She opened the door to 12 bitter degrees. Wind blew through polka-dot pajamas. Tears froze on her cheeks. Moon’s full breast ached. She wanted to run barefoot into icy snow but instead whispered “Goodnight…” and burrowed beneath four blankets to dream of blooming wild rose.
Hi New Year’s readers! I am just playing another game this morning. My new blogging friend Dale–over at A Dalectable Life–frequently puts up Writing Prompts to get your creative juices a’bubblin’. This weekend she succeeded with a moon-filled poem from Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt #242 “Goodnight”.
I hardly ever feel inspired to play Writing Prompt games, but hey, it’s a new year of new beginnings so let’s get ourselves out of any self-imposed ruts and break off the beaten trail and try something new!
(And let me tell you–it was NOT easy to limit this wee story to 45 words. I stalled at 54 words for long frozen snowy minutes.)
What might you attempt new & interesting in 2022? (Hoping it doesn’t involve actual icy tears…although tears can be cleansing and wash away old sorrows…)
Lake Superior Spirit 
I am attempting to cure my hepC after co-existing with it for over 20 years. I simply could not afford to pursue treatment before but the treatment now available is supposed to be well tolerated, instead of horrendous early drugs, and so for that I thank my lucky stars. I started yesterday and will complete the course of treatment that is supposed to cure the virus by the end of March 2022. Can I let go of my self-identification of living with this virus – my excuse for never drinking a drop of alcohol ? Will I sometimes allow myself a sip (though my husband has once again given it up completely – for several years now) ? At the least, I won’t have to stress about minute amounts of alcohol in fruit cakes or cooked foods in high end restaurants. So I am attempting an end to hepC in my life for 2022. By the way, it was Medicare Part D and a Christmas miracle gift of a grant for the co-pays – the prescription insurer wanted me to pay upwards of $3,500 (which I cannot afford) before they would cover this expensive drug. Fingers crossed the side effects are mild – felt some wooziness and a bit of a headache yesterday – hoping that’s as bad as it gets !! Happy New Year, Kathy (don’t know if I kept this to 45 words or not but you know how writers are – never brief because the details and accuracy as so important to communication – or at least that is how I defend my own self LOL).
Deb, I am so happy for you! That you are finally able to pursue the healing of your Hepatitis C. Yay for Medicare Part D and the Christmas co-pay grant gift. May your side-effects be minimal or non-existent. May 2021 be your year to shine and allow you to relax even more. (P.S. I agree with your assessment about how hard it is to minimize words when we want to describe accurately. However, I usually don’t fret with accuracy as much as swooning over so many words that come out of the typing fingers? How to cull the little word-children? Impossible!)
So far, I feel really good with no (or minimal) side effects. My body “noticed” it the first day. Fatigue may or may not be more pronounced – when I actually have a good reason to be fatigued and some nausea may or may not be caused by the drug but it is not common.
Love that – how to cull the little word-children ? So hard when we love our words so much !!
So glad for the minimal side effects so far. Hopefully that will continue.
Ah. I started, but cannot cut it down further – now it is 49…
.
“Always allow the heart to speak first” he said.
“Never believe your smartreason.
else you will crumble into grief
with a twinge of wisecracks and wordiness,
You are here now. I hear your
Earth voice tiptoing into my heart.
A new start.
Right here. There is nowhere to go”
Oh, Leelah, I am so glad you played along with the 45 (or 49) word game. Allowing the heart our first voice–diving deeper than wisecracks and multiple words–realizing what and who we are right now. Thank you for this!
Oh, how beautifully done, Kathy! I love that you were inspired to try your hand at this one! We have asked Sammi to keep the words under 100 – this year she did just that.
I love the challenge of chopping the fat (wish I could do it as easily off my butt…). It really forces us to get to the point. Which you did so very well!
Thank you so much for sharing Sammi’s challenge, Dale, and proving that we can chop the fat! It was so fun to play. And it’s so nice getting to know you and your world. 🙂
My pleasure. I love the challenge. The shorter the better! And it is very nice getting to know you, too. I love blogging for that 🙂
How long have you been blogging, Dale? I have been at it since 2009 on WordPress. But have disappeared for months on end several times.
Funny you should ask as I looked it up just yesterday because of another blogging friend. On WordPress, it’s been since August 2013. Before that, I was on Blogger and tried a bit at Tumblr. I think maybe around the same time as you? 2009-ish? Now I’ll have to go see. It’s going to bug me!
Across the field, the tree line fades in and out of the milky fog.
Settling against the welcoming trunk of Greatgrandmother Yellow Birch,
I pray…
Ancestors, Help me!
Greatgrandmother listens.
“Good night, Girl!
Problems are easy to solve when you realize there is no problem.”
As I told you on Facebook, Carla, this piece touched my heart. What a great reminder–getting even deeper than the problems to the place where no problem exists. Thank you for sharing this precious jewel!
Keep doing this. Well done. 🙂
Bill, thank you. It was great fun!
🙂
Well done Kathy, it has loads of atmosphere for a few lines.
Thank you, Andrea. For about three minutes it felt impossible to do. I appreciate that you liked the atmosphere.
Loved your 45 words.
It was like taking a sharp knife and cutting off the excess, but it can be done! Thank you. ❤
Concise and evocative ~ a delightful read!
Thank you, Ms. Barbara. I guess it’s possible to do! lol
I’ve always had a hard time writing anything that had a specific word count requirement. I generally use way too many words!
Dawn, I so understand. It’s easier for me to write 1,000 words than 45… Guess we’re the same there!
I really like your poetic side.
Awww, Sherry, thank you. Certain family members–I shall not mention names–make fun of my poetic side. It’s good to know some folks like it. 🙂
“Moon’s full breast ached.” Lovely, Kathy.
Anna, thank you! I liked that line the best, too. Although a *certain* family member is excessively making fun of that line!
Brrrr! And I thought our 30 degrees was cold! I have new challenges this year, but to be honest, I don’t want to put any more pressure on myself. Moving towards integration on the Sacred Enneagram is the goal in 2022. (No pressure, right?!) XOXO
Integration sounds wonderful and I would love that, too. But no pressure…you’re right…maybe sometimes it takes lifetimes upon lifetimes to integrate and all the angels are singing and kicking up their heels and dancing with every tiny little bloom. Maybe? ❤
I’ll take “maybe.” 😉