I’m not interested in any alternate career paths anymore. I’ve retreated from what I was doing and now I’m happy doing what I love best and that is writing and enjoying my free time.
There was a time when I wanted to travel the world as a travel reporter but then came my other career path which led to different parts of the world. I love being a homebody now.
Career paths are complicated as my son is finding out now. He is at the beginning of his career path and it is a difficult adjustment. He doesn’t know which path or rather job will take him on the right path to success. I was there once and I get him totally. Sometimes it is trial and error and sometimes it takes a narrow-minded focus. Sometimes a little bit of luck helps too. Whatever path he chooses, I know that he will find his way as I did.
As to your question, I’m not interested in anything right now. Oh wait a minute, best-selling author might be one! I don’t see a chance of that happening so again “none whatsover.”
Daily writing prompt
What alternative career paths have you considered or are interested in?
I was introduced to this dish by the friend who passed away. It was my first invite to his place for dinner and he came up with a winner! I recall the house was filled with the aroma of something fantastic being prepared in the kitchen and it didn’t disappoint. Food was delicious and finger-licking good!
He made this dish that I had never had before. It was called Cataplana, a Portugese dish from the Algarve region. This seafood stew is made with mussels, fish, potatoes, sausage, saffron, smoked paprika, vegetables, spices and white wine. It is accompanied with bread and I think we had garlic bread with it.
The stew is similar to bouillabaisse or cioppino but healthier because the recipe uses less fat and has fewer calories.
He is gone now, the friend, but I do make it on special occasions. Not that often because it takes work to prepare the meal and I don’t like spending too much time in the kitchen anymore. However, when I do, I find that I have perfected the recipe and although I don’t cook it in a traditional cataplana, it still turns out delicious. What is a cataplana? It is a cooking vessel made out of copper or aluminium and shaped like two clamshells hinged at one end so that it functions like a pressure cooker.
It was a memorable meal when I first had it and it still brings back memories when I make it or try to replicate it at home.
The murder of George Floyd by a police officer brought widespread protests not only back home but globally, which in turn called for police reform and accountability where police brutality and racial injustice was concerned. Its historical significance came when Derek Chauvin, the police officer responsible for the murder was convicted and sent to prison. It also put a spotlight on systemic racism and racial inequality. Before that landmark case, it was rare “that police officers in the US are charged, let alone convicted for use of lethal force.”
George Floyd, an African-American, died after being arrested by police outside a shop in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25, 2020. The video footage that went viral showed Floyd being pinned to the ground by Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, kneeling on Mr. Floyd’s neck. Bodycam footage showed Mr. Floyd saying he couldn’t breathe more than 20 times but to no avail. Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than 9 minutes and Floyd was heard further saying:
“You’re going to kill me, man.”
Chauvin: ” Then stop talking, stop yelling. It takes heck of a lot of oxygen to talk.”
Mr. Floyd: “Can’t believe this, man. Mom, love. Love you. Tell my kids I love them. I’m dead.”
Six minutes after that, Floyd is non-responsive and pronounced dead an hour later.
Derek Chauvin was convicted of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. The verdict put the spotlight on police and their policing practices where people of color were concerned and it also showed “that police officers are not above the law.”
According to the NY Times, “despite the largest racial justice protests since the civil rights era of the 1960s and a wave of measures to improve training and hold officers more accountable, the number of people killed by the police continues to rise each year, and Black Americans still die in disproportionate numbers.”
Racism, systemic racism, police brutality and the murder of black men still continues. Hate finds a way to survive and in today’s climate of fascism on the rise, we’ll see more of the same all done in the name of progress or “hate” masquerading as justice.
Derek Chauvin is still in prison serving his concurrent federal and state sentences for the murder of George Floyd. He is projected to be released in 2037 for his federal conviction and 2035 for his state conviction.
George Floyd, however, will never see the light of day again. He is now a card-carrying member of the “killed by the police” club. The others were Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, who was 12 when he was shot by a police officer, Walter Scott, Alton Sterling and the list goes on…..
I’ve written about every one of these men and many more.
Major historical events? I would say those killings were major events, wouldn’t you?
I’m not a risk-taker and never have been. I weigh all the options before I venture out on something and it is never a spontaneous decision. When I was younger I got pulled into some dangerous situations never of my own making. Fortunately, it turned out for the best and I came out of it unscathed.
To answer your question, what’s the biggest risk you’d like to take? I would say, if possible, is to pack a small bag and head out to parts unknown! Perhaps, a lonely cabin somewhere surrounded by nature and nothing else. Or a small beach house by the ocean where I can go for long walks or just sit on the beach and let the day go to pieces. I would like to watch the sunset and stay till the stars come out with no fear whatsoever. Not there is a chance of that happening because, I’m not that type. The “throw caution to the wind” type. Everything is done with careful thought so I don’t see that ever happening.
It’ll stay somewhere in my mind added to all those unfulfilled wishes still waiting to happen!
Daily writing prompt
What’s the biggest risk you’d like to take — but haven’t been able to?
There are many achievements that I am proud of. If I had to choose one, I would say it is connected with writing.
I’ve always had a love affair with writing. It started early and by 15, I had a short story published in a major women’s magazine that made cover story. That was enough to make me walk on Cloud 9! Then followed a few more short stories all making me think that I had a talent for writing. Not everyone who writes is a writer and neither is it easy to get things published. Most times, they wind up in the dustbin or rubbish bin and never make it to the editorial desk. I was lucky that my stories did.
Later on in life, I tried my hand in the political arena. Many articles were published and I played along with the big guns. I won’t mention who they were but let’s just say, they were big enough to get world attention. I was proud of that achievement. However, I got tired of that and moved on.
Then came my stint as a Fashion Editor and it put me front and center with the beautiful people. Supermodels, actors, fashion designers and so on…. It was great at first, I loved the hustle and bustle of moving with a different circle, but again it got tiring after a while.
My current achievement that I am proud of is the children’s book. It took a long time to finish the project and I’m proud that it’s out there. I don’t know if it will make it but I guess most writers don’t care about fame and fortune. We love seeing our work in print, at least that’s how it is for me. If I get a compliment, it makes it all the better but for now, I love seeing my work out there!
My biggest project that I have been working on is myself. There are things I see that needs to be changed so that is a priority as far as I am concerned. It is a long and slow process but I am seeing progress so that is a good thing.
The other thing I have been working on is to reduce clutter both emotional clutter and the other kind that clutters up your living space. I don’t think that I’m a person who just collects things for the sake of collecting but I do see a pattern where clothes and shoes are concerned. Even though I go with the bare minimum where clothes are concerned, my usual and daily attire being sweatpants and sweatshirts, I do have lots of stuff of the other kind of the more dressy variety. And I keep buying whenever I see something nice. I have to STOP buying, get rid of what I don’t use and to keep things from taking over my living space! Emotional clutter is another thing altogether. I have plenty and even though I’m decluttering and letting go of things that no longer serve me, there is still enough that bugs me. A work in progress as well.
Finally, I have two book projects that I’m working on. A sequel to my first book and a novel. The sequel is finished but the novel is a headache and a half! I’ve lost the thread so I’m letting it sit for awhile. Who knows I’ll get a genius streak and I can see the ending from here!
Those are the things I’m working on. Enough don’t you think?
Here we go again. Haven’t I put enough out there already? Okay, I’ll try to answer this one to the best of my ability without giving too much away.
I was always shy but there was a time in my life when I loved spending time alone just as I’m doing as a self-proclaimed recluse with my life right now. However, my “introvert” phase was an excruciating time. It didn’t matter how many compliments I got and how many times I got asked out, inside I WAS NOT ENOUGH! That was my opinion of myself but it mattered because that opinion dictated how I lived my life. That period in my life stayed for a long time until one day I broke out of that cocoon and like that butterfly I began to spread my wings and then there was no stopping the little “field mouse” who was now ready to fly.
Suddenly, I was oozing with confidence and there was no going back to that shy girl period ever again. I was lucky because most introverts have a hard time breaking out of that mold. I am still the quiet person but I don’t shy away from speaking my mind and neither do I feel inadequate. I know that I am ENOUGH!
Daily writing prompt
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
How did it make me feel? I can’t say for sure because I was happy when I started to take it easy and not do anything of importance or one that would require too much brain power. The output would be very little and I thought I would be feeling good by the end of the day. Guess again!
By the end of the day, I was feeling more frazzled and very anxious. It seems having nothing much to do makes me feel that way. Truth be told, it wasn’t just a day with nothing to do. I did my daily walk in nature and that was fantastic as usual. I walked home looking forward to another cup of coffee and than DOING NOTHING! “Not that quick” said life. The phone kept ringing, then I had mail that needed to be taken care of and a date if I wanted it. Got your attention? Yes, a date. It was the cheesecake guy. I hadn’t heard from him in ages and thought it was water under the bridge. To tell you the truth, I was glad that we didn’t have to do the relationship dance anymore. Chachi, the cat, was glad too. He never liked him. Anyway, he was on the other end saying he wanted to meet, just for coffee and a chat. I thought why not. I agreed to a date and time. Getting off the phone, I felt agitated. Dates make me feel that way!
I decided my mind needed something to keep it occupied. This “doing nothing” was getting on my nerves! I looked at my other projects, a sequel to “The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie.” It is finished and has been accepted but I thought it needed brushing up so I pulled out the manuscript and went to work. Chachi plays the lead role in that one and he does a mighty fine job. I got bored after a while and looked at my other project, a novel that spans three generations. Whoa! Yes, right. It is a huge project, 362 pages done and I am lost. Not sure how to proceed. Bah hambug!
What am I doing? It was supposed to be a lazy day. So I put my feet up, cuddled with my little guy and was feeling rested until my ex showed up. We talked for a while but I could feel something coming to the surface. It wasn’t good. I cut the conversation short and sent him on his way. It was downhill from there. My lazy day was nowhere to be seen and I had to keep moving to keep my mind from going to places I didn’t want it to go!
So do lazy days make me feel rested or unproductive. I can’t answer that question because I don’t think I have had one so far!
Daily writing prompt
Do lazy days make you feel rested or unproductive?
She is a British-American fashion icon who served as the editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine for 37 years. Dame Anna Wintour worked her way up the ladder from humble beginnings to one of the most influential figures in the fashion industry.
Her no-nonsense attitude and with her iconic pageboy haircut, the lady demonstrated that doing things her own way is not a bad thing after all. She began her career in the fashion department of Harper’s & Queen in London. In 1976, she took over as fashion editor at Harper’s Bazaar. From there, the world was her oyster as the saying goes. In 1986, Wintour returned to London as Chief editor of British Vogue.
“I want Vogue to be pacy, sharp, and sexy. I’m not interested in the super-rich or infinitely leisured. I want our readers to be energetic, executive women, with money of their own and a wide range of interests.”
Her style of management was often critiqued which in turn earned her nicknames such as, “Nuclear Wintour” and “Wintour of Our Discontent.”
Did that stop the one-woman force named Anna Wintour? Not one little bit. In 1980, Wintour was named editor-in-chief of Vogue. During her three-decade reign, she restored the magazine’s clout and produced some mammoth issues.
Wintour stepped down after 37 years at the helm but during that time it never stopped her from speaking her mind, her restless drive or her no-nonsense approach.
At a time when criticism was and is the norm where the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, is concerned, Anna Wintour chose to go against the grain. At the Paris Fashion Week, she delivered this compliment to Meghan who was dressed in an all-white ensemble by Balenciaga.
Ms. Wintour: “How are you?”
Meghan: “Nice to see you.”
After exchanging a kiss on the cheek, Anna looks at Meghan’s outfit and says,
“Beautiful cherie. You look amazing.”
That was the nail on every critic’s coffin that rang around the world. The top person of the fashion world had spoken and so it was.
To drive the nail further in the coffin, “Vogue recently featured Meghan Markle on its best-dressed list” for her appearance at the Balenciaga show during Paris Fashion week in October 2025.
Anna Wintour was and still is a force to be reckoned with.
Daily writing prompt
When you think of the word “successful,” who’s the first person that comes to mind and why?
Someone who is quiet, helpful, stays in their lane and is not a gossip monger. Those are some characteristics that I find necessary to being a good neighbor.
People around here usually keep to themselves but gossiping is a necessary evil in this village. What starts out as a small piece of gossip gets shredded and passed around until it comes out on the other end as something big and hard to believe or digest! I think it stamps from people not having much to do. Most are old and the only thing they have got going is keeping up with their husbands, household chores and gardening. Lest I forget, their window seat is their best friend! Nothing gets past the womenfolk here.
That said, there are those who are very helpful and caring. My neighbor across the street calls when she notices that I had left my garage door open. I have a tendency to forget and when the phone rings and I hear her voice, I know it is the friendly neighborhood watch person reminding me to shut the garage door! Then there is the one who brings me a jar of homemade jam made from the harvest of fruits in her garden. I find that to be very sweet. The gesture is often returned. Today, I gave away the ripe figs from my garden and she asked, “Would you like some apples?” I pointed to my apple tree and said, “I’m trying to do the same!”
I am lucky to have some good neighbors. Most are quiet and noise is not something I have to worry about. Most days, it is extremely quiet and I love it that way. I think I am a good neighbor. I’m helpful, friendly, and I make it a point to bring a bouquet or two of flowers to some of the women around here. It is well received and I’m rewarded with a great big smile!
It works both ways. It’s a give and take sort of thing. If you want a good neighbor, you have to start being a good one yourself. All I can say is that I have good neighbors and I am thankful for the peace and serenity that surrounds this place that I call home.
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