June 21: Flash Fiction Challenge
June 21: Flash Fiction Challenge – Not All is Lost
This week, Charli shared her experience of falling in the snow. She described herself as letting go, down and down. I could visualize her falling, but not panicking. How beautiful it is that she just relaxed and let go, go with the fall. She got up with a helping hand. What a good example of community support.
It could have been worse if we fall and struggle about falling. It’s not easy to let yourself fall, physically or metaphorically. During my cancer treatment, I was down to skin and bone and my life was failing. I too let go of my responsibilities and accepted help from my community to let my body heal and recover.
It’s a Matter of Getting Up
It was early December 2017, the Thomas Fire in Ventura County, California devoured 307,900 acres and 1,300 structures. 230,000 residents described the wildfires in the neighborhood as a war zone. Smoke stretched 1,000 miles across the Pacific.
By Christmas, residents came back to their burned home, found pieces of displaced family photos. They pinned them on a bulletin to find owners. Some put up Christmas trees, decorations to bring cheer to the neighborhood. Strangers hugged each other and shed some tears. Homes and belongings were gone. Yet not all is lost. They wanted to rebuild and be neighbors again.
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The Showers of Blessings 
Great read thankkyou
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Thank you for reading.
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A lovely take on the prompt, Miriam. There is something about letting go that relieves our minds and bodies of harmful stress and lets the healing begin. ❤
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You’re right, Diana, struggle makes the stress even worse than itself. Thank you. ❤
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Stay strong, Miriam!
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Thank you, Amy!
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Thank you, Charli!
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Miriam, I’m glad you have come back from the fall of cancer. After we fall, it seems like we are left with a limp so to speak — like lymph-edema. I’ve been telling my friend that it will be different, but okay. Your flash captures the devastation and humanity of the fires from last year.
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Thank you, Charli. The lymph-edema almost cost me a physical limp, but I have been going to the gym for many years and now my husband makes sure that I go workout with him. It helps with the circulation.
My friend’s son is teaching in the area. He stayed behind to help the students and families. It was stressful for his wife taking the three kids driving on local street (freeway closed) for 120 miles to come stayed with my friend. She just pressed on. Yes, we know some of the faces being affected. I admired their spirit.
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To travel back streets, to not be able to go a familiar and secure route had to be unnerving! Especially with three children in tow. What an ordeal.
Good of your husband to urge you on in activities that help your circulation. And good of you!
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Thank you, Charli. I had a little resistance first because I had my workout routine, but I appreciate it now. He is retired and like to do things together regularly.
I just arrive Portland 1 1/2 hours ago. Will spend time with my daughter and her family for a week. Autumn has one tooth. 🙂 🙂
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Enjoy your precious granddaughter!
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Thank you, Charli!
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Wildfires are the scariest I guess, because they come so suddenly out of a paradise-like setting. Also, glad to know that you’ve given cancer one on the chin (touch wood).
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Yes, we’re not close to the wooded area. We’re okay in this city.
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A lovely flash, Miriam. I am so glad you had help when you needed it.
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Yes, I learned so much about accepting help those days. It was not easy because I always play a role of strong and helping person. I just came back from a 3-day writing conference, learned a lot about ghost writing, especially in helping others write their memoir. I have to catch up with visiting blogs.
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Nice writing, how’s your cancer going?
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I’m in remission for 8 years, but the treatment left me the permanent lymph-edema on left leg (swelling due to lack of fluid circulation). I’m used to wearing compression stocking every day. Thank you for asking. ❤
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I’m 5.5 years out and only mild lymphedema luckily … stay healthy and happy 🙂
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I’m happy for you. Yes, stay healthy and be blessed. ❤
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absolutely … I think we are more grateful to be alive than those who haven’t faced their mortality yet 🙂
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It’s so true. What else is more important than life? We’re grateful to have more time to enjoy the family and they have more time to enjoy us. 🙂
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I hope you have fully recovered from your cancer, Miriam.
The story you share of those devastating fires is tragic but shows the tenacity of the human spirit. You told it well.
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Thank you, Norah. I’m in remission for 8 years, but the treatment left me the permanent lymph-edema on left leg. The tingling keeps me from falling asleep at night. I take med for it.
Yes, human survival is so incredible throughout the history.
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I’m pleased to hear you’re in remission, Miriam. I hope the meds work to make you more comfortable.
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Yes, when I was in hospital back in March, the doctors didn’t rule out this med for nerves. I take the lowest dosage and give me 6-7 hours of sleep.
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Oh, you live close to the beach!
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A great thought to share, Miriam
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Thank you very much, Pranitha! Sorry that I didn’t check the spam folder earlier.
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thats wonderful! wildfires, those would not be any fun, one of the drawbacks of living where its hot! xx
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Yes, it’s then low humidity and dry wind that cause the fire every year. xox
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I think it would be very scary to live where there could be wildfires
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Yes, we have wildfires and earthquakes (only a few times in the last 25 years).
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