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.
Nothing else matters more than sharing kind thoughts with friends and those you care about. Let me tell you a few reasons why. Friends carry one another burdens. Friends make friends laugh. And friends make life fun. I have friends scattered around the globe and they enrich my life. I’m the connection point in this story that spans three countries. I hope the story stretches even farther.
It all began as the result of a writing prompt from an Irish group I’m part of. They gave us about 10 minutes to answer the following question.
If you were one of the seven dwarfs, which one would you be?
My initial reaction. Ugh. What am I going to write?
Then the words flowed. I read, and to my amazement, the group laughed.
The next day, I was chatting with an overseas friend, suffering from the effects of COVID, and she stated she knew she was grumpy, and hated feeling so. I offered to share what I written, hoping she’d find humor in the piece.
What I received back was totally unexpected. It was delightful and left me laughing. My husband, not wanting to be left out of the humor, read both pieces and joined me in the laughter.
Words are so powerful. If you can share something which will lighten another person’s burden—I encourage you to do so.
Here are the two pieces. If you have a response to either, please leave a comment.
Who knows what type of dialog we may get going here…
The prompt:
If you were one of the seven dwarfs, which one would you be?
Today, I would be GRUMPY. You know how they say one gets up on the wrong side of the bed? How can that be? I share my bed, which means I only have ONE side to get up from. If I’m GRUMPY today, and only have one side to get up from, does that mean I’ll be GRUMPY again tomorrow, and the day after?
I can’t bear the thought of having the name GRUMPY hung around my neck. It feels like a two ton weight. Carrying this burden around continues to wear me down.
“Get outa my way! Can’t you see? I’ve got a load to carry and you’re making my work harder than it needs to be.”
“Don’t you smile at me! There’s nothing to be happy about today.”
“You. You, over there… Stop talking about me. You’d be GRUMPY too if you had to lug this rock around with no one to help you.”
“Don’t go telling me what to do. I’ve gotta mind of my own.”
“When will this terrible day end? …and who else is going to show up thinking they can tell me what to do.”
“What’s wrong with this porridge? It isn’t sweet, and it has lumps in it?”
“Time for bed again already?”
“Hey you. Shut off the lights and shut up your mouth. I wanta get some sleep.”
The response:
Hi, I am GRUMPY this week and I am told Covid is responsible for that bad feeling. I have been SNEEZY, SLEEPY, DOPEY and DOC too. I was so HAPPY to talk to you again today, but when I am better, I think I will be my old self BASHFUL again xx
All the dwarfs loved your poem and amazed you got that out in a few minutes. Thank you for sharing it with me, love from BASHFUL xx
–by Sony Gordon-Farleigh
We arrived in Galway, checked into our apartment and headed to the store to pick up a few things so we could fix breakfast the next morning. By Irish standards it was a large store. We made our selections and were walking down the produce isle when an elderly man approached me. He was neatly dressed and wearing an old leather hat. He spoke with a heavy brogue and had to repeat himself several times. Tom and I realized at the same time what he was saying. He inquired of me, if he could exchange hats with my husband. Tom wanted to know why I was being asked instead of him. The gentleman replied that he knew Tom would say no, but perhaps I’d be willing to work the exchange. I laughed saying I kinda liked my husband in his hat. We all laughed. As he turned to walk away, he told us he was just making fun.
Between Ireland and England, several people approached Tom and asked about his hat. No one had an offer as good as the gentleman in the grocery store.
We had just stepped off the tube one night and were walking toward the exit. There was a gust of wind. I felt my hat move and grabbed it quickly. I mentioned I almost lost my hat. Tom said he saw that. As we continued walking toward the stairs another train blew through the station on the tracks in the opposite direction and Tom’s hat went flying. We were unsuccessful in rescuing it, before it fell into the tracks. We had nothing long enough to retrieve it. After checking the schedule and seeing we had a couple of minutes before the next train was schedule to arrive, Tom carefully lowered himself down to the walkway at the track level, retrieved his hat and scurried back up to the walk level. I breathed a sign of relief when he was standing beside me again. We were on our way up the stairs when the next train came through the station.
If you are traveling and like your hat, hold on!
She’s Back! The brazen hussy chipmunk decided to visit our deck again; the deck where we grow tomatoes and herbs for our enjoyment. This time my hunter man was home. He got his weapon and was ready for action. The chipmunk avoided positioning herself in a good shot area. The goal is to hit the vermin not a piece of glass or a shop door. She dodged behind and between the potted plants. She was at the end of the deck, ten feet above ground. We were sure we had her trapped and simply had to wait for a good shot. Not so! Standing on the edge of the deck, she looked around and then she jumped over the edge. We could not believe it! We headed toward the edge and then heard “Kerplunk”! We expected to see chipmunk splat, but instead she was running for the rocks. The fact she survived the fall was more surprising to us than the fact she jumped from such a height.
Fast forward 24 hours and we looked out the window to see said chipmunk stretched out on our cement umbrella base. Who knows if this was a cooling position on the cement, a sunning position, or an announcement of ownership of the deck? The hunter and I headed outside again. The critter appeared a little confused, running to hide behind patio storage boxes. We moved the boxes and the chipmunk ran. I chased it thinking it would run to the planting area and dodge in-between the pots. Surprised again! She raced right up to the end of the deck and jumped. There was no hesitation she just jumped. Gone again.
Who would have thought a chipmunk we could be involved in training chipmunks for the miniature circus?
Note: I have recently turned to some writing prompts to get back to the practice of writing regularly. You may or may not find this humorous. Please feel free to share your comments. A recent prompt was
It’s time for you and Writer’s Block to part ways. Write a letter breaking up with Writer’s Block, starting out with,
Dear Writer’s Block, it’s not you, it’s me …
It is time for me to be honest with you. I don’t like myself when we are hanging around together. Liking ones self is essential to personal satisfaction and happiness. When I’m around you, I don’t accomplish anything. There are so many things in my head I want to get down on paper, or things I’ve started knowing I need to revisit and refine. I find myself thinking, “I can’t!” instead of thinking “I can!” You make it too easy for me to settle for thinking “someday I’ll get back to my writing”. I’m a happier and more fulfilled person when I think, “I can!” We just aren’t compatible. I have taken the liberty of packing your stuff and have even booked a hotel for you in town. With your personality and way with people, I’m sure you won’t have a problem finding someone else to hang around with. If you find yourself bored in town or with no companionship, hop on the train. Enjoy the scenery and the ride. I’m sure things will work out for you. Best of luck to you. I’ve got things to do.
Bye…..
Journey to the Heights 