Excerpts & Confessions of an Unpublished Writer II

Startled, she gasped. "What are you doing here?" He smiled and yelled, "I was looking for you Carrie! What are you doing out here anyway?" She stared at her bare feet. "Vinny I just wanted to be left alone", she whispered. "I can't say I really blame you. Why do they have high school reunions anyway", he chuckled. She ignored his question and stared back out to the ocean. He would never understand she thought to herself. "Come on Carrie, lets go. Please tell me you aren't going to be in one of those melodramatic moods all evening." She sighed in annoyance. She hated that he called her melodramatic. Sensing her sudden irritability, he apologized. "Sorry Carrie. I just wanted my best friend down there with me. Here, let me get you a glass of wine. I took a bottle of wine from the table. I think it's that Pinot Gri-", he paused, "well it's the white wine you like so much." She had to smile. He had a way of always surprising her. He had always paid close attention to the little details; a forever believer in the simpler things in life.

Carrie watched as he stumbled into her hotel room, tripping over her shoes. Cheerfully, he walked back to the balcony oblivious of his rather intoxicated demeanor. As he handed her one of the glasses filled with wine, she couldn't help but stare into his eyes. Even tonight, half-drunk, his eyes were breathtaking. There were the eyes she had fallen in love with and her heart ached every time she caught him looking at her. She desperately wanted to take him in her arms and kiss him. I have to let go, she thought once more. As she looked back into his eyes, she noticed that he was mumbling something but she was consumed in her own thoughts. "Carrie!", he yelled breaking her train of thought. "What's wrong with you?" his eyes pleaded. He searched for an answer but her face remained lethargic. "Carrie!", he yelled once more. As he reached for her arm, her glass of wine slipped from her fingers smashing into hundreds of pieces amongst her bare feet. She moved slowly, like a prisoner awaiting his impending life sentence, and looked at the violent waves below. "What are you doing Carrie?" Her bloodshot eyes searched for him. Through tears she could see his handsome face which was illuminated by the pale moon light. Instinctively he quickly moved towards her. He was too late. He watched in horror as she plunged into the cascading waves below.

Photographer Uknown...

To a Unknown Soldier

 At this moment, I don't know what you are thinking of. I don't know if you are scared, happy, sad, or angry. I don't know where you are. I don't know what your next mission entails. I don't know if you are awaiting a newborn, a beautiful wife, a loving family, or a beloved pet. I do, however, know this-that you are undeniably and deeply appreciated. I do know that you are a soldier, someone who fights for my freedom, a brave representation of what our country fights for each and every day. I am writing this letter to thank you for the struggles you may face each day; the yearning for a lover, a smile from your son or daughter. Your continual strength resides not only on the brink of battle but in the distance that separates you from the familiar and I want to thank you.

If only...

I am in one of those "blah" kind of moods where I wish I had the superpower to fast forward my week. Sadly enough, I do not have much to complain about yet I find myself a little like Eeyore; sulking about, cursing the rainy day and anything that minutely goes wrong. It is days like these I wish the alarm clock never sang that obnoxious sound and I could bury myself deep within the covers and surrender myself to my dreams. Ah, if only...

Hopefully all my Happy Hour Readers are having a much better day than I! xo  

Blessed for Certain...

Words cannot describe disaster until one lays eyes upon it. It is in the mere seconds you step foot on the battlefield that mother nature clearly won, that you see how fragile life can be. As I walked onto a field of torn limbs, unrecognizable homes, and fragments of strangers lives, I held back tears. Pictures; once happy memories were scattered in pieces, wrapped around foundations that no longer held drywall. Cars that once excelarrated to 60 mph on the interstate, moved 60 mph with the tornado and scattered across peoples yards. Sadly enough, Easter baskets and car seats remained intact. These things could be seen through tattered, smashed windows. Despite this damage, people worked; searching for any possession that was salvagable. That's the thing about disaster. The important no longer seems important. The 50 in. plasma television? The new leather couch? The new car? These THINGS, well thats exactly what they are. Things. None of these things can come close to the eyes of the firefighter who has to search for those who are missing. These things can not come close to the tears that fall from loved ones eyes once they  realize their son, their daughter, mother, father, friend, is not coming back.

Disaster. Does anyone truly understand the meaning of disaster? It was not until I faced disaster, that I clearly saw what was before me. Yet here I write, confused, feeling somewhat detatched. Do I really understand what is going through their minds? Did I ever? So often in life we take things for granted. And I am guilty of doing so. On more than one occasion, even since the storms entered AL, GA, and TN, I have worried about missing work and not getting paid. I admit, I am ashamed of this. I am one of the lucky ones with a roof over my head, electricity, and food in my belly. Why as humans, are we perpetually making the irrelevant--relevant? There is no rhyme nor reason; just an exucse to hear our own voices as we complain about NOTHING. Mundane, I admit, and shameful. Disaster.  Again I must ask, what do we really know about disaster?

Ironically, as I stood in line at the grocery store days before, I thought to myself, "what would we do if something really bad happened?" Now, I suppose you are wondering why I would think such a thing, but this question arose as I read headlines from the National Inquirer. The National Inquirer in itself, is a publication of falsehood. I sincerely doubt that aliens are taking over the brains of infants. But, for some reason I asked myself, "What would we do if something really bad happened?" Unfortunatley this is a trick question. And after seeing the devastation from these storms, it is completley safe to say that many do not know. BUT they keep moving, and hold onto the one thing, that glimmers the slighest bit of hope. And that is FAITH. 

As I hugged a woman whom I had never met, she smiled and said "It was nice to meet you darling." And she thanked the Lord for keeping her home on the ground. At that moment my heart grew. How does anyone SMILE, after such tragedy hits? The answer? Faith.

I must admit, I am guilty of not going to church as much as I should and I rarely pray unless I truly need salvation. I am not being a good Christian, and despite my lack of faith at time I am truly blessed. It was upon leaving Ms. Dee's home, that my heart filled with faith. A smile, changed my perspective. Hope, despite tragedy, changed my perspective. 

Words alone cannot describe what I saw with my two eyes yesturday. Words alone cannot describe the emotion of every person involved in this storm. However, my words can provide a means of understanding. My words alone, can change YOUR perspective and help you see that the mundane things we complain about are nothing compared to disaster. Mother nature may have inflicted a major road block, but faith can turn this all around. Faith will keep us alive. God Bless!   

The Queen of Hearts

"There is no use in trying," said Alice; one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." -Lewis Carroll

Original Artwork By: Wendy Paula Patterson

Alice in Wonderland

Miss Penny Lane

Penny Lane: "I always tell the girls never take it seriously. If you never take it seriously then you never get hurt. If you never get hurt then you always have fun, and if you ever get lonely you can just go to the record store and visit your friends." 


The quote above is from the adorable Kate Hudson in one of my all time favorite movies Almost Famous. Although much of the film is centered around groupies, drugs, alcohol, and the quest for fame, I can't help but believe that the music, above all else, has the power to heal. Even if the world seemingly falls apart, I have found solace and comfort in the lyrics of my favorite song and the sound of their voices. As did Miss Penny Lane.

She longed to be loved, but music was her heart...
&& the music, well, I will leave that for you to decide.


Almost Famous Soundtrack:
1. America- simon & garfunkel
2. Sparks- the who
3. It wouldn't have made a difference-Todd Rundren
4. I've seen all good people: your move- Yes
5. Feel flows-The Beach Boys
6. Fever Dog- Stillwater
7. Every picture tells a story-Rod Stewart
8. Mr. Farmer- The seeds
9. The Way out- The Allman Brothers Band
10. Simple Man-Lynyrd Skynard
11. That's the Way-Led Zeppelin
12. Tiny Dancer- Elton John
13. Lucky Trumble- Nancy Wilson
14. I'm Waiting for the man- David Bowie
15. The Wind- Cat Stevens
16. Slip Away- Clarence Carter
17. Something in the Air-Thunderclap Newman

You Know Who You Are...

"We've danced in the risk of each other. Would you like to dance around the world with me?" -Dave Matthews Band Argentine Tango