Wildflower Writes

Photo by  Javad Esmaeili  on  Unsplash   I opened an email from the local community theater, promoting auditions for a two-person show. I’ve been connected to this theater for nearly 30 years, and last year I was cast as a lead for the first time ever. Unfortunately, like so many important events, the show was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I’ve been wanting to get on the stage ever since. Even as a child, I loved stories and playing pretend. Acting is a way to become a different person, with different experiences, values, and perspectives. There’s also the fun of getting into a character’s head, to understand their motivation or true feelings, and then creatively communicating those traits through facial expression, voice inflection, and body language. Mathematically, the chance of being cast in a two-person show is not very good, especially since I’m not the most talented or experienced choice. I find joy in the audition process, reading as a character ...

After a huge barbecue at my sister’s house, a large group of us went for a walk. We followed my brother-in-law’s lead on a winding trail across a field, through a wooded area down to the river, back through the woods and across another field, and onto the neighborhood street. The walk brought back childhood memories of being gone all day during the summer, exploring uncultivated areas, creating forts in the woods, and munching on wild mulberries. As a child, I didn’t plan my day. I got up in the morning, and rode my bike to a friend’s house or to the drug store or to a new place to explore. Whatever “good idea” popped up, I’d pursue, looking for something interesting and fun to do. As I got older, these strange new questions started to pop in my head: “Who am I? Where am I going? What am I doing?” I thought these were questions that I would figure out and have answered by the time I was an adult. I’m not sure how I got the idea that people choose a college major, get a job, an...

I finally finished my work at 5:30, an hour and a half later than I had planned to leave the office. I was on my own for dinner. My husband had brilliantly and lovingly offered to take the children to Chuck E. Cheese for the evening. As I slid into the driver’s seat of my minivan and turned the key in the ignition, I tried to decide what to do. Eating at home would require cooking, and possibly grocery shopping. Wendy’s and Popeye’s were nearby, but a little old hat. By now I was pulling out of the parking lot and heading north. By the time I reached the end of the T-intersection, I thought maybe a barbecue sandwich at Dairy Queen would be the ticket. I headed east toward downtown. By the time I came to the first stop sign, I realized I didn’t really want any ice cream. I headed north. Was there an Arby’s on this side of town? No. Too bad. I needed caffeine, and a Jamocha shake would be perfect. Taco Bell always offers cheap, tasty food, and I could get one of those blue Mountain Dews…...