Monthly Archives: September 2018

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge -Reds

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This week Cee has asked us to share photos with red as its prominent color.

I have chosen the following photos…

Donkey

4th of July Parade…Donkey

Red tractor

4th of July Parade – Red Tractor

Hardy hibiscus

Hardy Hibiscus

 

Ferris wheel

Ferris Wheel – Galveston Texas

If you enjoy photo challenges then you should go visit Cee...

A Daily Choice…

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Each day we get to choose how we want to live our life.
Many of you know that several years ago Tina and I quit eating meat, dairy, eggs. We have stepped on and off the path several times.
The one consistency has been no meat.
I personally have struggled with keeping cheese out of my diet.
 
Before I go any further…I’d like to explain…for me this has mostly stemmed from the treatment of animals. And even though milk, cheese and other dairy products seem pretty passive…they truly aren’t. But my job here is to share my thoughts, struggles and epiphanies….not to preach about animal rights. However, if you would like to know more about the treatment of dairy cows…go to a site not sponsored by the dairy industry and study up on the issue.
 
Back to my epiphany!
As I was saying I struggled to keep cheese out of my mouth. If cheese was on a sandwich I would pretend like it didn’t count because I didn’t ask for it.
 
Then….a few weeks ago I was talking to a friend’s step son who happens to know a lot about plant based diets. I was telling him about my frustration with cheese and how it felt like an addiction.
He confirmed that it truly is an addiction (he explained with a lot of scientific terms that I couldn’t begin to repeat).
 
Suddenly a light went on in my brain. As a smoker (I quit 11 years ago) I was never able to be a social smoker. I either had to totally quit or smoke 2 packs a day.
If I went 2 weeks without a cigarette (of which only happened twice in 30+ years) and tried to smoke just one cigarette…I would be back smoking 2 packs a day…within 24 hours.
 
So why isn’t cheese the same? If I want to eliminate cheese from my diet….I need to eliminate cheese. I can’t eat a slice of pizza without the overwhelming desire (aka addiction) kicking back in.
 
So I quit eating cheese. That day of my conversation with Barry…I quit eating cheese. Each day I take responsibility for what I am putting in my mouth…I make sure I say no to anything with cheese on it.
 
Guess what has happened as a result…my diet is improving. I am eating more vegetables, I’m avoiding oils, extra salt, etc. I’m eating at home more and avoiding the traps I have fallen into in the past.
 
There will always be peaks and valleys ahead….but each time I make a conscience decision to skip the cheese, say no to the sugar and pass by the processed food…I feel I’m stepping in the right direction.

A Field of Bodies

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Fog field of bodies

Photo provided by Jodi McKinney

The morning fog rolled across the field. 

Susan’s entire body shook. What had she done? 

She attempted to walk away from the body, but her legs wouldn’t carry her.

She stumbled and fell to the ground. She crawled several feet before returning to an upright position. 

She screamed as she continued to move away from the body.

She stumbled again and when she opened her eyes she was staring into the hollow eyes of a young woman. She lifted her body off the dead woman. 

Suddenly the fog cleared. Susan screamed uncontrollably when her eyes scanned a field of dead bodies.

“Mom” The teenager shook his mom awake. “Mom, its okay, you had that dream again.”

Susan sat straight up, sweat pouring from her face, the 6 months spent serving active duty continued to haunt her. 

Susan thanked her son for waking her and squeezed him as though she would never let go. 

word count 154

 

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers is a weekly challenge that runs from Monday to Monday. The story of 100 – 150 (+/- 25) words is based on the photo prompt provided.