Share a story about someone who had a positive impact on your life.
Tiny Baby and Mommy
Once upon a time, in a land about thirty miles away from where your author sits at this very moment, a tiny baby was born. She was born five weeks early because her mother chased around a cat with a baby chicken in its mouth and as a result, broke her waters. The baby’s father was away at sea, working hard as a ship’s captain and unable to return in time for the imminent premature birth of the tiny baby.
The tiny baby’s mother had to go to the hospital because the tiny baby insisted on being born, regardless of where her daddy was. The tiny baby didn’t care about that, she was ready to enter the world of the oxygen breathers. The tiny baby’s big sister took their mother to the hospital and waited in the father’s waiting room with a room full of expectant dads (this is how it was back in the day – dads waited in a room). After some time, the tiny baby was born. The tiny baby’s mother and big sister rejoiced.
The tiny baby grew as babies do, and eventually became a grown-up. Many people helped the tiny baby along the way, but there were only two at the start of the tiny baby’s life as an oxygen breather: her mommy and her big sister.
I’m not going to answer with a controversial response. Freedom for me has taken on a new definition since early March. I would call it unsolicited liberation. But here it is: freedom. Freedom can look like a lot of things. To me it looks like autonomy and a new start.
And I’m not going to lie, probably my first reason for liking this prompt is the song it made me think of: Freedom! ‘90 by George Michael. The song was my jam when it was released, and believe it or not I like it even more now. With life experience comes a different understanding of certain song lyrics. I can’t say I know what it’s like to be George Michael, and I know this song was for him a personal statement, but putting those two facts aside, I feel it in my gut (and I sing along) when he belts out, “I don’t belong to you, and you don’t belong to me.” That line gets me every time. When the song was first released, that line didn’t stand out to me. I was more interested in George Michael‘s take. But now that I’ve lived and experienced much more than I did when this song was released, I’m understanding his lyrics in a different way. Freedom. Yeah, yeah. You got you gotta give what you take.
Freedom! ’90
Song by George Michael
I won’t let you down I will not give you up Gotta have some faith in the sound It’s the one good thing that I’ve got I won’t let you down So please don’t give me up Because I would really, really love to stick around Oh, yeah
Heaven knows I was just a young boy Didn’t know what I wanted to be (Didn’t know what I wanted to be) I was every little hungry schoolgirl’s pride and joy And I guess it was enough for me (And I guess it was enough for me)
To win the race, a prettier face Brand new clothes and a big fat place On your rock and roll TV (Rock and roll TV) But today the way I play the game is not the same, no way Think I’m gonna get me some happy
I think there’s something you should know (I think it’s time I told you so) There’s something deep inside of me (There’s someone else I’ve got to be) Take back your picture in a frame (Take back your singing in the rain) I just hope you understand Sometimes the clothes do not make the man
All we have to do now Is take these lies and make them true somehow All we have to see Is that I don’t belong to you and you don’t belong to me, yeah yeah
Freedom (I won’t let you down) Freedom (I will not give you up) Freedom (Gotta have some faith in the sound) You’ve got to give what you take (It’s the one good thing that I’ve got) Freedom (I won’t let you down) Freedom (So please don’t give me up) Freedom (‘Cause I would really) You’ve got to give what you take (really love to stick around)
Heaven knows we sure had some fun, boy What a kick just a buddy and me (What a kick just a buddy and me) We had every big-shot goodtime band on the run, boy We were living in a fantasy (We were living in a fantasy)
We won the race, got out of the place Went back home, got a brand new face for the boys on MTV (Boys on MTV) But today the way I play the game has got to change, oh yeah Now I’m gonna get myself happy
I think there’s something you should know (I think it’s time I stopped the show) There’s something deep inside of me (There’s someone I forgot to be) Take back your picture in a frame (Don’t think that I’ll I be back again) I just hope you understand Sometimes the clothes do not make the man
All we have to do now Is take these lies and make them true somehow All we have to see Is that I don’t belong to you and you don’t belong to me, yeah yeah
Freedom (I won’t let you down) Freedom (I will not give you up) Freedom (Gotta have some faith in the sound) You got to give what you take (It’s the one good thing that I’ve got) Freedom (I won’t let you down) Freedom (So please don’t give me up) Freedom (‘Cause I would really) You got to give what you take (really love to stick around)
Well, it looks like the road to heaven But it feels like the road to hell When I knew which side my bread was buttered I took the knife as well Posing for another picture Everybody’s got to sell But when you shake your ass They notice fast And some mistakes were build to last
That’s what you get (That’s what you get) I say that’s what you get (I say that’s what you get for changing your mind) That’s what you get for changing your mind (That’s what you get) (That’s what you get) And after all this time I just hope you understand Sometimes the clothes do not make the man
All we have to do now Is take these lies and make them true somehow All we have to see Is that I don’t belong to you And you don’t belong to me, yeah yeah
Freedom (Oh) Freedom (My) Freedom You’ve gotta give for what you take Freedom (I’ll hold on to my) Freedom (My) Freedom You got to give what, to give what, give what you take Yeah! You got to give what, give to what, to give
May not be what you want from me Just the way it’s got to be Lose the face now I’ve got to live
I don’t care for this prompt – not because it’s ridiculous like the other prompts have been recently, but because to answer it sounds like bragging.
What I’m doing to be involved in my community is not something that needs to be broadcast. I don’t need likes or views or self-promotion bordering on narcissism.
Keep your head down, contribute, build, keep quiet about it, repeat.
I buy whatever is the cheapest. There’s not enough money now to declare I have favorite brands, and quite frankly, even if I had more money, I still wouldn’t be brand loyal.
This African violet used to have lavender petals, but it’s been doing this thing for the past couple of years where it has lavender hearts on white petals. I’m not complaining.This is a random black squirrel that lived on the property next to my former employer. I’d seen a white squirrel before, but I’d never seen a black one before this.This is my best bud, Bubba. He sat on this armchair like this frequently. This is what an armchair is for, right?Contemplating his next chaotic undertaking, or spotting one of his siblings or mother. He was a silly boy. A ladybug stopped by to visit me.
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a great day!
No politics on my blog. My blog is a sanctuary for me. If I want controversy, I know where to find it.
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Here’s a photo of one of my clematis blooming. It’s actually the only one blooming right now, and this tiny plant has never had such a large bloom. I think it might be its only bloom. I like to get artsy with the photos, so there are two close-ups.
It’s a pretty decent app. Back in the day we had to use MapQuest, which was like being a modern pirate. Before that, there were maps, which was like being a regular pirate.
Although I do have many favorite quotes from Zora Neale Hurston, I’m going to try to follow the rules for this prompt. I know, you’re probably thinking, “Why start now?” It’s because I have a favorite quote that I really don’t think of that often but for this prompt, I thought of it.
Years ago, I bought this book:
Filled with requited and unrequited varieties
I don’t recall why I purchased the book, but if I had to venture a guess, it would be because the book is pink, has a heart on it (your girl is obsessed with hearts and collects them – not anatomical hearts, dear reader), and it also has a pink bookmark built right in.
The book contains different chapters, which delve into the many different types of love – requited, unrequited, grief, love for pets, etc. I’m not much of a romantic, but I am sentimental. So I tend towards more eccentric quotes about not just love, but everything.
I nudged this book off my shelf for this prompt and opened it up to the page with the pink bookmark. I never take this bookmark out of this page because this is my favorite quote in the whole book, and that’s not an easy feat to accomplish.
Without further adieu, Let me introduce you to my favorite quote:
When I read this the first time, I wasn’t quite sure how to interpret it. Then I realized there were many ways to interpret it. In fact, I have a new interpretation as I write this.
What is a superstition? (We all know, because we all remember the daily prompt from not that long ago.) Examples of superstitions include walking under a ladder is considered bad luck, opening an umbrella in the house is bad luck, breaking a mirror will give you seven years of bad luck, black cats are bad luck, knocking on wood so whatever you’ve just said comes true or stays safe (depends on the situation), and many more. Superstitions are misunderstood, mysterious, used as protection. In my mind, I always think about superstitions as hovering in the air in a cloud. Superstitions are not part of reality, but they are still given deference and respect. They are very real to the person who believes.
Having said that, I believe Monsieur Baudelaire is speaking here of unrequited love, a love that to him is so precious, he keeps it in the clouds just out of reach. The image of his love stays in his mind, and in his heart is where the cherishing blooms, but his love is so much more than that. He seems to be under a spell. To say you are more than an image I dream about and cherish, you are my superstition, means to me, that you are the very thing that I believe in, the idea of which makes no sense, but I love you more than I could ever love anyone else. And yet, there is a mystery about you. Are you bad for me? If my love were requited, would it be a mistake? Would it ruin everything? Superstition has to stay in the clouds, just out of reach, and so does the love. Dream of it, cherish it, hold it in the highest regard. Be also aware of its mystery and respect the unknowingness of it.
Monsieur Baudelaire was a controversial poet in Paris in the 19th century. He was part of the Decadent era. Knowing a bit about poets myself, I’ve been thinking: is the superstition the muse? Oui.
