Expectation

The heart, the organ donned in electric pinks and vibrant reds for Valentines Day, encourage so many poets to write verse. What a lot of fuss. Frieda and her husband don’t follow this tradition.

In her teenage years there were times when she was aware of her heart racing; with the excitement and the agitation of love that sent her rhythm into presto and appassionato. Not just in her teenage years, she supposes, though it all seems so long ago. In that state of high alert, she did stupid things that she’d rather forget. She and Helen Young sat together in Grade Four. They both fell for the new boy, Walter Wright, who sat directly behind them. He wore long trousers. None of the other boys did. It made him seem so grown up. Helen and Frieda went down to Coles and pooled their money to buy him a 1/6 d watercolour paint set. They secretly wrapped it and placed it in his desk for Valentine’s Day. They never knew if he ever guessed who had put it there.

Frieda feels she’s been oblivious for decades to the selfless dedication of her pumping heart. It’s reliable ticking, like a metronome, continuing  without payment or praise. Those memories from the past are best forgotten. She should pay more attention to the present and to her time signature of adagio and even adagissimo.

Now in her eighth decade an occasional twinge will remind her that life is finite. Should she give up rich and sumptuous foods to ease the burden on her heart? No, life is to be lived to the full, with that she gives thanks to the universe. When the metronome stops, she’ll be grateful to have lived a full and happy life.

 

<a href=”https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/expectation/”>Expectation</a>

 

Barbara Pyett                                                                           February 2017

 

January

A break from routine allows the richness of conversation and shared meals with family and friends; plus the unspoken: pulling weeds, mulching, fertilizing, children to stay, shopping, pruning, cooking, cleaning windows, general cleaning, washing, ironing, washing up, sweeping, picking fruit and vegetables, making jam and chutney, watering, stewing fruit for the freezer, reading, writing letters to those neglected at Christmas time and contemplating getting the year organized making a list to get things fixed.

The TV is on the blink. The solar hot water system needs replacing. The cement step from the absent spa must be removed. Gutters are choked. Solar panels need cleaning. The cubby needs fresh paint. The dishwasher died and needs replacing. Edging around the garden beds need attention since the lawns haven’t been mown. Incessant need of sweeping gum leaves from driveway, patio and paths. Lopping grevilleas and correas to maintain bushiness. Finally, book an appointment with the physio to restore use of shoulder.

‘What do you think caused this bursitis?’ Lachlan asks.

I resist giving him a blow by blow explanation.

Resist“>Resist

Dreaming

‘You’re away with the fairies.’

This surprised me, as I believed I was an ordinary person. Perhaps when I was young I was a bit of a sylph and a little unworldly at times but I thought I’d grown up and left that behind. Continuing to think, I realized not everyone dreams. Maybe she was right.

 

Dreams are a very big part of my life. So far, flying dreams have been hard work. Flapping my arms is exhausting. It would be wonderful to fly effortlessly. Just to float, relax and enjoy the sensation without strain.

 

Today’s prompt, ‘float’, is what I’ll do in preparation for sleep and may be it will happen.

<a href=”https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/float/”>Float</a>

Renewal

Renewal looks a strange word; it looks like three words in one.

I’m procrastinating…

If you are feeling your age, I’ve just read a book you might enjoy.

It is about a widow and widower who cross an invisible societal line in their small community. They feel that they’ve reached the age where they don’t care what others think.

‘Our Souls at Night’ is written by Kent Haruf. If you’re feeling you need to change your life in some way or just need a good read, this is the book for you. Haruf writes about two people in their seventies who find love and friendship with poignancy, charm and believability.

<a href=”https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/renewal/”>Renewal</a&gt;

Jack’s Present

This is a revised Christmas story written a few years ago.

Jack’s Present

Emily’s mum had helped her stir the special ingredients of oats and sparkling gold glitter and measured them into 15 envelopes.
On the front of each envelope were the instructions:

‘Sprinkle this reindeer food outside tonight.
The moonlight will make it sparkle bright.

Millie as a puppy

As the reindeer fly and roam,
this will guide them to your home.’

Emily had signed each one ‘Love Emily’.
She proudly gave them to her friends at Day Care.
Jack put his away safely.

Jack and his brother, Mackenzie, watched Mum pack their case. Jack made sure that his envelope from Emily was in his bag. They were driving to their grandparents and Millie’s house for Christmas. Santa must know where to find them.

Christmas Eve, Jack and Mackenzie left out a bottle of beer and some biscuits for Santa. Then they sprinkled Jack’s reindeer food outside before hopping into bed to have a story.

Whilst the children slept, Millie, the puppy, thought the reindeer food was put out in the courtyard for her, so she ate it all up.

Luckily Santa still managed to find his way.

The next morning Jack and Mackenzie discovered their bulging stockings and ran to show their parents.

Everyone decided to take Millie for her walk before breakfast.

They had to wait while she searched for a special spot under a callistemon tree.

‘How come Millie’s poo is glittering?’ asked Jack.

‘Wow, you’re right,’ chuckled Grandpa, as he scooped it into a bag.

‘It’s her way of wishing everyone a happy Christmas!’

Mackenzie laughed. ‘Millie’s a clever dog!’

‘What a treat! But remember, my treasures,

all that glitters is not gold!’ said Grandpa.

Mackenzie and Jack

‘Oddball’

Family Film: Oddball (G) Directed by Stuart McDonald

This Australian movie based on a true story was released in September this year and will appeal to every dog lover. Shane Jacobson plays a chicken farmer, Alan Swampy Marsh, and along with his dog, Oddball, his grand daughter, they bring this Australian drama to life. It is the compelling story of how Oddball, a Maremma dog is trained with a fairy penguin. There is a fight to save a fairy penguin colony from foxes and big business on an island off the Victorian coast, near Warnambool.

The good news is that the fairy penguin colony has grown; after getting down to 10, it has since increased to 150.

This feel good movie is full of kindness and I am responding to it by recommending it to you!

Pay It Forward, daily post by Ben Huberman

Tell us about a time when you responded to an act of kindness with one of your own.

 

https-//dailypost.wordpr#60BE76

Acceptance:

Imagine beginning again. What could be worse? Starting school from the beginning and being bored stiff for how many years? Being watched incessantly outside school hours with no freedom? Facing the changing technological changes and choosing a husband all over again… would I change anything?

No, I’ll hang on in till the end in this body, thank you! My chosen memories of childhood are the rosy ones where we roamed free.

The tough times make one appreciate the good times. I feel I have earned this age and am grateful for good health so that I can relish my freedom to choose how to spend my time. Time is an elusive element and it has sped up, so now it’s up to me to make the most of what is left.

From the Top. Daily Post by Ben Huberman

If you had the chance to be reborn, would you choose to return as your present self, or would opt for a fresh start? Tell us about what motivates your choices.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/from-the-top-2

Overcoming fear

Blogging is a fear that I’ve been overcoming. Sharing information, putting it out into the ether, not knowing who is reading it. But my biggest fear has been using a computer, which continues to flummox me. Having purchased a laptop and transferring relevant material is such a tedious process. I sometimes hate the computer so much; I swear I’ll return to pen and paper.

Returning to a typewriter, I remember the drawbacks:

• Having to use tippex to whiten any mistakes.
• Then cutting and joining with sticky tape a paragraph that needs to be inserted elsewhere.
• Using that horrible black or blue paper to make copies, that never look as pristine as a computer copy.

Yes, I guess I am conquering my fears and appreciate the benefits of a computer. I shall just have to continue learning how to make best use of it.

 

Phobia Shmobia, daily post by Ben Huberman                                                                                    Fears evolve over time. What is one fear you’ve conquered?

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/phobia-shmobia/

Rather personal:

‘These Horns Were Made for Tooting’ is a rather provocative title, or is this my Australian way of looking at things? What comes to mind is the size of rather excessive boobs.

Having been rather over endowed, much to my consternation and loathe rather than love, I chose to have a breast reduction. It is the only bodily part I’ve chosen to alter, (apart from crown tooth replacements). Even so, the doctor didn’t remove enough for my liking and she didn’t tell me that they would grow back again. So for all the suffering of having an operation, I wouldn’t recommend such drastic measures, unless you are really desperate, or are able to constantly diet to maintain the new you.

These Horns Were Made for Tooting, daily post by Ben Huberman

Today, show something you love about yourself—don’t be shy, be confident! —but that few other people know about you or get to see very often.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/these-horns-were-made-for-tooting/

 

 

 

Australian cliffhanger

A weight has lifted off the continent of Australia. Last night there was a cliffhanger with 44 votes to 54. We now have a new Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull. Even though my political leanings are not with this government, this man is intelligent, and hopefully will once again recognise climate change and be more reasonable with other issues. Julie Bishop remains deputy, and Minister for Foreign Affairs.

This was not the only excitement. We had a bet with friends that Tony Abbott would be ousted before the end of the year. So, a box of chocolates is coming our way, ‘and all was (is) well with the world.’

No Cliffhangers Daily Post by Ben Huberman

Write a post about the topic of your choice in what ever style you want, but make sure to end with ‘…and all was well with the world.’

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/no-cliffhangers