Summer Zen

June 21, 2024June 20, 2024 / roughwighting / 68 Comments

My Summer Zen story began as a prompt to my creative writing students: “Write a story that includes the line: ‘I wish I could stay here forever.’ Each writer sunk into the memory of a ‘perfect’ day. But as I wrote my story, I realized that we all could find a perfect moment in every day.

Oh, and the header photo happened this past week – eight little turkey babies (poults) on our deck railing. I think Turkey Mama was having a perfect moment.

As lavender dusk approaches, walk me into the house, put a little music on– Rosemary Clooney, Enya, Vivaldi, the Beatles Rubber Soul– and let the fresh early-summer air meander through the open window. Yes, I’m beginning to get there. Continue reading →

Green Hope

October 21, 2022October 20, 2022 / roughwighting / 129 Comments

“‘Be Bop a Lula,’” he says.

“What?”

“That’s her name, ‘Be Bop a Lula.’”

Jill inwardly rolls her eyes. Jason has been softly pushing her for more during the last year. More time together, more intimacy, more thoughts of moving in together. She’s a ‘less is more’ kind of woman. At least, that’s what she’s become.

“Why is that the plant’s name?” Jill asks, pointing to the hanging plant in his hand. Continue reading →

The Keeper

May 20, 2022May 20, 2022 / roughwighting / 119 Comments

Georgie met the perfect man.

Well, of course, he couldn’t be perfect. He was a man: stubborn, moody at times, and he insisted on balancing his checkbook on Friday evenings.

But still. Travis was kind, thoughtful, nice-looking, and for some reason, he almost automatically fell in love with Georgie.

So it only took three weeks, instead of her usual two months, to consider sleeping with him. But Travis gave her a strange warning: “I’ve been told I make funny noises when I sleep.”

Continue reading →

Latte Love

August 13, 2021August 12, 2021 / roughwighting / 106 Comments

For seven long days I waited to use the crystal ball that I bought – at great expense I might add – from Sally at the “5 & 10 (& Secret Occult) Shop.”

As I mentioned earlier (see The Object of It All.), getting the crystal ball was out of my comfort zone, but what’s astonishing is what happened after I obtained my desired object.
Continue reading →

Second-in-Line or Love?

July 9, 2021July 8, 2021 / roughwighting / 168 Comments

“Your brain is too polite, Martha,” my sister tells me over the phone.

“WHAT?” I’m annoyed with Janet anyway, just out of principle, but this is just too much. “What the heck is that supposed to mean?”

Janet chuckles, raising my ire even further. She’s older than me by three years and always acts like it. She’s the wiser one, the better one, the patronizing one. Continue reading →