Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Weekly Scribblings #46: Let's Celebrate!

 

 
 
So I had a birthday. Did I what! Which, dear wordsmiths, many of you already know from having seen it on facebook and showering me with good wishes.

That made me pause to realise, gratefully, how many friendships poetry has brought me over the years. Not all my fb friends and well-wishers are poets, but the majority are.

It has sometimes been said that one can only have a limited number of ‘real friends’, and that therefore most of one’s facebook friends can’t possibly be ‘real’. But poetry, as I have found through conducting writing workshops for many years, is a recipe for instant intimacy. We get to see into each other’s souls. Furthermore, many of my poet friends, whether encountered first online or known in the so-called real world too, have been in my life for years already. Your loving wishes are very treasured!

I’m not much for big parties (are all poets introverts?) but my lovely hairdresser, who is also a pal, decided she MUST make me a cake, even though far too busy herself to share it with me. So I hastily phoned an old friend who lives nearby to come and help me with the eating.

Old friend turned up with presents and more foodie treats. I had decided to dress up a bit, and put on a bright garment which the same old friend gave me last birthday. I posed for her in my kitchen, just for fun, holding out my skirts. She said, ‘Stay like that! I must get a photo.’ So I did, grinning. She said, ‘Oh, you look so happy’ – and yes, this is the photo.  

Like many others, I’ve become – er – very well-rounded during the pandemic isolation. But heck, I’m 81 now; I don’t have to look like any fashionable ideal (not that I ever did). So I posted the photo on facebook and Instagram, just because it’s so happy and colourful. I was plump as a little kid, with a mop of white-blonde curls, and often a big grin. This photo reminds me of the happiest snaps of me when I was little. (‘Second childhood’ takes on a new meaning!)

[People loved seeing the photo, and told me I looked beautiful. Take that, Inner Critic!]

I always seem to end up having extended birthdays. This year I took left-over birthday cake next day to a women writers’ group I mentor – and they gave me another one! At a different writers’ group the day after that I was given more pressies. The good wishes kept coming in, on the social media and by phone. I've been feeling delightfully spoilt.

So let’s continue the party mood here! I invite you to write something celebratory. Or else to tell us about a particular celebration, real or imagined. New writing please, one per person, poetry or prose. Prose – a maximum of 369 words excluding title – may be fiction or non-.

Please post your piece on your blog and add your link below. We’ll love it if you also find time to leave us a comment, link to this P&SU post at your blog, and read and comment on some of the other participants’ offerings. (Yes, we know you know all this, but we need to keep repeating it for the newcomers who show up every so often.)

Have fun!


26 comments:

  1. I'll tell you again, Rosemary. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!"
    You look nice, really happy, in that yellow birthday party dress. Thank you too, for fixing my link. The originall took you to the comments but I wanted the top of my post.
    I have a terrible error. Instead of 369 words I was aiming for less than 395. I think my dyslexia kicked in and reversed my target numbers. Next prose write i do I will write the number down.
    I will fix it in the late morning, get rid of the guy missing his own funeral maybe. Or pare down my ibtroduction some. My first morning duties are take the eleven-year-old to school, get some milk plus, and get some pills and an injection at the pharmacy. Then fix.
    BTW, my birthdsy was Oct 30, we had a family affair at a Greek restaurant, using their back porch. I am six years older than you.
    In the meantime I hope not to get caught. I'll remove my count.
    ..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jim!

      I write my posts in Word or Pages first, then copy and paste to my blog. I can set the document to show the word count as I go along. (Mind you, I nearly always get too many at the first attempt and have to pare it back.)

      Delete
  2. Happy birthday, Rosemary! What tremendous photos you've shared. Thanks for the prompt ~ M

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  3. So good I said it twice: Happy birthday, Rosemary! I love the photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't mind hearing it again! (Grin.)

      I love that you love them.

      Delete
  4. Happy Birthday, Rosemary! (I said it twice, but i think you wouldn't mind). :)
    great dress, so sunny and tropical.

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  5. I hope I look as happy and beautiful when I turn 81! Happy birthday!

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    1. Oh Rommy, I've no doubt you will! (Impossible to imagine your gorgeous face without a delighted grin.) Thank you.

      Delete
  6. You look lovely in that party dress Rosemary I am pleased to see you looking so happy. Happy Birthday !

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Rall. One doesn't get to 81 without some sorrows along the way; but the truth is, I also have a lot to be happy about.

      Delete
  7. You, dear Rosemary are as adorable at 81 as the cutie little girl! Cheers!

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  8. Dear Rosemary
    Your smile grows prettier with age.
    Much💝love
    P.S.
    Belated Birthday Greetings

    ReplyDelete
  9. Happy Belated Birthday! You look terrific, and I do love that dress. Can you imagine, I own exactly zero dresses? My work attire was jeans and anything within reason on top. If I need one, I'll go shopping! My daughter's wedding? Well, she's not engaged... yet!
    I am embarrassed my poem took a depressing turn for a celebratory theme.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, don't worry – it's always OK to subvert the prompt, as a way of addressing it.
      I don't own a lot of dresses myself. A few comfortable caftans when it's really hot.... As you see, although the one in the photo could be worn as a dress, I choose to use it as a top over slacks.

      Delete
  10. Lovely pictures, both. I’m so pleased you had a good day❣️May your personal new year bring many more blessings🙏

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  11. Since I'm not a Facebook person, let me wish you the happiest of birthdays now. Love that picture, and the clothing!

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  12. Happiest birthday again and again, my beloved Rosemary. I think one should have birth-month not just birth-day, so you still have days to go!

    I am so glad your friend asked you to pose for that picture. I love how bright it is. I also love how your stunning smile in the current picture is pretty much identical to the delight in the picture of you as a child. You are radiant.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Magaly. Birth-month will suit me very nicely indeed!

      Delete

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