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!
Taking chances
Isn’t that what life is about?
Another journey around the sun.
Out with the old, In with the new
What does it mean to you?
The sun is shining, lighting up the land around me
Blue sky intensifying the colors of the day
A light breeze blows beckoning me outdoors
Just as the new year beckons me to throw aside caution
And enter with wild abandon into the unknown future
The future –
…another year older
…deeper understanding
…new challenges and adventures await
…refining or honing skills
…giving up unrealistic expectations
…savoring the gift of another day
…tenderly holding precious memories
…valuing relationships
…acknowledging more, the power of God’s love
…and learning how to walk more in this love
It is all a chance.
A chance I take willingly.
Out with the old, In with the new
What does it mean to you?
Packed and prepared to leave
Blurry-eyed I grabbed my purse
Sat and buckled in.
Relative quietness hung upon the town.
Entering the freeway
Ribbons of white or red lights
Streamed down the roadway.
Who would have known so many
Would be on the road long before light?
Dawn presented first signs of the day to come.
Heavy clouds hung on the mountain tops.
Light peaked through revealing the foothills
beneath the shrouded peaks.
Spots of pink adorned the clouds.
Traffic intensified.
At times its pace was a crawl
Resembling more of a parking lot than streamers.
Drawn back to the coast—
We stand on the rocky shore
Listening to the crashing waves
Watching sea lions bob and play
Surveying crumbling walls
Succumbed to an earlier hurricane.
The air, the light, the beauty of the sea
on such a day as this.
To town we travel
Where we traipse from one art shop to another.
Early dinner on Main Street, then off to the lodge
Where we enjoy a hot drink, a fire and live entertainment
With other guests of the establishment.
We fall into bed, drifting off to sleep.
Morning comes.
Opening the shutters, I find the marine layer
And local ecology all decked out in preparations for
Halloween.
Allow me to celebrate with you, my friends…
You will have to click on the link to be taken to the poetry on The Galway Review.
Thank you for taking the time to read, and to leave your comments.
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.”
The words below jumped off the page as I read them.
Do you get social media fatigue at the end of the year?
I wanted to scream YES. It’s the Holiday season and the thought of Christmas conjures up cheerful and pleasant feelings which radiate throughout my being. Most are personal. Those feelings don’t translate well to social media.
Are you laughing, or agreeing?
There’s this tug, which pulls me in conflicting directions.
I released a book in late October. I should market said book. There is another I should format for publication.
Somehow, all these aspects of life swirl together, creating my here and now.
The Christmas season of 2022.
To you, those who follow my blog—may you find moments to enjoy whatever makes this season special to you.
We’re home. Landed, unpacked and adjusted to another time change. We’ve had time to process the early months of 2022. It feels good to be home. We returned changed; different from when we left in January. We immersed ourselves in the Irish culture of County Kerry; we reconnected with old friends and made new. Any time one opens themselves to another or something new, they change.
Our return in 2019 and again in 2020 started me thinking I needed to slow down and not rush through life as I was. I had no plan for implementing this change, but recognized it was something I needed. (Enter Covid), which made the change possible. Ha-ha.
The Pandemic left me (Linda), believing God was refining his church. What Ireland revealed to me convinces me of this belief even more. Pastors would tell us they lost some members, they gained some members during Covid. We saw them last in January/February 2020, just prior to the world closing its borders because of Covid. The difference in those congregations/fellowships between 2020 and 2022 was discernable, and so encouraging. People appeared more committed to their faith, and so much more compassionate and committed to their fellow believers. Covid did not surprise God, nor has he stopped working in the hearts of believers around the globe. These communities were more confident in themselves and what they believed. I returned to America with hope in my heart. Hope that we too in America will draw strength from our faith, that we’ll become more committed to the basis of our faith and that we’ll have more compassion for those around us.
When I think of the friendships in County Kerry, my heart is overflowing. I’m grateful for the time I spent with fellow believers, fellow writers, friends of mine.
Between Ireland and home, we spent a week with friends/family in Dorchester, England. It was a time of relaxing, refreshment, and renewed friendship. Sometimes I wish the Atlantic Ocean was not between me and my friends.
There may be more thoughts later, but for now, I’ll just share some of my favorite photos.
While holiday songs fill the airwaves and pine fragrances permeate the air, I find my days filled with decorating, getting holiday letters written, gifts for children and grandchildren to be mailed. With those things going on, my personal pattern finds my mind pulled to evaluating the year’s writing goals, and developing plans for the next year. This trend has been consistent, and you’d think I would expect it instead of finding it to be an annual surprise.
Reflecting on 2021 writing was an interesting project. My major goals were accomplished. I have “first drafts” of three distinctly different writing pieces completed. It also means many hours of editing, creating cover designs and proof copies will fill 2022.
Be on the lookout for upcoming information on:
On the less than stellar accomplishments, my commitment to write as regularly as I had in 2020 was a struggle. Between moving and connecting in a new community, there were more interruptions. My excuse “shiny objects distract me.” I’m fortunate to have another writing mentor who assures our group, even when writers are not writing, they are processing information for future writings. I take heart in her words.
As your year is winding to a close, where are your thoughts and dreams for the coming year? Did you feel stuck in 2021, or did you discover new passions and interests this year?
Bougainvillea plants explode with color
Petals are thin
Each bloom holds four to six petals tightly together
Two white dots fill the center of each as identifying marks for the species
Some tower to the sky growing against the house
Others fill large areas of the garden
Whichever, they fill their space with color and gaiety
Colors vary depending upon plant
The blossoms dry then flutter to the ground
They swirl in the air, ultimately landing below
Like tissue paper scattered and left after a celebration
The yard represents life
Family visited for two weeks
House filled with laughter
Children played games, ran in the garden
Shared cooking experiences
A glass of wine enjoyed in the evenings
Tomorrow’s adventures planned
Car loaded
Family departed
Time flies
Memories are left scattered around
Different shades and hews
Much like my bougainvillea tissue flowers
Journey to the Heights 