Tuesday's Photo

I picked this meme up from Spunk on a Stick Tips, but I don't have the author or publishing experience she does so I've decided instead of posting writing tips with my photos, I'd post some of the poems and stories I've written in the past. Being the week before Halloween, Today's post is a ghost story I wrote back around this time in 1986. The pictures are from some of the old houses around Wilmington, NC.

My Haunting

As I hide in the portrait of my grandmother, I watch a group of teenagers inspecting my rickety old house. Little do they know that I have chosen to stay here eternally. In the parlor, where Confederate soldiers had once courted me, I light the fire to the amazement of my intruders. Then, I blow in a draft to send shivers up their spines. The looks on their faces causes me to giggle and I'm afriad they may have heard me, for they've begun to look around to find the source of the sound. I follow them into the old kitchen, pull out a chair and sit down. They all jump back and one of the boys shrieks. Being invisible is quite fun, but I think I'll really spook them by making an appearance if they go upstairs. I love to see the awe in their eyes as they try to find me.

They say some of the strangest things as they walk around my dim, musty kitchen. While I know they are speaking my language the words seem different. I get up and pass through one of my visitors, who then experiences a hot flash. The intruders stare at me dumbfounded, not realizing their mouths are hanging open. How I miss having visitors.

Well, I think it's time to take these curoius teens upstairs. I knock over a vase, making it crash to the dusty wooden florr. They are coming up the squeaky spiral staircase to investigate. As they look around, hoping to catch another glimpse of me, I open a door and invite them into my room. The air is a little stuffy so I open a few windows and fill the air with the sweet smell of violets. as they enter the room, I make myself visible enough for them to see my liguidy haze. They try to touch me, but their hands pass right through making me giggle. They gaze at me mystified, trying to figure out who I am.

I begin to fade into a portrait. My little displays have tired me and my introduers are beginning to leave.

My home has once again become quiet and dark......

for now......

Photo Tuesday

Following Spunk on a Stick's Tuesday tradition, here is this weeks Photo Tuesday or in this case picture & photo.

BREAKING THE SEAL

United we stand, divided we fall.

The lay of the land a message to all.

Remember the past the way it arrived.

Rejoice at the thought the way you've survived.

There's heaven accrued in values you hold.

Addressing the drift of stories untold.

Advanced as you will, you're seen to advance.

There's nary a thing pertaining to chance.

The specter is real invading the night,

For breaking the seal and twisting the light.

PERFECTION

The perfect person in an unperfect world.

Lost in her quest to live up,

To the expectations of others,

Too proud to give up the fight,

Too alone to ask for help,

Too scared to admit defeat.

She goes thru life lost,

At war with herself,

A disappointment to those around,

A disappointment to herself.

WORLD

What is the world like today?

I'll tell you this, it's not child's play.

It consist of a hard life,

It consist of a lot of strife.

It holds many occupations,

Even more devastations.

So why do we live in this place,

A big round globe, to us a case?

We shout and shout;

We just can't get out.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures and poems. They were some I wrote many years ago.

Credits:

The top photo I took the other morning,

the second is an intaglio I did,

and the third was from Bing Images.

Photo Tuesday- Old Books on Front St

Today I want to share with you one of my favorite spots in Wilmington, NC. It may not look like much to you but this little bookstore is a true treasure!

Old Books is a small, quaint, family run used bookstore that has been "connecting good people with good books since 1982."  Located in the historic district of downtown Wilmington, Old Books brings a lovely retro feel to Front Street.  In an age of shiny new corporate bookstores, walking into Old Books is like walking into another world.

You can feel the stories tugging at you to enter their domain and smell the history they have to offer. As a lover of old books, this place is like heaven to me. I can spend hours running my fingers along the aging spines and reading the covers for that special new treasure I can't leave without.

And then there is the lovely Gwenyfar, seen here with Old Books newest addition and mascot, Edith Wharton. Stop with any of the locals in Wilmington for a quick chat and mention Gwenyfar's name and they will have something lovely to tell you about this wonderful lady. She is truly a gift to our downtown environment. She is always welcoming and ready to help you find that special book you've been hunting for. She is that rare people person who will introduce you to total strangers, a person she may have just met but knows you may have a common interest with. And as you leave the store you can always count on her to bring a smile to your face as you hear, "Think Happy Thoughts." You can't help but love her and want to stop by whenever you get a chance.

Old Books offers more than just miles of wonderful old books and a fantastic hostess, there are also activites, such as book clubs, book signings, Deceased author birthday celebrations, like the recent birthday bash for Mary Shelley. Old Books bring people together in away that we have lost in recent years. What business do you know of that includes a note of gratitude tucked in your book. They end every sale with this wonderful note:

Gratitude

This is a thank you note. We at Old Books On Front St. are a Tiny Family Business that is staffed only by The Immediate Family Members. we know that in the internet age you can choose to do business with anyone on the globe. We want you to know that we are very grateful you have selected us. We strive to serve you with freindly, helpful, timely service. Thank you for choosing us.

With many thanks,

The Rohler Family

Diana (mom), Lloyd (pop) & Gwenyfar

Sadly, the Rohler's recently lost Diana to cancer, so this post is also to honor her memory and my heart goes out to Gwenyfar and her family.

So next time you are in Wilmington, NC make sure you stop by Old Books on Front St and meet the enchanting lady who runs it and her little dog too.

You can also visit them online at http://www.oldbooksonfrontst.com/. Check out their schedule of upcoming events or have Gwenyfar help you locate that hard to find book you've been searching for.

You can't tell in this picture but Little Edith Wharton has the most beautiful green eyes. They are almost human. She is the most adorable puppy and you will be tempted to steal her. Alas, I would have tried but I couldn't bear to make Gwenyfar sad .... seeing Edith, one more reason to visit Old Books regularly.


Make sure you stop by Spunk on a Stick Tips, where Photo Tuesday originated.

Photo Tuesday (meme created by L. Diane Wolfe)

Welcome to another photo Tuesday. I have to admit my photo skills are not as great as Diane's, but I loved the theme so I'm going to run with it. I like to keep a camera handy and take photos of things that inspire me to write. So here are a few photos I've taken recently....




This is a photo I took with my cell because the batteries were dead in my camera. It is of a Pirate ship coming down the Cape Fear River and shooting it's cannon for the Riverfest Celebration in Wilmington, NC. There are endless possible pirate stories this one can inspire.



Dragons always inspire me. I am Medievalgrrl after all. One of the things I love about dragons is that because they are mythical, they are timeless. This little guy is Riogon. He is the protector of my car. Actually he draws more attention than he repels, but I love him.



This is a photo I took from my office window yesterday. It's One Tree Hill filming in the rain. For those of you who don't know me, I used to work in the film industry, so seeing a set always brings back happy, exhausting memories. What most people don't know is that a film set is like a story within a story. There is always behind the scenes drama to inspire a creative writer.



Here is a rainbow I took outside my house about a week ago. Rainbows have always inspired people. Where would the Wizard of Oz be without a rainbow? Where would the leprechauns hide their pots of gold? Where would we find hope after a devastating storm. (if you look carefully you will see this picture has not one but two rainbows)




Searching the sky has inspired more than just a few writers. How many of us as children or adults have wondered what's beyond? I'm sure an equal number have looked for shapes in the clouds. Ever imagined a world that exist in a realm of clouds?

Photo Tuesday- Spunk on a Stick's Old Memories Photo Challenge

Last Tuesday Diane at Spunk on a Stick Tips posted some great photos from her past and at the end of the post she asked who was brave enought to post old photo memories. I took her up on her challenge and suggested she make Photo Tuesday a meme.
Unfortunately most of my old photos are on floppies or in albums, but here are a few I found in digital format.....



A 7 year-old me. Luckily I survived the crazy 80's hair and this picture looks a little like my hair now.















Me at 13 practicing posing on my dad's truck. It was a southern thing....















Ah, waiting for prom.... again, scary make-up in back then, but hey I had a tan for once and I actually had on pink. My least favorite color.













This was my Senior Yearbook Photo. Probably the only school photo I ever half-way liked.












Many decades ago I was a model. These were a few of the photos in my portfolio. Can you tell it was the 80's with the heavy makeup and big hair?





Me as a nun, but not just any nun. I used to run a movie theater and I was dressed up for a movie promotion for the release of Freddy's Dead. I was his mother. And that was taken with one of those now extinct cameras, the Polariod.


















This was one of my tax students, Linda, and I winding down after tax season.








This is me on my first computer many many years ago. That is Willow on the bed with me.