God Bless Those Who Serve

It is Memorial Day God bless you for your service and to those whom have served. To those who have given their lives for the battle for freedom this is your day. Honor is yours. The price you paid is priceless. Your life for freedom.
All those who have served know what a person gives up. It is a hard price. Voluntarily give up your rights so that others have theirs. The family knows this as well. You must go when called. No Questions.  You are the military's. What ever branch is does not matter. We all fight for the same team. The USA.
I served in the Navy 1987-1991. Honorably discharged. Involved in Operation Praying Mantis April !988 Persian Gulf on USS Jack Williams FFG-24. I was TAD to that ship. My permanent ship USS Luce DDG-38. Spent time in the Caribbean, Atlantic, Mediterranean and even the Pacific. Been through both canals, Panama and Suez.
The price paid cannot be overstated. A human life for other lives even when you don't know the people you serve for. Doing the things one is trained to do. Combat is not easy. Tough on the mind, the soul and the body. The memories that come passing through. Unannounced or even invited they are tough to handle, both good and bad. The friends made and the ones lost these are nuggets in one's life.
From the Revolutionary War to the present, either in the Persian Gulf or Afghanistan you are remembered. You are thanked and honored all around this great nation of ours.
For those who lost their life may you be in paradise. I hope that you are enjoying your mansion. Wearing either a robe or garment may you be there. God Bless you.

Thank you Active and Veterans for your service,

From a Veteran.

Hidden

Looking around, he stood frozen in place, fear gripping him, in response to the rustling noise. Back behind him amidst the scrub the noise continued. It seemed to him that it was staying in place for its volume was unchanged. Standing in a forest, just off the main path. Brought here by an impulse, no that's not it. I was standing... How did I... I was brought here. By whom? Now standing still like a statue he scanned the forest floor looking and listening for any indication to what it might be.

Another sound, this time he notices the scrub of to his right moves slightly like a gentle breeze blowing just over its top. Our hero takes a step in the direction of the movement, stops, listens. Nothing. Taking a few more steps, still nothing. Continuing on he notices what appears to be a clearing. As he reaches the bushes standing waist high he sees a circular clearing and what seems to be a cauldron. Looking around for signs of life he sees two paths heading away. This cauldron is forest green in color, covering the clearing without encroaching on the nearby scrubs. This is out of place. No leprechauns around. No gold inside the pot. This forest is immaculate and why would this be here. For a note, having difficulty understanding this.

Walking around the object of desire, nothing under or connected to it. Turning his attention to above, the forests ceiling searching for clues. It contains no hints, only revealing the sun peaking through openings like the holes in a torn up umbrella. One interesting aspect there is no moss growing in this forest. The coolness and dampness blanket this place, yet no moss. Strange. Upon further inspection the immaculate nature contained within punctuates this forest. Appears that someone takes great pride in their domain. The pathways appear groomed as if swept, maybe on a daily basis. The scrubs seem trimmed, uniformly manicured. All this strikes him as being odd. Is magic at play here; or is a groundskeeper involved. And what is the cauldron doing here. A possible trap. Or is fortune smiling down on him.

Still mulling over these questions he walks up pausing after a few steps, still nothing. Continues on slow and steady. Reaching the black pot looking left, than right, clear. Leaning over, he looks over the cauldron's rim. Quickly moves back and glances nothing. Taking a breath, not traps were triggered. Chancing a closer examination, he notices folded paper. Bending over further into the pot he grabs his fortune. Standing up holding up before him unfolding the paper, its a note. Suddenly lowering his discovery, looking around the forest, scanning for any sudden intruders, appears empty. Raising up the note to read. Written in bold black ink are two words. Unfortunately it is in a language unknown to him. Could it be an ancient language. Stymied he thinks what gives. One step forward two steps back. When will a break come my way. Folding up the note, tucking it away in the back pocket of his jeans.

Nest to the cauldron his attention turned to the paths laid out before him. One path going right and the other left. The paths were narrower than the main path he arrived on. Still they were neat and well defined. He studies them puzzling through this dilemma. Which way and why? Stating the obvious they wound through the forest in opposite directions. Nothing appears different about either path. Both are narrow. And both lead deeper into the woods.

This is an excerpt from a WIP

Any suggestions? Any opinions? Anything...

Writer's Doubt

I am participating in a Writing Contest: Overcoming Writer's Doubt held by Positive Writer
http://positivewriter.com/writing-contest-doubt/

You see I am new to this arena. This playground know as writing. So writers doubt hits and hits me hard. Doubt affects me each time I sit down to write. As if it were my best friend. Knock, Knock...who's there...Doubt. I mean really. I knew this was going to be hard, but c'mon give me a break.

It causes me to just sit there and stare. Anxious. Frozen. An alliances found but not wanted. As if my mind has left the building. I hear the echo between my ears as the wind blows. Minutes go by. Nothing. Its like walking into the grocery store to get a few items only when stepping through the sliding doors, my mind wiped clean. I handled combat in the Persian Gulf better than this. Missiles flying everywhere as if it were the 4^th July, guys moving about as if their head was cutoff and I maintaining the ships position. But this is on a whole other level. Like addressing a golf ball for the first time, not a positive thought to be found. Nothing to lean on. No reinforcement or visual cues. Just Me and doubt. Crap.

Oh the impending doom that sets in when staring at the white characters imprinted on black squared buttons. Cryptonite. Everything goes blank. Dexterity in my fingers out the window. I feel the short circuiting of my mind. Almost feel the heat and smoke rising. It is as if all abilities to function gone. Alien abduction. Then the rhetoric kicks in. You think you can write. This is not the gift you were given. You can't tell stories. Who are you kidding. And on and on it goes. Each time I sit down this is the ritual. Panic. Funny, when I am away these mini dialogues take place easily. Flowing like I have been doing this for years. Unfortunately, I don't write these down often enough. My thoughts are at least write some of these down it will affect frequency, if not intensity.

In the past just I would have these inner dialogues, mini clips and do nothing with them. Not recognizing the call of an undiscovered gift. It has be ringing for years. Just haven't been answering. This is my confidence, knowing that its call has happened. A gift lies within. The gift desires to entice me, inviting me to sit down, take up pen and write. These are the very tools I keep telling myself are the weapons of victory over my foe, doubt. Failure is apart of the game. A piece of advice I was given for golf to aid my quest.. You are going to hit ten bad shots during the round. It is not a question of if they come for they will-- it is how you recover. What you do with it. That's the difference maker.

Thank God for writing prompts.

These precious weapons forged of pure gold. Better than a sword. Manna from heaven. These put me on a course of relaxed thought. Fluid. Peace. Letting the mind go, giving the heart the wheel. It has given me a WIP. About 7500 words worth from one prompt. I was blown away. Pretty cool.

So doubt will come. My adventure is seeing to its demise. When it comes, overcome it. Teach it this is not its domain. To beat it, knock it down and around sending it hobbling down the road. Bye, Bye, baby. At least that is the theory.

Foundations

As previously stated this is a new adventure. If you have stopped by, maybe something that I manage to place on paper will aid you on your own journey, overcoming your own phantoms pressing in with their distraction tactics.
I have set into motion a daily habit of writing. Figuring a foundation of good habits is vital.
Seeking to learn the craft and develop beyond my imagination. Practice, practice and more practice. Whether it is in a journal, a blog or writing works through daily prompts. Side note these I have found priceless. Taking the pressure off and letting creativity have its course. Prompts are a remarkable adventure. Back on point, Just write however, whenever just do it.
I have had to fight those unwanted darts on my mind. Those assailants to damage my progress. Hindering productivity.Thoughts of doubt. Desiring to bring fear. A paralyzing antagonist.
By shear faith I rebel against its torment. Its tutoring shall have no say. I follow the writing on the wall. Revealing to me this is the course, my direction to pursue. Live it. Breathe it. Write!
Anchoring my heart to this prompting from within. My course is set.
Now, I have a lot of learning before me. Character development, theme, setting, plot, etc. The one item I need to tackle is brainstorming. Instead of sitting down and typing letting things go where they will. A plan is necessary. Something to guide my steps. Priceless!
Anyone with suggestions, tips, inquiry's, please do leave them.
Unfortunately this is short, for my day has its tasks.

Let your light shine. Seek it. Find it. Hold it out before you, guiding, prompting and leading you forward. Placing you upon destiny's path. Good Day!

First Steps

                                                      First Steps

This is exciting, nerve racking...ahhh! Now that that is out of the way here i go. This is the my first post. A little overwhelming, to say the least.

I have seen the writing on the wall. It took awhile. A lot of ignoring its call. Trying to look in places that revealed... not a thing, except folly and a lot of wasted time! Trying to come up with my own ideas as to how life ought to play out!
 I was fooling myself and have learned the lessons accompanying these missteps.
Answering the call i have chosen. Placing myself at the mercy of words. Setting out to write, what that will lead to I really do not know. I begin with the steps of writing on a daily basis. Fiction is what i aim at. Writing is the game i seek to play. Plenty of ideas to put on paper. Just gotta do it and not worry about my level of talent.
Having looked back since setting out on this path i have noticed all the ideas or clips and images I have let fall like setting them down on quicksand. Bright idea, right. I don't think so either.
All that said,i set out to paint the picture of what I have forsaken. I am not beating myself up or pondering on regret, but to reassure myself that this was and is the direction in which to move. Step by step I will climb.
Wide open is the horizon. Full of wonder and potential. Daunting, but not overwhelming. Not letting it become to big because to travel down that road is trouble. Full of bumps, holes, detours and construction I would become paralyzed. Just do it comes to mind and so I will. The world is a blank page. With sweat, rusty typing fingers and plenty of curiosity let the journey begin.
I know this is short but the days tasks must be done. Such is the story of life.

Understanding that the need for like minds i search out the advice and dare I say potential criticism needed to propel me forward. Also for bloggers to bounce ideas off of with.

As the light sets its sights upon promptong you to follow, do it whatever way you can. Shine and brighten as you walk your path.