The Bag Lady

I looked out front, I looked out back because for curiosity I have no lack.

The sound I heard made my heart freeze, like an unexpected sneeze. But then I saw it lying there, and my heart melted, raw and bare.

Such a tiny creature flew into my window glass—I gathered it up, and placed the bird on the softest grass.

https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2021/05/08/opposing-forces-saturday-mix-8-may-2021/

“Well, call me what you want, buddy, but I’m nothing special, I just like to live by myself.” The reporter set his notebook on the small pine table and took a sip of tea offered by his host.
“I’m not here to put a label on your lifestyle, but my editor heard you have an interesting background and I would like to write about it.”
“About me? There’s nothing interesting here for your readers. They don’t want to know about an old guy like me! Besides, who reads newspapers anymore?”

90 words

https://sammiscribbles.wordpress.com/2021/05/08/weekend-writing-prompt-208-solitudinarian/

Since I’ve been laid up with a cold, I look to my left and see Brownie, a teddy bear my grandkids gave me in 2015 when I was in the hospital. He’s the perfect companion–soft and cuddly, a good listener, and believe it or not, puts on expressions that make me laugh. In this pic he looks like how I feel🥴

https://lindaghill.com/2021/05/07/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-8-2021/

Usually when someone writes of a “first time” the subject is sex. But I’m not going that route. My first time will be the first day of work, at an actual job. Not my first job, but an actual, fill-out-forms-for-taxes type job.

The first day of work was my eighteenth birthday. High school graduation over, lovely summer of travel to my father’s birthplace — actually where I live now–Wyoming. I had taken the Civil Service exam in school, scored highly on it, so was offered a job at the United States Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (USACRREL) in New Hampshire. I was a shy, naive girl, but so very excited to start my new job. My intent was to earn enough money to enable me to attend a secretarial college.  

I remember how intimidated I was upon meeting my co-workers, aka bosses. Two middle aged men whose favorite activity, it seemed, was to see just how red my face could get before the day’s end. What would now probably be called sexual harassment was possibly their intent? The only detail I’ll give is the singing of their apparent favorite song, “She has freckles on her butt…..she is nice”. Go ahead laugh. Everyone thought it was a great joke because I was a redhead and wore no makeup at the time and did have freckles.

I did my job well and earned the promotion of working downstairs in the Photographic Interpretation Research Department (PIRD). Of course learning the government’s way of doing everything was much different than the classes I had taken on filing, bookkeeping, etc, but I was a fast learner. 

I was glad to be out of the first small office atmosphere and moved into a larger area where I was the only secretary to a few scientists. They were all men and polite and fun to work for. My shorthand skills were utilized constantly. The first time I took dictation from the head of the department I was a nervous wreck. I learned new words such as photogrammetric; try writing that in fast shorthand when you’ve never heard it before!

I loved all of these guys. They were respectful and helpful. I also loved the job and of course, met my husband, so the secretarial college plans disappeared.  

https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2017/05/07/writing-prompt-may-7th-first-time/

***

https://fivedotoh.com/2021/05/07/fandangos-flashback-friday-may-7th/#like-57480

If you love dance, check out this movie, “White Nights” with Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Heinz. Two different dance styles complimenting each other. The strength is phenomenal. There are numerous dance scenes which I love seen in this film. This clip is just a warmup😉

https://fivedotoh.com/2021/05/06/fowc-with-fandango-motion/#like-57319

“Well I don’t believe any of that covee – whatever nonsense! I’ll never git no vaccine! Those guys are just plum crazy! Con men, all of ’em! They just wear them masks cause they’re hidin’, tryin’ to fool us. We know what’s what, right, Donnie?”

***

https://cyranny.com/2021/05/06/vaccine-word-of-the-day-challenge/#like-58090

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2021/05/06/rdp-thursday-plum/#like-

https://thedailyspur.wordpress.com/2021/05/05/never/#like-2547

https://cyranny.com/2021/05/05/may-5th-1minfiction-challenge/#like-58073

“It is certainly beautiful, Jack. We could stay up here, suspended forever, just you and me, and. . .uh, Jack?”

“Yes, my love?”

“How are we getting down? You know, for food and water? I see only a little here and, and. . .uh, Jack? Where’s the bathroom?”

(Another dream ruined by practicality.)

***

https://amanpan.com/2021/05/06/eugis-weekly-prompt-paradise-may-6-2021/

Photos are haywire today on WP, so I hope the one of Fandango’s questions comes through!😎

***

1. Best sandwich?
2. What’s one thing you own that you really should throw out?
3. What is the scariest animal?
4. Apples or oranges?
5. Have you ever asked someone for their autograph?
6. What do you think happens when we die?
7. Favorite action movie?
8. Favorite smell?
9. Least favorite smell?
10. Exercise: worth it?
11. Flat or sparkling?
12. Most used app on your phone?
13. You get one song to listen to for the rest of your life: what is it?
14. What number am I thinking of?
15. Describe the rest of your life in 5 words?

***

1. Best sandwich? Only in San Francisco, sour dough bread with mustard and hot pastrami.

2. I should throw out old pans I don’t use.

3. The scariest animal to me is a spider and since it’s not really an animal? Hyena.

4. Apples.

5. Yes. I asked for an autograph in Alabama at a small club where one of a popular fifties group The Platters was singing.

6. I am curious about what happens after death, but probably nothing. Going to another dimension?

7. Favorite action movie would be “Raiders of the Lost Ark”.

8. Favorite smell is freshly mown grass.

9. Least favorite smell? You have to guess?

10. Exercise is definitely worth it, whatever level you can do.

11. Water? Flat tap.

12. The most used app on my phone is Google.

13. “Beyond the Blue” by Emmy Lou Harris.

14. Fifteen of course!

15. The rest of my life? Watching my grandkids grow up.

***

https://fivedotoh.com/2021/05/05/fandangos-provocative-question-116/#like-57365

https://nadiamerrillphotography.wordpress.com/2021/05/03/a-photo-a-week-challenge-mothers/#like-6937

Laughter remains in comedic gold, when so much of the fresh fare blur disappoints.

https://cyranny.com/2021/05/05/fresh-word-of-the-day-challenge/#like-58069

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2021/05/05/rdp-wednesday-laughter/#like-11055

https://fivedotoh.com/2021/05/05/fowc-with-fandango-blur/#like-57317

https://thedailyspur.wordpress.com/2021/05/04/gold/#like-2545

https://lindaghill.com/2021/05/05/one-liner-wednesday-trigger-warning/?like_actor=102337606&like_hmac=04d7e4a0bd36f162f3955cc0edcd5f54&postid=15519&like=1&source=sub_email