JeansWriting – Page 13 – Jean's Writing

Here’s to life!

Published on August 13, 2013August 14, 2013 by Jean M. Cogdell5 Comments

“First comes love then comes marriage, then comes…” Can you remember the taunting nursery rhyme? Aimed at teasing a sibling, friend or maybe at ourselves at that first crush.

Then the real thing hits, love blooms and if you were like me the world had no limits. Oh to be that young again.

The sixties and seventies were magical. The world seemed to be exploding with opportunities. Young and in love we left family and friends far behind for a better life. We would be different, we would not become our parents. Our children would be exposed to all the differences and the wonders we could provide. After all we had a car, and steady paycheck from Uncle Sam. My new husband just had to avoid getting shot at a few more months. After the birth of our first child we left Uncle Sam and New England for the warmth of the South.

I worked hard to become the hippest/hottest new Mom on the block. Dr. Spock was all the rage and with the help of Dr. Joyce Brothers and saran wrap things were hopping at our house. But like many stay at home moms with two kids, a hard-working husband and various pets I became bored with the Desperate Housewife way of life. I needed more.

Along came a cause in the form of religion; Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker. Unless you lived underground you know I’m talking about the 700 Club in Charlotte, N.C. I fell hook line and sinker, found God, and set out to save the world. Soon my family and I were involved in the Assemblies of God and later an independent church that led us to Houston, TX.

We lived and worked in Houston for many years. As all things go in cycles, so did religion. Suffice it to say, our eyes were opened and our hearts broken. Along with a lot of folks we lost everything but each other.

Soon our path led us to Dallas where we’ve built a wonderful life and watched our kids become beautiful adults. Today I thought of an old Frank Sinatra song. Where the lyrics say something about being a puppet, a pauper, a poet, a something a other… Then goes on with… “That’s life.”

My life isn’t what I thought it would be, but I’m not sure how many people can say their life is going exactly as planned.

I set out to set the world afire, it doesn’t need to be ablaze.

I set out to change the world, it’s not a one person job.

I set out to make a difference, I think we all make a difference one way or another.

So here I sit attempting to do something for myself, write. I’ve dabbled at it off and on the last couple of years, as time permitted. Writing is a dream I’ve resurrected from my childhood. This is for me. I hope one day I’ll enjoy reading what I’ve written, as will others.

If not oh well, “That’s Life.”

So when my writing gets off course, like life, and I’m sure it will. I’ll pick myself up, read a good book, dust off my keyboard and try again. If you too need a little encouragement, check out some of the books/blogs below and get back in the race.

http://rebeccatdickson.com/

http://janefriedman.com/

http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com

Frank Sinatra: The Artist and His Music (The David Morrell Cultural-Icon Series) download (oflubaco.wordpress.com)
Rebecca T Dickson ” THE Guide is on Amazon – and it’s free (twdittmer.com)
Frank Sinatra: Young at Heart (elliethestarryeyedgirl.wordpress.com)

You can join in the fun

Published on April 23, 2013 by Jean M. Cogdell

Thanks to Janice Hardy for a great writing exercise on her website. Join in the fun and rise to her challenge. You should hop over to The Other Side of the Story and get writing because the Winner gets a 1000-word critique. Here is my entry.

Spring Forward

She turned the last clock forward an hour. Whoever invented Daylight Savings Time had a mean streak. Can’t squeeze more than twenty-four hours out of a day no matter which way you turn the hands on a clock. It had to be a man who thought up an idiotic idea like that because no woman in her right mind would bother with such foolishness.

At the refrigerator, she stopped and made a note for James to change the batteries in the smoke detectors. She didn’t think they had the right size so he’d need to go the store for more. She added a question mark to the note.

Lord, just thinking about tomorrow made her tired. Church in the morning, assuming she didn’t over sleep, afterward lunch at the in-laws and James Jr’s T-ball game at four. Sunday hadn’t been a day of rest since the birth of their first kid.

She slipped through the screen door and settled on the porch swing. The warm breeze and the song of the tree frogs washed away her stress. Fireflies winked in the grass keeping time with the symphony. In these stolen moments, when her world stopped spinning, she recharged her own batteries. With just eight weeks left of school, she soon wouldn’t have much time for quiet reflection.

The door creaked behind her, and she stood turning to follow James to bed. He was right morning would come all too soon. An hour earlier to be exact.