Cindy Calder
Bio
From Charleston SC - "I am still learning." Michelangelo
Achievements (8)
Stories (341)
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Judgement
It's a relentlessly cold morning with temperatures below freezing. Silence breaks with each step strategically placed. A resounding crunch echoes over the frozen pond though all else is quiet. Nary an animal's in sight. Even the birds have not dared to venture forth so early.
By Cindy Calder10 months ago in Fiction
The Cruel Hand of Fate
In December of 1945, on the cusp of World War II’s end, two souls encounter each another to begin an affair born of intrigue and attraction. He is a Chinese citizen, Hsu, living in the states and contracted by the US Military in the official capacity of an Interpreter, and she is a young seventeen-year-old girl, Lois, who has just returned to university following holidays spent at home where she met the impressive and well-spoken Hsu while at an SRO dance. Immensely drawn to each other, they see each other a number of times before forced to only speak through an exchange of letters which reveal growing affections while one pleads for the other’s attention amidst growing concerns of prevailing prejudices. In a different span of time, on the heels of a war inspired by bigotry and hatred, the girl gives way to fear, mightily influenced by both her family and her peer’s opinions for she is young and naïve, though her heart yearns for something she has yet to fully understand. Two twin souls from completely different backgrounds and circumstances, alone and so very lonely, cross paths, intersecting ever so briefly while traveling along a road fate has so cruelly divined.
By Cindy Calder11 months ago in History
¡Viva Mexico!
It was while on a weeklong visit to a Cancun resort in the district of Quintana Roo, my sister and I decided to take an excursion one hundred miles inland to Chichén Itzá. The trip to the Mayan city was not my sister’s first, but it was mine, so I was excited. The day of the planned excursion, we climbed into a van with six other tourists at sunrise around 6:30 that morning, each of us sleepy but eager for the sights to be seen. Within moments, we drove away, leaving behind the comfort of a plush, comfortable hotel and luxurious beach. I, for one, was unaware of what I would see in Chichén Itzá - or even on the trip along the way.
By Cindy Calder12 months ago in Photography
Resurgence
When the Covid pandemic evolved into high speed in March of 2020, I was taken somewhat by surprise. I was working full-time at an elementary school when, on the afternoon of Friday, March 13th following school, a meeting was called and we were told we should pack anything we needed to take home with us that day (plants, books, laptops, and personal items including food, etc.). The school's doors were being closed until further notice and though employees would be expected to work from home if needed and were essentially on call, they would remain home until further notice. It was speculated by many, at the time, such would end in mere weeks and we would then resume full operation. Regardless, employees not being in the building for a few weeks would give the maintenance staff time to clean and sanitize each building. Little did we know as we packed our things nothing could have been further from the truth for the worst had not begun.
By Cindy Calder12 months ago in Photography
Resolutions Spun of Dreams
"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly." Langston Hughes The New Year soared in and imposed before we were able to think twice. More to the point, for those of us born with the preceding numbers of ‘19’ in our birth years, it’s difficult at best to understand how we evolved into 2025 so quickly. Yet another year of resolutions made and resolutions to be broken. At least that’s always been the case from my personal perspective. Still, as the theme for this challenge is detailing our prospective resolutions – or dreams – for 2025, I will give it a good go though I must regress a bit to lay foundation and insight for my ramblings - or uh, my New Year resolutions.
By Cindy Calder12 months ago in Motivation
Red Moon
The wind whips all about my small abode, awakening me with a shaking force borne of nature’s wrath. The brightness of the new day is shielded only by dark curtains hung in my one window. It begins to fill the room as I reluctantly rise from my single bed and quickly smother the bit of glowing warmth remaining in the furnace. I remove my woolen gloves (though I’m not sure what good they serve now with all the well-worn holes) and pick up my journal and pencil to note today’s data. This is the ninety-eighth book I’ve begun, and I wonder if I will still be alive to complete another after the pages of this one are full. It's a new year, a new day. The sun’s persistent brightness is a constant reminder today, January 4, 2050, may be my last. Without a doubt, the days which remain are numbered.
By Cindy Calder12 months ago in Futurism
