Janet Freedland
Bio
I have been an artist in animation, film restoration, and visual effects for many years. Now I am venturing into the writing realm. Feel my creativity can expand to exploring wonderful word worlds, verbal pictures for your imagination.
Stories (16)
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A Light in the Night
As they bumped along down the dirt road further into the green forest, Emily couldn’t help but think how far from home they were. She had spent her entire 9 years in New York and was used to those city smells, sounds, and sights. Now, here she was thousands of miles away heading into the heart of Ireland and the woods of Glenfarme. Her family had come over to celebrate Emily's great grandmother’s one hundredth birthday with a gathering of the Clan, and a chance to meet the Irish side of her family. She should be excited, but all Emily really wanted to do was go home.
By Janet Freedland4 years ago in Fiction
Sweet Confections
Mia was feeling absolutely fabulous today. For the last 2 years, she had worked so hard to finally lose all that weight. Spending long hours on the computer for months had taken their toll on her body. All that sitting and little moving for weeks at a time lead to a slow increase. And it didn’t help that the food provided by work was delicious and plentiful, yet calorific. But when her knee started acting up, the doctor told her she needed to lose weight. “If you want to live to a ripe old age, you have to lose some pounds and get healthier” the doctor scolded. It was hard work, and Mia hated gyms and workout routines that meant she had to follow set schedules. There were other ways to get exercise that seemed more fun and freer of form. Bicycling along the beach paths, dance oriented classes, and water activities ( like water aerobics) got her burning calories and moving. Also, Mia realized she had been doing a lot of emotional eating to fill a void in her life and heart. Getting to the center of her mind matters allowed her to realize she used food to escape or “drown” her sorrows. All of the dietary plans, physical activity, and mental changes led to a healthy, steady loss of weight over these past 24 months. Now she knew she would never be as skinny as a 20 year old Mia, but she definitely liked herself and her body.
By Janet Freedland4 years ago in Confessions
Stranger Than Fiction
A briskness filled the air this morning, yet the sky was awash the brightest of baby blue. Occasionally, puffy white clouds lazily drifted across the heavens, but no threat of storms nor any raindrops were eminent. Gone was the winter season’s snow, which had receded and taken the April showers with it. Even though there was still a crisp quality to the soft breezes, Spring had definitely sprung. The scent of the blossoming wildflowers infused the air and their blooming buds colorfully dotted the scenery like a Seurat painting. Bethany and Cody were just glad they could get out of their dorm rooms and do some long overdue exploring. And there was sooo much to explore here in the backwaters of the Blue Ridge mountains. Or should I have said capture, since they were both amateur photographers looking to take that perfect snapshot. Happily they ventured out, Bethany and Cody could finally take their cameras from their bags, and see what brilliant and unexpected moments they could grab.
By Janet Freedland5 years ago in Fiction
Adventures in Fantasyland
I don’t remember what my parents read to me as a small child because that was over 50 years ago. After the basic beginning readers, books like See Spot Run or Jack and Jill, my parents probably read to me the usual tales of the times. I am sure I was read the standard fare for a kid of the 60’s- Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, and Raold Dahl (who wrote great books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). But as soon as I could comprehend stories on my own, I became an avid reader of the books of my choice. We moved a lot when I was a child, so the fantastical worlds and the interesting characters in the books became my best friends. Always being the new kid in town, I never had many children to play with, so I kept to myself and my stories. The library was my favorite place wherever we went. I was definitely one of those kids who hid under the blanket with my flashlight to keep reading my latest book past my bedtime. And oh the wonderful places they took me, and what great inspirations to my imagination they were.
By Janet Freedland5 years ago in Confessions
Days of Future Past
The world had become so different from the beautiful Garden of Eden that was once called Earth. Unbounded carbon emissions destroyed the ozone, and polluted our world. Some demanded we stop the contamination before irreparable damage was done, but all the greedy, self-interested naysayers in power denied what was happening. And then it became too late. The ice caps melted and flooded the coasts, the surface temperature rose, and drought took over where there was once green fertile land. It had been almost 20 years since the the Great Rising, and much of what was once lush and abundant now only survived on preserves, farm lands, and at the homes of the Rich.
By Janet Freedland5 years ago in Fiction
Momma Mia
I believe behind every great person is a great woman because we were all born to mothers. And moms seem to have a significant impact on our lives. My mother was my greatest influence, the person who gave me a phenomenal foundation that helped me to find myself and my path in life. Her essential lessons, good nature, and loving soul were a testament to what she learned from her mothers before her. I remember back then we called our mom Ima, Hebrew for mother, which felt more like her own personal imperial title. In my early years she was not as involved in my formation because our father ruled the roost. Our whole existence as a family was about supporting his work and religion, since he was a leader in the Jewish community. Sadly, my dad passed away when I was only 14, which profoundly changed the family structure. Now there was only my mother, my sister Irene (who had returned home a couple of years earlier), and me. And I had just entered those most poignant and formative years- the TEENS! We were all going through dramatic changes, and my mother became the glue that held us together, the steady rock in our unstable lives.
By Janet Freedland5 years ago in Families
Gemini Rising
Oh how the turbulent incidents of 2020 brought everything in the world to a complete standstill. What was happening shook the very foundation of society, and caused life as we knew it to disappear. Gemini, you easily became split between the mounting negativity and your wish to embrace the affirmative, a reflection of the differences between your dual personas. Even though this year begins with many delays and false starts, evolving events in the cosmos will eventually lead you in the right direction. Be prepared for a positive surge of energy that will propel you into a whole new realm of existence!
By Janet Freedland5 years ago in Futurism
Come Sail Away
Brandi was soaking in every ray of sunlight she could as she lay on the warm golden sand. Today was a perfect day to be at the beach. She had searched these shores for a completely remote spot where she could be alone. Ever since she and her mom had moved to this tropical “paradise”, she had not had a moment to herself. Unpacking, new school, new way of life far from all she had known took up all her time. The night before, she and her mom had a huge fight. Her mother said Brandi needed to grow up and take more responsibility. Even though she was going to be 13 soon, Brandi didn’t want to grow up just yet. She still loved playing with dolls, hugging her teddy bear, and coloring with her crayons. Why did everyone need to grow up so fast anyway?
By Janet Freedland5 years ago in Humans
