Life and Other Distractions
My daughter once built magical cities from wooden IKEA blocks and now studies Architecture. My son pestered his patient teacher with ‘why’ questions: Why did they vote for Hitler in the first place? This month he takes his History finals.
In my empty nest I finally had time to write, but when spring came I stuffed my unfinished manuscript inside a tree trunk. (Who am I kidding, delusional fool – it was barely started!) Instead I meandered for miles by a river, tended a flower garden, volunteered on a farm and trained as a children’s mentor.
Wonder what I’ll do when I grow up?
(Genre: unreliable memoir, 100 words, or so)
Miranda Lewis 2017
Welcome to Friday Flash Fiction, hosted by the talented writer Rochelle and with a photo this week from Sandra Crook. Thanks to all who drop by and especially those who stay to comment.
Please respect the copyright of the author and the photographer.
Here is a link to my daughter’s Instagram of her beautiful final pieces for this year.
MJL Stories 
Do we really ever grow up. Thening gardens is a great past time as is writing unreliable memoirs.🙂
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I’m a great potterer in the garden! Must get back to the writing though. Thanks for coming by.
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Sorry about spelling anomaly. [Thening] should read as [tending]
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Goes well with Rochelle’s tagline!
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I often go off in an odd direction! I saw those arches and thought of architecture and one thing led to another…
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Well done. 🙂
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Thank you!
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Really enjoyed your story. There are lots of us still wondering what to do when we grow up. I think the manuscript would reach completion this time with all those additional experiences under the belt.
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It’s true – we need to live too!
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All the things we wish to finish and yet don’t. Go out and play – I say. : )
Isadora 😎
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I’ve certainly done my fair share of playing recently! Thankfully my children are working hard!
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Lovely story, I felt the mother’s pride and hope she never grows up.
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Thank you for your lovely comment!
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I trained myself a physicist to PhD, worked as an engineer, become a manager and then into business… but now i want to be a poet… why should we ever grow up…
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I can relate to your life story! I trained as a Chemist originally (never got as far as PhD) and worked as a Science then Maths teacher. I’ve always been a very creative all-rounder – sewing, gardening, along with loving reading and writing. Modern life tends to put people in boxes – you’re right about staying open and child-like.
My goal for the future is to try and maintain child-like qualities and wonder, but add a bit more adult commitment and prioritising!
(PS That is after I finish the Growing Vegetables course I’m currently taking and when I’ve completed decorating my son’s room…)
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Dear Miranda,
How well I relate to your last line. I’ve often asked myself the same question. As you know I consider growing up to be optional…I choose not to. Well done. Your daughter is very talented, too.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS The empty nest makes room for the hatching of our own dreams.
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Thanks for your lovely comments and for looking in on my daughter’s studio in Edinburgh, Scotland!
For the moment I’m keeping those dreams warm for future hatching!
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I wonder this all the time. Transitions can be difficult. I might just dig up my story board for Mr. Edwards.
Tracey
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Oh do dig that out! And I do so agree that transitions are almost always harder than we expect.
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Oh, I feel that! What will any of us doo when we grow up? Lovely tale 🙂
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I say she should unstuff that unfinished manuscript from the tree and finish it… after she has weeded, of course! One can do both, you know!
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Such lovely encouragement! Thank you.
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Well written. Meandering musings are nice too. I work in software development where the programming languages and flavours keep changing year to year and change is the only constant. Writing flash fiction keeps me sane for now 🙂
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I left teaching last year after more than 30 years. Things kept changing there too, but also becoming more and more complicated for their own sake, rather than their original purpose. I sometimes felt as if I’d joined an obscure religious order. Keeping creative and sane is vital.Glad flash fiction helps!
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No reason at all to grow up, so far as I can see. 🙂 Lovely story.
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So much to do and see, even an empty nest is not enough to get it all in
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