Interpreting Messages from Fortune Cookies

“Something you lost will soon turn up.”

I found this fortune sitting on the counter of the condominium we were staying at in Cannon Beach and had no idea where the paper came from. I didn’t believe it was directed towards me when I saw it since I couldn’t think of anything I had lost recently. But later, I popped onto Facebook to do a little catching up and clicked on the Facebook fortune cookie that comes with the daily horoscope. What did it say?

Yes.

It did.

“Something you lost will soon turn up.”

It was clear to me that these strange events had a message for me. But there was nothing material I could think of that I had lost recently.

So I pondered . . . what exactly did I lose?

Someone from my past?

A part of myself?

I wasn’t sure, but it was such a weird synchronicity I couldn’t let go of until I interpreted it; I told my mom and daughter about the strange fortune cookie findings hoping for help.

“You lost your humor,” my daughter said, reminding me of a conversation I’d had with her a couple of nights before when we were sleeping in a tent together in the middle of the forest.

I’d told her that after I’d watched my dad get sick and die, I had lost my humor. I had been struggling to find that part of myself again, not only in my everyday life, but also in my writing.

I miss that light-hearted piece of me.

At least now I feel reassured that if I keep working at it, that "something" I lost will soon turn up. Because, you know, fortune cookie fortunes are always right.

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How to Change a Mood with Poetry

So the other day my kids were both grumpy and complaining, which made me grumpy, too.

Frustrated about their behavior, I pulled out my journal to write some poetry. Instead I started writing down every complaint they spouted off. I was going to read it to them to show them how irritating they sounded.

Slowly, the scowling faces turned to smiles and then to laughter. I had two pages of ridiculous remarks and had succeeded in shifting their moods (and mine too).

Here’s a sampling (written out of order):

Mom Mom Mom Moooommmm
Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom
Mom, can we switch blankets?
This blanket is itchy.
Can we please walk to a place? A food place.
I’m starving. I’m going to die.
Dude, can you sit down?
It got all quiet when my air got skinny.
Look, Dad, balloons.
Don’t, don’t, because those aren’t balloons.
They’re vinyl balls.

Okay, I took out the most offensive remarks. Because I want you to walk away laughing, not scowling.

On another note, check out the talented Khara House's "Poetry Form Challenge" during the months of July and August! Because . . . as a parent, I can attest . . . structure is a good thing!

Happy weekend!

Daily Poetry Writing

I've been trying very hard to pump out a poem a day. Sometimes I am content with my creation and other times, I think, "Eh." The point though, is that I'm getting practice and developing a routine.

Here is one I scribbled down yesterday while waiting for my daughter to finish her horseback riding lesson:

Superhero Status is all in the Mind

Wonder Woman took a break
from catching criminals for her appointment
with home-organizer specialist, Lydia.
Weary of losing her superhero attire
amongst piles of unlaundered
spit cloths and the bucket of reusable
diapers, one time even locating it on the top
rack of her dishwasher, Wonder Woman was forever
grateful to Lydia for saving her world.

Think of a superhero or cartoon character and put them in an unlikely situation. If you would like to participate, I would enjoy reading your creations in the comment box. 

Thanks! :-)

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Check out short stories and more poetry on Mouse Tales Press. (The July issue just came out yesterday!)

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