Inspiration | Cathy C. Hall Writes

This is my first post in May, and generally, what with May being all about Spring, and school days winding down, and my bare little toesies poking out of flip-flops, my thoughts turn to merriment and such.

However, I would be remiss if I did not address certain events which have recently transpired, namely the (sorta) sudden demise of Osama bin Laden.

Frankly, I’m not sure when the man died, as news reports vary on that fact. And if I’m being perfectly honest, I’m a tad confused as to why most networks spell it “Osama” and yet another network spells it “Usama.” What I am certain about is that the person who orchestrated a heinous terrorist attack upon thousands of innocent American people has been stopped. And for that, I’m grateful. In fact, I’d like to thank every courageous man and woman in our military and varied services who show up for work each day to fight the good fight.

I show up for work almost every day, and I fight, too, if you count arguing with Sally the Crazy Dog. Somehow, it doesn’t seem quite as…well, courageous. But still, I get to sit here at my desk, with my bare toesies wiggling, and laughing at Steve Martin’s hilarious essay “Writing is Easy!” (from his book, Pure Drivel) until the Beneficent Mr. Hall comes upstairs to find out if I’m all right.

Yes, Mr. Hall, I’m all right. I’m better than all right on this, my first post in May. Because I live in America, the land of the free and the home of the brave.

(Thanks to isafmedia for the photo!)

I’m sitting here, listening to birds outside my window. The sunlight throws a checkerboard pattern against the sheer curtains, and my spiderwort’s dripping with indigo blooms. In short, it’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

It’s hard to believe that many folks in my neighboring counties, in my neighboring states, aren’t having such a beautiful day. The birds might be singing, but their notes may be closer to songs of distress at finding their treetop homes gone. The sun still shines through plaid shirts flapping from torn-in-two power line poles. And it always amazes me to see a flower bed, bursting with reds, blues and yellows, perfectly intact ten yards from a flattened house.

Nature is beautiful yet oh, so powerful, and my heart and prayers go out to all those affected by the recent tornadoes. I’m sure there are many stories, and perhaps one of these tales or essays will be told for the Whispering Prairie Press Writing Awards.

They’re looking for poetry, flash fiction, and essays, and the entry fee is $5.00. Deadline’s June 30, 2011. Maybe by then, it will be a beautiful day in the neighborhood for us all.