthorne Yellow, To Kill a Mockingbird, Gerber Daisies, Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick, nonfat cappuccino or a half full venti Americano, Seinfeld, autumn, long sleeved turtlenecks, sudoku, jazz, Timothy Findley, Susan Howatch’s Starbridge series.
6. Once when I was spelling my name aloud for someone (I have to do that quite a bit, my mom made the spelling of my name a tad difficult), the person asked me what a hyphen was.  “Is that like a dash?”
7. Years and years ago, my dear dear dear friend Judy and I decided on our favourite toast and it's the only one I ever use: "Here's to permanent peace in the Middle East, and Little House on the Prairie".