catnipoflife

Thank you, Kellie Elmore, for another great prompt. If you have not participated in Kellie’s Free Write Friday, she has extended an open invitation. Read the intro. Would love to ‘see’ what you have to say! You may write in any form you choose for the prompt as she will never discourage your pen, but she encourages you to try your hand at free verse for the exercise.

Here is today’s FWF prompt:

What if…how many times have we posed that question followed by I should have…? ‘If’ is the biggest little word in the dictionary, probably being one of the most often spoken words. We look to the past as though the what ifs will some how make a difference, evoke a change. We make decisions, then, ponder, what if…, we make choices, immediately thinking what if…, we say things to wonder why we spoke and what if we could take it back, we perform a task resulting only in a what if… .

The only good coming out of a what if might possibly be to look to the future with the perspective of those what ifs left behind—Using them as hurdles  already jumped, perhaps ending in a fall, helping slow life down just a little, taking the time needed to make the right decision, right choice, right words.

I should have done this, I should have done that, what if I had done this, what if I had done that…sounds like a broken record spinning out of control, life with no direction. You made the decision, live with it. You made the choice, deal with it. You said what was on your mind, let it be. You completed a task, it is done. Move on, forge ahead, leaving the what ifs and should haves to rest in peace as life goes on.

What if all the what ifs I ever said could come to fruition? Then, I would not be who I am, where I am, with who I am today so all the should haves really do not matter after all!

Forget the what ifs…Enjoy the only ifs that matter: BountIFful gIFts of lIFe!

©2013 catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults

Other Contributions…Here are a few that have been posted so far on Kellie’s website:

charleenm says:

With Thanksgiving comes times spent with family. Other things are put on hold so without further ado, Free Write Friday appears on Saturday presented to all with a thankful heart. Thank you, Kellie Elmore, for a wonderful prompt.

Welcome to Free Write Friday! New here? Read the intro. Everyone else, let’s get started.

Here is your FWF prompt:

Innocence

The innocent child
Knows what’s dear
Lovingly accepts
Knows no fear

A bowed head begs
The soft gentle touch
A token of love
Not felt oft enough

A single tear’s
Soft, soft sound
Lands ohso gently
Upon the ground

“What makes you sad?
Do you hurt inside?”
The small child whispers
As the big bear cries

“I’m ugly, so burly
No one sees love
Only fearful things
Do they speak of”

The one of innocence
Reaches out, both hands
“‘Tis love from the heart
That I understand”

©2013 catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults

Other contributions to enjoy!

1. http://hibernationnow.wordpress.com/2013/11/30/fwf-kellie-elmore-2/

2. Hi Kellie!
   http://terry1954.wordpress.com/2013/11/30/fwf-free-write-friday-image-prompt-9/

3. My response for this week Kellie: http://collinesblog.wordpress.com/2013/11/30/free-write-friday/

4. Written on the back of my physio instructions at first. It was the closest paper at hand at 1am and my laptop battery had just kicked the bucket. Leaving the warmth of my duvet was not an option by this point:
   http://caroljforrester.wordpress.com/2013/11/30/the-bears/

5. Love this image! This is my first time participating with Free Write Friday! Here’s my post:
   http://growinguplittle.wordpress.com/2013/11/30/free-write-friday/

6. Great image and prompt! Here’s my entry Looking forward to reading from all the others!

   http://stupidsometimes.blogspot.com/2013/11/fwf.html

7. Memories of childhood yellow-colo(u)red 45 with the Teddy Bears Picnic and watching Brave for the first time Thursday night leads to :
   http://phylor.wordpress.com/2013/11/29/bear-with-me-fwf-prompt-29-nov-2013/

8. This is the first time in ages I’ve done one of these. The image triggered something http://artifactsandfictions.wordpress.com/2013/11/29/annabel/

9. Thank you, Kellie!

   Such an inspiring image.

   http://wordrustling.wordpress.com/2013/11/29/the-beast-in-beauty/

10. This one looked so fun I just had to try! Thanks for posting such an intresting prompt

    http://amuseless.wordpress.com/2013/11/29/you-free-write-friday-image-prompt/

11. What a fun prompt…thank you and Happy Thanksgiving, Kellie. http://wp.me/p3ia4v-1ox

12. Thanks for an interesting and arresting image Kellie!
    Hope you like my perspective!

    http://buildingalifeofhope.com/2013/11/29/communion/

The inspiration for tonight’s post comes from Kellie Elmore’s Free Write Friday. Here is the scoop in her own words:

Welcome to Free Write Friday! New here? Read the intro. Everyone else, let’s get started. I am so happy to be back with you this week. Thank you so much for making my guest hosts, Mark and Kelley, feel welcome during their visit. Interested in being a guest host? Email me via my contact page. I’d love to have you over!

Now, down to business. Here is your FWF prompt:

Tell me about a beautiful person you know…

Click HERE!

She nuzzled close to my breast
Sending sensations none could surpass
We were alone, Father no where around
Cries through the night the only sound

One day she crawled, the next she ran
Laughter in her voice holding my hand
What a sight that wonderful smile
Glowing inside and out all the while

One day her name I called, she did not answer
Just wheeled and twirled like a ballerina dancer
Not once, not twice, but many times over
Why had she become such an ignorer?

Unbeknownst to all at the time
Hers was a silent world without chime
Doctors were cruel offering no hope
Just take her home, learn how to cope

Separation came, leaving her father behind
Claiming she’s impaired, she’s not mine
How do you tell a child barely three
Only one parent wants her – that’s me?

I prayed and prayed, pleaded and pleaded
Where is the daddy she so desperately needed?
The days weren’t so bad, the nights sad and lonely
I’d cry myself to sleep wondering if only…

Then, a new man appeared on the scene
One loving and kind, not cold and mean
His challenge, help her to speak
Learn how to cope, never be weak

He was Daddy, the man who understood
The one who would be around for good
To want her, to love her, to help her, to hold her
To know her, to teach her, to nurture her, to scold her

She is the caterpillar whose wings now spread
Across clear blue skies leaving behind the dread
She soars and soars in amazement to all
Never missing a beat when her daddy calls

She is now a mother, two daughters of her own
Successful in business, fully grown
A beautiful person once shunned unable to hear
Brings smiles and joy to everyone near

Sidenote: Niki already has a BS degree in Marketing from the University of Florida and a BS in finance from Florida International University (FIU). She has just been accepted to FIU’s graduate program where she will be working toward her MBA. Not bad for a little girl who parents were once told she had no hope for a normal life. Of course, I guess for one who is approaching her Masters degree with aspirations of a PhD might not be considered normal after all. Go Gators!

Niki – 3 yrs old when she got her first hearing aids

Niki – Wife and Mother

Welcome to Free Write Friday! Mark Schutter is guest hosting #FWF. As a regular contributor to #FWF Kellie has graciously allowed him to step in while she deals with the poignant enormity of life experience.

New here? Read the intro. Everyone else, let’s get started.

Here is your prompt – let’s see what magic the autumn Hunter’s or Blood Moon conjures up!

VegaStar Carpentier captured this image of a Hunter’s Moon from Paris, France on Oct. 30, 2012 using a Canon EOS 1000D. October’s Full Moon is called the “Hunter’s Moon” or “Blood Moon”. It is the first Full Moon after the Harvest Moon (the Full Moon nearest the Autumnal equinox) and it gets its name from hunters who tracked and killed their prey by autumn moonlight, stockpiling food for the winter ahead and marked hunting season in North America.

The chill in the Autumn air was enough to create goosebumps under my skin but on this night, that was not the only reason for the shivers. Sensations began early in the afternoon not long after Stephan left for the outer edge of the forest. His last words still ring in my ears, “Remain still, my Love. Wicked are the beasts who become pranksters of the night.”

Still is what I had been all through the day. In fact, I had not ventured any farther than the veranda. Even then it was only to look across the wide open expanse toward the vastness of trees spanning the horizon. A shiver grasped my senses. Not feeling well since the Harvest Moon has left me weak in comparison to my usual energetic self and pale as compared to my sun-soaked skin from working in the garden. As the shiver subsided, my mind focused solely on thoughts of Stephan—hoping, waiting, anticipating a glimpse of his approach in the distance. I hated being left alone. As least, I thought that was the case.

Sunset was unusually fiery. Red-orange, golden rays stretched upward and outward resembling tentacles reaching out for their next prey. Birds of the air skirted each one leaving a feeling they feared the whole sky was about to engulf them in blazing glory. A slight evening breeze suddenly whistles along the grounds scattering loose particles that lay in its path. Unidentifiable sounds behind me break the silence of day’s end. Goosebumps again. The shivers increase.

Twilight consumes the glories of the day casting figures in silhouette against a deep purplest-blue backdrop. The eerie sullenness of being left alone for so long does nothing to add humor to an already somber mood. There’s that sound again. Shrill. Bone-chilling. Sharp like a razor cutting raw flesh then hitting bone. A long shiver results in multiple hair-raising goosebumps. I know I am NOT alone.

Good thing there is no long period of darkness between sunset and moonrise. At least on this day anyway. A month has passed since Harvest Moon and luckily another full moon is on the rise. Full and bloody! Blood red that is with a lot of beastly tales hitching a ride along its stellar path. What was it Stephan said as he rode away in the early afternoon light? “Remain still, my Love. Wicked are the beasts who become pranksters of the night.“

Wonder what he meant? Footsteps. Whispers. Eerie ambiences. Shivers. Goosebumps…

The End (Maybe)

Thank you for visiting catnipoflife! Hope you enjoyed my little story. Please leave a comment!

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Welcome to Kellie Elmore’s Free Write Friday. I know it is Sunday but better late than not at all! New here? Read the intro.

This week Kellie has provided a FWF image prompt. These are always fun to work with and for me, usually spark inspiration for a poem. Not this time. As you all know, sometimes thoughts move in the direction for me to venture outside my poetry box.

Is there a story behind this week’s image prompt? Of course and here it is in Kellie’s own words: “FWF was not posted last week. Again, I apologize for my absence and I thank you for not sending me hate mail. This weeks prompt is actually the reason for my disappearance. I photographed a wedding for a friend of mine which was not only so much fun, but extremely time consuming. I hope you will forgive me.

I decided to share one of my favorite shots with you for your prompt. I can’t wait to read what your imagination creates!”

Today is a special day, a time of joy and celebration at my friend’s wedding. Vows of love and commitment are exchanged within smiles and teardrops. As thoughts drift much like the floating balloons, I feel you kick and gently pat your tiny feet pushing against my skin. It was only a little over a year ago that similar vows were being made with hopes of great things in the years ahead.

We were in love. L.O.V.E. The kind of love that binds two people together through thick and thin, good and bad, easy and hard times. We were strong always confiding in one another, laughing at our faux paus, and understanding each other’s individuality, while being head strong, sometimes stubborn, at the same time.

Suddenly concentration is broken. I sense someone drawing near. I turn toward the sound of footsteps. A smile crosses my face as you approach returning the smile in my direction.

“He’s kicking. Give me your hand.” The sensation elicits soft sighs from both of us. “One day you and Gina will be celebrating another new beginning, different but similar. Just as you are beginning a new life together today you will one day be celebrating the beginning of a life – a miracle conceived together.”

The tears just could not be held back. I nestle my head against your shoulder as visions of Danny, my husband, your best friend, weave in and out the corridors of my mind. The only thing keeping me sane are the memories and the joy of knowing he is with me, not in the flesh, but in the spirit flowing through the veins of our son.

******************

Thank you, Kellie, for keeping the creative juices flowing. While I may not always receive the message to participate on the designated Friday, it is great to contribute when I can. It is amazing what comes to mind from just a simple prompt…but, then, that is exactly what you are after!

Other Contributions: There are more so head on over to Kellie’s place.

~ graypoet