Day: November 25, 2018

Weekend Writing Prompt — Illumination

Fandango6 Comments

283E28E2-E637-456D-B945-5BF46A6159D6You’ve got to respect Mother Nature,” David said. “Look at the devastation she can cause,” he added, pointing to images on TV of the flood that wiped out an entire town.”

“Seems that no amount of illumination will shed light on those in denial,” Beth said.

“They’re just plastic politicians,” David said, “and they simply don’t get that we’re heading toward oblivion and the total termination of all living things on planet Earth.”

(Exactly 73 words)

Written for Sammi Cox’s Weekend Writing Prompt (illumination), Scotts Daily Prompt (respect), Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (flood), Ragtag Daily Prompt (plastic), Word of the Day Challenge (oblivion), and Your Daily Word Prompt (termination).

Sunday Photo Fiction — Proof Positive

Fandango21 Comments

B8ECDB36-7ED4-4A4B-94A3-F174B91B5551

It was the family’s last day in London. They headed out of their hotel to grab some breakfast before heading to Heathrow for their flight back to the States.

After finishing breakfast, the young daughter caught something out of the corner of her eye and she ran over to take a closer look. After confirming what she saw, she ran back to her parents and, in an excited voice, said, “Daddy, I need you to buy me something.”

“Sweetie,” her father said, “We already have enough souvenirs. We don’t need to buy any more tchotchkes.”

“I don’t know what tchotchkes are, Daddy,” the girl said, “but this isn’t a souvenir. Come see.” She grabbed her father’s hand and pulled him over to see what she wanted so badly. When the two of them, plus the little girl’s mother, saw what she had pointed out, her father and mother both started to laugh. The father bought the item and handed it to his daughter.

“I understand why you wanted this so much,” the father said to his daughter. “But your Mom and I didn’t need to see the headline in the newspaper to know that you exist, Nessie.”

(197 words)

Written for today’s Sunday Photo Fiction prompt from Susan Spaulding. Photo credit: C.E. Ayr.

DWC — Christian Nation

Fandango29 Comments

21F63F5B-A29E-4469-AD69-3814332E5215“So what do you wish to declare as your religion?” the customs officer said.” Here in this country, as you know, we offer freedom of religion to all citizens.”

“And what about freedom from religion?” I asked.

“What do you mean by freedom from religion?” he asked.

“I mean that I have no religion to declare,” I responded.

“Are you saying that you have no faith?” he asked, giving me a bewildered look.

“Oh no, that’s not at all what I’m saying,” I said. “I have faith, but not in religion and not in God.”

“So who do you pray to, then?”

“I don’t pray.”

“That’s blasphemous, sir,” the visibly angry officer said.

“Listen, I know I’ve been out of the country for more than a decade and that a lot has changed since then, but our forefathers fought and died so that we could exercise our right to freedom of religion, including the right not to practice any religion at all, without interference from the government,” I said. “Are you telling me that their fight for that freedom was in vain, that it means nothing anymore?”

“I’m telling you,” he said, “that after the revolution of 2023, when the Constitution II was ratified two years later, our country was declared to be a Christian Nation, and while some minor non-Christian religions are still tolerated, agnosticism and atheism are against the law and against the natural order.

I looked at him and said, “So I cannot return to my country unless I declare my religion to be Christian?”

“Yes,” he said. “The official state religion is Christianity and you are free to declare yourself to be a member any of the approved Christian sects. That is the blessing bestowed upon us by the Supreme Leader of Trumplandia, Queen Ivanka.”

Written for yesterday’s Daily Writing Challenge from Teresa, The Haunted Wordsmith. The three words to use are faith, fight, and freedom. And yes, I know I’m a day late, but I had things to do, places to go, and people to see yesterday.

Song Lyric Sunday — First Cut

Fandango16 Comments

Helen Vahdati’s theme for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday is “first.” More than a few songs popped into my head, but the one that bubbled up to the top was Cat Stevens’ “The First Cut Is The Deepest.”

This song was written by Cat Stevens and was released in December 1967 as a track on his second album, New Masters. Stevens wrote the song in 1965 and it was initially recorded by P. P. Arnold, for whom it was a huge hit. Other artists, including Keith Hampshire, Rod Stewart, Dawn Penn, Papa Dee, and Sheryl Crow also had hits with the song.

“The First Cut Is The Deepest” is about a guy who has met a girl he wants to start a relationship with. In the song, he is explaining the hurt he feels because of his first love, and how it is keeping him from diving into this potential new relationship.

Here are the lyrics to the song.

I would have given you all of my heart
but there’s someone who’s torn it apart
and she’s taking almost all that I’ve got
but if you want, I’ll try to love again
baby I’ll try to love again but I know

The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The first cut is the deepest
’cause when it comes to being lucky she’s cursed
when it comes to lovin’ me she’s worst
but when it comes to being loved she’s first
that’s how I know

The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The first cut is the deepest

I still want you by my side
just to help me dry the tears that I’ve cried
cause I’m sure gonna give you a try
and if you want, I’ll try to love again
but baby, I’ll try to love again, but I know

The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The first cut is the deepest

‘Cause when it comes to being lucky she’s cursed
when it comes to lovin’ me she’s worst
but when it comes to being loved she’s first
that’s how I know

The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The first cut is the deepest

As a bonus, here’s Rod Stewart’s version.

FOWC with Fandango — Flood

Fandango30 Comments

FOWCWelcome to November 25, 2018 and to Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (aka, FOWC). It’s designed to fill the void after WordPress bailed on its daily one-word prompt.

I will be posting each day’s word just after midnight Pacific Time (US).

Today’s word is “flood.”

Write a post using that word. It can be prose, poetry, fiction, non-fiction. It can be any length. It can be just a picture or a drawing if you want. No holds barred, so to speak.

Once you are done, tag your post with #FOWC and create a pingback to this post if you are on WordPress. Or you can simply include a link to your post in the comments.

And be sure to read the posts of other bloggers who respond to this prompt. You will marvel at their creativity.