Selfhood #99WordStories

Posted on February 23, 2022 by Gloria

This week’s story challenge in 99 words from Charli Mills at Carrot Ranch In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story using the phrase, “I’d rather be…” You fill in what comes next. What would a character(s) rather be doing and why?

I’d rather be what I am

Than what I thought I wanted to be

I wanted to be perfect like people I knew

Back then

Long ago

Not anymore

They weren’t that perfect at all you see

I’d rather be me

I have what I have

Because it’s meant for me

I’d rather the hurt that came my way

The experience of healing was mine alone

I’d rather not walk in your boots my friends

That road is yours

It’s not for me

The future is mine

It’s not for you

Whatever I do

May you stand by me

Here’s a collection of 99 word stories from last week’s writing challenge. Zippers Collection.

Crops and Souls #100DaysOfOldDays

Posted on February 22, 2022 by Gloria

Day 10 #100DaysOfOldDays

A young person of today may not know what this is.

It’s a scythe. It was used for cutting grass and harvesting crops. The lord of death, the Grim Reaper, carries one for harvesting souls at the end of their time on earth!

My dad used his in the 70’s and 80’s for cutting long grass. But our lawn at home was cut with a little push along mower; like this one in Lucy’s drawing.

***Push Along Lawn Mower by Lucy McBreen***

The scythe was very sharp and dangerous. We were always warned never to go near it, and we never did. We played by the river instead. (That’s tomorrow’s story)

Featured image; Crops by Pexels. Grim Reaper by OpenClipart-Vectors

A Nostalgic Smoke #100DaysOfOldDays

Posted on February 21, 2022 by Gloria

Day 9 #100DaysOfOldDays

This is an old clay tobacco pipe. My dad had some of these in his collection of old things. A lot of his were missing the stem though.

Irish pipe smokers puffed through clay pipes up until the 1800’s. Then the briar pipe was popularized by the Kapp brothers—Friedrich & Heinrich—and their associate Charles Peterson.

Clay pipes were a prominent feature at wakes and funerals long ago. Friends and family of the deceased bought whiskey and porter along with clay pipes and tobacco to have at the wake.

Pipe smokers used to dip the shank of the clay pipe into their whiskey or porter to give the pipe extra flavour.

These old pipes have a nostalgic place in Irish history. You’ll find them in our museums, and no doubt every pipe collector has at least one. Some Irish pubs like to display historical objects and the clay pipe would most likely be among their collection.

This particular one hangs in our local pub An Sean Sibin.

The Old Black Bicycle #100DaysOfOldDays

Posted on February 20, 2022 by Gloria

Day 8 #100DaysOfOldDays

Ah…the old black bicycle. The one in this photo is hanging on the ceiling of our local pub. An Sean Sibin in Ballina.

***Hanging From the Ceiling in An Sean Sibin Pub***

I remember my uncle having a bicycle exactly like this one; all through the 70’s. He would have cycled for miles on it. It didn’t have gears, so when he came to a steep hill, he had to hop off and walk up it. It had big springs under the saddle and a big round headlamp positioned at the centre of the handlebars. I’m pretty sure he had a bell on it too.

The black bicycle in Lucy’s drawing belongs to Flossie Lynch, the main character in my novel.