Depot

Every winter at the end of semester break, Sharon eagerly awaited the opportunity to hop on a train to head back home for a much needed rest. With finals over and another semester behind her, she feels as though life is quickly passing her by, yet at the same time just not going fast enough, is that really possible?

What a feeling it is to go from a super fast passed city to a much more surreal tranquil old town where everyone literally knows her. As she sits on the train today watching the snow hit the windows she notices the barren trees getting dressed all in white. There is no noise other than the whooshing of the train, it is almost an eerie peace. Before too long the weather has blanketed the train in white, leaving it impossible to see out the windows; perfect time for a nap.

Sleep is hard to come. Her mind still agonizing over chemistry facts mixed with Russian vocabulary. What a grueling semester! She begins to snicker at the thoughts of her roommates and the silly things they accomplished, like dressing up in their most formal dresses and heading over to McDonalds for a bite to eat. Everyone stared at them wondering why four young gals dressed to the nines in long flowing gowns at noon chose to feast at the local fast food joint.

"Next stop Freemont, be prepared to deboard the train." The announcer interrupts her thoughts. She quickly gathers up her sweaters, and checks below her seat to be sure she didn't drop anything. As she stands up she bundles herself in her scarf and sweaters, and then her jacket. She steps off the train, two suitcases in hand and a purse over her shoulder, to only see the depot, a beautifully restored Victorian building older than her great grandmother, in stark whiteness against the black sky and empty of any living thing. How was she to get home?

Lemons

They say when life gives you lemons make lemonade.
I say when life gives you lemons, take out the seeds and plant them.
Then juice them and make your lemonade.
But you can't just juice lemons and make lemonade. No because if you do then you will just have lemon juice which is still tart and bitter. You need water and sugar, to make a lemonade.
So when life gives you lemons, in order to make lemonade you have to come up with some water and sugar? Where do you get that??

I think your sugar is your attitude. How sweet your lemonade is depends on your amount of sugar. Our attitude makes our lives better. Many times we can't choose how many lemons or what kind of lemons we get, but how we deal with them the better our lemonade turns out.

And as for the water, I think that is the time in which we have to make the lemonade. You know life gives us our lemons and we wonder for how long will we have to hold on to them. They are not fun at first, and as we make the lemonade the lesser amount of water, the stronger the lemon taste is. The more water we add the less strong the lemon taste is.

So is it in life, the first time trials hit us, they are strong and bitter. But with time and the right attitude the sweeter the trials become.

Discovered

The setting sun drew the day to an end. Farmer Ted had only a few more precious moments to dig holes to plant the seeds, to be in the ground in time for the proper growing season. Only one more hole to go. As he knelt on the ground, he wiped the sweat from his brow. The temperatures were cold but the work was hard. The tiny shovel dug into the brown soil, suddenly coming to an abrupt stop. Ted heard the clanking of metal. What could it be?

He dug around and pulled out a dirt covered little something. Grabbing the corner of his plaid shirt he brushed the soil to discover a cast iron toy tractor. Where did this come from?

Twelve years back Ted had purchased this land from a very old lady who had been born on this land. She had no children. How old could this tractor be?


Sorry, I hit a writers wall...

The Malt Shop

Sun shining, kids smiling this was going to be a summer to remember. Ramona just finished her 8th grade year and about to turn 14. This summer she had no cares, other than the swim team that met each morning at 8 am to practice for an hour. Being of such a young age she didn't have to work, occasionally she'd babysit for the neighbors. She felt care free and ready to face the joys of summer vacation.

Her best friend Linda lived several doors down the street. Basset Street, lined with old shade trees and white picket fences, was a quiet one other than the occasional neighborhood kids riding their bikes or playing ball in the street.

Ramona left her house one morning a little tired and hot after a hard work out. She called to her mother as she shut the door "Bye Mom, I'm off to Linda's we will be back after awhile."
Her mom began to reply but Ramona couldn't hear her through the thick wooden door. She ran down the few porch steps, not noticing the beautifully blooming flowers that lined the walk way. However her eye caught a stick on the side walk which she quickly picked up. With stick in hand she skipped, well that is too juvenile for a 14 year old, so she strolled down the street, pegging the fence post with the stick.

As quickly as her feet stopped, her heart skipped a beat, for she saw Steven Johnson all decked out in his white uniform stepping into his convertible Ford Mustang. Oh he is so hot she thought to herself. She had a hard time not staring at the sixteen year old with gorgeous soft hazel eyes, and perfectly trimmed brown hair. Out of the corner of Steven's eye he saw little Ramona and gave her a great smile and a wave. Her cheeks quickly flushed as she waved hi and added a little speed to her stroll.

Tail lights were far down the street as she knocked on Linda's door. Though she was standing on the porch her mind was far off in Puppy Love Land. The door opened and Linda asked "Are you ok, your cheeks are all red?" Ramona still day dreaming of her encounter... .

'would you like a ride? I'm headed over to the Malt Shop for work.' Steven offered.
"Oh I'd love to. Thank you so much."she replied, not realizing the words actually came out of her mouth.

"What did you say? You'd love to what?" asked Linda bewildered at her friends response.

"Oh...oh sorry. I was just thinking, we should go down town to the Malt Shop and get a shake or something."

"Great, I'll just tell my mom."

Snickers, Hot Dog Buns and Ramen

The sounds of the toilet flushing and the water running in the shower told me it was morning, time to get out of bed. The sun hadn't been a part of this "time to get up" because it still was hiding itself for another 30 minutes. The crisp cold air warned of a cool spring day and begged me to stay under covers. "I can do this", I told myself, referring to getting out of bed. Staring up at me from the floor, my jogging shoes whispered "let's go for a run, come on, come on." I quieted the beckoning by throwing my pillow on top of them. It just wasn't going to happen today. I mean I could barely drag my butt out of bed.

Late last night I received a call that I knew was going to come. A call that didn't bring a smile to my face, a message of despair rather than hope. My grandmother of 92 years had a massive heart attack and stroke. After a minor surgery to try to repair things, they found a leak in her arteries and there is not much more time on earth for her. She is 92. She has lived a good life. A widow of 7 years, it is time for her to return to her Heavenly home, but I am not ready to send her. But sometime this week I am sure I will be saying my final goodbyes. Something that is comforting and heartbreaking at the same time, is that possible? But with this weighing heavy on my heart as well as thinking about the house selling and Eric's job, lets just say, I had a hard time falling asleep. Once I did it was interrupted several times by a wayward child, a crying baby and a snoring husband.

So while laying in bed this morning, knowing that I must get started on the day, I only begged for a few more minutes. But Timmy, who had been crying since the sounds of flooding water flowed through the wall, chose a different path for me. With my eyes half open I felt my way to his crib, and climbed back into the covers. I tempted to nurse him in bed with me under the nice warm bedding. That worked for a bit. Seeing that I couldn't nurse him all day in bed, and that he wanted to crawl all over his finally sleeping sisters, I grabbed him and hopped out of my warm blankets.

Oh time to start the day. Eric woke up Gregory and had him out the door for school before I could wipe all the sleep from my eyes. The fortunate thing was it was just me and Timmy for the time being.

I searched high and low in the kitchen for food, as if I were a teenager unsure of what groceries her mom had bought over the weekend. Which in our case, there was no grocery shopping over the weekend other than a few items for Gregory's birthday party on Saturday. Did I mention yet it was Monday? Yeah so its Monday morning. Typically we do a good grocery shop on Saturday but we hadn't. But deep in the freezer I found a Snickers bar. Nuts, milk chocolate, that creamy layer has to be somewhat good for you. As I go to take my first bite, Timmy reached out for some. What kind of mom would I be if I fed him a Snickers bar for breakfast, and give him nuts before he is a year? That would not be good. So I grabbed the next closest thing, a hot dog bun. It was there, quick and best of all he could hold it and feed himself.

With the girls still sleeping, mind you it is rare that they sleep this long I mean I think it was 7:15 am. I decided to enjoy my chocolate fat filling breakfast while watching the Morning Show. Timmy crawled around the nicely folded by his dad at 5 am clothes, and left a trail of bun crumbs, which I will need to vacuum at some point during the day because heaven forbid someone might call to look at the house. While close to my last bite I heard little foot steps coming down the stairs, and afraid of getting caught eating my nutritious breakfast, I shoved the last bit into my mouth.

I attempted to say good morning to Emily without chocolate and nuts flying out of my mouth, not very easily done. She missed the spray of Snickers and asked for some cereal. I can do that, I thought. Cereal for breakfast that is easy enough, that's up to my speed.

But no sooner did I fix her cereal did Bethany come down stairs. After a morning hug and some loves, which she so desperately needed this morning. She whispered, "I want eggs." I quickly replied, "not this morning." I just wasn't in the mood for eggs. She didn't do her typically arching of her back whining and pleading for eggs dance, instead she said "ok how about some Ramen?" After I said "no." I said "Ok, that's fine." Well actually after she asked for the ramen and I said no, she looked in the freezer and asked "where is the candy that you gave to Emily that she gave to me, that Dad put in the freezer?" I replied "I have no idea, how about some Ramen?" Since she had already asked for it, it was an accepted offer. She peacefully took it and ate it.

I am alone.
I feel so afraid.
I am scared.
I am cold.
I feel frightened.
I am not ready.
I am willing.
I'm not courageous.
It's disheartening
It is gloomy.
It is clean.
The thought is dreadful
The light is bright
My feelings are unsure.
The future is daunting.
Hope is near.
Faith is to be found.
I am heard.
Prayer is near.

This is my life.

High Dive

"Come on Johnny you can do it." cheered the crowd below. But poor Johnny Jones hunched on his knees, holding on to the end of the board for dear life, peering over at the 14 foot drop was terrified of the drop he thought he could make.

"You can do it!"

"Stand up and just jump!"

"Chicken."

"Don't be afraid!"

His friends calling and cheering him on the best they could. Panic stricken legs no longer able to bring his weight to a standing ready to jump position.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Sammy with her long blond hair pulled tight in the most perfect ponytail, sun glistening off the top of it.

"Scaredy Cat!"

"Come on we don't have all day!"

With out much thought, his legs straightened, his hands let go, his feet pushed and off he went.
"Splash" straight in the water.

Everyone cheered as his head popped out of the water. Swimming to the side, he peered around to see that Sammy had not even been watching. Bummer he thought, oh well it was fun at least.