That Place You Love: Real People. Real Stories.
Round-Up on Surprise; Next-Up Symbols. Opportunity to post on earlier themes!
Week one of the final stretch of 2023 TPYL!
I founded That Place You Love with the goal to publish a short, true story (‘micro-memoir’ or ‘flash nonfiction’) every week.
I didn’t consider the significance of telling 52 stories in my 52nd year of life, but…
I love serendipity!
The co-goal of TPYL was to create a platform of storytelling exchange.
I tell you mine; you tell me (us) yours.
After a few weeks, I realized I wanted to take this irreverent approach to storytelling into a Zine format to share Contributor stories beyond Substack.
The plan was to publish an Anthology every four months, but that didn’t feel right as May/June passed by.
New Contributors were going back to earlier themes to share stories.
I didn’t want to cut off creativity.
The idea is to publish the Anthology after the year closes once everyone has posted. Here are some Themes from earlier in the year if you missed them.
Click on the link to write 150 - 200 words on:
I always include new posts with unique links in the Round-Up.
Round Up on Surprise & New Theme - Symbols - below!
If you’re reading this for the first time…
And want to know more about the ZINE’s mission, go to ABOUT or FORUM on the Substack platform or read the introductory post I WAS AN EASY LIAR.
4 Contributors weighed in on SURPRISE:
I wrote about the surprises my body provides as I come up with new challenges over 50 and how a strategy can override my mind’s habit to subconsciously fail.
Carol M recalls an ‘in your face’ confrontation where she instinctively didn’t react. Surprising for a fast-twitch responder, the lesson came in handy again.
Carole D shares the ultimate in romantic surprises for a person who didn’t feel deserving of the expense: the engagement ring presented completely unexpected.
Tiffany, closing out her 30th year, finds a mysterious rash, like a well-traveled road down her back, and wonders what other surprises her body & mind hold.
Intact Animal recalls a surprise birthday in the unlikeliest of places - a remote waterfall village in Morocco - where old friends emerge from the shadows.
READ & HEART this week’s writers & SHARE your own story in the comments.
Next Up: SYMBOLS
I came to this theme while looking at photos from our recent wedding. The officiant of the ceremony is the head of sports representing the Town Hall, a friend we’ve worked with for years in our neighboring Andalusian town, Loja.
Normally, he officiates the start of an ultra-race we organize. We thought it would be funny & symbolic if he shot the starter’s pistol when my partner & I kissed after our vows.
A relationship is like a marathon, we thought.
Cue David Bowie’s Heroes, and bam! You’ve got a spectacular moment.
The effect worked.
Tears, goosebumps, hugs & kisses. Cheering!
A friend who has lived many years in a major American city told us afterwards that he had a PTSD flash when he heard the pistol shot.
Even though he knew it was a celebration in a place with no gun crime, the sound symbolized terror for him.
Where do SYMBOLS take you?
Read & Share on Monday in 150 - 200 words!
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More to come on Monday….
Have a great weekend.
Sincerely, for real.
Michelle
Reflection:
Sitting in a window in my favorite bar looking out at the numerous older people who are members of our community going about their daily routine, I came to understand the effects of the aging process in its many manifestations and reflected upon what changes I might anticipate as I approached my 85th birthday. Over the course of time, I noticed that there are three phases which these neighbors passed through: the introduction of a cane, then a crutch, a movable multiuse cart and finally giving into a wheelchair. I also noticed that older people are not shunned in our community, indeed in Spain as a whole. We become everyone´s abuela “grandparent”, and respect and unsolicited assistance is offered by all ages.
Now back to me. I have been fortunate to have good genes and have aged very well. I take this as true as it is others who confirm this for me, since I have been without a decent sized mirror to assess this. The only time I can see the changes occurring now that I am 85 is by observing my reflection in a store window. So, you can imagine my dismay when one day I observed the reflection of a women, walking with head thrust forward, her shoulders rounded, trying to balance on the uneven streets with her cane and realized with horror it was I.
There is much to consider from a mere reflection. I had already decided that there was a line I would not cross as I aged. Vanity had a lot to do with this decision. Yes, I could as an artist, strap my brush to my hand like Renoir working from a wheelchair, or work from my bed with assistants like Matisse, but this didn’t sit well with me, nor did depending upon others for my mobility. So, I have some serious reflection to engage in as I march towards 90.