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A quote: “As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.” ~~ Carl Jung
I’ll start with a story …
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The moon was rising in clear night sky.
The Franklin stove glowed, warming their small cabin. She lit oil lamps around the room, opened the honey mead she had put up along with the summer canning, pouring some into two small goblets – part of great-grandmother’s set they were able to carry away ahead of The Troubles.
New ‘steaders meant increased bartering for her sewing and his masonry skills. It was the first year in many she felt confident about the months of winter ahead.
Smiling, they lifted the glasses high, the amber liquid glowing. Happy New Year!
They were free.
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Now, it’s your turn.
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. featured image, cropped, Adobe Stock standard license
Cameron says: “You’re going to watch another one?” I asked.
She grinned and sipped at her wine. “Oh come on; it’s a fun tradition for me.”
I rolled my eyes as the logs popped. “I prefer the baking tradition. But honestly, the movies follow the same script. Girl from big city goes to small town and finds true love?”
“So I can be a bit sappy. What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing. But you lived it. Aren’t you tired of seeing the same thing repeated on the screen?”
“Nah,” she said as she leaned closer. “But I still think my story is better.”
Happy New Year, everyone.
Navig8r says: Good one, Cameron!
Every residential module lounge here in Shepardsport has something special as a focal point — unsurprising on a world where pressurized volume is at a premium, to the point your apartment is just a place to store your stuff and hang your hammock. In some modules it’s a nonsense machine or a gerbil habitat, but here it’s an electric fireplace. Not just the cheap sort, but one so carefully crafted that you can almost imagine it’s the real thing, even without squinting.
That may be why our lounge is crowded pretty much every evening. Sometimes I’ll get back from supper and it’s hard to even find a place to sit for all the people who get themselves on study group with someone in this module.
But when it’s quiet, it’s a perfect time to sit in front of the fireplace, stretch out our stocking feet, and enjoy the heat from the resistance coils behind the oh-so-exquisite replicas of burning logs. In those brief moments with family and friends we can forget the struggle and toil of building a new life for ourselves up here on the High Frontier, not to mention the darkness that has overtaken the Republic and brought us here not as volunteers, but as stigmatized exiles.
Navig8r says: “My dear, you really need to get out of your dress slacks and into your blue jeans.”
“So we will match?”
“No, not that.”
“So they won’t get wrinkled? They are going to the cleaner tomorrow anyway.”
“Not that either.”
“But I just got home from a long day at work. Nothing could be more pleasant than relaxing by the fire with the love of my life.”
“And so you shall, dear. All in good time.”
“Why, then, dearest?”
“Because when this log burns down, it will be your turn to go outside and bring in another load of firewood.”
Dupin says: Fire warmed my toes while mulled wine warmed the rest of me. We weren’t supposed to be here. He should be with the boys, and me with the girls.
When he looked at the empty cabin earlier, I whispered I’d have a fire going by midnight if he brought drinks. He nodded.
We weren’t that young. I knew what I wanted. Hopefully his thoughts followed mine, but I’d find out in a minute. If he got me pregnant, we’d always be together.
I caressed his cheek…he slid close. His lips found mine, his body now pressing against me.
Yes.
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