CarmenJimersonCross-Safieddine
Bio
A widow, sharing experiences. SHARING LIFE LIVED, things seen, lessons learned & spreading peace where I can.
Call me "Gina" ( pronounced "jeena" ) short for REGINA
more at my original page https://vocal.media/authors/carmen-jimerson-cross
Stories (48/0)
THE ADVENT OF PAUL HILL
(continued from DRAGONS of PAUL HILL by popular request) The student population, those at the ripe age for “inquisitive exploration” during the prime hours of early morn or day could bring new life into the folds of the red ore caverns what housed that new life from the old. One such exploration on an early morning "hookie" venture brought what was now on display at a local museum... a mummified dinosaur with wings. Somewhat of a pterodactyl-looking creature… or so it was thought. A pterodactyl with scales. It was mentioned by media as a duplicate of that found at the Saints & Sinners Sandstone Quarry; was found in a wetted cave somewhere behind the waterfalled entry underneath the town of Wenonah. Wenonah was far north of the Hill area. Far north but secure until now for the spaces being opened beneath the population of homes above the antiquated mines. The mines and caverns connected by only a few breakthrough digs were randomly explored by adventurists; never by miners working for their day's wages. It was that venture which would prove the skreel and murmurs underground not to be imaginary trysts in the lives of those dwelling in Paul Hill and further. It was the breakthrough of walls joining mine and the unexplored cave which would give definition to the mascot chosen by the high school class of years ago. The Dragons were no joke. It was a truth to be found out. It was the arrival and the finding of that arrival in the space around Paul Hill that was about to bring the evil back home. The days of the ore furnaces and the cruelty which made them fruitful by way of the churned bowels of the earth beneath them was here... reborn and awake where it had never been. The Shade Valley parallel to Paul Hill was about to see its own. There had never been dragons in the valley near Paul Hill, until now.
By CarmenJimersonCross-Safieddineabout a year ago in Fiction
PLASM DREAM
THERE WAS NO GUESSING WHAT IT WAS, white and crusted as if days had passed since dropped, spilled or slung onto the bedcovers on and around the appearance of the lifeless tan figure in its midst. One could guess milk or perhaps the ejaculation of some hit and run prank played as just another act of malice. Better and more conscionable imaging would tease at the thought that there had been some austere rescue mission bursting into the room seventeen steps above a locked steel plate door. A more humane consideration would say that even a techno operation had been performed after interjection of some watchful neighbor's emergency call for help brought an unheard siren and rush of expert medical team that splashed preoperative fluids and impassed punctures, steel threads and anesthesia to the unconscious life form found at the end of a rescue call.
By CarmenJimersonCross-Safieddineabout a year ago in Confessions
THE BONE BREAKER
THE COMPUTER CHIP WAS NO LARGER THAN A MICRODOT. Like a tab of purple haze to all the updated highs of the early seventies... like the micro organism found at the lab of the neighborhood nerd... like a speck of dust blown by the winds of El Nino, so was the chip Alan would attempt to place in the iris of his client. His chiropractic office had been open since his graduation from Michigan State University. It was open and at his wim for experimentation in all the open and questionable fields of medicine and biology left unanswered by his university faculty. His own research had left a vacuum in his intellect which seemed to be stuck in high power mode. The tiny office at the rear of his therapy area was no larger than a commercial bathroom, but held a wealth of notes and reference manuals. It was a bank for any sincere vulture of academia. He scannd over Carol's computer files to brief himself on the next client. Kraus was coming in at 1:00 and her neighbor would most likely come along with her. The neighbor... Janet, was an ongoing routine. He was well into the second year of prescribing natural herbal remedies of gentian root, and other herbs for her vertigo. Vertigo that stemmed from systematic lupus- a cancer of the lymph system. She had become light sensitive and giddy since their acquaintance; although her major complaint had been of a "shortened leg" which could not be repaired... it was a birth defect. She complained of a broken shoulder on each visit, but he reassured her that if she ceased carrying her oversized, overloaded purse, her shoulder would feel renewed. He was content to focus upon her lupus using prescription of remedy mentioned by friends who studied other alternative medicines. If he could, he would rid or lessen his friend's problem on his own. Janet lived just upstairs from this newest patient and had referred her, Ms. Kraus to chiropractic correction of her dizziness. Today's client was complaining of a similar ailment... dizziness and stiff neck from whiplash. A car accident and therapy ended before pain disipated brought her to him via his client friend... a client with paying insurance! She brought a CHAMPUS claim form with her, extended to his office girl before being escorted into his back room. She explained that she'd been in an auto accident six months earlier and was struggling to rid herself of an undying "swirling" sensation. She had come in with Janet on an appointment and had asked questions about her own situtation. Chiropractor Brace became overly enthusiastic at the revelation of hallucenations coupled with dizziness after a whiplash while working at her job. Her car was rear ended when another driver came through a redlight running into her car pushing her into the line of traffic ahead of her. There was an attorney working on the accident claim... against Planters-Lifesavers Corporation... the employer of the driver in the wrong. The attorney was working... but he was a bit slow. He was slow and her pain was ongoing. She placed the question, "What can you do for the stiff shoulder/neck, other than more medication?" He had scheduled her appointment immediately and sent her with a referral for an xray of her neck and cranial area. Chelsea Community Hospital - Xray and MRI Departments complied with the order and returned their interpretations to his office. She was returning to hear his results. "It was clearly cervical strain, at the neck... third and fourth cervical discs; but there was a cloud at a more elevated region of her head on the film. A cloud that could not be analyzed without further questioning. He needed more information. "I'd better get a bite to eat," he glanced up from his computer at the clock. He ushered his client out of the two room office and locked the door. He dashed across the street and a few doors west of his own business to the neighborhood cafe' for a bagel with cream cheese and lox. The other clients seemed to remain as focused in their own business as he was on his own; the meal went quickely and his thoughts returned, unchalleneged by outward stimulation. The bagel, cream cheese and lox - a perfect combination. It went down smoothly and gave the effect of fulfillment for his physical needs. A more pressing anxiety, one not so easily secured, was that of proving his organizational declaration that the chip could work.
By CarmenJimersonCross-Safieddineabout a year ago in Fiction
SCHOOL BUS DRIVER
BIG AND BURLY Texan, father of one ... New in town from driver position in Arkansas... Middleaged mom "out here in the system to keep note of what my kids are doing"... "I retired couple of years ago, but the command center keeps my heart pumped!"... "Retired and bored with sitting home alone."
By CarmenJimersonCross-Safieddineabout a year ago in Lifehack
STREET WOMEN
THEY WERE PUSHED OUT of cars midstream in traffic unwilling to wait, not capable of seeing that there was a body writhing on the pavement for what ever her crime had been prior to the current displaced position of spread eagled horror in the oncoming headlights of following vehicles.
By CarmenJimersonCross-Safieddineabout a year ago in Criminal
BECOMING AS ONE
KWANZA WAS SPECTACULAR in its presentation during the community affair put on by the Mayor's office. They dressed in their finest Afrocentric costumes of blooming color explosions and wrapped headgear of greens and tourmaline intermeshed with cerulian blue. It all brought to mind the days of college studied history of Black Communities and finding our place within. Nehru and cocobeans strung and hung around the neck of the instructor and his assistant, congo drum enunciations for rythm felt appreciation of what our generation was missing for being in America's small town suburbia. Kwanza reawakened on my return home from a stint outside into a world more concerned with fiduciary return and filling nigh heels in the material world... away from the "true importance of being in society." With the holidays gone past and me needing to blend in, I set out to find the shop capable of updoing my hair so that mine would at least resemble that of the locals back here at home. The bump and press or perm styles were creating an ache that caused embarassing gestures of fingerpointing and guffaws... we had to be black, and now. It was imperative that I get a "real Afro hairdo"... preferrably by a "real African stylist."
By CarmenJimersonCross-Safieddineabout a year ago in Humans
GONE
I RAKED THE FILES and pulled unused tiles, the slats, the stobs and studs what remained. I combed the coals and tuned the gears on what the out back yard still holds. I pulled the tarps and plugged the winch... mowed the field of every seed we spent before the rest took off to chase the distant Tennessee wind. "The went down to chase what spoils was made. They gone to pile the wreckage up from last weeks funnel winds, the rain water's depth and devastation lent by God and Mother Nature upon the heads of souls damn natured." The dogs stood near to listen. They listened as I muttered the details of every chore. I mumbled the procedures for front to finish of every action. I mentioned the "who" that belonged to the metal that I moved, "who" what needed "the extra piece of" and the where it was put. The dogs stood near to listen. They listened as I groaned beneath the burden of living the moment of others. They listened as I tore skin and broke nails and snapped bone to get the job done. They stood near enough to see and dashed far enough away with every event of slipped, dropped or missed element of my deeds. The dogs were the companions meant to speak of... and the men were gone.
By CarmenJimersonCross-Safieddineabout a year ago in Fiction
TRANSFERRED
IT WAS AGREED AFTER FOUR MONTHS of physical therapy in a wading pool and injections and brace for immobilization ordered by occupational therapists that were sure to "allow for strengthening broken and fractured bone and prevent further damage." FMLA... family medical leave act options worn to an end brought a decisive crew of job relations, ADA and AFSCME representatives together with recommendations from CMS and DHS for a round table discussion on a potential positive direction to prevent forced retirement and allow continuance of work for a willing employee. The decision to opt for a transfer to an alternate government department in an available open position with comparable pay while avoiding excess strain beyond doctor's recommended lifting was finally at end. The injured employee mandated to attend the meeting was sent through the loops to collect the most up to date documentation for a lateral transfer of her job title and employee number. The state personnel records office provided copies of the open job posting from among it's many flyers and the results of mandatory application, stamped and filed with the signed acceptance of her application for the position by the new department. Her interview had been successful. There was only the need to finalize the determination to make the trade... transition an employee from office assistant to office clerk with her signed approval for an annual pay cut of $1000. Trading off from working secure spaces at a tax recording office to deep files maintained on the state's incarcerated population are each critical in their own accord, both demanding a qualified level of confidentiality. Despite a record of qualifying confidential background examinations by FBI, BOI and military agencis, she was blacklisted for the position; recalled from working. The first day of working the position had gone smoothly, she got along well with the staff in the new office but was recalled by co workers at the old office with no explanation.
By CarmenJimersonCross-Safieddineabout a year ago in Interview
You're Evicted
ASKED BY A PARENT TO RELOCATE TO THEIR OUT OF STATE HOME TO "HELP" with their household crisis, health, business or otherwise, how vulnerable are we to being "evicted" from their home? Is it a valid consideration for the term? By definition, evict means to expel (someone) from a property, especially with the support of the law: "he had court orders to evict the trespassers from three camps" Synonyms: expel, eject, oust, remove, dislodge, turn out, put out, force out, throw out, throw out on the streets, throw out on one's ear, drum out, drive out, dispossess, expropriate, chuck out, kick out, boot out, heave out, bounce, throw someone. out on their ear, show someone the door, turf out, give someone the bum's rush, defenestrate, out.
By CarmenJimersonCross-Safieddineabout a year ago in Families
HERBAL LIFE
HERBAL REMEDY HAS PLAYED A LARGE ROLE IN HUMAN HEALTH MAINTENANCE for centuries and in every nation. Herbs are flora... plants planted, raised and harvested for culinary use or those typically labeled weeds which are foraged and used for life keeping purposes. They can be eaten or used in drinks, applied to the skin and hair and used as inhalants. They can be used alone or in blends to accomplish the outcome desired.
By CarmenJimersonCross-Safieddineabout a year ago in Earth
PROTOCOL
"Get thru this course the first time and you won't have to repeat it... and by the way, it's my course... I amFLOTT... the only trainer on base that can pass or fail you so follow protocol and get through it today... first trial!" The unit started out behind the leader dressed in pickle suited splendor and so well versed in expected flinch or gasp responses of those following him that he could trip the lever releasing images of civilian or threat to civilian and mark their score before hand. Forty two trainees to put through paces on any training run is a big load but he was over twelve years ready for them and so well versed due to his twelve year experience on this base with this course. Over and over the thought echoes through the mind of those being trained to endure the mind games wrought upon them for the surety of a community that could be besieged and put in need of a responder so well trained. They were to follow his order noting sudden movement shouldering weapons intent at harm sent to none but those who would do harm to the innocent. Faces popped up, popped out from doorways. A mother coddling a child standing at her side. An elderly couple dart out and back inside, then a dark shadow in a window... above a wall... a roof and from a bush of flowers. Making their way behind the leader, they can assort and sling danger out of marked "harm's way" sent as a simple flash in the light from the darkness. Midway through the community of puppets the leader steps out of light and back in over and over... again and yet again. The trainees make their pace as instructed by protocol. THE CHALLENGE of not harming the innocent who would be harmed by the other than compassionate nailing through their mock community tearing away at their mock society and the reality they represent. Terrorists lunging out from the darkness to spill evil across mock terrace or picket fence need to be eliminated from the mock threat pushed through to trainees needing to hold the proper mentality of the mock scene so that a real event and true rationale of innocence and evil... terror and passivity could properly progress to a trainee intellect and allow for the ticket out moving them on their way to the next post. They would win the ticket out on his agenda. One by one pulled aside for a personal challenge. Response to assault on their person. Not hand in hand but instruction and expectation of performance. They could proced with a passing mark if met without rejection and to his personal approval at his in and out assertion of physical insertion. A greenhouse amid the wooded end, along the side and filthered glass and dusted bench with pots and plants from long past rents and lifeless petals and forced male stench. The end of the line. The innocents shorn and passing marks to all for "jobs well done" performance buying his applause beneath wincing brow and a jowled smirk. "PASS!" and "You won't need to see me again... most of you." Training after training to certification's date and out past innocents to protects that which is left.
By CarmenJimersonCross-Safieddineabout a year ago in Confessions
DURABLE MEDICAL DEVICES
I RAN WITH ALL THE CONCERN OF A PARENT BUILDING A SUPPORT LADDER FOR HER OWN CHILD. My husband's neice was designated with muscular dystrophy, set up with a wheelchair and a device to keep her sitting efect in the chair by velcro chest belt. EASTER SEALS was the first thing that came to mind as an assistive organization. Their claim for ammending the crippeld in families caring for them for their dystrophy or sclerosis, blindness or other debilitating health crisis was undaunted by any other American entity. I found the address and drove my husband, his mother and his neice who was under the charge of her grandmother, to the address of record. I sat in the lobby as they rattled out answer after answer to questions thrown at them until they hit a snag. The mother of the disabled child needed to be there. They were given another date to appear... with the mother and potentially, the father of the child. Before service could be rendered, signatures of her parents had to be acquired. We all piled into the car after reaching the parking lot and space that I had so hurriedly accomplished. It hadn't occurred to me that my husband's brother would need to have come with us. With their given directions, we stopped by the apartment where they lived to find them not at home, then left a hand scratched note on the door to inform them of the emergent promising resolve for the source of their born frustration. They needed to arrange a date to be taken along with their four year old daughter, or arrange for taxi transportation that could get them to the far west suburb address. She had been diagnosed with muscular dystrophy after medical intervention over the first few years of her life. Sometime during those appointments to determine the reason for her curled up fetal position, her father had not returned. The harsh reality of his chid's condition and the time and expenses he and his wife would endure while making an attempt at unfolding life as near normal as possible for their daughter hit him hard. It must have hit his wife equally hard, she never showed up at the apartment where her daughter was being maintained by her inlaws.
By CarmenJimersonCross-Safieddineabout a year ago in Humans