Dec 10, 2023 -- "There should have been a time and a place, but this wasn't it."

There should have been a time and a place, but this wasn’t it.

10 December 2024

by Cary Holmquist

Looking outside just now, I saw a small group of rock doves perched high in a leafless blackleaf cottonwood tree across from our kitchen window. They have been up there for some hours, waiting out the snow flurries that have been coming and going most of the day.

Somehow, the marauding hawks and owls have not found these hapless creatures—which were almost sitting ducks, as it were, for winged predators. If a hawk showed up, the doves would scatter to roosts that might be more safe, like the nearby spruce trees that people seem to like to plant in their yards. If they were sheltering under the thick bristles of spruce branches, the doves would be less visible and accessible.

So, the sight of these bedraggled birds there in the vulnerable cottonwood branches makes me consider that at least the doves are not perched over someone’s vehicles. Just a few feet from the tree line, there are also some vehicles parked nearby. You know what would happen if the trees were above the cars….

And so, at this moment anyway, this is an instance of a time and a place, but this wasn’t it. The result is that everyone is missing out on the usual scenario—or the one that gets the most attention and derision and chagrin when it comes to birds roosting over vehicles. But not today, not under those trees. Excitement averted.

Until the hawks arrive.

Or maybe I missed the point of this topic. Both the birds and I have missed, oh my.

Story Slingers

December 7, 2023

Myrna Flynn

The Journey

The flight to Newark, NJ airport seemed to take forever and the flight out for Glasgow, Scotland was set to take off at 7:30 tomorrow morning. Check in was no later than 7:15. She and her brother, Hank, and sister, Marcie, were about to embark on their 2 month long trip in Scotland, Ireland and England.It was finally off the planning board and happening.

CJ had a reservation at a hotel across the street from the airport. She did not expect to get much sleep be cause she was super excited and wound up. She decided that she would re-check her baggage to make sure she had not forgotten anything but, after starting, changed her mind when she saw how late it was -- midnight. She knew she needed to try and get some sleep. She set her alarm for 5:00. Luckily she fell asleep right away.

She was awakened at 5:00, got up immediately, took a quick shower, got dressed and decided to finish her baggage check. Everything was there. Next, she emptied her purse, everything was not there!! Her passport was gone. She knew she had it.

CJ frantically tore through the room, searching for it. She was ready to scream and pull her hair out. Just then she heard a knock on her door. Looking at her watch, she saw that it was 6 o'clock. That had to be her siblings. She dashed to the door and let them in. (there should be a place and time, but this wasn't it!!)

Henry and Marcie took one look , hugged her and asked, "What is wrong?"

CJ gulped out, "I can not find my passport!

Henry said, "Hey sis, take it easy. The master of finding lost objects is here to the rescue."

He stepped to the middle of the room and scanned it. He ignored all the obvious places, zeroing in on the sofa. He walked over to it and pulled out a cushion. The passport was wedged against the back.

Marci glanced at her watch, and shouted out, "We have to run, and I mean run!"

CJ grabbed her purse and her overnight bag. Henry got the suitcases. They made it to the loading line just as the last call was heard. Henry squeezed his way to the desk, checked in the baggage and joined the line.

They entered the plane and were on their way. In 9 hours, they landed in Stirling, Scotland. suffering from jet lag and little sleep, they decided to take a nap before exploring the city.Setting their alarms for 2 hours, they settled down to rest.

Their plan was to spend 2 weeks in each country, which would leave time to go to Pairs. Having already circled spots they wanted to visit for CERTAIN in each land.

For Scotland they learned that the best way to travel most places was by train and bus and maybe that would be best in the other countries. that way they would not have to remember to stay on the left side of the highways and to look to the right first.

I will not bore you with the agendas for each country. I will say though that they were able to empty their wish bag of everything that was listed. I will give you some of the highlights and some of the details they did consider.

How FOOLISH they felt when they could not understand everything the locals were saying. Henry did the best interpreting and even soon developed Scottish, Irish and English accents. That did not help in France, since none of them had taken French in school.

Scotland:

Fort William

St. Andrew -- home of golf

Loch Ness

Edinburgh (do not say Edinburgh, it is Edinbrough)

Castle of Doom (aka Castle Campbell)

Dune Castle where Monty Python's "Search for the Holy Grail" was filmed

Ireland:

The green green grass of Ireland

Blarney Castle, be sure to kiss the stone and see the Fairy Circle

Dublin -- the goal (prison)

Christ Church

Museums

Guinness Brewery (if some do not want to join, let them know they have plenty of time to go see things they want to see and give them a time to meet up)

Dingle (is a must)

England:

The White Cliffs of Dover

#10 Downing Street

Big Ben

The Tower

Pairs France:

Art

Designer clothes

French food

Arc D'Triumph

Well, as you can tell, their 2 months are over. If you want ADDITIONAL information call 406 555 2023 (but don't expect an answer).

The WHOLE story is "there should have been a time or place but this wasn't it."

Story Slingers prompt: There should have been a time and place but this wasn't it

12/08/ 2023

Daren Flynn

The Goal

His goal for his freshman year of high school was met. Thanks to the many hours of coaching by his dad the previous summer, he has learned the mechanics of pitching baseball. By applying what he had learned and putting forth the required effort and practice, he has secured a place in the pitching rotation. As the season progressed, he was called to start a few games and relieve in some and accumulated enough playing time to earn the prized "letter" his goal.

His mother had sewed that much sought orange "letter" unto the black school sweater she and his father had presented to him. He then proudly wore the sweater with the symbol of his accomplishment to school almost everywhere he else he went. His new black sweater with a big orange "P" captured the attention of the other students. Some with looks of envy and some, specifically a girl or two, with looks of another kind entirely. Looks that were new to him. He noticed that they were making eye contact-- and smiling-- and looking back when he looked back at them. This was something new to him and he thought he liked it, nut it kind of embarrassed him. If one of them happened to speak to him, he didn't know what to say. Except for his female cousins, he really had had nothing to do with the opposite sex, hadn't given much thought to girls while focusing on his goal of earning that all important "letter".

He had not anticipated that by accomplishing his goal it would make his life so different. His attitude about some things seemed to be changing, a lot! And it was changing the way others saw him, a lot! He liked the changes, but he said to himself, "It's going to take some getting used to." SO he began to work on getting over his bashfulness around girls. He figured that if he could reach the goal of earning a letter, he could accomplish his new goal of overcoming his shyness around girls.

But in the meantime, he had something else to think about. Friday was the day that all the boys who had earned a letter this year were to be initiated into the Orange P Club. He had no idea what to expect and talking to the others who had earned their letter, he learned that non of them had a clue either, but they were all told to be at the school a half hour early Friday to begin the initiation process.

When Friday rolled around, they met with all the veteran "jocks" each with a homemade paddle in hand. A paddle line was formed and all the initiates were instructed to run, or rather, walk the line and receive a whack from each of the members. Following they were instructed to bow to each club member when they net in the hall until the end of the day and then to meet in the parking lot after school where the initiation would continue.

What they encountered in the parking lot after school, was a huge canvas tarp spread out on the parking area. The guys with the paddles ordered the "newbies" to get under the tarp and crawl across to the opposite side, where they would be allowed to get out.

It was dark, dirty and dusty, hot-- and confining! It was nearly impossible to breathe. He was feeling claustrophobic for the first time in his life, and he was as close to experiencing panic as he has ever been. With sheer determination, he continued to crawl toward his goal of the other side of that awful tarp so he could get out and breathe again. Every time he thought he was close to the edge, someone with a paddle would force him to change directions. This went on for what seemed an eternity before they finally let him out.

He and the others who had finally escaped from the confines of the tarp were sure that the initiation was over. But they were wrong. Each of them was assigned to two or three paddle bearers for their final and individual humiliation. His was to go the home of a certain senior girl, whose reputation was less than virtuous, and kiss her. He knocked on the door, asked for her, and got the required kiss.

As he turned and walked away from the door, having kissed a girl for the first time, and received her enthusiastic response all to the accompainment of his tormentors hoots, he was heard to say, "I'm sure there should have been a time and place, but this wasn't it."