Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Today is the 24th of December in the year 2016.
I want to wish everyone the best holiday season and a Happy New Year.

As we are about to start a new year, I just wanted to give a little message of encouragement.  For those who know me personally, will know that I love making New Year's resolutions.  A favorite of mine is quitting soda.  I made it all the way to August in 2016!
For 2017, I'm still debating with myself on what I'm going to try changing and improving on.  Primarily the focus will be on writing and how I can get myself noticed and accepted by a good publishing company.  Other areas I might make some resolutions on will be physical, spiritual, and mental. (Coving all the bases, so to speak)
The wonderful thing about the New Year is the start over.  Of course anyone can make changes at anytime during the year, but there is something special about starting out fresh on the first of January.  Maybe it is the artist side, but I tend to get sentimental during this time.  I look back on the year, whether it played out good or bad.  It gives me the proper perspective as I look ahead.
So if you stay awake on the 31st to ring in the new year or decided to get a good night rest for the first day of 2017, think back on the past year and be excited on all the possibilities the future brings.
Thank you for reading!

-beck

Suddenly Feels Write

Posted: December 23, 2016

I have just completed my work year.  After saying my goodbyes and wishing my coworkers much love as we part for the close of 2016, I feel a surge of emotions.
On my drive home I thought of many things.  I thought of my work.
I realized that while I enjoy my factory very much, (It has a calming effect.  Repeating the same motions over and over allows me to clear my head and explore my creativity.) I am beginning to see myself in a different light.  Suddenly I realize my mind's eye is slowly changing.  The more I write, and the more I develop my stories, my self perspective is shifting.
Six months ago, if someone came up to me asking what I did for a living, I would have described my work at the factory, rather proudly.  Presently if asked, I would tell them I was a writer.
Before I might have been ashamed to say this, mainly from the fact that I have not published any work.  This brought a little embarrassment.
But I am proud now.  So what if I haven't published.  I can keep carrying on.  Edison did not invent the light bulb on the first try.  Why give up, why be ashamed?  An inventor is a good example, because they will try over and over at many failed attempts.  Still they call themselves inventors.
There is nothing wrong with being creative and having nothing to show for it.  If it is your job, keep plugging away at it.  If the talent is there, and should be utilized.  Many great writers never even published or received recognition for their work while they were alive.
If I desire recognition for work that is complete... well then I would have poor work indeed.  I'm not going to rush this.  I will write right, and in my own time.
This year is coming to an end.  A year very hard on many.  I will always remember 2016 as difficult, but also enlightening.  I started up my writing career, I'm learning many things, and I have a great desire to keep it going.
Thank you to all of my readers.  I could not do this without you.  Now that I consider myself a writer, I will continue to hone my skills.  I plan on staying around for quite a while.

A Bit of Unfair Luck - Part III

Posted: December 21, 2016

Jo held her breath for a moment and stood rooted to her spot, uncertain of the next move.  She needed to be careful.  Social interaction, her least favorite part of life, was needed from here on out.  Jo knew this.

This stranger, who was sweating from his vigorous efforts, completely ignored her presence.  He wore a black shirt, which matched his black hair.  His face already forgotten, Jo studied the back of his head looking for clues on how to engage this distracted man.

On and on he swung the ax, until he finally achieved his goal.  The seat broke from the back, and released the belt, which had been holding a small passenger.

Luckily the dark axman spoke first.  He stated between breaths, “Come over here, and grab this kid.”

Jo pushed her brow down in confusion.  Out of curiosity, she moved without hesitation to see what he meant.  Sure enough, there on the seat sat a small boy.  His head hung down without any support.  Jo gasped in shock, thinking him dead.

“Are you strong enough to lift him?”

Jo nodded her head without a thought as she stared at the child.

The axman answered her nod, “Good, watch his head and take him over to that row, by the boxes.”

“What?” Jo whispered.

Her eyes followed the direction his arm gave towards a row of bodies that were lined down the beach.  Another shock hit her as she roughly counted nine or ten people laying side by side on the sand.  Unsure of the situation a hundred questions grew in her mind.  She wondered why she did not notice them before.  Maybe she blocked them out, unable to face the reality.

The axman must have read her face.  He answered her unspoken questions quickly, “We have to move fast.  There are still others.  Surprisingly some are alive.  A lot I guess are dead too.  I need your help.  The boxes over there I found…. they have medical stuff in them.  I don’t know how to use them.  Maybe you do.  I’m sure you can find something to help them.  I’m going to keep looking for more people, I’ll call you when I’m ready for you to help me.  Now take him, and figure out things over there.  Can you do that?”

Jo listened to his commands.  She nodded again, just to get him away from her.  In her heart, Jo wanted to run away, but in her mind, she knew she must join this stranger and become a hero.

-Beck

https://www.facebook.com/suzannebeckintheopen/

Flying

Posted: December 7, 2016

Flying

Have you ever wished to fly

Way up in that clear blue sky

See your feet rise off the floor

Spread your wings and start to soar

Wishing that you would never leave

Flying past the tall green trees

High above the clouds you'll go

Over mountains topped with snow

Never seen a moon so bright

As you fly in the night

Never have you gone so far

In the sky of shooting stars

-beck

A Bit of Unfair Luck - Part II

Posted: December 6, 2016

 

Jo assumed no one else survived.  She stayed awake most of the night, in hopes of rescue, and heard nothing from the wreckage.  The noise coming from the torn-up carcass gave hope.  No longer alone to face the future, she felt her reality beginning to hit.

Tears rolled down her bruised cheek.  Along with the heat of the sun, Jo felt hot all over.  The experience of the crash replayed in her head for the first time since it happened.  She brushed the horrid visual pictures aside.

The other human life needed help.

As she stumbled to stand she crushed the little castles she thoughtlessly molded.  Jo pushed down on her stomach, as she walked though bits and pieces of debris.  The tolerable pain was a small testament.  Jo knew her luck.

The banging grew louder the closer she arrived.  Her heart beat nervously.  An infinite amount of possibilities played in her head.  As a natural worrier, she always ended up using her wild imagination for the worst.

What if they are missing a leg?  What if they are crushed and I have to watch them die?  Why are they now making noise?  Who could it be?  I pray it isn’t a child.  I remember seeing a kid or two on the plane.  I can’t think of it.  I just need to get to them.  Help if I can.

Her thoughts trailed off.  She spoke aloud, “Hello?  Where are you?  I’m here.  Hello?”

The response surprised her.  Nothing.  The banging stopped abruptly.

Jo, not wanting to get to close, closed her eyes.  Some dead passengers remained strapped in their seats.  A couple empty seats tore out of the cabin and scattered around the beach along with other parts of the plane.  Their passengers gone, quite possibly out into the ocean.  The thought gave her chills up and down her back.

About to call out, the banging started up again.  This allowed her to pinpoint the source.  She determined the noise came from the other side of the fallen aircraft.  She reluctantly made the decision to pass through the wreckage for a quicker route.  To walk around the entire plane would take several minutes.  She picked the least morbid path and proceed carefully, hoping not to see or touch anything that would push her into shock.

After some rough climbing and a few misplaced steps, she successfully planted her feet back down onto the sand.  It seemed colder on this side.  The sun slipped behind some clouds for cover.

About 40 feet away, a man stood looking at her.  After a few seconds, he returned to his work.  He used the ax he held to slice through the air and into the back of a passenger seat.

-Beck

https://www.facebook.com/suzannebeckintheopen/

Salvation

Posted: December 5, 2016

Salvation

Beyond the mountains, beyond the trees,

Beyond the clouds, Where there is no breeze.

I go to find myself

Instead I find my needed help

To God's open arms I go

He shows me all I need to know

About my sins and evil deed

I ask for forgiveness with earnest plead.

To know I failed the Lord of all

With regretful heart to my knees I fall

"Lord, all my life I was a waste.

How can I make up for my mistakes?"

"Because of all the sin you've done

I will have to send my Son.

'It is finished' He will say

On that sad and gloomy day

When He gives His life for you

All of prophesy will come true

My only Son laid down His life

So that sinners could be freed from strife

Now all you must do is except my gift

And pray that all your sins I'll lift

Upon the tree I'll lay your wrongs

Then all the angels will join in songs"

"How I love my Lord above

That he would give me His great love

Now I've got a home in glory

So I must go and tell the Story"

A Bit of Unfair Luck - Part I

Posted: December 5, 2016

A Bit of Unfair Luck

Week One:

The sun soaked into her skin as Jo rested on the sand.  Peace came to her soul in that moment and she felt a silence deep inside, all the while, ocean water crashed up onto the shore.  She found paradise.  About two hundred yards away chaos and destruction lay from the day before.

The plane crash occurred around 2:05 pm on Saturday.  Today Jo would have known it to be 3:30 pm, Sunday.  Time, an inconsequential factor, did not matter now.

She took a breath.  The ocean breeze blew into her nostrils and told her promises of safety.  For now, she felt calm.  For now, she felt relaxed.

Jo loved the shore.  Memories from her childhood revisited her mind.  She thought of her grandfather and her mother.  Often her guardians from long ago brought her to where the water meets the land.

She hummed a tune she remembered her grandfather whistling, as she pushed together small mounds of sand, making pitiful castles.

A sound from the wreck, caused Jo to turn her head up.

-Beck

https://www.facebook.com/suzannebeckintheopen/