Writing 101-Day 4-Write About a Loss

Hello bloggers, I’m here, trudging along, still trying to play catch-up. This is my Day 4 post…Yikes, talk about late!

Write about a loss: something (or someone) that was part of your life, and isn’t any more. Today’s twist: Make today’s post the first in a three-post series.

I’ve had so many in my life that I can’t even count them all. Some were huge, some were small, some were sad, and some I have to shake off and say to myself, just keep it moving. Because of the topic, I’m going to skip the twist and keep it as a stand alone post.

I know a few of you know about my most recent loss, Pete. He was the brother of an ex-girlfriend. He passed away in March from an intra-cranial hemorrhage that he probably didn’t even see coming. Of four people I’ve lost to hemorrhages of some kind over the past 18 months, Pete’s affected me the most.

He was like a brother, except we got along ALL the time. 😀 He was always coming to my defense and sticking up for me, especially after my brain injury. Just thinking about him makes me want to cry, but I won’t. He’s the handsome young man you see in the photo to your left. He was only 46 years old.

Throughout my recovery, I always wondered why I was spared. I questioned myself, God, the Universe, my friends, my doctors and neuro-psychologist, and always got different answers. A few people went so far as to tell me to consider myself “lucky” to be alive. Depending on how bad my pain is on any given day, I do consider myself lucky, and am grateful to be alive. However, I can do without the added dose of survivor’s guilt, thank you friends.

It dawned on me that so few people truly understand what survivors of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) go through, that Pete’s death gave me the push I needed to start another blog that will focus on my life post hemorrhage and stroke (I suffered both; the ischemic stroke happened during surgery for the ruptured aneurysm). At the same time, I want it to be a place of comfort where survivors, their caregivers, their family and friends can go to find resources and information that might be of benefit to them, even if it’s just for an understanding ear that will listen.

The blog is still in its infancy and there is so much that still needs to be done, but I’m already working on many of the pages and have sorted a lot of my research into piles that I just need to get typed in and categorized. This is where I need to familiarize myself a little better with the bells and whistles of my WP.

Though Pete is gone physically, he will always be in my heart, and he is now my inspiration for continuing to forge ahead and become a better me. I love and miss you, Pete. Thank you for always believing in me.

 

 

Writing 101 Day 3: Committing to a Writing Practice

Ok, so I’m a few days behind. I’m gonna have to be winging it and making it up on weekends it seems. I’m doing Day 3 of Writing 101 and the assignment is:

Today, celebrate three songs that are significant to you. For your twist, write for fifteen minutes without stopping — and build a writing habit.

This is a difficult assignment because there are many songs hold special places in my heart. Since the assignment calls for three only, I had a hard time trying to figure out the three MOST important songs.

1. Knights in White Satin — The Moody Blues: This song is so significant and not for the reasons you might think. It doesn’t take me back to my childhood, although I do vaguely remember it from way back. My daughter Mandy took me to see Dark Shadows with Johnny Depp for my first Mother’s Day after my bleed. That was in May, 2012. I was just graduating from using the cane. I still get emotional every time I hear it.
2. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) — Eurythmics: Fond memories always come back to me when I hear this song because it was my mother’s favorite when she was alive. She loved her Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, but back when I was kickin’ it 80’s style, she fell in love with this song and would try so hard to sing along with her heavy Hungarian accent. What a hoot that was!
3. Paradise by the Dashboard Lights — Meatloaf: There are dozens of songs that can easily fill this spot, so this was more of an eeny-meenie-miney-mo choice. I’ve loved Meatloaf since forever and this is my absolute favorite song of his. If I’m ever courageous enough (or tipsy enough) to do karaoke, this would be the song I’d be belting out. 🙂 It takes me back to a time when I hung out with close friends, bar-hopping, camping, canoeing, and just enjoying the young, single, and responsibility-free life (well, except for rent, food and utilities)…

There we have it. Three songs that have significant meaning in my life. I’m curious what songs inspired everyone else throughout their lives. Until tomorrow…or the next day.

Writing 101-Day 2: Room With A View

If you could zoom through space in the speed of light, what place would you go to right now?

Photo courtesy of anankkml
http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

Today’s twist: organize your post around the description of a setting.

1972, it’s early evening and there’s a slight breeze in the summer air at the playground by 167 and Jerome Ave in the Bronx. I’m laid out on a blanket under a tree with Mami; Papi is practicing his soccer kicks on the grass with my Woolworth’s purchased imitation soccer ball. Occasionally, the rumble of the number 4 train can be heard passing on the el.

Two other families, one Puerto Rican and the other Dominican, ten to twelve deep are setting up together about twenty feet away. We recognize them; they’re regulars here too. They both live in the next building over from us. We’re the only Hungarian family they ‘know’.  The men set up chairs; they ready their congas, bongos, tambourines (panderetas), guiros, and maracas for entertainment. The women set out food and beverages, enough to feed an army, it seems.

This is a guiro. To learn more about amazing Hispanic instruments, click on image.

Mami and me get up off our blanket and walk over. I already know Mami offers to help the women. They accept. I go to play with the kids. Papi and the men wave hello. One of the older boys goes up to Papi and they start to kick the ball around.

Pretty soon it seems as though three families had come together. Mami brings our lone blanket closer and calls me to bring my bicycle, the one that I am still trying to learn how to ride. The breeze carries the delicious smell of arroz con gandules and fried chicken. My mouth can’t help but water. After dropping my bike off by the blanket, I glance over and notice potato and macaroni salads, chips, and all manner of sweets. At seven years old, I’m loving it.

Sometimes, what I wouldn’t do to go back to such an easier and carefree time. I was young and didn’t feel like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders on my worst days. I had my beloved parents with me. That evening in the park with the two families turned into the start of a beautiful friendship between the three families.

I can still hear the rhythm and the beat of the congas in my head to this day. Milo, one of the sons of the Dominican family, became my best friend. We became so close that my parents allowed me to spend a summer in Santo Domingo the following year.

One summer back in time would satisfy me. That’s all I ask.

Writing101 First Day of Class-June 2, 2014

Good evening bloggers! Well, I added another something to my list of things to do in June. In order to work on my writing skills, I signed up for WordPress’s Writing-101 class. They just finished their blogging class, which I missed, but wouldn’t have been able to do anyway because I’ve been too busy.

I’m gonna try…

Today is the first day of class. 🙂 This is our assignment:

To get started, let’s loosen up. Let’s unlock the mind. Today, take twenty minutes to free write. And don’t think about what you’ll write. Just write.

And for your first twist? Publish this stream-of-consciousness post on your blog.

Well, of course I’m going to post this on my blog. That’s the purpose, right? I can’t promise that I’m going to be able to make every single post though. The assignments come out daily. It’s not like I have time to set up a theme or plan posts ahead of time. Writing is Monday through Friday with weekends off and each day there’s an added twist. It sounds like fun and I could use the practice.

So I said to myself, ‘Self, screw it, what have you got to lose?’ Nothing. But I’ve got a lot to gain as far as discipline, time management, focus, concentration, prioritizing and best of all, meeting new bloggers. It’s a win-win for me. Even if I can’t make every single post, I promised myself that I won’t beat myself up over it. I’m going to do the best I can. I did promise that I will visit other bloggers that had written and share my thoughts on their writings, just like I did with the bloggers that participated in April’s A-Z Challenge.

Looks like my 20 minutes are about up…I’ll see how tomorrow goes.