Being nervous for the start in the ocean, Sue breathed deeply. Her first triathlon and she completed the first two rounds easily. Her aristocrat mother, looking rich and stylish in toffee colored clothing, smiled to her mate. “She swims like a dolphin, she’ll win!”
***
Can You Tell A Story In…
This word has been a favorite of mine. I don’t use it much because along with most words and phrases I write, it shows my age. I’ve been upfront about it, but I don’t like to discourage younger readers.
When growing up, I know, here we go again, the idea of moxie for women, was looked down upon. It’s strange to think it, because if anyone had moxie, it was my mother. I suppose because my mother was a strict, bit self righteous woman, she probably grew up thinking it wasn’t “ladylike”. With four girls to raise and limited time, I suppose rules were rules, and having a daughter with moxie wasn’t advantageous. I hasten to add that she had four of them, despite her efforts! My childish interpretation of the word as a keen observer, oh yes, the ever watchfulness of a child was, it meant “bad”.
Now “bad” being “good” in today’s world, was then a general term meaning distasteful, wrong, and the opposite of how it’s used today. If you look up moxie today, everyone has a different interpretation, but most agree the first and still used is a cola beverage that reportedly gave you strength, courage and nerve. Sort of an older version of Red Bull?
If a woman had moxie back then, she was probably who many women today strive for and are proud to achieve: independence, strength, ability, success, daring, bravery, and confidence. Some women today have those qualities and instead of being frowned upon, they are revered. So, Helen Reddy, were you drinking Moxie when you sang that song?
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/moxie/
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Fandango’s Flashback Friday — July 11th
“I knew this was going to occur”, Joe complained as he stuffed the sheet music into his briefcase. “You can’t expect that outcast to reach a high octave like you can! He’s not capable and that’s why Harry fired him. We have to find someone who can match you in that duet!”
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Three Things Challenge #MM117
Children at Play
Joy
Children
Faces smile
Running, playing
No worries this day,
Happiness in their moves
Freedom in abandonment
Sneaking around, play hide go seek
Impatience makes revealing joyful
Oh for the mind of a unworried child
***
Etheree
Reena’s Xploration Challenge #389
My mom at 70, told me as I was styling her hair – “white hair doesn’t curl!” Now I feel the problem.👩🏻🦰☺️
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The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS July 12, 2025
Respond to this Friday Faithfuls challenge by writing about what makes you happy in life, if you enjoy reading books, going out for a walk or watching the sunset, or if you take pleasure in the smell of coffee brewing, or if you enjoy listening to a bird sing, or watching a squirrel climb up a tree, or playing music, or making someone laugh, or enjoying a home cooked meal, or you can go with anything else that you think would fit.
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I think all of the above applies to what makes me happy! This latest photo of my new great grandson takes the cake right now.❤️
The Simple Things
No need to dream, for
Dreams are lost
Gone for months
At my great cost –
I need to dream, to escape
To view the world in a better scape
Cynics:
So dreams may help your mind settle
Reality’s still there, always meddle
Just fooling yourself it says with scorn
You can’t hide from a world that’s torn.
***
W3 Prompt #167: Wea’ve Written Weekly
Joe didn’t want to go, but friend Mike insisted. “We don’t have anything to celebrate, Mike! I lost my job, almost got a divorce and the country is going nuts! What exactly are we celebrating?”
Mike looked around the room, seeing his wife and children, knowing they’re a reason to be happy. “See this, Joe? Don’t we give you reason? Our country will bounce back. Things only go so far downhill, then upslope. Maybe not this year, but look and know we are lucky. We are out of the fray. Now get in the stinkin’ boat – we’re watching fireworks!”
***
11 July 2025
Everyone loves Tweety I must say
And Road Runner?
What can I say?
Brilliant tricksters in cartoons
But at night, shadows on the moon
A raven, of course from a poem by Poe
A murder of crows, always in the know
They sit in rows or stalk you in trees
Crows and ravens do as they please
And a favorite of mine is the magpie
Their wings beauty shown as they fly
Yes they’re big and noisy and mean
At least that’s what people have seen
But their beauty cannot be denied
As they strut in the yard, determined stride
Beauty in ponds are the swans so white
Floating and flying with wings of might
Birds certainly are a love of mine
Hitchcock’s version with me does not align.
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Writing Prompts
Watching Trump changes to do the “little sidestep” reminds me of Charles Durning singing and dancing in the movie, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”.
One-Liner Wednesday – Like night and day
The Bag Lady 
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