No Fail Skydiving & Deep Sea Dive

Daily writing prompt
What’s something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail.
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Seriously with a guarantee of no failure, I would go skydiving and deep sea diving in the Great Lakes particularly Lake Superior.

Yes, no fail jump off the plane into a field with no strong wind and sunny day. Preferably a place where the weather is warm but not too hot. Perfect landing expected because of the no fail guarantee. Would jump in a place with soft landing in a well maintained area.

My deep sea dive would be on Lake Superior to swim down and around the Edmond Fitzgerald that sank in the 1970s. My school got out when it passed by us on the Detroit River on one of its first voyages. Later on, after it sank along the shores of Michigan on Lake Superior, my school had so many students who attended both the US and Canadian memorials that it should have canceled classes. Others have tried for years to dive down to and into the freighter but weather and/or equipment failure has prevented it from happening. I would dive for my former classmates and my former Canadian neighbors across the Detroit River.

Side Note: Every dive attempt to swim down to the Edmond Fitzgerald on the bottom of Lake Superior has failed to date.

Yours Truly,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Shattered Dreams

Daily writing prompt
What’s something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail.
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Since there’s no guarantees in life but the gift of succeeding of doing something that was part of a dream long ago is enticing.

Back in junior high, my elective class was choir because I couldn’t draw if my life depended on it but I could sing. From my memory of years ago, my junior high music teacher who believed that I had a future in music set me up with a voice test/try out with a record company in Detroit that worked with Bob Seger and KISS. My parents walked away from it because I wasn’t the child who they thought would succeed and do better than them. It upset my teacher and later I stopped singing all together.

In high school, I sang for a year in choir but I wasn’t feeling it. My parents complained that I didn’t choose it as an elective because they told me that I had talent. In my opinion, my parents couldn’t have it both ways so I stopped singing all together.

Coincidentally, Olivia Newton John who became popular in the US because of the movie,” Grease,” was someone who could pass as my older sister because we looked much alike years ago. In my opinion looking back, I think that our similarities might have become an issue for both of us.

Present day, if I was guaranteed success, I would make myself a recorded tape and send it to the exact recording company in Detroit in expectation of a record deal. Currently, my voice and my ambition aren’t working well to even consider it on my own to send them a tape or video now. Thus, is now a shattered dream.

Truthfully, I have accepted the past as it is and I have chosen to live a full life in contentment.

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Work Relations

Daily writing prompt
What was the hardest personal goal you’ve set for yourself?
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Work where one is forced to work productively with others no matter how difficult it is for each party to achieve goals.

My job is folding the mail, metering it and taking the outgoing mail to the post office plus scan documents and answer incoming calls to transfer to agents. The work environment is a big room with desks side by side without cubicles. It gives room for open communication between staff.

Growing up, my Dad always told me to keep to myself at work and to rarely socialize because all coworkers are not your friends.
At my current employer, I understand what he’s talking about. At work, when I first started, I was received with mixed feelings. My current situation is that I have a coworker who has controlling issues that I don’t comply with. I come to work which I pull my documents from the printers that I will fold and put into envelopes later. I keep to myself and I don’t have any personal social conversations with anyone. My behavior has upset someone who almost seemed possessed on Saturday when I left work. This person feels that she is obligated to know about my personal life. She feels that she’s in control of everyone and everything although her stealing company property and low productivity , she’s one step away from being fired. She has brown nosing our supervisor to stay employed.

Therefore, my hardest personal goal that I reset for myself daily is to keep to myself and to remain quiet so that I won’t tell my coworker my true feelings about her laziness, her non stop chatter about nothing and her need to control plus her low productivity. Grateful for the power and wisdom of not lowering myself to her level. Sometimes, I pray for strength nonstop to get through the day to not speak the truth about how I feel about her.

Feeling the Monday morning blues,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Edit: Due to problems with my wrist because of overuse, I woke up with extreme pain which I have taken Tylenol and I put Cortisone cream on the affected area. Decided to stay home to get better which I contacted my supervisor via text earlier this morning. Think that God is protecting me in some ways so I am thankful today.



Changes..

Daily writing prompt
Who are your favorite artists?
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Having grown up in metro Detroit, later worked at an outdoor music theatre in northern Michigan and have listened to many genres in my lifetime, my favorites have changed depending on what is happening in my life.

Being born literally across the street from where Diana Ross, The Supremes and others were discovered, my favorites were the Temptations when David Ruffin was the lead singer. Another favorite is Marvin Gaye growing up. Both men were talented musicians.

Later on after both of those two men passed away from above, David Ruffin and Marvin Gaye, my favorite artist changed to John Denver who was living in Aspen Colorado who was also an environmentalist who wanted to protect the beauty of Aspen. I look back now and I believe he helped me work through the passing of the David and Marvin.

During my high school and college years, in the summers, I was a beer tent manager for an outdoor music theatre was one of my jobs. At this time, I discovered Eddie Money, The Doobie Bros before & after Michael McDonald and Chicago. Loved all three. The local radio station played light rock which reflected the outdoor music theatre. Plus, Ann and Nancy of Heart. David Bowie and Tina Turner.

After college, I moved to west Michigan and I met a man who I would later marry and divorce and who was into country music. On our honeymoon, we went to Nashville, Rocky Top and Gatlinburg TN all big on country music. Randy Travis, Garth Brooks and Allen Jackson plus Reba McIntyre were our favorites. Looking back, my family was shocked that I was listening to country

Post divorce with a new life, I credit Michael Bolton solely for getting me through the pain and the stress of being on my own. It was back when he was making the videos and he had the long hair. Years later due to an unusual situation, I met and befriended two of his daughters who I am no longer in touch with now. He raised his children and he did a great job!

Years later, after I got Saved, I briefly listened to Contemporary Christian music that reflected some country music from before. Don’t recall any artists who I had listened too.

After losing my longtime employment in Michigan, I started listening to classic rock music on YouTube including Heart, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Journey and others. Plus, I have enjoyed seeing Michael McDonald solo and with Patti LaBelle. Plus, I listen to Marvin Gaye and The Temptations with David Ruffin lead vocals on YouTube.

In my opinion, music changes normally reflect what is happening in our lives and the our age might reveal actual artists with exceptions.

Yours Truly,

Leslie Elizabeth David.


Passing the Time in Crime

Daily writing prompt
What is your favorite hobby or pastime?
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My latest and greatest pastime has been watching vintage crime dramas both American and British. Truthfully, these dramas reveal the true human spirit both beautiful and ugly.

It started after I got tired of watching the Hallmark Channel where the movies all have the same basic storyline of introduction of the characters of their own story then the two characters meet who in the best place. Everything goes well for a while until the relationship is tested in a big way which they always find their way back to each other.

My first vintage crime drama was,”Monk,” who I could relate to on many levels because of his free spirit and how it was written around his personality. Later on, it was “Matlock” then “Diagnosis Murder” which both were well written and casted. Finally, “Murder, She Wrote” about a mature woman who lived in Maine and who started writing about crime as a way of grieving her husband who passed away. Also, I thought that, “Castle,” was interesting and well written of a millionaire and a private investigator. Each of these series and episodes revealed the true human spirit in different ways.

After learning the star of, “Murder, She Wrote,” actually worked with Agatha Christie for the character, “Miss Marple” I was hooked and then “Piorot.” Both series were based on books that were all best sellers. In addition, I have watched, “Frost,” “Endeavor,” and “Sister Boniface” plus others. Britbox and BBC America are both networks that I know well.

The human spirit is usually revealed in truth when life goes sideways and not when it’s going well. I believe that both the British and us Americans in our crime dramas reveal it well.

Safe at Home,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

More Valuable than Possessions

Daily writing prompt
What would you do if you lost all your possessions?
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Truthfully, after I have survived a house fire in a home that was built only months before in my youth and almost losing my own house from losing my job after 21 years of employment, one learns that possessions in the homes are less valuable than those who are in it.

During the fire, as much as concern about my family members, I was worried about the dogs and our cat over the things in the house. Years later, after losing my long term employment and without success of finding another job with decent pay, my biggest concern was to keep my cats safe and healthy.

Moving from Michigan to Texas, one brings only the necessities so that one can focus on transitioning for me and my cats. The more you have with stuff you don’t use or wear, the more expensive is the move.

Those who you love and like are more valuable than possessions that can easily be replaced by an insurance claim or any other funds but those who you value aren’t.

Thanks Again,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Relationships

Daily writing prompt
What’s a topic or issue about which you’ve changed your mind?
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Growing up, I always dreamt about and wanted to be in a solid relationship with a good man. During my childhood, I have had a relationship with my Dad that was far from perfect thus had influenced on my relationships with men. It involved mental abuse and threats of physical abuse from him. It was overlooked by many because of me and, more importantly, his being successful and respected in his career.

In high school and college, I had very few relationships with men because I was timid about getting involved and trusting others. After college, I met my husband who had a reputation which someone who tried to warn me but I ignored. He cheated on me and the wives that followed me constantly.
Had a few relationships post divorce with couple serious ones although none resulted in commitment.

Fast forward to losing my job after 21 years and moving to another State plus losing my Dad to cancer, I have learned to be independent and I have learned to trust my intuition on who I can trust. Plus, I have learned to be content even happy and joyful being on my own. Fortunately, I have been blessed with rescue felines since my divorce and who saved me as much as I did them so I am not completely solo. My fur babies are a blessing.

Currently, there’s a former classmate who is curious about me and who found me on a social app likely through a mutual friend. In high school, I don’t remember ever having a conversation with him. My extra curricular activities included ski team, cheerleading, yearbook, newsletter and choir which I don’t believe that he was part of any of them. Plus, I have never attended a class reunion. Truthfully, I believe that he’s curious but not interested plus he’s over 1300 miles away and 20 hour drive so putting little faith into it.

In closing, I am thankful and grateful for being content on my own and being able to do what I love with my fur babies and even travel.

Thank you,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

The High School Blues

Daily writing prompt
Tell us about a time when you felt out of place.
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In the mid 1970s, my family moved from the metro Detroit area to up north Michigan where it was a huge change. Throughout high school, I felt out of place.

Living in the Downriver Detroit area, I knew who my friends were and who I could count on. Even though, I was teased severely by some because of my braces and glasses. My moving away parties, I invited those who treated me good and bad to leave on good terms.

Being my original self, I have found myself being criticized for being different although my siblings did well making friends in our new hometown. Was teased and mocked for being who I am constantly although I was a cheerleader, wrote most of the year book and newspaper plus missed being on the winter homecoming court by a few votes plus being asked to be on a summer festival court as a possibility. Life was extremely difficult when I felt alone and out of place during high school.

To date, thanks to technology, a few male classmates have reached out to me out of curiosity. A former classmate who’s a lifetime member of the community that I left who didn’t understand why I hadn’t attended class reunions and haven’t been back. He didn’t understand how anyone could feel like I do about the area.He got angry with me how someone could feel about the area but it was more about my classmates. Another one who recently contacted me knows people who live outside of the town and has traveled who understands how I feel to some degree.

Since graduation, I visited the area twice a year for Christmas and a summer festival when my parents were living but I haven’t been back since I moved to Texas. It has been a feeling of freedom of not having to travel where I feel out of place and not belonging.

Yours Truly,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

The Good Ole Days

Daily writing prompt
Your life without a computer: what does it look like?
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Being that I was born long before the first computer that was sold to consumers, I remember life prior to that. Life was much different back then. We’re talking the 1960s-1980s as my time reference before technology changed our personal and professional lives.

Back in the day at school, we had typing class where we learned to type business letters and resumes. Plus, we had to learn arithmetic by hand of division and multiplication. Calculators weren’t common then either and weren’t allowed in schools. In addition, letters and cards were handwritten making the effort put into it was out of love and kindness.

Prior to computers, I grew up in a neighborhood where there were lots of kids who like me was told to play outside all day on the weekends and on summer break. Our Moms were kind enough to give us bathroom breaks and feed us lunch that allowed us to come inside.

Also, I remember landlines with local and long distance calling rates. In my area, the best time to call family and friends were Sunday nights after 7pm. It was special to hear the voices of someone who missed you.

Truthfully, the connection with others was real because we had to type or write letters or call on the phone or visit in person. For instance, the drama was being slammed on the phone by someone or being the one who slammed the phone on someone else was an experience one doesn’t forget. Or, be on the phone for hours talking about school and chatting about vacations.

Ironically, my elementary school friends who I have known many since first grade have been keeping in touch by Facebook now. The conversation is chill and light with laughter.

Grateful to have been able to experience life before and after the use of consumer technology. As with everything else, don’t let it own you. Connecting with others on a personal level is the most valuable part of life.

In Rememberance of the Good Ole Days. Cheers!

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Skilled Trades

Daily writing prompt
What skill would you like to learn?
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As a woman who has had the blessing of a college education, I feel that I lack the skills of fixing issues that involve to keep a home functioning. I think those individuals who have earned proper licenses or certificates then help others who have problems with electrical, plumbing or construction are priceless.

For example, my current home needed a new furnace and a new air conditioner as well as a new roof plus updated paint job. It could use updated windows plus upgrades to the kitchen and bathroom. Who would be interested in these projects and capable of creating what I need? Qualified skilled trades persons who got training in a classroom then worked on a “master” before going out on his/her own. Truthfully, one doesn’t see too many women in these positions that are in high demand probably everywhere.

As I enter my mid 60s but feel like forty, I don’t believe that I will ever learn what these hero’s do. Truthfully, I am blessed that they have helped me with my home so that me and my felines could live here safely. Cheers to the Skilled Trades people who help us out daily!

In Deep Gratitude,

Leslie Elizabeth David.