A flash of red and gold. Three lions and a dragon. One evening when I was working, a group of our members came into the club with vibrant, stunning costumes for dance rehearsal. Dance? My eyes lit up. Chinese New Year was coming up, and they were going to be performing at their annual celebration. As the dragon and lion costumes moved through the lobby, their big, bright eyes met mine and gave me a look that said, “We have a story to tell.” I’ve always admired the colorful dragons as seen in Chinese culture, but I’d never seen one in person, much less this close. Needless to say, my curiosity was piqued…
Continue reading “The Language of Community”Tag: connection
Lipstick, Fitness, and Things Like Horror Movies
“I hope they’ll know how hard I tried to live in love, to love in depth, let wonder take away my breath, to give until there’s nothing more, this is what I want to be remembered for. Everything else you can set it on fire.” ~ Colony House
“I want your lips to be the first thing people see when they walk through that door!” my boss exclaimed while we young ladies were gathered around for a staff meeting. I’ll never forget that line or the fire in her voice as long as I live. Think Devil Wears Prada with the southern allure of Dolly Parton. At the time, I was in sales training at a high-end makeup and formal dress store for brides and beauty queens in a large micropolitan area just outside Brad Paisley’s southern comfort zone. I’d always loved makeup and dressing up, but the energetic owners of the store gave a new meaning to my previously held visions of a glam up. Plump, vibrant, impossible-to-resist lips were a requirement. Lips that could sell anything. I won’t deny the power of the right lipstick, but maybe I didn’t want my lips to be the talk of the town. In all FAIRness, I love a bold COLOURPOP. It just seemed VANITY to me regarding what my priority was supposed to be; not a genuine smile, but sales lips. I learned a lot during my time there. About fashion, cosmetics, and the not-so-glamorous side of sales. Life lessons that still resonate and fill me with gratitude many years later…
Continue reading “Lipstick, Fitness, and Things Like Horror Movies”Apricity
“The shadow proves the sunshine…” ~ Switchfoot
Apricity. I’ve been seeing this word all over social media the last couple of days. The warmth of the sun in winter. I think it’s safe to say we are all collectively in need of some sunlight. Is it just me or has it been an especially difficult January this year? I’m currently clicking these keys while my therapy light is shining over my shoulder. It does a pretty satisfactory job of moderately elevating my disposition this time of year. (Can I also say how intrigued I have always been by the idea of shadows versus light? Cue the infinite life lessons…and the perplexing logic of a certain revered groundhog.) I definitely believe Blue Monday is a real thing, and it’s just been graaaaaay ever since.
I was talking to a fellow writer friend at work the other day who entertained me with his witty ways and funny stories, and the connection was truly a breath of fresh air on what was indeed a rather manic Monday. (Are they all manic?) In the midst of the humor, he encouraged me to experiment with different tones of written expression, and get back to my former ways of lighthearted diction. And then! I saw “apricity” pop up on Facebook later that day. I was QUITE fascinated by the word.
Continue reading “Apricity”Wild Dreaming
Some say it’s the darkest before the dawn…the stormiest before the calm…
Domicile disarray abounds around, but I’m feeling introspective and only slightly sentimental on this rainy afternoon. The organizational demands are just going to have to be patient a little while longer, for alas, the writing mode strikes whenever it fancies. Follow me away into…
…a maze of greenery. And a tangled up enchanted opal apple orchard. It’s a wonder one could ever find one’s way out. A last dance in the moonlight with that dashingly handsome man. There’s something about the way he looked that evening. Wild daydream blue eyes. His voice and smile were so familiar, like I’d known him half my life. Enraptured distant memories came to the forefront of my mind, as the large clock on the castle wall sounded an alarmingly loud alarm. Midnight! And it was just getting good. My heart beat swiftly as he kissed my red lips, brushed my hair back from my rosy cheek, and whispered in my ear, “I’ll see you again.” I made it to the door a fraction before the twelfth stroke. Continue reading “Wild Dreaming”
Blue Moon Muse 