Sunday, January 9, 2011

Stop the Insanity

I had just planned to post my link to Saturday Centus without commenting on the frightening atrocity committed in Tucson, Arizona...home to Judie at Rogue Speaks...one of our usual SC and AT contributors. Instead, if you have a moment please read Judie's link by clicking here and by keeping a city and citizens effected by this horror in your thoughts and prayers.

My little story, below, linked to week 36 of Saturday Centus is perhaps a more preferable kind of insanity.

Thank you. The story this week is linked to a picture and not a prompt. To read other Saturday Centus links, just click here.



When I was child, my Father occasionally took me to visit my Aunt Myrna in a place he called the “Looney Bin’.

I was always afraid of Aunt Myrna. She babbled and drooled and told my Father over and over again, “I don’t know why I’m here. I did see the flying pigs! I did! And a big shiny space-ship. And snow almost a foot deep in Phoenix.”

For years, I’ve buried these disturbing memories.

But this morning when I walked onto my back patio and saw my citrus trees adorned with inches of pristine snow, they all returned.

Gulp…

(word count - 100 exactly!)

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30 comments:

  1. CherylJanuary 9, 2011 at 2:44 PM

    Love this one Jenny. I'm still recovering and my brain can't seem to wrap itself around this great image you chose.

    Maybe next week. I should be all healed by then. Whee!

    I'm overwhelmed by the events in AZ. I'm heading over to visit Judie. So sorry for all concerned and who've been touched by this nightmare.

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  2. myletterstoemilyJanuary 9, 2011 at 2:49 PM

    we promise to come visit you! :)

    i am so sorry to hear about the mass
    shootings in your lovely state. just
    horrible!

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  3. AmesJanuary 9, 2011 at 3:02 PM

    Maybe the orange didn't fall far from the tree?? :)

    On a sad note. The Tucson shootings is deeply disturbing. Surely someone noticed this young man had issues.
    I'll be saying prayers for the family's involved.~Ames

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  4. The Words CrafterJanuary 9, 2011 at 3:10 PM

    I don't watch the news, but I've seen headlines around the blogging world. I'll click the link and go read.

    I remember when it snowed in Florida. It's weird seeing oranges covered in snow.....

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  5. LynnJanuary 9, 2011 at 3:11 PM

    Pigs fly on my blog all the time:@) Neat story!
    So sorry to hear about the awful shootings.

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  6. Dazee DreamerJanuary 9, 2011 at 3:23 PM

    Your story reminds us all to "never say never" in all aspects of life.

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  7. The Quintessential MagpieJanuary 9, 2011 at 3:47 PM

    I will probably be your roommate in the padded cell, Jenny! ;-)

    I couldn't sleep last night after hearing of the shootings. I didn't go to sleep till 7:00 a.m., and then I slept fitfully. So sad.

    On a lighter note, I posted the tour pictures, the tour which was the catalyst to making me your roomie in the looney bin along with Aunt Myrna!

    xo,

    Sheila :-)

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  8. Moore MinutesJanuary 9, 2011 at 4:00 PM

    This was all so senseless and sad. :( I can't get my mind around these sort of actions. Thank you for the post.

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  9. KatJanuary 9, 2011 at 4:06 PM

    Do they allow three to a cell? Because I'll be right there with you and Sheila. Loved your story, if I saw snow on oranges I'd probably think I was losing it. I actually had a really easy time with this prompt once I got over the initial shock. Of course it may have to do with the boatload of benadryl I've been taking lately - Cedar season here, oh joy. I've been to visit Judie, and I can't imagine the shock and horror she must feel. It's heartbreaking to know that people are afraid to go to the grocery store for goodness sake. This insanity has got to stop. Kat

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  10. JoJanuary 9, 2011 at 4:07 PM

    The Arizona tragedy ... so utterly horrifying & devastating ... and confusing ... I have been emailing dear Judie ...

    now on to your story, girl i love flying pigs! you crazy old aunt just had exceptional vision! tee he he
    loved your take!

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  11. HJanuary 9, 2011 at 4:12 PM

    I read about Tuscon this morning and immediately thought of you (being the only person I know who lives in AZ). What a terrible thing to happen. Those poor families!

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  12. TheresaJanuary 9, 2011 at 4:24 PM

    Sad, SAD story! Hugs and prayers to all involved!

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  13. JojoJanuary 9, 2011 at 4:26 PM

    Thank you for posting about the shooting. Our hearts go out to the families and our prayers are with everyone in AZ and especially friends and family directly affected.

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  14. noexcusesJanuary 9, 2011 at 4:34 PM

    I share Judie's anger and frustration with this incident. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those involved.

    I liked your story. Sounds like my grandmother's experience with the "home."

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  15. Busy Bee SuzJanuary 9, 2011 at 4:53 PM

    Oh...Aunt Myrna!
    So much sadness with this craziness....Makes me want to bury my head in the sand.
    xoxooxox

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  16. UnknownJanuary 9, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    Jenny, I enjoyed your Centus very much. I'm sure Auntie Myrna is now gloating with the "I told you so's".

    I remain numbed by the senselessness of the attack in AZ. We live in a crazy world for sure. My prayers continue for all who are affected by this heinous act.

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  17. summersundays-jwJanuary 9, 2011 at 5:22 PM

    I've seen so much news about what has happened in your state & it's just all so sad. Sometimes I fear the country my g'kids are going to grow up in. Love your story. I think we all had a member of the family who either lived in the looney bin or needed too. Maybe they were the lucky ones. Sorry about the snow. Better you then us -- it will melt faster there. Jan

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  18. TgoetteJanuary 9, 2011 at 5:58 PM

    First, thoughts and prayers to all affected by the shootings in your state, Jen. I am saddened and angry by such a senseless tragedy. I fear it's just the tip of the iceberg until we can stop all the hate speech, lies and paranoia being spread to the witless public by the right.

    As for your story I thought it was awesome. It reminded me that my mom told me when she was young she saw a flying horse. But I guess she was good with the children so they didn't drop her in the booby hatch.

    I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree after all.

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  19. DebJanuary 9, 2011 at 6:01 PM

    I thought of you when I heard about the tradegy....such a terrible thing...

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  20. BookieJanuary 9, 2011 at 6:17 PM

    The older I get the more of these "gulp" Moments I have! You captured the pause well!

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  21. AmyJanuary 9, 2011 at 7:14 PM

    Oh you poor dear! How on earth are you surviving the cold? I hope you have a blazing fire, and seven or eight blankets piled around you with a mug of hot hot cocoa! Makes you wonder if your aunt Myrna was telling the truth now, doesn't it?

    Jesting aside, my heart breaks for your state and the horrible act of violence experienced! It makes me sick that people could be so close minded and have such an agenda to go about "proving" their points. What is the world coming to?

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  22. Red Couch RecipesJanuary 9, 2011 at 8:47 PM

    Jenny, will your oranges make it? What a tragedy for all involved! Joni

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  23. UnknownJanuary 10, 2011 at 1:45 AM

    What happened? My comment disappeared.

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  24. UnknownJanuary 10, 2011 at 2:09 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  25. UnknownJanuary 10, 2011 at 2:11 AM

    Now I will try to re-construct my lost comment here:

    Dear Jenny;
    I went to Judie's blog first to read about the terrible tragedy in your home state. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.

    And now to your wonderful SC-text:

    I am familar with similar situations and institutions that you discribe in your text.
    My paternal grandmother was placed in an old age home in upstate New York because of her senility. It was as if the content of her personality dropped out and there was only a shell left. One of the last times I saw her she could still speak, but she would repeat the same lines as many as 20 times, because her short-term-memory was not working. She would say something like:

    "Aren't we having a good time together. But isn't it too bad that Lloyd and Birgitta [my parents] aren't with us."

    Then, my father, with an angels patience, would answer: "But mother, we're here."

    To which she would laugh at her own mistake. A short time would pass and she would repeat the same phrases. But my dear father would reply just as kindly as he did the first time, because he did not want to make her sad, even though he knew that she would forget that we had been there, as soon as we had left.

    My father had worked as an orderly at a mental hospital as an extra job when he studied at Columbia University.

    My parents later moved my grandmother to a nursing home a couple of blocks from their house, and could visit her daily.

    You have written a light-hearted and warm text about Aunt Myrna. I just love it. It's perfect for the photo.
    Hugs,
    Anna
    For the benefit of other readers:
    Anna's SC#36

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  26. *January 10, 2011 at 10:14 AM

    Looks beautiful covered by all that snow, but I do wonder how they will survive.

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  27. Susan AndersonJanuary 10, 2011 at 11:06 AM

    Oh Jenny. You are so clever. I needed this today.

    =)

    PS. I am really disturbed about the tragedy in Tucson. Todd works at the U of A cancer center parallel and across the street from that strip mall. He has been giving me daily reports of all the chaos and confusion. It is such a sad situation.

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  28. Susan AndersonJanuary 10, 2011 at 11:07 AM

    PS. Also love the double meaning in your title.

    =)

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  29. BonnieJanuary 11, 2011 at 6:34 PM

    So clever as always... I really have been considering joining in on Saturday Centus.

    It is very sad what happened in your beautiful state. Such a needless tragedy.Sorry it happened so close to home for you.

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  30. gautami tripathyJanuary 13, 2011 at 7:45 AM

    Such tragedy...

    We all need to rethink where the world is heading...

    destined destination

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Hi! Thanks for leaving a comment! My handy dandy e-mail assistant always notifies me when you do and I read every single one.

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Thanks so much for reading my 'Tangents'! Your comments always feel like a hug!

Jenny Matlock