Journal 2021

Shaking The Family Tree

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Linda G Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday Prompt : ” COLLECT“

Marc Chagall – La danza, 1950

My Grandma Ginger used to say that when you got old, you could sit and think about your memories. So it was important, she told me to make sure to be around people that you loved and that you did things that made you happy so that your memories would be good ones to go over.

For her own special reasons, the year I turned 7, Grandma started to talk a lot about what would happen when I got old and the best ways to handle the situation.

It made my Grandpa Bert a little crazy.

” Or ” my Grandpa Bert would add, ” you could forget the sitting around when you get old thing and just keep doing things that you like until you die-  or your kids lock you up in an Old Folks Home. ”

” They better not, ” I said ” Or I’ll chop them up and feed them to my Piranhas . ”

Grandma Ginger was not amused. ” Bert! ” she said on medium roar. ” What are you telling her?”

” Are you still set on the Piranhas  for Christmas? ” he asked.

” Don’t encourage her like that Bert! What is the matter with you? ”

” Yeah. They’re all I asked for. What’s Santa going to do? Skip me? He can’t. I’ve been good this year. ”

” If your plan is to raise a pool full of Piranhas  to eat your Children, I don’t know Anita. That’s not making you look great. ”

” That’s why I’m going to ask for them before they’re born. ”

“You’re the smartest person in the family. ” Grandpa patted me on the head.

” Bert! For the love of God . Do not encourage her like that. ”

” Encourage me like what. ”

” Yeah. ” Grandpa Bert said.  Like what. ”

Suddenly I saw my school of Pirahanas swimming away from me and I was sure Grandma Ginger was going to have something to do with it.

I stomped my foot and got ready to take Grandma Ginger down.

Grandpa Bert said, ” Go get ’em Tiger.

I probably did.

Now I’m a Grandma myself and from time to time I go back over the memories I’ve collected and I do reflect on them just like Grandma Ginger said I would.

I’m just not so sure this one, which is one of my favorite memories of her and Grandpa Bert was exactly what she had in mind.

Jump To It or Else

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Putting My Feet In The Dirt Prompt#5-Quick Casseroles and Inky Obstacles

” The Guardian Mind “
Artist: Artificial Intelligence

I jump out of bed when the alarm

rings

that is how I start my day

that is my first jump

 

I jump into my car and

and drive to the train station

and when I get there I jump out of my car

and tap my pass and 10 minutes later I jump on the train.

 

When the homeless people scream at me that I am in their way and why don’t I show

some respect I jump out of their way- respectfully and I always jump out of the way

of the Metro Bus barreling through the crosswalk against their light because that is the

way  they roll baby. Jumpity jump jump jump.

 

When someone asks me a question

or my phone rings – it’s jump jump jump

By then I have lost track of how many jumps that makes

I should write it down, but I’m not sure I can count that high because…

 

I have only been awake for a couple of hours and I’m not exactly at 100% yet.

 

Just The Way You Are

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Putting My Feet In The Dirt Prompt# 4  Lobbying Lucys and Gentle Jokers

Don’ smile like that- you look like a screaming monkey when you smile your smile.

Don’t stand up so straight- you look like you belong in the military when you stand like that.

Don’t wear those clothes, wear something flowing, with lots of colors and maybe a scarf. Why don’t you dress like Debi or Cally or Suzie? Give them a call. They’ll help you out.

Don’t talk like that-  don’t use all of those big words. You sound like a  know-it -all  when you talk that way. It’s not impressive at all. It’s ugly.

Don’t always think about yourself. There are other people in the world you know. What about them? You should help other people get ahead. Why do you always have to come first?

But remember- said the people in my life who  know how to smile properly, dress with style, know how to stand and look attractive and how to be approachable and always think about helping others first-

these people will always say with a little affectionate pat on my shoulder-

we love you just the way you are.