Shanon Angermeyer Norman
Bio
Gold, Published Poet at allpoetry.com since 2010. USF Grad, Class 2001.
Currently focusing here in VIVA and Challenges having been ECLECTIC in various communities. Upcoming explorations: ART, BOOK CLUB, FILTHY, PHOTOGRAPHY, and HORROR.
Stories (377)
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Cathartic Writing and Holistic Healing
I hope that today's "mood" lasts. I hope that my inner voice, the one that is talking to me today and motivating me, wakes up with me tomorrow morning. Because today I've decided to forgive myself, be myself, and love myself. After many many years of psyche treatments, counseling, and cathartic writing, I'm going to make a concentrated effort to really love myself. I don't think I ever really have.
By Shanon Angermeyer Normanabout a year ago in Viva
Female Democrat or Male Republican?
I wasn't going to touch on politics for awhile, but with only two more months until election day it seems like I can't avoid it. I had been inspired briefly by the Republicans and Trump while I considered reestablishing my voting privilege (an option I have) so that I could responsibly take part in the democratic process. The me I was a decade ago would have no doubts about doing that and would think it my honor and my duty to vote. The me today is trying not to laugh at how both candidates are the most ridiculous I've ever seen.
By Shanon Angermeyer Normanabout a year ago in The Swamp
Pity Party For One
Some people don't know or don't care how much hell you've been through. They don't have the ability to feel compassion or the emotional intelligence to sympathize. That's ok. Everyone is different and that's what makes the world diverse and interesting. However, for those of us who have been to hell and returned with whatever scraps of ourselves are leftover, we don't appreciate those unfeeling souls who lack depth, understanding, and compassion. As an empath and a survivor of hell, I know that I definitely don't like being around those people. It takes a lot of emotional strength to survive some of the tragedies that life dishes out, but it takes even more love to love someone who has survived it.
By Shanon Angermeyer Normanabout a year ago in Journal
The Bouquet of Flowers. Top Story - August 2024.
I can hear various theme songs running through my mind as I consider the importance or nonimportance of a bouquet of flowers. Songs like "You Don't Bring me Flowers" where Neil Diamond and Barbra Striesand sing about a once passionate romance dead like flowers a week after they are delivered. Or the song "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus (which won a Grammy) which had me feeling empowered, listening in my car instead of embracing the depression that follows loneliness or rejection. Or even the song by Bruno Mars "When I Was Your Man" where he admits that he should have bought his ex flowers instead of living an episode of "Turn of the Screw". Maybe if his English teacher had introduced him to Henry James, Bruno wouldn't have sung about his regrets. I'm sure there are lots of songs that mention flowers or the bouquet and the image is embedded in our minds as a classic gesture of romance, and even used as a sign of love and compassion during difficult times such as illness and/or the death of a loved one. Is it strange that flowers are often a big part of both weddings and funerals? Is the bouquet of flowers just an overpriced cliche or do we still consider it the classic romantic gesture?
By Shanon Angermeyer Normanabout a year ago in Humans
The surprising charm of Ashburn, Georgia
I had to go to court for a traffic citation that I received while driving through Georgia on Interstate 75. Of all places, my arraignment was held in the smallest of small towns - Ashburn, Georgia. I knew nothing of this small town and was a nervous wreck about having to come from Tampa Bay, Florida (about a four hour drive) to stay overnight so that I could be at court on time. With the steady help of my great friend George, we arrived safely at Ashburn on Monday evening and checked into the Super 8 motel which is one of the two available motels in the area.
By Shanon Angermeyer Normanabout a year ago in Wander
The Golden Girls and Sex and the City share the same character archtypes
Today I went to church and bible study after a very traumatic month of being relocated due to hurricane devastation. I respect the pastor of that church and he has continued to check in on me so I wanted to show him (and Jesus) that I am not an ingrate, nor have I totally forsaken my faith. I am a complicated woman and one thing I'm proud of myself for is the ability to ascertain when I must take my time about who and where I should spend my time. If I feel like it's only going to make me feel worse when I'm already drowning, I take a break.
By Shanon Angermeyer Normanabout a year ago in Geeks
How could anyone not like children?
When I was a kid (a child from birth to age 18) I didn't like other children except for the rare one who was kind enough to be my friend. I thought they were foolish, over emotional, rambunctious, dangerous, rude, thoughtless, and often cruel. I avoided them as much as possible (with the exception of that rare one I called friend) and tried to spend most of my time learning from the adults - my parents and teachers. Most people thought I was a very obedient, well behaved, angelic child until my teen years when I began to assert myself more and it seemed rebellious. Now I know that was a necessary stage and transition into my adult life.
By Shanon Angermeyer Normanabout a year ago in Journal
A Very Personal Journal
The past six years I've relied most on my Aunt Lia, who was the only person there for me when I got out of jail. She saw that my soul was amputated and she did her best to revive me. I looked for work, but I was mostly homeless with the exception of her allowing me to stay at her place or my husband (now ex) allowing me to stay at his place. Every trauma I've ever experienced has been twisting inside my soul for the past six years as I've tried to reclaim myself and my life. I still feel like I've done nothing and can do nothing even after all of my efforts for six years. I have nothing to show for my survival of the trauma and nothing to show for my survival of any incident where I was victimized --- except for my exceptional proverbial "violin" playing which has become cumbersome to those who helped the most (specifically Aunt Lia and my ex George). Yet for all their help, I know without an ounce of a doubt, that my lack of having anything else to share but a violin song is not because of lack of effort, or goodness, or "positive thinking". I know this without an ounce of doubt. It it simply because I had more enemies than friends. Perhaps I wore out the patience and kindness and generousity of the two most helpful friends I had (Lia and George), but when I have nothing but my violin song to play, what are my options? The only option I see at all, is to find new friends.
By Shanon Angermeyer Normanabout a year ago in Journal
Black Swan Murder Trial - Feminist Entertainment
Way to Go Ashley! She really knows how to fight for women's rights with a bang - literally. She is currently on trial for fatally shooting her husband. The prosecution claims she's a murderer who couldn't think of any other way to get her husband out of her and her daughter's lives. The defense states that after years of documented abuse, Ashley finally defended herself against her abuser. I'm totally with the defense.
By Shanon Angermeyer Normanabout a year ago in Humans
Buy or Rent in today's economy
I've been a renter all my adult life. I've never had a mortgage. I'm 53 years old and I started paying rent in 1989. The past six years I've been unemployed and on SSD, so I've been a "moocher" living free at somebody else's expense. It's not as great as it sounds. I feel like I'm in the way, that I can't contribute or carry my own weight, and I'm constantly looking for validation of the efforts I make to show my appreciation. Was he grateful that I did the dishes or mopped the floor or took the garbage out or washed the laundry or cleaned the bathroom or made the bed? Did any of that help me "earn my keep"? It's like being a wife without the benefit of the title. Like renting a car. Yeah, it's nice I don't have to worry about the payments and repairs, but I still have to put gas in the car. I still have to drive carefully. And after all the money I spend for renting it, I have to return the car when the rental period is over. Is that really worth it?
By Shanon Angermeyer Normanabout a year ago in Lifehack
