As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen - Winnie the Pooh

This quote inspired my summer writing project. I wrote this shortly after the "BBF" (Best Buds Forever) story. I had thought about making it a "pick your own adventure" but decided to work on other things. I like the idea but I know it needs more editing. That still may happen at another time, but not right now. 

My best friend always liked to tease me with a Winnie the Pooh quote: "As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen."

I’ve always been a wall flower, and aside from him, I don’t like people too much.

It became our inside joke and all he started calling me “Pooh” as a nickname. It always made me blush with embarrassment and want to beat him up. Especially since you can’t really distinguish that from #2! I tried to get him to call me “Winnie” but he refused.

He was smart and always ran away, and I always chased him; until one day my mom said, “Gwen! Ladies don’t chase boys!” I was about 9 when the chasing ended. Since then, I just give him a smirk and shake my fist, even though he still ran.

When he came back, he was always ready to share his plan.

This one was an adventurer. We lived in a suburban area that was close to several trail heads, some train tracks and if we were bold enough, we’d make our way over to the beach, which was about a mile away. To a couple of 11 year olds, that was pretty far!

He mixed it up; sometimes we’d collect stuff for his “legen-wait-for-it-dary” tree house. Plans were in place, but he didn’t have a tree picked out just yet. Other times, we would go bum at the beach and bury each other in the sand. Usually, when he buried me, he’d give me huge boobs and long legs. Considering I was as flat as a board and the shortest person he knew, I think he was just trying to be nice. Or a jerk, couldn’t quite tell.

I’d usually give him huge muscles and create a superhero suit, complete with carved abs and a cool logo. I was the artist, he was my muse.

Today, we were going on a search for hidden treasure. Or at least I was. He would create scavenger hunts for me all the time. He was so thoughtful and observant and made these journeys just for me. Clues that he created were based off our inside jokes, so that if anyone were to find the map he made, it wouldn’t make any sense to them. Clever that one…

These adventures were meant for me to do on my own. He had so many ideas that once he completed one, he went off to create more. But when he knows I’m on a hunt, he usually disappears to the final clue to wait for me.

With a snicker on his face, he handed me an envelope. 

The hunt begins.

I closed my eyes and counted to 22 so he could make his escape. I never peaked to see which direction he headed because I always knew I would find him and my treasure. I also knew that he liked to run off in random directions in hopes of making me lose the trail.

I opened the envelope, which held my first clue. Just two words: “Grrr, argh!”

Pirate speak… Black Bart, of course! I knew where this was going to lead… the beach!

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Grrr,... Argh!

A few months ago, we walked down our usual path to the beach. At the end of the path, there were a bunch of palm trees. We were playing tag and I chose a random tree to be my “safe” place when I got tired.  As I was leaning against it, catching my breath I noticed the random markings looked like a skull. 

I called a time out and said “Arrrgggg!” as I pointed it out to him. It took him a second and then he saw it. We nicknamed this tree “Black Bart”.  That was our new code word for “beach”.

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When I got to our tree, I looked in his eye socket. There was a tiny clear vial in it. I took it out and examined it. There was a black viscous liquid in it. Oil! Why would he put oil in a vial for me?

I looked at it for a while and let it reflect in the sun, racking my brain, trying to figure out the clue Dylan left me.

 And what did that mean to me? A rainbow, of course.

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I often would come by Dylan’s house after school. One afternoon, his brother was changing the oil for his car. Some of it leaked on the ground. I was examining it when Dylan came up behind me with a glass of lemonade. I jumped at his sudden appearance because I was so focused on looking at the colors that were in the oil. He laughed at my reaction, and asked “what were you staring at?”

I pointed to the ground and said, “it looks like a rainbow!”

I was so intrigued, that I even ran to get a paint brush and paper to see what it would look like on a different surface. Didn’t look like much, but I had to try. I ruined my brush and my mom freaked out about the fumes and made me throw everything away. I was so upset that she did that. I didn’t understand what the big deal was.

I can’t believe he remembered that!

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Rainbow Arch is just down the street!  

Excited, I ran over there. I examined the area. Six arches, yellow, pinks, purple and blue… nothing out of the ordinary. I looked around the cement area, nothing. We had rarely come here, but something must have happened here if he wanted me to come this way.

I was starting to examine the individual arches as a family with a young kid came around. I tried not to get in their way as they walked through, then I saw the kid point to something and ask “What does this mean mamma?”

He pointed to “CCXXII” written and encircled in green chalk. 222! How did I miss that? I must have been looking for a physical clue, instead of a symbol.

The number 2 has always been special to us. He was born on May 2^nd and I was born on August 22^nd. We met in 2^nd grade in room 22, how crazy is that?! We dispute it, but he swears we even met on the 2^nd. I think he’s adding on extra things, but he has a knack for detail, so who am I to dispute it?

But why was it circled? Hmm… oh right! There are circled numbers on the Boardwalk!

I ran over and found number 301. I followed it until I found 222. My search led me to the harbor. This made a lot more sense. After all, we spent countless days here watching the boats, wishing that we could be out on the seas like real pirates, seeking adventure and treasure.

I looked around. I didn’t see him. I looked around to see if there was another clue or flag that would steer me in the right direction.

I walked through a few shops and along the walkway. It was pretty crowded because it was summer and the tourists were around. I racked my brain to figure out where he would be. I circled through the whole area and nothing gave me a sense of where I could find him.

It was a particularly hot day and after all that searching, I wanted a snack. I went to the ice cream shop and got my usual, double scoop of cookies and cream. The guy handed me my cone and in addition to my receipt, he gave me an envelope. I asked him, “What’s this?”

He said, “I don’t know. A kid paid me $5 to give this to the first girl who ordered 2 scoops of cookies and cream, and paid with exact change in coins; you were her.”

I always preferred coins to dollars. Even though it was heavier, it made me feel like I had gold treasure, like the pirates did. I also felt a strange satisfaction in always being able to give exact change.

Dylan used to tease me all the time. He liked having bills, but hated change. When he’d get change, he’d give it to me, and if he needed anything under $0.49, I always gave him exact change so he could get bills back.

I took my ice cream and envelope and fished out a dollar for his tip.

It was another clue! I can’t believe he’d know I would get ice cream. How did he know that?!

I went outside to eat my ice cream. I ate hastily so I could see what was in the envelope. 

A note with a key card…

Roses are red

Violets are blue

If you want to see your prize,

Return this to Marina 2.

I finished my ice cream and headed over to Marina 2. I used the card to get through the gate and after getting to the bottom of the ramp, I saw red poker chip. It had the number 2 on it. I picked it up and put it in my pocket. A little way down, I saw another one, so I picked that up as well. I found a few more and stopped in front of a boat that had 5 chips stacked neatly.

Before I finished putting them in my pocket I heard a familiar voice, “Finally!” exclaimed Dylan as he popped out of one of the sail boats.

“How did you get in here?” I asked?

“Didn’t I tell you my dad’s friend just got a boat!?”

“Oh, yeah, I think you mentioned it…”

He pointed to the back of the boat.

“They let me name it!” Dylan said with a big smile. “And I named it after you!”

“Winnie”

He never called me “Pooh” again. 

between hello and goodbye

Writing Prompt #5 Between hello and goodbye

“Why, hello there!” I said as a 2 month old beagle puppy ran over and started sniffing at me. I looked at the owner, and asked if it was ok to pet his dog.

“Sure, her name is Poppet.”

This pup was one of those who, when she shook her tail from excitement, there was a ripple effect through her whole body.

Source: CrapWeLike

As soon as my knee touched the sand, she climbed on me trying to lick my face.

I rubbed her behind her big floppy ears and she gently tried to nip at my hands.

“Who’s a good girl?” I cooed at her, as I continued to play with her and rub her head.

I love these dogs. They are young and everything is exciting and new. The world is for their exploring and they are just so darn HAPPY!

After a few more ear scratches, I patted her back.

“Thanks!” I said to her owner.

“Goodbye Poppet!” I said with a final pat on the head.

happy halloween!

your character wakes up in the past, when they were still with a lover who would later on break their heart. how do they handle this?

Writing Prompt #4 Your character wakes up in the past, when they were still with a lover who would later on break their heart. How do they handle this?

As I wake up, I notice something familiar, yet somewhat foreign. His smell: that wonderful smell of him.

I stretch to shake off my drowsiness and hear his voice, “Good morning, Sleepy.”  His face is close to mine and he playfully kisses my nose. I love it when he does that.

My mind races to place this moment. Was I having déjà vu? We are in bed with the sunlight peaking through a curtain I forgot to fully close. He was always careful about making sure no light would get through, but I wasn’t. I could sleep through almost anything.

He is in a really good mood this morning and I remember exactly how he looked when the sun hit him on this particular day.  This day is when we realize we are in love.

This was almost 3 years to the day when he would take his own life because of the depression he suffered after losing his brother to a freak accident the year before. No one could lift him out of the darkness. No one could reach him,… not even me.

I had often awoken to moments like these, when the past came back to life with memories so vivid and real that for a moment, everything seemed as it was, as it should have been. I would reach for him and feel the coolness of the sheets, where he used to lie beside me, only to fully awaken to realize he was indeed, still gone.

This is different. I feel his warmth as he lies next to me. I feel his strong arms as he pulls me closer. He smiles that incredible smile, just as I remember, looks down at me and blurts out, “I love you so much!”

“I love you too!” I reply feeling my heart swell; this is the first time we ever say those words to each other. Relief washes over him as he pulls me even closer to him and kisses me deeply.

Tears started to well in my eyes, but I push them down. I need to enjoy this moment. I kiss him deeper and hold him tighter.

I don’t ever want to let go.

a story in 100 words, take 2

I liked this prompt so much I wrote another one. 

write a 100 word story about one moment

“This better be as good as she says” I thought to myself. My best friend had raved about this place, home to the “best burger EVER”…

Ahem.

I surveyed the burger. {sniff} it smells great… it looks great!

Per her recommendation, I got the Classic burger: double patties made out of chuck beef and pork, grilled onions, hold the cheese, on a Brioche bun.

PB & J Burger from American Ale

I took a bite.

She was right.

I saw the joy in her eyes as she saw my reaction.

I think I may have died and gone to burger heaven.

I’ll never “EVER” doubt her again.

write a 100 word story about one moment

Taking more liberties. This isn't technically one moment, but it kinda is...

Writing Prompt #3: write a 100 word story about one moment

“Pizza, French Fry, Pizza, French Fry!” I repeated to myself as I picked up speed and slowed down. It was the first time I was on skis.

Kids whizzed by me, “French Frying” it all the way down.

“Damn their low center of gravity!” I grumbled under my breath.

“Come on, NO FEAR!” my boyfriend yelled as he flew by.

He had already bombed passed me five times. I was still on my first run down the bunny slope.

“Screw it!” I thought.

I mustered up all my courage.

“BANZAI!” I yelled, and zoomed down the rest of the run.

a person dies and is confronted by the person they have become

I might have taken a few liberties with this idea as well...

Writing prompt #2 a person dies and is confronted by the person they have become

I always heard that your entire life flashes before you right before you die.  Imagine my surprise when I found that the life that “could have been” flashed before me after I passed away.

I “crossed over” at 24. I had been hit by a car when I was on a sidewalk in Venice Beach. The driver lost control of the vehicle because he had a seizure and killed 4 of us.  It was a tragic accident.

It was like a scene out of “A Christmas Carol”, where Ebenezer Scrooge was viewing his “Christmas yet to come” alternate life. I was like a ghost witnessing what my future could have been, but without a host to show me around. Not that I needed one. I recognized myself right away.

At first I was back at the scene of my death. But instead of being run down, a man had grabbed me and pulled me to safety. Unfortunately the other three were struck, as the tragedy could not have been avoided.

I remember him pulling me out of the way in the nick of time.  We locked eyes as what had happened started to set in my mind. I was almost killed!

Soon after, the scenario started to morph around me, taking me to another snapshot of my life.  My savior and I were rock climbing in a remote part of the world. No one else was around us. When we got to the top, he got down on one knee.

The scenario transformed again. The man who had saved me was at the end of the aisle. My father was walking me towards him with a quartet playing a beautiful song. I was grinning ear to ear, looking at all the faces of my family and friends, smiling, taking pictures, and videoing our moment. I felt such joy and happiness.

Another scene: I’m in a boardroom, commanding a meeting. I could tell I was important the way everyone was tentatively listening to me and nodding in agreement.

Scene after scene came and went, but the one that lingered was one of me lying on a bed, my head wrapped in a scarf. My hair was all gone; my body was weak from chemo that treated my breast cancer. I was surrounded by my husband and three adults that appeared to be our children.  They were smiling through tears, talking about the good times we had. The battle was officially over. I refused additional treatment and was ready. My family was sad to see me go, but relieved that I would suffer no more.

At this point tears were streaming down my face. I was so joyful. Dr. Seuss’s quote swam in my mind, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” My “could have been” life was so full and rich with love and success. Even though it would never happen, seeing the possibility elated me.

The scenario morphed again; this time I was young again, maybe 36 or 37. I had just gotten my bearings. I was sitting in a crowd in a large theater  I was surrounded by hundreds of beautiful people, all dressed to the nines: men in tuxedos, women in vibrant ball gowns. My feet were throbbing in 4” heels that were a burgundy that matched my gown.  My husband was next to me when I heard, “And the Oscar for best actress goes to… for her portrayal of…” I saw myself get up and go on stage to accept the award.

I was so confused until I realized most of those previous scenes I had witnessed; they were from me becoming a successful actress. The only truth was that I was indeed married to the man who had saved me. He was an up-and-coming actor when we first met and together we had built our careers in various roles. We were like a real life Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, filming several movies together. The marriage was real, though the proposal was a scene in one of our movies. The last two scenes were also different roles in movies I had starred in.

My husband and I got home from the awards ceremony and after parties. It was nearly dawn and he had helped me get out of my dress. After the dress was off, he embraced me and gave me a Hollywood kiss, "I'm SO proud of you!"

We were very happy and blessed with the success we had attained.

I was in the shadow, watching myself remove my makeup and brush out my hair. Unexpectedly, my alternate self acknowledged me for the first time. She stopped what she was doing, looked directly into my eyes, and said,”this is what life could have been…”

I nodded and smiled to myself as I headed towards the light.