Daily Prompt

Quote

More than…

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Silver Screen.”

Young black women, you are more than your thighs and your hips. You are beautiful, strong, powerful. I want more from you. Take your place.

~Madea’s Family Reunion(2006)

I am a big fan of Madea the character from writer,director, and producer Tyler Perry.  It’s hard for me to determine my favorite movie, but I do enjoy watching many of Tyler Perry films, Madea’s Family Reunion is one movie that I can watch over and over without becoming overwhelmed or bored. There are many quotes from Tyler Perry’s films that are inspirational and thought-provoking but I imagine this implies to most movies, but one quote I particularly like; “Young black women, you are more than your thighs and your hips. You are beautiful, strong, powerful…” Although this was targeted to black women, this quote implies to all women of every nationality, race, ethnicity, and religion.

Women, young women, girls need to know they are more than their bodies. What is on the outside is superficial, it changes, so we should not become overly obsessed with what is on the outside. We are spirit, souls with emotions, opinions, thoughts, and experiences that make us into who we are. There is nothing wrong with working on outward beauty, but we really need to focus on who we really are, how we think, react, believe, focus on being kind, making good decisions, living wiser. Our outward appearances, inner beauty, and wisdom makes us who we are.

Although there is nothing wrong looking spectacular on the outside, everything we do should be for ourselves, not to get some “guys” attention, we should want the attention to be on what make us “tick” not how our butts and thighs look. So what do you think? Do you agree?

I’m sorry I have offended thee….

This short prose is in response to a daily prompt challenge https://adorablyobnoxious.wordpress.com/2014/12/16/daily-prompt-wronged-objects/

Imagine that your furniture, appliances, and other inanimate objects at home had feelings and emotions, to which item would you owe the biggest apology?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Dear Sofa, I owe you the greatest apology. Clearly you deserved much respect than the way I have treated you over the years. Yes it is proper to sit, lounge, or even take the occasional nap, but it is not proper to, let’s say for the occasional “sexual healing.” For that heavy petting, caressing, bumping and grinding, I’m sorry.

Now that I’m older and I sit to think of the “pleasantries” that have taken place on you, I am sure my “little” actions were not at all pleasant for you. Again, I’m sorry. You deserve to be worshiped, cherished, groomed, pampered and adorned, so now I adorn you with every embellishment that I can afford, I lounge, relax on you, caress you, and maybe the occasional nap, but I will no longer treat you the way I did in the past, I just hope that you forgive me for my past transgressions.

 

 

 

Well I Never…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until today, I would had never thought about making a “reverse” kick the bucket list, those things that I would never do no matter what, no matter if it was the end of the world, if I was paid millions or billions, or even if someone put a gun to my head. In response to the daily prompt the goal is to make an anti-bucket list, so here it goes:

  • I know I will be “offending” those who love or swear by the book “Fifty Shades of Gray,” but I will never read this book, it may be a good book, an excellent book, I may even be missing out on opportunities to “further my education” or obtain some creative ideas but I think I take my chances. Besides it won’t be the first time I will miss out on something and I’m sure it won’t be my last.
  • Bungee Jumping for the simple reason that I am afraid of heights and I don’t see the point other than if I wanted to have a massive heart attack.
  • Travel to Bangkok Thailand, Cairo, or even Bora Bora.  I’m sure these are beautiful countries and I marvel over photos I see, but it’s extremely hot and any place that is too hot is off my list to places I would like to travel.
  • I’m sure it has elements of beauty like the northern lights but I won’t travel to Antarctica, because its way too cold, I would like to go to Alaska one day, however, but I would have to research and find when the climate is suitable to what I desire, not too hot and not too cold.
  • I will not ride “thriller” rides (anymore). These new thriller rides seem to be more…well thrilling and I’m pretty sure I want to live a little longer so I don’t want to have a massive heart attack or stroke, so as the saying goes, I’m good.
  • I won’t eat haggis, chitterlings or any other animal organ (again), I use to eat liver, mostly because out of coercion from my mother, now I’m an adult and I no longer see the point of eating organs from animals when there are so many other “delicacies.”
  • I will never go to Mount McKinley, Mount Rainier or any mountain because once again I’m afraid of heights and I’m not particularly fond of hiking or climbing, I don’t even like to climb my stairs.
  • And at last, I would never ever go back to rekindle past relationships of ex-boyfriends.

This list could be a lot longer, I’m sure if I really sit down and think, this list would continue to grow. Performing this task reminds me how life continues to be a comical, joyful event.

Charisma

What makes a good storyteller?  When I was young attending elementary school there was once this young boy whom I thought was a great storyteller. He knew exactly how to draw people in…creating and keeping his audience. He was very entertaining and engaging, it was more than the words he used it was his tone, voice, and style all the elements that make up a good story. The way he acted out his words to the story was like that of a mime, a clown, or a comedian. This young boy was a character on its own, he too, just like the characters he created was very colorful, charismatic, he kind of reminded me of Red Skeleton or any of the earlier comedians (I’m sure I just told my age here), and he had the ability, the talent to make people really like him, or admire him even when they did not want to.

I thought he was very creative, inventive beyond his age, even though the stories he told may have not been true he seem to make them believable not only to me but to many of the school mates. He led me to want to know, live with, these characters. He told stories of his family, their crazy acts, behavior and beliefs. My young “friend” really kept us entertained on boring recess days, he had the ability to make us laugh especially when he would act out the voices and actions of his characters.

With this in mind that is what makes a good storyteller having the ability to keep the audience entertained through words, opening the imagination by being very descriptive, creating vivid images. Having the ability to create emotions rather it’s laughter, love, sadness, or happiness. A good storyteller have the skill to make the audience fall in love with or hate the characters, create the desire to want to tag along for the adventure, more importantly a good storyteller moves the audience in some sort of way either by causing the desire to act or react.

I hope someday to be this good storyteller. I believe it takes time sometimes it’s dependent on how I, as the storyteller, is moved by the story I have to tell. So what do you think are the qualities of a good storyteller.

This post is in response to the Daily Prompt: Spinning Yarns, what makes a good storyteller.

Sweet Sensation

Dear Court Shows: I want to thank you for allowing me to be sweetly indulged, with the exception of chocolate, these shows are my sweet sensation, constantly reminding me that my life is not a hot  mess as I would like to think. I have been asked for a daily writing prompt to write a thank you note to my sweet indulgence, my satisfaction, my joy, my release.

I can watch these shows over and over. I hate to admit these are my guilty pleasure. My day truly begins with the Divorce Court.  My son hates when I take control of the television during this time because it means hours of viewing a variety of court shows, my sweet indulgence. From Divorce Court it is then time for the People’s Court, Judge Mathis, America’s Court with Judge Ross, Justice with Judge Mablean, I finally end the day with the Hot Bench.

 

 

Once my sweet indulgence is over I hand the remote to my son, my son sighs and rolls his eyes and I either read a book, magazine or play with my cat (He’s my third indulgence).

Tricked-Out

Today’s Daily Prompt is all about Halloween, no matter how you feel about this “holiday,” sometimes you have to do something a little fun or step out from the comfort zone.

This is the time of year I hate the most when grubby, snotty nose kids with their disgusting hands digging into my big giant bowl full of candy. And those costumes, these kids, if you want to call them that, think they are the cuties and they try to be so nice, so friendly, the ungrateful, little or big, ingrates.

My doorbell can’t get any rest tonight, just as fast as a close the door here comes a grimy, candy snatchers, grabbing at my too good for kids candy. Eeeeh can’t wait ’til this night is over with, why can’t they stay home with their parents and gobble their own candies, leave mine alone. Then again, I don’t have to buy candy, I can refuse to participate.

I noticed the bowl seemed very light, when I looked into the bowl, this is when I noticed it was empty, I panicked. My heart started to race, my palms and fingers started to sweat, I almost dropped the bowl. What do I do now? How can I keep this bratty kids coming to my door? I thought about dressing in as grim reaper. No! that’s an invitation to my door. Maybe a crime scene tape with a chalk drawn body. No! also an invitation to my house. Then a bright idea really entered my mind, well at least I hope it’s a bright idea. I know I had to act as quickly as possible, it’s a good thing I’m fairly organized.

So I made sure the door was unlocked and hope my house would not be invaded by a thief. I made sure the entire house was totally dark and quiet. I hid upstairs within the deepest crevice in the hallway and stooped low when my first victim stepped inside my abode. When I heard those creepy little voices saying “Hello” or complaining about being scared and wanting to leave. My tricked door slammed and I heard them beginning to scream, then my tricked out tape recorder clicked on with the sound of big dogs barking. Dressed in chains, I began to stomp down the hall attempting to mimic the running of dogs, just as fast as I stomped down the hall, the kids, I have no idea how many ran screaming from my house. I was laughing so hard I could barely contain myself.

This is one time I will value the power of word of mouth.

First Day

My long time girlfriend and I met while I attended first grade. I remember this like it was my actual first day of school. I was this loner who was better playing alone than with others, but when one day my one friend was not in school, little did I know I would meet another friend who would turn out to be my long time friend. In response to a Daily Prompt, I am to re-write this scene but in the other person’s perspective. So here it goes.

I saw her playing all by herself underneath a tree. She was lining up rocks and sticks making them act like kids, I never saw anyone play like this. She was so tiny, so scrawny, I thought she was in kindergarten but I realized this could not be right because the play yard was full of first and second graders. She can’t be a second grader, she’s too small. She’s too small to be a first grader. Maybe she’s someone’s kid, but I don’t see no parent. I walked up to her and introduced myself.

“Hello!”

She looked up at me.

“Hey!”

“Are you lost?”

Playing with her make believe dolls. “No!”

“You go here?”

She looked up at me again, this time she gave me a puzzled look.

“Yes!, Why?”

“You’re so tiny.”

“I’m in the first grade, I’m suppose to be tiny.”

“Not that tiny.” “What are you doing?”

“Playing.”

“I know that.” “I mean what are you playing.”

“I’m just playing.”

“I never saw anyone play like you.”

She just playing with her rocks and sticks not paying me no mind.

“You’re playing by yourself?” “I mean don’t you have any friends?”

Still playing with the rocks and sticks, not looking at me. “I have one friend but she did not come to school today so I’m playing by myself.”

“Isn’t that kind of….weird?”

Looking up at me this time giving me a “mean” look. “I’m an only child…it’s not weird!”

“Oh!, that explains it.”

There was some moments of silence and I’m feeling a bit uneasy.

“My name is Dolores.”

“My name is LaDonna.”

“That’s a weird name.”

“You have to take that up with my mother.”

I laughed then she laughed.

“Do you want to be friends?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“I feel the need to protect you, like a little sister or cousin.”

“Yeah, you are kind of big.” Giving me a puzzling look. “Are you a….second grader?”

“No!” “I’m in the first.” “I’m just very tall…and big.”

“I have to say I don’t see many first graders your size…at least not girls.”

She smiled, I smiled back.

Since then we became best friends for life. Yes we had our arguments and moments we did not speak to each other. We grew up, had separate lives, but never apart. We can both say that our friendship outlasted any of our relationships with men.

Cobwebs in my mind

Is there a broom for sweeping the clutter that exists inside the mind (or head, brain)? There needs to be, I believe there’s so much litter inside my skull; thinking about the past, worrying about the past and the future, my to do list, what other people think of me, how I think of myself, life, finances, security and the list goes on.

If there was a broom to clean out this clutter, my mind would be neat, clean…at least until it’s time again for a deep sweeping.

Not In a Million Years

You can offer me a million dollars and I still won’t eat them. I can’t imagine for the life of me how many people can bare to eat this “delicacy.” If you are from the South, this is a very common dish, in fact you’re not considered “Southern” if you don’t eat or like this dish, what is this “fancy” feast….chitterlings. They look unappetizing before and after cooking them.

Now just in case you are unfamiliar with these delightful treat it is usually the small intestines of a pig (I chose not to do a picture of this, who wants to see intestines?) but sometimes it can be other animals such as cattle or some other animal.

I don’t care how they are “dressed;” chilli-pepper sauce, extra butter, mustard sauce, soy sauce….I don’t want them. When I think about chitterlings I’m reminded of green eggs and ham, I know it is “good” to try new things, but this one food item I can live without trying, no regrets, no sorrows, leave these southern delights off my plate.

Inheritance

In today’s Daily Prompt the goal is to describe a hand-me-down. It could be clothing, toys, books, recipe, story, song, anything inherited, that is a legacy. This is my inheritance, whether or not it would be my legacy is undecided.

I really need to learn to be more thankful. I am blessed, I have to constantly remind myself as I rant, rave, and complain of the daily, weekly, monthly toils of this big, huge “hand-me-down” I do not want, but considering it is better to be “living” here than to deal with the many unpleasant elements of the streets; the weather, the people, the potential danger…I’m sure the list can go on.

I never really wanted this house, it’s very old, I mean very old. Originally built in 1907, I’m sure this history is impressive and this house let’s me know it has a history with it’s antiquated pipes, walls beginning to crumble, creaking floors, I’m constantly trying to catch up with patching and fixing, the one thing this house and I have in common is that we both are falling apart (in more ways than one).

So I could go on wishing for something better or accept what has been gifted or bequeathed to me and learn to take care of and cherish this old house. I’m not wealthy, so I can’t afford a new, fabulous place, other family members are in the same financial position, living with them is not an option, so I have to I will take care of this old house, “we” don’t actually have to love or even like each other, just learn to co-exist.