Jen writes

May 15, 2012

Morning

It’s morning. I know by the light coming around the window shade in soft waves, somehow getting beyond my eyelids, squeezed shut.

It’s morning. I know by the weight shifting beside me, Sweetie sitting up, reaching for his T-shirt discarded in the night.

It’s morning. I know by the sounds of the birds. I wish I knew exactly what kind of birds.

It’s morning. I know because my mind is more awake than I wish it would be. Full of all there is to do.

It’s morning. And soon I must get up from my bed and start the day.

But first I will lie with the covers pulled up and listen to more of the morning sounds:

The television in the other room, a recap of last night’s Celtics game.

The padded steps of my son trying to come downstairs quietly.

The coffee grinder in the kitchen.

The refrigerator opening and shutting.

Juice filling a plastic cup.

The back door squeaking on it’s old hinges.

Footsteps on the deck.

The squeaking hinges again.

A newspaper being slid out of its plastic bag.

Air being blown, heaved almost, into the bag.

A burst of shredded plastic, air released.

The cushions of the couch, strained from children’s jumps, as my two boys settle in together.

It’s morning. A new day before us all. Beginning slowly. Predictably.

I lie.

I listen.

I wait.

And then…

“Mommmmm-yyyyyyy!”

And I rise, reach for my glasses and take in the day with my eyes.

___________

It’s morning. Just Write with Heather.

 

 

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Sarah writes

May 11, 2012

Five for Five Round-Up

Five for Five was totally exhilarating. We read until our eyes were bleary, commented until our fingers went numb. Yes, it was almost that dramatic, and we really had a blast doing it. I’m feeling so energized. I’m feeling so alive! Hosting the writing series again forced me to come back to Momalom. On the very first day I realized that I have missed this space quite a lot. I don’t plan on leaving again any time soon.

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Jen and I would love to share with you some of the phenomenal posts we read from last week. I am listing these in no particular order. These are the posts that resonated immediately and continue to do so. Take the time to visit, read and comment–if you haven’t already. You won’t be sorry. These writers wrote provocative, emotional, breathtaking posts, and we both feel privileged that they shared their writing here with us. While we were planning to give a “prize” for best post on each topic and an overall best-of-the-best prize, we just couldn’t narrow the winners down. Instead, each blogger below will receive a $5 Starbucks gift certificate. We hope this small token to each of you encourages the writing life and that you’ll go buy a latte and the time alone to sit down and write your next post.

 

Change — Alisa @ Keep Calm and Have a Cupcake

Spare Change — Stacia @ Fluffy Bunnies

Having Words — Amy @ Never-True Tales

I’m Not So Good With Things — Launa @ Launa Writes

Words — Tiffany @ Elastamom

Picture Pages — Amanda @ Confessions of a Curvy Girl

Words — Liz @ But Then I Had Kids

Age — Dana (aka Kitch) @ The Kitchen Witch

Assassination Stories Before Bed — Jana @ An Attitude Adjustment

Listening — Arneyba @ What Now and Why?

Starburst — Amanda @ the habit of being

the journal — Heather @ A Little Yes

 

 

If there were awards for best title, these two would definitely take something home:

Nine Faults I Am Unlikely To Change — Melissa Camara Wilkins

A House of Three Vaginas — ck @ Bad Mommy Moments

 

_____________________

 

Just a few more things: We especially want to thank those of you who participated for all five days. I started to make a list, and then I got exhausted by the filtering and adding and deleting and such. But. You know who you are, and you know how much energy and commitment it took to participate in the week in the full spirit of our writing-crazy blog carnival. We hope that you feel as energized as we do by pushing yourself to explore writing about specific topics for five consecutive days.

We also hope that everyone who participated–whether for one day or all five–took some time to read other posts, meet new writers, find fresh inspiration. We are grateful to have been your hosts and humbled by all of the talent out there.

Last, I’m sure we have missed some awesomeness along the way (there was a lot to keep track of, ya know?), so if you’d like to call attention to a writer or a particular post from the week of Five for Five, please do so in the comments. We’d love to hear what you think!

 

 

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Sarah writes

May 1, 2012

Double Rainbow

Maybe I just crumble when I reach this level of stress. Maybe I’m just not made for it. Maybe the fact that I’m prone to extremes impedes my ability to handle anything at all when I’m stressed as much as I am right now.

Life has tides. I get that. I get the up and I get the down and I get the static–I’m always grateful for the static–but still, it wears a woman out to be moving around so much.

Can life be blurry and clear at the same time? I took about a year to figure myself out and I can tell you that the shadow of self I see staring back at me as I glide against the sunlight is more focused, more detailed, more permanent than it’s ever been. And yet, everything that is not in my head and in my heart–which is, of course, everything else and other–is like a kaleidoscope puzzle. I’ve kind of determined that I’m not the one to sort out the shapes from the colors, and so I just sit and wait for the skies to clear around me. Waiting is hard. I’m not good at waiting.

I saw a double rainbow the other day. It rose above us on the soccer sidelines. Many parents took out their phones and their cameras and snapped pictures of the magical moment. I kind of just stared at the sky, moving my head left to right and right to left like I was watching a tennis match. And I laughed this oh-so-free laugh, like nothing could touch me in that moment.

Maybe that’s what it’ll feel like when the puzzle breaks free of the kaleidoscope and comes together to form one, whole picture. Maybe that’s what it’ll feel like when the focus I have on the inside stops feeling so separate from the world I live on the outside. Or, maybe my life will always be like that double rainbow. One strong, perfect, rainbow beamed across the sky, showing each of the Roy G. Biv colors. And another, just above and beyond it, slightly fuzzy and nearly broken in the middle. Faded. Worn. But still there. And just as important as the one standing in front of it.

It’s Tuesday. That means you Just Write and then go join Heather.

 

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