August 31: Writing Prompt #243-I Pledge Allegiance

Are you patriotic? What does being patriotic mean to you?

Yes, I think so.  For me, being patriotic means serving my country in my own small way. It means being there for the children of all the military families my on base organization serves.  It means taking care of the little ones while their parents take care of America.  Being patriotic means loving and being a part of the country I was born into, faults and all. No place is perfect, but I am proud to be an American. I am blessed, thankful, and free. 

August 30: Writing Prompt #242-A Little Sneaky

Are writing prompts a useful exercise, or do you find them to be too limiting and/or hokey?

Yes and no.  I find writing prompts very useful when I am struggling with writer’s block or am simply tired and need something to spark my brain, but they can be hokey and uninspiring too.  I must admit that several of the writing prompts from this “challenge” have become limiting and are too similar to other prompts in previous months, but I guess that’s what happens when trying to provide a writer with something different to discuss EVERY DAY of the entire year.  I don’t know if I could do it any better, that’s for sure. J  Anything you all want to add?  Do you agree with me or have a different opinion?

August 29: Writing Prompt #241-I Can’t Drive 55

Take the third line of the last song you heard, make it your post title, and write for a maximum of 15 minutes. GO!

Shadows Grow So Long Before My Eyes

From the song: Baby, I Love Your Way  (Big Mountain version)

Show a child his or her shadow, and you’ll see how fascinating they can be.  They make us look really tall or really short, and they follow us around everywhere until they just disappear.  As adults, we recognize that when they are growing long, time is passing, and day will soon turn into night.  For young children, time is a foreign concept.  Tell them they need to wait for just 5 minutes, and it seems like 5 years to them OR they forget about the time at all and become absorbed in something new. For an adult in middle age, time is very real and begins moving faster than ever.  The shadows grow long more quickly than before, and all of a sudden you are grown, your children are grown, your career is nearing retirement, and your own death becomes something you are acutely aware of approaching.  That’s why we have to make the most of each moment; savor those times when you are purely happy and completely content; be observant; remember the sight, sound, smell, and feel of those moments because they move by quickly like our shadows disappearing with the setting sun.

August 28: Writing Prompt #240-Ready for Your Close-Up

Cast the movie of your life.

Well, I’ve been told I look like Brooke Shields (because of my eyebrows) and also like Katie Holmes (not sure why), so maybe one of these lovely ladies could play me (and make me look much better than I actually do).  And my husband has been told he looks like Brian Urlacher (the Chicago Bears football player who’s done a few commercials), but I don’t think so.  The kids, hmmmm?  I don’t know.  My parents would be a big part of it too along with all my close Kwaj friends and co-workers, so it would have to be a pretty big cast with lots of extras too. The movie plot….well, it would begin with the background of the typical dysfunctional middle class family of the 1980’s-1990’s.  Moving along with my life, the highlight at this point probably being the Kwajalein years, but I don’t really know that there’s anything dramatic or exciting enough to make a movie of my life just yet, but I’m not giving up!  I hope the best years are yet to come with many more adventures that would be worth writing about and watching.  So, I’ll strive to make my life “movie worthy,” if you will as I look forward to what’s next. What do you think? Do you wish to have a movie worthy life or would you rather stay out of the limelight? 

August 27: Writing Prompt #239-I’d Like to Thank My Cats

You are receiving an award –- either one that already exists, or a new one created just for you. What would the award be, why are you being honored, and what would you say in your acceptance speech?

I’m not very good at the receiving an award thing.  I don’t know that there’s any award, real or newly created by me, that I would say I deserve to receive. It’s not really something I need or look for, the formal accolades, that is. I’m happy to receive a genuine thank you from a co-worker or just the feeling that I know I’ve helped make their day a little easier.  The awards I have received, unasked for, are for work I’ve done with 4-H on the island as a volunteer and employee, work for the elementary school as an ELL (English Language Learning) teacher, and work for Child, Youth, and School Services all back on Kwajalein Atoll.  I am thankful for these awards and humbled by them, but they were all awards which were given for things I did because they were my passion! I never thought of volunteering for and setting up my 4-H clubs or starting the Ri-Katak parents workshops (which I received awards for) to receive recognition. It was simply because it was something I wanted to do in order to provide something meaningful for my parents and students as well as for myself, really. I enjoyed leading the kids’ clubs and the parent meetings for my Marshallese students.  Truly.  So, in a sense, I believe this is the only way an award should be given, to those who are following their passion with no thought for themselves and what they might get out of it, but instead for just doing what they love. What about you? What do you think? 

August 26: Writing Prompt #238-Funny Ha-Ha

Do you consider yourself funny? What role does humor play in your life? Who’s the funniest person you know?

This is another one of those prompts that I think my friends and family should answer for me and let me know if they think I am funny or not.  J But, since they are asking me, here’s your answer.  I consider myself witty at times, but maybe not so much funny, although humor does play a huge role in my life. It’s a good day at work when there’s lots of laughter, and it’s a great day at home when there’s tears and trouble catching my breath mixed with the laughter.  My husband can make me laugh that hard, and because of that, I would say he’s the funniest person I know.  I love to laugh, make others laugh and smile, watch funny movies and TV shows, and hear children’s laughter, especially my own boys.  It’s the best sound in the world, in my opinion.  I can, on occasion, think of and say the right thing at the right time that makes others giggle, but I’m no comedian, that’s for sure.  Let’s just say I try to be funny and when I’m successful, it feels really good! J