Prelude To An All Hallow’s Eve

For Fandango’s Flashback Friday:

 

Originally Published For Daily Prompt

Write a new post in response to today’s one-word prompt.

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” Where were you on the last Black Moon ? ” I asked my Grandmother as she stood at her kitchen counter carving the first of the many Halloween Pumpkins that would line our walkways and decorate the stairs that led to our front door.

She looked up and shrugged. ” Oh. Here and there. ”

She sounded vague.

Preoccupied.

I was worried.

I watched her place the tip of the carving knife against the pumpkin’s dark orange flesh. ” Oh wait, ” her shoulder dropped just a little, there was a smooth quick flick of her wrist and the smell pumpkin innards wafted up into the air. ” I remember where I was. Silly me. ”

She turned around with the knife in her hand. ” You must think I’m getting soft Valentina, I do remember where I was at.”

” I thought you might. ” I said firmly, trying to mask the sound of relief that was in my voice.

She tapped the business end of the knife against the side of her head. ” But I’m not getting soft Valentina, Not even a little bit.”

I nodded. ” So if you remember where you were- ” I began

” Yes,  yes Valentina. Not to worry. I remember where I was and what I was doing. ”

Grandmother reached down into the cupboard near her knees and popped it open.

Inside was her elegant black dress, her veil and her shoes. ” And when it’s time to send you back we won’t have any problems. Now run along dear and …” she reached down and then stood up.

She handed me her knife and her veil.

” Go and raise a little Hell. ”

 

A Tale of Three Sisters

Back in October of 2024, my granddaughter Jemma brought out her Halloween

decoration doll and said to me-

” Lola, I’d like you to meet your granddaughter, and my baby sister Gwen. “

Jemma and Gwen Photo A.M.Moscoso
October 2024

What nobody knew at the time was that Jemma was going to be a big sister in

September of 2025.

Jemma and Luna September 2025

I think the day Jemma brought out Gwen and I welcomed my new granddaughter into the world was a funny day, considering who was coming.

Lucky for us, there doesn’t seem to be any sibling rivalry issues.

Good Bois 4-ever

WP Prompt: What’s the last movie that made you cry?

At the ending of Good Boy, Indy is trying to save Todd, in fact he’s been trying to save Todd through the entire movie- but at the end ” Death ” has Todd in it’s clutches.

At that point Todd, who is about to meet his maker repays Indy’s loyalty, his love by saving Indy. He tells Indy not to follow him. He tells Indy he is a Good boy.

It’s a hard call for Indy, but he is a Good Boy and in the end he listens to Todd.

After Todd finally succumbs to the darkness, he is carried to the basement, where his trusty canine companion follows. Indy attempts to pull his owner back from the darkness, but Todd is too far gone. Completely covered in black gunk, Todd assures Indy he’s a good dog, but that he “can’t save him” and that Todd’s “gotta stay here.”  ( From Looper.Com )

I’ve seen this movie a half dozen times and each time I find something new to cry over. Not only in the movie sad and intense, but because I can relate to it.

My Good Boy saved me when I was suffering through a terrible all hands on deck medication and therapy needed depression and just when I thought I could not fight one minute more, I got a little Chocolate Lab puppy who pulled me back from a dark place.

I might get emotional when I watch some movies, but  ” Good Boy ” – the last movie I saw that made me cry will probably always make me cry.

Hamish Macbeth
12 Weeks Old

Dust To Dust

Summerween Prompt: ASHES

I think it’s admirable that people restore gravestones and mausoleums.

Each stone, each slab of granite marble and brick have a story to tell and preserving those stories is a form of immortality. There’s comfort in knowing that our story doesn’t disappear long after we’ve passed on.

But one day the wood that houses our bones, the stones that say we were here will fall to dust too and I think that’s okay.

Photo A.M. Moscoso
Saint Louis Cemetery Number One
October 31, 2012

Photo A.M Moscoso

Photo A.M. Moscoso
October 22, 2023 · Beaver Dam, WI ·
— at Oakwood Cemetery.