Gratitude, Halloween And Honoring Those Who Passed

On this day before Halloween, I am usually pretty excited and giddy, getting ready to celebrate what is for me as a Pagan more than just a dress up in crazy clothes day. This year, though, I will work instead, and considering that we are in a temporary place, not celebrate with our usual abandon. Still, Halloween or Samhain will be exciting enough, as we celebrate and honor those who have left before us.

Therefore, my gratitude list today focuses on some special people and animals in my life that have moved on.

1. My grandfather
He passed away exactly one week after my 12th birthday, but during the short time I had him in my life, he made a lasting impression. Leaving me with an independent spirit and the freedom to choose my own path (he insisted that I would not be raised in any faith so I could make up my own mind later on), I honor him today.

2. My adopted Father
While he left me with many scars and wounds that will always define how I view the world, he introduced to me the need of taking care of our world around us. He taught organic gardening to many people, including me. He also gave me access to mythology and ancient traditions which define much of my belief system to this day.

3. Angel
Probably the strangest animal I have ever met, but also the most profoundly loving cat there was. After adopting his mother without knowing that she was pregnant, he was one of the 2  kittens (out of a litter of 6) who were completely bald. Sphynx cats are rare, and well, I must say ugly, but he was the most beautiful animal to me. After his death, I had sworn never to get another pet, because the loss was too great. But, I currently have two dogs and another cat. Still, he will always be my true Angel.

I am very grateful for having had many people in my life, briefly or for a long period of time, that made a large impact on me, and brought me to the choices I made to become me.

Whom are you grateful for in your life? Why not share that list via the Celebrate The Small Things Blog hop hosted by Lexa Cain? And stop on by Dory’s Backyard, where everyone is talking about shelter animals.

“The Long Road Home” – A Flash Fiction

“The Long Road Home” by Avalon Media available here:
http://shrsl.com/?~8swh

Despite numerous diversions, I had followed through on my plans to make the trip to Santa Fe.
No matter what the Universe threw at me, I was determined to follow through, after all, I had made the promise to stand by my sisters side on her special day, even though I loathed weddings and knew it would mean I would have to encounter slimy old Uncle Thomas.
None of that mattered, nothing did, because I was happy for her, more importantly for the first time in her life, she was happy.
Diversions or not, I had to go in a hurry, and took a wrong turn that would end my life.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

This post was inspired by this weeks prompt “Diversions” by Lillie McFerrin. The above image “The Long Road Home” is available on RedBubble here.

Hidden Words – A Flash Fiction

Words Forever Lost By Avalon Media

I knew it was you, who had been here, marking the words in those many books, a clever way of showing me you were okay, but not clever enough. The same markings that let me here, let him to you, always a step ahead of me, as I stumbled blindly with no resources to find you while he had the world at his disposal. The danger you faced was greater than our love, paying the ultimate price for a forbidden moment together. Now, without you keeping me safe, I will have to be ready to face him alone.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

The above image is available as poster, framed art print, on canvas or metal background as well as as a tote bag, and pillow on RedBubble.

Tribute To A Legend – Leonard Nimoy

Tribute To A Legend  – A Haiku

inspired by your way
my heart aches now that you’re gone
live long and prosper

——-

This is how I choose to remember the great Leonard Nimoy

In his own words:

Because

Because
I have known despair
I value hope

Because
I have tasted frustration
I value fulfillment

Because
I have been lonely
I value love

Leonard Nimoy

You will be missed!

The Crime Scene Cleaner – A Flash Fiction

It was not that Mr. Annar had forgotten to close his blinds as everyone had suspected, it was that he had dismantled the installation, making it impossible for anyone to block his view of the entire parking lot.
The central bay window was perfectly spaced, allowing him to take advantage of the lucky occurance of being the renter of P-91.
The friendly, lady with the three cats next door on the other hand was not so lucky.
Living next to someone shaken by paranoia, her gentle smile, directed toward him, cost her her life.
Watching both bodies leave in bags, Ben nodded at the detectives and officers, watching them leave one by one, until he was finally alone.
Sighing, he raised his head toward the ceiling at the bloody mess above, already regretting,that he gave his new employee the day off. Cleaning up here alone, would surely take all night.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

The Future – A Flash Fiction

One day, not long from now, when we all have done the deeds that brought us to this point and time, we will be the forgotten ones.
When a war, we could have stopped, swallowed us whole, and the creation of more and more wasteful things, has taken over – the machine rising above men.
It is my sincerest wish, that this day will never come, but as I overlook what was once peaceful skyline of New York, streets burning, buildings crumbling, and people hurting each other over a slice of bread, I know we have already forgotten how to be human.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

This post was inspired by this weeks Flash Fiction prompt : “Forgotten”.

A Fresh Start – A Five Sentence Flash Fiction

This was supposed to have been their fresh start, a moment to begin again after a few turbulent years and the loss of their stillborn son.
Another chance to find each other, love one another with more depth than they ever had before, the loss bringing forth a good, in a bad situation.
But life, as usual, did not follow plans they made. The icy road ahead made it impossible for them to regain control of their car, before it was too late.
Holding hands until the moment of their death, taking their last laborious breath, they held on to the belief that now they would reunited with their child, at last.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2015

This post was inspired by this weeks Five Sentence Flash Fiction Prompt: Fresh.

A Lonely, Silent Night

With desperation in her heart, she summoned him without hesitation.
The darkness of the last few weeks had been so overwhelming, that the warnings of the old woman had not found its way into her thoughts, never even considering that who she was calling for, was not the same person he had once been.
It did not matter, anyway. Her life did no longer matter to her, a life without him, more terrifying than any potential entity finding its way into her space.
One more moment, one more glance into his beautiful blue eyes, is all she asked for, and exactly what she received, as he took her life, as quickly as she had taken his before.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2014

Rain – A Five Sentence Fiction

We laughed at the people scattering, as rain, began to fall as if the rain was the poison to their day. To us, it was an elixir, a potion that made us stronger. We danced, skipping through the empty park, with nothing but our love as a companion. Giddy moments, that would never leave my heart, even now that she was long gone, her body taken by old age, leaving me with nothing but the memories of her gentle laughter. And the scent of rain in her hair.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2014

 

Sisters

The Two Sisters by Theodore Chasseriau

 

I envied her abilities to dance, the way she moved about, gracefully as if gravity did not restrain her, rather worked with her, propelling the movements into the air like a symphony.
She had been beautiful in every sense of the word, while I was the average sister, waiting behind her, to be noticed, to be seen.
At times, in my poor judgment of youth, I dared to express the anger that arose, through many actions, and hurtful words, but she always smiled.
Always, patiently, lovingly.
But none of that mattered now, as I stood outside of her hospice room, still grasping with the concept, that I would lose her, soon.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2014

This post was inspired by this weeks Five Sentence Flash Prompt: Envy.