Tag: family

TTOT

Ten Things of Thankful – May 24

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld

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A picture I took at New Bern NC Tryon Palace grounds.

Good Morning and Happy Ten Things of Thankful Day!!

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Photo by Octavio Suarez on Pexels.com

As we go into Memorial Day Weekend I am thinking of those who did not return from wars. As I am not certain of my complete family history, I don’t know who did not return. I wish I had done better about keeping track of things. Mom would know, but she’s on the other side. One thing I do know is that when you have people away fighting wars, as I do remember that part of it in my family, it is scary. My Grandmother Hall had a rough time of it when her boys were fighting WW II. They all came back, but every time Grandma would hear something about the war she would be so afraid that one of her sons was affected. I don’t remember hearing what it was like for Grandma Tomey, but I know she had all of her sons in the war. Both would have been a Blue Star Mother which was started during WW II. I remember a letter stating this for Grandma Tomey.

Several years ago, we attended the wedding of a sweet couple. He was in the military and going back for another deployment. After the wedding they took off on a honeymoon, cherishing the time they had together before he had to return to duty. Sadly, he did not return. He died a hero, putting himself in the protection of his troops. I only met him at the wedding, but I know his wife, who was my co-worker, and I remember their devotion to each other. His loss cut to my heart for the pain she endured and I am sure there are still those pains, for her. Love has no end when we lose those we love, it lives on with memories and with the impact we make in our lives. Such a person that she is, that love does live on.

So, it’s only natural that my #1 Gratitude is for those who have sacrificed for our freedom and those left behind who have supported them all the way.

2. Last year I posted a story about suicide and I just this week was asked to contribute to Noteworthy Journal, a part of Medium. Here is the POST I am grateful if this can reach more people, the whole purpose of accepting this honor, as this is a most important topic, close to my heart.

3. Six Sentence Stories – I am still keeping up with this weekly effort. Here is a LINK to a recent one. These have helped me to be more concise wit my writing.

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Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

4. Research Triangle Writers Coffeehouse – This is a monthly group of a variety of writers who come together for a common cause which is to accomplish writing tasks. We share, problem solve, offer encouragement, genuinely supporting each other in our efforts. We meet at the Quail Ridge Bookstore in Raleigh NC the second Sunday of each month. Here’s the Facebook page if you are interested.

The one I am listening to.

5. Luther Vandross – Because I can only be grateful for such a sweet soul, gone too soon. Listening to him now.

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6. Our cousin Cheryl is visiting (in Charlotte) and helping her bestie sort stuff and sell such stuff as her friend is moving to Florida. I am excited to get to visit with them. She comes to NC maybe once a year, sometimes more, but this is the last trip to NC. She lives in Iowa. It makes me sad to know she won’t be back this way, but it’s important to think of the time we do get to see each other. This picture is from last year.

7. The pool is soon opening! As I sit here, I have learned that the pool inspector is coming today and we will get to swim this weekend! I cannot wait! We love to swim! Can you tell?

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Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

8. Sleep – The insomnia bug is back to crawl in my brain Shoo shoo! I am grateful for when I can get sleep and for tools to help me get what sleep I can.

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Photo by Iina Luoto on Pexels.com

9. Food – Yes, basic needs must be met and my clean eating efforts are paying off as I see the scale keep dropping.

10. Secret Projects – I am on another secret mission and will be able to reveal once I have cleared it with the powers that be.

So, there you have it! Those are my 10! How about you? Why not join in by going to this link: TTOT

 

Book Announcements, poetry

Simplicity Beckons

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld

My Post (2)

Loyal followers, I am now ready to share the secret news I have mentioned in some prior posts. Aruna Gurumurthy, Author of several books of poetry has released, as of May 1, 2019, her latest book of poems: Simplicity Beckons.
As quoted from the Amazon page about this book:

“Simplicity Beckons is a book of poems. It expresses the author’s journey through life’s special moments, with a touch of creativity and blossoming of passion. The poems weave through tales of travel, the joys of infancy and the subtlety of human emotion as the reader walks through life and love, and jumps over unseen realms of imagination. Come, watch these small wonders and big emotions carry you away, as you bathe in a potpourri of divinity and delight.”

As one who has read this book of poetry, discussing the poems in this book with the author and enjoying the content, I found this to be a pleasant book of poetry that beckons us all to look at the day to day simple things in life and to celebrate these experiences.

I hope you will look at this book of poetry and find the joy that only you can feel as what you read resonates with your own lives.

Aruna Gurumurthy has now penned six books of poetry. I interviewed Aruna and here’s a little share of that:

Without further ado, I introduce you to Simplicity Beckons:

Congratulations Aruna! It’s beautiful!

poetry, Short Fiction, short story, TTOT

Ten Things of Thankful – May 3

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld
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I looked for images in a sidewalk crack photo and this is what I ended up with. Since then, I have taken more photos of sidewalk cracks to create more pictures.

It’s that time again to express Ten Things of Thankful!

Want to join? Go to this LINK

1. TAF Write Now Conference https://tafnc.com/ was last Saturday. It was an awesome conference. Highlights were: a class on documentary poetry with Jaki Shelton-Green  Jean Claude Bemis  Joe Finder  and Erika Hoffman  I learned a great amount and left with enthusiasm.

2. I finished out National Poetry Month, writing a poem a day. Here is my post about that: I Am Possible

3. I am on Page 31 of this book as a contributing writer:

4. Yesterday, a fellow poet and friend and I went on an art day at the NCMA. It was such fun to go out and take in the wonderful works of art. Here’s their website: NCMA I particularly liked the Wim Botha collection. That sculpture appears to be made of carved books.

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5. I have time (a break) to create art and write. The picture for this blog post is one thing I made using images I saw in sidewalk cracks. This is part of a video class called Sketchbook Revival

6. Six Sentence Story is still going strong. Here’s this weeks post Say I Do

7. New poetry forms. I mentioned sestina before and I am working on one which is very challenging and LOVING it! You won’t see it on my blog as it is going in my book. Maybe a sneak peek, maybe…

8. I am now officially working on my second book of poetry and adding short story pieces. There was a target date, but I decided to leave it open. There is another writing project I’m working on and it’s caused me to slow my roll, in a good kind of way. It involves zombies and other characters and wouldn’t you just love to know…

9. My son, from another mother, is going to Spain with his beloved wife and my sometimes partner in crime. I am so happy for them and interested in hearing all about their trip. They are hiking there, well, not TO there, but while there. My younger self would have been all up in that activity! My older self says ouch!

10. It’s so beautiful outside!! Even with the achoos, it is so spirity out there! It’s like the spring fairies have danced around and blessed my days. OKAY… well, you get the picture…
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10.1 Samesies on the weight this week, but that’s AOK because it’s normal to have a hiccup when you lose weight. So, hiccup n then back to dropping it like it’s hot.

10.2 Remember that secret project I spoke of last week? Stay tuned!

Still here? Why not join in? Go HERE and check it out!!

Have a beautiful week!!

poetry

Mom and The Roads of Life

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld
top view of asphalt road
Photo by eberhard grossgasteiger on Pexels.com

Mom and The Roads of Life

Roads of life
take you many directions
When a younger woman
I like to take Mom for a drive
She’d see a side road and say,
“I wonder what’s down that road.”
She knew
I would turn around and go down that road
Mom was my co-explorer
loving the adventure
Sometimes we would see pretty trees and flowers
Sometimes we would see interesting houses and people
Whenever we saw an empty house
Mom would say, “It makes me sad to see an empty house.”
I learned many things about my Mom through these adventures
What I learned most of all is
how much I love my Mom

—–
Day #27 of National Poetry Month is here! And I am still at it…

Thanks to Robert Lee Brewer’s Poetic Asides Prompt: “For today’s prompt, pick a direction, make that the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. There are so many directions: north, south, up, down, left, right, over, under, etc. But there are also more specific directions like “Across the Way,” “Through the Woods,” and “Beyond the Clearing.” Or give directions like “Clean Your Room,” “Tie Your Shoes,” or “Get Over Here.”

short story

The Last Haircut

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld

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The Last Haircut
Photograph of the roots of a tree and rocks-taken by Lisa Tomey

Mounted on the back of the toilet seat, I intensely watched and listened as the gritty sounds of the razor cut through his whiskers and shaving cream, knowing not to speak while this most delicate operation took place, once completed, I was allowed to run my fingers through his damp mostly salty hair before he generously applied the tonic, magically turning more to pepper toned locks, combing his hair in place, to utter perfection, slapping on his spicy aftershave, his head was complete, intact with precision and thoughtful with words of wisdom, which I took in with every living breath.

Emotions ran high when I got the call that Daddy would be on his final days, having moved away, I was at a loss, but I knew that it was in my path to get to him, no matter what, with the company of my sister, we traveled to him, with no regrets.

My eyes saw him in the hospital bed and as I wondered if he would know who I was he smiled, you see Alzheimer’s had stolen some of his memory, but he gleefully told the nurse, when he saw us that “these are my daughters,” which conjured up my happy.

Our brother came in with clippers and asked me to give Daddy a haircut and it was an honor to be asked to do this final task, as Daddy always liked to keep his hair cut, as long as I remember, as I always fussed about how his wavy locks would be gone, but he always left some at the top, for his little girl, I liked to think, you know, just because it made me feel good.

Running my fingers through his thick mane, I closed my eyes in memory of all the times I did this as a child, going back in time before I was known, to the times when sand and salt were his life, an old Navy soul before he chose the blue sky of the Air Force, as I felt the dampness of his locks, I knew that no memories were clipped away as the roots of life run deep and even in the afterlife, who knows how much deeper than those roots run, so memory does not have an end or maybe even a beginning.

Youth was not lost when there is a man such as my father in your life, we had the chance to learn about cherishing life, having a sense of humor, running through adventures, taking risks, valuing the essence of less, and so much more; Giving Daddy his last haircut grounded me in the roots of that life and the awareness that while it may be a simple haircut to some, it was an acceptance that no matter who would even see this haircut, that he left this world in honor, knowing he had the look of a respectable man, as he should.

….

So, there you have it, my six sentence story for this week. I took the challenge of Denise and tried something  a little different, using an acrostic style, only I did it for a story vs poetry. How’d I do Denise?

Are you itching to tried your hand at Six Sentence Story? Go to this LINK and join us.

This weeks prompt: MEMORY