By barbara.wilkey
This is a prologue to a novel I'm considering writing. Numerous people I've spoken with through the years have mentioned that I need to write down the experiences I've had raising four boys while being a military spouse. Basically, a geographic single parent. As I've spoken with many of you either through reviews or PM's, many have said 'you need to share that story with all of us.'
I've decided to start this project. It'll be a series of short stories, many will be shared with my granddaughters, some won't. The topics will be varied as I post them, depending on what my muse prompts me to write about at that time. I won't be posting them on a once-a-week basis, but whenever something pops into my head.
If I decide to eventually publish this, I'll group the similar topics together. One of the topics I'm considering is, as I've said, raising four boys. My boys were far from angels. They were honest to goodness rowdy boys, who enjoyed experimenting and exploring. My husband, Brian often mentioned they were a tag team match. One of them was always doing something they shouldn't. When we settled that problem, a different child would start. Something was always going on.
Another topic will be living abroad. We spent a total of eight years in Germany, not all at once. We got to Germany by way of the Army. Along with these stories will be stories of living within the military community and what it's about. It's a different lifestyle, with its ups and downs. I wouldn't change it.
If I choose to write about it, being a battered wife. It's a hard subject to discuss, but it's real. I struggled getting my freedom. Some of this story is discussed in my first novel, 'Two Tattered Hearts'. A huge surprise this is my only novel without a dog. I have often felt I need to go back and change that. LOL
A possible topic would be the death of my infant, Michael and how that impacted my faith.
I could even write about how being retired has affected my life or even getting older. I could also include stories from my former first graders.
These are just ideas I'm playing around with. I'm pretty sure I've forgotten some. I have no clue how this is going to turn out. I've put myself out there a little in writing my novels. I doubt any author can write without sharing a piece of themselves, but this will be the first time I've written about me. Well, I did when I wrote about my experiences going through breast cancer and chemotherapy. There may be a little more about that experience too and its lasting effects.
I hope some of you have found this interesting and will want to read. If not, I do understand. My life is probably boring. I often believe it is. Maybe I can find a way to liven it up. LOL
| Author Notes |
Thank you, Pinterest for the artwork. I may use it on every post. Not sure, yet.
Guess What??? This is only 500 words. Short for me. LOL There are things we don't want to happen, but we have to accept. Things we don't want to know, but we have to learn. And people we can't live without Thank you Pam(respa) for finding this for me. I found this and don't know who said it, but I like it and feel this is what I hope this novel of short stories is about. It sums it up really well. Thank you for dropping by and reading. I appreciate all commets. |
By barbara.wilkey
Eleanor
This is not at all how I had planned this going. I'm preparing a chapter explaining all the family members as the characters, so you'd know each one and have a feel for them personally.
Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately my just turned four-year-old granddaughter, Eleanor, her birthday was July 29th, gave me something to write about, and I couldn't pass it up.
This story was told to me by my son, Andrew, we FaceTime every Sunday afternoon. Andrew works at Barnes Jewish Christian Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He takes Eleanor to the daycare provided by the hospital for their employees every morning.
Andrew had stopped at a stoplight on the way to the hospital. Next to them a car had stopped, and a fluffy spotted dog stuck its head out an open backseat window.
Eleanor sat in her car seat and said, "Daddy, do you see the furry dog?"
"Yes, I see the dog."
"It looks like a nice cuddly dog."
"I'm sure it is a nice dog."
"Isn't that dog beautiful? I like dogs."
"I know you like dogs. You like all animals."
Eleanor was silent for a few moments. "Daddy, can we get a dog?"
"Hurry up light," Andrew muttered under his breath. "No Ellie, we can't get a dog."
"Why not? Dogs are nice."
"Yes, dogs are nice. Your mom and I both work. We're not home enough."
"Charlotte and I'd play with it all the time when we get home. Charlotte likes dogs, too."
"I know you both would. Dogs poop. I don't want to clean up dog poop."
"Dogs don't poop a lot."
"Yes, they do. Remember when we were at Grandma's, and you stepped in Harley's poop. It was hard to get out of the treads on your shoes. You wouldn't like that, would you?"
"When Harley visits here he doesn't poop in the backyard."
"Yes, he does. Grandma cleans it up."
Again, Eleanor got quiet for a few minutes, before she started again, "Daddy, in Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, he asks the neighbors to help. That's what neighbors do. They help each other. We have really nice neighbors. Maybe they'd help clean up dog poop."
"El, it doesn't work that way. We do have nice neighbors, but they don't want to clean up our dog poop. Would you like to clean up their dog's poop?"
"No, but maybe our neighbors like dog poop."
As Andrew's telling this story, I'm laughing and then say, "Andrew, dogs make really good friends. You boys always had a dog growing up, remember? The girls need a dog."
"Mom, you're not helping!"
| Author Notes |
Andrew's wife, Katie is a biology college professor. They have another daughter, Charlotte, who is six and will start first grade in August.
Dogs will teach you unconditional love, if you can have that in your life, things won't be too bad. Robert Wagner This post is a little over 400 words Thank you google images for the photograph of a dog with it's head out the car window. |
By barbara.wilkey
Steven
It seems stories are presenting themselves whether I want them to or not. So, I'm guessing the introduction to my family members will be presented as they do something or I remember something that might, well, sort of maybe, be story worthy.
Lyenochka, one of my favorite author's on FanStory wrote a short story titled, 'Spirit's Nudge'. If you haven't read it, you should. It's well worth your time. This story reminded me of a prayer my son, Steven lifted up while having lunch at Arby's.
Steven, Andrew, one of his older brothers, and I went to Arby's for lunch. Steven was probably around five years old at the time. Andrew was somewhere around twelve years old. My older boys were already living on their own. My husband, Brian, was off doing Army things. We were stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
As I placed our order at the Arby's counter, I repeated asked Steven, "Are you positive you don't want any curly fries? I'm not coming up here again for curly fries."
"Mom, no curly fries today."
"Are you positive?"
This conversation was repeated over and over again, numerous times, but I didn't order him curly fries.
After Steven quickly finished his sandwich, he asked, "Mom, can I have some curly fries?"
Not at all happy, because of our earlier conversation, I reminded him, "You said you didn't want curly fries. I told you then I wasn't getting you any later."
With his sad puppy dog eyes and a full pout, he continued asking, now almost begging for curly fries.
In full mom mode, I set my mind to making sure I didn't give in and was going to teach this child a lesson. I didn't back down.
A little later Steven changed his question, "Mom, can I have a quarter for a large gumball?"
"Okay." I gave him a quarter.
Steven went up to the gumball machine and got his bubble gum. He danced back to our table. His face glowing and eyes twinkling. "Mom! It has a star! I get free curly fries!"
I gave in and allowed him to go to the counter to get his curly fries.
When Steven returned to the table, Andrew asked, "How did you get that gumball? I've tried and tried and never got one with the star."
Steven held up a curly fry. "I prayed for it."
Andrew shook his head. "You can't pray for curly fries."
I agreed. "You shouldn't pray for curly fries."
"It worked." Steven enjoyed his curly fries as Andrew, and I shook our heads.
| Author Notes |
Thank you Lyenochka for bring up this memory. Please read her post 'Spirit's Nudge."
This post is a little over 400 words Thank you google images for the photograph of a dog with it's head out the car window. |
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