Red Writing Hood

 

Today I am participating in a new challenge. It's a Friday link up and its all about writing. If you would like to play along, click the button above.

The prompt is you are stuck in the elevator with someone you despise for 6 hours. What do you say? This can be fiction of non-fiction.

So let's set the stage. Imagine if you will, that a website is a living, breathing human. This particular one is a man who stands almost 7 feet tall. Larger than life. His face as first glimpse is friendly and inviting, but there is something lurking behind the smile that is troublesome.

His name is Face Book. He'll ask you to call him "friend" though.

We enter the elevator at the same time. Our eyes meet and there is recognition. After the elevator journeys a few floors, there is a shudder and a slow grind of a stop. All sounds of mechanical workings have ceased; leaving the sound of our breathing to fill the silence.

The following is my side of the conversation.

We need to talk. You convinced me to join you in your endeavor a year ago and I am not happy with what you have done with me. In fact, I hate you and I am considering severing our relationship.


Why? Don't pretend like you don't know what you have done. You have forced me to open Pandora's Box. A box full of old relationships that were better left behind.


Sure. It was my choice to let them back into my life, but I felt like I had no choice. When faced with having to confirm or ignore a friendship; I had to confirm. Your choice of wording left me no option. I wouldn't want them to think I was immature enough to hold on to old grudges and insecurities; even if I am.


Stop poking me; I am still talking to you.


Daily I have checked in through you into these skeletons. Hourly I have found myself measuring up against their photos, their collections of friends and more recently; what they "like" or are fans of. You have created a way of keeping our friendship from dying by allowing us to tag photos that are shared across the internet of a time that should be forgotten; high school. You created a place for us to update what is going on in our lives right now, so that we can all compare who is the best. I have never been comfortable with writing what is really going on sometimes, so you forced me into a spotlight that made me lie.


Seriously, you want to give me a chicken for my farm right now? This is a serious conversation. I am not interested in your chickens, palm trees or a new couch for a imaginary pet.


Back to this spotlight. Does anyone really want to read that I am constipated, trying to balance the household budget and can't control my kids? No. I don't want my nemesis from high school reading about my struggles. So I write about how I am going shopping for the latest fad. Hit buttons that make me "like" the fact that my kids are the best and offer them a goat to get them off my tail for a while. Letting them see a "me" that shows only how great I am.


I hate you for that. I hate that you have forced me to compare and critique myself with my past. I hate the pressure of something you convinced me would be fun. I hate you for wasting my time with silliness.


What the heck? You blocked me and now I can't share this information with you.


Seriously? Come on! Accept my friendship again so we can finish talking. I'll give you a park bench for your new frontier.

Eating Out Of The Same Bowl

Sam has been my faithful companion for many years, the children's best friend and house guard dog. Hesagoodboy...Hesagoodboy (said in my funny specially reserved for dogs voice) When we got Libby the Wiener to fill the void in Buzz's heart when she lost her puppy, Sam had a new challenge to deal with. Although Libby is a miniature dachshund; she came with a huge attitude towards the existing household pet. She clearly and sometimes loudly declared she was Alpha in the dog world of our home. Sam was gracious, confused and probably mildly entertained by this creature who didn't measure up to his knee; declaring her superiority. When it came time to eat she would aggressively attack him to get to the bowl first. When she had her fill and he would go to take his turn; she would stubbornly sit in front of the bowl and growl.

Over some time I have watched them go from bitter rivals to good friends who eat out of the same bowl. It took Sam learning he played too rough sometimes and scared her and it took her realizing that there was plenty of food and love to go around. When I would pet Sam she used to get jealous and try to push him away by use of teeth and growling. Now she has learned to sit back, tail wagging and knows her turn is next.

Our relationships would benefit greatly if we would learn to eat out of the same bowl, to celebrate the good times that someone else is having by wagging our tail and considering that the other person may be uncomfortable with the way we handle things sometimes. If we were all the same what a boring world it would be, but respecting our differences and playing together is the real key to a successful relationship. When we understand that life is big enough for us all to enjoy is when we really start living and having healthy relationships!


In your relationships have you learned that life is big enough or are you eating from the same bowl?

I want to share another bowl with you! There is a great community online that encourages you to make friends, talk about life and even win an awesome prize!

Click the link above to join in the fun with women (and a few men!) just like you! I have the honor of being one the community leaders over there and it has been a privilege to work with so many talented and diverse women! I just know it's going to make your tail wag, so come and share my bowl!