Writing 101- Day One: “Unlock the Mind”

Day One – Unlock the Mind:

* Today’s Prompt:   To get started, let’s loosen up. Let’s unlock the mind. Today, take twenty minutes to free write. And don’t think about what you’ll write. Just write. 

* Today’s Twist:  Publish this stream-of-consciousness post on your blog.

This is my first entry for Blogging University: Writing 101. Even though I’ve been blogging for three years or so, I know that I’ve still got a lot to learn, and I’m always looking for ways in which I can improve my writing. I’m really looking forward to this workshop and hope to gain valuable insights from it, and at the same time from new friendships. I think it may prove to be an exciting month! So here goes . . .

Today is Monday, the day after Easter. It’s rainy and gloomy outside, which seems appropriate because it matches my mood. I feel a bit blue today because yesterday we said goodbye to our youngest daughter Stephanie as she left for Wisconsin to return to college after her spring break. I’m always sad when she has to go back to school. It’s not because I’m not used to having an empty nest; after all, my husband and I have been empty-nesters for the past six years. No. The reason I’m sad is because the past week has been so lovely spending quality mother-daughter time with her – chatting about all those things that mothers and daughters do and just being together that I simply didn’t want it to end. Even my toy poodle Lucy is moping about the house today. She always does the first couple days after Stephanie leaves. The last time Stephanie returned to school, I even caught my little dog lying down in front of my daughter’s closed bedroom door, as if waiting for her to emerge at any moment. But I know that we’ll start feeling better towards the end of the week, once we get back into our normal routine once again.

On the brighter side of life, on Thursday I’m having cataract surgery performed on my right eye, which I’m very excited about. Two weeks ago I had the same surgery performed on my left eye, and I felt as though a miracle had occurred. You see, I’ve been wearing glasses from the time I was five and my vision has become progressively worse ever since. As a matter of fact, upon waking and before even getting out of bed, I’d reach for my glasses because I couldn’t see a thing without them. But when I had the surgery done and they placed a temporary contact lens in my other eye, I didn’t need my glasses anymore, and it seemed like a miracle to me. Now my vision is even better than when I had glasses. Things are clearer, crisper, and brighter. I can see the first thing when I wake in the morning, I can see while taking a shower, I can see while walking in the rain and not having raindrops splash my lenses – all those little things that people who don’t have glasses take for granted. It’s just been wonderful! And I can hardly wait to have my other eye done and throw away my glasses for good!

Now, isn’t that funny? As I’m looking out my window, I can see the sun beginning to peek through the clouds. Maybe it won’t be such a bad day after all . . .