Welcome to Thursday Inspiration! This is my weekly prompt post and hopefully it will inspire you to write something creative, perhaps a poem or a piece of flash fiction. If you’d like to share your writing with the community, please indulge me and tag your post with #p0eticlicense and/or #lightm0tifs, and of course link back if you wish. I will try to visit everyone who participates. 🙂
This week’s theme is home and the picture is below. Here is the song snippet from “Home” recorded by Lene Lovich in 1978:
Home is where the heart is
Home is so remote
Home is just emotion
Sticking in my throat
I don’t get the holiday blues… I just get cold. Yep, even in Southern California. Due to a mix of meds, genetics, and lack of exercise, I am almost always freezing 🥶to death. This is depressing because I sit around my apartment huddled in layers of blankets and feel too emotionally paralyzedto get up and move around, which would make me feel better. When I am forced to go out, I do okay, but it’s hard to move around much when you’re already bundled up. Thanks in advance for the advice I know is coming in comments… I’m sure I haven’t thought of any of it before. 🙄
Your favorite beverage (if it differs) during the holiday season? If it doesn’t differ, just answer the ‘what’s your favorite beverage” part.
I love eggnog, especially with booze, but it’s cold and alcohol triggers migraines. 😢 So, the next best drink is delicious hot black tea with orange spice and a dash of milk. This is my favorite drink all year long, btw.
This one has been asked before, but what’s your take on pumpkin spice?
Indifference. Don’t particularly care for it as a beverage, but in muffins it’s yummy… and pie with graham cracker crust! 🥧 I do like the scent of anything pumpkin or apple mixed with ginger/cinnamon/cloves. Not sure why everything is love/hate these days; there are loads of things I mildly like but don’t love, and others I prefer to pass up but won’t freak out about if they end up on my plate. Dial it down. Same goes for politics, music, movies, etc. Not everything has to be so extreme.
Is there is a person or god connected with your holiday?
I am a Jewish atheist, so yes we have the sky guy novel… and no I don’t believe he is real. I am math/science all the way… those are my “faiths.” That doesn’t mean humans know everything or ever will; it just means I don’t feel the need to leap to supernatural explanations for stuff we haven’t been able to figure out (yet). And when it turns out we’ve been wrong about something, we can revise our ideas, unlike some religionists…
• Who are they and do you believe in them?
I don’t believe in any supernatural beings, though they are good material for poetry and fiction. I lump all gods, ghosts, genies, vampires, etc. in the same category. Once you admit one, why not all? Why a god and not a werewolf? 👹
That said, I find militant atheists irritating. It doesn’t bother me that peeps believe in the supernatural as long as they don’t try to convert me or tell me I’m “lesser than” or immoral or whatever. To each their own. Who knows, maybe I’m wrong and there is a god, or a bunch of ’em. But people telling me so won’t convince me. What would? My own direct experience. That’s right. I would need Mr. Big to appear and say hey his own self.
• If you do not believe in these people or gods, does the celebration/honoring of that being, bother you in any way (e.g., ignored, dismissed, angry, etc.)?
Only a few people I know celebrate the Jewish holidays. Mostly I see those around me celebrating Christmas, etc… I think there should be more of that. I love having days off work for other people’s holidayswhen I don’t have to do anything but laze around. I especially enjoy Christmas lights and cookies and sales, along with the fact that I’m not expected to cook a goose or buy anyone gifts.
Gratitude:
Share a song that you enjoy during this Winter season (whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, The Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa and so forth.
Welcome back to Rory’s game! This is his new upgraded version where there are no tags and we jump in to play whenever we please. Welp, it pleases me to begin now!
Here are 3 quotes on topic…
Next, we have 2 pieces of music…
And finally here’s 1 image for the theme…
What does this have to do with aging? It has to do with me being happy with what I have, appreciating a peaceful weekend with my family, minus that low buzz of anxiety and sadness because I hear a voice in my head telling me I should have more (a romantic relationship). It’s taken me a long time to age into this place of goodness and thankfulness.
Once again, thanks to Jim for a great set of prompts. I chose “Magic Man” by Heart (“never seen eyes so blue”). I’ve loved their sound forever. They seem to have written the stories of my life. Or maybe life imitated art? This song was written by Ann and Nancy Wilson in 1975, and Ann later revealed it was partially autobiographical about her boyfriend at the time, who was also the band’s manager. “Magic Man” was Heart’s first Top 10 hit.
Cold late night, so long ago
When I was not so strong, you know
A pretty man came to me
Never seen eyes so blue
I could not run away
It seemed we’d seen each other in a dream
It seemed like he knew me
He looked right through me
Yea
Come on home, girl
He said with a smile
You don’t have to love me yet
Let’s get high awhile
But try to understand
Try to understand
Try, try, try to understand
I’m a magic man
Winter nights we sang in tune
Played inside the months of moon
Never think of never
Let this spell last forever
Well summer lover, passed to fall
Tried to realize it all
Mama says she’s worried
Growing up in a hurry
Yea
Come on home, girl
Mama cried on the phone
Too soon to lose my baby
Yet my girl should be at home
But try to understand
Try to understand
Try, try, try to understand
He’s a magic man, mama
Aaa
He’s a magic man
Come on home, girl
He said with a smile
I cast my spell of love on you
A woman from a child
But try to understand
Try to understand
Ohh ohh
Try, try to understand
Try, try, try to understand
He’s a magic man
Oh yea
(Ooh)
He got magic hands
Aaa
Aaa
Aaa
Aaa
Come on home, girl
He said with a smile
You don’t have to love me yet
Let’s get high awhile
But try to understand
Try to understand
Try, try, try to understand
He’s a magic man
Yea ohh
Welcome to Thursday Inspiration! This is my weekly prompt post and hopefully it will inspire you to write something creative, perhaps a poem or a piece of flash fiction. If you’d like to share your writing with the community, please indulge me and tag your post with #p0eticlicense and/or #lightm0tifs, and of course link back if you wish. I will try to visit everyone who participates. 🙂
This week’s theme is farewell and the picture is below. Here is the song snippet from “The Last Farewell” recorded by Roger Whittaker in 1967:
And I shall be aboard that ship tomorrow
Though my heart is full of tears at this farewell
For you are beautiful, I have loved you dearly
More dearly than the spoken word can tell
This is Season 5 of Rory’s themed, no-tag participation game. Anyone who feels like joining in… just do it! 😻
First, we post 3 quotes on the topic (life’s too short to waste).
Next, we share 2 song vids on the theme.
And, lastly, here is 1 of my own photos to illustrate the concept of life’s too short to waste…
This was taken November 26, 2014, but it doesn’t seem like 5 years have passed since I spent Thanksgiving in Berkeley with my daughters when they were roomies and all 3 of us were single. Now they’re married and one is a mommy. I’m so glad we had all those fun times together before they began their own families. ❤️
“Excuse me,” Karen said to the scruffy guy who was leaning against the wall smoking a cigarette, “are you the manager?”
“No, just the Archie the drummer.” He scratched his head. “The third one akshully. The other two, well… they couldn’t get in.”
Karen rolled her eyes. “Your band sucks. I was promised Jimmy and Janis. I never even heard of the Bathtub Gingers.”
He grinned. “Cool name, wot? I thought of it! It’s like bathtub gin, but gingers cos two of us have red hair. I mean, I did, before the um explosion.”
“What about Bobby?” Karen demanded. “And Otis? Dock of the bay ring any bells?”
Archie shook his head sadly. “Never heard of them blokes. We do a righteous cover of ‘Pillow Biter’ though. I can dedicate it to you after the break. Wozz yer name?”
“Karen,” she sighed. “And I don’t even know the original ‘Pillow Biter.’ It doesn’t sound like a song that should be played in Rock and Roll Heaven either.”
“The angels like it well enough.” Archie shrugged. “Sometimes they join in on their harpsichords. How’d you get here so early anyways, Karen? You look awful young and healthy.”
“That’s a rude question!” she snapped. “But if you must know, my psychiatrist mixed up my prescriptions. I’m sure it was an accident however.”
I’m thankful for Jim Adams and his great SLS prompts! What a wonderful job he’s done taking over this cool participation game. It’s super fun to see what everyone comes up with each week and if anyone chooses the same song I do. This week, I have a feeling I won’t be alone in selecting “Hunger Strike,” the hugely popular song written by the enormously talented Chris Cornell. What a tragedy he passed so early at age 52. Rest in peace. 💖
Anyway, there is a ton of info about this song and how Eddie Vedder ended up duetting with Chris on it. Just incredible to hear these two magical voices together. I’m not going to copypasta all the deets here, but if you have time, read more about the history of “Hunger Strike” and Chris too.
The basics are that this song is credited to Chris’ band at the time, Temple of the Dog. It was released as a single in 1991 from their self-titled album and became their most popular song, peaking at No. 4 on Mainstream Rock, though it’s considered a “grunge” genre song. Now, onto the lyrics and video!
Well I don’t mind stealing bread
From the mouths of decadence
But I can’t feed on the powerless
When my cup’s already overfilled
Yeah
But it’s on the table
The fire’s cooking
And they’re farming babies
The slaves are all working
Blood is on the table
The mouths are all choking
But I’m goin’ hungry
Yeah
I don’t mind stealing bread
From the mouths of decadence
But I can’t feed on the powerless
When my cup’s already overfilled
But it’s on the table
The fire is cooking
And they’re farming babies
The slaves are all working
And it’s on the table
Their mouths are all choking
But I’m going hungry (Going hungry)
I’m going hungry (Going hungry)
I’m going hungry (Going hungry)
I’m going hungry (Going hungry)
I’m going hungry (Going hungry)
I don’t mind stealing bread (I don’t mind)
I don’t mind stealing bread
I’m going hungry (Going hungry)
I’m going hungry (Going hungry)
Welcome to Thursday Inspiration! This is my weekly prompt post and hopefully it will inspire you to write something creative, perhaps a poem or a piece of flash fiction. If you’d like to share your writing with the community, please indulge me and tag your post with #p0eticlicense and/or #lightm0tifs, and of course link back if you wish. I will try to visit everyone who participates. 🙂
This week’s theme is leaves and the picture is below. Here is the song snippet from “California Dreamin’” recorded by The Mamas & The Papas in 1965:
All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray
I’ve been for a walk on a winter’s day
I’d be safe and warm if I was in L.A.
California dreamin’ on such a winter’s day
As Rory continues to amass his dossiers on us, I for one am happy to provide loads of juicy info for his future blackmail schemes. How about you?
1. What makes you laugh, as in really laugh hard?
Unexpected humor is the best. I love to be caught off-guard by someone making a wordplay in the middle of a conversation. That just cracks me up, especially if it pulls in a layered reference to a past event. I can be moved to tears by verbal silliness. One thing I particularly enjoy (though it isn’t spontaneous) is parody. When I watched this video the other day for the first time, I was literally LMAO!
2. What makes you really angry?
What doesn’t? That would be a shorter list. Idiots who blow through red lights and go way over the speed limit. Tailgaters. People who abuse children and pets. Racism and antisemitism. Leaf blowers. Litterbugs. Any repetitive beeping sound wtfff shut up!!!
People who refuse to take responsibility for their own feelings. Blamers, whiners, and bullies. Sulkers and pouters. But also those who scream endlessly. Stalkers. Narcissists. Compulsive liars. Yes, I could have just said men on dating sites. 🙄
3. Who knows you the best?
My daughters probably know me best of all, but no one knows the real me. There’s a blogger (inactive now) whom I’ve never met in person, but when we were hanging out online she was great at understanding what I meant. I sometimes write obscurely and she would translate for the masses. (I’m better at writing clearly than I used to be.) My ex-husband also could translate my thoughts for me way back when. It’s nice to feel understood, without having to explain 27 different ways before someone goes “oh I see,” and then you wonder if they’re just being polite. These two somehow tapped into the way my mind worked regarding conceptual thought, and that was very cool.
But that’s just one aspect of a person, how they think about concepts. It’s important, granted, but there are other things, needs, values, dreams, goals, humor, etc. I used to be more “branded” with stuff like cupcakes and shoes and favorite novels and ways of expressing myself, so that it was easier for people to predict what I might say. But I became too bored with all that, even if it’s ideal for an online presence. Some people know a few facets of me well, and a few (my daughters) know many… but there are some no one knows, maybe not even me.
