peace – pamelascanepa

The Occupation

From https://randomwordgenerator.com/picture.php

Fear took its place

at the center of my heart

Can you tell fear and love apart?

It spread to my nerve endings

Put me on edge, no pretending.

A heart frozen can not be open.

A heart that flees has no hoping.

A heart always ready to fight

Is not occupied by light.

You will not know the peaceful dove

because fear overshadows and poisons love.

The calm of feeling I belong,

A hug or a tranquil inner song

Help refocus me when everything feels wrong…

Focus on fear brings darkness and blight

Love and forgiveness let in the healing light.

Which will show in your face?

Fear and distrust have no grace.

Fear’s stronghold can be released,

Love must always start with peace.

Popular Opinion. #fiction #FOWC

“According to popular opinion, these humans are good for nothing but space fuel, or an after-dinner snack. Not much substantial about them at all.” Dorf looked down at the landscape that grew closer and closer to them.

Mifkus just shrugged. How could he convince the ogre any different?

“I mean, we’ve been visiting and observing for centuries and they don’t even suspect. Politicians concern themselves with little more than the production and consumption of green legal tender. I don’t see humans as worthy of a friendly greeting. Destruction should be our goal.”

Mifkus zoomed his eyes into focus. “Slow down.” A dot on a city street below became visible. Slowly, he pushed the share button and an image came to the big screen.

“There. Someone knows we’re here. She’ll be the bridge toward peaceful acclimation. Destruction is not needed.” He sighed in relief.

“Nonsense. Those daft care-takers will erase any hopes of sensibility in that child.”

“Not if we make our appearance now. A peaceful hello, to just this one. Please, hear me out. We’ll make a vote.” He looked pleadingly at the others.

Peaceful appearance won out over hostile Earth takeover. And today she lives to tell the tale of the odd green creatures that presented her with her first daffodil. Tomorrow, who knows what may bridge us toward universal peace.

*You know what they say about popular opinion… Find the Fandango One Word Challenge and follow for your daily prompt at https://fivedotoh.com/2019/12/27/fowc-with-fandango-popular/

girl in pink and red shirt and pants — Photo by Ahmed Aqtai on Pexels.com

O is for Ocean. #AtoZChallenge

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*I own the rights to this photo.

This photo was taken in April of 2015. My son walks on the beach with a bird fluttering behind him. He has had a wonderful love and curiosity of birds through childhood. I have many pictures documenting that! The ocean has been a common ground for us, even through his tumultuous teens. It has always been a place of peace. We spent a day at the beach on this particular weekend surrounding his 19th birthday. While most teens might prefer partying with their friends, he is a quiet fellow, and he loved this.

Digging on a beach in St. Petersburg, Fla. 2007. Note the chubby cheeks of childhood. 🙂

I used to take him to the ocean quite regularly at certain times of our life. It is not as frequent lately since we live a little further away and I don’t enjoy long drives, not to mention, my life is packed full of work, volunteer activities, and writing goals. But I still make it a point to get there over the summer. It is the first acknowledgment for me that summer is here and it is time to relax.

Coincidentally, it is my son’s birthday again tomorrow. So far, the only plans are to take him to a Brazilian Steakhouse. He is turning 21. I am praying for sound decisions now that he is going to be legal. I also need to make a beach appointment with him soon!

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2006 Sunrise beach visit. Always a special time! Note the birds in the background. 🙂

**The AtoZ Challenge theme for my blog is “Who I am.” Yes, it’s wide open. In April, I will blog from A to Z to include little tidbits about me, poems I’ll share, and stories. Each day I will write something based on the next letter in the alphabet. It’s been fun so far, yet it has really given me a chance to pause for reflection as well.

Want to know more about the A-Z blog challenge? Visit http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com

#weekendcoffeeshare Merry Christmas/Hannukah!

coffeechristmas-1895053_1280 Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

Welcome to my #weekendcoffeeshare, hosted by parttimemonsterblog.com! If we were having coffee today, I’d tell you that the fact that today is both Christmas and Hanukkah is an astounding, symbolic uniting factor for our world, something we so desperately need right now! Instead of focusing on differences, we should focus on what unites. And because the coffee is so good and the coffee shop music so enlightening, I would truly feel this. I am, at heart, a true optimist. Sure, I fight negative feelings at times, but I always believe it is a battle worth fighting.

I’d also tell you that I’m still writing, though I told a friend the other day I felt very unfocused right now. (I did, but that was a work issue. My job challenges me so much right now). Yesterday, I added 500-600 words to my latest full manuscript. That’s a big deal, because it tipped me to over 48,000 words and I’m closing in on 49,000. I won’t accept any less than 50K. I allowed myself to extend beyond November, but I won’t allow stopping short. (Get the Seinfield reference?):) I did another flash fiction story; you can read it at https://pamelascanepa.wordpress.com/2016/12/23/flashfiction-this-time-shortstory-fffawchallenge/ I also discovered some new uses for the Author’s Den website. I have never felt successful there, but they are showcasing Christmas poems and stories right now. What’s a girl to do? Write a Christmas poem and tag it as such! So I did, and people have been responding to it! (This is after I figured out the Author’s Den password). I also got all Christmas gifts wrapped yesterday, slacked around a bit, read a little, watched the IT Crowd, begrudgingly renewed auto insurance, and crashed, fatigued by 10 p.m. Anyhow, here is the Christmas poem, as it reflects on my feelings of this season:

Christmas is in the Heart

Gifts are wrapped,
hair is done
I’m ready for the arrival
of the chosen one.

To celebrate,
I’ll wear my best dress,
but it doesn’t really matter,
I must confess.

I’ve gotten all caught up
and I’ve lost sight
of the things most important
on this Christmas night.

Did I open my heart gladly
to someone in need?
It matters more
than the glitter on my tree.

And if I decided
that I could take time
to chat with a friend,
perhaps the joy is mine.

So if I am haphazard
with the wrapping of gifts,
decorating the tree,
or fulfilling each wish

Please understand
I, in my own way, take part
Christmas isn’t in the wallet,
but in my heart.

Friends, I wish you all the joy this holiday season can bring, whether from your family, a loved one, a fuzzy dog or cat, or the joy you may bring to another unexpectedly. Thank you for stopping by! Please also visit http://parttimemonsterblog.com to see the other #weekendcoffeeshares and to submit your own as well!