It seems no matter how light-hearted an intention I have with these memoir prompts, there’s always a little thread somewhere that unravels something deeper within some of you.
Bad Hair Day produced some fabulous laugh out loud – and I mean scare-the-cat-from-a-dead-to-the-world-sleep, out-loud laughs – with photographs of awkward teens and would-be-adult hairdos in the frightful fashions of times gone by.
Aside from the laughter, we’ve had discussions on how hair can shape and almost make or break who you are. How for instance, having red or frizzy hair makes for difference that others either make fun or legend of. In our early years often strive to fit in, so ‘distinctive’ hair can have quite a negative impact. Hair, it seems can determine confidence and identity.
Anyway, on to the next Bite Size Challenge. What will you make of this my lovelies?! I’m striving for the positive prompt. I know some of you are itching to get to death and betrayal but we need not necessarily go there to discover who we are through memoir!
I suspect I’ve failed again as a number of recent events have had me exploring survivorship what it means to me. Of course, survivorship implies a positive but only in the light of something sad or frightening which must also be revealed for context. I’m still amazed at how writing memoir enables and accelerates that process in itself. One small incident at the weekend started me off on the trail with this prompt only to take me to yesterday’s post and possibly the end of my book. How does that happen? I have had the most uplifting and supportive comments which have absolutely made my day today. Funny that this all started in the summer with a simple laugh..
You know the rules! Here’s my 150 Words:
It Made My Day
It happened on holiday this summer. The foreign, forgotten sound of a proper laugh escaped my mouth. The noise of it surprised even me and I clamped my hand across grinning teeth and stretching lips. We’d seen white crabs scuttling into the waves so I was primed to jump out of my skin going into the sea. Screeching with fear and excitement as fish gently brushed against my toes and giggling like a silly schoolgirl – but the highlight of the day was seeing astonished joy light up someone else’s face.
Then only this weekend another little piece of me crept back. I wasn’t even trying when I found myself skipping comically through leaves, teasing, taunting and cleverly out-quipping the boys.
“What’s got into you?!” he laughed grabbing my hand and joining in.
And later over dinner “I really enjoyed this afternoon.”
I knew why and it made my day.
If you would like to share what Made Your Day, please visit the Bite Size Page to see how
Deadline Monday 17th November.
November 18, 2014 at 9:31 pm
http://lucciagray.com/2014/11/18/%EF%BB%BFbite-size-memoir-it-made-my-day/
Hi Lisa, I just posted mine. I’m probably too late! Sorry, but I just couldn’t make it earlier. If you can’t fit it in this fortnight, don’t worry, I’ll just have to try harder to meet the deadline next time! Thanks for organising! Looking forward to the summary!
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November 18, 2014 at 11:29 pm
Never too late, really. I have stopped compiling everyone’s responses to save some more time for writing. Life is particularly hectic at the moment and my back needs a little more care and attention i.e. less sitting and more exercise, so I’m a totally part-time writer and blogger, unfortunately 😦
Thank you for breezing in with this lovely glimpse of Venice, that made your day. Plotting my next holiday now..
Lisa xx
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November 19, 2014 at 12:02 am
Yes, i often feel i need to do some more exercise, but there’s always something to write! Look after your back… Looking forward to the next bite size memory.
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November 20, 2014 at 3:38 pm
Well that’s where my thoughts are mostly and before I know it, I’m stiff as a board and it’s dark outside! I go through these cycles!
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November 17, 2014 at 1:23 pm
Oh Lisa, Lisa, Lisa, I’m late, I’m late, I’m late…so so sorry 😦 But here is my bite. It’s been a strange time and I never fail to be amazed at the way your prompts get me writing in a way so differently to the way I originally planned. And so it goes. Hope all is well with you, here’s to a good week ahead…*she says optimistically*… xx
http://sherrimatthewsblog.com/2014/11/17/make-my-day-bite-size-memoir/
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November 17, 2014 at 8:56 pm
Well, even if you’re late you are still a fantastic alarm for me, who somehow thought there was another week to go!
Thank you! Just popping over now to read..
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November 18, 2014 at 11:14 am
Oh well, that makes me feel so much better, phew 🙂
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November 14, 2014 at 3:46 pm
http://geofflepard.com/2014/11/14/come-on-make-my-day/ Posting makes my day, if I’m honest. So here you are. Another ramble through the Le Pard memory bank
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November 17, 2014 at 3:50 pm
I love this! An eclectic mix of things that also make my day. Those later Freddie Mercury songs have me in tears but his was a life most definitely LIVED!
As for Clint – well, we share the same birthday (not the same year I hasten to add..!) so his talent must be written in the stars 😀
And as ever, I love the ramble through the LePard memory banks, savouring the honest pickings you share with us
Lisa xx
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November 10, 2014 at 5:07 am
❤ Joyful, Lisa.
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November 8, 2014 at 9:14 am
Lisa your post made my day. Your joy came through as did your family’s joy at having you back. Those belly laugh moments become rarer as we get older but the moments that cause them stay in our memories. So many moments we had as children where we laughed with the joy of the moment but we didn’t know then that we needed to cherish those times. I’m glad that these moments are starting to happen for you again. I will be there but I don’t know what with as yet. ❤ 🙂
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November 11, 2014 at 3:18 pm
How lovely. My job is done 🙂
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November 16, 2014 at 12:39 pm
http://irenewaters19.com/2014/11/16/bite-size-memoir-it-made-my-day-and-my-life/
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November 17, 2014 at 8:54 pm
Deep stuff from down under. Thank you Irene. It did make your day / life. These moments of realisation change the way we look at things from that moment forward. I can only feel sorry for people who perhaps don’t ever get there.
Wonderful, thank you
Lisa xx
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November 6, 2014 at 10:14 am
Hi Lisa! Loved your ‘Made Your Day’ entry. I agree that it’s the simple ‘ordinary’ things which make life so extraoridinary! So glad you discovered why, that’s the hardest part, I bet!
I’ve been a been a bit ‘scattered’ as in ‘scatter-brained’ lately, so I’ve missed a few ‘bite size memoires’! Although I’ve been dropping by and reading the entries. I’ll try and make 17th November!
Thanks for organising and encouraging us to remember and write!
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November 7, 2014 at 6:11 pm
Hi Luccia – I think we’ve all been scattering our brains about lately. I blame the planets and anyway, I can see you’ve been rather busy Rereading Jane Eyre! Be great to see you in time for the 17th if you can make it 😀 Lx
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November 5, 2014 at 2:42 pm
Love your flash, your post, everything here Lisa…oh what healing power in laughter and the priceless surprises found there. This is beautiful…and here’s to making that day ❤ xx
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November 7, 2014 at 6:01 pm
I’m giving you until midday on the 17th! I know you’ll have a treat up your sleeve 🙂 Lxx
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November 7, 2014 at 6:40 pm
Haha! I hope I’ll have a treat but I’ll definitely be there…on the dot. Or should I say on the second hand 😉 Have a lovely weekend Lisa 🙂 xx
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November 5, 2014 at 11:30 am
Wow, Lisa, so moving! You’ve captured your own surprise at finding joy in the ordinary and how that reverberates with the people who love you. And the genuine laugh reminds me of Charli’s memoir for Crazy. Don’t want to muddle things, but is this another potential ending for your memoir?
This is a great prompt (although I’m not promising I’ll do anything with it) and yes, I think even I would struggle to put a negative slant on it. Let’s see!
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November 7, 2014 at 5:59 pm
Not a muddling at all and in fact who knows what else is just around the corner. The main thing is that the rest of it suddenly has structure (even though there’s some re-writing because of that). All this sort of feedback is truly helpful. Firing on all guns and a (typical) mess of index cards, post-its and pages all over my desk and kitchen table! Looking forward to a weekend off now!
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November 4, 2014 at 9:50 pm
A big tasty bite for us all to enjoy–it reads as joyously as one of your cakes must taste!
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November 7, 2014 at 5:54 pm
Totally yummy it was too!
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November 4, 2014 at 9:03 pm
Oh, I love this: “survivorship implies a positive but only in the light of something sad or frightening…” So true. ❤
Lovely flash memoir (and prompt).
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November 7, 2014 at 6:39 pm
Thanks Sarah. It was a lovely one to write – I must try more of this positive stuff! Lx
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