We do not remember days
We remember moments
Cesare Pavese
July has been my staycation month, which has been great!
From beaches to garden spaces
From tourist spots, to less known beautiful locations
From bustling to quiet…
Sharing time with a friend is a gift.
The moments of the last few days have provided many memories.
Time spent with friends is refreshing to the soul.
Finally
Sitting in a quiet space
My senses are settling down
Sifting through the exposure of this trip.
After landing in the historic, multi-cultural metropolitan area
Sights, sounds, smells and flavors all came together at one time.
In one place…
Constantly
Traffic never stops
Sirens punctuate the air
Music blares, escaping various doorways
Colliding with the sound of those performing in the street.
People walk these streets
Holding hands
Carrying drinks
Smoking
The smell of marijuana hangs heavy in the outside air.
Honing my senses to look beyond the surface
I find buildings designed in days gone by.
Some proudly display hanging baskets and planters overflowing with flowers
Set against decorative metalwork balconies and entrance ways.
Others, covered with graffiti often host for-sale signs
Hoping to lure someone into the neighborhood.
Many small shops emit strong fragrances from within
Tobacco from the cigar shop
Conflicted florals from candle shops or body works shops
Rivaling savory or smoky fragrances from the plethora of eateries
All compete against the backdrop scent of overflowing garbage bins and pot wafting through the air.
Cuisine is as varied as everything else in this city
Showcasing the multiple cultures that settled and blended here.
Surprising
Delightful
And, so enjoyable!
I ate my way through the city with each meal awaking different taste buds.
The people who lived or worked within the city were friendly
They genuinely wanted you to enjoy your stay in their city.
They were proud of their heritage
Sharing stories of their history and the culture’s survival through time.
A few more days removed
I recognize how much new historical knowledge I gained while there.
Given the opportunity, The Big Easy could awaken something in you too.
During the day’s reflection, I pondered the completion of another trip around the sun and found myself standing on the threshold to another decade. It’s unfathomable I’ve moved through so many years. Yet, here I am.
…and the adventure continues!
Are you ready to…
…laugh
…be surprised
…be entertained
Clouds, Dreams & Fantasy is now available on Amazon, in both print and ebook formats. Use the link below to be able to access this book.
https://www.amazon.com/author/lindalflynn_words
Then sit back, relax, and let the stories take you away.
After reading the book, please return to Amazon and leave your review. You are the ones who help others find my books. And feel free to leave comments or questions here on my blog. I’d be happy to talk about how this book came about.
I write for freedom – freedom from expectations; to gain freedom or clarification about events that have happened. I write when I’m happy or overjoyed about some happening or circumstance. I write when I’m lonely and find comfort in visiting another place or time. Sometimes I write because the words are overflowing in my mind and I need to sort them out. Other times I write because something needs to be said to another that is too important to just say and then have it vanish into thin air. I write because words are important to me!
The following piece is something from 2009. Enjoy! And please share your reactions.
Closet Writer Breaks Out
The closet writer is on the loose. She could be anywhere! You may not recognize her for what she is. She appears as any woman you might pass on the street. She enjoys life and lives it to the fullest. She has a family, a day job and could be participating in any life experience. Yet, she’s the one who writes long descriptive letters to friends and family members. Sometimes it’s easier to put her thoughts down in words than to speak them.
Her secret dream is to be a writer. She won’t tell you she’s a writer even though she spends many hours of her day writing. She harbors some fear associated with sharing this, thinking others may judge her. Yet, you will find her busy at night scribbling in her journals, or sneaking away for a few minutes here and there with pen in hand or laptop in tow. The words quickly fill the page and the journals are tucked away.
The lock has broken. Her time has arrived. She has come out of the closet. Her words are no longer a secret – nor are they hers alone anymore. Be aware! She’s out there. She’s watching and she’s writing. She may innocently cross your path and her words may cause you to pause and rethink your position on something, or make you remember some forgotten memory. She may create the opportunity for you think beyond what you formerly held as truth. Or the story she wrote may sound like it’s yours. She could be anywhere. You have been warned. Should you have the opportunity to ask her why she writes, she would tell you, “I write because it sets me free. I have words overflowing in my mind and I need to sort them out. Other times I write because I have something to say to another that is too important to just say the words and have them vanish into thin air. I write because words are important to me.”
In the process of final edits, so this children’s story will be available soon.
If you want to be notified when the book is released, go the Sign Me Up page on my site and fill out the form. This book will only be available in a print copy.
What a weekend! It was Tom’s 50th Class Reunion (twice delayed), which sent us heading to Scottsdale, AZ for Memorial Day Weekend. The class reunion was great and provided my hubby with the opportunity to connect with folks from his past, talk about high-school pranks, project cars and hobbies. We enjoyed much laughter and good connection with some of his former classmates. During the video presentations of senior pictures, I realized those students looked like the kids I graduated from high school with 50 years ago. They sure looked young! My guess is they were like the kids I graduated with. They thought they knew much about life, Didn’t we all experience a surprise?
Though the reunion was fun, our accommodations were the highlight of the weekend. We stayed in the house where Tom grew up. A home built in the early 50s, designed by a renowned architect and built by Del Web as one of his first homes before he became famous for building communities. This house was a one of a kind in a unique neighborhood developed by invitation of the owners of Ride ‘n Rock Ranch. This house was the initial build within the area and identified as the Ranch Guest House. The owner never stayed in the home, but used it as a perk for his executives and for tax benefits. A breezeway separated the bedrooms from the main structure, with each bedroom having its own entrance and a private bathroom. Tom’s parents were the second owners of the structure. During their tenure there, they enclosed the breezeway, which resulted in the first bedroom being connected to the main part of the house.
There’s a one lane road leading to the home, which is set back with plantings and trees lining the walkway to the entry. I felt like I was entering an enchanted zone.
The current owners are passionate about the history of the home and understanding changes performed on the property. They have amassed a huge history on the house and the neighborhood.
Tom has told me many stories of the place and his growing up experiences. I have to admit, I struggled to understand the layout or the neighborhood. His stories came to life for me. It felt like I stepped back in time.
…2020 was the lost year.
I disagree
2020 was the year…
I became focused
I got serious about my writing
Enjoyed contact with writers from around the world
Was challenged and encouraged
To be bold
To let the words out
To trust my voice
Learned the peace of spending time with my thoughts
Found joy in simple pleasures
Around my house
With my husband
Enjoyed time to read
And then read some more
Cooked some amazing meals
Wrote, and wrote and wrote some more
Became comfortable with Zoom and its limitations
Met other creatives who were open about their struggles during this time
Up rooted myself
Moved
Settled in to find myself surrounded by unknown plants
Doors opened to new learning
Writing continues
Meeting neighbors and others
Continue Zoom meetings with writers
Projects progressing…
2020 was the year that continues in 2021!
It’s February
Yet spring abounds
The birds are busy
Calling from one to another
We watch them building nests
Or scavenging in the garden
Buried plants have broken the earth’s crust
Then released their blooms
With these blooms, comes color
Fragrances fill the air
Sweet alyssum flows down the hillside
While the aroma wafts back to the patio
Citrus trees share their harvest
While setting blossoms for next year’s crop
It’s all part of the cycle
The invigorating cycle of life
It feels so good to be in the middle of this
I’m captivated by the sheep dotting the countryside. Once out of town, in County Kerry, Ireland you’ll find many sheep. When we first arrived the little ones appeared quite fresh and so tiny. As we drive around I’ve noticed how much they have grown.
We left early, on our way to a bible study this week. The crisp morning air allowed us to see wide vistas. We drove along the coast and appreciated the view. We came to a spot that overlooks fields in the valley with the mountains in the background. Stopping on the narrow, twisty country roads is usually not an option. Yet we happened upon a driveway on our side of the road with a low gate on the opposite. We parked, got out, expected to take a couple photos and continue to the study.
I wasn’t prepared for what we encountered. The view was beautiful as expected, but sheep filled the field. As we stood at the fence enjoying the expanse before us, they bleated and moved towards us. This put me closer to the sheep of Ireland than I’ve been before. This was a special morning gift.
… and was a blessed start to the day.
Journey to the Heights 