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The Florida Writers Association's Pasco/New Port Richey Writers Group were given an optional assignment for
the August meeting. They were to write a 500 word essay on any of three topics: My Happiest Day, My Most Embarrassing
Moment, or Getting Even. It says a lot about the makeup of the group that no one chose "Getting Even." Of the few who
chose to accept the assignment, each read her offering and the group voted on a scale of one to five, five being the highest.
They were judged on originality and presentation. First place wins a free admission to the Pasco/NPR 2d Annual Writers Conference,
April 6, 2008. Second and third place winners received publication in our esteemed e-zine. The winners are listed below:
MY MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT
by
Jean Limongello
# 1
I
was overdue for my weekly meeting with a program director for the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast. I imagined him waiting
patiently in his office as I sprinted across the parking lot. We were due to finalize the policies and procedures for discharging
patients whose physical conditions had improved sufficiently, and Tim needed the material I had prepared for him to take to
a meeting with the CEO, and the vice presidents, to seek their approval, in half an hour.
To
save time, because the elevator was notoriously slow, I dashed up the stairs clutching the stack of stapled copies to my chest
so that although I was jouncing, they would stay in a neat pile.
Tim
was waiting for me in the hall outside his office flanked by two other directors. They watched me struggling with my
pile of copies as I fast walked toward them. He smiled and reached out his hand, as if offering to help.
“Hi
Tim,” I said. “I hope I’m dropping this off on time…” And any other words I wanted to say vanished
as my half slip fell down around my ankles. Too much jouncing for black lace and old elastic.
“Ooops,”
he said.
I
lifted one foot out of the black lace, kicked the slip up in the air, and caught it as the stack of copies slithered under
my other arm. Red-faced I righted them, and put my slip in my briefcase. I was thankful to have something for my eyes to look
at other than the three directors, and for my hands to do so that the silence would be less painful.
“Nice
catch,” he said as he rescued the copies.
One
female director stood tall – palms on her thighs and eyes on the ceiling. The other slumped short – arms folded
and eyes on the floor.
I
looked away from them to Tim and I could see his smile slide from his mouth to his eyes. So I took a breath and eased everyone’s
embarrassment by leading the laughter.
The
incident became a workplace legend: no telling what Limongello will drop off. LOL, (laughing out loud)
# # #
The Happiest Day
By
Elaine Shigley
#
2
This topic requires thought.
Let's see – what were my happiest twenty-four hours? A vacation day? A day spent with family? What about
a school day? Or a day with friends? Maybe a day in church? Perhaps a great adventure?
What criteria could I use to evaluate that day? The most exotic setting? The strongest feelings? Expensive gifts?
A great victory? The most money earned? Or the wisest decision?
Could it be a
day everyone knows about? Or a silent day kept sacred in my heart? Maybe it hasn't happened yet? Was it
a day that became the seedling of my future? I know. It was the October day I left my home in Illinois
to find a new life -- away from everyone and every place I had known: my family, my friends, my property, and my community.
With my German shepherd and Lab for companionship and protection, I embarked n a three-day journey to Holiday, Florida. I would never again be the same.
Soul-stirring journeys don't just happen, they evolve over time, and mine was no exception. Every essence of my being
-- genetics, experiences, and beliefs -- prepared me for this adventure. Like members of my family who left Germany, Canada, Virginia,
Pennsylvania, Indiana, and eventually settled in the Chicago area, I was making my way in the world. It was in my blood. My
former career in education strengthened me and made me fiercely independent. Every teacher stands alone before a class
of students. My firm belief that the Holy Spirit stayed with me and in me, always guiding and guarding me, sustained
my decision. Faith fills every void.
My day began with preparations. I was visiting
with my sister-in-law and brother because I sold my property. Most of my belongings were in storage, awaiting shipment
to my new house, some unknown place on the west coast of Florida.
I reasoned that if I left Illinois at noon, the dogs and I could easily travel to Louisville, Kentucky and spend the night
there. After several unsuccessful phone calls, I found a hotel that would accept us -- the Seelback Hilton in downtown Louisville. With kisses
and hugs for my family, and my new Saturn station wagon packed to almost overflowing, and the dogs tucked in their space,
lying on oversized dog beds surrounded by toys, we were on our way.
In less than an hour,
we said good-bye to Illinois. The rolling hills of
Indiana, dotted with trees sporting autumn colors, dazzled
me for most of the day's drive. Sometime around three o'clock, a disc jockey announced that the invasion of Afghanistan was underway. This earth-shaking news slipped
into the background as we crossed the bridge on the Ohio River, and Louisville
appeared on the horizon. This happiest day, the day of my greatest adventure, endures as my wisest decision. It was
the seedling which grew into a beautiful life. Perhaps there is a future happiest day that will surpass it, and that
is something to imagine.
# # #
The Happiest
Day
By
Marian Young Goddard
# 3
The Happiest Day ... for me, was THE NIGHT I FIRST FELL IN LOVE
I'm
alone. A video camera stares at me, and one lone light illuminates my face. When you pleaded "just one more story, Grandma," my secret heart's happiest day came to mind. Today's
sun dips low, painting the sky in purple light, and evening's hush enters my garden. Night drifts over me in this perfect
place for treasured memories. Briefly I close my eyes, willing myself to recall each touch, emotion, look, sound and
fragrance. Tonight I'll recapture every body-tingling feeling that engulfed me ... the night I first fell in love.
I
visualize the park. The one with the bandstand. Globes on tall lampposts are dimmed by mist and their faint glow
turned the dewy grass to silver. We young professional actors from the Music Theater, burst upon this quiet place with
squeals of girlish glee from Juliets, and shouts and whistling from Romeos.
We
roamed about on that silvery grass rehearsing our parts for the musical, Romeo and Juliet, as our footprints turned the grass
to green. Some actors, making exaggerated gestures, yelled and pranced through their sword fighting scene. Others
were singing their lines when a boisterous game of tag began. I remember us running about, hearing the call of `ready
or not, here I come.' Wet bushes and falling drops from trees wet our hair and clothes, but we didn't seem to notice.
Our
Romeo and Juliet acquired their leads when my father, the director, heard their beautiful voices, recognized their sense of
drama and thought it an added gift that their youthful figures fit the parts. It truly was magnificent casting.
Although I wanted to be Juliet, my heart knew my age and skinny body were hopeless obstacles.
When
Romeo and Juliet began acting and singing their final scene's lyrical parts, I stopped hearing any of the others. When
their song cruelly exposed their dire ending, they left the green grass. Pristine, silvery dew now revealed only two
pair of footprints leading to the bandstand for the play's last, dreadfully poignant scene. They were in love.
And for wide-eyed innocent me, it was my first glimpse of what love ... looks like.
Their
choreographed acting, and the love-song's desperate words of futility reached the group, drawing them close and captivating
them. A tall boy took my hand and we moved closer to the stage, quietly singing the words and acting the parts in unison
with the ill-fated lovers, Romeo and Juliet. The others began doing the same.
Some
climbed the steps to the stage as they sang their own sorrowful lines. The magical enchantment lasted far longer than
our enthusiastic, self-approving applause. On this day, my 14th birthday, decades ago, my heart kept on dancing with
love, even though their last words of passion had ended. I felt my soul overflow
with love and compassion for Romeo and Juliet. And on this memorable night I realized it was the happiest day of my
life because it was when I first fell in love ... with love.
# # #
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