E.L. Martin
Bio
Powered by Nature, Humanity, Humor, Food, Lifestyle, Fiction, and Culture; Oh, and a questionable amount of coffee.
Achievements (1)
Stories (109/0)
Hauntings & Horses
Thanksgiving was going to be different this year. My parents were coming over for a feast my husband and I were hosting. Mother of course, considered it inconvenient as always. She found alternative plans preferable, but showed up anyway, albeit grudgingly. Dad, always the whimsical sort, decided to meet us at an alternate location prior to our celebration. I wondered what this cadre had up his sleeve, but knew there was no point in guessing. He always had his own plans, and usually everyone else went with the flow. You could call it his charm or charisma.
By E.L. Martinabout a year ago in Fiction
I’m Too Much of a Hobbit to Be an Influencer
I love reading and writing with my whole heart. My goal is to one day make a true living doing exactly what I love. However, that goal ends there. I still want to be surrounded by my loved ones, and deeply enjoy living our plain, unassuming lives. I've been thinking considerably about the reasons I want to write, and enjoy the writing process in the first place. What motivates me? What propels me forward? Why do I write?
By E.L. Martinabout a year ago in Journal
Would You Wait for a Quarter?
I had finished loading half of my groceries when I was approached by an older man wearing a wool poncho with a cigarette in his hand. I have come to realize by now that I have the sort of luck that causes lightning to strike the same place twice, but am fortunate and blessed in many other ways. After dashing out of one store earlier in the day beside an unruly man authorities had to escort off the premises, I suspected it was going to be another one of those lightning strike sorts of days. I had every justifiable reason to be cautious or even scared, especially in light of recent events. It isn't often that men in parking lots approach lone women with benevolent intentions, after all.
By E.L. Martinabout a year ago in Psyche
Growth from a Small Town
I finally reach my destination: the funeral home. I was unsure as to how I should proceed from here, but decided to simply drop off the card politely and nothing more. I wouldn't be attending the funeral proceedings later in the evening and at 9a.m. none of the family would be present. I hoped the funeral home employees and owners had a protocol for this, and presumed they likely would. I walked in briefly and told the director my intention.
By E.L. Martinabout a year ago in Humans
Poor Beasty!
I was shopping at a local grocery store when out of the corner of my eye I spied a friendly little plant I dubbed, "Beasty." From the moment I saw the bountiful Venus flytrap, I knew we were meant to be. Despite the plant being genderless and therefore "perfect" (pertaining to both genders as Venus flytraps have both male (stamens) and female parts (carpels)), I generally refer to my dear plant as "him."
By E.L. Martinabout a year ago in Lifehack
Beyond "Neurodivergent"
Recently, a post from an acquaintance of mine had been prodding and nagging at me. The post had been intended as a compliment to her young child, but something about it made me more restless than compliments made by others. The post began with "Life with my Neurodivergent child and his amazing mind..." Something about this statement is presumed to be more educated than others simply by the word choice "neurodivergent." She went on to brag about how easily and creatively he made up a story, which I give her credit regarding. Still, somehow, I found the statement unfair. As much credit as it gave to her child, it still felt like a slight. Perhaps it was my erroneous perception, but nonetheless it inspired something in me to write.
By E.L. Martinabout a year ago in Psyche
Black Friday Bombardment
Don't get me wrong, I won't claim to be the most organized or efficient person when it comes to virtual or home office systems. I do check and filter my e-mails at minimum every other day. However, through promotions, special offers, sales ads, and whatnot it is seemingly impossible to keep up. No time of year is worse for pressurized e-mails than the holiday season in America. Daily e-mails, at minimum, or often three or more from various retail corporations seek your business. They offer you specials for a limited time, swearing to act now for the best price; only for another sales opportunity and offer to come up at a later date or sometimes the very next day. Now, just after Halloween, it is already Black Friday Bombardment season.
By E.L. Martinabout a year ago in Motivation
The Ignominious Jell-O Debacle
To a grandchild, a grandparent is an incredible and wonderful being. It is as if everything their grandparent touches is magic. Their recipes are secret and special. Part of the magic is that you do not know the ingredients used in them, as my brother and I have recently discovered.
By E.L. Martinabout a year ago in Confessions
Growth from a Small Town
Not all birds migrate, and thus this is my tale as a non-migrating bird. Just because I didn't migrate, however, does not mean I didn't leave the nest. It has been several years since I left the nest, and that old small town. Though I live only thirty miles away, I must confess that I rarely return for a visit. I often take a route "over the hill" and "through the woods" to visit my family that lives in the countryside on the town's outskirts. The interstate route on my way to a larger city westward can also completely bypass the small town, so there hasn't been a reason for me to return; until now.
By E.L. Martinabout a year ago in Humans
"Seas" the Day: The Macaws' Freedom
"Sailing, oh sailing! Far away be thy plight as the ship travels on to fables, folly, and lore. Many a man has made his way on the ravaging vessel that be the sea." the young man sang with glee, and pressed his arm against his breast.
By E.L. Martinabout a year ago in Fiction
