Five Minute Friday – Perspective

18 May

It’s Friday again and on Friday The Gypsy Mama encourages us to throw caution to the wind and just write for five minutes. Just five minutes. Unscripted. Unedited. Real.  Today’s topic: perspective.

GO

There is nothing lovelier than the perfect crystal vase to hold an enchanting bunch of flowers.  With it’s chiseled out pattern and elegantly shaped thick body, light catches it just right to cast flashes of a rainbow and sparkles across the room.

But, when not in use, this vase stays in its place under the kitchen sink; dank, dark and collecting dust.  It gets pulled out and with a quick puff of breath, clumps of dust balls billow out of the center and to the floor.  And, polishing the rest of the grime off the outside with a soft white rag, the hidden beauty of the crystal comes back to life.

With the freshly cut stems of bright pink summer lillies inserted into the base, the vase completes a perfect centerpiece in the middle of the dining room table.  This vase, previously forgotten and protected for months in its secure spot was not missed but it was also not fulfilling its purpose until now.

Now, it brings joy to display such pretty blooms and it is justified in being.  But, sitting atop this table, in the open, it is exposed to the possibility of being broken.  It does not have the safety of the cabinet to surround it anymore.  But, standing on its own now and subject to harmful possibilities is the only way it can be seen in its true grace and be appreciated.

STOP

The most important title!

13 May

Daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, friend, confidant, secretary, amatuer writer…  All of these are words that can be used to describe me in relation to others.  But, my most important title in life is, and will forever be, Mom!

Ever since my precious Little Man came into my life 3 and 1/2 years ago, I became a role model, a teacher, a provider and a leader all in one!  So, this week, one of the prompts given on Mama Kat’s site was to share a lesson from my mother that still sticks with me to this day.  I learned so much from my mom over the years and it is hard to pick out just one thing that has stuck with me.  Many lessons she taught me are ones that I am instilling in Lil Guy every day as he learns and grows.  From practicing good manners to treating others the way you want to be treated to “it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it,” I am making sure that Lil Guy has the proper foundation to build from into a wonderful grown man one day.

Thanks Mom for everything you’ve done and taught me over the years!  You have supplied me with the stepstone of tools to raise the best child I can!  And, I want to thank Lil Guy for enriching my life thus far.  I love every moment spent with you, buddy and am so proud to call myself your Mom!!!

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers and grandmothers and female caregivers out there!  Enjoy your day!

From ice cream to lightning bugs

11 May

One of the prompts given on Mama Kat’s site this week was to list my top 10 favorite things about summer growing up.  Without further ado:

1.  Running down the street with change in hand to catch the ice cream truck

2.  Feeling my stomach jump up into my chest as I jumped from the high dive at the city pool in Baker Park

3.  Watching cartoons and the old Batman TV show in the cool comfort of the basement on hot afternoons

4.  Running through the sprinkler and flying down the slip-n-slide

5.  Riding bikes down to 7 Eleven to buy slurpees and candy

6.  Feeding the ducks at the pond in Baker Park

7.  Eating junk food at the Thurmont carnival and riding rides into the night

8.  Watching the 4th of July fireworks at Ft. Detrick from my best friend’s backyard

9.  Going to my Aunt Ila’s house for entire weekend sleepovers

10.  Chasing lightning bugs around the yard to catch them in my insect cage

Your turn!  What are your 10 favorite things about summer growing up?

A truly universal remote

3 May

One of the prompts given at Mama’s Losin’ It was to write about an invention I’d like to see created.

My answer to this is: a universal remote.  I know, I know!  I’m not stupid, I know that universal remotes exist for the tv.  And even for lights, music, ceiling fans, etc.  But, I am talking about a universal remote for people and everyday actions.  I’m talking like the remote from Way Way Way Beyond in the movie “Click.”  In the movie, Adam Sandler could use the remote to mute his wife while she was lecturing him, fast forward through an argument and even paused his boss so that he could smack him upside the head a few times with a golf club!  Boy, would that come in handy in dealing with many of the frustrating day to day occurrences!  But, of course, other things would need to be controlled by this remote too, such as: parting traffic during a jam, rigging the lottery numbers in my favor or being able to alter the weather would all come in handy too (as it did for Jim Carrey in “Bruce Almighty”).   It would be so nice to turn a rainy day around abruptly with sunshine, an automatic lottery win and anything else I might want on a whim!

And, yes, I realize again that I’m dreaming and most things are better left to nature or chance or God’s will.  But, hey, this is my wish for an invention!  So, cut me some slack!

What invention do you wish would become a reality?

 

Wordless Wednesday – Go O’s!

3 May

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Five Minute Friday – Community

27 Apr

Well, it’s time to take five minutes out of my Friday to write about the word given by “The Gypsy Mama” today: community.

GO

Community used to simply mean the area I live in, neighborhood, etc. but over the past several months especially, it holds a new meaning to me entirely.  To me, in this time of separation and unknown in my marriage, it has been about the people all around me.  My family – offering me a place to live and lending me money in times of need; being there no matter what.  My friends – the ones who have stuck by me and are there to lend an ear, a shoulder to cry on or a helpful piece of advice.  My coworkers – providing me with needed escape from the home problems and sharing laughter at times.  Readers (of my blog) - my writing is an outlet to ease my stress and feed my passion and I cherish the knowledge of reaching others through my written words.  My son - he is my greatest creation and no matter what I am going through, everything can be brightened up with a huge warm hug and kiss from him!  I know that he depends on my and loves me unconditionally.

So, while the dictionary references “community” as a social group sharing culture, government or historical heritage, my community shares only one main common factor: ME.  And, that’s all I need to lift me up and carry me along my way!

STOP

Ultimate Blog Party 2012!

16 Apr

Yay, it’s the Ultimate Blog Party 2012!  I love a good party, and I hope you do too!  So, welcome if you don’t already know me!  My name is Jen and I am a single full-time working mom.  I work by day as an administrative assistant and leave it behind to come home and support my energetic 3-year-old Lil Guy at night.  He is truly the light of my life!  I have a Bachelor’s Degree in English and creative writing is my passion.  So, I use this blog to express my thoughts on life and motherhood at times but mainly as a release for my creative writing talent.

I like to participate in a few different memes regularly like Wordless Wednesday (when I can come up with interesting photos), Words on Edge for fictional inspiration and Mama Kat’s Pretty Much Infamous Writer’s Workshop for other writing ideas.  My ultimate goal one day, is to become a novelist, so maybe through one of these starting prompts, I can eventually build into a long story and work towards that…

Anyway, I encourage you to poke around my site, read as much as you’d like and if you wish, become a follower through email or Facebook: Sticky Note Queen.  And, comments are always welcome as I love to hear reactions to my writing and suggestions that will help me grow!

Here are the links to a few of my favorite creative writing pieces I’ve written to get you started:

14 Years Later

For It’s One, Two, Three Strikes; You’re Out!

For Malaika

Ode To My Toddler

Growing

Ghosts And Lace

The Most Peaceful Place

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