Science fiction, fantasy, mystery and what-not
I’ve shared the same experience as Barb, where the work-in-progress and its characters seem to actively resist where I want to go, because they knew better where they’re supposed to go. I’ve learned that for me to write, I need to get out of the way, and just follow their lead.
Otherwise, I’ll end up going the wrong way.
Mewthology (catfinition) – an allegorical narrative focused on the origins of house cats and their influence over humanity and the Earth.
In use: “While studying Egyptian mewthology, one is struck by how quickly cats seemed to have risen in stature in society. Some mewthologists believe this points to a period when cats purred more powerfully, enabling the felines to establish a telepathic connection with humans, which let the cats control the humans.”
Whiskercise (catfinition) – an exercise program popular among house pets, especially cats, made popular by Miz Jane, a calico cat, in the 1980s. Whiskercise focuses on leisurely stretching when standing up, long naps, and sudden but short bursts of activity.
In use: “Devotees of whiskercise like to spring up and dash forward for several feet before stretching and settling down for a new nap. According to the whiskercise protocol, this enhances the cat’s natural beauty and increases longevity. Some whiskercise proponents have claimed to live more than nine lives, with one, a one hundred twenty-one year old tortie, claiming to have lived twelves lives.”
It was another military dream. Multitudes of military members were there. Almost all were Air Force members, as I had been. I knew many of them, but not all.
Some Army personnel and people from the other armed forces were in the group. They were very few. We were all attired in service-dress uniforms. My wife was with me, and my friends had their wives and children present. I realized it was a mass celebration.
It was in a huge, haphazard building with multiple levels. Some levels were connected by ladders. Others used stairs or elevators. Some of it was outside, or had rooms that were open to the outside.
Some people shunned me or were antagonistic, but others acknowledged and defended me. The first group disappointed me, and was the larger group, but the second group pleased me.
I didn’t stay with either group, though. With my wife holding my hand, I went up and down the ladders and stairs, passing between levels on my own. I said hello to friends, and some returned the greeting. As I did this movement and talked to others, I began understanding, this was a gigantic retirement gathering. With that, I saw a setting sun and realized, an era was ending.
Then I awoke and thought of the dream with sadness. A part of me reflected, the past is gone.
We’re going forward.
It’s a new habit. Reaching the corner where my street meets Siskiyou, I look left.
Although there’s a soft, steady down slope, it’s a straight shot into downtown Ashland. I know that two miles away is the Ashland Springs Hotel’s yellow building. I can’t see it today. I can see the first traffic light, at Walker. That’s just under a mile away. With today’s smoke, the prevailing visibility is about a mile away, as it has been for the last three days.
Fires ring our valley, sending smoke into it. Most of the fires started on July 15 when lightning strikes lit the dry brush and trees.
Although it’s the third year that I’ve been forced to do this, I’m not used to wearing a mask to walk around. We used to do it in the military as part of our war games, during simulated attacks. They were never fun. Neither is this.
Thoughts about the fire’s causes are inevitable, as are hopes and worries for the other people driven from their homes by the fires, and fears for the animals, and concern for the land. Thoughts about the firefighters out there fighting the fires on our behalf arise, along with thoughts of thanks.
Containment is the word of the month, followed closely by conflagration. When will the fires be contained? The closest, the Hendrix Fire, isn’t that large, just one thousand plus acres. Nine miles away, it’s thirty percent contained, but it’s not the fire delivering most of this smoke. That’s an accumulation from all the fires to the north and west.
What’s striking is how the smoke changes Ashland’s character. Outdoor events are canceled, curtailed, or moved indoor, if possible. There are fewer hikers and walkers, because part of the Pacific Coast Trail is also closed. Cyclists, usually so common, are rarely seen. With the diminished visibility, we can’t see the mountains. Ashland could be a plain town, or one on the seashore.
You’d never know it, with this smoke.
I like Pearl Jam, and I like this song, “Alive”. Although released in 1991 and categorized as grunge, it’s a hard-rocking song (with softer moments) like the rock I grew up with in the late sixties and early seventies.
Now, it’s classic rock.
You ever encounter a parking lot with such maddening shapes, narrow lanes and tight corners that people seem unable to turn the vehicles without going up over a curb? SF-SJ Bay Area parking lots seemed home to those lots. Bad as they were in California, some of the newer shopping centers’ parking lots in Medford, Oregon (I’m pointing the finger at you, Trader Joe’s) are terrible. Yet, we must suffer and accept, or we wouldn’t have the store.
she said, Why did you do that? Don’t you know better?
and she said, No, I don’t feel any warmth for you, so I can’t.
and she said, Call me, and you said, I will.
and she said, You never called, and you said, nothing.
she said, You smell.
and she said, I could never be with someone like you.
and she said, I think you can do anything that you try to do.
and she said, I wish you would have said something.
she said, Stay away from me, I hate you right now.
and she said, Hi, it’s good to see you.
and she said, Let’s get together.
and she said, Good-bye.
Aflooflitionist (catfinition) – someone who campaigns for equal rights for and respectful treatment of cats, dogs, and other animals.
In use: “As an affirmed aflooflitionist, he stood against the Trump administration’s proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act.”
I just wanna have a good life
and want the same for others
I want the air to be clean and fresh
and the water, too
I don’t want animals abused
or people killed
for war, pleasure, or fun
I just wanna know that others
have the same freedom and rights as me
and the dying, when it’s done,
is graceful and dignified
I know all this is a pipe dream
from whatever stuff I smoke and drink
I just wanna be and let be
and live and let live
and other tropes like that
