Where to find ideas?

 Where do you find ideas?

      

       Not so very long ago, my family and I went to an Italian restaurant. We looked at the menu ahead of time and got lost trying to figure out what everything was! Neither of us had a clue. Our son suggested to research every word that has us stymied. We spent one hour trying to figure out what it was that we each wanted to have for dinner.

      We had so much fun and when the meal came, it was just as much fun to eat it as well as enjoy each other's company. The foreign meal got us to talk about vacations and where to go next. It's worth it to try different venues, you never know what's ahead.

      The meal was great, too!

       Barb Schlichting

        Barb's Books

First Friends, who was yours?

 

 

                               First Friends

         Here I am with a friend from grade school. I won't tell you her name simply because I don't have permission, but she was my first friend. I believe that we  walked to school together, too.  My older brother walked me when I was in kindergarten and I remember our mother standing or should I say, hiding, inside of an old phone booth to watch us cross a busy street. She must've peeked out because I waved to her. At the end of the day, I asked why she was in the booth but I don't remember the answer. It most likely had something to do with 'mind your own business'. My mother always got straight to the point but my dad was little gentler when it came to that sort of thing.

        My friend also recalled, as we grew older,  my baby brother stood near the fence and called out my name when we returned home. 

        Our fifty-five high school reunion just happened three weeks ago. Time has flown by faster than a speeding bullet, and I'm not sure that I like it or am prepared for it. Are you prepared for the future? 

         I might've went to the library with my friend, but don't remember. I read an awful lot as a kid and still do. I have a long list of favorite books and wouldn't know where to begin to name my favorite. Since I began to write about the first ladies with a dash of history and a dash of a little fun, I've since learned that when Thomas Jefferson sold his books to Congress, they became beginning of the Library of Congress. Did you know that?

        Did you know that Jefferson realized that for our country to survive, the populace must be educated and not just the wealthy? He began by building small schools and hired teachers, paying out of his pocket, also. That's how our educational system began. Read his biography. Thomas Jefferson. Visit Monticello. It's fascinating.

        Who was your first friend?

    Barb Schlichting

Barb's Books

New ending to an old classic. Little Women

 

          New extended ending to a favorite novel, Little Women.

                                                                               Little Women extended version

     Did you ever wonder what would've happened if Jo March hadn't been able to catch up to her beloved Professor Baer? I always have so I went ahead and rewrote the ending.

      I reread the beloved book since it's right on the bookshelf. It's an older copy from when I was young, but we won't get into how young I was at the time of the first read. Now, I'm seventy-two and still absolutely in love with the book.

       About ten years ago, my husband and I traveled out to Boston and one of the first places we visited was The Orchard House. It's just as grand as suspected. Louisa Mae Alcott's writing desk was right where it was left. The dolls were lined up on the beds. The furniture was the same and I pictured the girls piling on them for the evening and curling up with a blanket. A few of Amy's pictures are displayed. 

     We walked the grounds and left for a nearby site to tour. I pictured the walkway where Jo hurried to her Professor. At that moment, it occurred to me that Jo had many more adventures to explore and journey's to conquer. It was a wonderful experience. 

     Finally, a time to rewrite the ending. My imagination brought me to the moment when Jo was told that someone left the manuscript at her sister Meg's house. She flew over there as if on angel's wings, only to rush to meet up with her beloved, but he'd already escaped from her clasp. Her heart was broken but did it stop her from publication or promoting her book? You'll have to read the new ending and don't forget to leave a review!

      Thank you!  Barb Schlichting

Little Women extended version.      website

Emotions. Do you display them?

 Have you described your emotions on the page? Every scene is emotional.  It may not be a said emotion, but it must be conveyed. When my son enlisted in the army, I was proud of him but at the same time, my heart sunk to my knees.  I knew what the future would bring.  How do you describe the bittersweet? Here’s what I wrote to myself at the time:

    There’s that salad, sitting out on the front porch waiting for the guests to arrive with their contributions of hotdishes to add to the potluck.

    Potluck you say? What else could it be? My son is going away—far away—into the army and I feel that I will never see him again. The neighbors, friends and relatives have all been invited to attend the open house.

   Where is the kid? Oh! There he is dressed in his new shirt and jeans and youthful smile that shows how naïve and vulnerable he is—truly—coming from a mom and pop family and going where no man has before—an army of one--. 

    My son who has his young fiancé—too young and immature—stands on the other side of him. I’m supposed to be the love of his life.  

    The guests are arriving time to for me to pull myself together. 

  What am I not telling you?  What of the five senses am I displaying?  Am I displaying true emotion?  I’d like to know what you think.  

    Thanks so much for reading this blog. You can read comments below. Please feel free to share.

   Barb

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