Open a Book

Quote of the Month: Open the window in the center of your chest and let the spirits fly in and out. Rumi
(My theme for this year's A to Z Challenge is Open.)

Millie and Willie, a sock puppet creation, are here to tell you their story during the April A to Z Blogging Challenge. Here's what can happen when you Open a Book.

Willie: When I was working on the railroad (hums a little of the song)

Millie: Willie, you're getting distracted from your own story.

Willie: Yes, well, when I was working on the railroad, all the livelong day.

Millie: Oh, for heaven's sake.

Willie: Sorry, I would be out two weeks, back a week, and so on. On the Saturdays that I was home, I'd pick Millie up and we'd go to a nearby town, walk around, shop, buy ice cream at drugstore soda fountain. I always got the cherry dipped cone.

Millie:  Sometimes, they had a special five spot cone. You could get a different flavor in each of the cone spots.

Willie:  Millie loves her ice cream. She never shared either, except when I had to hold her cone while she checked out a bookstore.

Millie:  I could get a little distracted by a bookstore.

Willie:  We bought our first copy of The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss together. Left foot, left foot.

Millie:  Right foot, right.

Together:  Feet in the morning, feet at night.

(bump heads and giggle)

Millie:  Ah, but I knew that he was the one when we stopped for a picnic and Willie pulled out a copy of A Farewell to Arms. He started reading it to me.

Willie:  We read it together.

Millie:  We read the dialogue like a play, kind of role-played Catherine and Lieutenant Henry.

Willie:  (raising eyebrows up and down) More than kind of, Darling.

Millie:  We've never gotten through the ending without turning into a puddle of tears.

Willie:  Mr. Hemingway sure had a way with words.

Millie:  I hear they have cherry dipped cones at the Chocolate Ox in Nisswa.

Willie:  Millie, what are you suggesting?

Millie:  After your doctor's appointment, I think we should take a drive up to Nisswa.

Willie:  (smiles, reaches for the old, worn out copy of A Farewell to Arms and hums, I've been working on the Railroad)

Come back tomorrow to find out who needs to join the Insecure Writer's Support Group.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  Write about a book that you've read more than once. I think of "North of Hope" by Jon Hassler as my "comfort book."

B is for Bobby

 The Quote of the Day that inspired my A to Z Challenge theme -
A Word for the Day that takes on many meaning.

Quote of the Day: A writer lives in awe of words for they can be cruel or kind, and they can change their meanings right in front of you. They pick up flavors and odors like butter in a refrigerator. John Steinbeck

Word for the Day: Bobby

Definitions found on Wikipedia:
(software) a free online tool used to validate websites

British slang for police officer

Bobbie may refer to a sandwich served on a hoagie roll with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and mayonnaise, popular in Philadelphia and its suburbs, especially around Thanksgiving.

Nickname for Robert, aka my son Bobby

Photo by Laura Radniecki Images

Bobby in the foreground, his younger brothers on the swingset

Bobby is a senior in high school, just turned 18, and is planning to go to Texas Tech University next year. We live in Minnesota. While I want to tell him that's just too far away, I am also proud of him for being adventurous, knowing what he wants, and going for it. I'd like to keep him in the nest forever, tucked safely under my wing, but I know that he has grown his own wings now and is ready to fly.

When Bobby was about four years old, my sister Nancy traveled to England and brought back some books for us. One was Greyfriars Bobby by Ruth Brown. It's a beautifully illustrated account of a little dog who followed his master everywhere, even to his grave, where he sat vigil until his own death. Bobby, my son, never let me read that book to him. He said it was too sad.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  Do you know why they call police officers in England Bobby? Have you heard of any other uses for Bob or Bobby (besides mowing the lawn)?

B is for Bobby and Bravo!

Letter of the Day:  B
B is for Bobby, my first-born son.
B is also for Bravo, that shout of praise at the end of a performance.  Did you know that Bravo is the praise word for a man, and Brava is the word to use for a woman?  My sister Joy, who is learning Italian and is also a performer - singer, actor, all that jazz (also sings jazz), gave me that quick lesson.  If the performers are mixed, then Bravo is fine.

B is also for baby.  This is a picture of Bobby, my first-born, holding his new baby brother when he came into our lives 13 years ago.  Bobby is offically a Robert, but he was Bobby as soon as he flashed me those baby blues!  When his little brother, Zach, was born, he felt him grasp his finger and he asked, "Is he as strong as Superman?"  As soon as we brought him home, he said, "When can he wrestle?" 

A few years later, twin boys entered the picture. Now, I'm a MOBO, mother of boys only. And, oh, boy, can that be a blast!


Bobby is a great older brother.  He is a defender against bullies, and loves to play games.  He'll graduate from high school next year, and plans to be some kind of engineer.  I can see him inventing new games.  Bravo, Bobby!


Journaling Prompt:  Do you have brothers or sisters?  Write about your wild rumpuses!