When I was in school, we use to have two exercises called U.S.S.R (Uninterrupted Sustained Silent Reading) and U.S.S.W (Uninterrupted Sustained Silent Writing). During U.S.S.W we were given a subject to write about. U.S.S.W was broken into two parts. The first part we just wrote down all the single words that popped into our head regarding the subject. The rule was the pencil was to not leave the paper, just write anything and everything even if it made no sense. The second part was using those words in the story. Again, you just wrote without even thinking, trying to use as many of those words as possible. And again, the pencil was not to leave the paper. Later on you would go back and make the story into more while thinking about it.
Today, as I do every February 14, my grandma has been heavily on my mind. I have not been able to stop thinking about her. But instead of the normal thoughts about her, my brain has been doing its own U.S.S.W sending me flashes of single words and images, and single ideas of things associated with grandma. Instead of writing my normal letter to grandma, I think I am just going to spend a few minutes just purging those images. Perhaps that is the best way I can honour her this year.
- Rock candy
- Cross-stiching
- Hot Apple Juice
- Afternoon tea
- Toast with marmalade
- Rice Crispies with bananas
- Falsies
- Slacks
- Adjustable bed
- Dentures
- Plastic Canvas
- Library
- Osoyoos
- Crafting
- Blouse
- Popbang
- Church
- Shakespeare
- Neil Diamond
- Englebert Humperdink
- Nana Mouskouri
- Julio Iglesias
- Oxygen
- Respirator
- Soft hands
- Crafting
- Reading
- Sewing
- Listerine
- Rose Soap
- Arizona
- Oroville, Washington
- Black Widow
- Rattle Snakes
- Tarantula
- Road Runner
- Coyote
- Oranges
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Cherries
- Apples
- Peaches
- Apricots
- Plums
- Orchards
- Lake
- Swimming
- Turtles
- Sunburn
- Knitting
- Crocheting
- Rice Crispy Treats
- Chocolate
- Love
- Compassion
- Goodwill
- Integrity
- Altruism
- Philanthropy
- Charity
- Kindness
- Polident
- Vacations
- Chronic Illness
- Berry candies
- Macintosh toffee
- Art
- Emily Carr
- Erma Bombeck
- Farley Mowat
- Pierre Berton
- The Wizard of Oz
- Winnie The Pooh
- Alice In Wonderland
- Peter Pan
- C.S. Lewis
- A.A. Milne
- Lucy Maud Montgomery
- Little House On The Prairie
- Highway To Heaven
- L. Frank Baum
- Judy Blume
- The Sound Of Music
- The Cat In The Hat
- Dr. Seuss
- Hans Christian Anderson
- The Brothers Grimm
- Doilies
- Art Deco
- Maple
If my grandma were still alive, she would be 90. So I think here is a good place to stop.
