Silent Sunday – June 16, 2013

Arrrggghhh, Part 2

So, last Monday raindrops kept falling on my bed. And the roofer was too busy to come fix anything until next Monday (day after tomorrow, now).

(This is going to be one of those good news-bad news jokes, only not very funny.) The good news? Yesterday morning, the roofer turned up, discovered that a large branch from the maple tree next to the house had punched a hole in our roof, heaved the offending branch out of the way, and repaired the hole. That left us with some water stains on the ceiling, but basically life was good.

Until about four o’clock. I was just settling down to read other people’s Friday Fictioneers stories when I heard a loud rumbling thud, or thudding rumble – a very strange noise. What was it? The sound of a chunk of ceiling splattering itself over the floor and the nightstand and half of the bed. Oops.

It took about five hours to clean up the mess of wet wallboard and wet insulation and to patch the hole by covering it with a four by five foot piece of plywood (with help from our local son, who came over and helped his father hold the plywood over their heads while bolting it to the ceiling joists). It’s kind of odd, right now, to walk into the bedroom and smell freshly cut wood.

Well, at least now all we have to do is move everything out of the room and find a drywall contractor who can rebuild the ceiling and parts of the walls (unfallen, but wet). It hasn’t been a good week around here, and we’re still luckier than the tornado victims in Oklahoma and the flood victims in central Europe and the hurricane Sandy victims at the Jersey shore.

What is so rare…

…as a yesterday in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect days…

(“If ever”? Clearly Lowell was a bit cynical about the weather – but yesterday really was a lovely day, not too hot, not too cold, with a light breeze and a glorious deep blue sky and a handful of white clouds and rich green everywhere.)

Wordless Wednesday

(Belated) Friday Fictioneers – Fairy Tales Come True

I’m just under the wire this week, but here’s my Fictioneers story at last. (Oh yes – what is this Friday Fictioneers business? Well, every Wednesday the talented Rochelle Wisoff-Fields posts a picture for inspiration, and anyone who wants to can write a hundred words (or a few less, or a few more), post their story on their own blog, and put a link on Rochelle’s list. Want to try? Come on in – it’s June, and the water’s fine!)

Fairy Tales Come True

“She was so lovely,” the prince sighed over breakfast.

The young king and his wife grinned at each other. True love after a ball – it brought back fond memories. “But who was she, brother?” asked the king.

“That’s the trouble. I don’t know!”

“What did she look like?”

The prince thought. “A rose-colored gown – but she wouldn’t wear that today. And she had such wonderful hair.”

The pink gown dangled from a balcony inaccessibly high above the street. The queen looked pleased. “Ella, you’re up to something,” the king said.

“I know who lives here, that’s all.” She stood in the middle of the street, hands on hips, and stared up at the balcony. “Rapunzel! Come out here!”

Wordless Wednesday

Well, not entirely Wordless, and not Wednesday. This was supposed to be scheduled for last Wednesday, but I was upset and rushing, and didn’t set it up correctly.

Have a peony – they’re pretty and sweet-smelling, and they come up year after year for decades and show off in late May with lots of flowers the size of grapefruits.

Friday, and Problems

If you see this post, it will be because my mother is not well at all and I have to be away taking care of her. In that case, well, I’ll resume posting when I can.

No-Talk Thursday

Daily Prompt: Say Your Name – or something that vaguely resembles it

Is this the face of a Karen Cheryl? Apparently it is.

Today, WordPress wants to know what we think of our first names – “Are you named after someone or something? Are there any stories or associations attached to it? If you had the choice, would you rename yourself?”

My first name. Sharon. It’s been a nuisance since I was seven years old. I have no idea how my parents chose it – I was all grown up before I met anyone with the same name, which may have something to do with the ways in which it’s been a problem.

You see, a lot of the people I meet just can’t seem to remember what my name is. I suppose the variations could tell me something about the other person – maybe the ones who insist on calling me “Cheryl” lose interest fast, before the second syllable. And the ones who think I’m really “Karen”? It must take a while for them to grasp what you’re telling them.

Or, of course, they might just never have met a Sharon before, and plug in a name they are familiar with. At least nobody has ever managed to jumble Cheryl and Karen and started calling me Karyl (pronounced Carol). Then again, maybe they do and I’m the one who fails to realize they’re talking to me.

Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be Sharons. 😉

(Of course, being a Sharon has some good points – mostly because you can’t make it into a nickname. I’ve known girls who were really officially named “Sally” and “Toni” – but some teachers explained patiently to them that they were really truly actually “Sarah” and “Antoinette”, which was news to each of them.)

Friday Fictioneers: Decorating

Late again, but here’s my hundred words of Friday Fictioneering for this week –

Decorating

I don’t much care about interior decorating. I try to be polite, though. The other day my friend Kath showed me her place. New kitchen, what great cabinets, living room, LOVE the rug.

“But now I’ll show you the best part,” Kath announced. “I thought I’d never figure out what to do with this little corner.”

Books. Oh, the books. “It’s wonderful,” I said, and I meant it.

“Isn’t it cute wallpaper?” Kath said. I stumbled across the tiny room, reaching. Flat. Only pictures of books. “I can tell you where to get it.”

I shook my head. “I’d just have to build shelves in front of it.”