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(2023) Old Toys…

Wiwohka7 Comments

Just the other day, from out of nowhere, came a happy memory of one of my favorite toys from childhood, my Hippity Hop!  I was born on a farm and aside from my horse, my favorite toys were ones I could ride on.  I have many memories of bouncing around the yard and pasture on that thing, and boy it must have been made of magic rubber because it never sprung a leak, that I can remember. 

When I thought on it a bit, I realized that for the life of me, I cannot remember whatever happened to my favorite toy.  As I pondered this, more memories of toys that brought me joy came to mind.  Some of them came to tragic ends, as some toys do, when we are too hard on them or just don’t take care to protect them.  Others, however, I quite honestly cannot remember what became of them. 

It occurs to me that people are kind of like toys, in the sense that we sometimes, for whatever the reason, lose track of people that we once loved and held dear.  Sometimes I feel like the child, and at other times I have felt like the toy!  Instead of this thought leading me, or you for that matter, into the negative, I want to share an insight with you. 

I have a soft spot in my heart for those little old fellows that own huge pieces of land simply teeming with old things…some rusted beyond repair, while others may yet be restored and reused.  The point is that they simply refused to let go of anything that might one day be saved. They never stops loving and dreaming about bringing the beauty back to those old things.  It doesn’t really matter if the old man ever gets them restored.  I am just encouraged by him always hoping and dreaming. 

I am so glad that God will never get tired of me!  He will never forget that I am there, or nudge me aside with His boot.  God never stops believing in me, no matter how damaged or dinged up I become.  The Masters hands are always mending, rebuilding, and restoring me to how He sees me…His own!!!!!

(2024) On My Head, Of Course…

Wiwohka3 Comments
Daily writing prompt
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
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While I’m not certain as to the significance of where I might find said hair, I would most assuredly want it placed upon my head before any other part of my body.

I suppose if I traveled across the sea, as my ship allows me to do whenever I wish it, I might find flowing hair such as Fabio,

Or better yet, silky and soft like Angelina Jolie,

or even full and glossy like Catherine Zeta Jones,

But, whichever hair I end up selecting, I most definitely want it on my head… ya, for sure there…

wait, what?

Oops… forgive my mistake… I thought it said “If you could have hair anywhere, where in the world would you want it?”

It was an honest mistake, I can assure you (I am so lying about that… I absolutely did it on purpose)!

Here, take a cookie for your trouble…

(2023) Do You Remember…

Wiwohka2 Comments

Part 2 …

So, in case anyone was waiting for the rest of the haircut memory…here goes!

Remember my girlfriend saying that I could one day laugh at her? Well, if your wondering, I did have the occasion to take her up on the offer to enjoy a laugh, at her expense.  Probably about 3 or 4 years after the Horse Hair Tragedy of 95, I got an unforgettable call...

My girlfriend declared, “I am calling you first because I said I would, and you get the first chance to laugh before anyone else does.” 

Let me back up just a tad…

From the time of his birth, my girlfriend’s son began receiving Beanie Baby Bear memorabilia from his grandmother, as well as, other friends and family.  His baby room was covered wall to wall with adorable beanie bears, all perfectly encased, in those little plexiglass cases.  Everyone knows that for a collectible, its value is in its preservation… especially the tags attached to the item, from its beginnings.

Well, with the confusing logic that’s usually employed by children, my friend’s son took it upon himself to take the tags off of all his beanie bears.  He did this, not being concerned at all with the monetary importance of the tag being intact. 

After getting all of his bears off of the shelves and out of their cases, he proceeded to get out his preschool scissors and cut off not only all of the tags, but any ear or foot attached to said tag. 

I cannot remember exactly how many bears were maimed that day, but I do know it was a lot! 

To this day we laugh about this memory, along with many other crazy things our babies put us through

…and, we wouldn’t have it any other way…

(2024) I’m Sorry, That’s Not On My Bucket List…

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Daily writing prompt
Do you need time?
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As soon as today’s prompt appeared on the screen, a song popped into my head, oddly, from something I’d seen the other day… but, for the life of me, I can’t remember where. What’s funny is that it seems a rather fitting answer to the question being asked. Well, sort of, anyway.

While it’s not fully what my personal response might be, I think the song was so popular (and probably still is) because it’s how many people feel, at some point in their lives.

Looking back from where I stand now, its glaringly obvious that I didn’t understand the reality of time, the way I do now. Probably, because I was busy being wild and free! Ahhh, the joyful ignorance of youth…

But, time itself, has a way of sneaking up on one… and then running them over, as it speeds past.

What I’ve come to discover is that no amount of needed, wanted, added, or borrowed time is fully used to its full potential…

I think we’re much better off using the time we have, instead of always dreaming and wishing for more…

at some point, that’s no longer going to be an option!

Here, take some cookies…

I picked all the sand off, I promise!

(2023) Do You Remember…

Wiwohka9 Comments

***Part 1 ***

What was wrong with this picture? 

One morning, while standing in my kitchen and talking on the phone with my girlfriend, I just knew something wasn’t right! I kept glancing out the window suspiciously towards the sound of singing. 

There was my five-year-old, happily playing on her swing set in the back yard. 

Something wasn’t right with the scene I observed, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. 

          You see, it’s usually the absence of noise that signals childhood mischief, but I could see her clearly and she was simply swinging. Wait a minute… that’s it! 

I could see her but not clearly because of the distance between us.  I asked my girlfriend to hold on a second, momentarily placing the phone on the counter.  Leaning out the back door, I called for my daughter to come into the house.  Hopping off of the swing, she happily made her way toward the back door, where I stood waiting.

 As she drew near, my eyes became riveted to her forehead, where her bangs had once been.  My baby gave herself a reverse mohawk! I saw what looked like a small monk!  She had somehow sheared off all of the hair on her forehead! 

In mortified shock I grabbed the phone up and cried to my friend, “You have to come over and look at my baby girl’s hair”! 

Hanging up the phone, I attempted to calmly ask my child what happened… note that I said attempted.  She looked concerned at my anger and said, pointedly, “My hair was in my eyes, so I got out your sewing scissors and cut it off.“

  I was in tears by the time my girlfriend walked in and I turned to her for comfort in my hour of need.  All I got from her was a long round of hysterical laughter.  Point in fact, she laughed for a good bit, to my dismay.

“How can you laugh” I cried… “It’s not funny!”

As she tried to contain her laughter (not very well, I might add), my friend said, “I know this seems awful, but her hair will grow back.  Look, kids do things like this.  I’m sorry for laughing, but I can’t help it!  Its hilarious, really it is!  I’m sure you will look back on this and laugh, someday.  In fact, you can laugh at anything my kids do to me when it happens.  I will even call you first.”

After my girlfriend left, I had to hunt down all the evidence to be found.  Underneath my own bed, I retrieved my scissors… along with a massive pile of hair!  There was a lot more contributions of hair than I had anticipated, which was rather alarming!  My thoughts momentarily raced to my other children, but then quickly moved on to one or more of the family pets in the house. 

When I asked whose hair I’d found, she confidently took me to her toy pony, sittling in the corner of our family room.  The poor jumpy horse had received an army style crew cut, and was never the same after that, the poor thing.   

Of course, my girlfriend was right! I did look back and laugh. 

And if you are wondering, I did have the occasion to take her up on that offer.  Several years later, I did get my chance to laugh at her child’s silly antics. 

That, however, is another story…

(2024) On The Other Hand…

Wiwohka1 Comment
Daily writing prompt
What will your life be like in three years?
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While this prompt is actually a pretty decent one, and there are at least three or four hopes and dreams that bear mentioning, I’m unable to answer just now, for several reasons… one of which is my current low caffeine level.

The second reason isn’t what you might expect. I’ve somehow managed to injure my left hand, so its been hunt and peck typing since Saturday. This question about life in three years requires a far lengthier answer than my tired little phalanges can tackle!

And, the final reason for not offering any ideas is… right now, I just don’t know about anything, with any degree of confidence!

So, in trade for my usual witty comebacks, I thought this video was rather apropos, in a twisty, windy, and roundabout sort of way:

Luckily, my magic Easy Bake oven only requires that I push a simple button…

(June 2023) Investigating Truths…

Wiwohka5 Comments

Looking Up!

Believe it or not, this flower is actually a good three feet above my head! I would not have even noticed it, had I not paused for a moment to rest my aching back. I am not sure that I want to go as far as to say that I am glad I injured my back. But I can certainly appreciate the lessons gained from my recovery process. One of those lessons is that I need to slow down!

I learned to slow down both physically, as well as mentally. In the physical realm, too much of a good thing (walking) is never healthy without taking the time to make sure you are capable of pacing yourself. I am learning to slow my walking down, and also to take days off for a refuel. Selecting regular days to rest is something I have to force myself to do. Mentally, I think it is also very necessary to do the same thing…

Take a day off!?!

While realizing that it can be difficult, it’s so very necessary that we take a mental day off, once in a while! You know, shut the brain door… close the shutters to our internal house windows.

I hope you weren’t’ expecting me to expound on the mental day off, as there are too many self-help resources that have already saturated the market on this subject. Actually, I am not even going to spout anything useful in the physical activity department. I just like to “walk” you into an insight I’ve gained, rather than just throw it at you like a water balloon.

Beauty and goodness are all around us! Each and every day, the sun rises to reveal these things. It carries on toward darkness, til it’s replaced by the rising of the moon. Over and over, again and again, this happens. We’re given so many opportunities to see and experience all that God’s created just for our pleasure and enjoyment.

My insight, if you have not already figured it out, is this: Slow down, and take the time to LOOK UP!

(April 2023) Note to Self…

Wiwohka5 Comments

Perspective!!!!!!!!

Stop rejecting love from others just because you don’t feel lovable!

Receiving love is just as much of a choice as giving it!

(2024) Not On My Life…

Wiwohka8 Comments
Daily writing prompt
Is there an age or year of your life you would re-live?
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Not only do I not wish to do any re-living at this moment, but I wouldn’t wish any of my life on any other human being!

I hear so many folks talk of what they would do differently if they were to go back in time, but as much as I don’t want to go back… I also wouldn’t trade it for any amount of money!

The me that you see today is a priceless gem, cut from the hardest of stone. I am a blade made of iron, shaped through both fire and ice for tempering… I am a chosen child of God!

Has it been difficult, exhausting and painful, yes!

Have I had to walk through life as an outsider… an outcast? Yes! Most often, I am simply misunderstood by those that surround me.

Have I done any of this alone? Nope!

Whether good, bad or in between… all of it was foreseen by the one who knew of my very birth, before the foundations of the earth had ever come to be…

The path I now walk is a combination of many things, much of what I brought on myself along the way. By revisiting the old me, doing or saying a thing any different than I did the first time around, could possibly undo a lesson that was vitally necessary for my walk with God, at this moment in time. No thanks!

I love the me that I am now, so, as they say… There’s no going back, There’s no better time than the present, or even better yet,

“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.” (Matt. 24:42–44.) May we heed this warning given by the Lord and get our houses in order and be prepared for the coming of the Lord.

I’ll not waste time looking back, but instead, I shall be ever watchful for His return. I think that is a far better idea, with far better rewards, than re-living any single moment of my earthly life.

Have a cookie…

(2024) Let Me Show You…

Wiwohka1 Comment
Daily writing prompt
What does it mean to be a kid at heart?
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Nobody says it better than Willy Wonka, in my humble opinion. If you don’t watch at least a smidge of this video, then there’s something wrong with you…

I’m just teasing!

Seriously though, anyone whose ever seen the movie will most likely remember this song.

If anyone were to ask me at this moment, “Wiwohka, where do you come up with all the silly stories, ditties and adventures that you write about?”, I’d say Willy Wonka, for certain!

Why? I’ll try to explain…

Much of my childhood felt like a Quintin Tarentino version of young Charlie, from the movie…

How, then, did I go from that small, frightened and angry little girl, to the me that you see upon these pages? You guessed it… Willy Wonka!

I think that I desperately needed a safe place to rest, both mentally and emotionally, so when I watched Willy Wonka for the first time, I was hooked! Within my imagination, I could still believe that there was good in the world, somewhere…

I began to build a space within my tiny frame, where I could do, be or feel any way I wanted… and no one could take that away from me. In a way, I believe that God used my childlike imagination to preserve my sanity, during the most traumatic of beginnings.

And, somehow, from within that child’s imaginative heart, came the writer you see before you, now.

This is the only way I can express what it’s like to be a kid at heart, at least my version of it…

Always believe in the impossible… I do!

Don’t forget your cookie…