Inside the Mind of Isadora


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Nurture Yourself – When Things Go Wrong

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint on the clouds of doubt,
And you can never tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar.
So, stick to the fight when you’re the hardest hit
It’s when things go wrong that you mustn’t quit.

2019©IsadoraDeLaVega

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Becca hosts Nurturing Thursday

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Friday Fictioneers – Ready or Not

 8 – 9 – 10

“Ready or not, here I come,” she shouted.

Rosie hated this game. She knew if she didn’t play along they’d ignore her.

Her eyes roamed the central plaza, but they were no where to be seen.

The pretzel vender grinned as she passed in her search. Rosie was sure he knew.

She was struck by the hands covering the eyes of the huge sculpture looming above her. ‘A bit like this game,’ she thought.

Swiftly, hands pulled at her scrawny arms. Before she could turn, her eyes were covered. She wailed.

Then, the sound of screeching tires.

2019©Isadora DeLaVega

 

Genre: Flash Fiction

Word Count: 100 Words

Photo Prompt-©Roger Bultot

To join Rochelle and her Friday Fictioneers challenge

to join in click here

To read more photo prompt stories click here

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*****Hide-and-seek, or hide-and-go-seek, is a popular children’s game in which any number of players (ideally at least three)[1] conceal themselves in a set environment, to be found by one or more seekers.

The game is played by one player chosen (designated as being “it”) closing their eyes and counting to a predetermined number while the other players hide. For example, count to 100 in units of 5 or count to 20, one two three and keep counting up till it reaches twenty. After reaching this number, the player who is “it” calls “Ready or not, here I come!” and then attempts to locate all concealed players.


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A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

A tree grows in concrete

As such, a sight to see

I hadn’t given much thought

To how lonely it might be

One tree, weatherworn, twiggy bark

Hardly standing, day in and day out

Alone, trying to be burly strong

In need of care, no one did

City life, concrete at its’ feet

Rain, sleet and snow

No breaks, nothing but woe

Yet, there it stands for all to see

2018©Isadora DeLaVega

~~~~~~~~

 

Wednesday Writing Prompt –

Speak to or of your city of ultimate bliss:

the city you grew up in or the city you grew to love.

to join in click here


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Friday Fictioneers – I’m Late – I’m Late

The subway doors opened. People poured off the train like swarms of ants.

Milagros rushed to get to her job. She hadn’t eaten and felt faint. She was late but needed to eat something. Her stomach growled as she ordered coffee and bagel in an out-of-breath voice.

“To go?”, the barista asked.

“Yes,” she said impatiently.

Panic took over the hunger pangs as she searched for her wallet.

Gone.

This can’t be happening.

From behind she heard, “Is this yours?”

“Yes!!!”

“It was on the floor”.

“I can’t thank you enough”

Sure you can, How ‘bout a date?”

2017©Isadora DeLaVega

Word Count: 100
Genre: Flash Fiction
Photo Prompt: Marie Gail Stratford

To join Rochelle and her Friday Fictioneers challenge
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Friday Fictioneers – Sunday Ferry Ride

Rain poured down. We were waiting on line to board the Staten Island ferry; a habitual Sunday routine. Usually, we’d go to the beach then visit, Mr. Frank. He was a Santero.

I was feeling car sick. My dad smoked Camels.The open windows would blow the smoke into the backseat.

I can remember the first time we were waiting to board. I had a panic attack and couldn’t stop crying. I thought we were going to drive into the ocean. I can’t swim.

“Shut up!”

A simple explanation would have helped.

Uncanny, I still see a ferry and cringe.

2017©Isadora DeLaVega

 

Genre: Flash Fiction
Word Count: 100 Words
Photo Prompt: ©Ted Strutz

To join Rochelle and her Friday Fictioneers challenge
click here

 

Santeria is a syncretistic Caribbean religion.

Santeria includes the worship of the Orisha — literally “head guardians,” and religious beliefs of the Yoruba and Bantu people in Southern Nigeria, Senegal and Guinea Coast. These are combined with elements of Roman Catholicism.
Arriving as slaves in the Caribbean, Santerians preserved the elements of their religion by equating each Orisha of their traditional religions with a corresponding christian saint. Many traditions, within the religion, recognize different equivalencies.

One common example includes:
Babalz Ayi became St. Lazarus (patron of the sick)

Shangs became St. Barbara (controls thunder, lightning, fire…)

Eleggua or Elegba became St. Anthony (controls roads, gates etc)

Obatala became Our Lady of Las Mercedes, and the Resurrected Christ (father of creation; source of spirituality)

Oggzn became St. Peter (patron of war)

Oshzn became Our Lady of Charity (controls money, sensuality…)

Many Santerian beliefs are not freely discussed outside of the faith. In addition, there are many religious leaders whose beliefs and practices differ significantly. information click here

 


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Friday Fictioneers – Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

friday-fictioneers-12916-lucy-solMegan hadn’t slept a wink.

She was surprised her mother had said she’d take her tomorrow. Plagued with social anxiety, her mother never went out. But, she said she would.

Megan picked out her red and green snowflake hat and gloves. She wanted christmas written all over her in the photographs mother would take.

Morning dawn peeked through the curtains. Megan had butterflies in her stomach from anticipation.

She smelled coffee.

Mother was up.

She ran downstairs.

“Mother, what time are we leaving to see the tree at Rockefeller Center?”

Without turning she sulkily said, “Not today, Megan, maybe tomorrow.”

2016©Isadora De La Vega

Genre: Flash Fiction

Word Count: 100

 

Rochelle hosts the Friday Fictioneers challenge
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to read other entries click froggy button

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*****Social anxiety disorder also called social phobia involves overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about everyday social situations. The worry often centers on a fear of being judged by others, or behaving in a way that might cause embarrassment or lead to ridicule.

Anxiety disorders can cause such distress that it interferes with your ability to lead a normal life.This type of disorder is a serious mental illness. For people who have one, worry and fear are constant and overwhelming, and can be disabling. But with treatment, many people can manage those feelings and get back to a fulfilling life. info:web md

For Online Support Group: Anxiety and Depression Association

 


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Friday Fictioneers – Awaiting the Letter

friday-fictioneers-111816-bjc3b6rn-14His hands are shaking.

He can barely get the key into the mailbox slit.

Will the letter be in there?

He holds the letter firmly; runs his fingers across the calligraphy engraved return address.

Feeling unsteady, he sits on the dank urine-stench steps.

This letter could be my way out of this dump.

No one has faith in my musical talent. I’ll prove them wrong.

He’s tired of playing jazz at the smokey ‘Cafe Wha?’.

“Dear Randolph,” 

“We regret that you do not qualify, at this time, to be in our Juilliard Music Program.”

Uncontrollably sobbing.

Perhaps, everyones right.

2016©Isadora De La Vega

 

Genre: Flash Fiction

Word Count: 100

Photo Prompt:©Bjorn Rudberg

To join Rochelle and her Friday Fictioneers challenge
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*****I used to go to the Cafe Wha? in my twenties with my, then, boyfriend, now, hubby.

      Cafe Wha? is a club at the corner of MacDougal Street and Minetta Lane in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City that has presented numerous musicians and comedians. Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, The Velvet Underground, Cat Mother & the All Night Newsboys, Kool and the Gang, Peter, Paul & Mary, Woody Allen, Lenny Bruce, Joan Rivers, Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor and many others all began their careers at the Wha? ©wikipedia