Words from the Hollow

the lone man

2004-10-31T01:11:00.000-08:00

Tyler pulled his loose coat tightly around his thin form as he walked down the street. . He shivered. The wind was chill this evening; he would have to get under cover soon. The breeze ruffled his ragged brown hair and he reached up and whipped it out of his hazel eyes. Where would it be tonight? He checked the sign at the end of the block. West 49th and Powell, not a bad stopping place. The next alley would be fine.

The alley was a place he had been before. It was behind a small mall with a grocery and
a 2nd hand store. There may be goodies back there, if he was the first to arrive. Tyler looked around to make sure he wasn’t seen then ducked to his left into the alley. He always looked though people usually did not “see” a homeless person. He was used to being ignored.

The dead end alley was one lane wide. Delivery trucks backed into it at one end.
He would be safe near the back with the cardboard boxes. He put his bag down near the back wall and arranged the boxes around to hide himself. He set up camp laying out his
Sleeping bag, candle, and what foodstuffs he had found. Now he could go search for treasures.

Tyler approached the dumpster between the back doors of the two businesses.
Treasure hunting was fun and could be very profitable. First would be some tidbits of food if possible, clothing after. Perhaps there would be a coat. He could use a warmer coat. He could never tell if he would find something useable or not. Perhaps it would be a bag with a million in it. He grinned broadly. He had a since of humor. When he smiled his face lit up. It came in handy over the years. He had got out of a lot of tight spots over the year with his smile.

He opened the lid of the dumpster and was met with the smell of sour milk. Spotting it was easy as it was sitting right on top still in the container. Someone really did not keep the fridge cleaned out often enough. There were numerous plastic bags closed with ties. Good. He hated ruining a bag to open it. White and black bags would mean one came probably from the store and one from the second hand store. Which was which?

He grabbed the white bags. White meant kitchen. Possibly these were from the grocery store. He removed the twist tie and looked into the sack. Paper and sting, bits of limp veggie leaves, he threw it aside. The next white one had a dented can of refried beans
in it. It would be still eatable. Tyler set the can aside for later.

Ten minutes later he had a nice sized pile of items. Besides the can of beans there was a moldy package of cheese. Mold could be cut away, and then there would still be a good edible piece. That was all the food he found. In his Pile were other goodies he would look closer at in his camp. He gathered everything up and took it over and set it by his bag.
He returned to the dumpster and closed it. No sense in letting anyone know he had been there. Returning to his camp he sat down on his sleeping bag and placed the food his backpack. Now he could look at the cloths at leisure.
First thing he reached for was a pair of pants. He looked at the label. Wool was warm even when wet. These were wool. He checked the size and length. Perfect. He put them in his back pack. The next was a shirt. It was not very thick though, not much heat. He set it aside and grabbed the next item, a hand full of men’s wool socks. He looked at the length and matched them by length and size as well as he could. These would be really useful if he was caught out when it got really cold. The shelters were often overflowing
And the doors were often closed to those who were not willing to get there early.

He put the socks in his back pack and crawled into his bag, snuggling down. Nice and warm here with the wind blocked. He smiled. This has been a great day.

He reached over and lifted the last two items. A wool cap and a pair of beautiful
Ballet shoes. They were size four. His daughter would be about size four if he had not lost her. She would be getting quite big now. Life was not for children here on the street.
How would he have kept her safe? She was better where she was in a nice warm home.

Suddenly Tyler flung the shoes against the wall. Forget them. He reached into his bag and brought out a candle he had found the night before. Now that was a great find.
He could use it to warm his hands or to read by if he wanted to.

Finally It works

2004-10-29T02:12:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to get here from a gfew days. Now I made it!!
Willa

All things considered

2004-10-26T03:31:00.000-07:00

Well today I decided what to do finally about the book for NANOWRIMO.
I will redo my book for ya I started then lost.
I know they are well, those kids, stuck in that cave where they were left.
:-)
Whatt I remember is there names were
Mike boy
Jake boy
Chris girl.
Parents and last names are lost to me so they will renamed.
their ages will be 12, 12, 9
Mike is a dark haired young man. He is about 5'3 and has brown eyes. Medium frame.
Jones, Smith, beckwith?
Jake is about 5'1 and has red hair and blue eyes and freckles. light frame
Chris is Jakes sister and has red(auburn) hair and green eyes. Very lightly freckled.
O'brian or kelly? or Campbell?Martin?
hmm
anyway I will work on it.
Setting will be the Oregon coast. Some in Portland possibly.
It is quite a job to decide peoples lives.

Willa

2004-10-19T03:21:00.000-07:00

I was reading some Blogs tonight and ended up crying over one and then cheering for another and then, well, I have been through a range of feelings that is for sure.

My youngest son and wife are expecting a boy. Or maybe I am seeing things in the altrasound. lol I am sure it is a boy as was the hospital. VERY sure.

Now they are talking names. My son likes Andrew, which is his middle name. The thought has come to me is Andy may not be the best name for a boy in school. Any opinions? I know that they will decide in the end. I rather like the name Leo which was my father in laws name.
hmm
Leo Andrew. yes sounds good. maybe...

fun next month

2004-10-16T01:54:00.000-07:00

I am going to be part of the wanowrimo next month and getting some stuff decided ahead of time.
I think it will be fun!!!
I am thinking what should I write about? I feel I will come up with something new or completely redo an idea perhaps with new caracters and ideas that are fresh? I will just have to see.

Today we took our Ex DIL and our grandson out to the Supper. wehad a good time but for the waitress dumped water in her lap..a whole glass of it.
Our deserts and drinks were free. lol
So I got to pay half price for the meal. I hate making a scene but she is in a wheelchair and I cannot help her much to get up and such.
Hubby was in the bathroom so had to help some.
She was ok after drying off.

We should use the system

2004-10-10T02:47:00.000-07:00

Tonight my husband and I were speaking about our lives and our future.
I have been unable to work for a couple years and have recently been searching
for employment. He stated to me that we should use the system. What he meant
was food banks and any other free thing we could use.

Well this was disappointing to me as I have just finished a year of college and have been hunting for work as a graphic designer. I would love for him to support my efforts with words of encouragement but, seeing as he is who he is, this will never happen, well, in 31 years it hasn't anyways.

My husband has never had to stand in a food line waiting for a hand out or been embarassed by a shopper in a store who looked at one with distain for having to use food stamps. I have. He has never had to struggle through pages upon pages of paperwork to get foodstamps. I believe with all my heart that the paperwork is meant to discourage people from applying for them. Doing without has been better in my opinion than enduring these things.

I also feel that independence is precious to me. The need to rely on anyone but our God and ourselves is rather important to my mental health. I am sure we will be ok with his help and our own hard work.
Another thing I know is our cupboards are loaded with rice, dried beans, and canned goods. I feel these will last quite a while for us. I also know he has money stuck away in a bank account for a rainy day.

Well, I feel it is going to pour any time now. I wonder how we will do with what we have?

A single dish cannot satisfy the tastes of a hundred people-Chinese proverb

2004-10-06T13:08:00.001-07:00

Susan sat in the booth looking out the big plate glass window into the crowds walking past.
Lunch was a favorite time for her. The relief from the office atmosphere was so soothing. This morning she had been bombarded with requests for more ads than she had for a long time. Yes, it had been a challenge but she had produced all of them before noon. Well, all those wanted by noon.

Mr. Shoo arrived and interrupted her contemplations. A beautiful dish of chowmein was set before her. Wonderful! The aroma filled Susan’s senses. “Thank you Mr. Shoo.” She said. She received a bright smile and a nod. He was busy at lunch with no time to stop and talk. Many conversations with Mr. Shoo had given her hours of pleasant conversations. He had to cut back his staff though and now replaced the young lady who had been employed.

The lunch hour soon flew by for Susan and soon she was at the end of her chowmein. She pushed back the plate and reached for the dish with her bill on it and he cookie. Always she read the cookie. Today she opened it to see the Chinese proverb. “A single dish cannot satisfy the tastes of a hundred people.” She smiled. Mr. Shoo always was telling her she should try other dishes. But why should she do so? She loved Chowmein.
Susan arose and paid her bill, and left the restaurant to return to
Producing ads tell quitting time.

memories of Martin

2004-09-29T13:57:00.000-07:00

Person: scientist
Object: A glass
Place: kitchen
Theme: yearning
Memory of goldfish

Martin sat at his kitchen table reviewing his notes for an article he was working on for Scientific American. He sipped from a glass of juice as he read. Occasionally he made notations in the margin of the paper for revisions. This would send the scientific world upside down. He had found the secret they had all hunted for generations. Yes, what they had all yearned for, youth. With this information they would never have to reach old age.
He sighed. If only they would take him seriously.

He set down the papers and walked into his living room. He sure loved this house. It was just the right size for him and his experiments and hobbies. His rock collection was all displayed in there cases in one room. He had been working on his rock collecting since he had been a child. Martin recalled all the trips he had gone on just to locate a special rock. They had been fun trips for him and his wife Margie. He missed her so much. She had been his life.

Martin walked into his fish room and began feeding the fish. He had five tanks of them now. How Margie had loved the colors of the brights. She had always wanted more fish and read extensively about them. Now he only could maintain them.

The first time he had ever seen a goldfish Margie had been with him. Ah for youth! They had been on a field trip in third grade. She had been there all his life and now she was gone. A tear slid down his cheek. How he wished he could have her back. Martin sighed as he sprinkled the food for the last tank.

Too late! It was all too late, he thought as he slowly made his way back into the kitchen. He stood looking at he table with the article on it. Why should he send it now? it was too late. Margie was dead. He didn't want to live without her. Martin walked over to the table.
Why should the world live when Margie didn't? He grabbed the papers and tore them to shreads. Yes, why should they live when he felt so dead?

Martin sat down in his chair and sobbed.

Then and now...Memories

2004-09-27T20:57:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday my husband Paul and I took a trip to Oregon to visit my parents.
My sister Mary and my son Tim were to meet us there. It was to be a joyous
occasion.

AS we drove up the valley road to my parents, I remembered the way it used to be. Where the housing is now there used to be pastures and cattle. These fields were full of adventures where we played for hours, heading home as evening lengthened, or my Moms' whistle called us in. She could whistle too, it would echo off the mountains and up the valley telling us it was dinnertime.

Sometimes we would be wandering in the woods back of the house. We would hunt up huckleberries, blackberries, thimble berries, salmon berries, sour grass and licorice root. Deer and Elk would graze in the fields. Salmon would make there way up the streams. All these activities we watched with wonder.

When we go got to my parents home I noticed more changes. My parents were very different from the days of my childhood. My mother was always the stongest woman I had ever met or probably will meet, unless it is my sister. She is much like my mother was at her age. Strong and opinionated.

My Mother now is a frail looking woman, much shorter than I remember, growing up. Pale and weak with breathlessness from lung disease, too many cigarettes and wood smoke. She is still a fighter, fighting for life now.
My Dad is bent and unsteady on his feet using a staff to walk slowly from one room to another with occasional trips out into the yard. My Father was a hard worker, often working 16 hour days to raise 8 children. Now he helps my mom with the dishes and it is hard for him.

Mary is my youngest sister and the closest to me in age. I listen to her coughing as she lights up her cigarettes and know I heard the cough before, but from our Mother. It pains me to know the future for her is going to be wrought with pain and an oxygen tank in tow.

I cry today for what was. I cry for what will be.

Books

2004-09-19T02:39:00.000-07:00

Books are wonderful.
When I was 11, I had my tonsels out and while recovering in bed, my sister gave me a book to read so I could pass the time. Well, I was a very poor reader, having never read a book before because I thought I couldn't. My darling sister spent a lot of time telling me what words were and teaching me how to sound out words. Before the summer was over I had read Five Little Peppers and How They Grew 3 times. I was delighted when I was able to go to school in September and visit the library. There I found the rest of the books by Margaret Sidney. I was enormously happy, until I found I had read them all. What was I to do? I asked the librarian for more books like those and she introduced me to the biography of Florence Nightingale. Before the year was out, I had read about Robert E. Lee, made my way through Little Women, An Old fashioned Girl, Jo's Boys, and all the rest of the Louisa May Alcott books in the library.

I do not remember the names of all the books I read but I know I lost my heart that year.

Did I say I love books?

Words From The Hollow

2004-09-17T13:58:00.000-07:00

As I have made my way from my small corner of the earth where I was raised, I find I crave the safety and comfort of home. This longing has lead to my naming my place here to correspond to my upbringing.

I was raised in a very quiet valley in Oregon. As a child we had the full range of this valley and wandered at will. Our neighbors never complained, and as long as their things and animals were not touched, we were allowed to do so.

A lot of my writing will reflect my upbringing in the wilds of home.