Author: rugby843

I am a widow since 2013 and live by myself in a small apartment. I use a wheelchair to get around, but I wouldn't consider myself disabled. I'm 11 years away from having bladder cancer resulting in a urostomy and I'm doing well. This cancer was a result of having radiation in 1995 because of uterine cancer. So have faith in yourself, a cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence. My first try at blogging was an attempt to help other people with my condition. I am a mother of three married children, and a grandmother to eight gorgeous kids, featuring them often here, and a great grandmother to two as of today, 6/7/25! I enjoy exploring my feelings and like to try the challenges. I like humor, music, movies, games, and some sports. I absolutely appreciate your reading and commenting on my blog. I am happy to read all of your blogs and learn more about you. Please comment however you like, ask whatever, and I'll answer honestly. Thanks for reading! Cheryl

Tanka Tuesday

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized
***

Offering an ode to red vines

A candy I find that’s sublime

Chewy strings are mostly red

A sweet treat that may have been said

To be a soothing temperance

Frustration gone chewing dance.

—

Now others may see this sweet treat

Too much a threat for children’s teeth

But they may be temper prone

The chewability is known

For solace in that circumstance

Performing a tantrum stance

***

**The form, 8,8,7,8,8,7, follows “To an Intra-mural Rat” poem pattern.

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 48, Marianne Moore, 12/30/2025

Fandango’s Story Starter

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized
***

When he didn’t reply, I immediately thought, “They’ve got him and now they’re coming for me.” His cell rang about ten times and I gave up. Our sister, Maria and grandmother Rosita, were staying home, sheltered and safe, I hoped. Jose, my brother in law, had to go to work, and did so, every day. I knew it was only a matter of time before he was yanked out of his car, or workplace, because it was happening to all of our Hispanic relatives and friends. Even children were grabbed out of school. This must be a bad dream, a nightmare. It can’t be real. Please let me wake up to the freedom I had a year ago.

***

Fandango’s Story Starter #231

Simply Six Minutes

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized
***

“So, Joe, I heard you and Harry went over to the “Hot Tub Club”.”

“Yeah, so what?”

“Well, what was it like? See any girls over there?”

Harry laughed. “Nope, just a bunch of us old fat guys.”

“I heard it’s a good place for cruisin’.”

“Joe, how many years since you cruised anywhere!”

“We’ll just a thought Harry. I miss my wife. It’s been five years since she jumped off that cliff with all of her friends. She’s the only one that the leopard seals got.” Joe turned away from Harry as an unbid tear fell.

***

Jim’s Simply 6 Minutes

dVerse Poets

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized

Whether you live in a place where there is lots of snow or where there is never snow, whether you love it or hate it, I would like you to write about snow as you see, feel or imagine it, in any form you wish, using clear imagery as crisp as fresh-fallen snow.

***

loving snow

soft wet flakes landing

scooping flakes

—-

no rude gesture here

sticking out the small hot tongue

savoring soft ice

welcoming wintery gift

wrapping in a snow angel

***

Poetics: New Year Snow

SYW 1-19-26

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized
***

Here are this week’s questions:

1. Would you like to have your own private jet? Who wouldn’t? I would visit my son in Albania!


2. Would you like a chauffeur to drive you everywhere? Oh yes!


3. Would you like to live on your own desert island? Nope. Give me a cabin in the woods in the mountains.


4. Have you ever had anything made to measure (suit, dress, shoes etc) Yes. My mother made a lot of clothes even as a teen.

Gratitude: I am extremely thankful that after many hours even days on the phone trying to get some thing corrected, that my daughter came over today and to fix it for me. She has a magic touch.


https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/2026/01/19/share-your-world-19th-january/

JuJoJan 20 – Unspoken

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized
***

I blushed as he finished reading

I had no idea his words were leading

My heart to admire him

Unspoken thoughts on the brim

Of my lips but not revealed

Thinking his words could heal

My broken heart, empty now

Shown in his wrinkled brow

Concern for me, maybe a start

A try to fill my empty heart.

***

Daily Prompt – JusJoJan the 20th, 2026

dVerse Poets

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized
***

“Bury me with the lies I told” – written outside the envelope. It was addressed to me – I wondered why. I barely knew her, and what I did know was not pleasant. I met my new mother-in-law three years after my “real” mil died of cancer five days after I married her only son. Tragically, we had two days after the ceremony to travel and meet her. Then less than three years later I had a new (Cruella deVille) mother in law. Then my husband a new half brother and a half sister on the way. All this surprising but then communications weren’t easy. Our children were pushed away from them as grandparents and no one stopped this. I ripped open the envelope, thinking maybe it was an apology. I was wrong of course. She kept her lies and I gladly buried them.

***

Dverse Prosery Monday — Bury Me