Haunted Blogfest ~ Reminiscing about Flo

Hello, my blogger friends!!  I'm back.  Sorry I missed you all last week.  But, I'm here in full force today to participate in Bish Denham's:

The challenge is to write a haunted story - preferably real - in 300 words or less.  I fear mine is more of a reminisce/short vignette - but, it's a fun memory from my teenage years.  I hope you enjoy!

(source)

Florence Louise Grange, or as she’s more famously known as, “Flo”, was the ghost of ghosts back in the day. The best way to get Flo to come out and play was to drive to the top of her cemetery lane at night and park the car with the headlights pointed down towards her headstone. A brave volunteer would walk down to her headstone, recite the words carved on it precisely, then turn and walk back up the lane without looking back. Flo would erupt from her grave as a glowing green ball and follow (or chase) you up the street. (*TIP: this is where a date comes in handy, because I had a good excuse to fling myself into his arms…)



She would hover and hang around for a while. And if you got lucky, she would even morph into her original form – a sad young girl in a long dress. I only ever saw her as a ball of light. But, she’d say “hello” often, as often as we went to see her.


As more and more people started to visit Flo, the cops started to patrol the cemetery in force. My friends and I had a way around that. Instead of driving in, we would park in the neighborhood across the street and walk into the cemetery. This was an even bigger rush, at least for us. Not only were we excited to visit Flo – but the added “cool” factor of dodging the cops just amped up our fun. We dived behind headstones a time or two, leaning into the shadows and away from trolling patrol-car searchlights.


But, Flo never seemed to mind. Headlights or not – if we held to the ritual, she’d appear. As a grown-up with my own teenager, I can’t say I’d recommend this date/hang-out activity to my daughter. I’m a parent, of course. That would just be…wrong. Of course, if my stories and reminisces of my youth spur her to seek out these haunts on her own? I hope she’ll tell my old friend Flo that I say “hello”.

 
I hope you'll all click on Bish's name above to visit the others participating in the blogfest.  And thanks, so much, for stopping by.  Happy Wednesday!!

Pay it Forward Blogfest!!!! (not forgotten...just a little late!!)

Hi my fave bloggers/followers/friends ~

First of all I want to thank Matthew Macnish over at The QQQE for his tactful, round-a-bout reminder that I signed up for this blogfest ~ :)  (doh!)  I haven't been on track all week... (sorry if you stopped by for Writerly Wednesday or Find the Story Friday and found nothing...)  #Doneafail.

But, better late than never, right?  And I certainly don't want to miss the chance to Pay It Forward to some wonderful bloggers I know.

#1 - Alex J. Cavanaugh (who's also co-hosting this blogfest, of course!!)  He's seriously one of the nicest, pay-it-forward-est, sci-fi awesome, movie buffs and bloggers out there.  If you don't know Alex, go visit him.  NOW!  (pretty please?)

#2 - Michael Di Gesu of In Time...  another super nice guy/blogger.  Michael always seems to have just the right words I need to hear (read) when I need to hear (read) them.  Plus, he's a kick-a designer and illustrator.  Again - if you don't know Michael, VISIT!!!

#3 - Shannon Whitney Messenger.  This gal REALLY knows how to pay it forward.  She's always passing on her precious arcs, her knowledge, and sharing her wonderfully fun and funny personality.  I get a kick out of every single one of her posts.  You should visit her blog.  Today is good.  :)  Like, now.  I'll wait...

You're back?  Ok - I think I only needed to list 3.  I could list MANY more!  This blogger community is pretty darned awesome.  If anyone ever wants to organize a face-to-face blogger meet-and-greet one of these days, I would seriously consider coming!  (oh, you know I'd love to meet any one of you in person!)

I wanted to pay-it-forward to one more person, though.  That's my cousin, Amy Richardson.  She's new to this whole blogging thing - and I'm hoping if I can drive followers/readers her way, she'll keep at it.  She should.  She's a great writer/person with some wonderful ideas and talent to offer.  (LOVE you, cous!)

Please know that I think all of my blogger friends ROCK!  And if you'd like to discover even more great blogs and read more pay-it-forward blog tributes, make sure you click above on Matthew's or Alex's links for the full list of blog participants.

And I hope you all have a WONDERFUL weekend!!

Find the Story Friday ~ The Journey

First of all - I just wanted to thank everyone for their kind and encouraging words on Wednesday's post.  You prove my point time and time again - this blogger community ROCKS!!!  :)  As my daughter would say, "I <3 U!"

And so, as I was scrolling for pictures today, I came across this one:

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Writing/Publishing a novel ~ it's a LONG road.  Sometimes - it almost seems there is no end.  But, if you can just make it around that bend - hopefully what you see is a new path and a new adventure.  This applies to any goal, really.  Any dream.  And I'm happy to share the journey with AWESOME people like you.

Of course - for my writing friends out there,  you'll know that it's essential for your characters to make journeys as well.  Please share - What journey are/is you/your character taking right now??

And, as always, I wish you all a WONDERFUL weekend!  Happy Writing/Living ~ :) 

It's OK to HATE the world today....

....as long as you forgive it tomorrow.  :)

I'm joining the rest of Alex J. Cavanaugh's IWS groupers today, because it's just been one of those weeks, you know?

For the most part, I try to stay really upbeat and positive.  Anyone who's been following my blog for awhile - at least, I hope you'll agree with that statement?  (If you don't, can I bribe you with a cookie?)

But, it's hard sometimes.  I am ALWAYS my own worst critic.  I think I, well...pretty much suck, most of the time.  I can get the best critiques in the world one day, and then turn around and find myself in tears the next day, cursing every darn word I tap/write out on my MS.  I ride this emotional roller-coaster FAR too often.  I'm always sure that maybe - I'm just not that good.

The thing is ~ this is no way to live life.  This line of thinking will NOT get me closer to my dream.  I KNOW this - and, yet - I still have those off days.  Perhaps, aspiring writers are just predisposed to doubt.  I do realize how foolish my doubt is.  And I'll continue to persevere.  I'll keep writing because it's what I LOVE to do!  I know it's never too late.  And I've got this wonderful writing community at my fingertips, if I need you.

I don't know that too many people know this, but my doubts and my fears kept me from really writing for YEARS!  Since I've been blogging, I've met so many wonderful, positive, inspiring people!  You guys keep me going.  Really.  You do.  So, I just wanted to let you know that if you've ever had an off day like I have, you're not alone.  And also just wanted to say, "Thank you."  :)