SATURDAY'S SHORT STORY

THE BOX

The minute the man bolted inside her shop, Jessica recognized him and heaved a heavy sigh. She had hoped never to see him again.

     "Hello, Mr. Palance. I see you've brought back the box."

    

     "Yes." His voice growled. "I don't care if it was free, I'm giving it back. I should have known something was fishy. Who owns a store and gives things away?"

     "Very well. I did promise if you weren't satisfied you could return it.."

     As he watched her hide the box under the counter, he scolded, "You shouldn't give this box to anyone else, Miss Kirsten. It's cursed, I tell you. It's brought me nothing but problems."

     "I am sorry things didn't work out for you. The last time you were here, you told me things had never been better. You even mentioned meeting a special lady. I reminded you then, you needed to give the box away."

     Mr. Palance rubbed the stubble on his chin, "Yes, that's true. I just couldn't part with it. In the beginning, nothing went wrong. Money was pouring in. So  I made sure the box was never out of my sight, for fear the spell would be broken. Then suddenly everything went wrong. My business partner embezzled thousands of dollars and it's going to take years before it's resolved in the courts. I'm facing bankruptcy. My girlfriend turned out to be the kind of woman who expected me to buy her expensive jewelry and wine and dine her every night." He wiped his forehead with his handkerchief.

     "Why did you keep the box? That wasn't part of the agreement. I told you it would only hold its magic for a short while. Then it was vital for you to give the box away and specify the conditions. That's the tradition. It's a way for other people to have the same opportunity to prosper, just as you did."

     "I wasn't going to give up something that was bringing me good fortune. It's a useless piece of junk now. I've taken all it had to give." Without saying anything else he stormed out the front door.

     A little while later, a young girl entered the shop and gave Jessica a warm smile, "Oh what a lovely little store. It's so enchanting." She exclaimed as she walked around.

     "Thank you. Is there something special I can help you find?"

     "I'm looking for a special gift for someone who needs a little joy in her life."

     "Perhaps you may be interested in this." Jessica reached behind the counter and presented the young girl with the box Mr. Palance had returned.

     The girl made a frown as she examined it. "This looks like an  ordinary old box."

     "Yes, it's age is quite authentic. "It's been said the box will bring luck and good fortune to anyone who is willing to give it away. I must warn you. Once a person has it, it will be extremely difficult to part with it. Their lives will dramatically change.. However, the box will only be magical for its owner for a short while. He or she will have to give it away so that someone else will prosper. So you must be sure the new owner understands the conditions and consequences."

     "Something like a tradition that's passed on from generation to generation, only you don't have to wait to pass it along."

     "Exactly." Jessica smiled in approval. "If you are not happy with the box, you may return it at any time."

     "I hate spending money on an old box." She examined the box closer. "It does have a unique design on it.."

     "Oh, there isn't any charge for it. Remember if you and your friend give the box away, you are guaranteed happiness and good fortune.."

     "You know I think I'll take it.  I'm going to place little wishes inside the box for her. Thank you so much."

     "I'm sure that alone will bring her magic." Jessica smiled as she handed the girl the box. This time Jessica knew she wouldn't be getting the box back.

     

     

MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY

'DON'T FORGET - NO ONE ELSE SEES THE WORLD THE WAY YOU DO, SO NO ONE ELSE CAN TELL THE STORIES THAT YOU HAVE TO TELL. - Charles de Lin


Today is the day to start doing what you love. If you like to draw or paint or quilt, start something new today. Although the quote is meant to motivate writers, this can apply to all of you, no matter what your passions are.

Each of you has a story to tell. You can paint it, draw it, write it or quilt it. Same with Bubba's shrimp in Forrest Gump. There's a lot of things you can do with shrimp.

Take the flower I posted above.  If all of you wrote about what you see; what you feel .no one's creation would be the same. Isn't that kind of miraculous? As an example, we have the same components on our face: nose, eyes, lips, etc. Yet, we all look different from each other. (Except for twins, of course), but this isn't about genetics.

If I were painting this flower,  I'd paint it the way my heart feels. Shimmery, silver, glittery white against a midnight blue sky.

If I were writing a story about this flower, this would be a magical flower. Anyone who touched it would receive a special gift.

Or  I'd explain the meaning of the token of love someone gave me, pressed between the pages of my memories.

Maybe  I'd just write about Nature's perfect beauty in all its simplicity.

Allow your imagination to soar, your heart to sing and share it. There are so many people in the world who need your words of comfort; your enthusiasm to appreciate life to the fullest. They may need Your MAGIC.

Don't be afraid to express your emotions on paper or canvas. It's better than therapy, whether you're painting a picture, creating a story, or sewing a beautiful quilt of flowers.

It's great to be blogging again. Personal Writes will be on a varied schedule, but you can look forward to different postings.

Please feel free to share your creations with me and how you get motivated.

Would love to hear from you.



Blessings to All.

Jeanette


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LIFE'S DETOURS--THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE DEAD ENDS.

Last year my publishing career as an author came to a complete stop. 

Due to a detached retina, I was unable to see, let alone write.  It was a devastating year going through the surgeries and waiting periods.

I am one of the lucky ones. My surgeries were successful and my site is now restored. It will never be the way it was, but I am blessed. I AM WRITING AGAIN. I am ecstatic.

I took my eyesight for granted. Now I know what some people go through and the helplessness they feel when they find themselves in darkness or only see shadows. It provided me with a life long lesson.

During this time I had exhausted almost every audiobook in the market. I couldn't watch television, couldn't read and couldn't write. I was bored out of my mind.

I found an old cigar box and started painting it. I blended colors and played around with it. and I made this whimsical box. I didn't use a stencil and drew it freehand. That's why it's not perfect. I couldn't believe I could do it...me who had never painted or drawn a picture in my life.

I

This led me to make more keepsake boxes. I call them Treasure Keepers by JLD Creations. Now I've expanded to cigar purses and I sell them at craft fairs. 

My loss of sight was a detour which led me to a hobby that's been therapeutic and rewarding.

I encourage all of you who have had detours to look beyond that dead end. Find something else that will make your heart sing.

Please share how you've faced challenges and how you found another road  to express yourself.

Blessings,

Jeanette

The Feast of St. Joseph's



St. Joseph is one of the most beloved saints among Italian-Americans. As the patron of workers and the protector of the family, he's honored with a feast on March 19th.

A table is blessed by a priest presiding over a statue of St. Joseph. A stalk of lily blossoms, votive candles and a lace tablecloth are used to decorate the feast table. All are invited to partake of the traditional meal of pasta with a meatless sauce, fish, St. Joseph's egg bread, and Italian pastries. Optional donations are given at the table and given to the poor.

Keep in mind this is an open house, free food for friends, family, and strangers.Can you imagine the amount of food that had to be made? Our backyard looked like a fair. And as a child,  I HATED IT. I thought it was boring and more importantly, I didn't believe in praying to him. 

Then, like all of us, I had a year of holy hell.  I prayed to God, to Jesus, and nothing. He wasn't listening.
How could God allow this to happen to me? I had done nothing wrong! My mother kept reassuring me to have faith. I didn't, not anymore.

A few months later, my mother took me to the Sons of Italy for the Feast of St. Joseph on March 19th. I almost laughed out loud, but again, to please her, I attended.

The feast table was massive and in the middle was the largest statue of St. Joseph I'd ever seen. I mocked it. I talked to it disrespectfully, "I don't believe in you. But I'll make you a deal. You answer my prayers and I'll honor your day for the rest of my life...but ONLY if you give me some kind of tangible proof."

On March 19th, the following year, all my prayers had been answered. And believe me, they were massive requests. Since that time, he's been gracious to answer many more of my prayers: for my husband to find employment, for my step-son's healing, and for countless of other requests for my friends and family.

He denied me once in 2009. And I'm still praying.I can't believe only when everything is going my way. It's my turn to prove my faith to him.

This year I'm celebrating my 35th year, hosting the feast of St. Joseph. Join me if you can. March 23, 2014 and RSVP me.

It never hurts to believe in miracles.

PERSONAL WRITES: You Must Be the Change..

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi

Like many of you, I am a Baby Boomer. I'm also a Flower Child of the sixties and I can't help but wonder what happened to all of us?

I believed we would be the generation that would change the world into a loving and peaceful universe.





We, as a united country and nation, need to take a closer look and resolve this problem. Boundaries have to be established NOW.

No weapons, licensed or otherwise, should be allowed inside schools, recreational family areas, movie theaters, malls, etc.

Airports don't allow a passenger to carry any weapons.

When I was in Europe in 2004, banks had one entrance and everything, including purses, wallets, keys, were placed in a locker before you could get inside the bank. Once you conducted your banking, you were led to another exit to the lobby where you could get to your locker. Everything inside was bulletproof. I remember thinking then that it was a little extreme. Well, I've changed my mind and think they were much smarter than us and much more proactive.

If it means we have to install equipment in every establishment, I'm willing to pay it because life is much more precious to me than anything else.

After what happened at The Groves movie theater this week, I'm forced to face reality. Violence is becoming more common in our world. I don't ever remember fearing for my safety if I entered a mall, a movie, or a school. As a pacifist, I've never believed in guns and I still don't. I do understand that we have a freedom that's priceless and I respect the right to carry a concealed and licensed weapon. But too much has happened in recent years for me to feel comfortable about it.

 A man was killed by a trusted, retired officer of the law, because of a petty argument. If this man hadn't been allowed to bring a gun inside, the argument could have been handled differently. It's too easy to pull out that revolver when tempers are flaring. It's too easy to pull a trigger when someone on the road cuts you off or tail gaits you.

Yes,  I want to have the right to defend myself in my home. Yes, I want everyone to keep their rights, but I don't want lives to be taken when other people are violating those rights. Too many people are getting away with murder. And I hope this man's attorney doesn't get him off on an insanity plea.

I'd like some feedback. Nothing angry, just open discussion. It's okay to disagree with me. Maybe we can come up with a resolution that will make everyone happy and a lot safer.

Peace be with you.

Fill Your Paper With The Breathings of Your Heart - William Wordsworth

Welcome to my new Blog: PERSONAL WRITES. This site will still be as up close and personal in sharing as much of my heart as humanly possible.

I hope all of you had a great Holiday. I was blessed this year to spend Christmas Eve with my Italian side of the family in Tampa. It made my heart sing and my head spin with the beautiful noise of Italians speaking over each other, hands moving in different directions just to make a point, and the room getting louder and louder by the minute. I loved every minute and thanked God I was there with them. So, I’m thanking my cousin Debbie for opening her heart and home to all of us. And I won’t make your mouth water by describing all the great food.

Believe it or not, this was the first time my son and his wife had the opportunity to celebrate Christmas with that side of the family. When he was little, he spent those holidays with his father. As an adult, my son would divide himself every other year at one house in Indiana or mine. And for all these years, I’ve always hosted a Christmas Eve at my house, so it was always a conflict to be with the Italians.

 I am so grateful to have been invited to be a part of that side of my family. I’ve missed that vitality and sincere demonstration of love in its purest form since my mother died.  Italians don’t hold anything back, as my previous blogs have demonstrated in a quieter way. You can’t always hear my words or see my hands moving, but I’m hoping you can feel them.

My husband, on the other hand, was huddled in a corner, holding his head in his hands, to block the noise and confusion. He claimed he was getting a headache. I merely asked him to pretend he was at the clubhouse at Southport, drinking with his buddies yelling across the table to be heard over the music. It’s the same thing, right?

On Christmas Day, my beautiful daughter by marriage to Dave, hosted a wonderful dinner at her house. Again, I felt blessed to be with my husband’s side of the family and having my son and daughter-in-law with me as well. Two holidays in a row, I was beside myself.

I made manicotti from scratch with tomato sauce and Cathy, Dave’s ex-wife, brought the steaks. Yes, isn’t that wonderful?  We had all recently taken a cruise together celebrating Dave’s 60^th birthday and it resulted in opening more doors to include everyone in the Dundas Household. To me this is the real gift we all shared on Christmas Day. We were joined in love and gratitude for all of our blessings.  I thought about Granny Mom that day because she had always been the thread that bonded us together. She would have been so proud to have seen us all in such harmony. Personally, I believe she did.

Now the New Year is upon us and all I can say is Be Kind, Be Loving and most of all Be Forgiving.

Resolutions

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
         C.S. Lewis
   
As the New Year began, like many of you, I made my usual list of resolutions: Of course I wanted to lose more weight and vowed to exercise more. When I finished writing everything, I realized I had written a full page of dreams. It felt more like a bucket list and all of them were revolved around my writing. I almost laughed out loud; still having dreams at my age, until I remembered the quote from C.S. Lewis. And my spirit was once again renewed in believing that I could do everything on that list. But setting goals and keeping them are two different things and as we all know life gets in the way of lists, plans, and blogging.

The good news is that I made goals that were reasonable and reachable. I did lose weight and with that also lost my high blood pressure &  high cholesterol.

Now we're in April and the time has gotten away from me. So much left to do.

The full completion of my first novel,"Finding Summer" is still in progress but there is light at the end of this tunnel and hope you will follow my new journey as I share the trials and errors of writing and publishing.

 Until next time, keep building your dreams.