It's Over...but is it?

My final word on the US Election for what it's worth. This isn't about whether Republicans won or Democrats won. This isn't about whether Hillary won or Donald won. And it isn't about that the people have spoken either. Because Hillary won the popular vote, and the archaic Electoral College vote is what put Donald in as President. What this is really about is that a country is divided in half. Families have been pitted against each other, friends have lost friends and those relationships will not heal themselves today and go back to normal because the election is over. This is about a campaign that ran on fear and fear won out. There are good people on both sides of this division, but fear brings out the worst in people. This derisive division between our US neighbours has fanned the flames of this fear with bigotry, violence and a lack of respect for their democratic right for their individual beliefs. This fear isn't going to end because the election is over, nor is the split. I wish the people of the US unity and healing however idealistic that may sound.

What this is really about is Humanity. And Humanity took a bad hit. And this saddens me and my belief in people.

I'm glad right now that I live on an Island surrounded by oceans, mountains and trees where mother nature can nuture me. I plan on hibernating for awhile to rejuvenate.

1^ST PERIOD AFTER LUNCH

I stared at the old typewriter in the second hand store reliving memories of high school typing class.

Once we learned the keyboard basics, we spent our forty minute class typing to music. The idea was to achieve a basic rhythm. Our first song was:

How    much    is    that    dog---gy    in    the    win-dow,    the  

     tap       tap     tap   tap     tap    tap  tap   tap    tap   tap     tap

one with the wagg---le---y     tail.

                            tap  tap  tap  tap     tap  tap   tap

By the end of semester, we were speed demons, grooving to the king, ‘Elvis’.  Anyone walking past the typing lab would hear the rhythmic tap tap tap to:

You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog

Cryin’ all the time

and

Let's rock everybody, let's rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the jail house rock.

WE were the cool kids. Typing class ROCKED!

***

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WRITERLY WEDNESDAY FLASH FICTION PROMPT - ANIMAL CRACKERS

Another Wednesday story - enjoy!

Animal Crackers

Moving day, I drove to Mom’s. She stood surrounded by hobby farm animals. The farmer who was moving the animals didn’t show.

I made some calls; soon realizing we were on our own. The new owners arrived, annoyed we were still there. An hour later, we headed out in my hatchback, the backseat tied to the roof.

Almost at the new farm, a police car pulled me over. The officer leaned through the open window speechless..

Barclay barked. The parrot shouted: “Hello.” The ducks quacked and Dickens, the goat bleated before leaning forward to grab the officers shiny shirt buttons.

“I’m sorry I missed the stop sign, Officer. The kitten ran under the brake pedal and I didn’t want to hurt him. We’re just a ways down this road.”

He pulled back, shaking his head and laughing. “I’m not even going to ask. Carry on and drive safe.”

***

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WRITERLY WEDNESDAY FICTION PICTURE PROMPT - BY THE SEA

By The Sea

Kelly closed her computer, packed files into the box on her desk, and leaned back in her chair. She swivelled towards the left of her desk and stared at the full wall mural featured behind a sea green coloured couch. Fern trees flanked the sofa, centered on an oval rug with a cherry wood coffee table.

Her home office was her favourite place to sit and muse the seven months she lived and worked in the city.

The mural reminded her of New England—the sea, fish, waves, sea grasses, and snails.

Tomorrow, she was driving to Old Orchard Beach, Maine to her summer home. Five months of writing, visiting friends, sea food and walking miles along the sandy beach.

Kelly rose and stood in front of the mural. She smiled.

Thanks for keeping me sane until I return to my happy place by the sea.

***

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WRITERLY WEDNESDAY PICTURE PROMPT - GLASS CAGES

GLASS CAGES

The manager led me around the office floor I’d work on should they hire me.

“We love open floor plans with glass walls. Less claustophic for our employees, and the glass reflects natural light. Small areas look  bigger.”

As she prattled on about advantages of glass offices, I sorted my thoughts.

The glass separating the desks reminded me of a prison where visitors and inmates talk through glass. The managers’ glass offices afforded them a clear view to study their monkeys every move. Or a hospital ICU where rooms with glass walls are built around  nurses’ stations so they can observe patients. No plants, no pictures, cold and all business. No privacy; everyone can watch you leave to go to the bathroom.

“Thank you so much for considering me for the position but I don’t think this company and I are a good fit.

Walking away, I shuddered.

***

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WRITERLY WEDNESDAY PICTURE PROMPT - FLORAL REFLECTION

FLORAL REFLECTION

I dug in the dirt, prepping the soil with fertilizer. As I worked, my thoughts wandered. Everything I knew about gardening was through  my grandfather’s teachings. Working by his side as a child had always been such fun. That is until as a teenager, I’d rather hang at the mall with friends than be sent to my grandparents house while my mother worked.

On one such occasion, we were planting flowers in front of the newly painted farmhouse. Grampa rambled on. I’d barely listened.

“If you paint an old house white it looks clean and fresh. And if you plant bright red flowers against the white walls, the house pops and looks new.”

I’d rolled my eyes and promptly forgot his words...until now.

Standing in front of my freshly painted white home, with the newly planted trailing red blooms and red roses, I smiled.

“I miss you, Grampa.”

***

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WRITERLY WEDNESDAY PICTURE PROMPT - WHITE FEATHER

I've been scarce the past few weeks with my flash fiction post. Blame it on summer, family, and visitors. Now I'm back. Enjoy!

WHITE FEATHER

First came the sorrow, then the pain of loss, followed by the anger.

In the end, it was the depression that engulfed me.

Know that I’m surrounded by caring and loving people. But there are no words or actions to take away the emptiness within. They worried about me but they didn’t understand. He was the love of my life, father to my children, best friend, lover and soul mate.

Then one day, I saw one; soon they appeared everywhere. I picked up the soft, fluffy white feather. It would join the others in my little jewelled box. You see, he sent them, all of them—to let me know he was still around.

I looked out to sea, took in the sunlight dancing across the waves, the blueness of the sky, and heard the cry of the sea gulls.

For the first time in months, I smiled.

***

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