Moving Back to a Place of Difficult Times

Daily writing prompt
What’s the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make? Why?
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Most recently, I have decided to not move to the New England area but to move to northern Michigan which is probably one of most hardest decisions ever. Moving up north was/is the last thing I ever thought I would do.

Why? You ask. A few days ago, I had a strong sensation that couldn’t be ignored. I have had them before so I was familiar with the drill. Felt like a trance in a Holy way. Everything changed. Wiped out all of my information regarding Connecticut kinda hurt. Experienced the event before I moved to Texas so I knew that I would be here despite obstacles

Moving back up north, I believe that I will find peace back living near the water again and I will be able to ride my bike with freedom like I did years ago. As far as some relationships go, I have not kept in touch with many and I have not attended any of my class reunions which some are mad at me.

To move with a clear conscience, I am admitting my wrong doing to people who I have had problems with. One is avoiding me, one made things worse and the last got a letter because of no social media presence with no response as of yet. None of them are aware of my plans. One mentioned that I haven’t attended any reunions which is true. The one who made things worse denied the conflict between us years ago then questioned my decision to fix things felt belittled.

On the whole, I never felt like I belonged despite being involved in high school such as yearbook, cheerleading and downhill racing. I had made every effort to be kind and nice but my free spirit was the problem with making friends. I felt alone with criticism from my family, my loneliness turned into motivation to move far away from there.

On the weird side of things, I have become friends with one of the former schoolmates who were considered the toughest and the meanest. Previously, she made a few jabs at me that were honest and truthful statements about me and the situation which to her surprise. I owned up and I agreed to them. We have since become friends that only her husband is aware of. We have agreed to meet up for adult beverages after my move that will cause a stir in the little town for sure but it’s fine.

Choosing the path most difficult will hopefully give the best outcome. Keeping my Faith and moving forward.

Leslie Elizabeth David.

The Hungarian Add On

Daily writing prompt
Do you or your family make any special dishes for the holidays?
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Growing up as a Hungarian in downriver Detroit where plenty of my neighbors shared similar ancestry, my Mom would make sour cream and cucumbers.

Truthfully, my sister and my Dad loved it but I passed on it. Here’s the AI breakdown below with the Hungarian version listed within.

  • Thinly sliced cucumbers (about 2 large)
  • Sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
  • White vinegar or lemon juice
  • Fresh or dried dill
  • Optional granulated sugar
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Optional thinly sliced red or sweet onion 

Instructions: 

  1. Salt sliced cucumbers and let them drain to remove excess water, then pat dry.
  2. Whisk together sour cream, vinegar, sugar (if used), dill, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
  3. Combine the prepared cucumbers and onion (if used) with the dressing.
  4. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to combine. 

Common Variations

  • Adding minced garlic creates a Tzatziki-style salad.
  • Combining sour cream and mayonnaise can result in a richer texture.
  • The Hungarian version often uses vinegar and paprika.
  • This combination is also a popular base for dips with added herbs and seasonings. 

My Mom uses vinegar instead of paprika always. Because it’s so not healthy, it was generally made for Thanksgiving and Christmas plus whenever my sister had a craving for it.

Have a beautiful day!

Leslie Elizabeth David.

The 8 Hour Conundrum

Daily writing prompt
If you didn’t need sleep, what would you do with all the extra time?
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Truthfully, I believe that if the human race didn’t need sleep, I believe that society would be much different but probably not better.

For example, industry leaders who would like to change the length of the work day probably doubling it because they know that an employee doesn’t need to go home and recover by sleeping. Think that Amazon and others would profit from the human being not needing rest to recover from

Education would lengthen the school day and probably shorten the school year thus allowing students to graduate at age 16 rather than being closer to 18.

Medically, young children including babies would experience catastrophic consequences from not getting enough sleep from health issues to lack of brain development including obesity.

Personally, if I didn’t need sleep and if my employer wasn’t taken advantage of it, I would spend more time volunteering and helping others. In the past, I have volunteered at ministries that are helping people change their lives and volunteered at a Ronald McDonald House bringing in a Thanksgiving dinner plus helping with daycare for newborns to one year old children.

In closing, I am happy to need sleep for eight hours nightly because it gives me time to rest. It gives me time to cuddle with Bella and Luna who sleep most of the day and night being felines.

Well Rested,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

My Three Work Irritations

Daily writing prompt
Name your top three pet peeves.
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Although, pet peeves are considered to be small irritations, they can sometimes make a big impact on oneself and others. Mine are all work related which I was raised with a work ethic that is very different than most of my coworkers.

  1. Arriving consistently late although the commute is less than 10 minutes time from home to work. Where I worked previously, it would be a reason to be terminated. In some places, on time is considered late.
  2. Constant socializing while others are working and wondering why others get irritated. My work ethic is that if you don’t have something to do, you ask around to see who can give you something to do. My Dad was a physician and his Dad was an engineer who both believed that being social was something for lunch breaks and parties. Also, if you don’t have work to do, you find something like offering to help someone else out who has lots of things to do.
  3. Feeling pressured to be part of a social event at work to the point one feels obligated to attend. Create an event that even the least social person would want to attend and not be overwhelmed. Truthfully, I only attended my company Christmas party once when I knew that my position at work and myself are different from most of my coworkers. Considering to attend this year but I don’t want to sit with my department.

In closing, I am grateful to have a life outside of work that feeds my soul and challenges my brain on my terms thus making my primary job more tolerable.

Yours Truly,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

The People Who I Relate to Most

Daily writing prompt
Who are your current most favorite people?
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If you have people who you can vibe with, you’re blessed.

With that being stated, the people who I consider to be my favorite are my former schoolmates from first grade who I have reconnected with most via Facebook. Being 63 years old, I find peace and comfort of us having casual conversations with the occasional laughter. There’s times when someone who isn’t doing well so we give that person love and support.

This comes at a time when I am mending fences with people who I feel are not my favorites and who are my former classmates from high school. My family left the metro Detroit area to northern Michigan for my freshman year of high school. For four years, I felt disconnected and lost that I gave up on friendships up north. Oddly, they still expected me to show up to the class reunion that I never did. The reason why? A few days ago, I experienced a strong sensation to make things right that includes apologizing for my attitude and my behavior back then and later about class reunions. The sensation was so strong that I am considering a move back up north although both my older and youngest brothers both reside in the area.

With this, I believe my sanity will be reading the Facebook posts from friends who I’ve known since first grade or I will learn to value and to appreciate the people who I didn’t have an open heart with thus missed opportunities. Or, I will be thankful and blessed for both.

Prayers appreciated.

Thank you,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

11.14.2025

Today, after 45 years of graduating high school in northern Michigan, God laid it on my heart to apologize for my attitude and behavior to someone who I knew back then. We weren’t friends but were connected through extracurricular activity from high school and being in same year of school.

Truthfully, I know that I was wrong in many ways there. I didn’t want to leave the Detroit area to a small town in northern Michigan and I wanted to stay with my friends. Also, by surprise, a classmate who cornered me during class my senior year to lecture me on his observations of my behavior and attitude. His words were truthful but the delivery was horrible because he ended up looking bad as well.

So, I know that she will tell her close friends who will share with others so I expect that most of my class will know by the weekend has ended. Truthfully, I would be shocked if it didn’t happen. Time will tell how this will play out. No expectations of her reaching out to me either.

With all that, I hope to have a productive and peaceful weekend with my fur babies. Hope that your weekend is only the best!

Thanks Again,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Cat Mom

Daily writing prompt
What are your favorite animals?
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In my many years on this earth, I have had the blessing of being the human servant to some strong willed felines.

Growing up, my family had a pure bred Siamese cat named SueSue (Sukiyaki). She was fierce and independent. My sister was scared of her but I was her human. She had three sets of babies that we gave back to the breeder. When she got lost in the woods of northern Michigan, I was the one who found her. She was the only family member who had my back.

During my marriage of seven years and after, I became the cat Mom or servant to Adrian who was half Siamese and Burmese. He took care of our dog, Cody, who was a Chesapeake Bay retriever who was as strong willed and stubborn like his feline brother. These two took care of me and protected me when we were together. Cody passed shortly after me and Adrian moved out.

Post divorce, I bought a house in a city neighborhood that was where I finally felt safe after living in two apartments complexes. Adrian passed away and I felt lost. A couple of months later, the local humane society was having a welcoming adoption party for many kittens whose feline parents (one male and multiple females) were barn cats. The farmer who had a huge heart didn’t have the means to keep all the 60 plus kittens alive and safe. From that, I adopted Seville and Madrid both were Burmese but Madrid had some Maine Coone in him. They were my judge of men who had relationships with and my rock. Learned to become content with my fur babies without a man. We moved across the country after losing my job.

During my time in Texas, I lost Madrid and five years later, I lost Seville. Plus, I was planning my first trip back to Michigan since my move. A coworker of mine who thought that I wasn’t coming back to Texas for many reasons which many included her behavior. Prior to my trip, I visited the cats who I was told that they were kittens. After coming home and visits to veterinary clinic, I learned otherwise. They are Bella and Luna who were abused physically and mentally. Plus, full of fleas and fear too. They ate and slept for about one month straight then both went into heat upon reaching their size and weight so we went back to the clinic again to get them fixed. Decided not to take any trips for about 18 months to help them heal emotionally and to learn to trust again.

August 2025, I have traveled by airplane once since I got them which they thought that I was getting rid of them from their behavior. They did well at the pet hotel with the people which was great. When I picked them up, they acted indifferent unlike Adrian, Seville and Madrid who were happy to see me. I believe that they were hurt and angry that I left them with strangers. A few days later, Bella and Luna realized that they were home for good.

Blessed and thankful to be a cat Mom to my beautiful fur babies for so many years. As I consider a move with them to the Long Island Sound area, I believe that we will have our challenges and also our victories in the process and afterwards. Until then, I am happy glistening in fur.

Yours Truly,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

The Serenity of Water

Daily writing prompt
Beach or mountains? Which do you prefer? Why?
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The serenity of water was the purpose of my last trip to the east coast. In the future, I hope and pray to move to an area along the Long Island Sound within a few miles of the Connecticut shoreline to be near the beach that I found my peace.

Growing up in Michigan on an island and later, living along the coast of northern Lake Michigan, I found my peace of mind and my soul revived being near the water. Unfortunately, I haven’t found the same energy with the reservoirs found in north Texas. Plus, I don’t have plans to return to Michigan.

To me, sitting on a beach hearing the motion of the water with its waves and feeling the breeze has a remarkable impact of removing the stress and the anxiety from my life. Rain has a way of relaxing me too which it comes too rarely where I’m at now.

Realistically, I am aware of the price tag to be within ten miles of the water. Plus, recent legislation in New York City, my chosen area plans to see an increase in population putting demands on the real estate and rental properties. Grateful that I have time to see how this all plays out.

My older brother who recently moved back to a community in northern Michigan that is surrounded by water from Houston because the water has a calming impact on him too. His quality of life improved with sleeping better and a peace of mind.

Hope you find your peace whether on the water, up in the mountains or in the plains. May you have lots of opportunities to visit or have life come together so that you can live there.

Yours Truly,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

My Food Tour-North Texas & Southern Connecticut

Daily writing prompt
What are your family’s top 3 favorite meals?
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My favorite meals that I have experienced from two completely different States that I will be sharing with you. Since I don’t really cook anymore like I did in the past, I thought that I would share my dining experiences at locally owned restaurant in both Texas and Connecticut. Two places for each State, outstanding in each of their own way.

After landing at HPN airport in Westchester County in New York, you’re hungry for Italian but instead of taking I-95 north into Connecticut, you choose Hwy 15 instead. You’re amazed by the abundance of green trees and the beautiful hillsides. You find from your friends to head to Westport CT where you’ll exit at Post Rd. You go through a couple of lights then on the north side of the road in a quiet neighborhood, you come across Via Sforza Trattoria and turn in. You order the house red and a delicious and refreshing house Cesar salad made with their own dressing. Then, you choose to the house lasagna made with homemade noodles and sauce plus covered in cheese. If you not full enough and amazed, you accept their offer of homemade Cannoli with a cup of coffee.

The next day, you travel to New Haven for pizza and a tour of Yale University. You decide on lunch first and choose the famous Sally’s Apizza only blocks away from campus. You decide to order from seeing what the regulars get and have pepperoni pizza. Thinking that it’s only pizza then you take your first bite into the creamiest cheese, softest crust and the best sauce ever! You’re hooked. You finally understand the talk about Connecticut pizza being true.

A month later, you’re in north Texas at home and thinking locally owned BBQ and your favorite locally sourced eatery in Plano. You choose, The Patriotic Pig, for the first time and are totally amazed. Not being into the, “Texas BBQ wave, you order the BBQ sundae made with BBQ bits, sauce, corn and mashed potatoes. You’re stunned. Then, you learn that this place is ranked 94th on Yelp in the country for service and food. Also, you learn that the police and fire departments of local communities come here because they feel safe. With all the handsome men in uniform, you feel safe.

Keeping the local vibe alive, you travel to your all time favorite locally sourced restaurant called Whiskey Cake Kitchen and Bar. For starters, you order up some of their delicious Deviled Eggs that are so creamy and delicious. Next, with your drink of Bubbles N Berries, you order the Chicken & Cheese Melt sandwich which is part grilled cheese on a chicken sandwich with chips. To end it all, you finish with the house dessert called “Whiskey Cake” made with whiskey, chocolate and whipped topping. You vow to support local businesses forever at that moment.

Later that day, you go home and decide to eat healthy foods of fruits and vegetables plus whole grains. Plus, making plans to travel to your local favorites and others in New England.

Eat Well, my Friends!

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Henry Ford

Daily writing prompt
If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why?
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The historical figure who made a huge impact on the auto industry by creating the assembly line thus lowering the cost of automobiles so that the average American could afford to drive a vehicle. From that, the first stop light in America was installed on Woodward Avenue in Detroit.

My connection to Henry Ford was that my great grandfather worked assembly when he asked for immigrants to join him. Later on, my grandfather was an engineer in mechanical and other fields. My Mom’s ex fiancée family was the largest “A plan” Ford dealership in the country. The “A plan” refers to the percentage off of retail that Ford employees receive determined by length of employment and evaluation scores above the average.

The reasons why I would like to meet him is first to thank him for hiring my family and to allowing the average American to afford an automobile. Driving to me is relaxing excluding rush hour traffic and including Sunday drives to nowhere like I did two days ago. It was good to get away for a couple of hours. This would not be possible without the a reasonable priced automobile.

In addition, Sheila Ford Hamp is the great granddaughter of Henry Ford who owns the Detroit Lions and the Ford Field arena in downtown Detroit. Being one of the few NFL female team owners, she has made her mark by doing things her way. The impact of the Ford family is enormous especially in Michigan thanks to her grandfather.

In Appreciation and Gratitude,

Leslie Elizabeth David.