Posts

Posted on

Bang, Bang You’re It

Daily writing prompt
What was the best compliment you’ve received?
View all responses

I can’t say this was necessarily the best, but it’s the one that’s stayed with me for more than fifty years. In junior high (now known as middle school) I wore my hair like everyone else did in those days–straight, long and parted down the middle. Looking back, it was hardly the most flattering fashion, on me and most others. But that was the style.

One Christmas vacation, for reasons I can’t remember, I decided I wanted bangs. I was pleased with the result and looked forward to showing off my new hair style when I got back to school. Unfortunately, most of my friends either didn’t like it or didn’t care and said nothing. But one boy did.

“I like your bangs,” he told me. “It makes your face look less round.”

I never was quite sure that my bangs really did make my face look less round, but a boy had noticed my hair. Not a boy I was particularly interested in, but one whom I wouldn’t have expected a compliment from.

I’m not naming him, even with a pseudonym. It took me years to realize he was interested in more than my hair. He liked me. I was shy and decidely not popular, he was outgoing and quite a hit with everyone. Unfortunately, by the time I recognized his interest, I was in my 30s and hadn’t seen him in more than fifteen years.

But back to my hair. From that time in seventh grade until now I’ve always worn bangs. Not so much because a boy said he liked it, but because he was right. Bangs do look better on me.

So from me to this unnamed boy (now both senior citizens, good grief): thank you. And I’m sorry I didn’t see you for who you really were.

Image Credit: Header © Felippe Lopes–stock.adobe.com

Posted on

Walter Likes To Play Hide and Seek

I was in my laundry area the other day when I noticed a furry tail sticking out from under the shirts I had hanging up on the door to the water heater. After calling out, “Oh my gosh, where could Walter have gone? Have I lost him forever?” he peeked out, as you can see here. Thank goodness I had not lost Walter.

Do you think she sees us now?

Image Credits: Cesar Cat © Belinda O; Paws in Heart © Bigstock Photos; Hiding Cats © gayuhh–stock.adobe.com

Posted on

Owl or Pussycat?

Daily writing prompt
Which animal would you compare yourself to and why?
View all responses

Well, now, that’s a tough one. I’d like to be a wise old owl (well, maybe not old, although I’m getting there), but that’s a myth and I’m really nothing like an owl. If owls truly were bookish, that would be me. Again, a myth.

The simple fact of the matter is, I’m more like my cats than I care to admit. I have my spurts of activity followed by long rest periods. I like my routine, except for getting up at dark o’clock in the morning.

Now, unlike my cats, I don’t care for seafood. Nothing that lived underwater, nuh-uh. And I do like a little more variety in my meals than they seem to need. But I really don’t need a whole lot of mixing it up in the kitchen, literally or figuratively. I’m content with only some variety. Or let me put it this way, I like the option of variety.

But the kitties and I have another thing in common. They check out the household on a daily basis, and so do I. They’re looking to mark territory, I’m looking to plot my next cleaning move. But you’ll see all three of us wander from room to room.

And I do like yarn. I’m constantly having to keep my cats away from my current knitting project.

I hope I’m as sweet and gentle as my kitties, but I doubt it. I think I have a little sharper edge. Okay, that might make me a little like Mimi. I guess female cats are somewhat feistier.

So, hmmm, if, like some say, my cats think I’m just one giant feline, maybe they’re right.

Image Credits: Owl at computer © Taras Vykhopen–stock.adobe.com; Cat and yarn © kenza–stock.adobe.com

Posted on

Outgoing Mail

Daily writing prompt
Have you ever unintentionally broken the law?
View all responses

That’s a good one. And I’m not going to confess to anything here. But did you know it’s a felony to throw away mail sent to your address but belonging to another person? Yep, a felony, even if it’s junk mail. The proper way to handle this is to write, “not at this address” on the envelope and put it in your outgoing mail.

The problem I face is there is no way to send outgoing mail at my apartment complex. They took away our mailbox and there’s been nothing to replace it. You may not believe this, but I’ve actually driven a mile to the post office near my workplace to return mail that isn’t mine. Given the return address on those envelopes, they looked important.

Nope, no outgoing mail for me.

Fortunately most of the junk mail I receive is addressed “Occupant” and that’s me, so I don’t worry about it. And I confess, I’d feel pretty silly taking a credit card offer for another person to the post office. I wish they’d get us a box for outgoing mail, but so far, they’ve refused to do so.

Have I unintentionally broken the law? Perhaps I did before I knew about this law, but I don’t remember for certain.

Image Credits: Pop Art Mailbox © sapunkele–stock.adobe.com; Outgoing Mail © Kathy images–stock.adobe.com

Posted on

Mimi’s New Blanket

Over the last two years I’ve been working, between other projects, on knitting a blanket with leftover worsted weight yarn. Some of this yarn I’ve had for years, some of it is from very recent projects. The finished project is more than 6 feet long and 5 feet wide, so you’d think there would be plenty of room for me, Mimi, and Walter. But noooooo…Mimi has claimed it as her own. We’re working on sharing, but she does resist.

I’m not scared! Just a little cold.

Image Credits: Cesar Cat © Belinda O; Paws in Heart © Bigstock Photos; Cat under blanket © geosap–stock.adobe.cat