26 Reasons

Photo: Bob Doerr

At this time of the year, for various holiday related reasons, we are reminded that we should take the time to reflect on the things that we are grateful for.

That’s a great idea, so I’m going to do that right now.

Today’s prompt in the writing adventure calendar that I am working on each day suggests I identify 45 things that I am grateful for, 45 things worth life itself, but no matter what I write down these 45 things are actually tied to 26 things in my mind.

Of course I mean the alphabet.

( English Gothic Alphabet )

Greek Alphabet

( Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics )

Without the alphabet music couldn’t be written down, recorded and performed.

Without the alphabet, our ideas and stories and thoughts might be memorized, but the voice of the person who brought those things to life would be lost.

Without the alphabet I wouldn’t be able to write- I wouldn’t be able to do the one thing that I was ever good at.

So tonight when I settle back and read a ghost story or two ( it’s winter time- it’s perfect for that sort of thing ) I will be reminded of what I am most grateful for- 26 things to be exact-and I shall cherish each one of them.

Speaking of:

Below find some great short stories that are PERFECT for reading on a dark and chilly night:

Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad by M. R. James (1904)

A Strange Christmas Game by I. H. Riddell (1863)

Between the Lights by E. F. Benson (1912)

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James (1898)

“The Mummy’s Foot” by Théophile Gautier

 

For your edification:

Ghost stories: why the Victorians were so spookily good at them

Inspired By Made In Australia 2003 Advent Calendar: Eureka Stockade

The Dwelling

Photo: Luis S Moscoso

Homes are delicate places.

They’re not made to last forever, but we expect them to behave as if they will and we hope against hope that this delicate place will protect everything that matters to us from the world outside.

I decided to start a visual journal- I’m not sure what I’ll put into it yet but I’m sort of excited by the prospect.

Will I practice my drawing there? Keep little reminders like pictures or postcards of things that mattered to me in the moment?

Photo A.M. Moscoso

Photo A.,M Moscoso

What will happen to my journals, once I’m gone?

They’re not made to last forever and they are delicate and susceptible to the elements and bugs and rodents and poorly placed  bottles of water and cups of tea.

Will anyone except for me ever look at them? Or will someone find them and take it apart, using the little bits and pieces I’ve saved there for their own journal, or maybe gift wrapping or maybe they will use it to prop open a door or window- if there are such things a long time from now.

Photo A.M. Moscoso

I guess I am hoping that my little bits of art and examples of my creativity will be safely housed in this delicate home I’ve built for it.

The world outside is so overwhelming and its full of monsters and endless nights of rain.

I’m not sure this will be enough to keep safe paper and ink and glue.

But I hope against hope that it will be.

Photo: Luis S Moscoso

Made In Australia Advent Calendar: The Man From Farther Out