Yeah, I know I’m late with this blog. In my defense, I’ve been busy writing. I accepted the challenge of writing a story using exactly 100 words using this picture as a prompt.
The challenger uses the word DRABBLE to describe a short story of exactly 100 words. You can be funny, poignant, witty, etc.; it is, after all, your story.
Email me if you’re interested, and I’ll provide details.
Challenges like this are fun. They test your skills and promote good writing. Don’t be afraid to give it a go.
Moving on: Our readings at this meeting provoked thought and gave us something to look forward to in upcoming sessions. Leading off this week, Dennis Cathcart took us to Venezuela for an adventure in hunting exotic plants and reptiles. In Chapter Two, And Then We Are Five, from his newest book Koulèv: Adventures of an American Snake Hunter, Book Two, we find ourselves in a jungle clearing in the pitch black of a night unspoiled by light pollution. Dennis’ description of the night sky takes us there. If you’ve ever had this experience of seeing the plethora of stars in a truly dark sky, you know what he saw that night. The next day they come upon a myriad of wildlife found only in unspoiled territories.
When Pete McNally took the floor, we heard a remarkable story in Rewired. Still recovering from a stroke, finally cleared to drive and return to work, Pete becomes confused on his way home. The symptoms worsen, but he arrives at his house. He’s suffered a second stroke, more intense and debilitating than the first. What faculties will he lose this time? His memory is limited, and he’s learned to speak again, but half his vision is gone. Will it get worse? Pete’s courage in writing about his ordeal is commendable, and we see the results of a long hard recovery. We look forward to the next chapter.
Ernie Ovitz takes us back to the Fourth Century CE, Constantine the Great rules Rome from his Eastern Capitol in Constantinople, but discontent is afoot. Even the Emperor’s wife plots against him as she schemes to discredit or eliminate Crispus, Constantine’s son, from a previous marriage. Reading from Chapter 48 of the third book in his trilogy, Ernie weaves a tale based on historical facts.
Tish Mcauley writes of a world rife with drugs, alcohol, and money. A recovering addict, Tish finds issues in the current treatment programs as she tries to explain her world to others who’ve not experienced some of the things taking place in an addict’s life. Tish agrees it takes more than willpower to fight your way out of the grip of drugs, alcohol, or any vice one might face in life. Today’s faith-based organizations too often espouse only Christian values. She proposes a non-sectarian approach to recovery and is willing to help that come about.
I’m sure you’ve heard men speak of their wives using “My Old Lady.” Richard Cope read a story in the voice of a man extolling the virtues of his wife. In a piece with that phrase as its title, we hear of love, friendship, and respect, exemplified in the final line, “My old lady, she’s one hell of a woman.”
It’s Only Business is Don Westerfield’s tale of a young man returning from Harvard University to San Francisco, where his Aunt expects him to take over running her long-standing business as she plans to marry a man from Carson City. As the story develops, he meets the prospective bridegroom and his beautiful daughter while visiting Carson City to plan the wedding. Attracted to the daughter, the young man finds she is very involved in her father’s business of securing investors with lots of money. As he talks to her, he discovers she knows of his business in San Francisco and understands that it is the classiest brothel in California.
Gaia is another word for our planet Earth. Bruce Haedrich writes in essay form as if Gaia is speaking to him. As we hurtle through space at millions of miles per hour, Gaia tries to tell us what will happen. Used to terms of millions of years, Gaia speaks of the next eighty years. To our planet, eighty years is a quarter of a second in our lifespan, the blink of a human’s eye. The next eighty years are insignificant to Gaia’s future but critical to the human race. Ice ages will come and go. Will humans survive? What is our future?
James Kelly reads from his newest book of young Tremain MacKinzie arriving in Cuba as a member of Roosevelt’s Rough Riders. Aboard ship for two long weeks, the regiment arrives in Cuba. Lush jungles and mountainous terrain greet the men. As Lakota Sioux, Tremain has never seen such dense vegetation though he is familiar with the mountains. Disembarking, the troops encounter the dangers of war in that snipers and well-trained Spanish troops harass their progress every step of the way.
Bill Elam tells of a man who lived caring for his fellow humans. His wife has passed away, and he misses her. He has spread her ashes over the waters of the Gulf of Mexico from his little airplane. Now he faces his final days and plans to take one last flight. As the sun sets, he flies above the Golden Runway; his heart stops, but the little plane flies on. A commercial pilot on a parallel course sees the aircraft and becomes one of The Chosen as the little plane tilts upward and climbs at an astounding speed away from Earth into the beyond.
Growing up in Sarasota was full of adventure and fun. Rod Digruttolo reads a short story about his character, Skeeter. Released from days of restriction, Rod received a Reprieve at supper on Friday night. He and two friends set out for a day of exploration early the following morning. Rod’s tale brings back memories of childhood and the freedom of youth.
That’s all for this session, but I will return next month with more from our little group. God Bless, and remember – KEEP ON WRITING!
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