Life After Retirement You wake up one morning, the sun is shining and it looks like a beautiful day. What could possibly go wrong, your children are grown and your husband is retiring from the United States Army after 33 years. You're actually looking forward to living what's known as a normal life and boom, it just falls all around you like a pile of rocks. Those first couple weeks of the hubby under foot, you say to you...

One of the best holidays I ever had Was when I was fifteen When I spent ten days on New Zealand's South Island. After landing in Christchurch And getting our luggage  Then going to pick up the car We headed down south. Stopping at two glaciers Admiring them with awe They were spectacular,  But had to continue down further I guess you'll agree. Spending the most time Based out of Queenstown, Where I went jet boating On the...

Marcia's mom hurried to Sarah's summerhouse and ran inside. Marcia sat on the couch with her feet up and a damp cloth on her forehead. The rest of the guests sat on the floor and watched, as Marcia moaned and held her stomach. It appeared that she took a wee bit too much ipecac and now suffered from the effects. Her mom looked at her and shook her head. "Let's get you home, young lady and into bed. Your friends can come w...

The Monday before Thanksgiving was bright and sunny. Marcia woke and thought, "Tonight is the night of the sleepover." A small feeling of dread settled in her head, when she thought about the pranks tonight. How should she act about them? Should she retaliate for them? It was a hard choice to make. She felt good that she knew about the pranks, but wondered why Sarah was so vindictive. It was good of Naomi to come forward...

The day everyone waited for finally arrived, Monday morning after Sarah's fabulous Halloween party. The school was abuzz with all the events, which made the party a huge success. Marcia, Monica and Sabrina spread the word that they crashed the party and were responsible for the panic that ensued. That knowledge made them instant heroes with the students who despised Sarah and her friends. The rest of the school spread the...

If I should die, I want to become a butterfly. To flutter from flower to flower On gossamer wings using wind power. I land on a branch of a big oak tree, Waiting for the wind to set me free. I see a child in the wood walking, I drop on down and start talking. She looks up at me with a smile, I say fly away with me for a while. She spreads her wings following me, We fly so high and look at what we see. We fly for miles hol...

The trash incident with Sarah occurred on Thursday and the three friends endured the rest of the day in extremely dirty, smelly clothes. Sabrina and Monica were used to this type of treatment and took it in stride. Marcia's brain kept repeating the incident and found it happened completely on purpose to harass them. She thought it is now time to get even, but how? As she thought, a complete plan developed in her mind. An...

Before Cricket became Emily Truesdale, she was Marcia Shaw of Paramus, New Jersey U.S.A. She was an only child with two loving and caring parents. Her early childhood was normal with no significant differences from any other girl her own age. She was sweet, innocent and caring with a few friends and no enemies. To most people she was small, quiet and a top student. Her life changed in the third grade, when the school sing...

Words can be a deadly pill, When used in anger they can kill. In anger tossed out as we use, They hurt deeply as we abuse. When we pick the strongest words, They cut deeply as if they are swords. We throw the harsh words out. They hit the listener with clout. We use words in life every day. Use them wrong and we pay. Sometimes words come from above, Especially when we speak of love. Words can be like waves of the ocean, W...

I run into the bright forest with the leaves fluttering down. I look over my shoulder, laughing, to see if my friend follows me. When I turn my head to look forward, I run into a wall. Wait, not a wall, but a very tall thin man, wearing a suit and tie, with a blank face. He reaches down and gives me a hand and helps me up. He bends down to me, after I am on my feet and hands me a single flower. I grab it and put it in my...

As I sit here writing, words flutter from the breezes in my fertile mind. So often, I try to put them on paper or utter them aloud. They come out in a jumble, as if I pulled them from the brambles in my mind. I use words to communicate and inform, to confuse and entertain. Words like the fruit of the bramble can be sweet or sour. Even when sweet, they can turn sour in the mind of the reader or listener. Lately, however my...

Once upon a time, there was a farmer named 'Farmer Green' who ran a huge commercial farm that raised potatoes and carrots. His products were so good they were in great demand. His crops were completely organic and had a wonderful flavor and texture. Buyers from all over the world came to him for his crops and his secret to growing them. His house was in a distant corner of his fields, surrounded by a simple white rail fen...

I went to the ocean the other day. To get in I had to pay. Into the lot I drove; Between the cars I wove. I looked and looked; found the perfect spot. Got out of my car. It sure was hot. The sun shone brightly. I treaded very lightly. My feet were hot when they hit the wet grass. I slipped and fell ending up on my ass. My blanket, towel and books got wet. I was at the beach so why fret. My girl stood there laughing at me....

Emily Truesdale woke up looking out her bedroom window, as the sun rose over the ocean. The bedroom in her estate faced east to catch the morning sun. She loved this time of day, as everything around her stretched and woke up with the sun rising. It meant a new beginning for her day. She had through manipulation, fraud and death become the head of Wolfs Head Oil. It was not a job she wanted, but was the result of her trai...

If those involved in planning the reception have a touch of imagination and a flair for theatrics, it can make for an enjoyable and oft time humorous experience for all involved.I was at one reception and the guests had just been seated for dinner, it was time for the best man's toast. However before he could begin he is interrupted by the Father of the Bride. He addresses the crowd, "Before we begin I have a request", he...