Shirley Belk
Bio
Mother, Nana, Sister, Cousin, & Aunt who recently retired. RN (Nursing Instructor) who loves to write stories to heal herself and reflect on all the silver linings she has been blessed with
Stories (149/0)
- Top Story - January 2024
A Potpourri of Songs
********************************************************************** It was my maternal grandmother that loved Perry Como. He was popular from the late 1930's on through and well past the 1960's, having thirteen #1 top hits. She was born in 1892, so this makes sense. I liked listening to his music with her. In elementary school music class, we learned this song, Moon River. I remember singing it to her. Dean Martin described Como's voice as "relaxing." I also remember another singer, Andy Williams who was popular in the 60s-70's. He, too sang Moon River. I think I liked his version the best.
By Shirley Belk3 months ago in Beat
Just Cold, Wet, & White
They had been warned. Schools closed early because the roads would be icy for days. The South didn't get much wintry wizardry like this one was expected to be. The talk of the town was "snow days." All the parents who weren't picking their kids up were at the grocery stores stocking up on snacks, getting bread and milk, and thinking ahead for items like toilet paper and candles should the lights go out.
By Shirley Belk3 months ago in Fiction
People who Point Us
I've been around long enough to have a good look around. Now I'm too old to go about and be bothered about fitting in or fooling around. I'm waning instead of waxing, according to the moon. And the moon, as it casts its light on us all, reminds me of the different seasons of my life that have influenced me (my character) in some sort of way. Those seasons have been centered with different actors in my play. (Our lives are really works of art, if you think about it.) This story is about the early lessons in the play called life.
By Shirley Belk3 months ago in Families
Dawdling is TCB
Today I was busy and distracted by all of that "busy-ness." I had groceries to buy after the ice had melted and I could finally drive in it. I was focused and had a mission. The cold January air reminded me that I wanted to be home again where it was warm and there would be, well... less people. (I am an introvert.) The problem was that my oldest son was with me. The problem was that he is a dawdler. And he always stops to talk to all those people. (He is an extrovert.)
By Shirley Belk3 months ago in Poets
Mara & Elaine
Her first grandchild! Elaine's son was beaming with pride as he brought the five month old baby girl to show his mother. He didn't know exactly what her response would be. She was only forty years old and having the time of her life after her divorce, every weekend spent dancing and laughing with friends. And Michael wasn't married to the baby's mother. "Would she accept her?" he prayed that she would.
By Shirley Belk3 months ago in Fiction
You'll Miss Me
"Oh, boy! How many times have I told you about doing this to me, Estelle?" Dent' sighed in a hushed tone. "I'm really getting tired of this, you know," he continued. (But who was he kidding, she never listened. This wasn't the first time she had tossed him around.) "Stubborn old woman!" he yelled. But he was correct, she wasn't listening. She wasn't even in earshot of him. In fact, she hadn't even missed him. "But she will soon enough," he reminded himself. "She'll come looking for me when she needs me, like she always does," (he comforted himself in that thought.)
By Shirley Belk4 months ago in Humor