Daily Archives: February 1, 2014

And Don’t Forget Winona

February 1st, 2014 / Categories: Moose Nuggets / Comments Closed

DaddyJim loaded up the Chivvy. Mama fried up the chicken and grits. The sun was barely peepin’ over the trees in yonder field when we set out, Buddy’s and my chubby hands claspin’ hot biscuits drippin’ with butter.

‘Long about noon we stopped at the fillin’ station.

“Git on now, ‘Nona. Take Buddy and git warshed up afore lunch.”

We et, then took a rest. When I woke up, I saw the Chivvy pullin’ out without me.

Tears rolled in dirty canals down my cheeks, but then, DaddyJim was there. “Chile, you rest easy. We would never forget our Winona.”


photo of the Soulsby Station of Route 66.

This is my entry for Lance’s 100 Word Song based on Route 66 by Depeche Mode (and others, of course). I especially love the line And don’t forget Winona as that was my mother’s name.

I remember

February 1st, 2014 / Categories: Moose Nuggets, words / Comments Closed

Back before the days of wasted hours (sigh) spent on the book of face (tip of hat to Lance), I used to blog regularly. The blog itself has undergone a couple of name changes and home changes, but I have been settled in as the PurpleMoose Gazette for several (hundred or so) years now.

I used to be here and about (reading other blogs) on a daily basis. I wrote and wrote and wrote some more – about the whole fam-damily – about ‘laska – about the world as I see it.

That was before I took a job that required so much brain and heart time that I could not – would not – dared not – write about the world I lived in any longer. I have boundaries that are work imposed and self imposed and confidentiality requirements that keep me pretty closed mouth – most of the time.

I miss the days of coming here and spouting about the latest injustices I saw in the community that I call home and the greater world at large. But, that can come across as so petty and narcissistic and self-serving and ego-centric, don’t you think? After all, I am but one in a greater number of fellow humans. I have made my peace with what I can and cannot change and the people I can and cannot influence.

These days my writing is limited to 100 word and 33-333 word snippets Some days that is all that I can manage to get down on paper/screen. What comes out is at times painful and revealing, but often it reflects the latest book I am reading or have just completed. Who knows what the catalyst might be for the words we choose to share?

Thursday night – simply because I had taken the week off work – I was privileged to attend a local writers poetry reading. I was invited to share poetry I had written – or could bring a favorite author’s poetry to read. So much good writing was heard that night and I left wondering why my poetry has dried up a bit. (thus the above soul-searching) The conclusion I have come to is that I simply do not allow myself the TIME to sit and write and to write and to write some more. I waste those precious minutes away playing silly games on fb.

Perhaps it is time to step away from that – to understand that, in the greater scheme of things, I will not be missing out on much. Gone are the days of the blog hopping and getting mired in the battles of fellow bloggers. Blog-dom has changed – a lot – over the years. My “older” friends will know of what I speak. It is quicker and far easier to get embroiled in battles on fb. Instant gratification – instant justification. I miss the days when you had to THINK about what you posted before you posted.

RESOLVED: spend more time away from fb and here – or in my (paper) journal – reflecting, writing, WRITING, and WRITING. It is time.