Tag Archives: United States

Ligo Haibun Challenge: Wild West Fantasy

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Imagine in your youth, the sparkle in those pretty, dark eyes as you ride across the American western frontiers in search of a new place to call home. On May 1st, you silently celebrate your birthday hunting with the wagon train men. Who needs girlie celebrations when your talents with a gun and horse riding abilities increase remarkably quickly without them. Silly waste of time. It takes at least five months with the wagon train team to make its way from Missouri to Montana. Your family is moving and in five months, your outdoor survival skills will be perfect. Unfortunately, mom succumbs to “washtub pneumonia” and dad dies soon after. Being the eldest of six children makes you their natural caretaker. Three sisters and two brothers. Life in the wild, Wild West is never easy. How can a poor illiterate young girl support herself and siblings?

First, you keep believing in yourself and take every opportunity that comes your way. No work is below you. You work as a dishwasher, a cook, waitress, nurse, a miner, an ox-team driver, a dance-hall girl and yes, sometimes even selling yourself at the Fort Laramie Three-Mile Hog Ranch.

Calamity Jane with gun

wild west fantasy
rough-riding, gun-slinging gal
calamity jane

♣ ♣ ♣

If you like this post, perhaps you would enjoy visiting Call2Read| Ligo Haibun Challenge. This week’s challenge was a choice between Fantasy or Inspiration.

Thank you!

“Our Hearts Are Broken…”

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“There’s no tragedy in life like the death of a child. Things never get back to the way they were.”

~Dwight D. Eisenhower

Newtown, Connecticut

Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy:

“Evil visited this community today.”

The community being a southern New England town called Newtown, where a young, 20-year old decided today, December 13, 2012, he had enough.

Entering a classroom where his mother was a teacher, he tragically shot her and 20 students ranging in ages from five to ten years old.

President Barack Obama:

“Our hearts are broken today.”

This short post goes out to the parents who lost their children in this horrific situation, the witnesses, especially the young ones and to our nation that seems to be slowly unraveling.

Since this killing spree involved guns, naturally the public discussions are turning to  gun control. I admit my total lack of knowledge about gun control, so I ask, do we need more gun control or less? How can a nation stop the current violence against its own people?

Weekly Photo Challenge: Thankful

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There is a woman at church who challenges me every time I see her. When she asked me her question, I have to admit, the first few times, I was always flustered. After I thought about it, it actually made me uncomfortable that I could not answer her without pausing to think deeply on the answer.

Her question was easy. The answer should be right there ready to blurt out at the instant someone asks.

Why was it so hard for me to think, on the spot, the question, “What was the one thing I was thankful for today?

Seriously. The first time she asked me, it was as if my whole brain turned to rocks and it began to shut down.

The Rocks

A brain turned to rocks…

Me: Uh, I don’t know. Let’s see. Um, uh, well…the one thing I am thankful for today is…uh, why you asking me this, Mrs. V? You know I barely think about anything useful let alone what I am thankful for…

The Pretzel Image

Who dares to play with their pretzels?!?

Mrs. V.: We have many opportunities, big and small; throughout the day…if you take a few minutes throughout the day looking for grateful instances, by the end of the day, you will have collected a basket full of those thankful moments.

 

Taking Mrs. V.’s wisdom words to heart, I am thankful today for all the blessings that have come my way, so many taken for granted; like good health, freedom to worship, loving family and friends, opportunities to express creative works without persecution and my home country, the United States.

The Fall Sunset

For this glorious sunset this evening, I am thankful.

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What is the one thing you are thankful for today?

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Find yourself craving more on this Thankful theme? Visit the Weekly Photo Challenge for more information like this and more:

Thankful. In the United States, yesterday was Thanksgiving, a holiday where people spend time with family and friends and remember the things they’re thankful for.

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A Simply Charming Thank YOU!!

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Hello charming Friends…today in the United States we are celebrating Thanksgiving Day!

My special thanks to all of you readers who shared precious moments with me this past year…I depend greatly on your friendship.

Thank you.

The Thanksgiving Day mantra.

Happy Thanksgiving Day.