Magpie #59 - Woman

Magpie Tales is a creative writing blog by Willow at Life at Willow Manor. Click on the link to see the other entries.

***

The invisible bond that ties mothers and sisters and daughters together. Starting out as a young, innocent girl who believes in fairy tales, then learning of love and heartbreak. Loving a man and all that entails. Feeling life growing inside, the pain of bringing a child into the world and of loving that child with all your heart. Feeding, clothing, cleaning, making do, taking the smallest piece or doing without. Taking care of the young and helpless and the old and frail. Beauty secrets and giggling conversations with girl friends. These are the things that tie me to this world and give meaning to my life. Only the procreation of the species -- as magical and yet mundane as that.

(edited to better reflect the prompt)

Camelot - Magpie Tales #58

Magpie Tales is a creative writing blog by Willow at Life at Willow Manor. Click on the link to see the other entries.
***
I really believed you were my knight in shining armor. The one who would understand and love and protect me. I trusted you. I idolized you. Even now my heart still yearns for Camelot. Who would have ever thought we would turn our weapons on each other?

First Summer Supper

I believe it was the first day of spring yesterday, but we had our first summer supper. Hamburgers, tomato, fresh corn and french fries. And strawberries. Except for watermelon and potato salad, all my summer favorites.

Shamrocks and Violets - Magpie Tales #57

Magpie Tales is a creative writing blog by Willow at Life at Willow Manor. Click on the link to see the other entries.
***
Shamrocks and violets. Luck and Beauty. I tend not to believe in luck except in the past tense. Then I call it grace as in "There but for the grace of God, go I." Maybe I think it is bad luck to wish for good luck. I prefer beauty. I believe those who train themselves to look for the beauty in everyday life are happier and luckier than most. At least that is the one trick I have learned to make my life happy and myself contented with my lot. I wish that you who read this are lucky enough to learn to find the beauty in life.

Maggiano's with Roger's Sisters

Roger and me

Jane and Mary

Paul and Jane

Roger and Bruce celebrated their March birthdays a little early with some candlelit cannoli.

***

Jane and Paul are enjoying a trip to Florida as a break from the long Michigan winter and a family visit. We had a huge Italian meal at Maggiano's.

***

I often dreamed of being a travel and food writer, but obviously, I have much to learn. Where is the lovely restaurant ambiance? Where are the overflowing plates of spaghetti and the baseball-sized meatballs? Where are the pretty glasses of wine, the crusty bread and the candlelit cannoli's? I like people in my pictures, but why don't I ever remember to photograph the food before I dive in?

***

Mary and Jane had been shopping at International Mall and Bruce and Paul had a successful visit to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino. Maggiano's has very generous servings. Each couple split an entree with plenty of food to spare. And then when we were leaving they said we could have three more entrees of any of their classic pasta dishes to TAKE HOME! I came home with a take out package of Eggplant Parmesan and another of Lasagna donated by Jane and Paul and three scrumptious cannoli's. Mary and Bruce took home some Lasagna, too. Lucky we didn't order 6 separate entrees, and get 6 extra take homes! That would have lasted for weeks if we were even able to finish it at all.
***

Speaking of food writers, I will have to describe my days working at Florida Trend magazine. Our offices were on the top floor of a beautiful restored cigar factory in Ybor City (a historic Cuban part of old Tampa and home to the famous Columbia Restaurant.) Our office space was enormous with wood floors, brick walls covered with art and huge windows. There were great restaurants and antique stores in the building and a little coffee shop where we got Cuban toast and Cafe con Leche. I was the typesetter for the magazine but I loved working with the writers and artists and meeting various celebrities who came to sightsee. That was back in 1978-1979. The magazine had a food critic and always did an issue of the Top 100 Florida Restaurants. My friends and I made it a mission to try as many of them as we could. In addition, we celebrated many happy hours on Friday nights where we shared appetizers and entrees and good times.

Garlic - Magpie Tales #56

Magpie Tales is a creative writing blog by Willow at Life at Willow Manor. Click on the link to see the other entries.
***

A lover who taught her many things before he left. Pasta, garlic and olive oil in the night. Provolone and Parmesan. Crusty bread and Cabernet Sauvignon. Candlelight and classical music. Laughter. Appetites whetted by lovemaking. Garlic and sex linked forever in her mind.

Lemonade - Magpie Tales #55

Magpie Tales is a creative writing blog by Willow at Life at Willow Manor. Click on the link to see the other entries.
***
A pretty party for spring. A picnic on the wide front porch with tulips on the table and a big glass pitcher of cold lemonade with mint and sliced lemons. Ham, potato salad, deviled eggs and coconut cake. Children running on the lawn and through the kitchen. And then ... who thought there would be so much blood? Gushing. Screaming. A wet kitchen towel to wrap up the wound. A quick trip to the emergency room. Hope someone cleans up the kitchen before I get home.