Tag Archives: Family

FF – Untangled

Photo credit – Sandra Crook

Untangled

My mother was the creative one. Her artwork drew crowds – masterpieces that balanced simplicity with complexity. She mothered us in her own way, but her pride and joy was always her non-living creations.

So I was the rogue. Spun out early, hunted chemical creativity and spiraled further out of control.

When she passed, she left only strands of a home and an intricate web of trauma to unpick in therapy.

At rehab, I had to attend Art Class. Silk Weaving, ironically. I was wary, but the motions came more naturally than I expected and with each strand, the healing began.

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What an stunning picture from Sandra. I have been thinking a lot about spiders recently, after an interesting conversation with my therapist about my former fear of them and how I overcame it. Their webs really are the most beautiful of traps.

My story stems from that, and not from my own experiences – my mother was neither an artist nor a spider, and I have never been the rogue. So it’s fiction. As usual. Honestly, just assume everything I write is fiction, it’s easier that way!

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FF – Midnight Mass

Photo Credit to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Midnight Mass

(With apologies to the Christians for the irreverance)

“… and they were sore afraid…”

The lesson washed over Melanie like a familiar blanket.

“Bet they were,” muttered Mrs Mwanna next to her. “You’d be sore if you were seated on the ground and you’d be afraid if you were told not to let anything happen to Daddy’s sheep and then a massive heavenly host dropped in uninvited.”

Some people turned and glared, but Mrs Mwanna just glared right back.

“You know, my dear, the angels aren’t described as having shiny wings in your Bible. That’s just to make them look pretty in paintings. Lipstick on a pig, basically.”

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First, I want to say Happy Christmas to those who celebrate it and Happy It’s Quiet Uptown Day to everyone else.

Rochelle’s photo has lots to look at, but my eye went instantly to the colourful pigs flying through the foreground. I was reminded of last year’s December story which I could easily have repeated to be honest, but I decided to lean into the original meaning of Christmas and revisit my old favourite characters – Melanie and her delightful neighbour Ms Mwanna. Ms M probably shouldn’t be in church at all, let alone on the Holy Night, but I’m assuming she volunteered to take Mel because Dad was visiting Mum in the hospital or similar.

The kids have been telling me recently about the ‘meme’ of “Biblically accurate angels” – look it up on your favourite search engine if you’re interested. Let’s just say there’s a lot more reason to be sore afraid of those things than primary school children in pillow case dresses and tinsel halos.

Apparently you can put these lyrics to many tunes, including On Ilkley Moor Baht Hat, but it was Dick van Dyke’s 100th birthday this month, so here’s my current favourite.

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FF – Friday Friction

Photo credit to Dale Rogerson

Introduction – first for once!

I normally save my comments for after the story, but today I’m sneaking in ahead! First, to recognise that I’ve missed a few weeks of posting. Work, family life and everything in between got away from me and there was a necessary amount of hunkering down. I’m back now (hopefully! It’s December, I may have to dash off and create some more magic or shovel some snow at a moment’s notice!), with a story that is sadly true, although also a little tongue-in-cheek. Enjoy!

Friday Friction

“Oh.. bugger!” said Jen as she watched her favourite vase somersault over the laundry basket onto the tiled floor and instantly detonate.

She took a deep breath and sighed.

“Are you OK?” nobody shouted. “Do you need help?”

“I’m fine,” she reassured the cat, who’d skittered off to its basket with a look closer to disgust than fear.

Jen removed Mount Laundry, hoping no spikey shards had landed in the underwear of her solicitous family members. Fetching a broom, she passed another vase – this one a wedding gift. If that one had smashed; she might’ve taken it as a sign.

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FF – Nope

Photo credit Yvette Prior

Nope

“I don’t wanna lot”

The radio abruptly silenced.

“Nope,” said Mum. “It’s October. No Christmas until we’re through November.”

Still, the vibe had crept in. I browsed Amazon later, “for ideas”. I found Dad enumerating gold rings and partridges as he raked leaves. Even Mum mentioned advent calendars then caught her moment of weakness.

And then – the calendar flipped and she became the Christmas Spirit. The house smelt of pine, chestnuts roasted, decorations sparkled. Mariah herself would have found our troop of nutcrackers excessive.

Mum knew the magic formula – Christmas was for December, and December was for Christmas.

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19 number one hits, 6 Grammys, numerous records broken… and the only thing most of us associate Mariah Carey with is “All I Want For Christmas Is You”. I suppose $300+ Million would help me get over that, but still, if I had Rochelle’s flair for historical fiction, I’d write about that. As it is, I’ve given you a fictionalised glimpse of Fall chez nous. I’m hoping my kids would agree with the last line.

NOT a Christmas song.

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FF – What’s In A Name?

Photo credit Yvette Prior – thanks!

What’s In A Name?

They called him Teapot for years. As in “Useful as a chocolate…”.  It was something Grandpa said once, when they were changing a tire and he didn’t have the strength to turn the wheel nut key. Because he was seven.

So he was Teapot until he left home. His sisters claimed it was affectionate. Sometimes. His father said “character-building”. Mom never used it – she hadn’t been there – but she didn’t stop them either.

On his first day at work, a cute secretary introduced herself as Maggie.

“James,” he replied, holding out a hand. “But you can call me… Jim.”

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Oh my, this story is so much longer in my head. The sisters, both older, were there as well at the tire change. Of course, Grandpa didn’t invite them to help, but they would’ve been just as valuable as James. And that word “Sometimes” is a hyper-condensed version of how the sisters used the name in the intervening years. And we never even got to the rock star era when Jim reclaims the name Teapot and writes a song called “Chocolate Guitar” which was my first impression of the picture prompt and the link back to it.

I’m happy with the 100-word version though. I hope it works for readers.

I have a couple of very dear friends with non-complimentary nicknames. I hope each one of them knows how much it is said with love, something I choose to believe about mine.

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FF – One For His Knob

Thanks to Ted Strutz for the photo!

One For His Knob

“And one for his knob!” Gran cried out triumphantly, shooting me a wicked smile as she thrust her pin into final hole on the cribbage board. I giggled, mock scandalised.

In my world, adult humour wasn’t shared with children, but my Gran opened that door just a chink. She taught me the “black as soot” version of Mary Had A Little Lamb too.

She was strong and independent, clever and kind. When she died, she clung on just long enough not to pass on my birthday. When my sons and I giggle about knobs, I’m sure she’s there, laughing, too.

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This one’s a true story about my Dad’s Mum, or Gran as we always called her. I’ll have to look out a photo; I don’t think I have a digital one.

Gran lived much of her life under the walls of the stadium. I wonder if she ever heard this
The lady herself! Thank you to my Mum’s extensive photo archive

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FF – Remembering

Photo credit Roger Bultot

Remembering

Nothing made sense any more. Corridors led into rooms from another house, memories muddled with the wrong friends. Even the important things – her daughter’s name, where Simon was – seemed just beyond her grasp.

Further back, things were clearer. She’d lived before Simon. There’d been boys like Ozzy, who never moved on her beyond flirting, or Ray, who kissed her once at a drunken party then left for college.

Reality grew fuzzy, but Ozzy’s face, the Barcardi on Ray’s lips, Simon’s touch – these things shone.

When they found her, her lips were curved in a gentle forever smile.

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Better late than never – this week’s Friday fiction is being posted on a Friday. Welcome to Mad May!

This story came from my lack of clarity when I saw Roger’s photo. I couldn’t make out what everything was or what was going on. That led me into the mind of a dementia patient, and the confusion that may govern so much of their thoughts.

I know some of us might hope that the daughter is top of mind, and I don’t mean to imply that she isn’t adored by the mother. My feeling, in the end, is that this story is a bittersweet one, that the character is comforted by memories of the boys she loved, including her husband.

A warning that if the story made you emotional, this song will make you cry.

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FF – Into The Unknown

Thanks Dale for the photo – image credit is hers.

Into The Unknown

Mom isn’t in the front seat next to Dad. She didn’t come home and kiss him goodnight last night, Maddox remembers.

Through the car’s rainy window, he tries to see what’s happening. It’s dark. He’s not normally allowed out of bed at night, but today he was woken by Dad clipping him into his carseat, still in his PJs. Dad said, “Try to keep sleeping.”

Then they stop somewhere. Maddox can see lots of blurry lights and a whole bunch of other cars parked around them.

“Time to go, Buddy,” Dad says, opening the door. “Time to meet your sister.”

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I wonder how many aliens Dale’s photo will prompt – that was my first thought about the strange lights and shapes I saw in it, but I didn’t want to go that way, and I gradually felt myself n the back of acar, looking out into a confusing night.

Until the last line, I had a nasty feeling about where Mom was, I thought the lights might be flashing and gathered around a pile-up. But we need some hope in the world, so I gave Mom a happier ending, and one that will hopefully turn out OK for Maddox too.

Sisters can be a pain, but they can also be magical!

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FF – Silent Night

My photo today, our lake view, only available during winter.

Silent Night

The excitement has ebbed, the children play quietly – exhausted by an early wake up, by adrenaline, by chocolate for breakfast. The adults are dozing by the fire, full of turkey and wine and yes, more chocolate. Even the cats have settled, their catnip mice vanquished and turkey bits devoured.

All is calm, all is still.

A carol comes to mind, a nostalgic favourite she can almost sing in two languages, and this one line that comforts her now. Alles schlaft.

There will be other days, with their dramas and their energy, but today’s magic is spent. All is calm.

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I didn’t expect to be posting today, but there’s a lull in festivities and Rochelle chose my photo so I wanted to contribute. The story above sort of reflects my house right now (although we are pre-turkey), so I am enjoying the calm and reaching for what Christmas can mean aside from presents, turkey and high energy.

Whatever you celebrate, I hope you have space today, and every day, for a bit of calm. It’s so needed in our busy world.

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Ready For Christmas

Photo credit – Rochelle Wisoff Fields

Ready For Christmas

The kids have tidied their rooms so Santa doesn’t stub his toe on a lego brick and cancel further deliveries.

The house is clean ready for Grandma to arrive and definitely not mention dust on my skirting boards or pounds on my hips.

It’s a mild +2c, just perfect for the decorative layer of snow to look lovely and cause absolutely no traffic chaos or power outages.

Obviously all the gifts are bought and wrapped, and nobody saw the picture on the box when the delivery arrived.

All that’s left is to feed the pigs. Oh look, THEY FLEW AWAY.

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When I first looked at Rochelle’s picture (at 5:30am, waiting to see if the bus cancellation emails would arrive or whether I had to get Seb to the opening shows of his musical running 2 shows a day for the next 7 days), I saw the shells mostly. My mind wandered around some puns and stories about them, including a cute one about hermit crabs upgrading their homes.

But by the time I’m writing, the bus emails have arrived, the shows are cancelled for the day (closed schools means no school trips means no audience) and both kids are very happily rotting their brains on youtube. So my mind is less on flights of fancy and more on the little guy in the front centre of the image. My Dad used to have a sign on his office wall that said something like “All bills paid, all customers happy, all pigs fed and ready to fly”. My story is in homage to that I suppose, with a hint to this time of year and the things we adults juggle to create the magic.

Sometimes this song is my favourite!

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