Category Archives: Writing 101

My Special Friend

By Posted in Writing 101 Tagged , , , , , , , 1 Comment
Faithful Friend

Faithful Friend

The medicinal scent, an artificially sweet scent mixed with chemicals I can’t pronounce, permeated the room. It was a scary place. I looked over at the nightstand of my “home” for the past ten months. There was George, my best and only friend at the time.

His once-pristine jammie top was stained. Spills from careless nurses and miscellaneous hospital grime. His smile, though stitched on, told me that he didn’t mind. “Erin, we’re in this together!”

To me, it feels like maybe five years ago. I still can’t believe it has been seventeen years. I have aged, fourteen to closing in on my 31st year. A little too old to have a stuffed animal.

But George isn’t just your run-of-the-mill plush toy. Every time I look to the left of my bed sitting on my gunmetal gray loveseat, I see him, smiling widely. “Erin, this journey is scary, but again, we’re in this together!”

Looking at my friend is bittersweet. I purchased him, probably with babysitting money. When I could walk, talk, you name it. Obviously, that was pre-1998, when all possibilities were open to me. George got me through this terrifying place. A place where I survived; survived a virus predicted to take my life. Survived against all odds.

All I can say is thank you, George. But thank you isn’t strong enough.

Be Brief: Life in 100 Words or Less

By Posted in Writing 101 Tagged , , , , Leave a comment

Courtesy huffingtonpost.com

Dear God, the letter read I came across on my jog. I felt nosy reading some child’s correspondence with The Big Guy. I found it endearing, but it also troubled me. As a postal worker, I knew what would come of it. Dead letter pile. I couldn’t let that happen. With two parents out of work and a brother with cancer, this youngster needed some help! Back home, I called my boss. I explained the situation. “We’re really not hiring,” he said, “but we can find something.” Another call, remembering our church secretary just quit. He works in mysterious ways.

It’s Not Goodbye, It’s Ta-Ta

By Posted in Writing 101 Tagged , , , , , , , Leave a comment

I’m fortunate not to have to suffered many losses in my 31 years on the planet. I’m talking about family members. Sure, I wish I knew my paternal grandparents, who passed away when I was very young, but I feel like I know them through pictures and stories Dad tells. My aunt even says that I have Grandma Mary Ann’s button nose! I guess I will always have a part of the grandmother I never knew.

But losses don’t have to be family members to affect you deeply (I will do my best to hold it together). My physical medicine doctor–which is a specialty that provides care to the disabled, trying to improve the quality of life for them–is retiring in July.

IMG_0013

Me and Dr. B.

Dr. Murray Brandstater changed my life. I remember laying in a hospital bed at fifteen realizing that I was now disabled. I thought my life was over. With Dr. B’s help, I now understood that it was just a new chapter, not the end!

And I’m actually happier now! Thank you, Dr. B.

Room With A View

By Posted in Writing 101 Tagged , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Courtesy oldhouseonline.com

Granted, things were far from perfect in the 1940s. Still, I feel like I was born in the wrong generation. It’s not that I’d like war rationing or blackout curtains, but—and call me simple—I’d love to have a 1940s kitchen. Here’s what a typical family’s would look like:

A white Sunbeam electric mixer and coral tins, a little bright for her husband’s taste, but they were a wedding present, contained the kitchen essentials: flour, coffee, sugar, and one not in use. There was a toaster that is so unpredictable, the toast could be burnt to a crisp one day and in it’s original state another morning. The white refrigerator’s exterior contained report cards, finger paintings, and reminders: John had a dentist appointment on Thursday and Abby’s ballet class was Tuesday not, Wednesday.

No email reminders from Abby’s ballet teacher or text reminders from John’s dentist—but also no Downton Abbey or Amazing Race, either. Maybe 2015 has something to offer after all.

Answers, Hopefully

By Posted in Writing 101 Tagged , , , , Leave a comment

Dear Readers,

I’m enrolled in WordPress’s Writing 101 for the next four weeks so I’ll continue to post, but excuse me if things seem a bit odd! For instance, today’s assignment was a 20-minute free write. As you can see, it takes me a long time to type so my 20 minutes’ worth isn’t as much as other people’s.

Almost giddy about getting some answers tomorrow. But what if the test comes back normal? Will I have to live like this until he gets it right? And the new stuff makes me like a zombie and that’s it. What now? Can’t take it anymore.