Opal Reflections
Perspectives through Prose, Poetry and Photography
Priceless
Written in response to weekend Trifextra Writing Challenge, asking foe exactly 33 words of advice.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Color
Obsession
Why oh why do I insist on crafting, with a string and sticks?
Could it just be the thrill of art, a perfect piece will soon impart?
Or maybe it’s the color blocks, or complex charts, that rock my socks.
One stick or two, what will I choose today, to drive away the blues?
Crochet is fun and fits the bill, when instant joy’s the cup to fill.
While knitting is a patience test the final piece is often best.
A baby blanket needs crochet spaces so babe can breathe in all places.
A cabled vest demands some chunk to warm its wearer round his trunk.
A lacy scarf displays the craft of artisan women, long since past.
Fingering, lacy, sport or spunk; a fiber must be in my trunk,
For soon I will be overrun by stash, ‘growing’ throughout my home.
(Unless my pup gets hold of one; pulling, strewing, having fun!)
It matters not the day or week, or whether travel’s at its peak,
Inside my bag the kit must go..another sock to tell and show.
Alas I am obsessed, it’s true Aran or cashmere; pink or blue.
Raison d’être comes in clearly: I love to give gifts to my “dearies”.
Even on this Springtime day, I’ll chart my projects – gifts to give away.
Thanks to Mom, she taught me well, she gave me life … and art, as well.
Haiku Friday: Leaves and Lace
Look through curtain-lace
to glean a glimpse of greenery
harbinger of Spring.
Photo Friday: At Rest
Photography by Joanne Edith
This photo was taken from within the warm, sheltered confines of our fitness facility, using my iPad 2. Only a few months earlier, one would have seen hordes of youngsters splashing and sliding noisily, while more staid “grown-ups” lounged poolside, on these (now snow blanketed) chaises. If you listen closely, you just may hear the pool gods whispering: “It’s time for us to take a rest!”
It’s Only Money…
“Please! Please play with me!”
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to play. She desperately needed respite from ledgers, red figures and PowerPoint trend charts. Tomorrow morning, she was slated to present the annual financial wrap-up in the windowless Board room on the 24th floor of headquarters, and via video conference to the global executive leadership team.
A good soldier, she would of course stand in front of the (arguably) impressive group, present the data and explain causative factors, projected possible mitigation and overall assessments and recommendations. Though she wasn’t responsible for the grim news, she didn’t relish being the ‘messenger’.
Hadn’t she warned them that they shouldn’t put so many eggs in a single basket, and more importantly, shouldn’t count those eggs until fully hatched? She supposed it would be unseemly to preface her report with an “I told you so” disclaimer. Her head began to throb, as she closed her laptop; realizing that inevitably, her visions of upward mobility would soon be shattered.
“Enough!” A voice screamed at her from inside her brain! “Enough!”
“Please! Grandma – Play a game with me.” Her sweet-faced grandson peered up at her.
“Okay, let’s go!”
They trudged to the bookcase abutting the descending basement staircase, where the goodies were stashed; jigsaw puzzles, coloring books, Clue, Lincoln Logs, Chutes and Ladders, Scrabble, Monopoly…
“That’s it, Grandma….Monopoly!”
She can’t explain what happened next. Nor could this charming 10-year old explain the scene when Mom returned to pick him up. Grandma had been apportioning the monopoly money, neatly separating it into perfect piles: $5, $10, $20, $50, etc. Suddenly, she was overtaken by an irresistible urge. Beginning slowly, but rapidly picking up pace, she nudged the startled boy to join her in a demonic attack of the stacks. Together, they tossed the money into the air, laughing uncontrollably, as they caused a myriad of rainbow colored bills to rain down upon them.
Now she felt much better!
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Written in response to Trifecta Week 71 Challenge:
“… inspired by the recent arrival of the Hong Kong monsoons and the start of April in general. The Challenge is to use the third definition of the word “rain” .
rain (transitive verb)
1: to pour down
2: to give or administer abundantly <rained blows on his head>
Pietà
This Entry is in response to Trifextra Week 58 Writing challenge:
The word lithium comes from the Greek word lithos, which means stone (http://chemistry.about.com/od/lithium/a/10-Lithium-Facts.htm). This weekend, we want you to give us a thirty-three word response using the word stone as one of your thirty-three words. You can use any definition of the word that you’d like, but we are specifically looking for serious, well-conceived entries. This isn’t the weekend for light-hearted posts about the difficulty of posting before the linkz close, and we are not looking for hilarious commentary about your cats (THIS time). We want something serious and deep from you guys this weekend, because the sun is starting to shine a bit more, and we think we can handle it now. Take your time with it and give us your very best work.
Lighthouse in the Mist, Cape May, NJ
Bandit
Festive View from the Pub, Peddler’s Village – Lahaska, PA.
Home Sweet Home
Opal Reflections 