The Bag Lady

🎶🎶🎶

A New York minute on 9/11 changed the whole world. My oldest son was living in NYC at the time it happened and as I sat on the bed waiting for my husband to finish getting ready, I was mindlessly watching the news. It was a shock to see a plane crash into a skyscraper but then seconds later I knew it was a terrorist attack.

I immediately tried to call my son but there was no answer. In a New York minute life changed. My son was safe, but hundreds of people were devastated and he and his friends he knew well effected. I watched as I heard thuds behind the reporters. Those thuds were bodies of people jumping out of the building. I will never forget those sounds and the entire tragedy is something I cannot watch again ever. I refuse to see photos of the memorial.

My son moved to Chicago and of course I felt relief in that, but anywhere can be a target.

***

New York will never be the same to me. I can only offer a song, “Things are Changing” by Gary Clark, Jr.:

https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2019/12/13/new-york-minute/#like-19113

❤️💙

♥️

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I just started reading this, so now I have three books to finish. My daughter asked me if I had read it, so curious me had to look it up and of course, I’m in!

***

She put her ear up to the wall. His music heard a bit louder, she almost could remember the words, “let me call you sweetheart”. He played it often and she knew it was their song.

Many days she heard it playing and it was only yesterday, putting her ear up to the separation between their rooms, that she heard him singing clearly.

The nursing home was not a place for privacy and even though the walls were thin, she felt a shyness in her guilt for listening.

Mona asked the nurses about him but they refused to give her any information. She didn’t even know what he looked like, but thought she might recognize his voice.

An afternoon like any other with visiting well intended volunteers was often enjoyable. This day the old piano was rolled into the cafeteria and someone sat down to play. Songs of her teenage years brought memories of school dances, picnics in the park and movie theater intermissions.

As the song “Let me call you sweetheart” began, Mona saw a man straighten and perk up. Suddenly he started singing along and I knew then it was my adjoining neighbor. I joined him in the chorus as many others followed also, but now I knew the mystery man.

***

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I think that, yes, you’re that guy I dated

Memories of the night recall we were so sated

If you were the one so gratefully uncomplicated

I guess my thank you’s might seem a bit belated.

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It comes to me, if I remember, the date lasted all night long

We drank and danced and I think you even sang some songs

You were the one, oh yes you were. . .with flashy eyes and smile

And we took full custody of each other for quite a while

Now that we are older, our minds tend to forget and fade

But you my dear were the special one and the love we made.

🌛🌛🌛

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2019/12/12/belated/

This castle is magic

Come inside to explore

But you must be small

To fit in the door

Keep off the grass

Stay on the path

No matter how tempting

Please do not snack

Invitation is clear

I relish little dears

I’ve had many today

But they’ve gone away

Now I’ll just wipe my chin

And then you can come in.

https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2019/12/12/tale-weaver-253-magic-castle-fairy-tale-12-12/#like-19107

I had a good job in the city

In the country as well

Working for a living

Made my pride swell.

https://lightmotifs.wordpress.com/2019/12/12/thursday-inspiration-34/

Music soothes

Inspires creativity

Relieves stress

Motivates motion

Healing therapy in melodies.

https://onewomansquest.org/2019/12/09/v-j-s-weekly-challenge-76-music/

A love so precious he thought, as he spied the frosted choke cherries. A love so delicate and fragile, as he pulled up her covers again. Her fitful sleep disturbed him, but just as the winter scene observed, he knew it was temporary.

Her illness had been coming to such a point she was bedridden and he only salvaged a few lucid moments with her. Her mind was muddled by the disease and the drugs taken to help her, but he relished her every waking moment.

Doctors told him his wife might live a few days more. How could such a thing be possible? They made promises to be together forever, and the time now was too short. He adjusted the blankets so he could lie beside her. If he surrounded her with his body, maybe he could die too, and they would live on together.

The doctor found them the next morning. Curiously, he noticed they both had a pleasant expression, even in death.

https://flashfictionforthepracticalpractitioner.wordpress.com/2019/12/10/flash-fiction-for-the-purposeful-practitioner-2020-week-01/

Okay, everybody up!

But mommmmmm, it’s school break!

Up and at em, were going to sing carols today at the old folks home.

Again? We do this every year on our first day of Christmas break! Can’t we wait?

It’s a rare opportunity we have to bring such joy to others. This might be the climax of your whole vacation! Remember last year when we saw tears in the eyes of the people listening?

Yeah, it was sad and happy all at once. They really loved it, and we got lots of hugs. I guess they miss their own grandkids.

Exactly, it’s so worthwhile, now bundle up, baby, it’s cold outside!

***

https://godoggocafe.com/2019/12/11/christines-daily-writing-prompt-baby-its-cold-outside/#like-12841

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https://dailyaddictions542855004.wordpress.com/2019/12/11/daily-addictions-sing/#like-676

https://cyranny.com/2019/12/11/climax-word-of-the-day-challenge/

The outside is what you see, perceive

My real inside would not bring relief

Hidden thoughts of mine might not inspire

They’re not what you want, require

You want bravado seen

Real me hides under green.

https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2019/12/10/photo-challenge-293/#like-19099