the season

We all know we're supposed to be really happy and have lots of fun during these seasonal holidays we're having, but the reality for a lot of people is not so happy. Many of us have lost loved ones during the holiday season, or have other bad memories that come up. Yep, it's true. A lot of us are pretty blue during these holidays. Here are two pieces written by a woman in group who is having a rough time of it right now. They're sad, but they're representative of the experiences of a lot of people, even during the holidays.

Pain, by Myriah

Pain so sharp it feels like a
knife is cutting through my soul.
My heart so heavy with a gaping hole.
You can't reach in,
I won't reach out --
You wonder what it's all about.
I wear a mask to protect myself
So you can't see my pain.
But in the end, I never win,
my efforts are in vain.
Hopeless, helpless, torn and weak
but no words will I speak.
I carry this load like a I'm OK
hoping tomorrow is a better day.



I'm Sorry, by Maryah

Are you happy now?
Are you out of pain?
You were too young for this,
you had too much to gain.
I'm sorry that you took your life
Without coming to me first.
I'm sorry that you didn't trust me
enough to tell you what you're worth.
I'm sorry that we held each other
so close, flesh to flesh.
I'm sorry now, because without you
my life is such a mess.
I'm sorry that you hurt so bad,
you didn't know what else to do.
I'm sorry that I didn't see it,
I would have tried to save you.
I'm sorry that I loved so much --
and that I cared so very deep.
I'm sorry for all the pain I feel,
and for all the tears that I weep.

in the spirit

This week at the Oasis we got our Christmas tree and finally started decorating. The tree (generously donated by a local philanthropist) is HUGE and lovely (and leaning, but let's not talk about that). The rest of the decorations are pretty nice too and, all in all, people seem to be getting in the spirit of the season. With that in mind, my suggestion in group tonight was to write about favorite holiday memories. Here's what some folks had to say.

Christmas, by Anonymous Woman

To me, Christmas is more about the giving than the recieving. It's about seeing a smile on people's faces when they open what you bought them, especially when they have no clue about what you're buying them. It's about the sparkle in a child's face when they know Santa is on his way. It's about baking and all the smells there are in the air. I was invited to a Christmas Eve party and told not to buy gifts. I'm sorry, I can't do that. I had to buy. I might struggle through the month, but just being able to give and to see the joy will be worth the struggle.



Two Favorite Holidays, by Dilly Scott

I had two favorite holidays. The Addam's Family made for t.v. movie. Gomez and Morticia seemed to have the ultimate romantic relationship where he was smitten and she cherished him and demanded respect.

The other favorite holiday was an Easter weekend. The LLD's breaks failed and we smashed into the telephone pole. I wasn't hurt hardly at all. I felt guilty for two months because it was my dad's car.

I finally scraped together $500.00 and sold the crummy exercise bike. I felt guilty about that too, but we had seven kitties and a keeshound. After dinner we watched the room shed.

Anyway, Sir Teddy, Kiki and I went up and down our large block because I'd spied a $500 golden brown Dodge. We almost wore out the sidewalk. There was sunshine, rain and snow and finally they came back on Monday.

I had the money with me and I paid it. I had to leave Teddy at the house and go there. They had two bouncing black chows. They bounced off the front window. Bruce fixed it enough to run and it was my first car. I called it "Geordi" after Geordi Laforge on Star Treck the Next Generation.

it's going around

I don't know about you guys, but folks around the Oasis have been getting sick left and right. It's something nasty and it's going around. Tonight in group, a recent victim of the bug decided to write about it.

I Don't Feel Well, by Mavis Wykopf

I don't feel weel,
My tummy hurts
And I probably smell.

I don't feel well
I have no energy
You can probably tell.

I don't feel well
My brain is fuzzy,
Earlier I fell.

I can't stand,
I can't sit,
I can go to the potty,
But that's about it.

I don't feel well,
It won't last forever,
But right now, I feel like hell.

odds and ends

I was just going through my writing group notebook and I found a few odds and ends. They aren't connected by any particular themes, they're just random things I wanted to put in the blog. Enjoy.

Silver Dollar, by Anonymous Man

They surround me all the time. Lurking, mumbling, chanting, with bright yellow glowing eyes. And their black, dark, leathery skin. And their bony faces. One spoke to me the other night. It told me it could hear me panting. They bring people in. Chains and all. One victim after the next. The worst torture on could bear. I look deep into the eys of the soul being tortured as they cry out for mercy.



If I Could Do It Again, by Anonymous Woman

I wish that I would have waited to have children. At least until I finished school and had a career other than just a mom. I love each of my children but I could have so much more to ofer them. But for what it's worth, I must have done something right because I not only have three beautiful children, I also have three very beautiful, wonderful grandsons I love and cheris. I must've done ok. But I would still like to be better off financially so we could enjoy some of the better things in life. I am not done yet and hopefully in the near future some of my dreams will finally be accomplished and I can lower my standards on myself. Until then, one more day is soon approaching, so good night for me.



The Fire at the Oasis, by Dilly Scott

It was awful when we had a real fire at the Oasis. I grabbed what I could and was grateful for cute fuzzy uggs and my nice coats. I'm just getting to the point that there are better memories because my folks and I used to go all over the city at night. We only did laundry and had snacks, but I felt safe and eventually ended up waiting to drive a 409 horsepower engine car.

Anyway, the night people were great and I brought Cookie (our ginea pig) a new blanket. I like this zoo but sometimes it's unsanitary. I try to ignore things and do the best I can.

I'm still a little tired but I stood up all that time and both firemen and later the critters were a comfort with the big rigs. I feel like a horse that wants to run right down to the beach. I still want a 409 and maybe fog lamps and a kitty or furry dog. I miss Teddy, Kiki and my folks and I haven't given up on my life! I want to exercise and cook Thanksgiving Dinner.

fantasy

Tonight I asked the group to write their myth. They mostly all looked at me like I was nuts. But I begged. I asked them to picture themselves in any kind of fantasy or fairy tale they wanted. They still looked at me funny, and a few just igored my very cool suggestion, but two valiant sould made an attempt and here are the results of their labors.

Dilly Scott's Fantasy, by Dilly Scott

Her wings brushed his face and he both cherished her, his planet, and wondered at the same time how his life had turned out this way. She was strong without being overpowering but she'd rounded up all of the egg layers and protected them.

Kit looked at life as "how can I help?" Very few "flyers" were born every century. It usually gave them an advantage.

The furry thing he called a hedgehog occasionally demanded his company, with its pointy ears and wings, but he remained devoted to her. The small ship was powerful. Kit was calm enough being in charge.

They came to protect the animals. The ore producers were sometimes at odds with them and they prayed on the sabbath. He wondered what he should do. Kit was not leaving without him.

"The sabbath is not for work, my lady." Her heart lurched and so did some of her internal organs.

"This is my gift to the planet, whatever we come up with, Arnold."

Each councill member gave a brief summary of how they thought they could help. "If they feel they will be left out, we might have a chance." Arnold had been storing materials for seven and a half years and he and the council started building and they erected walls into place. It was huge. When the providers found out they started to put in light, heat fixtures and plumbing.

The ark came in with the animals in the open areas and shower areas. The living areas came two and a half weeks later and Arnold washed the winged mammoth and she bit him. Kit bandaged him and the Captain found them there and then said, "Hey boy, you want to sign on?"

They were married four days later aboard The Fearless and celebrated with "bomber burritoes."

The End



Once Upon A Time, by Mavis Wykopf

Once upon a time, there was a young toad. She hopped away from her lilypad and became lost in the great wood. She began to cry. Suddenly, she became aware of the fact that she was not alone! She peered through her tears and spied something blurry! As her vision cleared and her tears subsided, she saw another toad. She did not recognize this male toad. She started to hop away but he spoke to her in such a soothing toady voice that she stayed. He asked her what was wrong and she said she was lost and afraid! He chuckled in his toady voice and said, "Turn around and you will see that you are not lost!" She turned around, and there, in the distance, but not out of sight, was her lovely lilypad! She was so excited, she gave the dashing toad a big toady kiss and hopped home! The next day there were two lilypads where there had once been one!

The end.

random

Tonight, a sometimes-participant of writing group came running into the Oasis and gave me a poem he'd been writing on his own, specifically for inclusion in the blog. So here it is! Enjoy.

One Person, By Anonymous Man

One person can change the world
Is it me or is it you?
Putting our differences aside
Bringing the world together as one
One person at a time, one by one.

One person can change the world,
Bringing Peace to the Earth
Heaven on Earth, here to stay
Except death I do pray

One person can change the world
Seems so simple to do
Sitting here thinking things through

One person can change the world
Is it me or is it you?
Johnny Appleseed becomes our enemy
So much food don't know what to do
Feeding the hungry, never ending too
All it takes is a seed
Will you plant one too?

So much Earth
So much ground
So much room