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 (345)
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Midsummer's Matriarch
The matriarch of this Jasminian* (daughters of the original Jasmine from the Seven Daughters of Eve) clan was turning seventy on the day of the Solstice. It was going to be a huge event for their family, but only their women had been invited or called forth. It was more than a birthday celebration or even a Midsummer's festival. It would be a bonding.
By Shirley Belk2 years ago in Fiction
A Bridge Among the Flowers. Top Story - June 2024.
To my dear and beautiful granddaughter, I've needed to write this letter to you for a long time now. I just didn't have the words. I'm not sure if I even do now. But this is my feeble attempt. Forgive me if I don't use the proper pronoun or gender when I am referring to the "you" that I know and love. I'm new at this and still very confused in my "Boomer-ness." I think you already know that I am having a difficult time wrapping my head around these concepts. But it doesn't minimize my love and adoration for you.
By Shirley Belk2 years ago in Pride
Peppermint & Rain
Why do you insist on waking me so early? Why 3 a.m. every single time? It could at least be 4 a.m., or an occasional 5 a.m.! Better yet, let's try for 6 a.m. I just don't get it. If you are going to bother me like this, over and over, couldn't or shouldn't you be a bit more considerate?
By Shirley Belk2 years ago in Fiction
Unchain Us, Please
Objective: Write a story that includes, at some point, the sentence, "I did what I had to do." Regrets? I have many, of course. But I have no time to feel indebted to them...the regrets. They can be quite demanding of a person's soul and purpose, after all. I don't mind paying my dues, but I won't be cheated out of living. I simply won't allow that.
By Shirley Belk2 years ago in Poets
Dinosaurs Don't Inspire Me
I'm sorry, Vocal. I just couldn't do it. I couldn't get inspired to write a poem about dinosaurs. I just didn't have it in me. Maybe because I've always been a bit freaked out about them? And the fact that they never captured my imagination didn't help, either. Is that okay?
By Shirley Belk2 years ago in Poets
Gratitude Calendar (May)
This journaling is for the last week in May 2024. It is based on gratitude. But journaling wasn't my idea. Belle posted a prompt and I decided to do it, but then she decided to take down her prompt...It was too late for me to turn away. But I still want to recognize her idea :)
By Shirley Belk2 years ago in Poets
