LADDventure

Five Minute Friday - Whisper

I just finished The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt last night. It was strange and a bit depressing at times, but captivating somehow, and I couldn't help reading it for hours everynight. The last chapter was so profound and beautiful. The characters were talking about a painting which the whole story centered around, and this just struck me...

"if a painting really works down in your heart and changes the way you see, and think, and feel, you don't think, 'oh, I love this picture because it's universal'. 'I love this painting because it speaks to all mankind. That's not the reason anyone loves a piece of art. It's a secret whisper from an alleyway. Psst, you. Hey kid. Yes you....An individual heart-shock."

I think that's what all good art does, it whispers to each individual something different, something uniquely meaningful to you. It grabs you and makes you feel like it was created for you and about you at the same time. It tells your story, explains your thoughts, changes your mind. That is the kind of art, books, music worth creating.

 

**This post is linked up over at Five Minute Friday, where the internet gets together, writes for five minutes without thinking too hard about it, and presses publish. Join us?**

Five Minute Friday - Close

They say it's supposed to tear you apart, that it often does. Infertility can divide, then conquer couples in a sea of doctor's appointments and finger pointing. It can reduce ultimate intimacy to schedules, charts, and graphs. But, for us it's been the opposite. Infertility has brought us closer as a couple more than anything else in our relationship. It was like the boat we were on was obliterated, and instead of each clinging to our own piece, we clung desparately to each other, taking turns kicking and treading water when the other one was too tired.

We knew from the beginning we didn't want to go down the invasive fertility treatment route, and our options were extremely limited anyway. So for us, we had no choice but to hang on tight and swim toward another solution, adoption. Now there's no room for blame, and nobody's shortcomings are highlighted. We're just swimming and staying together, knowing that there are more storms on the horizon, and we'll need to kick in unison. We're close to parenthood and each other, and both feel great.

This post is part of a link-up over on Five Minute Friday, where we sometimes put down our red pens, just write for 5 minutes, unedited, and see what happens. Join us!

 photo credit: RobW_ via photopin cc

Five Minute Friday - Friend

Jessica came for a visit. You know, the friend I told you about here.

She escaped the polar extreme of Minneapolis to soak up some sun and relaxation in the desert.

Everything was different and the same since last we hung out.  I'm settled here, and she's settled there, bringing a piece of her with to prove it - her beautiful baby daughter.

It was a girls' weekend of the best kind. Wine and painting nails and laughing until our faces hurt. But also memories, and deep conversation about marriage, faith, women.

Her drive inspires me, and I'd like to think my pace helps her relax. In some ways we couldn't be more opposite, but I sit and wonder how we've let so much time go between visits with this kindred spirit.

Sometimes on Fridays, a whole bunch of us write for five minutes, unedited, on a one word topic. This post is linked up here...

I needed it this Friday, to let go of the perfect of editing, and publish something unedited for the simple joy of writing and connecting.  Happy weekend.

Five Minute Friday - Belong

Traveling back to Wisconsin always leaves me with questions of home.  Where is home now?  Which state do I call home?  This time back it felt different and strange and uncomfortable in some ways.  Where do I truly belong?  But then I spend a day with this guy and I know that he is home.  We are high school sweethearts so we share hometown memories, favorite places, and all the ridiculousness and loveliness that is "back home."  We store up our mutual experiences and the life we've created in a big us box.  When I'm feeling a little torn between the two worlds, I come home to him and know I'm right where I belong, sharing life with this guy I've been lucky enough to love for over half of mine.

Most Fridays, I link up with Lisa-Jo Baker for Five Minute Fridays, where we write for 5 minutes unedited on a one word prompt and hit publish.  Join us.

Five Minute Friday - Rhythm

I miss the rhythm of a place I've only been to once before, but man it has a beat that stays with you.  The pace is too rushed at first, deafening, and hurried and like you can't find the beat.  It's like waiting to jump into double dutch on the playground for the first time...scared to get caught in the ropes, but then when you find that sweet spot in the middle and sync with the rhythm, it's oh so lovely.

New York City is like that.  Full of so much life and activity the streets seem to be actually pulsing.    There's a lot of talk about "not looking like a tourist" when you are in New York, and I think there's something to that.  It is inspiring and exhilarating to join in the dance of the city, and let it take you where it may, blending in and swimming along.

But there is also value in stopping to gaze (just not in the middle of the sidewalk), taking pictures, and whirring through Times Square late one night after a Broadway show in a pedicab you will undoubtedly pay way too much for.

Its unlike any other place I've seen, and today I'm literally craving the concrete, and the green oasis of Central Park, and the busy.

This post is linked up with other writers who took 5 minutes to write unedited on one word today.  Join us!

Five Minute Friday - Listen

We want to fix and give hope.
We hear difficult news from a friend or have a conversation with a hurting family member, and we want to rush to help in our super hero capes lined with silver.
We offer up a story, an exception to the rule, or someone we know.
We feebly throw bumper sticker cliches at the obvious, hoping to make it less visible, less painful.
We hunt for reasons and solutions where there sometimes are none.
We take up the sword of justice on our loved ones' behalf, when there's no enemy to fight.
We jump to life lessons and words of wisdom when we should just mourn with those who mourn and rejoice when they start rejoicing.
We say don't cry, when we should really just pass the tissue.
We talk and advise and pray when we should listen.

Today I linked up with some other bloggers to write for 5 minutes unedited about listening here...

Five Minute Friday - Friend

That word is one that has never been easy for me.
To make, to keep, or to be a friend has always seemed complicated since I've become an adult.
For a while I just decided I didn't really need to worry about it.  I thought I could mostly replace that word with husband, family, work, food.
But then I have a conversation in the parking lot with a friend who has known me over half my life, while my husband runs in the store because I just want to catch up with her and we only have 5 more minutes before she arrives at her destination too many miles away.
I hike a mountain with another one and we match each other.  We look like we could be sisters, gasping for breath but so proud and pushing each other forward.
I get a happy anniversary and a congratulations text from another one, who the busy business of life has kept away from me too often, and it feels like home.
I snuggle another one's new baby and can't get enough of his perfect cheeks, and am oh so glad we happened to move in next door to them.
Friend was a word I wanted to be more intentional about this year, and it's working, and I like it.



I linked up today with Lisa-Jo Baker
after writing for 5 minutes and hitting publish. 
Join us!

5 Minute Friday - Home

I like to link up with Lisa-Jo Baker on Fridays and join her in writing for 5 minutes on a one word prompt.  It's a great way to get the juices flowing and just write without overthinking or overediting.

Home

Home is wet noses and whiskers snuggled in for a rest
fresh blueberries nestled into warm muffins
long naps sideways on the bed
the breeze and the sun dancing through the window

Home is sweatpants and slippers with nowhere to be
nothing to do, and no one to meet
crackling patio fires under inked starry skies
a glass of wine and sharing life

Five Minute Friday - Beloved

I am loving this Friday routine for writing.  Every Friday I check out what one word writing prompt Lisa-Jo Baker has for me.  Then I set the timer, write on whatever comes to mind with that one word for 5 minutes exactly.  Then I hit publish, and link up with other bloggers. If you have a blog or just want to write for 5 minutes today, give it a try.

Beloved

I celebrated Valentine's Day for the 16th time with Mr. Ladd yesterday.  We've been married for almost 8 years and together for 8 before that.  He has been my beloved on this lovely holiday since I was practicing writing his last name after mine in a tattered notebook in Geometry class.  I know some people despise Valentine's Day, but I am admittedly a bit of a hopeless romantic.  I think that's what happens when you marry your high school sweetheart.  You are destined to be sappy and nostalgic, and there is a special kind of romance in celebrating with your first true love. 
Yesterday I couldn't get enough of the red and pink, the surprises and love notes and red velvet cookies, the candlelight, and the wine, and romantic dinner with the only person that has ever had my heart.

Five Minute Friday - Bare

These shelves are bare, and it's exciting.  I've been wanting this shelf for our office for quite some time.  It's a Swedish blank slate of organized opportunity.  The needs of this room are different now. The office no longer needs to hold art supplies for teacher projects, stickers, and binder upon binder. It is now the office (well half of it) of a writer and the shelves should be full of words and books and inspiration.  I feel like the office is growing up today, and I get the chance to arrange the bare shelves, like a blank piece of paper, into a story I can be proud of.

I wrote for 5 minutes on one word, hit publish, and linked up over here.  

Do you have 5 minutes today?