Category Archive:Moose Nuggets

The CD played and she softly sang along: In the deep midwinter, snow on snow on snow.

Melancholy touched her spirit. It was this time of year, her formerly favorite time, when Roy had left for Iraq. He’d smiled and touched her forehead with his at the deployment center.

“Ah, my sweet love, I’ll be back before the deep midwinter. We’ll be together before snow piles on snow. I love you. I’ll see you soon.”

Her heart left North Carolina that day. She missed him terribly.

Roy’s rich tenor joined her alto and she looked up to find her joy.

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I buy very little music, but one year I bought an album by an Anchorage couple with what is now my favorite piece of music, In the Deep Midwinter. The image of Snow on Snow on Snow is especially appropriate here in Alaska this year where we have had the aforementioned snows along with great winds. We are between power outages at the moment allowing me these few minutes to write. Ah midwinter!

This is in answer to Velvet Verbosity’s weekly 100 Word challenge: SNOW. You have time to write YOUR 100 words.

I love the sound, the feel of them as they roll off my tongue. I love plays on words, but wince when used incorrectly.

Mother taught me to love words. A beautiful writer, she encouraged my sister and me to express ourselves well. When we copied the speech of aunts who said “boirl” and “oirl” she corrected us and told us we knew better because SHE had taught us better.

Writing is powerful. An expression of pent up fears, emotions, loves, and hates, I grow each time I tap out letters on my keyboard. Writing? It’s the ME of me.
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In honor of NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writers Month) a 31 day period of time when folks drop all to write a complete novel – Velvet Verbosity gave us the option to write whatever we wanted about WRITING, staying within the 100 Words guideline of100 words: no more, no less. The above is my take on the theme. What 100 words expresses YOUR take on writing?

When even the Life Flight helicopter at the hospital wears a coat. 🙂 Yes, even the rotor blades are covered.

Click image for a closer look

“It only comes once a year. It’ll be fun.”

Marnie Grimm coaxed Henry into submission. She knew once he got into costume and she got him out the door he’d have a good time. Fright Night was a big deal in their little town. Even they could dress in costume to walk among other town folk.

Marnie was dressed as Little Red Riding Hood, holding a leash attached to a diamond studded collar around Henry’s throat. He wore an old-fashioned nightgown and cap over his furry head.

“Ooooh, Gramma. What big teeth you have!” Marnie crooned seductively into his ear.
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Okay here is a FRIGHTFUL entry for this week’s 100 Word prompt HALLOWEEN.
🙂

Edited to add: I missed the REAL prompt – which is HALLOWEEN, so I will likely do another piece. As I’ve already submitted this piece, I will leave it up. Chalk it up to the cold I have. 🙂
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This week’s prompt is Grief, Frailty, and Fright. The following is my take on that. I want to be like this couple – taking the end of life on with style and grace.
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It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. After living together for 40 years, investing all in their children, they had established communication again. They touched, talked, loved.

Then the pronouncement: she had end stage cancer and he was going to lose her. They weren’t ready to hear that. Life, indeed, was too short.

They held onto each other tighter and decided to live the last days with joy. Family gathered ‘round for photos and shared laughter.

On her final day each received her blessing. She closed her eyes for the last time with a smile.
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Several years ago I wrote a ghoulishly spooky poem. It has been read on local radio – and not so local radio – by a friend in the news biz. It was too long to fit the 100 words criteria, but I will share the link here if you want a bit of a scary tickle. 🙂