This is the new me
the me without you
which is taking time
to get used to.
Continue readingOODA Loop
What on earth happened?
You had to adjust and regroup
when you were doing your thing
following your normal routine
then change messed with your OODA loop.
Continue readingLeaving Fort Lauderdale
Let me share my horror tale
and this is no allegory
about my time in purgatory
the details I will surely curtail
about leaving the airport in Fort Lauderdale.
Continue readingVacation
Ask me where I was Monday
and nonchalantly I’ll say,
“Zip lining in the trees with much luck
somewhere in the Dominican Republic.
A perfect way to spend the day.”
Continue readingOcean’s Lullaby
Have you ever felt the ocean
rock you with its calm lullaby
while the moon is high in the sky?
The natural rocking motion
is better than a sleeping potion.
Continue readingCruise Ship Week
Friday night in a hotel in Fort Lauderdale.
Now I can scratch off Florida on my ‘Been there’ map
even if I only saw a teeny part.
It counts.
Of course it counts.
A little bit counts, right?
Continue readingStory Behind the Post: The New Seasons
When I decided to simplify my life and only do weekly posts, I had to decide if I wanted to keep doing 5-part short stories during the months with 5 Wednesdays (switched from Saturdays). I decided, yes, I will keep at it for a while anyway. The first 5-Wednesday month was in April which seemed like plenty of time for me to prepare a story. If you know me, you know that isn’t my style. I was plagued with my usual writer’s block until the 11th-hour. But inspiration came from real events. I should say, real events mostly. Real events with a little modification and a whole lot of what-if.
Continue readingThe New Seasons: Chapter V
The New Season
After my initial disclosure to grandma and mom and receiving that warm grandma hug I gained even more confidence to expand my circle. I took mom and grandma downstairs and showed them everything I had stockpiled. Grandma was impressed. Mom was a little worried at the cost but grandma just waved her hand at her.
“You’ve been busy,” grandma said.
I smiled. “You have no idea.” I took a deep breath because I knew the time had come to show someone my shed in the back. I almost didn’t want to because it had been my private place for so long. But I knew I needed to do this to truly expand my circle.
I led them back up the stairs. Even though it was technically winter we just needed light jackets outside which we were still getting used to. They followed me through the backyard. We walked the little pathway to the back of the garage. I showed them how to get through my wall of dry weeds I had set up as a barrier and then we stepped into the little clearing with the shed. Of course, they knew about the shed but it had been a while since either of them were back there. Mom took note of the hole I had dug for fuel storage and raised her eyebrows.
“Storage,” is all I said and shrugged my shoulders.
Grandma’s face broke into a delighted smile and she clapped her hands together when she saw my garden of onions and carrots. They walked around a little bit inspecting my work. I had spent so much time working in the area that the whole ground around the shed was clear of weeds and obviously a place often visited.
They looked at each other as I opened the padlock on the shed door and opened it. I didn’t tell them what was inside but gestured for them to step in. They slowly did and to say they were surprised is a bit of an understatement.
Continue readingThe New Seasons: Chapter IV
Winter
The first thing I did after I left Stuart’s was to find all that literature he had given me. Thankfully I didn’t throw any of it away. Some of it was lost but I found most of it in a pile. The pages with the diagrams were pretty tattered and on top of the pile but I didn’t need those pages any longer. I spent the rest of that day scanning through it all and any time I saw the word shift I read the paragraphs around it for context. No matter how many paragraphs I read, I still didn’t understand. I needed someone to translate it to my level of understanding. There was no way I would go back to Stuart though. It just didn’t feel safe. That left me with one choice: Carpenter.
I used my phone and took some photos of the paragraphs that I thought might be most helpful. Was I taking pictures of too much? Too little? The wrong thing? I had no idea but this was my best plan.
The next day I stayed after work for an hour waiting for a chance to nonchalantly catch her in the break room. When she finally came in and sat on the couch another coworker was in the room. I nervously waited for 10 minutes and it was getting close to Carpenter to return to work. Just in time, the other coworker stood up and left which means now was my chance.
Continue readingThe New Seasons: Chapter III
Autumn
I truly became hyper-focused on my little covert well project. I mean, how could I possibly ignore working on it when I spent so much time thinking about it? Doing some kind of action was the only time my racing thoughts slowed down. Which means that despite the near crippling heat, I continued to work on my hidden well. So much so, that when I finally drew my first little bit of water out, I had mixed feelings. Sure, I was elated my hard work had given me a feat and that I – me of all people – constructed something that worked. And I did it by following some diagrams and watching a few YouTube videos. But a part of me felt a tinge of disappointment because now what would I focus on? Also, there was the fact that since I had been so successful in hiding my efforts, there was not one person to share my accomplishment with. I thought of Stuart again and felt a new wave of guilt that I lied to him at that last meeting. I should probably let him know what I had accomplished because of his guidance.
Continue reading
ck's days 