married
The most important four words for a successful marriage: 'I'll do the dishes.'
HEALTHY, WEALTHY, AND WISE
Frank and his wife, Miranda are in their late 60’s, living on their meager retirement pensions and government subsidies. Frank goes out for his daily walk after having a major heart attack in his 50’s without missing a day. While he takes his walk around their large energetic town, Frank likes to collect aluminum cans. The town’s people have become so accustom to Frank’s can collecting that many just set the bags of cans on the curb for his walk. When Frank returns home from his walks, he puts the aluminum cans in his classic Oldsmobile Coupe, changes out of his walking sneakers for his relaxed loafers, drives over to the next town to recycle the aluminum cans and collect the money for each can recycled. Miranda and the rest of the town’s people do not really pay attention to the money that he collects for their aluminum cans but feel rather relieved that they, themselves do not have to make the unnecessary and out of the way trip to the recycling center. To most people, the cans are just trash so they discard them but for Frank, it keeps him walking and he has a little extra pocket money. Once he has turned in his days collection of cans, Frank takes out his trusty little black book, writes the date in one column, number of cans that he turned in for recycling in another column and in the last column he writes the amount of money that he received. Only Frank knows about this little black book, that he keeps in his glovebox of his classic car.
By Jocelyn Wheeler5 years ago in Families
Do You Feel Loved?
I placed myself in a precarious position. What I still consider to be an act of brilliance could, on any evening, turn on me with a vengeance. If my idea were to backfire on me, it would mean a sleepless night and a great deal of soul searching. While my plan could be potentially hurtful, I urge any men reading this to be brave and test drive it. If you are honest and care for your significant other this could bring you closer than you have ever imagined.
By Dale Austin 5 years ago in Families
The Choice
She was waiting for the spinach and cheese-paneer to finish cooking. She had already made the chapatis, breads for dinner, so that all Bobby had to do was pick up the girls from school. Sunita had a soccer game today, but Iris could not go, her shift would be starting soon at the nursing home. “Mom”, she heard her daughter's plaintive voice, “did you hear me?”, “Yes, Sunny, I heard you.” Sunita's nickname at home fit her cheerful personality, most of the time. She was tall for an Indian girl of twelve. Lanky with big brown eyes, a child heading fast into womanhood.
By A. Ellis Joseph 5 years ago in Families
BIRDS ON A WIRE
The lake looked different from the summer and fall months, as William walked around it. There had been snow and the landscape had magically turned into a winter wonderland. He had not been to Memorial Park in quite a while. It had always been a special place for William to get back to nature. He liked watching. He watched the people, the dogs being walked, the homeless huddled under blankets, trying to stay warm and all the creatures. He saw squirrels, geese, ducks, crows, pigeons, and other birds. On this day he was intrigued by the birds on the wire. He found a bench and sat down, observing the birds. The birds he thought, are they cold? Do they lose their balance? What do they think of us humans down here, on the ground? It was nice to just sit and see the beautiful landscape, with Pike’s Peak, America’s Mountain as the canvas behind the lake. How simple it all was, nature and the land. He envied the creatures. They too, could just watch. It was time for him to leave this beautiful spot and go about his day.
By Tricia Thomas5 years ago in Families
The little black book
Standing outside the church, my black dress wafted in the biting breeze, ankles aching painfully from the size too small heels I was wearing. I was never a fashionista, but I had enough sense to know that in an event such as this, heels were the most appropriate footwear. After all, just because someone you loved dearly had died, it doesn't save you from the piercing judgment of those invited to pay their respects.
By Rose George 5 years ago in Families
The Shoebox
Marc’s eyes burned, thick tears lodging in the corner of each eye. The air where he walked at the edge of a dying town flew about in cyclones of dust and debris. No matter what trick he tried, the dust penetrated and dug into his eyes. The burning sensation annoyed, but not as much as the dry scratching sound the dead leaves made on the concrete sidewalk.
By Jeffry Parker5 years ago in Families
THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK
As I looked out my large picture window at the stained glass of an established church, I wondered what had become of my best friend. She had currently won a lottery of “a big sum of money”...married and vacationed in Mexico! The previous year had been torn by health and race issues in the media and locally for everyone in the entire world. Women, with the “glass ceiling” still intact, slowly and bravely climbed the steps to be equal to man. My beautiful, super intelligent, and street smart girlfriend had been on this journey since I met her, some thirty years prior. I had chosen (with my spouse) to be a stay at home mother. That allowed me time to be of service to my community, volunteering help and raising monies to save precious historical sites. As a psychiatric nurse by trade, I was ever mindful of how my actions would affect my daughters. Of course this didn’t always work out a positive—remembering “brownies” found atop refrigerator when girls return from college...”Mother!!-what the heck?!?” As my friend continued to pursue her dream of becoming president of a college, which, by the way-she accomplished and was deemed the President that remembered student’s names and established rapport that motivated them. As we lived across the state from one another we would communicate via phone. My husband had a husband she admired & supported his dream of becoming known in the entertainment field as a musician. The lottery money was helpful in purchasing a large RV to “hit the road” at some point!! She also had dogs that lived the lives of loved children. One message I received was questionable about “loving relationship” between husband and wife?! “We are sleeping separately, he seems to not be interested in me.” My reply was to get back in that bedroom and tell him what you need. Soon after that discussion came health issues for my friend...it seemed “depression” was setting in after choosing to confront a male colleague at work. When I was asked if I thought she was “crazy”, my reply: “not any more than the rest of us.” The next round of communication was apparent a mental health issue was escalating—like “Alice going down the rabbit hole”...except this was serious! She complained of skin eruptions, hallucinations and no sleep. “Should I take medication?” she asked. I told her that would be OK prescribed by professional and does not necessarily mean for a life time. This truly psychotic woman was trying to make sense of her behaviors and sensations by continued conversations with her husband and mother. Since I had known my friend, I was always amazed at the respect, which actually appeared as “fear” to her mom. I had learned her mother had had trauma in her own life and seemingly passed it on to her child. Her husband just wanted to continue their “happy” life, as it had begun... The illness had gone too far... She was admitted to a mental health facility, given major psych drugs along with other modalities, group therapy, etc. After a week or two, she checked out. She quit the medications. She made breakfast, lunch and dinner (chili per request) in crock pot for husband. Husband returns to extremely (unusual) quiet home from manual labor work. Dogs looking at him!! He goes to throughout home, opens door to studio-His wife, my beautiful, intelligent girlfriend had shot herself in her head- dead!!! I journal...daily, in my Little Black Book〰I had recently been in touch with those having had and using “ketamine” for treatment for certain psychiatric diagnosis. I had written: (before I learned of her death!) Keep Moving my beautiful friend-Help is on the way! I am convinced this form of treatment was the answer for her deep “fear” filled life... And so I continue my journey to help others to get as much joy out of this life as possible. I’m so sorry, my dear friend. Thank you little black book for always listening♥️.
By Deborah Jensen-Bergen5 years ago in Families
Strange Love
Matthew and Alyse were eight months into their courtship. After vying so long for her affections, Matthew finally broke into the wall surrounding Alyse’s heart and gently placed a piece of himself inside. After many trips down dater’s row with good and bad dates alike, Alyse stopped answering Matthew’s calls, his text messages, and his personal invitations. Matthew’s past came to the forefront like lava gushing on its path of destruction and halted his courting Alyse.
By Ashley D. Gilyard5 years ago in Families
She Found It
She is a super sleuth and she wears the perfect disguise. You could see her anywhere at any time of the day and her cover kept her gift concealed. A police department would welcome her gift of pulling facts and truths out of murky words and events. At times it was like she was easing her hands into a mud puddle and pulling out diamonds. Her disguise was simply the fact that she is a wife and the mother of four children. I call her Sassy and that nickname fits her personality. The dictionary says that Sassy means “ lively, bold and full of spirit; cheeky”. That perfectly describes my bride.
By Dale Austin 5 years ago in Families
